iPod Classics: 2nd Letter

I mentioned it before, but in case you forgot or you're new (sup y'all?!), I've been going through my iTunes playlist in my spare time to load up the best tracks on my new 120GB iPod classic.

It's turning out to be quite a damn task, mostly due to working full time and studying for this test. It's all good, though. I can squeeze in a second for some good music and to say what's up to everyone.

I thought I'd share with my readers some of what I've got so far. I'm going alphabetically, so I'm only on "B," Enjoy!

Check the CBox--->

B.o.B. - Ghost In The Machine

Barrington Levy - Here I Come

Beanie Sigel - Feel It In The Air

The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Ben E. King - Stand By Me

Big Boi ft. Sleepy Brown - The Way You Move

Big Daddy Kane - Any Type Of Way

Big L - Put It On

Big Punisher ft. Fat Joe - Twinz (Deep Cover '98)

Black Milk - Bounce

Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours (Remix)

Blackalicious - Make You Feel That Way

Black Star - Thieves In The Night

Blu - Get It Now

Bob Marley - Trenchtown Rock

Bone Thugs & Harmony - Days Of Our Livez

Boyz II Men - Water Runs Dry

Brother Ali - Self Taught

Bruce Springsteen - Atlantic City [Hey, I grew up on Bruce.. C'mon, I was white and living in Jersey LOL]

Back To Work

It never stops, so just keep on going.


I took part of the weekend off to study and relax, but I'm back at it Monday morning style. Let's recap some of the ish that went down during my brief hiatus.


Lil' Wayne will release his rock album Rebirth on April 7 and the first single "Prom Queen" produced by Tha Bizness leaked on Saturday. Even though I saw this coming once the Martian started to strum the guitar strings, I didn't expect him to put out an entire album of rock music. Since I'm open-minded, I'll give it an honest listen. And honestly, Weezy sounds awkward on this joint. I'm looking forward to see if he is capable of living up to the rock star persona he so often claims.








Now on to an album I'm actually looking forward to. A second cover and official track list for Jadakiss' upcoming LP The Last Kiss leaked courtesy of them NMC boys. 'Kiss is set to drop his 3rd album in early March.

1. Pain & Torture
2. Something Else ft. Young Jeezy
3. Things I’ve Been Through
4. Can’t Stop Me
5. Money and Jewelry
6. Smoking Gun ft. Jazmine Sullivan
7. Times Up ft. Barrington Levy
8. I Tried ft. Avery Storm
9. Searching ft. Sheek Louch
10. Two-Step ft. Pharrell Williams
11. Come and Get Me ft. Sheek Louch & S.I.
12. By My Side ft. Ne-Yo
13. Death Wish ft. Lil Wayne
14. Letter to B.I.G. ft. Faith Evans







And finally we've got music from the homie Wale, who recently came out of Twitteretirement after he and DJ Semtex had a little Twitter scuffle. This here is the DC native's remix to Euro group H.I.G. single "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes."




Check the Cbox to the right for links to Wayne's "Prom Queen" and Wale's Euro remix, Enjoy!

Really Feelin' The Spirit..

.. I'm finally done with all I need to do for the day, what a relief.

I want to wish everyone a very blessed holiday season and, for those that celebrate, a Merry Christmas Eve.

I put together this here mix for you all to enjoy tonight and tomorrow. I included a bunch of my favorite Christmas joints across different genres - jazz instrumentals, traditional, Motown, religious, rock, soul, pop and even one hip-hop (sorry, I'm not really feelin' most of hip-hop's holiday contributions, I'm more of a traditional head myself).

You'll find classics like Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song," Frank Sinatra's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," and Stevie Wonder's "Someday At Christmas" alongside more obscure tunes like Jethro Tull's "Ring Out, Solstice Bells," John Lennon & Yoko Ono's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's rock-opera "Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo 12/24."
I tried to appeal to different tastes with this mix - I hope it enhances your holiday experience.

Time to wrap the last of my presents, set up the new BlackBerry Storm and spend some time with the fam before church, Enjoy!

Download: HFTB Christmas '08: Feelin' The Spirit

Track List:

Al Green - I'll Be Home For Christmas
Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas
Chet Baker - We Three Kings
Dave Brubeck - What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Silver Bells
Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
Eddie Dunstedter - Let It Snow!; RudolphThe Red-Nosed Reindeer
Eddie Higgins Trio - Winter Wonderland
Frank Sinatra - The Christmas Song (with Bing Crosby)
Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Howard Levy & Connie Ellisor - Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Jethro Tull - Ring Out, Solstice Bells
John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Happy Christmas (The War Is Over)
Luther Vandross - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Nat King Cole - Adeste Fideles
Nat King Cole - O Come All Ye Faithful
Nat King Cole - O Holy Night
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
Otis Redding - Merry Christmas, Baby
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
Perry Como - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Piano Tribute Players - Carol of the Bells
The Piano Tribute Players - Greensleeves
The Piano Tribute Players - Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Run-D.M.C. - Christmas In Hollis
Stevie Wonder - Someday At Christmas
Stevie Wonder - Ave Maria
The Temptations - Little Drummer Boy
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - An Angel Came Down
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - An Angel Returned
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve/ Sarajeva 12/24
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The First Noel
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Prince of Peace
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter
VA - Ding Dong Merrilly On High

No Disrespekinazation

I'm a beast, you a bitch like Tickle Me Elmo

Here's another leak from Heltah Skeltah's upcoming LP D.I.R.T. dropping September 30th. Rock and Ruck bring their signature back-and-forth gritty rhymes here, big ups to Matt from MAC Media for the link.. Enjoy!

Heltah Skeltah - The Art of Disrespekinazation prod. Khrysis

2007 Hit-List Part III - Essential Non Hip-Hop Albums of '07

Despite a obsession with hip-hop culture, don't think for one second that [dom corleone] doesn't appreciate others. This Hit-List represents a variety of artists from many genres, from soulful divas to experimental rockers, proving that there are truly only 2 classifications of music - good or bad:

Amy Winehouse – Back To Black

Media coverage of Winehouse's out-of-studio antics overshadowed the reality in '07 - the girl can sing her damn heart out. The British 20-something's soul-jazz voice on Back To Black resembles that of Ella Fitzgerald. Winehouse's sophomore effort has a nostalgic sound paying homage to the 50's and 60's jazz scene blended with modern-day subject matter for a revitalizing fresh feeling.

Essential Listening:

Rehab

Addicted

To Know Him Is To Love Him (Incredibly spiritual live acoustic song released on Napster)

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Montreal-based indie collective Arcade Fire delivered their most commercially successful album to date last year, Neon Bible. The group experimented with many instruments beyond the typical rock guitars and drums for an orchestral sound perfect for its subtle social commentary and personal revelations. Neon Bible debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 behind only Notorious B.I.G.'s greatest hits CD - these Canadians ain't too shabby, aye.

Essential Listening:

Neon Bible

Intervention

Windowstill

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus [30^th Anniversary Edition]

A reissue of Bob Marley's timeless Exodus 30 years after the original release featuring classic songs like "Exodus," "Jamming," "Three Little Birds" and "One Love/ People Get Ready" and lesser-known but equally inspirational tracks such as "Waiting In Vain" and "Natural Mystic." Tuff Gong's quintessential album is as good as new - 'nuff said.

Essential Listening:

Three Little Birds

Exodus

Natural Mystic

Bruce Springsteen – Magic

Asbury Park, New Jersey's famous rockers Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band return with Magic, a collection of upbeat rock anthems and familiar down-to-earth content. Lead single "Radio Nowhere" questions "Is there anybody alive out there?" - the answer here is an enthusiastic "Yes!"

Essential Listening:

Radio Nowhere

Magic

Terry's Song (Hidden Track) (an emotional tribute to Bruce's late assistant and long-time friend Terry Magovern)

Pressure Busspipe – Love and Affection

Hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Pressure's voice is smooth and well-pronounced on his sophomore album Love and Affection. From the uplifting "Be Free" and "Touch The Sky" to the agony of "Ghetto Life" and "Why," the disc is a genuine, purifying experience.

Essential Listening:

Be Free

Why

Touch The Sky

Radiohead – In Rainbows

These Brit alternative art-rock heroes made history by releasing In Rainbows exclusively online and allowing fans to choose the album's price themselves, later distributing a physical deluxe box set with a second disc and vinyl copies of each. The album is artsy and intriguing, blending Thom Yorke's poetry with lush, climactic instrumentals for a colorful musical concoction.

Essential Listening:

All I Need

4 Minute Warning

Weird Fishes / Arpeggi

Slightly Stoopid – Chronchitis

Chronchitis signals this SoCal band's sound shift towards reggae and bluesy rock from their previous albums of heavy ska and punk influences. The LP's bouncy rhythms plus nifty guitar work let leadmen Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald describe beach-side memories while slower love songs make the listener want to lay out a towel for two - perfect tunes for a breezy summer afternoon at the shore.

Essential Listening:

Jimi

2am

Above The Clouds

Chris Brown - Exclusive

Eagles – Long Road out of Eden

From Dubplate to Download: The Best of Greensleeves Records

Luv Fyah & Million 7 – Ethiopia We Belong

Miles Davis – The Complete on the Corner Sessions

Ne-Yo – Because Of You

Ras Shiloh – Only King Selassie

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand

Sigur Ros – Hvarf-Heim

Stephen Marley – Mind Control

Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist

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This January is the last relaxing month for me since I'll be graduating in May, so I'll use it for a couple more '07 lists.. stay up!

[babylon is falling]

2007 Hit-Lists Part I - Best Albums

[pop bottles]

I know I'm a little late, but Happy New Year to all. I needed a day to recover, relax, and formulate the lists I will be presenting over the next couple of days. Plus, my wireless router was actin' a fool for the past couple of days, but anyway. 2007 definitely had its ups and downs, for both my personal life and the music biz, which is why it's refreshing to start fresh in '08! Now, on to the real festivities...

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Before saying peace and good riddance to the year that was, [dom corleone] needs some closure. Hits from the Blog proudly presents the first ever Hit Lists for your reading pleasure:

Top 10 Albums

1. Kanye West – Graduation

‘Ye put out his best all-around LP during an eventful, humbling year for the Chi-town native which included being named the GQ Man of the Year and and the untimely death of his mother Donda. Graduation is the ideal finale for West’s educational trilogy, boasting finely-tuned production and crossover appeal while maintaining his hip-hop edge. Grabbing eight Grammy nominations and including arguably the most-recognizable global anthem in “Stronger,” ‘Ye’s third solo release is the most consistent and fulfilling in his catalog.

Favorite Songs:

Can’t Tell Me Nothing prod. Kanye West & DJ Toomp

Homecoming ft. Chris Martin prod. Kanye West & Warryn Campbell

Everything I Am prod. Kanye West, scratches by DJ Premier

2. Common – Finding Forever

Common deserves the silver medal of ’07 for Finding Forever, where he packages an eclectic track-list that attracts a variety of listeners and solidifies his position as a compelling entertainer. The disc contains raw joints (“The Game,” “Southside”) alongside estrogen-friendly jams (“Drivin’ Me Wild,” “I Want You,”) combined with touching deep tracks (“Forever Begins,” “Misunderstood”) – the result: Common’s first ever debut atop the Billboard 200 and three Grammy nominations.

Favorite Songs:

I Want You ft. will.i.am prod. will.i.am

Forever Begins ft. Lonnie "Pops" Linn prod. Kanye West

The People ft. Dwele prod. Kanye West

3. Talib Kweli – Eardrum

Kweli broke free of the designation as a strictly “conscious rapper” on Eardrum, his most commercially-acclaimed album to date released on his Blacksmith Entertainment imprint. Though the rapid-fire lyrical complexity is still present, Kweli experiments and excels with radio-ready songs “In The Mood” and “Hot Thing” in addition to the contemplative “More or Less” and the thought-provoking mastery of “Hostile Gospel Pt. 1 (Deliver Us)” and “The Nature” featuring pop sensation Justin Timberlake.

Favorite Songs:

Hostile Gospel Pt. 1 (Deliver Us) prod. Just Blaze

More or Less ft. Dion prod. Hi-Tek

Say Something ft. Jean Grae prod. will.i.am

4. Redman – Red Gone Wild… Thee Album

Redman gains respect for doing his own thing amid a hip-hop community tarnished by ring-tone rap and dumbed-down, one-hit wonders. The Newark, NJ veteran quietly released Red Gone Wild, one of the year’s most entertaining, humorous and rambunctious albums. Lead single “Put It Down,” produced by Timbaland, and the Scott Storch-assisted “Freestyle Freestyle” showcase Red’s unique, no-frills approach to his art. Blend that with odes to THC (“Blow Treez,” “Merry Jane”) and carefree concoctions (“Gilla House Check,” “Gimmie One”), and Red Gone Wild is ‘07’s street selection.

Favorite Songs:

Put It Down ft. DJ Kool prod. Timbaland

Freestyle Freestyle prod. Scott Storch

Blow Treez ft. Roc Ready & Method Man prod. Watts

5. Jay-Z – American Gangster

Jay-Z receives props for returning to his hustling ambitions on American Gangster but it’s a shame it took a Denzel film to inspire this rapper-turned-executive to finally do so. Jigga sounds the best since his premature "retirement" over dramatic sonic backdrops fit for rap's kingpin.

Favorite Songs:

Success ft. Nas prod. No I.D. & Jermaine Dupri

Fallin’ prod. Jermaine Dupri

Ignorant Shit ft. Beanie Sigel prod. Just Blaze

6. Lupe Fiasco – The Cool

Dubbed as a concept album, The Cool is actually a well-rounded sophomore effort from the Windy City’s golden boy in terms of beats, hooks, and content. Though the conceptual framework is frustratingly abstract, Lupe only dedicates five songs to his tales of assorted interacting characters and uses the rest of the disc to tell intriguing stories (“Hip-Hop Saved My Life,” “Little Weapon”) and comment on the industry (“Dumb It Down,” “Put You On Game”). Though the sound is more pop and R&B than his debut Food & Liquor, The Cool is a thought-provoking display of Lupe’s microphone mechanics.

Favorite Songs:

Hip-Hop Saved My Life ft. Nikki Jean prod. Soundtrakk

Go Go Gadget Flow prod. Soundtrakk

Dumb It Down ft. GemStones & Graham Burris prod. Soundtrakk

7. Wu-Tang Clan – 8 Diagrams

The super-group recombined in ’07 after a long hiatus for 8 Diagrams, a musically experimental disc that proves refreshing for hardcore fans. Despite internal creative differences within the Wu, the album delivers verbal onslaughts ("Gun Will Go," "Rushing Elephants") and intriguing stories ("The Heart Gently Weeps," O.D.B. tribute "Life Changes"). Rounded out with a lil' somethin' for the ladies in "Starter" and the stealthy hit-and-run of "Wolves" featuring an off-tune George Clinton chorus, 8 Diagrams is not as gritty as 36 Chambers but rather represents a new musical direction for the Clan.

Favorite Songs:

Gun Will Go ft. Sunny Valentine prod. RZA

The Heart Gently Weeps ft. Erykah Badu, Dhani Harrison &-John Frusciante prod. RZA & George Drakoulias

Wolves ft. George Clinton prod. RZA

8. Little Brother – Getback

In the absence of producer 9^th Wonder on all but one song, North Carolina’s throwback duo of Phonte and Big Pooh put out Getback with the help of Illmind, Hi-Tek and Khrysis on the boards. A concise disc describing the angst of elevating in hip-hop while keepin’ it real (“Can’t Win For Losing,” “Dreams”) and the do-it-yourself stick-to-itiveness that defines the duo’s career (“Extra Hard,” “When Everything Is New”), Getback embodies LB’s rise to underground stardom.

Favorite Songs:

Can’t Win For Losing prod. Illmind

Extra Hard prod. Mr. Porter

Breakin' My Heart ft. Lil' Wayne prod. 9th Wonder

9. Ghostface Killah – The Big Doe Rehab

The Wu-Tang Clan’s hardest working lyricist (3 albums in 2 years!) released The Big Doe Rehab one week before his crew’s latest 8 Diagrams, successfully outshining the latter with his hyper, story-telling mystique. Though the album's sales don't reflect the quality here, Pretty Toney is unrelenting in his quest to continue pleasing Wu heads and gain new fans along the way.

Favorite Songs:

We Celebrate ft. Kid Capri prod. LV & Sean C

Supa GFK prod. Ghostface & Anthony Acid

White Linen Affair (Toney Awards) ft. Shawn Wigs prod. Frequency & Scram Jones

10. Collie Buddz – Collie Buddz

Bermuda’s suave reggae sensation Collie Buddz took the world by storm with his summer anthem “Come Around.” This self-titled debut is a rhythmic stroll along sandy beaches, displaying his multifaceted style equipped with a pleasant singing voice perfect for bouncy island melodies and dance-inducing riddims.

Favorite Songs:

Come Around prod. Crown N Kah-So Real

Blind To You

Sensimillia ft. Roache

Honorable Mention:



Blu & Exile – Below The Heavens

This debut album from West Coast newcomer Blu and producer Exile is the hidden treasure of ’07. With Blu’s creative, inspirational rhymes and golden era samples provided by Exile, Below The Heavens is truly satisfying for the hip-hop enthusiast.

Favorite Songs:

The World Is (Below The Heavens) prod. Exile

So(Ul) Amazin’ (Steel Blazin) prod. Exile

Dance In The Rain prod. Exile

Also Worth Checking Out (Alphabetical):

Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass

Atmosphere – Sad Clown Bad Winter 11

Beanie Sigel – The Solution

Black Milk – Popular Demand

Bone Thugs & Harmony – Strength & Loyalty

Bone Thugs & Harmony – T.H.U.G.S. (Rare & Unreleased)

Cassidy – B.A.R.S.

CunninLynguists – Dirty Acres

Dalek – Abandoned Language

El-P – I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead

Fabolous – From Nothin’ To Somethin’

Freeway – Free At Last

Guru – Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back To The Future

Havoc – The Kush

Hell Razah – Renaissance Child

J Dilla – Ruff Draft

Jedi Mind Tricks presents Army of the Pharaohs – Ritual of Battle

Mims – Music Is My Savior

Nicolay Presents – The Dutch Masters Volume 1

One Be Lo – R.E.B.I.R.T.H.

Peanut Butter Wolf Presents - 2K8 B-Ball Zombie War

Peanut Butter Wolf Presents - Stones Throw Ten Years

Pharaohe Monch – Desire

Prodigy – Return of the Mac

Scarface – MADE

Sean Price – Jesus Price Supastar

Styles P – Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentlemen)

Swizz Beatz – One Man Band Man

The Cool Kids – Totally Flossed Out EP

Timbaland – Shock Value

UGK – Underground Kingz

Wyclef Jean – Carnival Vol. II Memoirs of an Immigrant

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There you have it, let the hate begin!

Coming up next will be Most Disappointing Albums of '07..... Peace for now

[simply amazin']