the urbane league

Back in the day, when I used to use instant messenger, I used to keep a list of songs/albums I “recommended” that my friends look into on my profile…Yeah, I thought I was pret-tyyy, pret-tyyyy, pret-ty cool, but in my defense, I never purported to have the biggest library…or be cutting edge. Tell you the truth, I think those who actually looked and used my recommendation list appreciated the fact that I wasn’t a such a elitist “contrarian” about my suggestions; I merely posted what sounded good to me, commercial or not. So I figured I’d just bring it back for nostalgia’s sake; I can’t think of any real tangible description for the main criterion, so I’ll just call it “songs I’m not skipping on my iPod right now.” I’m also doing it here because I’m too cheap to drop $5/month for last.fm, but you should check it out; you can still make your own radio for free). Keep in mind my musical palette is a bit varied and completely capricious, so not every suggestion is for everyone, but I think that makes it better, so you have to sort it out yourself; plus you can then discover the whole album yourself. Oh and listed in no particular order.

1. AmpLive – Video Tapez from Rainydayz Remixes. Props to my girl Lleigha for putting me onto this one. Apparently this guys is based out of the Bay area (right up your ally, JWeezy) and this remix of Radiohead’s In Rainbows is a great work of indie hip-hop (if that’s what you would even call it, I have no idea). Either way, this is probably my favorite track on the album. I guess the simple thing to say would be, “if you liked In Rainbows, and you like good beats, you’ll like this remix…which Radiohead kind of got pissed at him for because he didn’t consult them about it…and released it for free, but…whatever.

2. Phonte (from Little Brother) f. Carlitta Durand – Take on Me. This is just a singlay. Yep, that take on me, Phonte remixed a classic, and I love it. Anytime you touch a classic you gotta use those kit gloves, and Phonte just reaffirmed what I already believed; that music is music, doesn’t matter where you’re from; anyone can appreciate anything. AND he sang the vocals…that in and of itself is worth a HUGE nod.

3. DJ Drama & Lil Wayne – Gettin’ Some Head from Dedication: Gangsta Grillz. I have realized that I tend to prefer Lil Wayne on freestyles and mixtapes much more than I like his commercial stuff. You should definitely get your hands on this mix-tape if you can, and if you enjoy Lil Wayne. The thing I like about it, is you get to hear what Lil Wayne can do over beats you’ve heard from other popular singles. Also checkout, Poppin’ Them Bottles, I’m a Ridah, This What I Call Her, and Weezie F Baby.

4. Santogold – You’ll Find a Way from Santogold. Santogold is one of few artists I can really claim to having “been all over before it was hip.” Yeah, before her songs were playing at the end of Entourage episodes, and during Bud Light commercials… actually, both of them, I was in the 9:30 Club with my boys Craphonso and the Lawless Element (not the rap duo from Detroit, just a kid I know) watching Santogold open for Architecture in Helsinki. I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t like Santogold, but then again, who do I know? Lights Out, and L.E.S Artistes are also “pretty dope tracks,”…sorry.

5. Röyksopp – Remind Me from Melody A.M. Everyone knows this song by the Norwegian duo, they just don’t know they do. This is the track from the very first GEICO Caveman commercial when he’s going through the airport, and sees that billboard that spawned a series of unnecessary, never-be-as-good-as-the-original commercials and a short-lived series on ABC. Props to my girl Lleigha, again, (take in some of her eclectic musical palette here) for putting me onto the music video, which is pretty cool, but I was shocked that I had to fill her in on the fact that this song was used in a GEICO commercial, or that ABC actually had a series based on the cavemen from said commercial. She didn’t believe me until she verified with the internet, but can you really blame her? I mean, the whole story does seem entirely too fantastic to be true.

Tracks I’m totally listening to and not telling anyone about:

1. Usher – Love in this Club

2. Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love

3. The-Dream – Fast Car

4. Greg Laswell – What a Day