Blast from the Past: Tolerable Rap for Old White Guys!

Rap music. For the most part, I really don't like it. I don't consider it to be a worthy talent, and I don't enjoy it. I thought, thirty years ago, that it would burn itself out, but no. Not at all. It just keeps on chugging. And more power to 'em! I just don't like it.

Except when I do. Over the years (and you'll notice, it's mostly in years long gone by), there have been rap songs here and there that I like. Even love in some cases, enough that I'll back it up, crank it up and start it again. These songs have a rather common theme: they're usually rap/pop hybrids, with a genuine chorus, and some musicality. You'll see a trend for sure, and if you're a rap fan, you'll probably think this list is lame. That's cool too. But here we go. . .

1. C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) by Quad City DJs (1995) - This song was popular when I used to go out dancing. I liked it the first time I heard it. I think I can, I think I can!
2. Bust a Move by Young MC (1989) - This is one I can listen to over and over.



3. Get Up! (Before the Night is Over) by Technotronic (1990) - Actually, I like several of Technotronic's songs, but this one is my favorite.
4. Rapper's Delight by The Sugarhill Gang (1979) - This may be the song that birthed the whole genre. I somehow didn't know that it samples Good Times by Chic until years later.



5. Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (1988) - As a horror fan, of course I liked this one!
6. Let's Talk About Sex by Salt-N-Pepa (1991) - Again, I like several of this group's tunes, but this is a personal favorite (perhaps because I actually did more than talk when it was playing one time? :)



7. It Takes Two by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock (1988) - This one is fun, and was sort of remade as the pop song, Two to Make it Right by Seduction.
8. Walk This Way by Run D.M.C. & Aerosmith (1986) - Before this track, Aerosmith was kind of dead in the water. Great redo.



9. Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio (1995) - I guarantee I don't know any other Coolio, but I like this one.
10. Just a Friend by Biz Markie (1989) - Only because it's so bad, it's hilarious!


And that's it, my unlikely list of my favorite rap songs. I'll never be taken for an expert, not even a little. But I've played all of these songs within the last few months!

Have a great week everybody. Happy Monday!

Political Rap: Alvin Greene is on the Scene!

No words. . .

CNN Airs Inappropriate Song While 104-Year-Old Woman Drives Cadillac

This one is just goofy, and I'll cop to finding it unintentionally amusing. Not for racist reasons mind you. This Christmas, I made a DVD slide show of family photos, with era-appropriate music. Unfortunately, one of my seventies cuts, You Sexy Thing, evokes the era well, but the whispering of the word "sexxxy!" while my step-dad hoists my infant sister aloft was. . .well, a lot like the video below. These things happen.

Frivolity Break: Hey Little Sparta The Mean Kitty Song

Oh, why not. I like kitties. Even mean ones.

Mac Or PC Rap (Ad Parody)

Are you a Mac or a PC? I'm unapologetically PC. From the old Amstrad 8088 with CGA screen and two 5.25" floppy drives, on up through the dual-core with Windows Vista, it's all I've used. And I'm a graphic artist, believe it or not. It ain't the tools, it's the user that is important!

I probably wouldn't be so "Mac-phobic" were it not for the snooty "I'm better than you are" attitude I've gotten from countless Mac users over the years. Still, the current ad campaign with John Hodgeman and Justin Long as the PC and Mac are a lot of fun. Sure, it casts the PC as a nerd, and the Mac as a cool guy, but come on. Long might be cute, but he's still "nerd cute."

Anyway, the ad campaign has inspired quite a few parodies. This one, which I just found on Bloggasm is pretty funny. Enjoy.

New Song by Rapper Ludacris Trashes McCain

Image from Global-Report

This is the latest "controversy" in an increasingly stupid political season. On one hand, you've got John McCain firing out countless negative political ads, completely heedless of truth. And then you have this, a rapper Barack Obama is acquainted with released a song that trashes McCain, Hillary Clinton and Jesse Jackson.

People! This is a man who voluntarily goes by the name Ludacris. Granted, that isn't as bad as "Nelly," who really should buy a slang dictionary, but this is meaningless. I watched Sean Hannity nearly blow a gasket on Hannity & Colmes this evening over this. It was the finest faux outrage performance I've seen this political season. It should be studied. But even Sean wasn't so outraged that he couldn't play parts of the song repeatedly, right Sean?

But listen up, friends and acquaintances of Obama (I'm talking to you Ludacris, Jesse and Reverend Wright): You're not helping! Zip it!

[Excerpt]

Ludacris Releases Song Attacking Clinton, McCain

In his new song “Politics: Obama Is Here,” rapper and staunch Barack Obama supporter Ludacris trashes presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain and former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton.

“Hillary hated on you, so that b—- is irrelevant. … McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed. Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped,” Ludacris sings. . .

Read more at (oh, why not): FOX "News"