Lyrical Misses

In the rap/hip-hop game, the female emcee doesn't get nearly enough credit for their flow. In all honesty, the female lyricist, at times, brings it better than some of the dudes do. Well tonight, this is about those ladies who bring the game to their knees with the words they spit from their tongue.

First off, startin with the Mama of the No Limit Family: Mia X. Mama Mia as she was affectionately called, she always had a good verse on everyone else's cd, but when she released her album "Unlady Like", to me, she solidified herself as a lyricist. Here's my favorite song from that cd - Let's Get It Straight.



She let it be known that No Limit was about more than just P, Silkk and C Murder. She announced herself to the world as not just a featured artist, but that she could drop a CD and it be just as tight as others in the No Limit Family.

Next up, the madame of the The Fugees: Lauryn Hill or L-Boogie. Now I know I already did a post about her, but there was one song that I didn't include in that post, and that one song actually fits into this post. (Good job me...*high five*).



Lauryn is so cold because not only can she rap, but she can sing as well. So it works when you can incorporate both in the same song BY YOURSELF. Very few people can do that...and nobody in today's times can even attempt to do this. You gotta give her props on that one. I just need her to come back...We need you Lauryn!

Last but not least, even though she's changed over time, her early years with Bad Boy made Lil' Kim a force to be reckoned with. Kim was raunchy as hell, but she made it sound easy as hell to describe how she could still be a lady while doin some things that I won't mention on here. lol. Example A, B, and C right here:



My all time favorite song by Kim. She kept it real and raw, and nobody could keep it 100 like this all the while still gaining respect from the industry for being a lyrical emcee. As B.I.G.'s protege, she learned a lot from another great rapper. I wish she would revert back to those days as well.

These 3 ladies put these wannabes of today's times to shame. Maybe they need to hold a workshop to let these breezies know that what they THINK they are doing can't hold a candle to what a REAL emcee of the female gender should be doing. I got a few suggestions on who SHOULD attend. LOL

Flashback Friday - The Man Right Chea!

In light of the man Mystikal gettin out of jail recently, I thought I'd pull out some old school, get it krunk music and revisit my youth (well part of it anyways..lol). But what I didn't realize was that I would remember how much I would get krunk listenin to his music. Here is the song that started it all off:



This is very reminiscent of when I used to party all the time in undergrad. Mystikal was the one who could get the party crackin...especially if you heard the right song. Like this one right here:



Uh ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Even if you were the most prim and proper of folks, this is what set you off. You rush to the middle of the floor and just get real riled up and start poppin off. Now the thing about this song, is that it was known to start fights cus errybody was a bit TOO krunk. But hey, it is what it is. *shrugs*

This was another club banger right here....just gettin errybody on the floor.



I do remember gettin it in to this song (not like that people....if you thought that, then #killyoself). It's a good dance joint...and you "shouldn't" be tired after twerkin to this. Don't believe me: try it for yaself. :P

But in real life, this is the song that jumpstarted his career though:



Folks don't understand...that this beat was the LIVEST in '95 when this song dropped. I mean you heard this song EVERYWHERE. Like for real...lol.

And last but not least, where he featured with Silkk the Shocker:



#dontjudgeme for liking this song. I wish it was a bit longer, where he coulda spit one more verse for em.

Welcome back Mystikal. The game has missed you...time to show these youngins how it's really done.

Uhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhh!

You the ONE!

Today's post is gonna be a bit more upbeat than previous ones...simply because things are looking much more up. Today, I'm gonna take it back to the A, where the Dirty South has been known to get a party up and jumpin. I know that I'm not the only one who gets up and gets krunk when they here this song:



This is the ghetto man's anthem to tell his boo how much he diggin her. Low key, this is a hot song featuring T.I. and of course, Jazzy Pha gone produce a hawt tune to put this to. How many of you women who've heard this song "put your finger in the air cus you the one"? lol. It's okay, I won't tell anybody about it. lol.

Here's another one of my favorites by Cee-lo:



See, this is where my Dirty South roots come out. Cus I be up here, and folks be givin me the :-\ look when I hear this in the club and instantly wild out. LOL. It's okay though, cus these folks should be reppin since Timbo droppin sounds and lyrics in the song and he from the two up/two down. Honestly, this is runnin a SERIOUSLY close second to The One.

Here is another slept on joint from Cee-lo:



This one is featuring another ATLien by the name of Luda. Of course you know that just about anything that Luda touches turns to gold...lol (but no, really..lol). This beat is really silly, but of course, if you know Cee-lo, then you know he's really about being silly, and I really don't think that Luda has any sense either. But I think it's a good song just to listen to and wild out to.

And the final one isn't upbeat at all, but this joint is real off the hook:



Folks don't know about this song....but if you smoke, you'd want this as your anthem. (#dontjudgeme...I don't even smoke..lol). But on the real though, if you want some jus chill music, where you can just lay back and enjoy the scenery, then this would be it for you. No words (for real), but the tune will do all the work that you need it to do.

Cee-lo is definitely an underrated artist. He be on some real ish, although sometimes it gets lost up in the mix of the music...and he's still one of the real artists left from back in the day up to now.

What's On My Mind

This is something that I'm gonna be doing weekly. A post dedicated to what's on my mind at that time, while using music to illustrate the point.

Last night, I was watching "Intervention" (which is a good show BTW), and Robby from City High was on there. He was having a serious alcohol problem, and his family/friends were trying to get him to participate in an alcohol abuse substance program. Anywho, his girlfriend/mother of his daughter was telling him how much she loved him, and that she couldn't stand to see him like this anymore. Well a friend and I got into a discussion as to what "love" is vs. settling/subjecting yourself to unhealthy relationships, etc. Well as we talked more and more about it and subjects relating to it, this song came into my mind.



Rachelle Ferrell and Will Downing...I mean, I could end the post right here. This song is very powerful, from the first note she sings, til the end when they are damn near professing their love for each other. She sings with such raw power in her voice, and of course, what better person to compliment her than the ultimate crooner himself. I don't think that this song would have been half as good if it wasn't those two singing it. Maybe I'm bias....but hey, shoot me if you think so. Lol

I think this is a perfect example of what love is. She says that even though she's not perfect, but she hopes that he accepts her in spite of her flaws. He returns by saying that she is the perfect person FOR HIM, which is what I think that is what true love is. Someone who loves you in spite of what you think may be a dealbreaker to that person in a relationship. And when you can accept that person for what they are, then nothing else matters in life.

Nothing has ever felt this good
Nothing has ever felt this right
Nothing so sweet
in my life.

Her: I really love you.
Him: I love my life with you
Both: We'll share a life together
I love you for now and forever.

Hey...one day, I'll be there. And when I do get there, nothing will ever be so sweet.

Is this the end?

In light of all that's been happening lately, between the earthquakes in and around Haiti, all of the famous people passing away, and just all the random ish in between, people have been talking about "the last days are upon". Now I don't believe that mess, not at all....I'll believe it when Jesus DOES return, but all that hearsay did inspire today's post:



This came from "No Way Out" which was Diddy's first solo album (back when his name was Puff Daddy). Now the cd wasn't all that impressive to me, but it had a few good cuts from it such as this one and off course, All About the Benjamins. These two songs were probably the only two that got CONSTANT rotation after that cd came out.

Puffy made some great choices in collaborations by including Twista (who was definitely up and coming at that point), Carl Thomas (underrated artist IMO), and Ginuwine, who too was coming into his own. Twista introduced us to the game of speed rap (i.e. tryin to rewind the tape/cd over and over to try and comprehend the words that were coming out of his mouth lol), and of course, this was no different. Ginuwine was hittin the background vocals, cause back in the day, he actually had some hits on his hands. So once again, Puffy made a hit.

It didn't really hit mainstream, although I feel it should have been a single instead of some others (like Been Around the World...*smh* although the remix was hawt), but oftimes, the best songs are the ones that are not. Kudos to Puffy, Diddy, whatever you want to call him for this creation...you didn't have many of them, but the ones that you did have, brought the game just one more level up.

My Greatest Inspiration

Of course, in wake of all that's going on, I had to dedicate today's post to the passing of one of music's greats: Mr. Teddy Pendergrass.



Now I know that this is one of his more known songs, but in all honesty, it's real though. When you feel this way about someone, you tend to want to let them know just how much they mean to you. I don't think that he could have gotten any more clear with his feelings than he did with this one. Teddy was not one to beat around the bush with what he wanted to convey, and the lyrics of his songs always got the point across plain and simple. BUT, he was always classy with his...even when he was tryin to get it in. lol.

Teddy P ranks among those great babymakers of the 70s and 80s (and quite honestly, could still be in today's times), such as Luther, Barry White, Isaac Hayes, etc. His music is timeless....unfortunately, those of today's generation won't know about this type of music because they can't appreciate it. Starting off in the group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Teddy was able to break out on his own and create a name for himself that will never be forgotten. Here is another one of my favorites by Teddy in which he did a wonderful duet with Whitney Houston when she was just coming into her prime as a songstress extrordinaire: Hold Me in Your Arms.



I would add this to a "set the mood" type playlist any day of the week. Especially because I know the lady that I'm with would be able to appreciate this song just as much as I would. Below are some of my other favorites by Teddy solo and when he was with the Blue Notes.

If You Don't Know Me By Now - This should be a dedication song in the wake of his passing.

I'll Never See Heaven Again - That's a powerful love to make you say this about someone.

Love T.K.O. - Lovin so good, that it just knocks you out. How many of us have been THERE before? *raises hand*

Turn Off the Lights - Now you KNOW I couldn't forget this song. How many kids were conceived to our parents listening to this? lol

I Don't Love You Anymore - Hey. It is what it is....what a shame. lol

Feel the Fire - We gettin it in to this song. No doubt about it. I think Teddy and Stephanie got it in after recording this song.

There are plenty more that I could have posted, but I'll stop here. I'm sure you have some others that you love to see, so I'll let you post em.

R.I.P. Mr. Theodore "Teddy" Pendergrass...you graced us with music that can and never will be duplicated again.

The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Known

Was like the kiss on a collar bone
the soft caress of happiness
the way you walk, your style of dress

Not really sure why I chose this song...it came across the iPod, and it made me fall back into the time of young innocent teenage love (not Alicia style..lol). I remember this was the Lauryn Hill that everyone fell in love with...right off of a bumpin LP with the Fugees back when she was L-Boogie (don't trip...the Score was off the chains), and right before she went bananas on everyone. This was the bump on the radio for quite a long time, and in all actuality, the Love Jones Soundtrack (where the song came from) was and still is one that gets rotation.



But during that time, Lauryn took the nation by storm with quite a few songs from her first solo joint, the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.



When she released her first single from that cd, Doo-wop (That Thing), I was instantly hooked. True enough, it was a different sound for the time that it came out, but it was a refreshing sound. To me, she first came into her own when the Fugees did the remake of Killing Me Softly (although it seemed like a little bit of EVERYONE did that remake), so it was only a matter of time that she would drop her own joint; and when she did, she made MOVES.

Even though the entire Miseducation cd was bangin, there were a few cuts that stood out from the rest to me. In no particular order they are:

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - The title track was a slower, smooth, "Miss Independent" type of track...and the pianist on this track was off the chains.

Every Ghetto, Every City - Now even though some of you didn't grow up in the hood, I know you can relate to some of the stuff that she sings about.

Nothing Even Matters - One of the most banginest duets out there....she ripped this track, and D'Angelo held his own right along with her.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - I'on know why, but I always wanted to go roller skating when I heard this song. lol

I Used to Love Him - Another bangin duet...but this time, the Queen of Hip-Hop, MJB, is producing the vocal talent.

I wish Lauryn would get out of her funk and produce another timeless classic like this one. I'm sure she could be one of the few to revitalize the game to where it used to be, and where it needs to be now. The world needs another woman who can sing, rap, combine the two, and make it flawless.

You must be used to me Spendin

"on all that sweet winin' and dinin'
But I'm fuckin you tonite"

I actually got this idea reading another post from my homegirl Reecie (check her out yall..she got tastes like mine...you'll enjoy hers if you enjoy mine). In her post, she was discussing Ashanti, and I posted that my favorite song of hers is the Unfoolish remix (the one where Biggie spits his flow from "Fuckin You Tonite"). As I was writing that, I decided to put it on the iPod, which made me remember that this song is definitely my favorite from all of the bangers that he ever produced. (hey I know...but don't judge me dammit!)



One of many hits that featured someone else (this time being that musical genius mastermind R. Kelly), this song talks about straight get it in and out. He wasn't tryin to wife her up, he wasn't tryin to boo her up, and he definitely wasn't buy the bank out to get the draws. Fellas, I know we've all done this before. It's not that she's NOT worth it, but in the end, the reality is that we're just tryin to beat it and roll out. This is one of the original "aight Girl, you know what we here to do....now let's get on with the get on" type songs.

I like it when we truly parlayin
No love makin
Strictly back breakin
Cease know all his hoes go to my do'
Then they go to his floor
to fuck some more
So no, caviar, sharp bar, uh uh
Strictly sex that's sweaty and left over spaghetti
I know you used to slow CD's and Don P's
But tonight its eight tracks and six-packs while I hit that

Straight pimpin....and I bet that line worked on at LEAST one girl. lol. I guess after Biggie died, R decided to press on with the fame that this song got, and did a remake/remix of sorts with it. It wasn't as good as the original (but very few are IMO...another post for another time), but it still had some sort of bump to it, simply because he decided to keep the same style and beat to his version. Peep it out:



It's not atop my faves, but I'll give it one thumb up...simply because it's a tribute to the fallen BIG.

I just wanna be....successful

OK...first of all, I want to say Happy New Year to all those who are reading this. This is a new year, new decade, alla that good jazz...and of course that means a new beginning of sorts. Many New Years resolutions will be made in the minds and out the mouths of people, but many people will (or maybe won't) be able to keep them. I know for sure, that the end result for these resolutions is to be successful; which is the reason why the first song of the new year for Music Hits the Spot is the above featured.

Now honestly, I wouldn't have expected a collabo between Trey Songz and Drake to be as hot as it is. But as always, a bangin beat would catch the attention when otherwise it would have gotten a real evil side eye when mentioned. Real talk, Drake brought a real flow to this song, at least IMHO. It gives me a feel of the old school music that once attracted me to hip-hop in the first place. I could see this on the soundtrack of one of the hood gangsta movies that we used to watch back in the day.

Now I'm not really the biggest Drake fan (or even Trey Songz for that matter :-P), but I'm a big fan of this duo on this song. Who's to say that they can't do it again...I don't believe it, but as for right now, I'm content with saying that this is up there on my top list of favorite collaborations. Drake brings a flow to this song that I believe is a personal testimony of sorts, which makes this song that much more likeable.

Yeah, I want things to go my way
But as of late, alot of shit been going sideways

Who's to say that you haven't had this type of day...or month...or even year. I know 2009 wasn't the best for me, and I'm praying that 2010 will bring more than what '09 did.

I want the money...money and the cars.
Cars and the clothes....I suppose
I just wanna be....I just wanna be
SUCCESSFUL

Maybe you don't want that same exact thing that Drizzy and Trey want...but in the end, don't we all want the same result: to be successful?

I know I do.