Top 5

Top Five Greatest Hip-Hop Performers (Extremely tentative)

1. Q-Tip
2. The Notorious B.I.G.
3. Nas
4. Dr. Dre
5. Andre 3000

1) Tip is definitely at the top for me. After obsessing over A Tribe Called Quest's "Low End Theory" to the extent of listening to parts of it almost every day for a few months I think its fair that he's at the top for me. Overall his lyrics, vocal delivery, and production skills are on another stratosphere. No one else has that smooth voice on the mic. He is also one of the first rappers to really embrace jazz music and include its influence in his production. Tip is always cool, he's always fresh, even after being in the business for over fifteen years.

Suggested Songs: Gettin' Up - The Renaissance, Excursions - A Low End Theory, Sucka Nigga - Midnight Marauders

2) BIGGIE. I got into Biggie about a year ago after a few friends and I would obsess over "Ready To Die" while smoking L's. That album is really all one needs from the Biggie catalog because of its shear ferocity. He really makes one realize how difficult life can be, and consequentially, how luxurious it can be (as seen in his later material). Biggie's voice is one of the most unique rapping mechanisms to ever be seen in rap. He's rough, he's tough, and he'll fuck you up. R.I.P.

Suggested Songs: Things Done Changed - Ready To Die, Respect - Ready To Die, Kick In the Door - Life After Death

3) Nas was my first favorite. Illmatic (along with Ready to Die) is one of the best debut albums in the history of hip-hop. Without loosing his street cred, Nas executes very intellent rhymes with dope beats. He is a very smart man who raps about what he knows and what he's experienced in his rough life (of course with an certain swagger and flare).

Suggested Songs: Halftime - Illmatic, One Time 4 Your Mind - Illmatic, One Mic - Stillmatic

4) Dre is west coast. He deserves most of the credit for inventing the G-Funk production sound, which emphazises on heavy bass lines and 70's funk samples. The Doctor brings some of the most roughest street stories to the table with his album the Chronic, which chronicles (hehe) some of the ups and downs seen on the Compton streets. Dre is also credited with discovering some of hip hops most beloved stars including Snoop Dogg and Eminem.

Suggested Songs: Let Me Ride - The Chronic, Deeez Nuuutz - The Chronic

5) The last choice for my list was a tough one. There are many honorable mentions to be made regarding this list because it was not an easy choice. I wanted to choose a musician who trancended the traditional mold of hip hop like the other four in this list. Andre 3000 of Outkast is this artist to me. Unlike the other four on this list he belongs to the sometimes harshly judged "Southern Rap" label. Dre should not be judged though. He has one of the fastest and most literate flows in hip-hop, which works well with his metro-sexual look.

Suggested Songs: Return of the G - Aquemini, Gasoline Dreams - Stankonia, Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac) - ATLiens


Remember this is all subject to change with my ever evolving musical tastes.

I Want to Walk Around With You

I have been immersed in the thought of being one with nature for several days now. I find the outdoors to take away many of the worries and anxieties that I had been experiencing during my first months at college. It feels good to go back to Schenectady and simply walk around the neighborhoods and wooded areas. I have seen almost all of my friends in their return from various colleges so I really have nothing to look forward to in the coming weeks. I really think its time to express my creativity in some manor. Whether I like it or not, I think that doing something of that nature would truly help my state of mind.


Sincerely,

EMD

Welcome

It feels good to be back in schenectady with the fall brewing. Everyone seems to be treating me more like a college student now, especially my parents. I can do and SAY whatever the fuck I want.

Excellent.


Love,

EMD

Why Animal Collective ranks # 1

For about a year now I have gradually became a serious and legitimate fan of the Brooklyn/Baltimore "band" known as Animal Collective. Although at first I initially reacted to their music with a sharp, "What the fuck?", I have learned to appreciate and idolize these men who play with their computers and guitars on stage to thousands of screaming hipsters.

The thing that sets Animal Collective off for me is their individuality. There are no bands in this world, to me at least, that carry as much creativity and artistic merit as they do. Each song of theirs is a strange, well crafted, and experimental mess. I find myself wondering how so many of their songs are based on the simplest chord progression or on a simple tribal drum sample. It is amazing how one guitar chord played over and over and over can be used as a simple, yet beautiful musical ploy

The lyrics are also comparable to the music itself. Often times I find myself regarding the lyrics as poetic and minimalistic. But sometimes when I'm in the mood, I find myself listening to songs that are fast and heavy, with random, yet poetic lyrics. Nonetheless, each song uses the lyrics as another instrument. To coexist with the beautiful music they create. They have the formula for their music that they re-create after every album or E.P.

Animal Collective's albums are all different. They have all progressed, in my opinion, upwards; with their newest album "Strawberry Jam" ranking # 1 in terms of lyrical content, musical content, and overall creativity. This leads me to believe that they as a band is only getting better and better, with more wild and crazy tribal dances to ensue. I am awaiting their newest album which is slated for release this winter.


Peace,
EMD

An Unknown Land or a Dimension worth Finding

Seek the lovers who give
Their outstretched fingers
For help and passion

Believe the lovers that
Tell tales of old and who
Believe that God is good

Tell the lovers that you will
Indeed follow, follow to an
Unknown, perhaps beautiful
Dimension

An unknown dimension strikes
Beautiful unknown fears of
Failure, love loss, and death

Alas, the lovers have lead
Us into an unknown land
Follow and you will laugh
Smile and clap your hands!

9/5/08

Improvisation # 1 (Annihilation)

Gleam and careen like rain
Following a path to serene
Epic like notes of pain
Emitted from the mouth
Produced inside to provoke
The soul, ones soul like Coltrane
Note for note, single handedly
Beautiful upon request
But rest, rest, rest

No longer viewed as beautiful
Bland
Timeless and basic
Pursue you thoughts
Fix your mind like eyes to Lasik
Improvisation, annihilation
What is earth, not Gods creation
Implement boys onto girls
Girls succumb to boys
All is lost in this loosely based strategy
Two instruments
The man
The woman
The brain and the heart
Test ones skills amongst the beautifully emitted
Tone of the saxophone
The drone, the farmers doth plown our land
For individuals to have sewn
The seed, the seed
Thrust life, combated by unyielding strife ridden
Days, years, decades, centuries, millennia’s, time
Engulfed matter
_______________________________________
Improvisation # 2 (Like a Wave)

Lighthearted spirits take note:
The sun will rise eventually
But already motion will be set perpetually
Like a wave
Therefore resistance acts are futile
Succumb to the ever flowing
Forever floating, binding of
Books, trees, and lead filled pencils
Which appropriately damage
What we adore

Morose feelings escape fruitfully
When fate is accepted
Like a wave

Like a wave, thoughts
And dreams subside
Such compared to an
Ocean tide

9/3/08

Graceful heart and moon
I swoon, swoon, swoon
To see a mere glimpse of you

______________________________


Beauty lies in the fire’s hold
Its grasp reaches thee
You have implemented the fire
Upon me

But die often fires do
Ah but never will my love for you