Too many colabos, not enough covers
Tonight while sitting in my car on my second break at 2:30am like a big nerd, I caught the tail end of a hip-hop jam on Kiss FM. The beat was sort of retro and catchy and there were three artists featured. I know Busta Rhymes was in there because he's distinctive and a favorite of mine. I think Akon was doing the backing and then there was a third, unidentifiable female rocking the hook. Here's by beef; I love a good collabo (that's a collaboration between hip-hop artists mom), but recently there's been a major surge of such tracks and a troubling trend has developed. Let me break down the scenario. I hear song X on the rad-E-o. I enjoy song X and desire to hear a full version. Unfortunately the, now more than ever, attribution-free radio station neglects to tell me who the artists on song X are, what the name of song X is, or what album song X does, or may eventually appear on. This disturbing lack of information causes me to spend moments of my life searching the Lord's gift to the search engine savvy for answers. These are moments I will never get back. Additionally, while I'm all for the intermingling of styles, it's all to common to find a joint (that's slang for a song mom, I'm not on drugs) that would be otherwise spectacular were it not for the ill-advised whack verse by any number of Johny Cant-raps or Tony No-rhythms (are you listening Swizz Beats? You're a great producer, stick to your strengths). It was one thing when just two well known artists would get together and rock the mic, at least then I had a 50/50 shot, but once you get into three or more MCs it's a crap shoot.
Darek's Top 5 Hip-Hop Collabos
5) 2Pac feat. Digital Underground - "I Get Around"
-Maybe a stretch to call it a collabo since 2Pac might as well have been in DU, but still one of the best multi-MC records of all time
4) Waren G. feat. Nate Dogg - "Regulators"
-I think "classic" best describes it
3) Snoop Dogg feat. Dr. Dre - "Nothin' but a "G" Thang"
-Two of hip-hop's finest on the best track on arguably one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time
2) Jay-Z feat. Linkin Park - "Jigga What/Faint "
-I really could have put any song from the Collision Course album on here but this is my favorite. I know I'd get shit from hip-hop purists for putting a rock band on the list but there are three major points to backup my argument; 1) Jay-Z is on the track and he's one of the best ever to do it, 2) Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park can really flow and his Fort Minor album proves that, and 3) No hip-hop purists will ever read this
1) Mary J. Blige feat. Method Man - "You're All I Need"
-Easily the best urban love song ever and if I'm not mistaken.....yep, I still know Meth's entire verse
Conversely, something I see painfully little of are decent cover tunes. Now, I'm fully aware of licensing fees and royalty issues but there are few things I enjoy more than hearing an artists I enjoy rocking the familiar chords or hook to a song I equally enjoy by another of my chosen staple of performers. And let me clarify that I'm not talking about the cross-genre sample-craze that's prevalent throughout hip-hop these days which, while popular before his time, I blame Kanye for (nothin' but love Kanye). I'll admit to enjoying "Girl" by Paul Wall which speeds up the chorus from "Oh Girl" by the Chi-Lites, but Rihanna's use of Soft Cell's version of "Tainted Love" on her song "S.O.S." is the sort of thing I don't condone. Sure it's arbitrary, but that's my prerogative now isn't it. What I prefer to hear is an artist take a song that may or may not come from a completely different genre, and not just use parts of it, but put his or her own unique spin on it while leaving the structure and lyrics of the song intact. Hip-hop hasn't quite gotten the hang of this and that's ok, but I'd love to hear some of the modern day rock bands kick out some classic jams that aren't their own. I'm the first to admit that I rocked out to "Faith" by Limp Bizkit back when they were the greatest band on earth. Scoff all you want but if you were a dude during my junior year of high school you were into Limp Bizkit and you know it. And Linkin Park's cover of "My Own Summer" by the Deftones is amazing even if it is of a similar style. I just can't get enough of that sort of thing.
Darek's Top 5 Cover Tunes
5) Jason Mraz covering Kermit the Frog - "Rainbow Connection"
-Actually, this is the only song about rainbows I've ever heard, but who am I to argue with a puppet
4) Barenaked Ladies covering Wham! - "Careless Whisper"
-Nothing like an often maligned Canadian band covering a song by one of the most stereotypically cheesy 80's groups of all time
3) Paranoid Social Club covering Nine Inch Nails - "Closer"
-Granted, few people have heard it since they're a lesser known band, but I've caught it live twice now and not only does the band nail it but the crowd always goes crazy
2) Jason Mraz covering Bob Marley - "One Love"
-An amazing song performed by an under-appreciated white boy with a lot of soul, who truly loves the song and it's message
1) Ben Folds covering Dr. Dre/NWA - "Bitches Ain't Shit"
-Currently featured on my Myspace page. Just let the awesome wash over you...
Honorable Mention: Busta Rhymes feat. Jim Carrey - "Grinch 2000"
-It's a collabo AND a cover. Plus, it's hilariously fantastic, 'nuff said.
Darek's Top 5 Hip-Hop Collabos
5) 2Pac feat. Digital Underground - "I Get Around"
-Maybe a stretch to call it a collabo since 2Pac might as well have been in DU, but still one of the best multi-MC records of all time
4) Waren G. feat. Nate Dogg - "Regulators"
-I think "classic" best describes it
3) Snoop Dogg feat. Dr. Dre - "Nothin' but a "G" Thang"
-Two of hip-hop's finest on the best track on arguably one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time
2) Jay-Z feat. Linkin Park - "Jigga What/Faint "
-I really could have put any song from the Collision Course album on here but this is my favorite. I know I'd get shit from hip-hop purists for putting a rock band on the list but there are three major points to backup my argument; 1) Jay-Z is on the track and he's one of the best ever to do it, 2) Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park can really flow and his Fort Minor album proves that, and 3) No hip-hop purists will ever read this
1) Mary J. Blige feat. Method Man - "You're All I Need"
-Easily the best urban love song ever and if I'm not mistaken.....yep, I still know Meth's entire verse
Conversely, something I see painfully little of are decent cover tunes. Now, I'm fully aware of licensing fees and royalty issues but there are few things I enjoy more than hearing an artists I enjoy rocking the familiar chords or hook to a song I equally enjoy by another of my chosen staple of performers. And let me clarify that I'm not talking about the cross-genre sample-craze that's prevalent throughout hip-hop these days which, while popular before his time, I blame Kanye for (nothin' but love Kanye). I'll admit to enjoying "Girl" by Paul Wall which speeds up the chorus from "Oh Girl" by the Chi-Lites, but Rihanna's use of Soft Cell's version of "Tainted Love" on her song "S.O.S." is the sort of thing I don't condone. Sure it's arbitrary, but that's my prerogative now isn't it. What I prefer to hear is an artist take a song that may or may not come from a completely different genre, and not just use parts of it, but put his or her own unique spin on it while leaving the structure and lyrics of the song intact. Hip-hop hasn't quite gotten the hang of this and that's ok, but I'd love to hear some of the modern day rock bands kick out some classic jams that aren't their own. I'm the first to admit that I rocked out to "Faith" by Limp Bizkit back when they were the greatest band on earth. Scoff all you want but if you were a dude during my junior year of high school you were into Limp Bizkit and you know it. And Linkin Park's cover of "My Own Summer" by the Deftones is amazing even if it is of a similar style. I just can't get enough of that sort of thing.
Darek's Top 5 Cover Tunes
5) Jason Mraz covering Kermit the Frog - "Rainbow Connection"
-Actually, this is the only song about rainbows I've ever heard, but who am I to argue with a puppet
4) Barenaked Ladies covering Wham! - "Careless Whisper"
-Nothing like an often maligned Canadian band covering a song by one of the most stereotypically cheesy 80's groups of all time
3) Paranoid Social Club covering Nine Inch Nails - "Closer"
-Granted, few people have heard it since they're a lesser known band, but I've caught it live twice now and not only does the band nail it but the crowd always goes crazy
2) Jason Mraz covering Bob Marley - "One Love"
-An amazing song performed by an under-appreciated white boy with a lot of soul, who truly loves the song and it's message
1) Ben Folds covering Dr. Dre/NWA - "Bitches Ain't Shit"
-Currently featured on my Myspace page. Just let the awesome wash over you...
Honorable Mention: Busta Rhymes feat. Jim Carrey - "Grinch 2000"
-It's a collabo AND a cover. Plus, it's hilariously fantastic, 'nuff said.