Dope Music Saturday

It's a "Dope Music Saturday" that's right hitting you off with a few joints that you may not have heard in a minute! Before I get into that I have to take a moment to say RIP to the best rapper of all times! The ill-est MC to spit a hot 16 of course I'm talking about The NOTORIOUS B.I.G. who was tragically killed today 16 years ago! We will always love Big Poppa! So get into this dope music for you on this Saturday. Enjoy and stay up!

Best Male Soul Voices

Soul. How does one define it? Especially when it comes to the essence of Soul Music. There are and have been a lot of male soul singers that have graced us with their savory and melodic presence. As I sit here composing this blog my mind starts to wonder about the best male singers to set fire to song like a three-alarm fire that you don't want to put out. I am talking about singers who make you feel every inch of their pain, love and desires in every word they sing.

So do me the favor and listen to some of my favorite Soul Male singers and let me know what you think. I know this will be up for discussion so let the talks begin. I decided to add old and new on this list from David Ruffin, Sam Cooke to Bilal. Comment or tweet me @stretch_66 your thoughts and favorite singers. Enjoy.

Still Missing You

It's odd how fast time flies by and we all tend to go on with our lives and day-by-day we start to lose a connection with the ones we have lost along the way. I can recall where I was the day I heard Aaliyah passed away 11 years ago. We going back to the days of two-way pagers here folks. I was still working at 92Q in Baltimore and it was a Saturday night. I was with my co-workers Egypt and Breeze and we were going to some club. Oddly, enough I have forgotten the name of the club but I will never forget the day I got the news Aaliyah passed. My pager was going off the hook with so many different versions of what happened. This was BG (Before Google) days and TMZ albeit the worldwide web was in effect it wasn't where it is now. So it took a minute for the story to be confirmed. I remember when it was we were in the club and we made the announcement and silent hush took over the club. It went from a room full of sweat and sultry dancing to tears and confusion.

It's funny how God always puts things or shows you things in life. A few weeks before Aaliyah's untimely death she was at the radio station doing the mandatory radio visit. I have to admit I was a fan that day! At the time my show was from 10pm-2am and when I got off the air I was so geeked to meet her that I just stayed at the station until she came around 8am or so. Who would have known that would be the first and last time we would meet. Life is full of uncertainty and disappointments but I have to say that day was a blessing more than any other. So in honor of the "Baby Girl", I put together this play list of some of my favorite songs by her. A beauty and talent gone too soon but in the best hands right now! Enjoy and always remember the ones we lose.

Stretch

Legend Lost

*This was originally written a few days after Michael's death on June 25, 2009*

It seems surreal typing this right now. Even after all the CNN, BET, MTV and Vh-1 coverage, I still can't grasp the fact that Michael Jackson is gone. We all have our stories of what Mike meant to us and what song made us want to throw our cares away and just dance the night away. I can remember growing up in Baltimore and wanting to watch Friday night videos to see the new talked about video from Michael of course known as 'Thriller.' As a 6-year-old in 1982, I was scared out of mind of that video but it was intoxicating to me even at a young age. I begged my mom to let to stay up to watch it and although I closed my eyes a few times I was hooked. Michael became my favorite artist of all times from that day forth.

I like any other kid and or teenager wanted to move like Mike. I wanted to have the precise moves and feet of magic. In our lifetime we rarely have a chance if ever to encounter greatness. I can honestly say I (we) all have encountered greatness from a special child from Gary, Indiana who grew to become the 'King Of Pop.' His music is timeless and fresh and will last for centuries to come.

Growing up I was that class-clown and some may argue I am still but I digress. :) But one of my favorite things to do and still till today is to dance like Michael Jackson. I had the moves down to a 'T'. There wasn't a time when I wouldn't bust out in a Mike dance routine as a kid when 'Beat It' came on the radio. Or in the hallways and talents shows at school. Most took it for laughs because of my long branchy body flying all over the place but to me I was Michael. I even took that same feeling as I became a man. Still today I will get a circle around me to bust out some Mike when one of his many songs hit the airwaves.

I know many will try to focus on the odd and peculiar things that have happen in the latter years of his life. But I ask why? We all have our demons and flaws in our life but just because this man was bigger than life it was blown out of proportion and set for the world to see. I believe those who were so quickly to revel in his greatness and pat him on the back were also the first to casts stones at him and shun him when things went bad. Michael was a visionary and truly gifted artist. He will be missed and greatly admired for his work to heal the world! Folks may focus on his idiosyncrasies and odd behavior at times but that won't ever take away from the bright star he was and will always be. Again in our lifetime we are only given a chance to witness greatness and when we do we must cherish those moments. So much love goes out to Michael Jackson. Thank you for all the magic you created and may God protect you now in the gates of heaven.

Enjoy this play list that I put together of some of my favorite Michael Jackson songs!

Happy Birthday Prince!

Today is a day fit for a King err...I mean Prince! It's Prince's 56th birthday! All hail the Prince!

On this special day, I thought I'd show my appreciation to a man, who has been coined a musical genius, in this time.  The eclectic styles and transformations of Prince have been noted  as well as celebrated throughout his 56 years on this place called Earth. He has made music that our grand children's grand kids will be rocking to til the end of time! So join me in wishing the Purple One a happy birthday--"Let's Go Crazy" on "A Raspberry Beret" and stir up a little "Controversy", while the "Purple Rain" falls from the sky and we watch "Erotic City" come alive, I guess that's just the "Sign O' The Times" so said "Darling Nikki" who also shouted "Baby I'm A Star!!"


https://play.google.com/music/playlist/AMaBXyleLmM2hIpn3FI3Rn0z3Tx0wYYHY6R0CbLreufWDGmmSUtfrAWvW6x0BPdLLp19EOq-Rq9XPpr7x1sSCVqHeCQ6BY938w%3D%3D

Happy Birthday Mr. Prince Nelson Rogers!

Enjoy the special Prince mix I put together in honor of his b-day!

Kane Is Still Able

It has nearly been 25 years since Antonio Hardy had his debut on Cold Chillin' Records, dropping his notorious single "Raw" to the hip-hop masses. As a 12-year-old kid back in 1988 all I knew was Thundercats, G.I. Joe, my ever growing crush on Hillary Grimm and Big Daddy Kane! When I reflect on how music especially hip-hop has evolved and then regressed over the past 25 years, there is one consummate that holds true and that is Kane was a ill MC back then and can still hold his own today.

I was in the gym working out and was just tossing up those 20 pound dumbbells like nothing when I was listening to "Ain't No Half Steppin'" and was just floored on how Kane was so precise and clever with his wordplay. It is said that he was Jay before Jay-Z. Yes, Kane came before his time and didn't benefit monetarily like MC's  rappers do today, but I think today's rappers can benefit off of Kane today. Kane brought swag before swag was even thought about, he had an energy about him that illuminated from his records and he actually had something to say! It was about two years ago when I saw Kane in Brooklyn at Prospect Park and he killed it! Okay, he may have put on a few more pounds and aged a bit but watching him perform you couldn't tell. So the question is could Big Daddy Kane hold his own today as a current artist in today's digital world and sub-par rappers? I think we all know that answer and that is a 44-year-old Big Daddy Kane is 90% better than most of the cats out here now claiming to be rappers.

Go back in time with me and enjoy some classic Kane tracks let the King Asiatic Nobody's Equal school us all.  It is of course "A Big Daddy Thing!" 

Rainy Night Remedy

Hey world! How goes it on this Sunday evening? Well I'm posted up in my favorite spot right now which is Starbucks. I love to come here and write, people watch and listen to the music. Tonight is nothing different except for the rain that continues to fall. Which of course has led me to think about songs that focus on "rain."

The element of rain can be used in many ways in a song. My favorite of course is in a slow  jam to set the mood. So here is my play list of "Rain" themed songs. If you have a favorite that I didn't include let me know. Leave a comment. Enjoy your Sunday night and relish in the rain. Follow me on Twitter @stretch166