music

The JLV’s Top 5 Greatest vs. Top 5 Favorite MCs of All Time

January 22, 2009 Jose

On Facebook, I came across a slight problem that most hip-hop heads come across whenever a major hip-hop event happens (i.e. the release of Notorious, the movie): how do we qualify our short-list of greatest MCs and favorite MCs? I put up my thoughts to the masses and got a good 30+ responses, ranging from [...]

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Short Notes: Vale La Pena (It’s Worth The Sorrow)

July 20, 2008 Short Notes

1. I just love writing. I really do. No, no long reflections or juxtapositions. Just needed to get that out there. Lately, I’ve thought about what how happy writing makes me, even when my own writing here has become a subject of contention in different areas. My musings about life, love, and the pursuit of [...]

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Feels So Good

July 17, 2008 Jose

Humble. That’s the one word I would use for 2-time Grammy winning jazz artist, Chuck Mangione. He’s made the theme song for millions (no, really, he was commissioned to make the 1980 Winter Olympics song, “Give It All You Got,” instant classic), and has made (I’m guessing here) tons of money in the process. When [...]

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Short Notes: Or You Got A Wicked Jump Shot

November 18, 2007

Sunday’s a great day to write these random thoughts: – Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life” is a really great song. I didn’t realize how dope it was until I went out last night and actually took a listen to it. I downloaded it off iTunes, and have it on my iPod nano a.k.a. “Knight [...]

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Tay Zonday: Original Gangsta

August 23, 2007

On April 22nd, 2007, Tay Zonday releases “Chocolate Rain” to the Internet world. 3 months later, the YouTube showing is the most popular viral video in the world, garnering thousands of spoofs, but also tons of mentions from Best Week Ever to Wall Street Journal. He’s even performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Music critics worldwide [...]

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Crazy Eights

August 3, 2007 Jose

Borrowed from J. Dakar: The Rules: 1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts. 2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves. 3. People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules. 4. At the end of your blog, you need [...]

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More or Less

July 18, 2007 Jose

Many of you are familiar with Talib Kweli the artist. Since the days of Black Star, he’s blossomed into a premier face for hip-hop music. Unfortunately, because of the topics he discusses (politics, hip-hop, and urban community issues are among his favorites), he’s often type casted for a niche audience. What that usually means is [...]

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Follow the Leader

April 12, 2007

I wrote this a few weeks ago in another site in response to someone’s inquiry as to why I believe Rakim’s the greatest rapper of all time. It bothers me a little that he doesn’t have an official website, and the last time someone tried to pay homage to him through a site, it was [...]

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Supernatural Force

March 15, 2007

Law #27 in Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power states: “Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following” Yesterday, Maná demonstrated that law in Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous arena. Before the show, I heard about the band from most of my Central and South American friends, who absolutely love [...]

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I Wish I Wrote That Song

February 22, 2007

*** Quick Update on the last blog: Soon after I wrote this blog, massive reports came out about the tons of violence that happened during that weekend. Superficially, one would say “See, Mayor Goodman was right.” What bothers me, though, is that past All-Star games were far more crowded and more violent, yet didn’t make [...]

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