#$%@$^@#$^!!!! (pt. 2)

Argggg. Ok, so when EZarchive went down, we thought Fileden would be a good (free) alternative to host our MP3 files. Turns out, we've already exceeded our storage and bandwidth capacity, so our files are not available for download until we find a new service (f*bleep*ing sh*bleep*ttt!). Hopefully, this won't take more than a week or so, but we'll be back up again once we've relocated.

Kingdom Done

[HIPPO’S HELLO: Just like Hova, GETDOWNNN IS BACK!!! We were retired for awhile since Ezarchive was down, but now were back and better than ever. Were slowly putting up the links to our most popular old posts and if there’s a track that we don’t repost that you’d like, send us and email and will send it to you. We plan on posting twice a week so be on the look out. IT’S A CELEBRATION.]

It’s good to blow the dust off this blog and kick it off with one of my favorites, Jay-Z. Jigga’s back out of retirement and we got you Exclusive Heads covered. While listening to Kingdom Come won’t make me forget Reasonable Doubt or The Blueprint, it’s pretty solid. The album is more cohesive from track to track than The Black Album. Anyways, it’s good to be back and without further ado:

[MP3] Jay-Z :: Oh My God
{My favorite Just Blaze produced track on the album.}

[MP3] Jay-Z :: 30 Something
{With nice production by Dr. Dre, Jigga shows his flow, “I’m young enough to know the right car to buy, yet grown enough not to put rims on it”…from one elder to another, word.}

[MP3] Jay-Z feat. Chris Martin :: Beach Chair
{Was especially worried what this was going to sound like after I heard that Coldplay and Gwyneth Paltrow were Jay’s newest friends…at least the title for this isn’t “apple”.}

Here’s to no more youtube posts...for now.
::MISTA HIPPO::

Love me or Leave me

The other day, someone asked me what my favorite song was. Not a top 5, not a favorite old school jam, not a favorite remix, but what was the ONE song that I liked more than any other. Gahhh. I couldn’t even come close to an answer. All these artists’ names started swimming through my head; William Bell, Aceyalone, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Nas, Radiohead, ughhhh. And although I couldn’t come up with a song, one artist’s name kept coming up in my head: Nina Simone. “I Loves You Porgy,” “I Put a Spell on You,” “Baltimore,” “Sinnerman,” “The Other Woman,” “Love me or Leave Me.” All amazing songs.

Had Nina only recorded a few great songs, she would still be a standout, but the breadth and depth of her catalog is unsurpassed. In my mind, only James Brown comes close, but somehow Nina has a slight edge. Not because the Godfather of Soul isn’t a truly great artist, but I just don’t feel his music as much as I do Nina Simone’s. And that’s what it really comes down to for me. Nina’s voice is steeped in intensity. Every note simmers with emotion and tension. Whether pain, anger, longing, or love, you can’t help but feel her music and become absorbed and lost in her voice. Not only that, but she’s a virtuoso on the piano (check out her Bach interpolation on “Love me or Leave me.”)

[MP3] Nina Simone :: Love me or Leave Me
[MP3] Nina Simone :: Don’t Let me be Misunderstood
[MP3] Nina Simone :: Black is the Color of my True Love’s Hair

|bruce banner|

ARSENIOOOOOOOOOOO HALL!!!!!!

For 5 years this show ruled the air waves exposing many to things many people would have never seen on national TV (whether Radiohead or some of the greatest MCs to walk the planet). He really broadened the spectrum, even though his interview style might have sucked and he may have had an extremely large index finger.

{Cod damn! Tribute on his last show.}

{Nice doo}

{Real lil' Lil' Bow Wow}

{Beasties with special guests}

{Where’s Cube? Crazy how some of the topics still exist today (ie war in the Middle East). RIP E-Z.}

::MISTA HIPPO::