I’ve gotta say, I’m a little disappointed with this video. Not that I had high expectations, but when the word leaked that Kanye West would be directing this joint, I figured he might have some tricks up his sleeve that would attempt to give this video more of an epic feel (like we generally see in Kanye’s videos).

Instead, we got some story about a basketball team stacked (literally) full of models. And I’m not complaining about that part, but figured one of the best songs of the year would also have one of the best videos and this isn’t even the best video I’ve seen today.

Try again ‘Ye or better yet, go back to making music without auto-tune, please.

I had no clue they ever made a video for this track. One of my all-time favorites. Thanks PowerPlayed!!!

This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen!!! Read more about it below the video.

playingforchange.com – From the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music”, comes the first of many “songs around the world” being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it travelled the globe.

Order the CD/DVD Playing For Change “Songs Around The World” now at amazon.com!
tinyurl.com/c6mhgd

The Playing For Change “Songs Around The World” CD/DVD is now available at your neighborhood Starbucks and everywhere music is sold.

Order the “Stand By Me,” “Don’t Worry,” “One Love,” and “War/No More Trouble” videos and the new Songs Around The World album now at itunes!
tinyurl.com/pfcitunes

Sign up at playingforchange.com for updates and exclusive content. You can also buy cool stuff in our new online store!

Join the Playing for Change Online Street Team at:
ufanz.com/teams/playingforchange

Join the movement to help inspire people from around the world to come together through music

Guess it really is all about the marketing.

I stumbled on to this video earlier today on PowerPlayed and have had the track stuck in my head ever since. Cool video, great collabo and another great first impression!

I’m really liking a lot of the independent hip-hop I’ve been finding lately and think this is a joint I’ll be bumping well into the summer!

My good friend and the godfather of Gangsta Rap, Ron Spaulding, was twittering from this show on Tuesday night and I could tell by his excitement in his posts that something remarkable was going on.

This is just something that’s great to see. Jeff Beck, an amazing guitar player, and Rod Stewart, an amazing vocalist, hadn’t shared the stage together in 25 years after a long history of collaboration and playing in the same group. They couldn’t have executed this reunion in a more surprising fashion.

Watch Beck’s reaction when Stewart starts belting out the vocals to “People Get Ready”. It’s priceless. You can tell he had no clue Stewart was even in the house and stares in disbelief for a few moments. They go on without missing a beat and pulled off a great impromptu set by following up with “I Ain’t Superstitious”, which was recorded 41 years ago! How’s that for longevity?

This is what I love about music. When there are no gimmicks, no theatrics–just undeniable talent. Hip-Hop can learn a lot from these guys.

I was on Facebook last week and put Joe Budden on my list for top 5 favorite MCs for one of those Living Social surveys. I knew I was going to get called out on that pick, but I was ready to defend it by specifically citing “Dumb Out” as the best mixtape track of all time. Any MC that can keep me captivated with every bar for over 7 minutes (or 15 on WHO), is top 5 in my book.

I saw Joe perform “Dumb Out” live a few years back at an Allhiphop Week event and have the same gripe with this performance; he doesn’t have the breath control to rock the entire track over a beat. I’m not knocking the dude because it’s a long track, has no hook and he doesn’t use a hype man. I just wish he could do it.

Try the patch Joey! It works!

Regardless, both of these videos are hot and “Dumb Out” is such a lyrical masterpiece that it sounds great acapella.

Hit the jump for Part 2

Props to Nah Right and OKP

Read more »

This is my first impression of Nyle. I’m impressed!

Let the Beat Build is by far my favorite track from Lil Wayne’s Carter III album and anyone that can get a hot selection of studio musicians to recreate it is getting props from me!

Nyle “Let The Beat Build” from Nyle on Vimeo.

Props to Nah Right as always for the introduction!

Apparently, Jones has diversified his portfolio and is no longer only in the Big Ass Truck Rental & Storage business. Glad to see he’s doing well in this recession!

I guess after watching Marley and Me last weekend, I’ve been loving these sappy, tear-jerking stories (although this appears it will have a happy ending unlike that poor dog).

I’m a little late on this, but since this is primarily a hip-hop blog, I’ll take my chances on the fact that many of you haven’t seen it either.

No need for a formal introduction, as that is taken care of in the video, but be sure you actually let it roll until she starts singing, as I assure you this is no joke.

CNN is reporting that Simon Cowell is already working on getting her a record deal. Amazing.

Peep the lyrics too. The song selection just makes this performance that much more remarkable.

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high,
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

Then I was young and unafraid
When dreams were made and used,
And wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung,
No wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
As they turn your dreams to shame.

And still I dream he’ll come to me
And we will live our lives together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms
We cannot weather…

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seems
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.