highly anticipated albums of the year, and what i think.

the most anticipated albums of 2009 in my opinion have actually impressed me to say the least, which surprising because i haven't really been much of a mainstream hip hop listener until recently, since music in that genre is showing a little bit more promise these days. there is good stuff out there, you just have to look past the trends and material hype of the media and all th

at. we will never have another hip hop era like the 80s and early 90s, but instead we have a whole plethora of other things. i think that's what we've been failing to see. some music of our time, yes, is complete garbage. but it depends on who you ask. these artists wouldn't make it anywhere if everyone thought their music sucked, right? but obviously people like me will never be a part of the vast majority all the time.

So I've downloaded some albums, simply because I don't buy albums...I have other things to spend my money on, and I'd much rather have everything on my hard drive so i can bluetooth them to other computers and my phone without having to rip anything.

So I'm going to write these reviews. Hear what I have to say, and maybe at the end if I'm not sick of writing, I'll say a little bit more.

First up: Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3

This album when it came out didn't really excite

me because I thought it was another one of those albums that everyone wants just because of the artist and his associations. I was helping one of my friends out with his math stuff one day, and he was asking if he could come over and download it, since he lives in a dorm, and torrents and file sharing will cost you a hefty fine. So he asked me if I've heard it yet, and i said no, I haven't. I had intentions on listening to some 30 second clips, but never downloading the entire thing. So he said, it's good stuff, and I should give it a shot. This person has an interesting taste in hip hop, so I was like, well it can't be that bad. So I downloaded it, and listened to it. It's not like any

thing that Jay-Z has put out before, the beats are more captivating, and I've always kind of liked his rapping style. Actually, I like a lot of northern rappers because of the way they rap. and he had collaborations with a lot of other artists like Kid Cudi, Alicia Keys, and Kanye West...and there was a new guy named J. Cole I liked a lot. So overall, I think it was a good album considering the state that music is in. I give it a B+.

Next Album: Kid Cudi: Man on the Moon: The End of the Day (i hope i remembered it correctly)

Great Album, I don't think anyone was expecting any of the stuff on it. Kid Cudi gave everyone a rap impression with "Make Her Say" featuring Common and Kanye West, which is one of my favorites on the album. Most of this album, though, is a rap-sung style. a lot of his verses are sung which is some different stuff in the game these days. Which is pretty cool. I like his whole surreal, out-

of-this-world theme that he has going on. His music videos also reflect that. I think his music is good for listening, and just that. Some of them are foot-tappers, but not really a get-up-and-move album. I still really like it though. "Man on the Moon" and "Enter Galactic" are also some good ones to hear. I also liked his mixtape that was released earlier (A Kid Named Cudi), two songs called "Embrace the Martian" and "50 Ways to Make a Record". 50 Ways is a sample of a song called "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon, recorded in 1975.

Overall, GREAT ALBUM.

And...Wale, Attention:Deficit

I love this album. I heard better lyricists as far as the cadences and syncopation in their raps, but Wale has a way with words. There are some artists that you can tell whether or not they know how to use the English languages and the words in it, or if they're just trying to make their bars rhyme. He has a nice flow though, and it's good stuff for a debut album. Wale has been around for a while, but this is his first real thing, and I think it's pretty good. The only song on there I change when it comes on is called "Pretty Girls" featuring Gucci Mane. And you probably know why. I really like"Diary" and "TV in the Radio" featuring K'Naan. The first time I've heard K'Naan rap was when he had a freestyle at the Hip Hop Awards or something last year. I liked his freestyle, and his verse on "TV in the Radio" is also a real nice one. Wale's album in my opinion was pretty impressive, and i know a lot of people who like "Chillin" featuring Lady Gaga. She kinda reminds me of M.I.A. in that song, but whatever, it's cool, I like it. I also think it's cool that DC and PG county are kinda on the map now, and Wale is also a Nigerian who happens to be from the same tribe as I am, which really didn't influence my opinion before. Just interesting to know.

GOOD album, I give it two thumbs up.

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as far as the whole industry is concerned, I really want to hear more of J. Cole, K'Naan and there are some others I can't think of.

Oldies? LAURYN HILL. hands down. she is one of best female vocalists ever. I still listen to eminem's Slim Shady EP and the Marshall Mathers LP. Curtain Call is good too, eminem is VERY talented, i don't understand that garbage he put out this year. but it's different, so I respect it. Bizzare and some other D-12 artists are also pretty good, listen to a song called "No One's Iller", it's on Slim Shady EP, and there's a song called "What's the Difference" on Dr. Dre's 2001 album.

Hope you liked my review! you know, despite all the typos i probably had in there... hahahahaasjdhajshdas=]

let's switch things up a bit.

So, I kind of want to get into my blogging more, people say they like my blogs and I should write more of them, but I think I'm thinking too hard about it lol. So I'm just going to start doing random shit, and my goal is to write something at least once a week.

Ok, so lately, I've been thinking that I don't want to lose the little bit of talent I have in music..lol so I want to improve my piano skills back up again. I want to get at least as good as I used to be. It won't be easy, but I think it's worth it. I can still read music, thank God, but I can't do it as fast as I used to. Like I see the notes and know what they are, but I've been away from the keys so long, I actually have to look down at my hands. So then I have to label my music to save myself the time lol.

Ughhh but it's annoying and I will overcome it. I decided that on Tuesdays, after my World Politics class, which is over at 12:15, I'll go to the Performing Arts Center and practice some stuff. I think that should build up my skill a little bit. And any other time that I might happen to be on campus with nothing to do, I'm going to go there.

I miss my fucking keys man...I used to just play for the sake of playing, like playing instruments used to calm me down when I was upset about things. But it's almost lost to me now...

So I'm learning this song called, "One Time" by Justin Bieber, you've probably heard it before, and you probably are asking "What the hell" when I said that. Yeah, Justin Bieber may seem a little cheesy, but when the song is played on the piano, it's amazing. The sheet music that I took a picture of is the simplified version...I'll do the more advanced one when I get better again. The piano arrangements that I've heard people transcribe on youtube sound so beautiful so I decided that I wanted to try that song. A lot of people who do this song sing along with it, but I'll decide whether or not to do that once I learn the chords...and ALL the words to the song.

I'm pretty sure that I'll never record it though. lol

But I will record myself playing something, once I get up and running again.

Otherwise, I think I'm doing pretty well...uh huh.

I think I'm going to start making greater use of my youtube. I don't know what I'll be doing, maybe I'll do some video blogs sometime. like when I go places. But yessir, that is my blog. =]

Hope you likedd....

-trip.

music, when we meet again...

i think most people who appreciate music can agree with me when i say music has deteriorated as a whole. like everybody who was somebody back in the day has either taken a huge hiatus, retired, or died :( but its crazy the direction that music has headed. it's depressing. I can't even religiously listen to mainstream music or music that comes out nowadays for the most part. most of it is GARBAGE. like I'm waiting for Lauryn hill to get it together and come out with something. even if its just an album with like 5 songs on it, that's fine lol. Lauryn hill has disappointed me with her antics, but I'll never forget that she is a freaking musical genius. how many artists do you know that can do everything that she did; excelling in singing and rapping? and don' tell me that you didn't love sister act II.

And hip hop has been falling apart for a long time. but to clear things up, I don't think "Soulja Boy single-handedly killed hip-hop" as Ice-T said. I actually respect Soulja Boy to some extent because hip hop started out as a music of originality. Not saying he's the most original artist out there, but I'd listen to him over Hurricane Chris any day. talking about, "let's get ratchettttt". what the hell?

But if I had to choose the best rappers of today in my opinion, it would be Eminem (even though Relapse kinda sucks), Kanye West (even though he's really, really cocky), Common, Kid Cudi, and there are a few others but I can't remember them right now.

But I stick to old school as far as music is concerned. Ever since Michael Jackson died, I've been listening to him, The Jacksons, the Jackson 5, and some of the Jacksons' solo projects. There really is no other family like the Jacksons'.

And everything else, like i said, OLD SCHOOL.

But maybe music will rescue itself for everyone's sake. Music is a huge part of my life, and I'm not just saying that because everyone else does. Every part of it, the instrumentals, the arrangement, I notice it. Knowing music and its history is important to me, so I listen to everything from Tchaikovsky to the Al Jolson and Cab Calloway.

you know what's funny...I'm listening to DMX right now. Isn't he in jail? lol.

but you know, that's really just the gist of it. Bottom line is, I am disgusted by music right now.

I have something funny for you guys to listen to. On Eminem's Relapse album, there is a skit called "Steve Berman"

"you took vacations while the music industry melts the fuck down?"

hahahaa

but thanks for readingggg. later.

i guess. ♥

i'm a bit inspired..

Despite the fact that it's 6:47 am, and I really should be asleep like everyone else in the dorm (except my roommate, morgan...she's up with me). But we want to go get breakfast this morning, and we didn't got to bed until almost 6am so we decided to stay up. I was up studying for today's lab practical - wish me luck by the way- and you know, that has led me to write a blog....you know, among other things.

Okay, so like I was on facebook earlier and somebody posted a video on someone else's wall. it was a video of a beat-boxing flute player named Greg Pattillo. He is effing AMAZING. Here's one of his videos...

but I feel inspired because I went to his youtube account and he also has a video of him performing at the subway in new york..in front of the Q train. but this time he was playing with a cellist. I used to be a cellist, and when i saw this collaboration, it kind of makes me want to perfect my string instrument game. I don't have a cello anymore, though, but I do have a violin. however, my violin has a bad A string, and it sounds "absolutely dreadful" to the ear. 

But I remember when me and Kiersten used to play our instruments together because we were the only ones in out group of friends who could play instruments. She plays the flute and the piano primarily, and she can also play guitar. I play the piano and the string instruments, I am still learning the guitar, and we both can play the drums. We used to play around, and at one point, considered starting a group with jessica, since she sings...heheheh

but you know, that never went anywhere. but I really think instruemental music is the best thing that ever happened to me, and i would be nothing without it. i just wish that i had more time on my hands to practice. hopefully this summer i can get good at my instruments again.

things like this make me miss band.

but that video really made my day, believe it or not. That guy is AMAZING and if her ever came in the Baltimore area, me and Kiersten are going to go watch him. :)