Anyway, I urge you to eat some of the following:
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass.
Aesop Rock has become, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite MC. His voice is authoritative, his beats beat the crap, and it is well-thought-out hip-hop. The title track is my favorite, as I am always a sucker for an addictive synth line, but all the other songs are great. I'm being real. The first few times I listened to this album, every song would elicit the same response from myself to myself. Something like: wow, this might be my second favorite song. I just kind of gave up, but I think Catacomb Kids and Citronella might be the actual second faves. Seriously, this is such a great album. Aesop's best since Float.
Caribou - Andorra.
So, Hooner and Chris have this music blog. It's no Gentle Tyrants, but it has introduced me to some stuff that I love more than either Hoon or Chris. Especially this one (and Georgie James; see below). Listen to the song "Sandy" and you will be hooked. If not, you have no ears. Or, you are wasting the ears that the Lord/evolution gave you. You can even go to Antarctica Starts Here and listen to it. Still not convinced? Check out Melody Day. Or Eli. Or She's The One. Okay? Trust me.
Common - Finding Forever.
Common is cool because he had a feud with Ice Cube back when Ice Cube could throw it. And because Jeremy Piven threw a playing card in his eye - in one of the biggest cinematic experiences of my life, "Smokin' Aces" - but still had the fortitude to save Alicia Keys. And because of his song "Be" off his last album, also titled "Be". And because he seems to be more content with his life than anyone else in the world. Add this album. Truth be told, I don't know that I like it more than "Be", even though I am supposed to because "Be" was known as such a soft and sappish album, but it is still good. I can't remember it verbatim, but there is one line where he talks about being on a treadmill like OKGO. One of the great lines of all time. It's too bad that he is so down with Kanye West and that Kanye West seems to be such a great producer. Chicago seems to have something to say.
Georgie James.
No album really. You can buy their 3-song EP off of iTunes for just a few bucks. C'mon, you can spare a few dollars. You won't regret it. I also heard that they have yet another 3 or 4-song EP coming out this week or next. The best song, and the song that made me love them is "Need Your Needs" (liste here, scroll down to the bottom). "Caketown" or something is an average song (for the frugal among you: save a buck by not getting this song - though, I'm warning you, you might like it more than I do). The third song is a cover of "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)". That's right, the Simon & Garfunk hit. And it is really good. I guess the dude in Georgie James was in Q But Not U.
Trust me.
