Valentines Day

It's Valentines day... so I made a picture. Also, check out Cupid's stanky leg action.

What I'm Listening To

What I'm Listening to

Smitty

One of Arizona's finest. Smitty has been making quality hip hop lately. He's got nice lyricism, but he also keeps it fun and high energy. Check out his new album, get swagged out, tell your friends.

What I'm Listening To

Dom Siruis The 1963 LP

Dom Sirius's album is finally done. He put a lot of work into it and it turned out amazing. It's really dope so you should definitely check it out.

Dom Sirius - "1963"

Another single from Dom Sirius. This one has a little bit of a different vibe than "Cool as the Gang", but it goes hard, nonetheless.

Knowledge Reigns Supreme?

This is a quote by Big L from the song, "Da Graveyard". I'm not sure how much thought he put into it or what exactly he meant, but I always found that line to be particularly interesting and poignant.

Every day, I see people at school who are obsessed with academic perfection. They study for freakishly long hours, get into heated arguments with professors about fractions of percentages on grades, and are fiercely competitive about test scores. Furthermore, they give off the vibe that a person's value is closely tied to their success (or lack thereof) in school. A person with higher grades is a rival or idol, and a person with lower grades is an unintelligent loser.

This view seems simple and narrow minded. Do these people ever stop and consider that school judges individuals in a very specific manner on very specific subjects. With such a narrow focus, it's inevitable some people will be less than perfect. Also, there are people who simply choose not to put all of their effort into that particular area.

Believe it or not, there's more to life than test scores and final grades. In most cases, education is intended merely to be a means to an end. If someone feels that they can achieve their desired end without devoting excessive amounts of time and attention to the means, does that really make them a less valuable person? Does being the best at school really make someone a more valuable person outside of the classroom?

Basically, my point is that people should chill out. Education and intelligence are important things, but they certainly are not the most or only important things. To me, "I don't have it all upstairs, but who the f--k cares?" expresses all of this in a blunt, concise package. Unfortunately, Big L died in 1999 (RIP) so I'll never hear his interpretation of the quote, but I'd like to think that he meant something along those lines.

here's the song:

What I'm Listening To

Yelawolf has been hit or miss for me so far, but this is a straight banger.

What I'm Listening To

Dom Sirius - "Cool as the Gang"

Here's a new track from my homie, Dom Sirius. It's real hip hop with a smooth beat, nice flow and tight lyrics. Give it a listen and spread the word.

Also, I'll post more of of his music as it comes out.

90 '90s Party Songs

I don't want to come off as some sort of music elitist, but a lot of current music sucks. I think dance/party music has been hit particularly hard by this trend of suckiness. I can stanky leg and dougie with the best of them, but I can't seem to get into this new techo-R&B club stuff that's all over the radio. It's okay but it doesn't make me want dance. Anyway, I thought I'd take a little vacation today to a time when shiny suits and flannel shirts (hopefully not in the same outfit) were in style, and the bankhead bounce was the hot new dance. Here are 90 party songs from the '90s.

1. Lil Jon & Bo Hagan - “Drop Them Boes” So So Def Bass All-Stars III (1998)
   -This song is the reason I made this list. Before crunk juice and songs with Usher, Lil' Jon was killin' it on some gutter ish.
   
   
2. INOJ - “Love You Down” Ready for the World (1998)
   -For the longest time, I thought she said "too damn dope for me". I was like, "I think you're pretty dope". Anyway, this is a fun cover song.
   
   
3. Ghost Town DJ’s -“My Boo” So So Def Bass All-Stars I (1996)
   -Another classic from the So So Def Bass All-Stars series.
   
   
4. K.P. & Envyi -“Swing My Way” (1998)
   -This is kind of a forgotten classic. It only recently came to my attention again when Charles Hamilton sampled it for "Brooklyn Girls".
   
   
5. Blackstreet – “No Diggity” Another Level (1998)
   -What '90s list would be complete without "No Diggity"? Blackstreet had a lot of good songs, but none as epic as "No Diggity".
   
   
6. 69 Boyz – “Tootsee Roll” 199Quad (1994)
   -I have no idea what the butterfly is and I don't think anybody cared about it after this dance came out.
   
   
7. Freak Nasty – “Da Dip” Controversee… That’s Life… And That’s the Way It Is (1996)
   -I never really understood how to do da dip, but the song is so catchy, it doesn't even matter.
   
   
8. Montell Jordan – “This Is How We Do It” This Is How We Do It (1995)
   -Like "No Diggity", this is a certified '90s classic. I would much rather listen to Montell Jordan sing about Friday night than Rebecca Black.
   
   
9. Tupac (feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) – “California Love (remix)” All Eyez on Me (1996)
   -Honestly, Roger Troutman could read the newspaper (as long as he used the talkbox) and it would be funky. Add some Tupac and Dr. Dre and you have a hit. Also, lol at Chris Tucker in the video.
   
   
10. Notorious B.I.G. (feat. Puff Daddy and Ma$e) – “Mo Money Mo Problems” Life After Death (1997)
    -"Put your rollies in the sky. wave 'em side to side". Shiny suits, Ma$e, a verse from the late great Notorious. This was definitely Bad Boy Records in its prime.
    
    
11. Quad City DJ’s – “Space Jam” Space Jam (1996)
    -The Space Jam Soundtrack is one of my most prized possessions. I don't even like Michael Jordan, but I bump that CD on the regular. Recognize a jam when you hear it.
    
    
12. Cypress Hill – “Insane In The Brain” Black Sunday (1993)
    -B-Real has one of the most distinctive voices in Hip Hop (I think it's a three-way tie between him, Mystikal and Canibus). It definitely makes the song sound more crazy.
    
    
13. Outkast – “Rosa Parks” Aquemini (1998)
    -I was trying to find a way to fit Outkast into this list. Most of their songs were really chill and mellow, but "Rosa Parks" is definitely an uptempo jam.
    
    
14. DMX – “Party Up In Here” … And Then There Was X (1999)
    -I've pretty much memorized this song. I will jump out of my seat and get hype whenever I hear it.
    
    
15. Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison” Poison (1990)
    "BBD in full effect". Who needs Bobby, Ralph or Johnny when these three brothers can hold it down like this? New Jack Swing forever.
    
    
16. Sir Mix-A-Lot – “Baby Got Back” Mack Daddy (1992)
    -If you're not playing this song, something's wrong. It's funny, everybody knows it, and it's from the '90s. It was an obvious choice for my list.
    
    
17. Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version (1995)
    -I had to include a track from the wild one in the clan. I like my raps raw and this song delivers. RIP, ODB.
    
    
18. Thug Life – “Shit Don’t Stop” Thug Life: Volume 1 (1994)
    -Tupac's second appearance on the list. This time, it's with a little help from his Thug Life group members and dope funk sample.
    
    
19. Bustah Rhymes – “Bus-A-Bus (remix)” Violator: The Album (1999)
    -Violator: The Album is another hidden gem. I've got a few tracks from there on this list and there's plenty more that I didn't include.
    
    
20. Luniz – “I Got 5 On It” Operation Stackola (1995)
    That beat! Everything else by the Luniz is average, but this track track is on a higher plane than the rest of their material.
    
    
21. Redman – “I’ll Bee Dat!” Doc’s Da Name 2000 (1998)
    -"If you're gonna be a monkey, be a gorilla". gorillas are not monkeys, but this is one of my all-time favorite Redman songs. Also, the video has a lot of the lyrics changed but it's funny so I linked it.
    
    
22. Jay-Z (feat. UGK) – “Big Pimpin’” Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter (1999)
    -We need pimpin', drug-dealing, bucket hat wearing Jay-Z back. I'm tried of hearing him talk about high fashion and crappy basketball teams.
    
    
23. Will Smith – “Getting Jiggy Wit It” Big Willie Style (1997)
    -fun, clean, but still kind of cool. That's what we love about Will Smith.
    
    
24. House of Pain – “Jump Around” House of Pain (1992)
    -Before Everlast had crappy music and beef with Eminem, he put out this great song with House of Pain.
    
    
25. Ahmad – “Touch The Ceiling” Ahmad (1994)
    -This album is so underrated. Classic '90s west-coast lyricism. There's actually several party songs, but this might be my favorite.
    
    
26. Dr. Dre (feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg) – “Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang” The Chronic (1993)
    -Dre, I'm still waiting on Detox to come out. Until then, I'll have to make due with some classic g-funk.
    
    
27. Mysonne', Ma$e & Eightball – “Do What Players Do” Violator: The Album (1999)
    Another Violator track. Back before Ma$e turned to God and then turned back to hip hop, he was master of the slow flow.
    
    
28. Coolio – “Fantastic Voyage” It Takes a Thief (1994)
    -Everybody knows "Gangster's Paradise", but everybody ought to know "Fantastic Voyage". Coolio actually kicks some conscious lyrics while still making a dance-able song.
    
    
29. Mary J. Blige - “Real Love” What’s The 411? (1992)
    -My favorite Mary J. song. It's just so happy and fun.
    
    
30. Brian McKnight - “On The Down Low” I Remember You (1995)
    -No, not that down low... at least I don't think so. A jam about secret love is perfect for the dance floor.
    
    
31. Big Pun (feat. Joe) - “Still Not A Player” Capital Punishment (1998)
    -Big people need love too... and from the lyrics, it sounds like Pun got more than his fair share.
    
    
32. Q-Tip – “Vivrant Thing” Amplified (1999)
    -I don't know what a vivrant thing is, but it sounds cool when Q-Tip raps about it.
    
    
33. Tevin Campbell – “Tell Me What You Want Me To Do” T.E.V.I.N. (1991)
    -Call me soft if you want, but every party needs slow jams. Also, my mans is killin' the high notes.
    
    
34. Brownstone – “Pass The Lovin’” From The Bottom Up (1992)
    -Yo, Brownstone was raunchy. These ladies don't play around. Still, they came off really smooth and danc-able with this song.
    
    
35. Wu-Tang Clan – “Ain’t Nuthin’ Ta Fuck Wit” Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1992)
    -This is some wild-out, go buck music. The Wu was takin' bodies with this one.
    
    
36. Outkast – “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik” Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994)
    -Like I was saying, most of Outkast's '90s songs were more smooth and mellow. Still, this one's got just enough funk for the dance floor.
    
    
37. Pharoahe Monch – “Simon Says” Internal Affairs (1999)
    -It's too bad this album's out of print due to copyright issues because it's full of end-to-end bangers. That illegal Godzilla sample was a gift and a curse.
    
    
38. Capone-n-Noreaga – “Capone Bone” The Ware Report (1997)
    -Capone-n-Noreaga on some smooth flowin' type ish.
    
    
39. Snoop Dogg – “Gin and Juice” Doggystyle (1993)
    -"Laid Back with my mind on my money and my money on my mind". I think this was Snoop's best album.
    
    
40. Juvenile (feat. Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne)– “Back That Azz Up” 400 Degreez (1998)
    -Before relationships got strained and Lil' Wayne got lame, Cash Money was a hit factory. Also, peep Lil' Wayne's alleged first ever use of the term "drop it like it's hot".
    
    
41. Mark Morrison – “Return of the Mack” Return of the Mack (1997)
    -I don't know what to say besides... this is ill.
    
    
42. Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz – “Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby)” Make It Reign (1996)
    -"If it wasn't for the Bronx, this rap s--t probably never would be goin' on"... true. This song certainly caries the torch. Also, smh at Wyclef recycling the intro on "Hips Don't Lie"
    
    
43. Skee-Lo – “I Wish” I Wish (1995)
    -Music doesn't always have to be serious. Skee-Lo has jokes, beats and a nice flow. I dig it.
    
    
44. Wreckx-N-Effect – “Rump Shaker” Hard or Smooth (1992)
    -Not really much to say about this song. I don't love it, but it definitely makes me think of the '90s.
    
    
45. Naughty by Nature – “O.P.P.” Naughty by Nature (1992)
    -When has a Jackson 5 sample ever sounded this hard? And for the record, I am not down with O.P.P.
    
    
46. Digital Underground – “Humpty Dance” Sex Packets (1990)
    -"I'm funky, I like my oatmeal lumpy". Everybody knows the song, but nobody knows the dance.
    
    
47. Kriss Kross – “Jump” Totally Krossed Out (1992)
    -"'cause inside out is wickity wickity wack". I will never wear my clothes backwards, but I'll always jump when I hear this song.
    
    
48. Usher – “Nice & Slow” My Way (1997)
    -Another slow jam. Usher has had the ladies fantasizing for over a decade. Also, Usher's rap is kind of dope.
    
    
49. DJ Kool – “Let Me Clear My Throat” Let Me Clear My Throat (1996)
    -Another classic beat. Also, this was recorded live at a party so it's got the right vibe and energy.
    
    
50. Tag Team – “Whoomp! (There It Is)” Whoomp! (There It Is): The Album (1993)
    -I wanted to put "It Takes Two" on the list, but that was from the '89. This is almost as good... but not quite.
    
    
51. Quad City DJ’s – “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” Get On Up and Dance (1996)
    -"Space Jam" and "C'mon N' Ride It"... Quad City DJ's had the '90s on lock.
    
    
52. Destiny’s Child – “Jumpin, Jumpin” The Writings on the Wall (1999)
    -I miss old-school Destiny's Child. LaToya and LaTavia > Michelle any day of the week. No offense, but it's true.
    
    
53. Destiny’s Child (feat. Wyclef)– “No, No, No Part 2” Destiny’s Child (1998)
    -Another dope song from the Original Destiny's Child lineup. Also, does anybody else remember how Wyclef was involved in every late '90s hip-hop or R&B album? One more thing... check this out.
    
    
54. Ginuwine – “Pony” Ginuwine… the Bachelor (1996)
    -Hot beat by Timbaland.
    
    
55. Junior Mafia – “Player’s Anthem” Conspiracy (1995)
    -Just a classic, smooth, party song.
    
    
56. Master P – “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” Ghetto D (1997)
    -Back before Master P was acting on Nickelodeon, he was reppin' hard for the dirty dirty.
    
    
57. Mariah Carey – “Fantasy” Daydream (1995)
    -For some reason, I like this version better than the remix. Also, I think this was a nice use of the "Genius of Love" beat.
    
    
58. Pras (feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard & Maya) – “Ghetto Superstar” Ghetto Superstar (1998)
    -I may not have liked ODB on the "Fantasy remix", but he comes correct on this track. Also, what ever happened to Pras and Maya?
    
    
59. MC Hammer – “U Can’t Touch This” Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)
    -What can I say? In the late '80s and early '90s, Hammer was untouchable... and then he went bankrupt.
    
    
60. 95 South – “Whoot! There It Is” Quad City Knock (1993)
    -I actually like this better than "Whoomp! (There It Is)".
    
    
61. 2 Live Crew – “Shake a Lil’ Somethin’” Shake a Lil’ Somethin’ (1996)
    -2 live Crew: pioneers of the Miami Bass sound.
    
    
62. Camp Lo – “Luchini AKA This Is It” Uptown Saturday Night (1997)
    - on dat 1970's pimp movies re-interpreted with '90s hip hop flavor tip.
    
    
63. Black Sheep – “The Choice is Yours (Revisited)” A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (1991)
    -Before it was the soundtrack for dancing hamsters in Kias, this was a classic jam from the black sheep of the Native Tongues collective.
    
    
64. Timbaland & Magoo (feat. Missy Elliott & Aaliyah) – “Up Jumps da Boogie” Welcome to Our World (1997)
    - I only recently hear this song, but I thought I should include it because it has nice contributions from Missy Elliott and Aaliyah.
    
    
65. Usher – “You Make Me Wanna” My Way (1997)
    -Another classic hit from baby Usher.
    
    
66. 112 (feat. Lil’ Zane) – “Anywhere” Room 112 (1998)
    -Whatever happened to Lil' Zane? I guess there was only room for so many "lil'" rappers.
    
    
67. L.V. (feat. Treach) – “Throw Your Hands Up” I Am L.V. (1996)
    -good west coast summertime barbecue song. Also, Will Smith sings this on the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire.
    
    
68. Boyz II Men – “Motownphilly” Cooliehighharmony (1991)
    -I don't really get down with most of the Boyz II Men slow-jam, harmonizing, Christmas song stuff... but "Motownphilly" is a good, uptempo song. Also, you can never have too much new jack swing.
    
    
69. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – “Summertime” Homebase (1991)
    This is from way back when Jazzy Jeff was the real star and Will Smith was just his sidekick. Another classic summertime barbecue song.
    
    
70. The Notorious B.I.G. – “Hypnotize” Life After Death (1997)
    -Biggie's first two albums ruled. I guess that's why he was so paid.
    
    
71. Ice Cube – “Check Yo Self (The Message Remix)” The Predator (1992)
    -Ice Cube brings the hard, ferocious lyrics on this one. He actually disses several of the other rappers on this list, but the "Message" beat is what makes this a party song.
    
    
72. Masta Ace – “Born To Roll” Sittin’ On Chrome (1994)
    I wasn't sure if this was a cruising song or a party song. Either way, the bass will make you nod your head.
    
    
73. Snoop Doggy Dogg – “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” Doggystyle (1993)
    -This whole album is chock full of George Clinton references. This s G-funk at it's finest.
    
    
74. Dr. Dre – “Keep Their Heads Ringin’” – Friday (1995)
    -This was a dope song from a dope soundtrack to a dope movie. It was a no brainer.
    
    
75. DJ Quik (feat. 2^nd II None & El Debarge) – “Hand in Hand” Rhythm-al-ism (1998)
    -I had some trouble finding the right DJ Quik song for this list. Finally, I settled on this one because it's more smooth and polished than some of his other stuff. Also, I like El Debarge.
    
    
76. Lauryn Hill – “Doo Wop (That Thing)” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
    -Lauryn Hill drops some real, conscious and thought-proking lyrics, but with fun beat and a catchy hook.
    
    
77. Salt-N-Pepa (feat. En Vogue) – “Whatta Man” Very Necessary (1993)
    -Holdin' it down for the ladies.
    
    
78. MC Hammer - “Too Legit to Quit” Too Legit to Quit (1991)
    -Hammer might have been one of the best (depends on your definition of 'best') hip-hop dancers of the '90s. No wonder his music is so good for parties.
    
    
79. Brownstone – “If You Love Me” From the Bottom Up (1994)
    -This song is sooo good. I don't know what dance you would do to it, but I had to include it in my list.
    
    
80. Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby” To the Extreme (1990)
    -"word to ya motha". Vanilla with the dope rhymes and "Under Pressure" sample.
    
    
81. 2pac (feat. Shock G) – “I Get Around” Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993)
    -Another jam from Tupac. This time, he get's a little help from Humpty Hump's alter ego (or is Humpty Shock G's alter ego?)
    
    
82. LL Cool J – “Phenomenon” Phenomenon (1997)
    -When he wasn't busy beefing with Canibus, LL Cool J made some pretty good song in the '90s.
    
    
83. Adina Howard – “Freak Like Me” Do You Wanna ride? (1995)
    -There is no shame in her game. She straight-up tells it like it is. Also, I like how Ghostface gives her a shout out in "Ice Cream".
    
    
84. Method Man (feat. Mary J. Blige) – “All I need (Razorsharp Remix)” Tical (1994)
    -To be honest, every version of this song is good (even the one with Marvin Gaye), but I like this one the best. Method Man was so cool back then.
    
    
85. Twista – “Emotions (Remix)” Adrenaline Rush (1997)
    -I don't know how many people mess with '90s Twista, but this whole album is amazing. unfortunately, I can't find the remix online so you'll have to make do with a link to the original.
    
    
86. A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario” The Low End Theory (1991)
    -What's the '90s without ATCQ? Also, it's nice to show some more Native Tongues love.
    
    
87. Dr. Dre – “Let Me Ride” The Chronic (1992)
    -Another g-funk classic.
    
    
88. Another Bad Creation – “Iesha” Coolin’ at the Playground Ya Know! (1991)
    - I don't know how cool it is to dance to little kids singing, but this was a hot song. Also, it's kind of crazy to think that these guys are probably all in their thirties now.
    
    
89. TLC – “Creep” Crazysexycool (1994)
    -There are too many great TLC songs to choose from. I picked this one because it's been stuck in my head lately.
    
    
90. Busta Rhymes – “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” When Disaster Strikes… (1997)
    -I should have put more Busta on this list. Back before he was all big and buff, he was just a crazy guy with even crazier videos
    
    
    
    So... that's it. I hope you enjoyed my list. Questions, comments, concerns? I know I left plenty of stuff out. Any ideas of what should be added and what should be removed?

Freestyle Rhymes

Today, I had a freestyle rap battle with my cousin. As you can probably tell, we don't do this very often. Here are some highlights:

"I'll make you take a bath in hot acid. My style goes hard, your style is flaccid"

"my rhymes build up like blocks of Legos, and I'll eat your crew like 20 boxes of eggos"

"I'm like the Egyptian God Horus, but I'm not dead so my skin is more porous"

"your rhymes are sneaky, you look like rafiki in a dashiki eating tatziki on your gyro"

"I be so good, I be in the ocean with my Jordans on, I be so good I have my girls cry because they think I'm gone"

"I stay winnin', I'm like three women who went swimmin'"

Why do people hate rap?

The other day, my English class was having a discussion on illegal downloading and its impact on the music industry. During the class, someone asked what the landscape of popular music would look like if the commercial recording industry imploded. To this, one of my classmates responded, "rap music would die, and good music would come back". After hearing this, I was initially shocked and offended at such a blunt, baseless statement. However, upon further contemplation, I realized that this was a common opinion among my peers. During conversations about music tastes, I often hear people say, "I like anything, but rap" or "I like good music, but I hate rap". As a lover of all music, I can never fully understand these feelings. Although I may not enjoy listening to a particular song or artist, I feel that music styles and genres are too large and varied to dismiss any one as a whole.

It seems as if much of the criticism about rap music is based on the common belief that rap music is merely people with no musical talent who say rhyming words about women, material possessions and crime over a repetitive beat which was sampled from an older, better song. Although certain examples of rap music certainly fit some of these criteria, this is a narrow-minded view that does not take into account the entire spectrum of hip-hop or its origins and development.

While many rap musicians have little or no formal music training, a good rapper still needs an understanding of musical concepts such as timing and rhythm. Also, a well-written and performed rap verse often requires things such as breath control, rhyme, meter, metaphors and similes. All of these aspects certainly add to the artistic value of rap music. Furthermore, many rap groups such as The Roots incorporate live, original instrumental music into their work, and many producers including Pete Rock and Dr. Dre have an in-depth knowledge of classical composers and music theory. Often, sampling a song is more involved than simply finding a lesser known riff and passing it off as a new creation. A producer has to know which sounds from which songs would best complement the voice of the artist, the lyrics and the mood of the track. Also, sampling can often breathe new life into an older piece of music, and attract new fans to the original artist.

In terms of content, I don't accept the argument that rap is a bad music genre because of the current themes that popular artists of today talk about. In the same way that it would be foolish to say that all rock songs are about drug use and promiscuous sex, it is a broad generalization to say that all rap songs talk about gang violence and objectifying women. The term, "rap" is not synonymous with any of those things, and to identify it as such is to oversimplify something that is extremely diverse and complex.

Ultimately, the whole point of this post is to encourage people to open their minds and think before they speak. The mere fact that you dislike one example of something shouldn't be enough justification to dismiss that genre as a whole. Where would we be today if Lewis and Clark got to the great plains and concluded that the western half of America was nothing but grass? Where would the Lakers be if they decided that Kobe Bryant was worthless after he failed to get them out of the first round of the playoffs in his rookie season? Where would popular music be if fans assumed that all of their music sounded like "love me do"? Don't be afraid to listen to new and different things. Whether it be punk, country, classical music or hip-hop, there's a lot of good music out there, and you may never get to hear it if you conclude things before you've had a chance to explore.

In honor seeing the full spectrum of rap music, here's some videos that show some lesser known artists and themes in hip-hop.










p.s. I'm sorry if this is a crappy article. I don't have much experience in blogging or writing things like this. If you have any constructive criticism, I'd be happy to hear it. Also, feel free to share your thoughts on music in general.