Music Monday - Rakim: Juice (Know the Ledge)

If you didn't know, today is actually Rakim's Birthday. First of all, he is one of my all time favorite emcees. He gets much props and respect in that endeavor. Another thing, he is dope as hell! Everything from style, story telling, cadence, rhyme scheme, sentence structure, flow, and conviction, he is unmatched in my opinion. Take a look at one of the illest joints from the "Juice" Soundtrack "Know the Ledge".

Music Monday: Run DMC- Christmas in Hollis and Christmas is

These are two classic Christmas videos. What I love about the first one is that its one of the first Christmas Hip-Hop records period. It's dope that Lil Lep from New York City Breakers played an elf in the video. The second is cool because it shows Run DMC still around after 8 years doing the dayum thang. Definitely gotta give up props for that. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Music Monday - Ryan Leslie - Les is More

R-Les has been coming with the heat for the past 8 months of just producing some really great content. If you don't know what this guy is about, please check out his YouTube channel at RyanLeslieTV. He got out of his contact with Universal Motown and is now independent (a smart move) because he pretty much does everything from the designing, engineering, mixing, producing, writing, arrangement, etc. Here are a few of my fav tracks as well as the latest videos he's released. Enjoy and don't forget to purchase it now!

Music Monday - "The Freshest Kids: A History Of The B-Boy" (2002)

This is what some people call the B-boy bible. It would go so far as saying that. However, it does give you some pretty good preliminary knowledge of how b-boying came about. This was my first major introduction into the b-boy culture. When I saw this movie, it made me really realize that this is what I wanted to do, not necessarily as a way to make money. It was a really good way to express myself, use my creativity, and break me out of my shell as a person. I've written down some b-boy history on Hubpages, you should check that out, too!

Music Monday: Aaliyah - At Your Best (You are Love)

As everyone knows, I'm a huge fan of Aaliyah fan. "At Your Best" amongst others is one to calm me down when I'm really down and out. Troubling times for the past few weeks, but a special someone has held me down quite a bit. Even though we did not speak to each other for a minute, she comes through when I truly need it. That's what counts. That's why at her best, she's love. Same way as a Aaliyah. She might be gone, but her spirit is eternal. The video is the remix to the song, which is cool. But I honestly prefer the original...just that melody and her angelic voice. It's an exceptional piece of work. So, let's watch the video and hear the original! Enjoy! Oh yes, also check out the Music Monday on my Playstation blog today...throwback for Tekken 2!

Music Monday - C.A.T. ft Chii by Zig-Zag starring Onslaut

Here is something you call the ingredients for a classic. Who can deny the cover alone? I mean, you have Cory and Topanga. Anybody who grew up in the 90s (Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Green, Red, Purple, Nurple) knows that this was the CLASSIC love story. Two people that started off as two weird opposites that eventually developed a great friendship and became great lovers. Not lovers in the sense of pure intimacy, but lovers in the sense of they really had this great endearing love for one another. The track is memorable with a beat laced that's not too complex, but just right so you can really focus on what the song is saying. The smooth ambiance and synths in the track definitely give you the vibe you need to just relax and mellow out. The hook is simple but really catchy playing off with a dab of autotune. It's a tasteful and not enough to bombard the track. Zig-Zag did a great job with the production and the hook/chorus. Onslaut was spot on with some smooth lyrics that really got to the point of kinda serenading a girl he might be talking to. With great images and references to past shows of that time period, you definitely can reminisce and relate to this track growing up in that era. Good stuff, overall. Check out the track below. Follow Zig-Zag on Twitter for more work and shenanigans.