Classics

The Cenobites: Dirty, Clever Hip-Hop

The Cenobites:  Dirty, Clever Hip-Hop

The Cenobites — an EP released in 1992 by Ultramagnetic MCs featuring rap legend Kool Keith aka Dr.’s Doom and Octagon — is one of the lesser-known pieces of fun, literate, booty-shaking party hip-hop from the end of hip-hop’s golden age in the early 90s.  It makes us laugh, it makes us wanna dance…...

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Singers Unsung: David Peel

Singers Unsung:  David Peel

Angry gravel voiced New York Jew who can’t sing writes brilliant, quirky songs about drugs and his half-insane mind.  David Peel: hero of the scene, landmark of the Lower East Side, insane runaway bum.  Writer of We Are From the Lowest East Side, I Like Marijuana, Mother Where is My Father, I Want to...

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Singers Unsung: Larry Willaims

Singers Unsung:  Larry Willaims

Every wonder where classic white artists get all their best ideas?  Well grasshopper, I’ll tell you:  they steal from even more classic black artists.  Among these unappreciated culture-innovators is 50s R&B heartthrob Larry Williams (1935-1980):   He wrote Slow Down, Its All Over Now, and She Said Yeah (and Boney Maroney and Dizzie Miss...

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Big L: Most Valuable Poet

Big L:  Most Valuable Poet

Big L.  Apparently live on the radio.  Entirely different lyrics than the famous version.   One of the best of all time.  Thinking man’s gangster rapper.    

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Still Crazy: Nevermind at 20

Still Crazy:  Nevermind at 20

Its twenty years since 1991.  Hot bands don’t sound like Nirvana.  So maybe its time to stop hyping Nirvana officially and decide that they weren’t that big a deal… that they were basically a marketing phenomena solidified by Kurt’s suicide.  No.  Nirvana kicks ass.  They were the best band of their era. My dad...

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My New Favorite Band: Le Tigre

My New Favorite Band:  Le Tigre

Le Tigre play modern music very well.  Its not news, but they’re a brilliant diamond in the tragic rough of 2000s pop/dance/rock music.  Fun and serious, original, exciting, and well-executed.  Their music moves, grooves, and inspires us  to expect more from the hip, artistic wing of modern rock.  Less talented gimmicky band come and...

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