Sangers Of Yesterday & Today

My 3 Favorite Sangers of Yesterday & Today

Now I was at work just looking over my blog, and thinking about good ideas for the next couple of blog entries. And I saw that I came up with a good quote "Old & New Makes A Perfect Soundtrack" I figured I would do entries about my favorite female/male singers from yesterday and today. So, this blog entry will be about 6 women that can SANG!!!

Nowadays we have people that can sing and others that can SANG. In today's world for you to be popular, it's NOT about the talent anymore, so I just wanted to use this blog to remind people that talent will outshine gimmicks in the end.

OLD SCHOOL

I figure I start with my favorite sanger of all time "The Empress of Soul", Gladys Knight. Her voice to me is everything it's soulful and emotional at the same time. When Gladys sings "I Don't Want To Do Wrong", you believe her. 

JUST LISTEN: SING TO THEM GLADYS!!

YOU CAN'T TELL ME YOU DON'T FEEL THE EMOTION

I want to take you back when I was first introduced to Gladys Knight. Back in South Carolina, my mother was going college to further her education and music was a big part of lives because it was our only way to be free from the struggle. The love of music in my opinion made our bond stronger. Meanwhile, on campus, Friday nights on QUICKIE 93.9 it was always old soul night with Bob Dickels. Now you would think I would want to play video games, because I wouldn't want to hear that old music. But I actually forgot about the video games and chilled in the living with mom. Dickels would go from Motown to Stax to Chess. So I would hear Marvin Gaye to Otis Redding to Etta James, it was great but one night I heard this...

NEITHER ONE OF US..ONE OF THE GREATEST BREAK-UPS SONGS OF ALL TIME YOU CAN FEEL GLADYS PAIN...GO AHEAD LISTEN TO IT AGAIN!!

I remember asking my mother, "who is this?" "Baby that's Gladys Knight and the Pips, she is my favorite singer", she said. "I like her too mommy, she sounds good", I said. See I knew other singers like Aretha Franklin from her version of Otis Redding Respect and Patti Labelle because she kicked off her shoes when she sings, but I will discuss these two later. From the moment I heard, Neither One of Us every Friday I wanted to hear a song from Gladys Knight because her voice gave me a feeling like no other. Fast forward a few years, we moved back up north and I remember going through my grandparents 8 tracks (yup 8 tracks..lol), and the first thing I looked for was Gladys Knight. After about an hour of searching, I found this album...

(www.amazon.com)

I remember I wanted to hear this all night until my family said "Junior another 8-track please" This album had classics like I've Got To Use My Imagination, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, & the legendary Midnight Train To Georgia. About one year later, my mother and I was watching the classic movie, Claudine with Diahann Carroll. And I said "Ma, is that Gladys singing those songs". She said "yes Gladys Knight and the Pips did the whole soundtrack with Curtis Mayfield". I explained to her that I need this soundtrack and around this time, it was hard to find soundtracks like this. So we found out that that a guy in Brooklyn sold old records like this. So, one day my mother and I rode down to Brooklyn and brought it. It began my favorite soundtrack of all time. 

(www.ebay.com)

And with this soundtrack Gladys Knight will forever be my favorite SANGER of all time.

JUST LISTEN!!!

DIDN'T KNOW YOU

DADDY COULD SWEAR, I DECLARE

IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN

MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA

Now from the "Empress of Soul" to the "Queen of Soul", the legendary Aretha Franklin. Ms Franklin is my 2nd favorite SANGER. I think my first introduction to Aretha was also from listening to Dickel's Friday night show. This was the song that I heard...

ANGEL

RETHA SANGING AINT SHE???

Hmm you thought I would pick something like Respect or Chain of Fools. Nope Dickel was good for playing songs that was not that popular. Anyway, I asked my mother who this was she says "Aretha Franklin!" She explained that my grandparents had a lot of 33's & 45's with Aretha. So I said "ma what is a 33 and 45". Of course she laughed and explained it in great detail. Meanwhile, while Angel was playing and Aretha got to the bridge and it those high notes, I said "WOW she can sing". Now, on Friday I wanted to hear Gladys and Aretha cause they are singing. When we moved up north, I go to the 8 tracks again and found Sparkle 

(www.ebay.com)

And I remember I was blown away with songs like....

LOOK INTO YOUR HEART

IT'S LIKE ARETHA HAS A WAY OF SINGING A SONG IT JUST TAKES YOU SOMEWHERE

My mother explained to me that Sparkle was a movie and that was the soundtrack, even though Aretha's version was recorded before the movie, but it was "said" to be the soundtrack for the movie. So, that day we went to the guy in Brooklyn to get Claudine I asked my mother to get Sparkle too. (I am telling you that ride home listening to those two albums were amazing.)

And with that soundtrack Aretha became my 2nd favorite SANGER of all time. And here's why

DROWN MY OWN TEARS

GIVING HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL

CALL ME

I'M IN LOVE

GOT ONE MORE GREAT SANGER NOW...STAY WITH ME...LOL

Finally to the woman that feels the music when she sings, Patti Patti, the legendary Patti Labelle. I wish they would have gave Patti a nickname or something because she DAMN sure deserves one. I will always remember Patti for kicking off her shoes and get down on the stage. I think my first time hearing about Patti is from my father's mother talking about how Patti sings Over The Rainbow when she was with the Bluebelles. She said when Patti sings she SANGS. So, I remember this song from Patti from the South Carolina days...

THE RIGHT KINDA LOVER

Ohhhh I remember joint, Terry and Lewis did Patti right on this one...I remember this use to come on the THE BIG DM 101 FM alot...when my mother use to pick me up from school. It had the smooth vibe going...

But it wasn't until college when I started learning about Patti's live performances. Patti can hang with the best of them. Just ask Diana Ross (LOL). Patti have performances that will bring tears to your eyes. But Patti still have classic songs like 

IF ONLY YOU KNEW

WHEN SOMEBODY LOVES YOU BABY

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Now for my favorite 3 performances from them.

GLADYS KNIGHT-NEITHER ONE OF US

ARETHA FRANKLIN- NESSUN DORMA

PATTI LABELLE- YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

Now from these performances if these don't put Gladys, Aretha, and Patti in your top 5 SANGERS of all time something is wrong with your hearing. Well at least one person agrees with me Oprah, because these are her top 3 singers she had them sing to her on her 40th birthday, the only time these 3 singers were EVER together...check it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkFJYDTCNZ4

NEW SCHOOL

Now it seems these days talent is not the basics of many artist these days. Record companies are about gimmicks and not talent. Many people with the talent are getting pushed to the back instead of getting pushed to the front. But in my opinion, talent outshines all. Nowadays I have 3 singers that I feel can SANG. These ladies are Melanie Fiona, Joss Stone, and Kelly Clarkson. These women are my favorites right now. When these women sing, it sends chills through me just like when I heard Gladys, Patti, and Aretha. 

Starting with my favorite right now the underrated Melanie Fiona. I was introduced to Melanie Fiona in my last year in college. One of my college friends, was always posting depressing songs on facebook. I never paid attention to it, I just used to looked at it and say "she needs to get over it". But one day, I saw her post "It Kills Me" and figured I would play the video. And from that moment, I have been #teamMelanieFiona every since...here's why..

IT KILLS ME

YOU CAN'T TELL ME MELANIE NOT SANGING!!!!!!...*praise dancing*

I knew I had to find more music on this girl because if you can make me feel something after a song, you are talented. But I felt I needed to hear her sing this live to really catch me and Melanie closed my mouth after this performance.

HOLD UP, I NEED TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE...JUST A GUITAR AND HER VOICE!!!! 

So after that performance I went to download her first album, The Bridge and I was amazed. This girl can SANG with songs like "Priceless", "You Stop My Heart" and "Teach Him". With her voice, I was like when she comes out with this 2nd album she will be a problem because she has talent. Two years later, her second album is released, The MF Life. Once again, she was amazed me with her voice with songs like these "Gone and Never Coming Back", "Rock Paper, Scissors, and "Wrong Side of A Love Song". Melanie sings with so much feeling and emotion and that's talent with a singer can do that. In my opinion, Melanie should be getting so much more respect then she gets...here's why!!

JUST LISTEN

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

WRONG SIDE OF A LOVE SONG

SAD SONGS

From these songs that's why Melanie Fiona is my favorite singer of the new school.

Now to the blue-eyed soul, Ms. Joss Stone. This girl has so much soul it's ridiculous. I was introduced to Joss Stone by my mother. When in high school my mother use to listen to Wendy Williams on WBLS, and she said one day Wendy played this girl from England her name is Joss Stone. My mother said "that girl can sang", she found out Betty Wright was her mentor. This was one time my mother went to Best Buy to buy her first album, The Soul Sessions. Then we was surprised that she was white, but after we put that album into the CD player when we heard this it didn't matter....

A CHOKIN' KIND

COME ON JOSS TOOK THIS JOE SIMON CLASSIC, AND MADE IT A CLASSIC HERSELF!!! WOOOO

Me and my mother loved The Soul Sessions because Joss Stone songs from the 60's and 70's and SANG them. It wasn't just normal covers, it make you forget about the original versions. (That's Crazy!!!) After that I continued to follow her career with Mind, Body, & Soul, Introducing Joss Stone, Free Me, LP1, & The Soul Sessions Vol 2. Like Melanie, Joss is another great voice that don't get the respect she deserves. Check out these videos to see why Joss needs to get more respect.

KILLING TIME

4 & 20

TEARDROPS

And to end this the last one is the first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson. I remember when I was introduced to Kelly during her first audition on American Idol. See this was a bonding time with me, my grandma, and my late grandfather. And when I heard Kelly sing "At Last" I said, "she is going to the finals, cause that girl can SANG". See why!!

AT LAST

THOSE RUNS SENDS CHILLS....KELLY IS SANGING RIGHT??

Then when she sung this I knew she was going to win...

NATURAL WOMAN

Then Kelly RIGHTFULLY won American idol and I have been following her career from Thankful to Stronger. Even Simon says that Kelly has the best voice of any American Idol winner. Kelly can just SANG, she can sing any genre: soul, pop, rock, blues, country, and etc. 

SOME KIND OF MIRACLE

HEAR ME

MAYBE

My favorite performances from Melanie Fiona, Joss Stone, & Kelly Clarkson

WRONG SIDE OF A LOVE SONG & GET IT TO ME RIGHT

SPOILED

UP TO THE MOUNTAIN

Maybe one day all three of these SANGERS can be on stage together, SOMEBODY make this happen. 

Now these are MY favorite singers, maybe yours are different but at least we can agree that ALL my picks can SANG!!! 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SANGERS FROM YESTERDAY & TODAY!!

  

It's All About New York

New York: A Love Story

Now it's very funny on how I found this album but I am happy I did, because Mack Wilds' came with the heat on this one. This album is so NY, after listening to this album it makes me want to go listen to Mary J. Blige's What's The 411, Nas' Illmatic, and Wu-Tang's Enter The Wu (36 Chambers). I am not comparing Wilds' album to them but it has such a 90s hip-hop flavor. But I am going to explain how this album was in the view the whole time, but I finally decided to check it out, so glad I did.

Yesterday I was lounging around the house after eating dinner. Normally during this time, I listen to Music Choice Throwback Jams. But this time, I decided to listen to Hip-Hop/R&B Jams, and with me loving old music it gives me a chance to catch up with new hip-hop. After 2 Chainz and Trinidad James came on, I heard the beat to Eric B is President. So I thought to myself, I know they are not about to play this song on Hip-Hop/Jams, then I saw that it's Mack Wilds Own It. Then I remember hearing his performance of this song on Wendy Williams. 

Vibe to this joint right quick

Now listen to the original

Didn't that sound good, so you would think I would want to listen to his album after I heard that. But it took a little more time. While I am getting ready for work, I started playing my music off my iTunes, so I am now getting a little sleepy. But every night before I go to sleep, I go to knicksnow.com to check out the news on the NEW YORK KNICKS. So, about 3 hours later (mind you I was tired LOL), I go to my Instagram and the first thing I see is one of my followers was listening to Mack Wilds' NY: A Love Story, he explained that he was bringing that 90s hip-hop/R&B flavor back. From that review, I felt that I had to check his album out. However, I go to Itunes to buy it before listening to it. (Hoping I didn't make a big mistake with doing this). I figured let me pick two songs to listen to so I pick Don't Turn Me Down and Henny, I was hooked. I was like I had to listen to this whole album before I went to sleep. I figured if he used Mobb Deep's The Learning (Burn) beat his album had to be official.

Henny

The Learning (Burn)

If you are from New York, you can't tell me you are not in your NY State of Mind right now. *I have to listen to these joints again*

Before I listen to the album, I had to check who the producers were and I saw greatness. The names I saw were Salaam Remi, DJ Premier  and Pete Rock. I knew this album would be fire. DJ Preimer has worked with every legendary hiphop artist in this game, in my opinion he is the top hip-hop producer of all time. Pete Rock was part of the legendary hip-hop act, CL Smooth & Pete Rock. He produced so many legendary songs that includes my favorite hip-hop song of all time, They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y). Lastly, Salaam Remi is one of the best producers right now, he produced in my opinion the classic Life Is Good by Nas. Mack Wilds is co-signed by legends. Vibe out with these legends for a second, so you can see that Mack is in good hands.

DJ Premier

Pete Rock

Salaam Remi

Damn that sounded so good. Come on after listening to these joints you know Mack Wilds is in good hands.

Now I begin listening to the album he starts of with Wild Things featuring Method Man. I am not surprised because Mack is from Staten Island and so is Method Man. I felt it would only be right for Method Man to be on this feature because it gives you that Bring The Pain vibe. 

Wild Things

Bring The Pain

I am feeling this album now, I am like okay he opens the album with a banger then he goes this way with My Crib. Now we know this Jay-Z beat...check it out

My Crib

You, Me, Him, and Her

Still in NY right, Mack has me deep into this album already with the second track. Already knowing Henny and Own It, I am ready for track 5 which is Magic, which I feel is a fill in but it still keeps the NY vibe going. But then he gets me again with track 6, Keepin It Real. When I heard the beat, I went crazy in my house. (Mind you it's like 1 in the morning, I know my neighbors are pissed..lol) I said "No, Mack didn't use The Realness...I know DJ Premier had something to do with this" In my opinion, next to NY State Of Mind, The Realness is one of the illiest cuts from DJ Premier.    

Keepin It Real

Tha Realness

OMG that sounds so good, DJ Premier most definitely produced it he added more piano to it to Keepin It Real though. By now I really want to just drive to New York bumping this in my car because album is so New York. Next he goes into this track U Can Cry To Me featuring another person from the Wu-Tang, Raekwon. This song gives me Can It All Be So Simple vibe, from Wu-Tang's classic 36 Chambers mixed with Lauryn Hill's Ex-Factor.

U Can Cry To Me

 

Can It All Be So Simple

Ex-Factor

Now yall know I am in my house blasting this album with cuts like Duck Sauce and The Art of Fallin kept the NY music going. Lastly, his version of Michael Jackson's classic Remember The Time was smooth. From this album, you can clearly see that Mack wanted a New York album and he most definitely delivered. To me, he is giving the game a little bit of fresh air like Mary J. Blige did in 1992, mixing NY hip-hop and R&B together. Right now, in NY hip-hop we have lost our way, because it seems that we only have Nas & Jay-Z at the forefront of NY radio and they are veterans. I want my city rappers to bring hip-hop back to NY. Even though Mack Wilds is new, but as a New Yorker, he understood the essence of NY hip-hop and felt that we should be back on the forefront of NY radio. With Mack taking an approach like this, he setting himself up with a great career.

Please go support this dude like I did 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/new-york-a-love-story/id692999411



Influences

Songs That Influenced My Life

Everybody has that certain song that changed the way you view things, well for a person that loves music I have 12 songs that influenced my life. I decided to put these songs into categories which includes education, religion, family, and life. These songs shaped me into the person I am today.

RELIGION

First I will start with religion. One thing about me is GOD is number one in my life. I have to him praises everyday for what he does for me in my life. I can call on him through the good and bad times, I just know that GOD is so good. Everyday I try to build a stronger relationship him but 4 gospel songs started this great and wonderful process.

Silver & Gold by Kirk Franklin & the Family will forever be the song that started a lasting relationship with the LORD at such a young age. While my mother going to college in South Carolina we attended a church called Greater Faith Baptist Church. On Sundays, while we get ready for church this certain song use to always come on the radio. After a while, I started learning the words, but 6 years old I didn't know what I was singing about. But one day at church, 6 years old I started crying and I didn't know why. But during my crying session, I was thinking about Silver & Gold. And my mother asked "why are you crying". I responded "I don't know". That was my first connection I had with the LORD, because "I rather have Jesus then silver and gold"...Thank you JESUS!!! 

GET CLOSER TO GOD

Now that I started to build my own connection with GOD, I wanted to listen to more songs like this because I wanted that feeling again like I did in church that day. So, when you pray to GOD he answers your prayers. A few Sundays later another song came on the radio Addictive Love by BeBe & CeCe Winans. It caught my attention because it had that new school flavor but it still about GOD. Throughout the song GOD was never said, but it was clearly imply. After hearing this song, I started getting that feeling again. As you can see GOD was working on me at 6 years old. 

JUST LISTEN TO THESE WORDS

Now I have a great relationship with GOD and he has guided me through everything in my life. But I felt like I lost sight of him because when I got to college things were happening to me. First a situation during my first college situation caused me a lot of pain, then in 2005 my first year in college my father passed, and in 2007 my grandfather had a heart attack that eventually killed him 3 years later. During 2005-2007 I lost sight of him because I didn't understand why these things were happening. I even stop praying but GOD has a way of bringing you back to him. He knew that music could get my attention, one day I was at my desk listening to music and Lost Without You by BeBe & CeCe came on and the tears began. I started to feel that feeling that I had at 6, I started to realize that GOD was not out to hurt me. And from me not praying, I was losing my personal relationship with him. But after the tears, I got down on my knees and look to the sky and said "GOD I am lost without your guidance". Then I realize that during the good and bad times "I am lost without him".

LISTEN TO THIS CLASSIC

 

Now you would think that I have a closer relationship with him but there are always "bumps in the road" when keeping a strong relationship with him. But this time I have graduated college and started my career everything seemed to be going well until....One Saturday I get a call from my grandma to tell me my mother was in the hospital, but she told me don't be alarmed. But when you hear that your mother is in the hospital it's not a good feeling. But selfishly, I tried to go on with my day. But early Sunday morning, I was sleeping and GOD seem to wake me up and I swear I heard a voice say "go see your mother". I obeyed him got dressed got into my car and headed to NJ. While I was driving I begin to really worry about her because I felt like if GOD woke me up then this is serious. Me with my emotional shelf started crying while I was driving. So, of course I needed a song to help me get it together and the first song that came on the radio was God Will Take Care You by Aretha Franklin. And for that 2.5 hour drive that was the ONLY song I listened to. The first line of the song says a lot "Be not dismay whatever betide, GOD will take care of you". Now by the time I got to the hospital the worrying was gone and I just knew my mother would be okay. This is how I know GOD is a good GOD, when I walked into that hospital, my mother was happy to see and she told me, "they are letting me go home today". I just looked up at the sky and said "Thank you Jesus". That car ride to NJ was a life-changing experience for me.

GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY

FAMILY

Now that you see GOD is important in my life, it's time for you to learn the 2nd important thing is my life which is family. Going back to the South Carolina days again, these are the days where the bond between my mother and I began. At a young age, I realize that my mother is the closest thing to GOD I will ever have. During those days, it was always me and her and it's a bond NOBODY can break. And the song that describe our bond is If I Could Build My Whole World Around You by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. This song is the first song that I learned all the words to as a kid because every time it come on or my mother would play it we would sing it together. She was Tammi and I was Marvin. Until this day, every time it plays we sing it as a duet. This song just puts a smile on my face because the bond I have with my mother is like no other. 

YALL SHOULD HEAR US SINGING THIS...OUR ANTHEM..HAHA

The O'Jays is my favorite group of all time and they have many classics but one song reminds me of my family the classic, Family Reunion. This songs brings tears to my eyes because it just reminds me of great family memories. That includes me, my mother, my grandma, uncle, my grandfather, my father, and my brother/cousin. These memories will forever be in my heart because my grandfather, my brother/cousin, and my father have passed on. It's like now Thanksgiving and Christmas will never be the same without them. I miss them dearly. During the holidays, the women would be in the kitchen cooking and the men would be the living room getting our drink on (Now you see I said we right....yeah I was drinking just soda...WINK WINK). Until this day, I listen to that song so I can daydream about the times with all my family being together. But now we (me, moms, and grandma) still keep the memories alive with the drinks and laughs. 

VIBE WITH THE O'JAYS

Back to the South Carolina days, me and moms always played the radio at all times. That included during homework, cleaning, cooking, and KNICKS games (had to give my KNICKS a plug..LOL). As a I can remember my mother and I were cleaning the house, and this song came on the radio. We never heard it before but this female was sounding so great, so we had to wait to see who the girl was. It was Reminisce by Mary J. Blige. From this point we loved Mary, she became family. Also from that day, Mary became my favorite artist. During this time, things were tough but it seemed like anytime a Mary song would play it would make us not think about the tough times we were going through. To me, Mary's music brought me and mother closer too. Songs like Mary's Joint, I Never Wanna Live Without You, You Gotta Believe me and my mother would sing these songs to the top of our lungs but this all started with the first day we heard Reminisce, on the radio. And thanks to that Mary has a spot in my family forever.

LISTEN TO THIS 90's CLASSIC

EDUCATION

With family, then comes education. Education is very important to me as black man. As a kid my mother always stressed education. As far as education, she was a major influence because she went to college and graduated while raising me. If that doesn't take strength, I don't know what does. (I was bad sometimes yall...lol) But while I was young, she would explain to me that education is important because you have to beat people in this would with your mind. Of course at 5 years old, I really didn't understand it but I knew mommy was serious when she said it. As stated before, music was always played and I can remember one album my parents use buy over and over, it was Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814". This album will remain close to me because it was educationally motivating. But one song stands out from the rest which was The Knowledge. This song is so influential to me, it made me want to go to school and get an education because "education is the goal..so". Now with my mother being serious about education, she knew that the way to get through to me was music. To this day, I think she use to play The Knowledge often so I can understand how important education was. 

BE IN THE KNOW (A LYRIC FROM THE KNOWLEDGE)

When I got into middle school, hip-hop started become major genre in my life. But before then I only listened to a select few artist mostly Brooklyn based rappers. But one day during basketball practice I learned about my future favorite rapper Nas, from Queens. One of the guys in basketball practice decided to play Nas' "Illmatic". Before he played it, he said this is the best hip-hop album of all time, now with me knowing The Notorious B.I.G "Ready To Die", I didn't believe it could come close. Oh boy was I wrong, with classics like Halftime, One Love, and NY State of Mind, it most definitely comes close to "Ready To Die" But one song stood out from the rest, the Pete Rock produced The World Is Yours. In this song, Nas was tell me that I can be anything I wanted in this world, because the world was mine. So, I felt like if I worked hard and got a good education I could be great and successful in this world. From that day, Nas became my favorite rapper after the Notorious B.I.G. because Nas raps about thing that inspires you to do better in your life. And a song like The World Is Yours inspire me to continue my education to get my college degree to be the best I can be.

LEARN FROM NAS

 

LIFE

Finally to the songs that taught me about life and how to survive in it. I was about 7 years old and my parents brought Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Doggystyle" album. That album consisted of classics like Gin & Juice, Murder Was The Case, and What's My Name. This album was a major play in my house because when we had company the production by Dr. Dre got the party started. Now if I didn't know how to cuss after this album you would think something was wrong. I know it wasn't cool to be cussing at 7 but my parents couldn't really hear me because the music use to be loud. (Even though I heard many of these cuss words before... wink wink). But I felt with this album, you learned how to cuss the right way. (LOL). Now there are many songs on this album that I can chose, but the song that I chose is Niggaz & B!&@*3$. Now can you imagine if my mother would have heard me cussing, I probably wouldn't have been able to live pass 7. But I have to tell Snoop "good looks homie" because with this song I am a efficient cusser, ha. Nevertheless, if you really listen to this song, Snoop and others are telling you don't worry about nobody do what you do for yourself and don't care what people think. A serious life lesson.

CHECK IT OUT

 

Keeping the hip-hop going, about 8 years old my parents brought an album entitled "Ready To Die", from the Notorious B.I.G. He was from our hometown of Brooklyn N.Y. Now this album is an hip-hop classic that included: Juicy, Big Poppa, & One More Chance. But there was one song that stood out to me which was Everyday Struggle. It became my favorite song from B.I.G, in this song is explaining about life situations that we all go through. I felt that he understand about life hardships that we deal with in this crazy world. As a result, with this song B.I.G was letting us know that this world is not easy but just because you get out of one situation doesn't mean there won't be any other challenges to face. Another life lesson I live by everyday.

VIBE WITH B.I.G

To another Brooklyn artist, Jay-Z to me represented for NY during times when we needed it. September 11, 2001 will be a day that a New Yorker will never forget. It was the day that the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorist which caused the World Trade to be destroyed and caused people to died. On that day, Jay-Z released his classic "The Blueprint" which consisted the battle track Takeover, the emotional Song Cry, and the radio friendly Izzo (H.O.V.A). But I felt that Jay-Z gave NY the song we needed during those tragic time Heart of the City (Ain't No Love). It felt good for a NY rapper to give us a little hope and that's what I got from this song, because during this time NYC wasn't getting any love. And if you know me I represent NYC to the fulliest. (HENCE THE NY KNICKS) But thanks Jay for this record.

VIBE TO THIS JOINT

In conclusion, now you have a visual on how these 12 songs were a big influenced on my life as a whole. I learn so much from these songs because they have made me become a better person.

WHAT SONG INFLUENCES YOU?