The Art of Rap

I really dug the documentary Art of Rap primarily because of how slick and clever some of the rhymes were. They really impressed me.  I kind of earned more respect for rap in general after hearing some of those freestyles. I guess I've just been blinded to a lot of quality rap that is out there because at one point all of the rap I was hearing was just vulgar, offensive, garbage like Lil Wayne and Kanye West. Those guys really turned me off to rap, because they are so much worse than the people I heard in this documentary. The guys in the documentary were so smooth that listening to their rhymes was like drinking a smoothie.

Snoop Dogg Reincarnated

The documentary we watched over Snoop Dogg I found to be entertaining, and I slightly gained more respect for him. Though I didn't really like some of the new reggae music he was trying to pull off (because I thought it just sounded like a slower paced rap), I found it very fitting for Snoop Dogg to go to Jamaica and absorb the Rastafarian culture. The fact that he changed his name from Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion kind of annoyed me though, because Snoop Dogg DEFINITELY looks more like a dog. Unless of course he does that thing with his hair that makes him look like he has a mane, in which case Snoop Lion is more fitting.

Ratatat

Ratatat is just a single guy that plays electric guitar, drums, bass, xylophone, and a variety of other instruments. He does all the parts himself and then mixes them up into an electronic type of feel. He has about half of it as electronic sounds and the other half of him playing single instruments and looping the parts. I like him because he pieces together a lot of complex instruments that he plays, so he is basically a one man band. His songs are really catchy but they have little to no vocals. Here is some songs

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

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH_a2OcCmnI

20 feet from Stardom

I thought that this documentary was interesting, considering how I realized that I've never really acknowledged that background singers existed even though I knew they were there. They make a huge difference (improvement) in the sound, and I don't really know why they never stuck out to me until this documentary. I guess I'm just kind of like everyone else in that regard when it comes to background singers... they never get any recognition even though they may have some of the best vocals I've ever heard. It just goes to show you how much hidden talent there is out there... how many musicians and artists that are world class, yet they won't even get close to being on the radar. It's really disappointing and somewhat depressing

80's hip hop

Compared to rap/hip-hop now a-days I think hip hop in the 80's is a lot better.  It just sounds smoother to me, and usually people never repeat any lines, compared to now when you hear nothing but repetition. The lyrics are also not nearly as vulgar and offensive, which I take as a plus.  Not that being vulgar in a rap is bad, but the rap I hear now a-days is just over the top nasty.

FINALLY

       
                    THE GLITCH MOB

Live at Emo's.... So I recently saw Glitch Mob live and needless to say it was pretty badass. The first two opening performers, however, almost made it not worth it. They kept repeating the same beat over and over to where all of their songs combined all sounded like one big song. But when Glitch Mob appeared from behind the black cape they were hiding in, and exploded the crowd with a myriad of sounds and colors, the concert instantly was totally worth it. The bass shaked your entire heart  and internal organs because of how powerful it was. And what I liked about them was that they actually drummed their beats and had electronic sounds to go with it. Most dubstep bands have computers do the entire drum rhythm and it's disappointing how little musical talent is needed to make such beats. But then again I play drums so maybe I just like it when people play drums. The videos I have are absolutely terrible quality because of how much the sound overwhelmed the phone, so I don't even think it's worth to post, the computer might explode or something.

Alice In Chains

Alice in Chains is one of my favorite bands of all time. I love the way they harmonize the vocals and the raspy voice the lead singer has is just so badass. Also their lead guitarist is my #2 idol (right after Jimmy Page) because of how amazing he can fit psychedelic solos into hard rock. Sometime Alice In Chains can be a bit too heavy for me, which I usually dont mind, but Id have to be in the right state of mind to listen to it.