Sounds In The Room

Planet Rock was a song that came out in the early 80’s, 1982 to be exact. This is a pure image of the hip-hop culture.  There are certain things that are captivating in the video that bring back the origin of break dancing and graffiti. There is also a draw  thro-back that reminds you of how it was back in the early 80’s,  hip-hop was about dance and fun.

In November 2004, this song placed #237 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time" and #10 at the About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs. The influence of "Planet Rock" can still be heard in hip-hop genres like G-funk , and in the beats of producers such as The Neptunes who are using electro-based sounds in some of their productions. The song was used as the main theme of the 2006 basketball video game NBA 2K7, and also ranked number 21 on the VH1’s  100 greatest songs of hip-hop in 2008.

This is a fun loving song that gets your heart pumping and your feet moving. Creative flare and welcoming lyrics that keeps the song flowing in your head through out the day.

  One of the few African American singers in her genre. Rissi Palmer the Pittsburgh, PA native is a country music singer.

  A black women singing country? Yes! If you were to ask Rissi, I believe she would say where she is, is where she belongs. You will notice this as you hear her sing the song "No Air". The hit that that was originally preformed by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.

   Rissi said in a earlier Vibe issue " That's why I love country music so much, it's not based on image, it's not about who did your beats. It's all about can you sing this song? Can you express this story?" I am looking forward to hearing more from Rissi Palmer, she has the qualities to keep so many tuned in. Learn more about Rissi Palmer at http://www.rissipalmer.com/ .

The Roots said it best when making the video, "What they Do". There are too many people trying to be someone else. In order to be noticed you must come in full effect on being yourself. The media gets flooded with mimic artist who sound the same and present the same type of music. Having your own unique style is what gets you noticed, and popular. Make a difference break away from the molds that society has put forth to categorize hip-hop artist. 

On the corner, we dip, dodge and dive from reality

and wrap our uncertainty with

loud misdirections that only fool the foolish

Our Peer relationships

Haphazard gropes for

Acceptance and

At their core

Are our own

Private wars

We Fight

To seize what's left

Of our humanity

The Street Life

When a parent responsibility is eclipsed,

and the fallacy of manhood is guns and clips,

and womanhood is a hood womans's lips and hips,

we lie to slip and slide in to their bottomless pits.

And the seed that we breed are brainwashed in this,

thinking God is a gun, or the money we grip,

or the fattest backside on the chicks we trick,

or the drugs that we flip, or expensive whips.

He only starts praying when he ducks and dips,

as the sprayed bullets ricochet, cascade, and zip.

Puncturing the body, he's taking a trip, in the back of an ambulance, the IV drips.

In the ICU, mom catching a fit,

When the heart monitor runs out of "blips".

Yeah, he died trying to stack them chips,

he thought the stairway to heaven was made of weighed bricks,

he built his rep one ounce at a time, but he slipped,

because he didn't see that jealousy was on their lips.

And it's the worst poison you could ever sip,

Then it spreads through your click like it's cancerous.

Now, you looking at me for what the answer is,

when the time I got can't tick on your wrist,

you might think I'm better off if I slit my wrist.

Pushing a wheel uphill in this abyss.

Let me tell you what was the start of this,

Green-eyes, greed, lies at the heart of this,

Yeah, friends in a frenzy because they envy,

plotting with my enemies to make me a memory.

Gave the po-po my name and identity,

now there's informants in my vicinity.

Squad cars deep, downtown they sending me,

got a little money, but I ain't Kennedy,

can't afford a lawyer, so the Public's Defending me,

trying to cop a plea, but this joker is spinning me.

The judge won't budge, no; it ain't no sympathy

body on the shotty so they seeking the penalty.

So-called friends testifying against me,

I'm headed up-state smoking like a chimney.

Asking myself, what is the remedy?

While the beast feasts on my soul, draining it empty.

Let me tell you what was the start of this,

Green-eyes, greed, lies at the heart of this.

                                                                                       Lyrics By: Malichi

Beats by Dre ( not Dr.) with lyrics from Bay, Tab, and Dre bring to the ear something new with a little old school feel. Straight from Connellsville PA, a small town with a lot of talent and a whole lot of promise. These young fellows deal raps that cover issues going on in every hood. All flow style are different, giving everyone a chance to choose their favorite. Although they are from a small town, big thoughts and big dreams lurk in the mind of these men. Watch Out!

If, while viewing this, you have up in coming talent that you feel needs to be heard, submit and I will see too it that it gets played in the future. I am starting a group on here called Sounds In The Room, and in there you can leave your material. Remember, when submitting make sure to leave a little bio or synopsis about the group we are hearing.
Respect will be given to all material!

Menace

Dre, Bay and Tab

With three decades of music under my belt a transition can very easily be seen. Hip-Hop or Rap ( whatever you prefer) others would say has had it's creative juices sucked out of it. Personally I agree and it has brought me to ask the question, " What happen to the music"?

Her first name means "Hope" and when you hear her music that is the feeling you get. Espernanza is a multiracial vocalist/bassist from Portland Oregon who began recording at the age of 14. She credits her inspiration for pursuing a musical life to watching classical cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on Mister Rogers Neighborhood when she was only four. When Spalding was 16 years old, she started writing lyrics for the local indie rock/pop group Noise for Pretend. After dropping out of school at the age of 16, Spalding went and got her GED. After a small brief stay

 at Portland State University, Spalding switched and started to attend Berklee College Of Music. Right after graduation Spalding was hired by Berklee becoming one of the youngest professor in the schools history.

Spalding has recorded two albums Junjo and Espernaza. Espernaza was released in 2008. The song above you can enjoy is titled "Precious" and it comes for Espernanza's Self titled album. Be looking for more music from this up incoming artist. I know I will!

Troy Dixon  better known as Trouble T Roy was a hip-hop dancer with  Heavy D and the Boyz from 1987 until 1990. On July 15, 1990,  Dixon was killed from an accidental fall.  Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth dedicated their song They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) to him in 1992. It takes great skill to retell your life from birth to present. This song brings light to what so many of us do in our minds. It also shows us how life can pass you by. So many of us are afraid to reminisce, but reminiscing for a spell may help in other situations in your current life. You digging into your past may help someone to come to terms with there present situation.  So reminisce for a spell!

"I reminisce so you never forget this
The days of wayback, so many bear witness the fitness" -  C. L. Smooth