Rest In Power: Whitney Houston

We've lost another talented inspiration in the music world recently. While in town for the Grammy's, Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room earlier today, Saturday. No other details have been released. It's never seems like the right time for people to die...

The elusive B.I.C.

Some people really need to get off their computers and go outside

The Carter family graciously set up a tumblr, releasing some photos of their pride and joy, Blue. Breaking records on Billboard's charts, having all that hair already (yes, I'm aware some people were blessed with a full head of hair right out the womb)-who knows what's next for Big Blue before 2012 is said and done. Do I hear a Grammy in the workings this weekend for Brightest Future Music Career?

My president is black

Finally a post to use this picture.

...but he likes white people too! And other minorities! Sorry, had to get that out there because some people (Rush Limbtard) still think Obama let's the race card dictate his actions (fighting for the middle class and their homes). Anyway, the Administration recently released a playlist it put together and it seems like the soundtrack to their campaign trail. No Juicy J? SMDH. Maybe I should make a campaign mixtape. Thoughts?

Here's the playlist:

01 No Doubt – “Different People”

02 Earth Wind & Fire Experience feat. Al McKay Allstars – “Got To Get You Into My Life – (Live)”

03 Booker T. & The MG’s – “Green Onions – Single/LP Version”

04 Wilco – “I Got You”

05 The Impressions – “Keep On Pushing – Single Version”

06 Jennifer Hudson – “Love You I Do”

07 AgesandAges – “No Nostalgia”

08 Ledisi – “Raise Up”

09 Sugarland – “Stand Up”

10 Darius Rucker – “This”

11 Arcade Fire – “We Used to Wait”

12 Florence And The Machine – “You’ve Got The Love”

13 James Taylor – “Your Smiling Face”

14 REO Speedwagon – “Roll With The Changes”

15 Raphael Saadiq – “Keep Marchin’”

16 Noah And The Whale – “Tonight’s The Kind Of Night”

17 Zac Brown Band – “Keep Me In Mind”

18 Aretha Franklin – “The Weight”

19 U2 – “Even Better Than The Real Thing”

20 Dierks Bentley – “Home”

21 Sugarland – “Everyday America”

22 Darius Rucker – “Learn To Live”

23 Al Green – “Let’s Stay Together”

24 Electric Light Orchestra – “Mr. Blue Sky”

25 Montgomery Gentry – “My Town”

26 Ricky Martin – “The Best Thing About Me Is You Feat. Joss Stone”

27 Ray LaMontagne – “You Are The Best Thing”

28 Bruce Springsteen – “We Take Care Of Our Own”

Collaborations are great

Kool AD of Das Racist and Chairlift of Chairlift cover Beyonce's "Party." Man, Kool AD's steez is like that of that one weird kid you knew who climbed stuff and jumped off high places-you want to do it but you're afraid how it'll look in public. Shout out to Watch the Throne?

Note bene: Patrick Wimberly (of Chairlift) produced a majority of the tracks for Das Racist's album, Relax.

Rappers Are Extravagant: No, you break.

How else would you break half a millie? Mad props to Los again. But please don't make me eat my words, Diddy. I'll take a few handles of Ciroc though. Just saying.

More black people in Paris!

After hitting double platinum, the Throne's theme song finally gets a video (which, I'm sure will break records somehow). It's pretty wild. And it better be. They had a crazy amount of live footage from the tour to use. Maybe too much. And Yeezy in the director's chair.

Don't watch if you're epileptic or just downright frightened of any visual stimulation.

Rappers Are Extravagant: Twins!

BIRDMAN BLOOD LOVE feat WEEZY & MACK MAINE from DERICK G on Vimeo.

On this edition of Rappers Are Extravagant, Birdman continues to shower his babies (Tunechi and El Presidente of Young Money Entertainment aka Mack Maine aka ok I'm done) with brand spankin new Bentley Mulsannes (~$285,000 each base price). You know it's expensive when you can't figure out the keys to the car. Or maybe Mack Maine was too hyped over his new gift that he couldn't decipher the foreign language of a picture of an opened lock. Adrenaline can be a bitch sometimes.

Marley

Finally! The first official documentary on Bob Marley's highly influential life will be released in theaters this April. And yes, you guessed it, April 20. It will premiere at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February and then at SXSW in March. The director, Kevin MacDonald (Last King of Scotland, The Eagle), should end up doing a bang up job.

Let's start taking bets on the visibility in the theaters opening night in the states. I say, one and a half spliff's length.

h.u.e. everyday

Man, this is deep and smooth and easy on the ears in so many ways. The production somehow makes the lyrics flow smoother than Sassy Cow chocolate milk. Please, please, please recognize pure Hip Hop when you see it. Preview the track here: Roaring Twenties ft. HUEART (Little Brother EP)

And then download North American's EP here: http://northamerican.bandcamp.com/

That's an order.

The ever so helpful law enforcement

If you're unfamiliar with King Fantastic (Killer Reese One and Troublemaker), please do that, like, yesterday (Finger Snaps and Gun Claps has A LOT of plays on my iPod). Unfortunately the cops are continuing their crackdown on rappers and have arrested Killer Reese One. Why? The details are still a little fuzzy but most likely because the cops-and I'll stop right there before I say something ignorant. It just bothers me that the cops somehow manage to nab rappers I actually dig. Maybe my anger is displaced and the musicians getting arrested deserve it. Or maybe the cops suck.

#freereese

Oh, Denver Broncos

Knowshon Moreno, running back for the Denver Broncos, was arrested for a DUI, speeding in a constructing zone, not having insurance, blah blah blah. Basically he was irresponsible, as many celebrities Americans are when it comes to driving. The funny part? His license plate-SAUCED. Looks like Jesus Tebow should have had a little talk with his teammate before letting him have those keys to that Bentley. Shame on you, Teabag.

MTV continues to disappoint

Somewhat accurate

So MTV put out their list of nominees for this year's Hottest MCs in the game. Here's the list:

2 Chainz

50 Cent

Big Sean

Common

Drake

Eminem

Fabolous

French Montana

Jadakiss

JAY-Z

Jim Jones

Kanye West

Lil Wayne

Lloyd Banks

Maino

Meek Mill

Nas

Nicki Minaj

Red Café

Rick Ross

T.I.

Wale

Wiz Khalifa

Yelawolf

Young Jeezy

Now, while I agree with choosing about five of those MCs, this list is seriously lacking. When will mainstream music figureheads gets their said, huge figureheads out their ass? Why isn't Blu, any of the Great Outdoors crew, Skyzoo, any Stones Throw Records MCs, Kendrick Lamar, etc, etc, on there? What do you guys think?

And with the 4th pick of the 1st Round

Get More: Music News

...Los goes to Bad Boy Records. Apparently Los is not new to the Bad Boy family, as he was signed to Bloc Incorporated (now long gone) back in 2005. While this is a huge addition (in my opinion) to the Bad Boy family, I sincerely pray for the best with this move. Ok, maybe a few Ciroc commercial cameos but let's just hope it's the production side of the music business Los gets a boost with. Not saying it's been lacking in the past. Definitely not.

The British are doing something right

Not gonna lie, I was doubtful at how good this battle would be between a student and a teacher. But I was sold by the end of the first round. There are some pretty mean lines in this one. Of course the teacher has more of a poetic, structured meter but regardless holds no punches. I'm gonna have to give it to the teacher, but in a very close decision (Yeah, I know the kid's line on Germany dropping the Euro was cold). The teacher definitely kills it in the third round.

At least a NY team won, right?

Kinda. The Giants played a good game, showing up in the 4th quarter to put sourpuss Belichick and company in their place. The most disappointing part? The commercials. There were some that made me chuckle, but not the consistent laugh I used to get from Superbowls past. Maybe one day, executive will grow a pair, again, and make bold commercials like they used to. Here are a couple that are worth remembering: (at least for a couple weeks)

Diddy > You