The Boombox Music Blog

Top 10 Hip-Hop Groups Who Should Never Come Back

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST

Paul Natkin, WireImage Bad news rap fans. You're not getting an Outkast reunion any time soon. Kris Kross, however, is getting back together. We know, we know, just what you were asking for, right? The duo is bringing back their "totally krossed out ways" for a So So Def Anniversary concert, where they will most likely perform their hit 1992 "Jump" and... err... maybe that's it. On second thought, maybe they should have just stayed away. Thing is, there are a handful of rap groups that we pray never make a comeback attempt. Here are our top 10 hip-hop groups that should stay away -- forever. ...

Top 10 Hip-Hop Groups Who Should Never Come Back

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Sad Songs of R&B: 20 Tunes to Satisfy the Winter Blues

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST

Getty Images Baby, it's cold outside. Well, OK, it's getting there and before we know it winter will be upon us. Sure, people like to romanticize about the indoor activities that go on during the cold weather (Google "cuffing season"), but let's face the fact that winter is a gloomy season. The trees lose their leaves and all of nature dies; it's actually quite depressing when you think about it. Throw in those extra five or 10 pounds you gain from the holidays or emotional eating and before you know it, your body is soft and your soul is sad. We won't go too far off the edge, but here at The BoomBox, we feel that the best antidote for the winter blues is a good cry. And we have the perfect soundtrack for the tears courtesy of R&B singers like Brian McKnight, R. Kelly, Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige. Here are 20 songs to last you through the winter months, complete with tales of breakups and mourning. Hopefully the sad songs and a sad mood will cancel one another out. Let's see how it works. ...

20. "Un-Break My Heart," Toni Braxton

The saddest part about this song is fathoming someone like Toni Braxton having to beg a man to love her. Then again, in the video, her ex-boyfriend is Tyson Beckford so you can kind of understand that backwards thinking. Still, Toni wants her heart "un-broken" like that's even possible. Nothing like a male model to mend it though, right?

19. "Anytime," Brian McKnight

Brian McKnight is arguably the king of sad songs. On this one, he's wondering if he crosses his ex-girlfriend's mind "anytime." He misses her and opts to spend his days thinking about her and wondering if she does the same. If that isn't sad, then what is? Perhaps McKnight's retrn to the spotlight earlier this year with a song called "How Your Pussy Works"? That's sad for a whole other reason.

18. "Losing You," Solange

Kudos for Solange for attempting to make her latest song upbeat even though it's pretty upsetting. She's really trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel in the midst of losing the one she loves. And here all along we thought the saddest thing going on in Solange's life was having to dance in her sister Beyonce's shadow. Who knew? Certainly not us.

17. "I Miss You," Aaron Hall

Aaron Hall's wife dies in the video for this song. We learn many years later that there was no deceased wife. He's not even married. So basically he killed a woman in his video that never existed. Let's give him the pass though since he was an integral part of the New Jack Swing Era. This song is still sad as hell though.

16. "Killing Me Softly," The Fugees

Sure, Roberta Flack created this song, but the Fugees brought it back to life thanks to Lauryn Hill's chops. While the interpretation of this song -- created by Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras -- in the video has really nothing to do with the meaning behind the track, hearing Ms. Hill being "killed softly" is sad enough.

15. Through With Love," Destiny's Child

Imagine if Queen Bey really was through with love after making this song? There would be no Jay-Z and Beyoncé - err Jayonce. There would be no Blue Ivy Carter, no Hip-Hop's Royal Couple. That's the real sad story here: imagining a life where Jay-Z and Beyoncé weren't together.

14. "Gangsta Lean," DRS

Sorta one-hit wonders DRS made quite the sad song back in the '90s, about all their fallen homies. The interesting thing about this song is DRS is singing about driving to heaven in that "gangsta lean" aka sitting low in their ride. Two years later, Adina Howard would sing "Freak Like Me" in 1995, telling the story of driving her beat piece around the hood in a gangsta lean. Not nearly as sentimental when Ms. Howard sang those words.

13. "Marvin's Room (Remix)," JoJo

Yes, Drake took emo to the next level when he released "Marvin's Room." However, JoJo's interpretation of the track makes her sound insane. First she's taking Adderall with Red Bull (big mistake, lady) and then sexting her ex to prove she's having a better time than he is. We're just sayin' you can do better, JoJo. Now put your shirt back on and get back in your house.

12. "All Cried Out," Allure Feat. 112

"Apology not accepted, admit to the broken hearts you collected." Ouch. Those words will forever resonate as the epitome of "a woman scorned" lyrics. While the members of 112 are sorry for doing the girls of Allure dirty (we know they're just acting, guys), the girls are done. They're all cried out. We've all been there, haven't we?

11. "Grenade," Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars loves a woman so much that he'd catch a grenade for her. And no, he doesn't mean the "grenades" that the cast of the "Jersey Shore" would take home on a drunken night. He means the mini-war bombs that maim people. Oh, unrequited love, you really are a weapon of mass destruction.

10. "Don't Leave Me," Blackstreet

"If you take your love away from me, I'll go crazy. I'll go insane." So many songs on this list are about women begging men to still love them. Here we have the men of Blackstreet doing it for a change. Despite the fact that this song found its way to the "Nutty Professor" soundtrack, "Don't Leave Me" is still a really great song centered on pleading.

9. "Wicked Games," The Weeknd

Drugs, sadness, more drugs and sadness. That is the recipe for a typical song by the Weeknd. Hearing this title would suggest that the Toronto crooner cosigned by Drake was on his Chris Isaak and singing about his woman playing some wicked game on him. Oh no. Abel Tesfaye, his government name, is the one playing the wicked game on the woman. What a sad flipping of the script.

8. "I Love You," Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige gets left in this song. Then she gets insomnia due to all of the "pretty memories" she has with her man. The track is sob-worthy, as MJB seals each line with, "For the record, I love you." Thank goodness she adds Smif-N-Wessun to the remix to lighten the mood. "I shine, you shine. Shine."

7. "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time," R. Kelly

Yet another song where someone dies. R. Kelly does a better job of emoting, though, and in the video he really drives the point home. Then of course the song changes meaning in the film "The Wood" when Omar Epps' character sees Sanaa Lathan's character after years of still being in love and regretting breaking up. This track hits on multiple levels.

6. "Cold Case Love," Rihanna

Rihanna has this knack for always making the end of love sound like murder. It's like her thing. Maybe it's not the best thing to be known for, but damn RiRi is good at it. In a way she's right too. Losing love does involve some degree of death. Only difference is, Rihanna makes it violent. Let's not ask where she gets that from.

5. "Bad Religion," Frank Ocean

It's tough to pick which Frank Ocean song is the saddest when they're all pretty sad. "Bad Religion" wins though with its introspective lyrics about love being a religion or something to believe in -- yada, yada. The runners-up for the Saddest Frank Ocean Song Award would be "Swim Good" and "American Wedding" (off his mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra) plus anything else found on his debut album, Channel Orange.

4. "Ex-Factor," Lauryn Hill

Now that the cat's out of the bag about Lauryn Hill and Wyclef having an affair -- read the latter's new book Purpose if you're not in the know -- this song has so much more meaning. Nobody wants to hear Hill be sad; it's like the musical equivalent to watching a baby seal get clubbed. On a positive note, she did write one of the best breakup songs in breakup song history. Too bad the story behind it had to be true.

3. "Heartless," Kanye West

Sure, hearing Kanye West sing with Auto-Tune is the most depressing aspect of this song. However, Yeezy lamenting over a heartless woman is something anyone can relate to. One thing is for certain: when Kanye isn't making songs about swag and self-deprecation, he knows how to make a sad song like nobody's business.

2. "I'll Be Missing You," Diddy Feat. Faith Evans

Puffy, as he was called during those '90s glory days, made the greatest memorial on the passing of Notorious B.I.G. He called on the late rapper's wife Faith Evans to take the lyrical journey with him. "I'll Be Missing You" can be about losing any loved one, but Biggie's passing made everyone feel like they lost their favorite hip-hop hero. This song was the best way to describe hip-hop's feelings about losing him.

1. "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday," Boyz II Men

This song was the soundtrack to many a high school graduation. Completely acapella, Boyz II Men snapped their fingers and hummed their way through one of the saddest songs to date. It was in memory of a good friend of theirs (much like Diddy's opus), yet this song could be about any special someone leaving this earth. Replay this one with a box of tissues, everyone.

R&B for Dummies

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Beanie Sigel and the Celebrity Tax Problem: An Inside Look at Hip-Hop Dodging Uncle Sam

Kathy Iandoli — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:55:00 EST

Gino DePinto, AOL Dr. Dre put it best: "The only two things that scare me are God and the IRS." For the average American citizen, filing taxes annually is a necessary evil. Most don't find the task daunting either. An employer sends out tax forms, and the employee either files online or has an accountant handle the dirty work. Then there's either money to be collected or paid. It's that simple. For the self-employed, it becomes this guessing game of "What gets written off?" in an attempt to retain money earned throughout the respective year. For celebrities, taxes are a bit different. They're rarely ever on a traditional payroll, and that guessing game is usually left to their team of accountants or managers. Sure, certain celebrities may find themselves receiving network paychecks with all of the trimmings, but for the most part, 1099 is the magic number. ...

On Sept. 30, 2010, rapper Beanie Sigel, née Dwight Grant, was served with papers stating he failed to file tax returns and pay taxes between the years of 2003-2005. The matter came to a close this August, when Sigel, 38, was charged with three counts of tax evasion and sentenced to two years in prison -- the maximum was three years. Last month, he reported to prison on Sept. 12 to begin serving his sentence.

Any entry level hip-hop head can attest to the fact that Beanie Sigel is no stranger to a jail cell. Even during his tax problems, the This Time creator was charged with gun and drug possession, thereby speeding up his sentencing. However, Beans' charges this time around present lifelong financial repercussions. And it all could have been prevented.

The Philadelphia native first entered the rap ring on The Roots' 1998 tough cut "Adrenaline." A year later, he showed up on Jay-Z's "Do It Again" and "Anything" before dropping his 2000 debut album, The Truth, which was certified gold. While balancing his time between Roc-A-Fella Records and State Property, Beanie Sigel had street rap in a chokehold, as career singles like "Rock the Mic," "Feel It in the Air," and the classic assist on Freeway's "What We Do," made the MC a household name.

See The BoomBox's Exclusive Photos of Beanie Sigel's In House Visit

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Albums like 2001's The Reason, 2005's The B. Coming, 2007's The Solution and 2009's The Broad St. Bully are all arguable classics, not even including Sigel's mixtapes and State Property compilations. Sure, he was experiencing success, but behind the scenes, standard business practices were being overlooked.

According to court documents, Beanie Sigel hadn't filed taxes since 1999, the year he formally entered hip-hop. In fact, there is no clear indicator that Sigel paid taxes at all throughout his career. The BoomBox looks to experts in the entertainment industry to make sense of his tax evasion. In the process, we take a look at court documents that show much of his income during his career.

"I don't fully know Beanie's rationale for not filing taxes or filing as sporadically as he did, but I think that people are truly ignorant to a process as simple as filing taxes," states Chuck Creekmur, CEO and co-founder of AllHipHop.com. "Especially coming from a background with a cash type of lifestyle. Plus, Beanie is just infamously street."

Maybe Sigel didn't understand that filing taxes was mandatory, or maybe he just didn't want to pay. In 2003, court documents reveal that Sigel made over $87,000 in royalties. That figure jumped to over $145,000 in 2004, and close to $394,000 in 2005. Income paid to Sigel, via 1099 form, totaled $250,000 in 2003, over $138,000 in 2004, and a whopping $465,000 in 2005.

Sources of Beanie Sigel's income include places like ASCAP, Hitco Music Publishing, State Property Licensing, Sony BMG, UMG Recordings, Warner and even Tommy Hilfiger, in 2004. Sigel did have W-2 forms for places like 20th Century Fox, WB Television, Universal City Studios and others, but the income was so nominal that it hardly weighed in his favor. While his expenses during each of those years in question were in excess of $125,000-plus, the money spent in no way compared to the pocketed money that was untaxed.

"It's hard as an adult to fathom somebody that's making money -- which Beanie was making, a couple million at that time -- to not file any taxes," continues Creekmur, who also had a brush with the tax gods. "I can't really understand it myself as an adult. My company [AllHipHop] had to deal with the IRS firsthand and it was a real life education on how to deal with them. Therefore, we won't make those mistakes again."

New Jersey-based tax and bankruptcy attorney Nicole M. Clarke deals primarily with clients paid through 1099 forms. She's also represented artists and moguls within hip-hop and other facets of the entertainment industry.

"I think what it comes down to is that it's a problem with people who are 1099'ed," Clarke explains. "When you're a W-2 employee, your employer withholds taxes and you either pay a small portion or get a refund when you file your taxes. When you're a 1099 employee, you get paid everything up front, and it's up to you to either pay quarterly or put money aside to pay in April.

"With a lot of people, once you've got the money in your hand, it's hard to do. Especially in times like these where people are living hand-to-mouth. And even for people that seemingly make good money like Beanie Sigel, it's still a bigger hand to a bigger mouth."

In entertainment, especially within the hip-hop community, living in excess is the norm, so money is hard to part with. However, even if the money were all spent, filing taxes would have prevented Sigel from a prison sentence.

"Tax evasion is not filing your tax returns. If you simply can't pay, you can't go to jail," she adds. "There's no debtor's prison in our country."

Court documents also indicate that Beanie Sigel refused a home inspection, which only fans the flames of the IRS. Pair that with an existing criminal record, and jail time is inevitable.

This isn't the first or the most recent incident involving an entertainer's failure to pay taxes. Recently, Lauryn Hill faced a similar situation where she was charged with three counts of misdemeanor failure to file taxes. In a statement she released in June, via her Tumblr page, she responded to the charges and placed partial blame on her failure to file taxes on celebrity aesthetic. The former Fugees member also highlighted the pressures of fame and maintaining an appearance as some of her reasons.

For these artists, their disregard in paying taxes throughout the course of their career has severe effects in the long run, including prison time and fines. Further, even when the prison term is over, the taxes still have to be paid. In Sigel's case, he must pay back money owed for every single year since 1999, and that's not counting additional fees and penalties.

Perhaps Beanie Sigel's story will serve as a cautionary tale for artists, proving that no one is above the law.

"For the younger rappers and entertainers, I think that they're bearing witness to this firsthand in the media," Creekmur says. "They're understanding what's out there and what they can do to prevent that from happening."

It's an unfortunate circumstance that never had to happen, according to attorney Clarke.

"Bottom line is, they'll catch you," Clarke states. "Everybody's gotta pay Uncle Sam at the end of the day."

Even Beanie Sigel.

Watch Beanie Sigel's "The Reunion" Video Feat. State Property

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Numbers Game: 15 Facts to Celebrate Michael Jackson's 'Bad' Album

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:55:00 EST

DOUG KANTER, AFP In 1987, the late Michael Jackson released the epochal album, Bad. Following the release of 1982's Thriller, the album pushed the boundaries of pop music in a way that only Michael Jackson could. The album arrived at the helm of hip-hop's reign. With cover art that reflected the leather jacket swag the King of Pop introduced us to on the previous project (only this time the jacket was black and not red), the cover also showed the album's title written in spray-painted graffiti. The release was arguably one of MJ's edgiest, in which he tackled the typical romantic topics, but also began his acknowledgement of a lack of privacy -- evidenced by the song "Leave Me Alone." Who knew that over two decades later, the side effects of fame would lead to the loss of a legend? As Bad reaches its 25th Anniversary today, The BoomBox drops some figures for fans of the King of Pop. Here are 15 numerical facts about Bad. ...

13 Countries Platinum Plus
It's no surprise that Bad moved several units, given Michael Jackson's colossal status at the King of Pop. The album was certified platinum-Plus in 13 countries worldwide. It reached platinum in Hong Kong and Mexico, but countries like Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. saw sales in the multi-millions. In some territories it even reached diamond status (over 10 million sold). That's a lot of albums.

12 Countries at No. 1
In addition to selling well into the millions, Bad would obviously skyrocket to the No. 1 spot on the charts in a variety of countries. Places like Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech, Dutch, Italian, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K. and of course the U.S. all had Michael Jackson sitting comfortably at the top.

10 Instruments Used on the Album
It wasn't just all about the synths on Bad. The rich production came thanks to a variety of musical instruments. They all came together masterfully, and with Michael Jackson's voice added in, the project became a classic. Besides the obvious synthesizers, there were other instruments including guitars, organs, drums, bass, trumpets, percussion, keyboards, saxophones, pianos plus digital guitars.

9 Singles Off the Album
Every Michael Jackson song could be a single, and Bad is further proof of that. On an album of 11 tracks, a whopping nine of them were singles. Some of course did better than others and became fixtures in the history of pop music. The first single was the chart-topping "I Just Can't Stop Loving You." Then came the monstrous "Bad," followed by "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man In the Mirror," "Dirty Diana," "Another Part Of Me," "Smooth Criminal," "Leave Me Alone" and "Liberian Girl."

9 Songs Written by Michael Jackson
If Bad feels personal to Michael Jackson, it's because he wrote the songs on most of the album. "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Speed Demon," "Liberian Girl," "Another Part Of Me," "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Dirty Diana," "Smooth Criminal" and "Leave Me Alone" all show MJ in the writing credits. The two exceptions are "Just Good Friends" written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle and "Man In the Mirror" written by Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard.

7th Solo Album by Michael Jackson
There are two types of Michael Jackson fans: those who were riding with him since the beginning (during the Jackson 5 era) and those who jumped on following 1979's Off the Wall (once the buzz of Thriller began). While for some it feels like Bad was Jackson's third solo album (acting as if life began at Off the Wall), it was in fact his seventh. His first solo album was 1972's Got to Be There followed by Ben that same year. He then wen on to drop Music & Me in 1973, Forever, Michael in 1975, and then finally Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987).

6 Weeks at No. 1
Michael Jackson is the purveyor of No. 1 albums, and Bad was no exception. While the album released on Aug. 31, 1987 it reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts by Sept. 26, 1987. It stayed there for a total of six weeks at the top. Most albums never reach that coveted spot, but Bad sat there for a month and a half. No wonder it racked up so many platinum plaques.

5 No. 1 Singles
While Bad as a whole was a No. 1 success on the album front, the singles didn't too badly either. Out of the nine singles that dropped, five of them reached No. 1. The first was "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," then the title track "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man In the Mirror" and lastly, "Dirty Diana." The remaining singles never reached No. 1, but the ones that did became instant classics (among many others).

5-Year Gap Between Thriller and Bad
Once Thriller dropped in 1982, the success was so monumental that it carried on for years. With a slew of singles, a film to commemorate it, along with just Michael Jackson evolving into the legendary figure that he was, it was understandable how working on a follow-up was both creatively challenging and physically difficult. It happened in 1987, five years later when Bad arrived. And the rest, as they say, is history.

4 Songs About Love
When isn't Michael Jackson singing about love in some capacity? Whether it's love of the world, love for one's self, and of course, love of a "pretty young thing," Michael Jackson is all about the love. While Bad tackles a number of topics (many of which involve love), we're talking about the L-O-V-E -- butterflies and all of that. "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Liberian Girl," "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and "Just Good Friends," are all love, all day.

3 Background Vocalists
Make that technically three. Michael Jackson has the golden voice, but he had some help on Bad. The Winans (there are four of them), Siedah Garrett, and the The Andrae Crouch Choir (there are a lot of them), were the three separate entities to provide background vocals on the project. What it all comes down to though is MJ's signature voice that echoed throughout every song. It's always good, though, to shed some light on the musical support as well.

3 Socially Conscious Songs
As previously mentioned, Bad showed a lot of love in its songs. However, there was a fair share of social consciousness going on too. "Another Part Of Me" discussed world issues and coming together as one, then "Man In the Mirror" talked changed on a greater level (the video represented that quite well), and finally "Smooth Criminal." Unbeknownst to most, the song is about a woman named Annie who was attacked. Rarely did songs discuss violence again women like that, but MJ was up for the challenge.

2 Grammy Awards Won
Sounds like it should be more Grammy Awards won, right? Well, Michael Jackson's Bad won Best Engineered Recording and Best Music Video - Short Form for "Leave Me Alone." For Grammy nods, here's another figure: Bad had four other nominations, including Album Of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Best R&B Vocal Performance, and Record Of the Year for "Man In the Mirror." There are probably several million fans who would argue that MJ deserved all of those Grammy Awards.

2 Legendary Collaborations
Like most Michael Jackson albums, the beauty of Bad was that it wasn't laden with tons of collaborations. In fact, the album only had two features - both of whom are industry veterans. The legendary Stevie Wonder appeared on Jackson's song "Just Good Friends." Then, singer/songwriter Siedah Garrett appeared as a featured vocalist on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You." As previously mentioned Garrett co-wrote "Man In the Mirror" and is also credited as a background vocalist on Bad.

1 Legendary Producer
Does an album really need any other producer outside of Mr. Quincy Jones? After working with Quincy Jones on The Wiz, MJ later asked Jones to produce Off The Wall, followed by Thriller. Their last time working together was on Bad. Who knows what would have been created had Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson returned to the studio together once again? At least we were given a few classic projects to hold onto, and 25 years later, Bad remains one of them.

Watch Ne-Yo Remember Michael Jackson's Bad Album

See 15 of the Best Hip-Hop & R&B Albums of 2012 (So Far)

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Eric B. & Rakim's 'Paid in Full' 25 Years Later: 10 Best Lyrics Off the Album

Kathy Iandoli — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST

Amazon July 7, 1987. Eric B. and Rakim released what would eventually be one of hip-hop's most classic works to date. The duo's Paid in Full LP was a 10-track opus that defined the climate of hip-hop at the time. The late '80s still possessed some growing pains for rap. While the flashiness of previous musical eras like disco still showed up for the party, true lyricism was also making its way into songs. Eric B. and Rakim were the archetypal balance for rap when they emerged on the scene. Eric B, the President, was the DJ-producer, who focused on getting that money. Meanwhile, Rakim was just feeling out the title of "The God," and while he also flashed bills and jewelry, he was tinkering with a hyper-lyrical formula that he would later be known for perfecting. Twenty five years later, Paid in Full's sound and lyrics are channeled by artists old and new. To honor this masterpiece, The BoomBox pulls 10 lines from songs off the album to show the importance of the work and see how far hip-hop has come. ...

See 10 Poignant Lyrics From Eric B. & Rakim's Paid in Full Album

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Sizzling Summer Flings: 20 Stars Likely to Hook Up for a Quick Romance

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST

Getty Images Summer flings are unforgettable. They're the length of celebrity marriages (one to three months), consisting of intense romance for a short period of time, only to end abruptly once September rolls around. It's a nice, short little commitment for most, happening rather quickly. That's the beauty of summer. The BoomBox understands that it feels like the shortest season of the year, so when it comes to love, we want it to hurry up and happen. Celebs work twice as quickly, meeting a crush on a video set, at an award show, while collaborating on a track or announcing their fondness for the opposite sex to the media. Take A$AP Rocky, who recently announced he'd like to have sex with Lana Del Rey (classy). The BoomBox is playing Cupid just because there's a few flings we'd like to see come to fruition. Whether they've made beautiful music together or for shock value, here's 20 stars likely to hook up for a quick romance. Don't worry, they can end by Labor Day too. ...

See 10 Sizzling Summer Flings

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Prodigy Reveals His Top Five Favorite Black Artists for Black Music Month

Kathy Iandoli — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:30:00 EST

WireImage Mobb Deep's Prodigy celebrates Black Music Month 365 days a year. The veteran rapper has roots deeply embedded in music, which go way beyond hip-hop -- from his grandmother's legendary dance academy to learning about new singers from his father when he was a kid. As a result, pursuing his craft as an entertainer himself was an obvious trajectory. For the Queens native, it's hard to choose just one favorite song from his favorite artists; he has so many of them. But like most of us, what sticks the most in Prodigy's mind when it comes to the tracks are the memories attached to the sound of the music and the moments they recall. In celebrating Black Music Month, Prodigy shares with The BoomBox his five favorite black artists of all time. Soul crooners and female MCs are included, as well as performers who've influenced him or were a part of his childhood. You'll be surprised by some of his choices. ...

See Prodigy Explain Why He Favors These Black Artists

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Summer Soundtrack: 15 New Albums to Play During Road Trips and Fun Under the Sun

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:50:00 EST

Amazon.com With certain memories, there is almost always a song or two attached. When you hear that beat -- no matter how many years have passed -- you can't help but relive the moment, whether it was the night the track played in the club or on the way to a best friend's wedding. People say music is the soundtrack to their lives and they really aren't kidding. When it comes to the summertime, well, that's when the best memories are made. The BoomBox is excited to report that there are plenty of upcoming projects packed with songs to support those memories under the sun. From hip-hop to R&B and soul, this summer you'll have album options courtesy of Rick Ross, Emeli Sande, Wiz Khalifa, Brandy and The-Dream, among others. We're providing you with 15, so get the cash ready, because you'll want them all. ...

See 15 New Albums to Debut This Summer

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Best Songs of 2012 (So Far): Jay-Z, Usher, Rihanna, Kirko Bangz & More

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:35:00 EST

AP | Getty Images The halfway mark of 2012 is upon us, and the world hasn't ended yet. That's pretty good news, isn't it? Meanwhile, some of our favorite artists have added to the soundtrack for two of the four seasons this year. These songs move through hip-hop and R&B, while circling the pop realm as well. As we enter the summer months and inch even closer to closing out the year, The BoomBox highlights 10 hot songs that have carried us through the first six months. Most of these songs came from artists we already know and love. However, some newbies slid onto the list -- and even an artist from a totally different genre. Everyone's invited to this party, so plug in your expensive headphones and check out our picks. ...

Listen to LoveRance's "UP!" Feat. 50 Cent

Many years ago, a rap poet by the name of Akinyele dropped a song called "Put It in Your Mouth." While some could perceive the song as misogynistic, it snuck into the clubs, car radios and mouths of women everywhere. Along that same vein is LoveRance's "UP!" a club-happy jam, which features none other than 50 Cent. He and LoveRance talk about eagerly working a woman's lower half, by beating it up, up, up.

Listen to Flo Rida's "Wild Ones" Feat. Sia

It seemed like pixie pop folkster Sia would never be caught dead on a track like this. But, with the rhythmic beat and optimistic tone to the song, perhaps Sia saw this as a good opportunity to rock with musclebound musician Flo Rida. The song reflects that in betweeny hip-pop that mixes dance with rap, and the result is shamelessly jumping around your room like the opening scene of a bad '80s movie. Bad meaning good.

Listen to Kirko Bangz' "Drank in My Cup"

Even if you're too young to drink liquor, this song makes you want to fill a red Solo cup with apple juice and raise it like you're toasting to the good life. This Houston, Texas rapper adopted his moniker through a phonetic interpretation of Kurt Cobain's name. Everyone knows the late Nirvana frontman rocks, and so does Kirko Bangz. His introductory track became a surefire hit. Dare we say, he Bangz, he Bangz?

Listen to Rihanna's "Birthday Cake"

Think of one song Rihanna's released since "Pon de Replay" that hasn't been a total hit. Go ahead, we'll wait. After "We Found Love" closed out last year with a bullet, RiRi goes ahead and drops this mainstream monster on us. Then she turns around and adds her controversial ex-boyfriend Chris Brown to the remix. Why is Rihanna so damn successful? Because she simply doesn't care. She knows how to start a party, and it's not even her birthday.

Listen to Chris Brown's "Turn Up the Music"

The R&B Prince of Controversy is another consistent hitmaker. As C. Breezy ventures further and further into the dance scene, he bridges the gap between the U.S. and overseas by making an accessible combination of sounds. This song opened 2012, and will probably close it too. People rarely get sick of Chris Brown songs when by now they should be. Come on, you know you still bump "Run It" from time to time. Admit it.

Listen to Rick Ross' "Stay Schemin'" Feat. Drake & French Montana

Rawse always crafts tracks that make your inexpensive car transform into a Maybach once it hits the highway. The hook sounds like it was sung by a contestant on "American Idol" who didn't make it to the second round. That's a win though, because everyone who can't sing can surely sound like a star with this ditty. This song was also the gateway drug for the infamous beef between Common and Drake this year, when the Chi-town MC dissed the Young Money rhymer over this same beat. Whoops.

Listen to Usher's "Climax"

Leave it to Ursh to get right back on the hobbyhorse of quite the explicit lyrics once the ink on his divorce papers finally dried. Wait, then again, when isn't Usher singing about sex? This seductive track brings Mr. Raymond to brand new falsetto heights while he sings about the never-ending cycle of makeups to breakups in some relationships. Sure the breakups suck, but we all know how good the makeups can be.

Listen to Kanye West's "Mercy" Feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz

We spent the latter part of 2011 riding off the high of Watch the Throne in all of its intense designer label name-dropping goodness. Then Kanye West comes with the unexpected "Theraflu" -- whoops, we mean formerly "Way Too Cold" and now titled "Cold." Right after that track, he drops this bomb of "Mercy" on us. With reflections of chopped-and-screwed sounds, plus some graphic lines from Kanye and friends, this song could get any girl on the stripper pole.

Listen to Nicki Minaj's "Starships"

The day Nicki Minaj dropped "Starships" was the same day more than half of the human population started to hate her. Two days later, that same half couldn't stop singing the song. That's the beauty of Nicki Minaj; she makes you love her. While "Starships" brought the Nickster into a totally pop direction, it was way too infectious to deny. The effort set the stage for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and added another notch on Barbz's belt.

Listen to Jay-Z's "Glory"

One of the bigger songs of 2012 was about one of the biggest events in 2012. Jay-Z and Beyonce brought their first child, Blue Ivy Carter, into the world. Jay was so overjoyed that he wrote a song about it. For the first time, he let his emotions out on paper. Maybe "Glory" doesn't have the replay value of the aforementioned club anthems, but it was by far the most heartfelt.

Best Songs of 2011

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Mom Knows Best: Hip-Hop & R&B Stars Share Memories of Their Mothers

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:45:00 EST

Getty Images Everyone loves a mom, whether their own or someone else's. They're the backbone of every family and their main goal is to nurture their children through every walk of life. Moms provide words of wisdom for every situation, preparing us for the winding road ahead. It's a dangerous world out there. However, celebrities in particular seem to have a very special relationship with their moms. As they travel through success and fame, they keep the advice their mothers have given them in their pockets at all times for safekeeping. To celebrate Mother's Day (May 13), The BoomBox checked in with some of our favorite artists and industry experts -- 15 in all -- to tell us about their own moms. They share some fun anecdotes and bits of advice they received coming up under their mom's watchful eye, which can be read in the gallery of photos below. While many individuals showcased here are lyricists and writers, their mothers actually have the best quotables. ...

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Listen to Mother's Day Radio: Songs Celebrating Mom

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2 Chainz Sexually-Charged Lyrics: 10 Lines Filled With Closet Freaks and Skeet

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:20:00 EST

Getty Images 2 Chainz is synonymous with sex. OK, that's not entirely true, but ever since this former Playaz Circle-duffle bag boy changed his name from Tity Boi, sex has been the focal point of his lyrics. These days, everyone is trying to hang with 2 Chainz, especially the ladies, and he's well-aware of that. From placing women in compromising positions to outright pimping them, 2 Chainz shamelessly promotes his sexual prowess on record. To honor his fun-loving wordplay, The BoomBox has collected 10 of our favorite 2 Chainz lines that center around sex. Some of them are from 2 Chainz' songs, while others are from artists like Nicki Minaj, Wiz Khalifa and Rick Ross, with 2 Chainz' added perversions for good measure. Just as a heads up, do not read these lyrics around children. ...

See 10 of 2 Chainz' Most Sexually-Charged Lyrics

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Watch 2 Chainz' "Riot" Video

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Nicki Minaj Says Bye to Twitter and Hello to 10 Time-Consuming Activities

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST

Getty Images Thanks to some song-leaking fan, Nicki Minaj has deleted her Twitter account. What was once a safe haven for Barbz and Ken Barbz to find retweeted compliments about their leader -- along with some relevant music info -- has now vanished into cyberspace. Nicki left the Internet on a really sour note, too. So while we'd like to believe this was a momentary lapse in judgment, perhaps the rapper born Onika means business and she really is offline forever. When most people jump off the social networking bandwagon and take things analog once more, they often learn new things about themselves or find new time-filling projects. The BoomBox decided to think of a few things the Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded creator is probably doing now that she's not tweeting. If she isn't doing any of these things, then perhaps she should start. ...

See Nicki Minaj's 10 Time-Consuming Activities

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Nicki Minaj Brings Times Square to a Stop

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Rotten Eggs of Rap and R&B: 10 Songs With No Redeeming Value

Kathy Iandoli — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST

Getty Images Let's face it: Not all songs are good. In fact, many songs kinda suck. It's the law of repeated airplay -- to the point where everybody knows the words -- that allows a mediocre song to achieve likeable status. It's not the best way to get people to like you, but hey, not everything wins on looks and personality. As Easter approaches and kids are coloring eggs, The BoomBox has some eggs of our own -- rotten ones. These 10 song were simply bad eggs -- ones we can't justify liking, and that you shouldn't either. While some of these tracks actually charted, we still refuse to acknowledge their redeeming qualities for the sake of this piece. As you peruse the list, hold your nose: some of these songs stunk. By the way, if any of these tracks suddenly show up on the iTunes charts, we'll know who's responsible. ...

10. MC Hammer's "Better Run Run"

What did this song even mean? Yes, we know Jay-Z got Hammer all upset over his line in "So Appalled," where he used the former superstar as an example of a bankrupt cautionary tale. That doesn't mean Mr. "2 Legit 2 Quit" had to climb out of retirement and start beef. Jay was simply stating the facts, and in return, Hammer tried to deafen him and the rest of the global population. Plus, the video looks like it came from a 1982 home movie.

9. Da Band's "Tonight"

To quote the incomparable Sara Stokes -- or whoever wrote her verse: "Something happens when you touch me/ I get open, and my leg starts quivering." What is she, a dog? Then Babs comes in and starts yelling: "Sex ain't the bomb if the girl ain't sweaty." Who wrote the lyrics to this song? Was it you, Diddy? If so, we have five better songwriters for you: Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan and Dylan.

8. B2K's "Sexy Boy Christmas"

First of all, "Sexy Boy Christmas" sounds like something Chris Stokes made up to get the boys from B2K and Immature to dress like little elves and sit on his lap. Too soon? This song was off B2K's Santa Hooked Me Up Christmas album. Given the circumstances that surrounded this band once Raz B spoke his mind about molestation allegations, it makes this song sound all sorts of creepy. In fact, don't even listen to this song if you're over 18. Your ears might go to jail.

7. JS' "Ice Cream"

No to be confused with Raekwon's classic track. Ever. The R. Kelly-produced Johnson Sisters turn a favored summertime treat into something disgusting by wearing basketball jerseys and asking the fellas to taste ... their ... ice ... cream. The song doesn't even make much sense, because they keep struggling with maintaining the metaphor of ice cream as a euphemism for sex. The video is even worse, with the sisters sucking on lollipops poolside and then a gang of children has an ice cream-eating contest. Something isn't right here, JS. 31 flavors; 31 ways to be completely annoying.

6. Nicki Minaj's "Massive Attack" Feat. Sean Garrett

Ah yes, the greatest hiccup in Nicki Minaj's career to date. Even Barbz herself denounces this song, so we have to agree with her. When Nicki was merely minutes away from stardom, and the world was awaiting her first major single, she went and dropped this dirty wig on our heads. Sean Garrett assisted in the assault, and the whole experience from song to video was just terrible. She's made it up to the world, though, hasn't she?

5. R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1)"

Chapter one ... and all 387 chapters that followed. There was that really weird time in R. Kelly's career when he started hanging out with Ron Isley and couldn't stop making these stupid storytelling songs where he was singing in conversation. You're not Slick Rick, Robert. "Trapped in the Closet" was the coup de grace, despite there being many more songs like this after it. Nobody really knew what R. Kelly was trying to accomplish with these things, and we still don't.

4. Shaquille O'Neal's "(I Know I Got) Skills"

Yes Shaq, we know you got skills ... in basketball. Blame all of this on the Fu-Schnickens for inviting Shaq on "What's Up Doc?" There, he was all, "I'm the hoopa, the hypa, ya betta decypha," or whatever he said, and all of a sudden, Shaq had a rap career. He's the reason why athletes think they can rhyme. We hope you're happy now, Shaq. This song right here, though; the battle cry. What an awkward way to tell us all you've got skills, Shaq.

3. Kevin Federline's "Lose Control"

As if "Popo Zao" didn't crush enough souls, K-Fed went and released this track. This came at a time when a Britney Spears cosign really meant something. K-Fed in all of his cornrowed goodness decided to show everyone that not only was he a fly dancer, but he was an impassioned MC as well. "This is that hip-hop flavor mixed with a little bit of rock 'n' roll." Oh is it now, Kevin? Thankfully, K-Fed signed his rap career once his album, Playing With Fire, arrived. Case closed.

2. Ja Rule's "Put It On Me" Feat. Lil Mo & Vita

Someone somewhere is saying to themselves, "This was my jam back in the day! How dare you?" How dare us? How dare YOU for still cosigning this song years after its demise. Ja Rule allowed a whole string of hits -- many including Ashanti -- to slide past the "bad song" radar simply based on cutesy production and sugary hooks alone. This "every thug needs a lady" anthem was probably the worst of all because Ja introduced us to his singing career. No bueno, Mr. Rule.

1. Riskay's "Smell Yo D---"

The least expensive way to tell if your man is cheating outside of taking him on Jerry Springer. This viral video disaster evolved into a quasi-club anthem, and we still have no idea how it happened. The theory is if you tell your man to drop trou and sniff his genitals, you can tell he is cheating. One, if it smells like soap, it means he just cheated and then took a shower. Two, if it smells like something else. OK, this is just gross, and so was this song.

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Music in Our Schools Month: Teens Seek Outlets to Explore Love of Popular Music

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:15:00 EST

Getty Images There's a reason why I write about music; it's because I can't read it. The product of a single parent household, private music lessons weren't on the menu until I reached high school. There, I briefly took guitar lessons. I attended a private grammar school in an inner city, so funds for instruments weren't available. While I learned enough about the Bible there and how to properly fold a uniform skirt to sit above the knee, music in school was a luxury we didn't have. My music experience was constant in school, but was relegated to the choir -- voices are free, after all -- and singing along to the lone instrument available: the church organ. Students were only allowed to sing church songs up until the 8th grade, when our graduation song was Boyz II Men's "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday." My class fought hard for that song -- it was initially suggested we sing something that wasn't so risque. My private high school had more money than my grammar school, so the kids there could afford outside lessons. Ironically enough, the school band was only for kids with musical experience -- yet my school offered no music teaching, save for the "Music Appreciation" class where we learned how Johann Sebastian Bach was the greatest man ever but Madonna did nothing for music. It amazed me how the school system felt that nothing significant happened in music once President Nixon left office. The school band shook the school's foundation when they opted to sing Rusted Root's "Beautiful People" at a school ceremony. ...

Watch Boyz II Men's "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"

When I was asked by The BoomBox to write about "Music in Schools," I hoped things had changed since I was a teenager. Some strides were made, I am happy to report. My cousin Gabby Acquaviva is a 14-year-old freshman at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, N.J. Singing has been her passion for as long as I can remember. I recall her being 6 years old and running into a room singing "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" from C+C Music
Factory. After hearing her, I remember thinking, "Whoa. She sings really well!"

She is now geared to make singing her career, however, her school only offers two options to assist in that dream: an a capella group and musical theater. While the former covers some pop music, it's rarely ever mentioned anywhere else. The half-year Music Appreciation course focuses in on primarily classical music. That sentiment is shared with orchestra, the marching band and the jazz band.

"There's nothing really modern, except for a talent show where you can sing what you want," Gabby explains. "I think that they should have a teacher for singers or there should be more of a way to get involved with music. From what I've heard, there are a lot of people in my school who sing and want to be singers -- and most of them are really good -- but the groups available aren't for every voice type. There's also no real way to bring your own music in and showcase it. If you want to do something with music, you've gotta go out and do it. They won't say, 'OK, I'm going to help you.'"

Sean McNulty, a 15-year-old student at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey,
N.J. has a love for deejaying and has decided to pursue it. While his school is known for being the No. 1 high school football team in the country, he learns to mix beats at home through FL Studio. "I like all different kinds of music and I like to mix them all together -- I could be listening to dubstep and then surf rock and I'll mix those," Sean says. He didn't learn the art of scratch at school, though. "One of my friends told me about it so I downloaded some software and I go to his house. He has some spinners, subwoofers, so we make it happen."

Athletics also trump music in Nicolette Corrado's high school. She attends Kinnelon High in Kinnelon, N.J. "I feel like athletics is a little more important at times," she explains. "The kids in the music program definitely try to make it as important as say, lacrosse and soccer. We work really hard too to perform and sound great and make sure everyone comes to watch us [perform]. We just want to be equal to athletics."

Nicolette is a member of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, a touring vocal company that has had the most impact on Nicolette. "My director there has inspired me to be a music education teacher because of the way she teaches me and the way she teaches the choir," Nicolette says. "How she gets the music across and how there's passion in every piece. I think that's just very different from what we do at school."

While Gabby's school doesn't necessarily assist her along her music path, Nicolette's high school has helped her audition for different choirs. Hip-hop and R&B rarely enter the conversation, though other genres are explored. "We don't really do one genre of music, it's usually what the director feels like at the time," she explains. "For graduation, we do have a say in what we like to sing for that or if we have a certain song we'd like to sing senior year, he takes it into consideration."

My conclusion? Teens aren't given a well-rounded musical experience in school, but they're finding ways to explore it on an extracurricular level. What these kids lack in in-school opportunities, they make up for in passion.

"I'd love to be a choir teacher, just to be able to share music around the world and do whatever I can do to send that message," Nicolette admits.

"I'm getting bored with the music out now. I feel it's all the same, so I like to make my own," Sean says.

The most inspiring for me of course, is my own cousin, Gabby. "I want to show people that I have talent, and I want to make people think, 'Oh this girl isn't just face in an all-girl school. She's got something special,'" she says. "And I'm gonna find a way to prove that."

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Tyler, the Creator Ingredients: What's the Recipe for His Success? -- Photos

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:50:00 EST

Getty Images Odd Future's frontman and rebel yeller Tyler, the Creator is a complex individual. He's so complex that someone should deconstruct him to analyze the sum of his parts. We decided we were up for that challenge. As a tongue-in-cheek meets demented lyricist, brilliant producer and fun-loving bad boy, the 21-year-old is one of hip-hop's most polarizing figures as of late. Some people love him; others want to run from him. No matter how you view him though, you can't help but want to understand him. The BoomBox isn't claiming to decode Tyler, per se; that would be like opening Pandora's box. What we can do is take elements of Tyler's life, style, music and career and figure out how each of these pieces makes the puzzle that is the rapper some love to hate. It's not the easiest job, but somebody had to do it, especially on the day his Odd Future album, 'The OF Life Vol. 2,' arrives. Check out the 10 ingredients that make this OFWGKTA ringleader a recipe for success. ...

See Tyler, the Creator's Ingredients

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Lucky Artists: Rappers and Singers With Good Fortune in Their Careers

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:35:00 EST

Getty Images In music, you don't need a four-leaf clover to be lucky. A few public outbursts, one really great album and an infamous beef; these are all things that can carry an artist for quite a while, whether good or bad. While many say that it's not the best look to be recognized for negative qualities, the old saying goes that any publicity is good publicity. With St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, The BoomBox decided to pick 10 hip-hop and R&B artists who have the luckiest careers. Call it the 9th inning, the 11th hour, the second breath of life. Whatever it is, these folks are lucky. Why are they so lucky? You'll find out. So check out the selection below, and maybe their luck will rub off on you. Just to be safe, buy some lottery tickets immediately after reading this. ...

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It's Showtime: Hip-Hop and R&B Musicals Starring Beyonce, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj & More

Kathy Iandoli — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST

Getty Images Musicians have the most interesting lives, so interesting that biopics are often made about them. However, if their main hustle is in fact music, then why aren't there more musicals made in their honor? Sure The Who had 'Tommy,' The Beatles had 'Rain' and someone attempted to make a musical around David Bowie's 'Major Tom' -- he put the kabash on that though. Hip-hop though? Not so much. Until now. With the word out about 'Holler If Ya Hear Me,' the Tupac-inspired musical that is currently being cast, The BoomBox decided to concoct a list of 10 other hip-hop and R&B artists who are candidates for a musical. We're all about honoring our favorite artists while they're alive too, so this list includes artists who have passed, but most who are still alive to see this fictional show unfold. So buy your ticket, grab a playbill, and welcome to the greatest show on Earth. OK, that's the circus, but these spectacles are just as entertaining. ...

Hip-Hop and R&B Musicals

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10 Most Annoying Things About R&B -- Rihanna, D'Angelo + More

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:55:00 EST

Anyone with a pulse and at least one working ear knows that R&B music feeds the soul. It's the soundtrack for breaking up, making up, being betrayed and regaining strength. It's the ultimate soundscape for crying in your shower, unwinding after a night out at the club and setting the mood with your lady or dude. R&B is quite possibly the most versatile genre of music. However, a few recurring themes tend to dirty the rep of this much-loved art form. Here at The BoomBox, we thoroughly enjoy R&B music. We also enjoy pointing out some of the idiosyncrasies of the things we love -- like the Annoying Things About Hip-Hop, for example. So here's a little list of things about R&B that tend to irk us from time to time. They're clearly bothersome but not enough to boycott the genre that spawned the term "baby-making music." So get your shower ready -- or get your clubbin' shirt on -- and check out our list of grievances. 10. 'Epic' Album Titles Dave J Hogan, Getty Images R&B artists always have this terrible habit of crafting gigantic "I'm in the building" album titles. Most of the time they forget they're just making music, not rewriting the Constitution. Take Kelly Rowland's 'Here I Am' LP, released in 2011. Yes, Kelly, here you are. OK, now what? How about Ne-Yo's 'Apprenticeship of Mr. Smith (The Birth of Ne-Yo),' a collection of tracks created before he signed with Def Jam. Obviously, the crooner was trying to compare his emergence to the Birth of Jesus. Meanwhile, the songs on the project are about dancing at a party and getting over a breakup. Most of the time the actual album rarely lives up to the "epicness" of its title. ...

9. Changing the Genre Then Going AWOL

Kevin Winter, Getty Images | Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

We're looking at you, Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo. Ms. Hill has been popping up more and more on stages and now D'Angelo has started to perform again, but let's not forget their past. More than a decade passed by and these game-changers gave us nothing musically. Loyal supporters get fed up fast. You can't create soulful works of art and then drop off the face of the Earth without reason. Yet these two aren't the only ones to ditch the R&B game. Think about the entire neo-soul movement -- Martin Luther and Amel Larrieux ring a bell? Where are half of those artists?

8. Songs About Happiness

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Mary J. Blige has to be the biggest offender of crafting tracks about the joys in life but often times not practicing what she preaches. On her 'My Life' album, Mary made a whole song about wanting to 'Be Happy.' That was a great time; you know, back when Mary was miserable and stuff. Then she found her smile and all of a sudden it's a non-stop celebration. Certain R&B artists aren't meant to craft such celebratory anthems, and Mary is one of them. On 'My Life II: The Journey Continues, Act 1' she thankfully returned to some struggle songs. Maybe she finally took the hint from her fan base.

7. Dropping Mixtapes Like Albums

Clinton Gilders, FilmMagic | Trey Kevin Winter, Getty Images | Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

It's bad enough that rappers do this to us, but now R&B singers do too. These are half-baked, phoned in projects to tide everyone over until their album drops on Nevuary 32nd. Triple C member and Rick Ross affiliate Masspike Miles had a forthcoming LP planned for forever now. Instead, we got the 'Say Hello to Forever' mixtape. How about The-Dream's '1977' or Trey Songz' 'Anticipation 2'? Let's not even get into the fact that The Weeknd keeps dropping mixtapes and we have yet to see a debut LP. It's nice to have new music, but where is the new album? We can only hear some sing-songy freestyles over 'Otis' so many times, people.

6. Shirtless Singing Equals Better Singing

KMazur, WireImage

There is no scientific evidence which proves that exposing the skin covering your diaphragm somehow makes your voice sound better. We can blame Jodeci for this phenomenon, particularly member K-CI. Then again, nobody really wanted to see him shirtless anyway. The blame can also lie with Usher. Everybody wanted to see his abs even if it was through a TV screen. Still, that's not the point. Your pecs are not going to add an octave to your voice, R&B singers. At live performances, chances are, crooning culprits will rip off their T-shirt by song No. 2 -- Trey Songz is a prime example of this act. It's like unbuttoning your pants to eat more at dinner. No point in doing it, especially if the reveal displays a scrawny frame.

5. Overly Emotional Men

Wendy Redfern, Redferns

We all know hip-hop has been guilty of this one as of late -- 'sup, Kid Cudi? -- but seriously, the emotional level in R&B sometimes exceeds any and all emo allowances. Frank Ocean, you are a national treasure. But, goodness, man, your music can make you want to fling yourself against a brick wall sometimes. It's one thing to be sad -- yes, people are sad -- but wow, jumping into an ocean and drowning yourself in it on 'Swim Good'? Like we said, these songs are brilliant. However, the "whoa, he's really emotional" factor sometimes goes into overdrive.

4. "Blue Eyed Soul" Term

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OK, what does this even mean? Is this a polite way to say, "white people who sing R&B music"? If so, then just say it, because not all white people have blue eyes. It started with Jon B. -- he has brown eyes, by the way -- then eventually carried over to Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake and any other R&B artist who requires SPF 200 to sit out in the sun. We get the reference -- Frank Sinatra aka "Ol' Blue Eyes" -- but really, this makes no sense whatsoever, and yet it's still hanging over the heads of certain R&B singers. No need to categorize by eye color.

3. Auto-Tune Use in Songs

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

The blame completely still rests on Auto-Tune's biggest sponsor, T-Pain. What was once a way to smooth out shaky vocals has now become a total crutch for some artists. We're not naming any names, because then we'd basically be admitting who is a terrible singer and who isn't. Since T-Pain sounds decent without Auto-Tune, we'll continue to blame him for this messy trend. After announcing he would stop using Auto-Tune about 15 different times, he created an iPhone app to make everyone else sound like their vocals were sprinkled with Auto-Tuned too. Do you hate us, Mr. Rappa-Turnt-Sanga?

2. Making Reckless Behavior Seem Sexy

Andrew D. Bernstein, National Basketball | Larry Busacca ,Getty Images

We know by now that anything sounds good in an R&B song, even when it isn't. Some of the most ridiculous activities are sung about in R&B, yet the finished product sounds like it's the most sensible thing on the planet. Rihanna has progressively pioneered this "are you insane?" movement. From songs like 'Breakin' Dishes' to the video for her song 'We Found Love,' which features a Chris Brown look-a-like arguing with her in a car -- familiar and dangerous territory -- Rihanna's gone off the deep end, yet we all love it. That doesn't make it any less annoying though.

1. Sometimes Singing, Sometimes Rapping

Gary Gershoff, Getty Images

Pick a side and stay there. While many want to wrongfully blame Drake for the downfall of humanity, the one thing he is definitely responsible for recently is the indecisiveness of R&B singers. It's great that Chris Brown knows how to rap sometimes and even Trey Songz. But when guys like Ne-Yo jump in, rhyme and then throw out the "Ha! I'm just playing around!" phrase, even though the public knows he's dead serious, there are big problems. This results in the R&B set priding themselves on versatility when in reality they are just getting on our nerves. Stop rapping, stick to singing. It's for the greater good.

Annoying Things About Hip-Hop

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Odd Pairings in Rap History: DMX, Marilyn Manson + More

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:35:00 EST

They say opposites attract. In music, when sounds foreign to one other collide to form single cohesive tracks, we often call the results "mash-ups." To some, these are musical dreams; others see them as ear-opening opportunities to let different artists into their lives. Recently, rap royalty Queen Latifah and country legend Dolly Parton embarked on the ultimate odd pairing, joining forces in the film 'Joyful Noise.' To celebrate their sonic union, The BoomBox compiled a list of the 10 best unlikely collaborations involving rappers, singers, rockers and shocking entertainers. Grab a turntable and electric guitar and check them out. 10. Public Enemy & Anthrax Paul Natkin, WireImage As Public Enemy led the charge for socially conscious hip-hop, the music carried boatloads of angst. 'Bring the Noise' was a perfect fit for heavy metal outfit Anthrax, who jumped on the song and literally brought the noise. The initial pairing happened because Chuck D saw Anthrax's Scott Ian wearing a Public Enemy T-shirt while performing. The track was recorded in 1991, and a joint-tour followed. Sounds like a match made in musical heaven. ...

9. DMC & Sarah McLachlan

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At one point in his life, DMC of Run DMC suffered depression and contemplated suicide. Then he heard Sarah McLachlan's 'Angel,' a song he said saved his life and inspired him to write his autobiography. While researching the book, he learned that he was adopted, and after approaching McLachlan at a Grammy party to thank her for saving him through music, the two teamed up on 'Just Like Me.' On the track, which samples the '70s classic 'Cats in the Cradle,' DMC discusses learning of his adoption.

8. Pharrell Williams & Gloria Estefan

WireImage

Pharrell, aka Skateboard P, is known for taking artists to new dimensions with his genius production, but when he met the legendary Gloria Estefan at a gym in Miami, who knew that he would help her start the next chapter in her career? With her recently released 'Miss Little Havana,' he did just that, and if the idea of mixing Estefan's salsa-infused dance sound with P's hip-pop instrumentals initially seemed strange, the finished product makes perfect sense.

7. Redman & Christina Aguilera

Mark Allan, WireImage

In 2002, with the early hit 'Genie in a Bottle' behind her, Christina Aguilera aimed to show the world her seductive side. Of all the artists to align with, she picked Dirty Jerz rap veteran Redman to help her accomplish this goal. Their song 'Dirrty' definitely lived up to its title, as Xtina displayed her sexiness all over the track. Couple that with Red's gruff delivery, and the result was a risque pop-meets-rap party. Christina definitely erased her clean image with the song.

6. Kanye West & Adam Levine

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Nowadays, Kanye could do a song with the Dalai Lama, and no one would think it strange. However, this wasn't the case in 2005, when Yeezy brought Maroon 5's Adam Levine on board for the pensive 'Late Registration' track 'Heard Em Say.' Like Kanye, Maroon 5 were just starting to become a force in their genre. The song introduced each artist to the other's world. Now Maroon 5 is working with rappers, and Kanye is working with anyone.

5. DMX & Marilyn Manson

Jason Kempin, FilmMagic | Theo Wargo, WireImage

DMX may have shortened his name from Dark Man X, but the seriously gloomy undertones never really left his brand. After his debut, 'It's Dark & Hell Is Hot,' he returned with 'Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood.' Since the cover showed X with blood all over his body, it was only natural that the leader of fright-rock band Marilyn Manson would assist on 'The Omen,' the second part of the 'It's Dark' track 'Damien.' The song is, in a word, creepy.

4. Run DMC & Aerosmith

KMazur, WireImage

The song that started it all. In 1986, Run DMC was in the process of pioneering hip-hop, while Aerosmith were pioneering the next phase of rock. The two joined forces for 'Walk This Way,' appearing in a video that showed the two bands originally not getting along and later coming together to perform. This song broke down the boundaries that existed between genres early on, proving that anyone can come together in the interest of sonic teamwork.

3. Jay-Z & Chris Martin

WireImage

The further Jay-Z's career has progressed, the more comfortable he's become straying from thematic rap formulas and topics. By 2006's 'Kingdom Come,' Hov had reached a comfort zone in terms of mixing different sounds. He aligned with Coldplay's Chris Martin -- now one of his best friends -- for the song 'Beach Chair.' The track found Jay reflecting on his own legacy and considering the impact he wants to have on his children. Now, thanks to Beyonce, he has a little girl to share that with.

2. Nelly & Tim McGraw

WireImage

From the day we met Nelly, he's flown his country flag high. Still, the combination of rap and country music never seemed like a possibility -- even for the 'Country Grammar' rhymer. Then came Nelly's collaboration with Tim McGraw on 'Over and Over.' On paper, the song promised to be a disaster, but it actually worked. Nelly's sing-songy rhymes backed by McGraw's smooth vocals made this song a win for folks scared off by either genre, and both artists won new fans.

1. Eminem & Elton John

HECTOR MATA, AFP

Throughout the '90s, Eminem was known for spouting anti-gay musings in his songs, among other reckless things, but with 2000's 'Stan,' his dark track about a crazed fan, he showed a more contemplative side. He got emo-pop siren Dido to sing the hook, and then he pulled the ultimate move, enlisting Elton John to perform the song with him at the 2001 Grammy Awards. It was a historic moment, as it showed Eminem side by side with an openly homosexual music legend. The two went on to form a friendship, and John even helped Eminem quit drugs. One fateful performance turned into a life-saving experience.

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10 Rappers and Their TV Show Counterparts

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EST

Hip-hop is no stranger to straight-up characters. Much like television, the genre has the class clowns, the Rico Suave types, the suited assassins and the cool charismatic villains. Thanks to rappers like Will Smith, Queen Latifah and LL Cool J, hip-hop has been offered the opportunity to take those acting skills to the small screen -- and even the silver screen. However, before an artist even sets foot on a sitcom set, their character-esque personalities are often reflected in their music and videos. It's no surprise that for every hip-hop character, a TV character exists, whether it's because they share similar looks or personalities. Check out The BoomBox's picks for 10 rappers and their TV counterparts. 10. & 9. Waka Flocka Flame & Gucci Mane Cindy Ord,Getty Images | Ben Hider, Getty Images TV Counterparts: Larry Appleton & Balki Bartokomous, 'Perfect Strangers' Two guys who act like they're related, one of whom barely speaks English. See the similarities? Just kidding. However, the play-cousin relationship between Gucci and Waka is definitely reminiscent of Larry and Balki, who worked side-by-side at a discount store on 'Perfect Strangers.' Waka and Gucci may not ring up customers' orders like their counterparts but they do share a similar work ethic -- in the studio. And where Larry and Balki chased white girls, Gucci Mane found pleasure in another kind of white girl. Whoops. ...

8. Jim Jones

Slaven Vlasic, Getty Images

TV Counterpart: Uncle Jesse Katsopolis, 'Full House'
OK, Jim Jones has really nothing to do with John Stamos' character on 'Full House.' He doesn't play the drums, he doesn't have twin children with big hairdos and he definitely doesn't live with his entire family. We actually picked him because he kind of looks like John Stamos. We're not the first to point this out. Stare at pics of both side-by-side like a Magic Eye. You'll find it.

7. Dr. Dre

MOHD FYROL, AFP / Getty

TV Counterpart: Wilson, 'Home Improvement'
This one is more for Dr. Dre's 'Detox' project than Dr. Dre himself. Much like Tim "the Toolman" Taylor's neighbor Wilson, we only got to see about 20 percent of 'Detox' and the rest was never revealed. If we're really driving the point home, the actor who played Wilson, Earl Hindman, passed away in 2003, and Dr. Dre has basically advised that 'Detox' has also moved onto brighter pastures.

6. Wiz Khalifa

Prince Williams, FilmMagic

TV Counterpart: Steve Urkel, 'Family Matters'
Steve Urkel was never really the poster child for pot the way Wiz Khalifa is. However, at the start of Wiz's career, the Pittsburgh spitter had a geeky vibe about him. Then he evolved into someone of swag, a Stefan Urkel if you will. So wait, does that make Amber Rose the modern-day Laura Winslow? Maybe we should rethink this one.

5. T.I.

Maury Phillips, WireImage

TV Counterpart: Zack Morris, 'Saved By the Bell'
Leader of the pack with total charisma? Getting in trouble for the dumbest reasons? The similarities between the two are kind of endless, since both show up as total troublemakers -- read: T.I.'s upcoming album 'Trouble Man' -- and leave proving they have hearts of gold. For the record, we're not calling Tiny the Kelly Kapowski of hip-hop.

4. & 3. Jay-Z & Kanye West

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TV Counterparts: Dr. Sean McNamara & Dr. Christian Troy, 'Nip/Tuck'
Fans of 'Nip/Tuck' can appreciate the similarities here. Two of the most powerful men in their respective field, both pairs are slightly competitive, but manage to work together -- McNamara & Troy in the operating room while Jay and 'Ye combined forces to be The Throne. While both can come off at times as wealthy dogs, they win people over with their undying bromance. Oh, and the money too.

2. Nicki Minaj

John Parra, WireImage

TV Counterpart: Punky Brewster, 'Punky Brewster'
We struggled a bit with finding the perfect counterpart to the Nickster. She had Marge Simpson hair at one time, and even dabbled in a Peg Bundy 'do at some point. However, Nicki Minaj is quirky, eccentric and has a style all her own. If that isn't Punky Brewster then who is? Does that make Lil Wayne the adoptive father Henry? Weird.

1. Drake

Johnny Nunez, WireImage

TV Counterpart: Carlton Banks, 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'
It would be too obvious to say Drake's TV counterpart is Jimmy from 'DeGrassi.' Besides, Drizzy has many more Carlton-esque qualities. Interesting patterned sweater collection? Check. Whining about the troubles with being rich? Check. Inexplicable charm with women that often backfires? Check. The real test would be to see how Drake dances to Tom Jones.

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Jay-Z 'Unplugged' Album: Hip-Hop Experts Revisit Each Song

Kathy Iandoli — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST

Scott Gries, Getty Images Ten years ago today (Dec. 18), Jay-Z changed the face of hip-hop. Wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt, flanked by the legendary Roots crew in an MTV studio, the Brooklyn native went through 13 of his hits for the 'MTV Unplugged' series, filmed a month prior to the release of the 'Jay-Z: Unplugged' album. There are a few points to note about the importance of the LP, which showcased the tracks as he spit them for the TV special. It wasn't the acoustic factor; hip-hop artists like LL Cool J did that before. However, prior to that moment, Jay-Z was known as one "type" of hip-hop, while the Roots were in a separate category. Their worlds collided, and the result was beautiful. The collaboration proved favorable for both -- Jay-Z earned the respect from certain naysayers who believed he was only as strong as his weakest drug reference while the Roots opened the eyes and ears of mainstream fans that didn't know keys, drums and bass could hug rap so tightly. It was a win-win situation. In honor of this classic album from a decade ago, The BoomBox travels track-by-track with experts from the hip-hop community -- Bonz Malone, Chuck Creekmur, Kazeem Famuyide, Kris Ex and Low Key -- to dissect its genius. Welcome to the 8th Wonder of the world, one that's a timeless listen. ...

1. 'Izzo (H.O.V.A.)'
"The opening moments of this opening track may well be the closest the vast majority of us will ever come to seeing a discomfited Jay-Z. He had unsheathed his sword and pointed it in Nas' direction months before with 'Takeover' and was undoubtedly awaiting a response, but here he was, doing a special live performance for MTV backed by The Roots. As games of thrones go, this was a flanking maneuver: Nas was injured but not destroyed, which left Jay-Z in an absurd position. To lay another attack after 'Takeover' would be unseemly; to engage fully in the cultural moment that is 'Unplugged' would have meant letting his guard down. The whole thing was tailored to expand on his legacy, not to lay siege to an opponent's career -- that's what Summer Jam is for.

So there he was, wearing a Che Guevara shirt with bling on, uneasily announcing his arrival: "Welcome to Jay-Z's poetry reading...Art, who goes there?...It was the winter. It was cold. It was the cold winter..." It was a self-effacing icebreaker for a man who rarely broke out of Iceberg Slim mode. For their part, The Roots chose to re-interpret Kanye West's Jackson 5 sample as an original piece of music, loosening the strings into one full movement that bared little semblance to a loop, while Jaguar Wright transformed the hook's background vocals from an afterthought into a modern lullaby. By the time Jay was "overcharging labels for what they did to the Cold Crush," his swag was back, his voice full of that slightly nasal bombast that's at once warm yet cold and disdainful but charitable. And it only took him about three minutes." -- Kris Ex, Hip-hop writer and author

Amazon.com

2. 'Takeover'
"I loved what The Roots brought to 'Takeover.' One of the smoothest takes on a diss record. I'd love to see the imminent reaction to a record like this in today's social media era. You've got to remember 'Takeover' was still a relatively new record when they performed this on 'Unplugged.' Then The Roots switched the beat up to play 'Oochie Wally' and 'Quiet Storm,' to put that extra sting in each diss to Nas and Mobb Deep. Just real smooth, fly s---." -- Kazeem Famuyide, Editor of The Source

3. 'Girls, Girls, Girls'
"In some aspects, The Roots gave the track some life. Not that the studio version was lacking anything, but the drums were tougher, the individual instruments were more distinctive. And being how the backdrop of the studio version was mainly a sample, it was beautiful to hear those individual sounds played out. Not to mention Jaguar Wright replacing the vocal sample was flawless." -- Low Key, Owner and blogger of YouHeardThatNew.com

4. 'Jigga What, Jigga Who'
"We operating at six now, we gotta get it all the way to 10, but we gonna get there," said Jay as a cold start to this track. "In order to get there, I know what I gotta do." What he had to do was kick that ignorant ish that we like. Yeah, he had run through the eviscerating diss 'Takeover' and the misogyny as art number 'Girls, Girls, Girls,' but this is where he began to take flight. "I got a condo with nothing but condoms in it/ The same place where the rhymes invented/ So all I do is rap and sex," he spat in double-time while The Roots turned Timbaland's computer-loving, spacey beat into a stripped-down groove of melting keys and half-sounds that milked the source material for every moment of counterpoint possible." -- K.E.

5. 'Big Pimpin''
"As far as 'Big Pimpin'' goes, in a weird way, I always remember Jaguar Wright -- the backup singer for The Roots -- bouncing feverishly in her seat as the beat switched up and Questlove started killing those drums. I'll never forget the first time I heard this record because I remember watching it on MTV and it being ridiculously cold out, and when you hear certain records like that, you immediately think of the video. You immediately think of that warm weather and that tropical feel. And for at least a couple of minutes, it's pretty warm. In my imagination anyway." -- K.F.

Amazon.com

6. 'Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)'
"This version hit hard. The thing that makes this album so incredible and special is the fact that it's live instruments. That s--- is always gonna be the dopest thing out. Everything starts with the beat, and the lyrics follow. The Roots knew how to work this joint. These are real musicians to the heart. [Jay-Z] picked the realest muthaf---ers out. The Roots and Jay-Z coming together anchored hip-hop. Those who are Jay-Z fans, they're always gonna be Jay-Z fans. His lyrics are ridiculous; his talent is unquestionable. Here, he's surrounded by a live foundation that amplified Jay's talent. His talent is above the bar, and their talent is above the bar." -- Bonz Malone, Hip-hop writer and author

7. 'Can I Get A...'
"This record here is where The Roots' influence on this performance-CD really stood out, and why they are still the greatest house band in the world. They took a record like 'Can I Get A...' and made it sound just as good, if not better, than the original recording. This is something that they do on a daily occasion now [on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon']. The collection of The Roots including Jay-Z makes this pairing and performance the stuff of legends. Jigga setting another trend with the big Che Guevera T-shirt that became really in style after this, as well." -- K.F.

8. 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)'
"This song was Jay's crossover moment, and it's based on a Broadway sample flipped into a bass-first number by the 45 King that melded the sinister with the innocent. That has to be mentioned because the version here discards most of that history. Instead of milking
the moment, Jay and The Roots play in the key of jolly and only go for a minute-and-a-
half. It's astute rendition and a smart move: it would have been damned hard to best to
original on its own merits and this version would have been too sappy played full out.
Also: Those who knew Jay-Z mostly as "the guy who sampled that Annie song," would
have felt shorted if this one wasn't in the track listing. So here it was, all treats and tricks,
kisses and kicks. After all, "We must not let outsiders violate our blocks/ And my plot
is to stick up the world and split it 50/50." Mission accomplished." -- K.E.

9. 'Ain't No N----'
"The simplicity of the beat itself gives The Roots a little more room to have fun with it. Kick, snare and a groovy baseline. I don't think The Roots really added to the song, but they definitely made that particular track sound fun as hell. Not to mention it's one of Jay's classic cuts from his catalog so people are going to naturally have fun with it, whether it's live or not. Jay-Z cosigning The Roots on such a massive platform like that spoke hugely to the hip-hop community. To be fair, The Roots were already a huge pillar in the game to begin with, but for Jay to instill that much trust in them during a major event like that on such a mainstream level was dope as hell." -- L.K.

Theo Wargo, WireImage

10. 'Can't Knock the Hustle'
"'Can't Knock the Hustle' was beautiful because when you're watching it, you're looking at Jay, Mary [J. Blige], and The Roots. You really can't knock the hustle. That s--- is subliminal, but at the same time it's in your f---in' face. You can't knock any of them from where they came from, and what they've been through." -- B.M.

11. 'Song Cry'
"With 'Song Cry,' you have to be in the frame of mind to even listen to it. Personally, coming from Bonz Malone, you've got to be depressed to listen to some s--- like that. That's not one of my main hits in Jay-Z's catalog. Fuck that s---. I don't wanna think about my mother or what happened in the past. But when you've got The Roots behind it, it goes down easier. Even though it's an adept song, with the musical notes behind it, what they're doing underneath it, it compliments the song. It makes those lyrics go down better." -- B.M.

12. 'I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)'
"The live band and hip-hop are always an interesting pair. Because of the nature of the records, generally samples and big bass, having a band can drastically alter the original sound. But on 'I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me),' The Roots back up Jay-Z to perfection. In fact, they emulate the original to a T with additional energy from the band. On top of that, they mixed in a bit of that Carl Thomas song 'I Wish I Never Met Her.' There's so much going on that brings wealth to this song all the way down to a vocal DJ scratching with this mouth. Great." -- Chuck Creekmur, CEO of AllHipHop.com

13. 'Jigga That N----'
"I think they closed with this song because it was one of the most festive songs on the album. 'Jigga That N----' is one big party. Jaguar Wright has a big booming voice, but she was forced to play the back on this one. She was more impactful on 'Song Cry.' The Roots do it again though. They kept the original and added to it -- fans reciting the song word for word." -- C.C.

Watch 'The Tanning Effect - Jay-Z (Part One)'

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Reminisce Over You: R&B Acts From the 1990s We Miss

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST

YouTube.com It's safe to say that the R&B and hip-hop of the '90s was experimental. Today's superstars were still newbies, having not yet shifted tax brackets, while the divas of the day had been locked in place since the '70s and '80s. Hip-hop was just finishing up business school, praying that mainstream fans would stop being scared of it. During this time, many acts sprouted, and some were never heard from again. Granted, a few scored multiple hits, but their reigns only lasted a decade. If the '80s were the one-hit-wonder era for pop and rock, the '90s were the same for hip-hop and R&B. Thankfully, the BoomBox hasn't forgotten the singers who crafted catchy tunes, if only for a moment. Here are 15 R&B acts from the '90s that we miss. Hip-hop, we'll get back to you later. ...

15. 4PM

4PM were best known for the 1995 hit 'Sukiyaki.' The original was sung in Japanese and released in the '60s by artist Rokusuke Ei, who achieved some Billboard success with the single. 4PM, short for "For Positive Music," had a similar experience when they released the song in English more than 30 years later. 4PM has popped up here and there in subsequent years, finding fame in the birthplace of their first single -- Japan.

14. Portrait

During the '90s, a slew of jam bands followed in the wake of such groups as Tony Toni Tone. Their music was all-around cool and characteristic of the New Jack Swing era. Portrait was one of those groups, and they created such songs as 'Honey Dip' and the laid-back track 'Here We Go Again.' The latter cut sampled Public Enemy's 'Bring The Noise.' Portrait took a P.E. song and transformed it into a lighthearted track. That's a huge feat.

13. Joe Public

Poor Joe Public. Their song 'Live and Learn' played like an after-school special, as Joe "kicked this one for the public" and covered a whole range of topics. There was Mary Mary (quite contrary) who turned to prostitution to support her son, who eventually wound up in jail. How about "my man" Dan, who planned a scam and then was found dead? You know, this was feel-good music. Needless to say, Joe is probably singing his songs in private these days.

12. Leschea

Leschea was the female constituent of the hip-hop posse Masta Ace Incorporated. Her single 'Fulton St.' was a sweet street fairy tale about a girl who crushed on the local hustler on her block. She'd watch him every week (on Fulton St.) ride up in his Jeep and do good -- sometimes do bad, too. By the end of the song, she gets the guy and goes riding around town in his vehicle. All of this happened on -- you guessed it -- Fulton St. Forget online dating; that's the street to find love!

11. Brownstone

Brownstone was one trio whose longevity should have extended beyond the '90s. Their singles 'If You Love Me,' 'Grapevyne' and '5 Miles to Empty' were among the many songs from that era that showcased girls asking guys to prove their love. Ladies everywhere could turn to 'If You Love Me' and demand some answers from their man. Brownstone was signed to Michael Jackson's MJJ Music label, and while they had tons of promise, their real success stayed in the '90s.

10. Changing Faces

Changing Faces coined the phrase, "Do you mind if I stroke you up?" to which one would reply, "I don't mind." While these two had the R. Kelly cosign with the song 'Stroke You Up,' they got Jay-Z on the track 'All Of My Days' a few years later, in '96. A year later, the girls popped up again with the cut 'G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.' which appeared to be a hybrid of the words "ghetto," "out," and "get out." Wouldn't it be cool to have Jay-Z reunite with members Cassandra Lucas and Charisse Rose on a new song? OK, maybe not.

9. 3T

The late Michael Jackson and his siblings weren't the only ones in the family with the songbird gene. MJ's nephews formed 3T and proved to have quite the trifecta of voices. The trio had brief success with their '95 debut, 'Brotherhood.' All sons of Tito Jackson, they made their mark with the single 'Anything.' The song topped the charts, but their time in the spotlight as a group was short-lived. After U.S. fans fell out of love with 3T, the young singers took their music overseas. However, with the Jackson last name, they can always make a comeback.

8. Allure

Allure hit the scene in '97 and made an immediate impact. Their debut, 'Head Over Heels,' featured Nas and was a high-energy cut that displayed the rapper throwing some bars down as Allure vocalized their crushes. Then the foursome made major waves with the 112-assisted 'All Cried Out.' Take the emotions of 112 and combine them with the attitude of Allure and you've got the makings of a hit. If Facebook statuses were a thing back then, "Apology not accepted, add me to the broken hearts you collected," would be all over the place.

7. KP & Envyi

KP & Envyi were a two-woman show on the hit single 'Swing My Way.' KP rapped while Envyi sang the hook. The rhythmic track found the pair in a club, chasing after some dude and referring to him as "shorty." That's a word most often used by guys to describe women, but KP & Envyi took the title back and turned the tables on men. Who knew with just one hit, these two could do their part for women's lib?

6. AZ Yet

Included on the 'Nutty Professor' soundtrack was a romantically graphic song called 'Last Night.' Recorded by the group AZ Yet, the track was quite risqué, even for a time when R. Kelly was bumping and grinding and Bobby Brown was humping around. However, even in the midst of the naughtiness, this group got pretty poetic -- saying they saw the sun, moon, stars and heaven while romancing their lady. As fate would have it, this group didn't see long-term success. There were probably some '90s babies made because of their song, though.

5. Silk

Speaking of graphic R&B songs, Silk was another group who made radio listeners blush -- most notably with their song 'Freak Me.' While there were a few more songs from Silk, this track was the one that put them on the map. The hook started with, "Let me lick you up and down, 'til you say stop." The song even came equipped with a video that showed Silk -- founded by R&B vet Keith Sweat -- in a locker room, singing and dancing in towels, fresh out of the shower. Nowadays, if a group of guys were to do that, someone would probably leave with a black eye.

4. Jade

Somewhere, someone used the opening voicemail in Jade's hit 'Don't Walk Away' as their own outgoing message on their answering machines. The threesome first appeared in the Kid N' Play film 'Class Act' with the song 'I Wanna Love You.' This Chi-town trio had voices as big as their braids, and they had a platinum-selling debut album, 'Jade to the Max.' Their combination of sassy and cool made for a winning combination. Their follow-up LP, 'Mind, Body & Song,' produced another hit, '5-4-3-2 (Yo! Time Is Up),' and then they vanished.

3. Soul for Real

Soul for Real were being touted as the next Jackson 5 -- well, four in their case -- as the band
of brothers all had sweet vocals that they matched with smooth dancing. Their bandleader, Jason Dalyrimple, was the youngest -- just like MJ -- and played frontman while his brothers assisted him on the classic tune 'Candy Rain.' The song's innocently romantic undertones reminded everyone of the first time they fell in love. Even Diddy backed the quartet on their follow-up album, 'For Life,' producing the entire project. They never became Bad Boys though.

2. Ghost Town DJs

When Jermaine Dupri attempted to reinvigorate the whole booty-bass movement with the So So Def Bass All-Stars, he was definitely onto something with Ghost Town DJs. Their song 'My Boo' was the epitome of a summer soundtrack, with a video showing off girls washing cars and everyone having a good time in the hot sun. We never really heard from Ghost Town DJs after this track, but it still resonates every time the season of ice cream trucks and dips in the pool comes around. 'My Boo' was featured on 'So So Def Bass All-Stars Volume One.' What ever happened to those mixes?

1. Shai

Shai made the boldest move ever with their debut single, 'If I Ever Fall In Love,' as it was sung completely a cappella. When each member of the quartet took their turns to sing a verse, the other three would back up the one behind the mic. Let's not forget the highest note -- hit during the words "my friend." Everyone tried replicating that bit of singing and most often fell short. Shai didn't fall short with their second single, though, as 'Comforter' was a sexy tale of a guy coming to a woman's rescue after she'd just had her heart broken. They sure don't make them like Shai anymore.

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10 Reasons Why Lil' Kim's 'Hard Core' Is Good for Hip-Hop

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:05:00 EST

Johnny Nunez, WireImage November 12 marks 15 years since Lil' Kim dropped her solo debut. 'Hard Core' took a burgeoning femme fatale and placed her in the heart of the neo-gangster movement hip-hop was embracing at the time thanks to the Notorious B.I.G. Oozing slick sexuality and punchy, reckless man-eating musings, 'Hard Core' was an X-rated experience. Kim's contribution to rap with her first LP left a lasting impression on rap music as a whole -- one that still echoes today. In honor of the Queen Bee's decade-and-a-half old womanifesto, The BoomBox has compiled 10 reasons why Lil' Kim and 'Hard Core' both deserve a seat at the hip-hop table. ...

10. Bad Boy Found Its Bad Girl
While it's true that Lil' Kim was never formally signed to Bad Boy Records -- she was under Biggie and Lance "Un" Rivera's Undeas Recordings before getting an imprint of her own -- she was the female balance Puff needed in his posse. That "only female in my crew" line she declared a year later in 'All About The Benjamins' was birthed because of 'Hard Core.' Kim strutted her stuff with Junior M.A.F.I.A. earlier on, but her solo album really drove the point home that "beside every man is a bad girl."

9. Queen Bee Takes Hip-Hop to Hollywood
The title "Queen Bee" wasn't invented by Lil' Kim, but she surely perfected it. The top of hip-hop's hive was a position Kim demanded and achieved with 'Hard Core.' Her boldness vibrated into Hollywood, as years later the film 'Mean Girls' showed the leader of the pack being called the Queen Bee. In 'Sex & the City,' when Kim Cattrall's character Samantha Jones -- a Queen Bee of sorts -- is undergoing chemotherapy, she dons a proud pink wig at a Hollywood premiere, earning her the nickname "Lil' Kim."

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8. The Return of the Word "Lil'"
Some may see this as a glaring disadvantage in the rap name pool, but Lil' Kim was the first "Lil'" in a lil' while to do it big in hip-hop. Once Lil' Kim got started, Lil' Cease got some appreciation and from there the Lil' names have flooded. A year later, Lil Wayne would enter the scene with the Hot Boys, and the rest is history. See what Lil' Kim did for the culture? Once again, huge fail to some hip-hop fans, but a gigantic win to others.

7. Hip-Hop Had Its Sexy Back
There's a scene in the film 'Notorious' where Naturi Naughton portrays Lil' Kim and raps to Biggie -- played by MC Gravy. She's rhyming ruggedly and Big stops her and advises she has to make it sexy for men to listen to her. If that conversation actually happened prior to 'Hard Core,' then Biggie was correct. The opening on 'Big Momma Thang' made it clear what Kim came to do. The imagery on the album inserts only furthered the notion that this was true pitbull-in-a-skirt rap, where lyrical fornication was in order. Praises to Foxy Brown too, who under Jay-Z's watchful eye achieved the same with 'Ill Na Na.'

6. 'Hard Core' Struck a Balance
It's no surprise that not everyone was a huge fan of 'Hard Core' or the movement that Lil' Kim was starting. Many women felt that Kim's brazenness and unrelenting sexuality placed women right back to where they started as mere accessories in a male-driven industry. As a result, opposing female rappers like Lauryn Hill, Rah Digga and Da Brat pushed forward in addition to their predecessors like Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. For the first time, women in hip-hop had options. You could be sexy or not be sexy. The choice was yours.

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5. Biggie's Presence Was Felt
A lover and protégé of the late Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim was under his careful tutelage during the creation of 'Hard Core.' B.I.G. stepped out of his comfort zone to craft female-driven lyrics on tracks like 'Queen B----,' where he chimes in with, "You n----s got some audacity/ Ya sold a million, now you're half of me. Get off my d---." When Biggie passed less than a year later in 1997, hip-hop was feenin' for the projects he had near completion just to get another dose of his brand of crack rap. Considering his huge influence on 'Hard Core,' this is another B.I.G. contribution to his legacy.

4. Kim Showed Us Her Hits
No doubt about it, 'Hard Core' produced a large number of hits off the 15-track offering. Even those that didn't chart evolved into hip-hop classics eventually. There was the intro track 'Big Momma Thang' that featured Jay-Z -- don't forget Lil' Cease -- and followed with the Puff-assisted 'No Time.' Then there was 'Crush On You,' which, oddly, only featured Cease on the album version, but the single had Kim and Biggie on it -- plus Aaliyah in the video. Finally, 'Not Tonight,' which morphed into the 'Ladies Night (Remix)' and saw Da Brat, Left Eye, Missy Elliott and Angie Martinez lend rhyming assists.

3. Hip-Hop Received a Gender Reassignment
Lil' Kim could have easily called herself King Bee with the way she was stepping into the role of a man on 'Hard Core.' Topics included men on their knees committing sex acts while she's watching cartoons, plus a response to Biggie's song 'Dreams' with her own track 'Dreams,' which spoke of being with male R&B singers. She even adopted a motherly Mafia role in 'M.A.F.I.A. Land,' where she says, "Right hands wash the left hands. Loyalty's priority in this fam." Women had a voice as deep as a man's on 'Hard Core.'

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2. Kim Practiced What She Preached
Hip-hop is flooded with champagne wishes and caviar dreams that in reality are just beer and potato chips. Beyond that, declaring loyalty to the streets is a highly debatable argument. On 'Hard Core,' Kim rhymed about designer threads. Years later, she became Marc Jacobs' poster child for Louis Vuitton. She also pledged allegiance to la familia -- years later she'd go to jail for all of them for committing perjury. Like Jay-Z said in 'Roc Boys,' "To Lil' Kim and them, you know the women friend who carry work cross state for a gentleman." Hip-hop had some realness, and she's under five feet tall.

1. Nicki Minaj Can Thank Her Later
Say what you will about the present situation between Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj, but Kim's 'Hard Core' mothered an entire generation of the female rappers that followed. By discussing sexuality in an unabashed style, upping tax brackets with lavish lifestyles and sitting in the same thrones men dominated in hip-hop for years, 'Hard Core' opened up doors. Those doors are still wide open, and many have walked through them -- Trina, Shawnna, Eve, the list goes on. While Nicki Minaj is currently leading the charge for females in rap, it's still important to note where that style originated -- 15 years ago.

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Eric Roberson 'Skypes' With Son, 'Studies' Tech N9ne

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:25:00 EST

Jeff Fusco, Getty Images Eric Roberson doesn't believe in writer's block. "There's always something to write about," the soul singer tells The BoomBox. "There's always someone in pain, there's always someone in love, there's always someone searching for something." Throughout the tenure of Roberson's career, he's been the mouthpiece for a deep following of admirers who traveled with him on his musical journey since his beginnings singing backup for Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild. Once his solo career grew wings, it was his 2001 critically acclaimed LP, 'The Esoteric Movement,' that sealed the deal for Roberson's fate in music. He left the neo-soul movement with pockets full of memories that still ignite his creativity to date. Now married with a son, Eric Roberson embarks on a brand new chapter in his career with a new album, 'Mister Nice Guy.' The project is full of "humor" and "theater" per Eric, something he always tries to bring to his live shows. With a career in touring, bringing that live element to the effort is essential in extending that experience for fans. Always the nice guy himself, Eric speaks with The BoomBox about his adoring fans, the balancing act of family with music and how taking the cues of hip-hop pioneers helped him build his own movement in soul. ...

That smiley face on your cover for 'Mister Nice Guy' is really scary.

[Laughs] It scares you? It's not supposed to spark fear! It's funny, there's a guy named Fave, who is a very talented artist. It's crazy, he draws, he produces, he's a photographer. He's actually the one who came up with the face design. So we can give it all to him, the blame, if it sparks fear in the world.

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Throughout the duration of your career, it seems like you've had this cult following.

Well you know, it started with my second album. I kinda started putting my own albums out as a hobby. I had no idea if it would work or if anyone would really care. For the most part, it was almost to help me get over a breakup. Then what happened was, I found out from people who had gotten the record... they were the ones who demanded more from me. So it almost kinda started with the second album -- the whole intention of even doing the second album was just for a small group of people who said, "We love what you did. We want more." I was like, "OK, I have some more songs!" From there it was kinda just, it inspired me to take it like a business. From there I attempted to learn more about... being a label and having an opportunity to put out music on a timeline.

There was really no turning back for me. It was earning each fan, one at a time. That was the honest intention from Day One. We would do a show, and before people could even get out of their seats, I would be at the exit selling CDs. It's kind of still the same way. It hasn't changed much.

That's a very hip-hop approach to branding yourself. Keeping it an organic movement.

Definitely. I'm a hip-hop kid. Growing up in Jersey, I had no choice but to fall in love with the things that were going on. As powerful as Run-DMC was or as LL Cool J was at Def Jam, some of the blueprints of what we wanted to do for [neo-]soul music came from hip-hop. Hip-hop artists were doing independent albums far earlier than we were doing with R&B. I remembered studying rock n' roll and hip-hop when I was trying to figure how to put an album out, how to market it and maintain a fan base. All the way to Tech N9ne, I was studying what he was doing. The guy is phenomenal and also maintains a fan base. He's almost taught them to grow with him. That's the best way to word it. How do you get the fans to grow with you? That's something I think people on the majors even have to learn.

Well your fan base seems more loyal than even some of your contemporaries. Some credit you as having kickstarted the whole neo-soul movement.

I think the exaggeration or the illusion has helped out my career tremendously [laughs]. You know, the funny thing is my fan base is kinda like me, they're credit readers. When they get a record they like, they see who sang background on it or who wrote it. And before I put albums out, I was a songwriter and producer. I was fortunate enough to work with Jill [Scott] and work with Musiq. That helped out a lot. When people heard me singing background for Jill or doing a duet with Jill or sing background with Musiq, they'd instantly search it. I had people searching for me before I even put 'The Esoteric Movement' out because they loved 'Mary Go Round' or this song 'One Time.' I mean I definitely didn't start the neo-soul movement in any form or fashion. I was happy to have some success from it and also participate and witness it with my peers. All of those artists, those really are my friends. When I worked with Jill, Musiq, even Dwele, we barely had deals. We were just hungry artists making music.

Listen to Eric Roberson on Musiq Soulchild's 'Mary Go Round'

You were instrumental in Philly's soul movement. Did you live within a close proximity to Philly back then?

I didn't live that close at the time. I was probably about two hours from Philadelphia. There was a period after I graduated from college where I would drive to Atlanta, drive to D.C., drive to New York. I had a little Toyota 4Runner, and I just destroyed that truck driving to whatever studio would have me. I met someone in DJ Jazzy Jeff's camp while I was in New York and they invited me to the studio [in Philly]. The very next day I drove down there and almost never left. I worked at A Touch of Jazz for five years straight non-stop. I was living in Atlanta when I met them, and I think I didn't go back to Atlanta for like six months. Then when I went back, I moved all of the stuff out of my apartment and moved up to Jersey and kept recording.

I remember when Jill walked in the studio for the first time, when Musiq walked into the studio for the first time, when Floetry came over and we were like, "Who are these girls from London? They're dope!" I was actually in New Jersey when they got here, and one of the producers called me and said, "Get here as fast as you can. There's these two girls from London, and they are destroying Philly right now. You gotta check them out!" I remember jumping in my truck and heading over there wanting to hear them. It was just a good time.

Many years later now with a new album, how do you find the inspiration with that whole movement being gone?

I think with everything you have challenges. For me, the biggest challenge now is scheduling. From a business standpoint, tours take up so much time. I'm also a family man now, all of that stuff it takes up time. I've had so many record deals -- been signed and dropped and thought that my dreams of being in the music business were lost. I remember having money then losing money. I had tremendous ups and downs. So my dream was to create the music that I heard in my head. I still wake up with sounds in my head to this day. For me, you give me a window and you give me an opportunity, and I'll create a song every chance that I get.

You're an artist people want to experience live. Being a family man now, how are you balancing all of that touring?

I'm doing the best that I can, day by day [laughs]. I just got back into the country on Monday, I leave the country again on Sunday. My little man has been in my arms from the time I got off my plane to the time I get on my next plane. Skype helps out. It's funny, my son in his first year, he's already been to London with me, he's been to Atlanta with me a couple of times, he's been to L.A. with me. So his passport's been stamped. I'm going to try to bring him as much as I can. When I can't bring him, we're Skyping.

Even with this Europe tour, I would walk on stage and take his picture out of my wallet and put it on the stage just to have him with me. It's just one of the ways for me to get through it. He's been an incredible joy. A lot of this album was created when he was an infant. He was in the studio with me, in the vocal booth with me sometimes. I just want him to be with me in that environment. This career takes up so much of your time that for me, I'd like to share that time with him.

Do you find that female fans are happier knowing you embrace commitment or are they disappointed that you aren't an option for them?

If I mention my wife sometimes I'll get an "aww" [in disappointment]... My first album was after a breakup, but almost a year after that I met my wife. She has been my girlfriend then fiancée almost the majority of the time during my independent career. Most fans who know me well, know I don't hide it. I wear my wedding ring in my videos or on stage. My wife is with me a lot. I know that I'm in the art of selling fairy tales. We are selling a perception. I don't think when you get on the stage though that you have to lie about your marital status or whatever. I'm a person that tries to write songs people can relate to. I can't imagine what your intentions are if you came to my show and left pissed that I was married [laughs].

Watch Eric Roberson's 'Picture Perfect' Feat. Phonte

What would you say was your main goal this time around with your new album?

I think a lot of the humor that we show on stage with the live shows, this was a strong intent to show that on this album. With each album, we try to dig deeper into storytelling. We've accomplished a lot with storytelling through the years. With this album, it's an extension even more. I majored in Musical Theater at Howard, so I think people may have felt a bit of Musical Theater or Theater Arts of character development in my music. There's a song on [the album] called 'The Magician' about a magician. There's a song on there about how I feel when I'm sneaking and looking through my girl's journal. I'm riddled with guilt through the whole things. That one is almost a musical monologue than it is a song. I think that's the part; I think humor and theater have reared their heads with this album.

You have MCs like Phonte on your project, but having a rapper on a track was never something you had to lean on for people to listen to you.

I think some people might look at me as if I am rapping [laughs]. Truth be told, I really feel like especially with the neo-soul movement -- whether we celebrate that title or not -- I think the main part of that whole movement were the hip-hop kids who sang. If you listen to D'Angelo's 'Brown Sugar,' he almost could rap that song as much as he would sing that song. Musiq Soulchild's 'Just Friends,' Jill Scott's 'A Long Walk,' all of those songs they were singing over Al Green tracks with almost a hip-hop melody. I never thought I never was going to rap on a song. Now I've actually rhymed on two songs.

You have such a consistent track record with releasing music. You never go more than two years without a release. Given how much you tour, that's insane.

[Laughs] It is insane, isn't it? I haven't thought about how insane it was until this album. I think it's a testament to, No. 1, I've been fortunate enough to be very healthy and, No. 2, I've had a very supportive cast around me. Also, it's a strong desire to be creative. I'm truly in love with the art of combining words. I just love to do it. I feel like I'm very, very fortunate to have the career I have because it helps me balance family life and stuff like that. This is a very precious time, I don't wanna miss too much like my son's first steps. As much as I want to put out music and provide for the betterment of his life, I want to be able to witness it too. I want to be that kind of dad. I want to be able to coach his soccer team or football team. At the same time, I have to also feed the monster of the business. It's a balancing act.

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14 Best R&B and Rap Collaborations From the 1990s

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:35:00 EST

YouTube.com Now it's common practice for hip-hop and R&B to intertwine, but the '90s marked an era where the lines didn't quite yet blur. Rappers were rappers, singers were singers. Sometimes one would parlay into the other, but for the most part, if an R&B chanteuse wanted a rapper on a song, she would get one rather than try to rap herself. As an homage to days past, The BoomBox has compiled standout collaborations from that famed era in music. While some choices weren't radio fixtures -- we just loved them -- others became soundtracks to life events. Check out the list and find out if any bring back some memories. ...

14. 'Ain't Nobody,' Monica Feat. Treach

The 'Nutty Professor' soundtrack was one of hip-hop and R&B's most classic collection of songs. Jay-Z and Foxy Brown's pairing for 'Ain't No N----' appeared on this soundtrack, along with other tracks like AZ Yet's erotic 'Last Night.' Another collaborative gem on the project came from Monica and Treach of Naughty By Nature. The R&B siren was always so good at crafting these romantic yet simple street symphonies of Juliet meets Romeo. This track was no exception, and hearing Treach on a love song was a pleasant surprise.

13. 'It's a Party,' Zhane Feat. Busta Rhymes

Zhane hit big with the 1994 smash song, 'Hey Mr. DJ.' However, one of the follow-up singles, 'It's a Party,' embodied the house party vibe of the '90s. With Busta Rhymes assisting, the track has this mellowed soulful backdrop as he rhymes about parking-lot pimping, weed and hustling -- essential elements of any house party, right? Zhane took the lyrics in a different route, focusing on dancing and just having a good time -- the best of both worlds.

12. 'Can't Be Wasting My Time,' Mona Lisa Feat. Mister Cheeks

Another film score gem, Mona Lisa's single was found on the 'Don't Be a Menace' soundtrack. Lost Boyz' Mister Cheeks was already a seasoned veteran in the game of love at this time. After all, he lost his shorty named 'Renee' just a few songs prior. On this one, Cheeks says, "Yo Mona Lisa, see there's something that we both should understand. Now if we share life, you be my wife and I'll be your man." Was he proposing to her? Sounds like it!

11. 'Just Like Me,' Usher Feat. Lil Kim

Long before Nicki Minaj was a 'Lil Freak' in Usher's video, another blonde bombshell was riding shotgun on Usher's track. Lil' Kim appeared on Ursh's breakout album, 'My Way,' grunting like a feminine Rick Ross in 'Just Like Me.' The Queen Bee shares sentiments of being the baddest and only getting paid to play. Usher chimes in, chipping away at Kim's rough exterior, getting her to admit she's lonely sometimes too. Aren't we all?

10. 'Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes,' TLC Feat. Andre 3000

Anyone who played TLC's classic LP 'CrazySexyCool' knows this closing song. "Remember back in the time when the only sign we had was pickets? But now in '94 it be this way something come wicked," Andre muses at the beginning of the song. His bars take out a chunk of the track, but they're so potent -- packed with anti-gang fodder and a slight jab at the late Michael Jackson. T-Boz and Chilli continue that progression of self-actualization, as Left Eye closes with an introspective-yet-cryptic verse about finding peace.

9. 'So Good (Remix),' Davina Feat. Raekwon

Here's another example where a tough-edged rapper softens up to woo his lady -- calling her
an "ice cream" flavor didn't quite drive that point home. Davina gets all philosophical with lines like, "And the joy that your lovin' brings, can separate the mountains from the sea." Raekwon the Chef balances it out by cooking up some bars about street love. It's the perfect combination of bad-boy-with-a-heart meets daydreaming-girl-with-a-book-of-poetry.

8. 'Touch Me, Tease Me,' Case Feat. Foxy Brown & Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige singing background on a song? That may seem hard to comprehend considering she's known for being the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, but back in 1996, Mary took a backseat on 'Touch Me, Tease Me' and the stars of the show were Case and Foxy Brown. Another single off the 'Nutty Professor' soundtrack, this one shows Foxy telling Case to keep her "laced up" in the finest threads and she'll play her position as the Bonnie to his Clyde. Meanwhile, Case was professing his love for the Fox Boogie. Classic material.

7. 'How Do You Like It,' Keith Sweat Feat. Left Eye

It's always strange the first time one member from a group appears on someone else's song. Left Eye makes sure to shout out T-Boz and Chilli on the track -- they're even in the video, but blink and you miss them -- yet this track is all Miss Lopes. She helps Keith Sweat craft quite the nasty little cut all about the usual grinding Sweat was known for. Left Eye slams the gavel down though when she says, "And as we come a little closer to the end of the game, you know I'm takin' all the 'Sweat' out your name."

6. 'Only You (Bad Boy Remix),' 112 Feat. Notorious B.I.G. and Ma$e

In 1996, Puff Daddy was on the brink of something major with Bad Boy. Notorious B.I.G. was already a household name, Ma$e was right behind him and 112 provided the melody for it all. "I thought I told you that we won't stop," Puff chants at the beginning of this remix. While 'Only You' hit hard on so many levels with 112's ability to be sweet and party-poppin' at the same time, it's hard to ignore the sentimental value of Bad Boy's burgeoning empire on this one.

5. 'Let's Get Married (Remix),' Jagged Edge Feat. Run-DMC

Run-DMC had a knack for taking one song and melding it with another -- remember the Aerosmith-assisted jam 'Walk This Way'? When they entered on the remix to 'Let's Get Married,' Jermaine Dupri sampled Run-DMC's classic 'It's Like That' and three the hard way took the ball from there. Having a legendary rap group on your track's remix was a big deal at the time -- and it still is. Thankfully having Reverend Run on a track took away from the far from romantic line on the song, "We ain't gettin' no younger. We might as well do it" -- aka the lyrical equivalent of a Kanye shrug.

4. 'I Wanna Be Down (Remix),' Brandy Feat. MC Lyte, YoYo & Queen Latifah

Brandy was just starting to get her sea legs in R&B when she came through with her debut single 'I Wanna Be Down.' The R&B princess took it to another level by corralling some of the hottest female MCs in the game and putting them on her remix. The soft lighting of the video was a stark contrast to the hard-hitting rhymes these females were delivering. Fast forward about 17 years and Brandy's rap alter-ego Bran Nu could've joined them in the rhymes.

3. 'Anything (Remix),' SWV Feat. Wu-Tang Clan

This slam dunk song off the 'Above the Rim' soundtrack was just what that era needed. SWV were the around-the-way girls who wanted to fall in love, but also have a good time. The Wu were a couple of booksmart street hustlers from Shaolin, who on the low wanted the math to work with their "wisdom." Together, it was an all-around hit, and who could forget Method Man's idyllic way of making his presence felt: "Kaboom! Guess who stepped in the room? Ticaaaaal!"

2. 'Fantasy (Remix),' Mariah Carey Feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard

When Mariah Carey interpolated the bridge to Tom Tom Club's 'Genius of Love,' -- along with sampling the instrumental -- she had to know she had a hit on her hands. She stretched the 'Fantasy' even further when the late Ol' Dirty Bastard jumped on the track. Everyone under the sun impersonated ODB on his opening bars, spitting, "Me and Mariah, go back like babies with pacifiers. Ol' Dirt Dogg no liar. Keep the fantasy hot like fire."

1. 'I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By,' Method Man Feat. Mary J. Blige

Sure, this top track totally reverses the entire point of this list, as it's a singer assisting a rapper. However, excluding this song from the list would be a sin against society. Method Man and Mary J. Blige took a simple track off Meth's solo debut album and reworked it into the epitome of hip-hop Love. It's like 'Brown Sugar' in song form, where two people from different (yet similar) walks of life fall in love. Some couple played this song at their wedding in the '90s. They had to.

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Top 10 Neo-Soul Acts We Miss

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:40:00 EST

Jim Spellman, WireImage | Evan Agostini, Getty Images | Angela Weiss, WireImage Sitting comfortably within the vastly experimental era of late '90s "urban" music is neo-soul. The sub-genre is one that has taken on many forms since the term was first coined by former Motown Records president Kedar Massenburg to describe what his artist Erykah Badu was accomplishing at the time. An amalgam of sounds ranging from soul, subtle hip-hop and new school R&B, neo-soul soared past the "headwraps and kufis" label it was deemed to wear. While the movement has since faded -- everything is considered "neo-soul" these days -- a handful of artists penetrated the era and vanished. The BoomBox compiles a list of 10 top artists we miss. Consider this a musical milk carton. ...

Jazzyfatnastees

The dynamic duo of Tracey Moore and Mercedes Martinez were largely instrumental in the Roots' New York-Philly-D.C. live music revival known as Black Lily. A combination of soul-glazed sounds backed by thorough percussion -- after all, they did work with Questlove -- the Jazzy's arguably set the tone for future artists' styles. Their debut album, '99's 'The Once and Future,' featured production from the then Roots keyboardist Scott Storch. Tracey and Mercedes dropped 2002's 'The Tortoise & the Hare' and have since been on permanent hiatus. Come back, ladies!

Melky Sedeck

Being the younger siblings of Wyclef Jean, Blandina Melky and Farel Sedeck got their big break almost immediately following the reign of the Fugees. However, their fusion of hip-hop and R&B in such a non-intrusive way made for the pair's automatic success -- with or without a Jean surname. Melky Sedeck rocked romantic soundtracks like 'Love Jones' and 'Love & Basketball,' while also covering a soundtrack classic 'To Sir, With Love' on their debut 'Sister & Brother'. Unfortunately, their buzz faded once the Fugees parted ways. What's up with that?

Cody ChestnuTT

The Roots' 'Phrenology' was a critically acclaimed fan abused classic that dropped at the heart of the neo-soul era. On it, the track 'The Seed 2.0' featuring one Cody ChestnuTT, leaned sonically on Cody's song 'Look Good In Leather.' Cody became one of the poster boys for the genre -- alongside Martin Luther -- with his new approach to soul that incorporated clever rock riffs and slick funk. Cody has consistently dropped albums, his most recent was 2010's 'Black Skin No Value,' which flew under the radar. The crooner was supposed to drop 'Landing On a Hundred' this year. We're still waiting.

Angie Stone

Truth be told, Angie Stone's been doing her acting thing most recently. However, for an artist with such deep roots in music -- from the Sequence to singing backup for Lenny Kravitz and D'Angelo's seminal 'Brown Sugar' and later 'Voodoo,' (the two also share a child), it seemed like singing would be Stone's priority. Her 'Black Diamond' solo debut in '99 came during a movement when soulful women were taking a front seat (i.e. Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, India.Arie). You can still catch Angie on film, but hearing her on wax would be equally as sweet.

Martin Luther

In 1999, Martin Luther dropped 'The Calling.' He became part of the neo-Soul movement the Roots were building in conjunction with Cody ChestnuTT. His funkadelically-fused sounds became the backbone of the genre, and by his 2004 album 'Rebel Soul Music,' Martin Luther was channeling his inner Jimi Hendrix. The irony there is that Luther portrayed "Jo-Jo" -- a character inspired by Hendrix -- in the Beatles musical 'Across the Universe.' That was in 2007, and while every year since then we were promised his comeback album, 'Love Is the Hero,' we're still waiting for that hero to pop up.

Amel Larrieux

Surely everyone remembers Groove Theory's classic hit 'Tell Me.' Amel Larrieux and Bryce Wilson were a duo destined for stardom. They split, Bryce started acting and Amel joined the ranks of contemporary female vocalists bringing dramatically different, smooth sounds over the airwaves. Her song 'Get Up' is forever woven into the thread of the start of neo-soul, and her collaboration with the Roots on 'Glitches' held up the 'Down to Earth' soundtrack. Rumor has it Ms. Larrieux is gearing for a revival in 2012, with the tentatively titled effort 'Ice Cream Every Day.' How's that for a treat?

India.Arie

India.Arie is arguably one of the more successful female vocalists to emerge from neo-soul music outside of Erykah Badu. Her debut single, 'Video,' off 2002's 'Acoustic Soul,' introduced a rich-voiced siren backed by her acoustic guitar, geared to take over the world. Arie had a strong run over the years, causing the same level of controversy Lauryn Hill and Badu received when they all chopped off their locks. She reflected those sentiments in 'I Am Not My Hair.' Her assistance in the John Lennon cover of 'Imagine' earned her a Grammy this year. However, an album is still up in the air. Perhaps 'Open Door' will drop in 2012 as planned.

Floetry

Yes, we know that Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart both have respective careers outside of Floetry. However, their effort 'Floetic' set the stage for a female pairing of MC and singer that hadn't really happened since TLC stepped on the scene in the early '90s. By 2007, Floetry were splitsville and the role of Natalie Stewart was briefly portrayed by Amanda Diva. Now, with both Marsha and Natalie having significant careers outside of their initial union, wouldn't a reunion be apropos? That's something that most Floetry fans wouldn't fight if it ever happened. We'll have to wait and see.

Jaguar Wright

Jaguar Wright arrived around the same time as the Jazzyfatnastees during the Roots' Black Lily era. Her no-nonsense music delivered razor-under-the-tongue biting wit focusing mainly on relationships. Jag appeared on the hook of the Roots' 'What You Want' off 'The Best Man' soundtrack. She was also the hook singer for Jay-Z's MTV Unplugged album -- with the Roots on the beats. In 2005, Jag Wright dropped 'Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul.' Was that a message? Did she permanently divorce neo-soul to aim for a more "traditional" sound? Whatever the motive was, we haven't heard a full-length album from Jaguar since.

D'Angelo

Oh, D'Angelo. This one goes without saying. The elusive Mr. Archer has teased us with more promises of reappearing ever since he was rotating naked in the 'Untitled' video off 2000's 'Voodoo.' While the father of 'Brown Sugar' endured some legal hardships throughout his troubled hiatus, it was with the greatest hope that one day D'Angelo would resurface. We've heard random raw cuts as they circulated the internet, and his 'James River' LP continues to come up in conversation. Couple that with a bunch of random remixes and live albums, and well, it's pretty clear that people still want to hear the crooner. Put some clothes on -- or don't -- and release more music, please!

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20 Songs About Men and Women Cheating

Kathy Iandoli — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:40:00 EST

Jay-Z once said, "Men lie. Women lie. Numbers don't." He had a point, considering the number of songs about both men and women lying are in the thousands. Whether proud to be cheating or trying to catch the cheater, the tunes have a way of conveying the wildest of emotions found within ourselves, especially when a significant other is caught with their pants down. As a true testament to those guilty of infidelity, The BoomBox has tallied the top tracks about the frowned upon act. From sympathetic odes describing the one finding a cheat to those supporting the creeping, they're the ideal soundtrack for any man or woman scorned. 20 'He's Mine' MoKenStef YouTube.com One-hit wonder trio MoKenStef opened this song with the line, "He might be doing you, but he's thinking about me," proving they had no qualms about their men cheating, just as long as he came home to mama. Perhaps one of the most fascinating sides to any cheating tale, 'He's Mine' goes after the mistress like she's a guest on 'The Jerry Springer Show.' The cheater obviously wins this round. ...

'All Her Love'

Donell Jones

Johnny Nunez, WireImage

A lesser-known tale of infidelity -- but just as potent as the rest -- this song has Donell Jones putting himself in the position of the man scorned. He's with a woman who claims to give him all of her love, but only half of the time. The woman Mr. Jones loves has another man, and DJ is merely the side hustle. So what exactly is the male equivalent of a mistress? Is it a mister?

'Love The Way You Lie'

Eminem featuring Rihanna

Kevin Mazur/EM, WireImage

It seems like Eminem bathes in depression, and the cause is usually a woman doing him wrong. In this recent example, Em is actually not trying to kill his cheating woman -- like he did on 'Kim.' This time, with the help of Rihanna, he admits he loves her, flaws and all. However, he does still manage to maintain a somewhat unhinged persona and that air of menace we've come to associate with his tunes.

'Bust Your Windows'

Jazmine Sullivan

Raymond Boyd, Michael Ochs Archives

When a man has wronged you, a popular act of revenge is to take it out on his car. Slashing tires is usually the preferred method of conveying the message of "I'm mad at you," but Jaz Sullivan goes the extra mile and breaks every window in her man's automobile. That'll teach him, so next time he cheats, those window tints won't be there to hide the evidence. Atta girl, Jazmine!

'Hit 'Em Up'

Tupac Shakur

SGranitz, WireImage

Approaching the topic of cheating from a different side, 'Hit 'Em Up' sees Tupac attack Biggie from all angles -- his coup de grâce is telling the New York rapper that he got his wife, Faith Evans, in bed. Ouch. Tupac practically enters firing off about Faith. He held no punches, but was it true? The songstress admitted to cheating on Biggie in a book she'd written, but never says it was with the fallen West Coast MC.

'O.P.P.'

Naughty by Nature

YouTube.com

"I say the last P? Hmmm, stands for 'property.'" A classic rap cut from a classic N.J. bred hip-hop group, 'O.P.P.' epitomizes a cheater's anthem. With a video showcasing a man taking off his wedding band, the track details how two people come to decide that they will be having an affair. On top of all that, the Naughty boys crafted the contagious chant, "You down wit O.P.P.? Yeah you know me!"

'Friend of Mine'

Kelly Price

Maury Phillips, WireImage

Yikes, it's a worst nightmare come true: a woman's man is caught cheating with her best friend. That is the stuff that Lifetime Original Movies are made of, and Kelly Price made a whole song about it. Remember in the video when R. Kelly plays the lowdown dirty guy and Price's "godfather" Ronald Isley aka. Mr. Biggs handles his business? They just don't make videos like they used to.

'Marvin's Room'

Drake

George Pimentel, WireImage

About 30 percent of Drake's career involves him trying to take some girl away from some guy. Remember in the 'Find Your Love' video, where Mavado catches Drizzy trying to steal his woman and then kills him in the end? At least that's what they'd like us to believe happened. In 'Marvin's Room,' the Young Money rapper tries to lure an old flame back to his campfire. "I'm just sayin' you could do better," is his sales pitch.

'Humpin' Around'

Bobby Brown

Tiffany Rose, WireImage

There was a time in Bobby Brown's career when every single subject turned into a dance party. Found a tender roni? Let's dance! Trying to catch some ghosts with the Ghostbusters? Let's dance! This song was no exception as "Bobbayyy" thrusted his pelvis all over this track. Too bad it came back to bite him in the behind when he was actually caught "humpin' around." How's that for karma?

'Karma'

Alicia Keys

Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage

Speaking of karma, Miss Leeshy Keys took infidelity to the universal law on her track 'Karma.' Instead of showing up with a baseball bat, Alicia had faith in a higher power that 360 degrees would return to her man. Leave it to Miss Keys, now known as Mrs. Beatz, to take revenge to the abstract. We're not going to get into how she took Swizz Beatz away from Mashonda, though, are we? Didn't think so.

'It Wasn't Me'

Shaggy

Kevin Winter/Tonight Show, Getty Images

One of the funnier songs about cheating, 'It Wasn't Me' makes the case that it was "some other dude" who was caught in the act and not the culprit himself -- him being Shaggy. It's an urban legend that an excuse like this has actually worked. However, if a whole song can exist about it, then someone somewhere said, "Oh it wasn't you? Thank goodness! I was gonna say!" Where there's ignorance is bliss.

'Me and My Crazy World'

Lost Boyz

Johnny Nunez, WireImage

Mr. Cheeks has been through a lot with women in his music. First he loses 'Renee' due to some unnecessary violence, and then he can't decide which woman he's in love with. According to this song, he's in love with both and can't decide which one to pick. Our advice: pick the one who stays with you after hearing this song you wrote about her, Cheeks. That's how you know she's the one.

'Unfaithful'

Rihanna

Tabatha Fireman, WireImage

Rihanna is always killing someone in her songs -- not really. This one kicked off the murderous metaphors though, as RiRi cheats on her man and it kills him. Rihanna equates dying inside with actual dying on 'Unfaithful.' She doesn't want to be a murderer though, she says. Then a few albums later she does kill a man on 'Man Down,' but if the video rings true then he deserved it.

'In My Bed (Remix)'

Dru Hill

YouTube.com

Dru Hill is another group that took great delight in starting dance parties during heartache. It usually happened on the remixes though, and this one is no exception. The fellas in Dru Hill find out that there's another man in their respective beds, so what do they do? They dance it out, of course! Is there some sort of scientific evidence that supports dancing during a breakup relieves heartache? Perhaps Sisqo can confirm this.

'Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)'

Blu Cantrell

Michael Bezjian, WireImage

Anyone who tried cheating on Blu Cantrell must be slightly touched in the head. A detective on the mic, Blu catches her man in the act and then maxes out his credit cards on purchases for her and her girls. Then she goes and sells all of his belongings. On top of all that, she messes up his credit by paying all of the bills late. That's an "oops" all right.

'Case of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)'

Mya

Steven Lawton, FilmMagic

The video for this track looks like it took place in the same desert as Rihanna's 'Rehab' video -- only about a decade prior. Another sob story about an ex returning to take her man back, Mya tries to wrap her head around why it happened. Regardless of the reason, she comes up with the classic line, "And you told me that she turned trick when y'all broke up in '96."

'If Your Girl Only Knew'

Aaliyah

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Aaliyah had no problem whatsoever calling out a man who was caught doing wrong. On 'If Your Girl Only Knew,' the cheating hasn't happened yet. Rather, 'Liyah is talking directly to the man trying to woo her and telling him all about himself and what would happen if his girlfriend knew of his flagrant behavior. It's never confirmed if his tactics worked, but judging by Babygirl's smug retorts, they might have eventually.

'Creep'

TLC

YouTube.com

Some people may call this TLC jam the "silk pajamas song" because of its sexy video. T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli are feeling lonely due to a neglectful man, so their retaliation is to "creep" and "keep it on the down low." After all, "nobody is supposed to know." They take great pride in their creepin' ways, and put the fault on the man for not paying enough attention. Fair enough, ladies.

'Confessions Pt. II'

Usher

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Lo and behold, Usher goes and cheats on TLC's Chilli and 'fesses up to it in a song. Mr. Raymond had a whole lot of women angry with him for his wandering eye -- among other things -- but sooner than later he won their hearts back. On 'Confessions' -- and this sequel -- Ush goes and admits his wrongdoings. So did the truth really set him free? Well, the ladies don't love him any less do they?

'Say My Name'

Destiny's Child

YouTube.com

The first Destiny's Child song where we get to meet Michelle Williams, 'Say My Name' picks up on the cues of an unfaithful man and throws them all out there. From not "saying your name" on the phone to avoiding those three words in public, Beyonce and co. catch on early to the shady behavior. There's also the slight reference to a man calling a woman "baby" so he doesn't mess up her name. Pretty sneaky.

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Ziggy Marley Says Marijuana Is 'Nutritious,' Tour Is 'Best Ever'

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:20:00 EST

KII ARENS Most of today's younger generations have only really experienced Bob Marley through music or sparse interviews. However, the spirit of the legend undoubtedly lives on through his eldest son, Ziggy Marley. Ziggy's career in music began in the late '70s, alongside his father and siblings on the track, 'Children Playing in the Streets.' His reign as bandleader of the Melody Makers showed the family journeying into pop-friendly reggae music, picking up where their father left off. His solo career has consistently displayed a natural talent, whose music translates fluently through live performances. Three decades later, Ziggy is on his sixth solo album, 'Wild and Free,' and in the midst of his Forward to Love tour. The iconic Marley is an admitted naturalist, and after all of this time, he still builds his music based upon a vibe. That vibe has carried him through all corners of the globe, currently in the US, where his live shows have moved fans to send personal messages to Ziggy online. His new foray into social networking -- find him on Facebook and Twitter -- has afforded him the opportunity to hear these stories firsthand and inspires him to continue. While the music is still moving, he's working with famed artist Jim Mahfood on a graphic novel series titled 'Marijuana Man.' Ziggy also hopes to go into acting and pursue other creative projects outside of music. In speaking with The BoomBox, the big brother Marley talks about the important uses of the marijuana plant -- he says it's nutritious -- what he hopes for his children, the direction of his music and his new weed-inspired comic book. ...

You've been in the industry making music for decades. What still keeps you going?

Keeps me going? Well, the inspiration. I'm inspired to do music. I really can't stop unless I stop being inspired. The continual need for ideas, consciousness, messages for the world, for people. I feel we provide through music. It's the inspiration that causes us to say the words we're saying. So that's why I cannot stop unless the inspiration stops.

Over the years as your tours have progressed, what have you done differently live?

I think this tour [Forward to Love] is so far going to be the best tour I've ever done. I just kind of been touring so much I understand the audience, I understand people, understand the musicians. I think the connection is much more stronger now because over the years I've been learning and picking up things as I've gone on the road.

Watch Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers' Tumblin' Down'

Your brother Damian, Jr. Gong has worked with Nas and released a whole project, 'Distant Relatives.' Would you ever collaborate with a hip-hop artist or another genre artist on an entire collaborative project?

I would say, no, or only if it comes naturally. Only if it is inspired. I wouldn't do it for marketing reasons or any other reasons. That's just something that naturally has to happen. For example, on this record I had Woody Harrelson singing with me on the title track.

How did that even happen?

It wasn't planned. It was something we talked about. He came by my house one day and I was working on a song and it just happened. That's the way I like to do things. I don't like to do things for any other reason than it happens spontaneously or there's something that makes it happen naturally. I don't like putting down too many plans and trying to do a strategy to get a certain response or a certain effect.

Are you beginning to see the music build in your children or nieces and nephews?

Music is always a part of children's lives. All of us are from music, really. From the ABC's to right down to everything else. My family, music is a part of their lives. Naturally, they have a tendency to do music but I don't think I can definitely define them by that at this stage. They still have a long way to go. They could still choose to do something else.

That's really great since many musical families consider music a rite of passage for their kids.

I'm someone that tries to keep things naturally. If it comes that way, fine, I won't force it because of what I do. I want it to be natural.

Did you have a particular message you wanted to convey with 'Wild and Free'?

First, I'd say it was actually life, being in concert. I wanted to make this album have music that easily translated from life, stage and to the people. I think we've been successful with it. We've traveled to Europe twice, I've been to Japan with it. I'm in the States, so that does come across very well. That was a definite success for me. There's one thing I was trying to articulate with this album and that was the use of the cannabis plant. The use of it and all of its aspects. Not just marijuana smoking, but the industrial use of the plant. I had that main idea and that's why the album is called 'Wild and Free.' That was really on my mind a lot and it's something I believe in. If we're in this green revolution and environmental state of mind, this plant is like the perfect plant for this issue. I think it's hypocrisy that we're not using this plant more widely and taking advantage of it.

Fabrice Coffrini, AFP

Do you feel people have preconceived notion about the cannabis plant?

I think it's a lack of knowledge because what is portrayed in the outlets that people get information from is one aspect of it or stereotypical view of it or lies about it. So the general public don't get the full picture. The smoking of marijuana is one aspect of it that you have to be careful of because these days the plant is so much more potent because of what people have done to it. Again, I'm a naturalist, I don't like that type of stuff. I like it natural, how it came from the earth without anybody touching. That's how I prefer the use of the plant to me. But people have done all types of things to the plant to make it more potent, which can be dangerous. So you have to be careful with that, ya know? But then the other uses for the plant: fire, fuel, nutrition -- the seeds are nutritious. This is an environmental plant. It's good for the soil, it's easily grown, it doesn't use a lot of space. It's a green plant. This is the plant. This plant has to be used.

Are you working on a new album yet?

In my mind I am. In actuality, I'm not yet. I'm being inspired continuously so I'm trying to figure something out. This album came out a few months ago so I'm still on that ship. I might be on it for another year or so. Doing the live concerts, it's really connecting with the people, and that's a good thing for me.

What is one of your favorite tour stories?

Well, for example, ya know, I'm on Facebook. Since I've been doing the touring, I've been communicating with the friends and the fans through Facebook and so forth. We talk and I was looking at Facebook today. We did a show last night in Agoura Hills in California, and I was checking my Facebook page, and this one lady wrote and said she'd seen my show for the first time and how it made her cry and how she missed her son and it helped heal her broken heart. It's very cool. This is the second time on this tour where someone has said they've cried or felt it. What we're doing is touching people, that is what we're supposed to be doing as well.

Have people been respectful of your privacy now that you communicate with them on Facebook?

Oh yeah, people are cool. We're cool. It's family. We're family. People treat you according to your energy or what you put out there so what I put out there is very open. I'm not paranoid or scared, I'm open. That's how I treat people, with respect and speak truthfully.

If there was anything you could pursue outside of music at this point, what would it be?

There are a few things I'm actually pursuing already. We just did a graphic novel, which is a comic book called 'Marijuana Man.' He's a superhero from another planet. Thing is, he doesn't smoke up. He's not what you think. He himself doesn't smoke, so you've gotta check that out. We didn't want to do the stereotypical thing so he gets his powers from the plant, but he doesn't actually smoke it. This has been a secret dream of mine since I was younger. I was always into comics. I used to doodle in my schoolbook. I think what I'm trying to do is find other avenues to express my creativity and that's one of them. Movies might be one of them. Different ways to express myself outside of music and I'm just trying to find whatever works from the outside of music. So far I've done the graphic novel thing, which has been cool.

So in a way it still keeps to your message about the usefulness of the cannabis plant?

Yes, the whole story in the graphic novel is about a community that uses the plant for all of its livelihood. It's a community that he meets when he lands on the planet earth and they're up against this pharmaceutical evil doer that creates this mechanical villain to wipe out all of the marijuana plants so that they could make an artificial version of it. It's a superhero story, like Superman or any one of those things. You have to check it out.

Watch Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers' 'Tomorrow People'

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15 Best Lyrics From Tupac

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:35:00 EST

Raymond Boyd, Michael Ochs Archives Sept. 13 marks 15 years since Tupac Shakur left this planet. One of the most prolific MCs that hip-hop has ever seen, the West Coast native's early days of poetry were omnipresent in his music. His lyrics combined tongue-in-cheek bravado with cryptic lines predicting his early demise. 'Pac's catalog is intensely extensive, with posthumous releases still circulating to date. In honor of Tupac's life, The BoomBox has compiled some of his most famous lines. While he arguably has many, some are tightly woven into the fabric of hip-hop as some of the greatest rap quotables. Despite the fact that Tupac Shakur is no longer with us, his memory lives on through his words. ...

"Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right/ 'Cause both black and white are smokin' crack tonight/ And only time we deal is when we kill each other/ It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other."

'Changes'

The line that follows this peaceful message is "And although it seems heaven-sent, we ain't ready to see a Black president." If Tupac were alive today, he would see that the country finally saw a Black president with Barack Obama. Times have certainly changed since these lines were written.

"Now who's to say if I was right or wrong?/ To live my life as an outlaw all along/ Remain strong in this planet full of playa haters/ They conversate, but Death Row full of demonstrators."

'Until the End of Time'

Many felt that once Tupac aligned himself with Death Row Records, it was the beginning of the end. While his tenure at Death Row was intense -- and consequently violent -- it shaped the "outlaw" persona he continuously carried throughout his music.

"When I talk about money all you see is the struggle/ When I tell you I'm livin' large, you tell me it's trouble."

'I Ain't Mad Atcha'

Long before artists like Jay-Z and even Drake painted pictures of the trouble that fame brings, 'Pac rhymed about the ups and downs of being in the public eye. He was vocal about his overt awareness of haters, who would sadly lead to his assassination.

Al Pereira, Michael Ochs Archives

"Dear mama, don't cry, your baby boy's doin' good/ Tell the homies I'm in heaven and they ain't got hoods/ Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook/ Drinkin' Peppermint Schnapps with Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke."

'Thugz Mansion'

As much as 'Pac spoke about death, he also rhymed about the afterlife, particularly heaven. The religious undertones in his music were apparent, believing a heaven actually existed. Tupac spent many verses discussing what that heaven looked like and how he would fit in it.

"I heard a rumor I died, murdered in cold blood dramatized/ Pictures of me in my final stages, you know mama cried/ But that was all fiction, some coward got the story twisted."

'Ain't Hard 2 Find'

Many felt Tupac predicted his own murder, as evidenced through lines like these. Others felt he faked his own death -- referenced earlier through his fascination with Machiavelli. While the truth still remains a mystery, the messages are there, open-ended and still never deciphered.

"Even though you was a crack fiend mama, you always was a Black queen mama."

'Dear Mama'

Tupac had no qualms about expressing his love for his mother, Afeni Shakur, and the struggles she faced in raising him. Their relationship was close, as they -- in a way -- grew up together. Afeni continues to advocate her son's legacy through the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.

"All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend/ Down to ride to the bloody end, just me and my girlfriend."

'Me and My Girlfriend'

Tupac managed to stretch an entire metaphor about his love affair with a gun throughout an entire song. Nas would later take that similar route on his song 'I Gave You Power,' while Jay-Z and Beyonce would interpolate Tupac's hook for their collab ''03 Bonnie and Clyde.'

Jim Smeal, WireImage

"Out on bail fresh, outta jail, California dreamin'/ Soon as I stepped on the scene, I'm hearin' hoochies screamin'."

'California Love'

If the ladies loved cool James to the East, then Tupac was the LL of the West. Despite originally hailing from the East Coast, 'Pac repped hard for Cali. He was the mouthpiece for an entire region, and during his reign, few touched him.

"Keep a vest for protection, from the barrel of a Smith & Wesson/ And all my n----s in the pen, here we go again/ Ain't nothin' separatin' us from a Mack-10."

'Nothing to Lose'

Tupac's mantra was two simple words: Thug Life. He carried this message to the very end. While this line first appeared on 'Nothing to Lose,' it made the greatest impact in the infamous freestyle between 'Pac and Biggie, which was the last time the two shared a stage together.

"Fingertips on the hips as I dip, gotta get a tight grip, don't slip/ Loose lips sink ships, it's a trip/ I love the way she licks her lips, see me jocking/ Put a little twist in her hips 'cause I'm watching."

'I Get Around'

It wasn't always serious in Tupac's world. The man knew how to party and how to draw the ladies in with his aggressive charisma. His machismo was rarely off-putting and has set the tone for the swag of other rappers currently making radio rotation.

"I heard Brenda's got a baby, but Brenda's barely got a brain/ A damn shame, the girl can hardly spell her name."

'Brenda's Got a Baby'

When Tupac parted ways with Digital Underground, his entry into solo music began with discussing his environment. 'Brenda's Got a Baby' talked of teen pregnancy and real issues happening around him. That level of heightened awareness and social commentary followed 'Pac throughout his entire career.

SGranitz, WireImage

"I see no changes, all I see is racist faces/ Misplaced hate makes disgrace for races."

'Changes'

This line was originally part of 'I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto' and retooled for the posthumous 'Changes.' 'Pac spoke years ahead of his time and used music as his podium to voice his thoughts on race relations, infusing his views into his rhymes.

"Grab your glocks when you see Tupac/ Call the cops when you see Tupac/ Who shot me, but you punks didn't finish/ Now you're 'bout to feel the wrath of a menace."

'Hit Em Up'

When Tupac was shot five times at Quad Studios in New York City, the blame was unfortunately placed upon the late Notorious B.I.G. and his crew. The lyrical product was 'Hit Em Up,' one of the most potent and vicious beef-related tracks in hip-hop history.

"I'm not a killa, but don't push me/ Revenge is like the sweetest joy next to gettin' p----."

'Hail Mary'

Tupac's alias of Makavelli was a nod to Italian philosopher Machiavelli, who advised that faking one's death was the ultimate way of tricking an enemy. Tupac would often craft lines about murder and revenge, but in a way that was calculated, much like his philosophical counterpart.

"They say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice/ I say the darker the flesh, then the deeper the roots."

'Keep Ya Head Up'

'Keep Ya Head Up' was one of Tupac's most inspirational tracks, aimed to pay homage to Black women. While Tupac harbored many lyrical styles, his intense metaphors were one of his strongest attributes. 'Pac rhymed in poetry, painting pictures with his words.

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20 Best Lyrics From Jay-Z

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:10:00 EST

Jay-Z may not have invented the art of clever wordplay, but he certainly perfected it. Starting out with Jaz-O working high-speed syllable flips, Jay eventually slowed down his flow, making sure every line was felt and processed, along with killer double entendres. At times his lines were difficult to decipher, so much so that the rapper released the book 'Decoded' late last year to clear up some of the meanings behind his enigmatic verses. As a continuation of 'Watch the Throne' anticipation, the Boombox follows suit from our favorite Kanye lines to the 20 best lyrics from Jay-Z. While he has a whole stash to invest in, we picked a combination of his best lines and those that have fallen into the public domain as everyday lingo. At this rate, Jay-Z could have his own language with the way people cite his lyrics daily. 20 "Hov's a livin' legend and I'll tell you why/ Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov's still alive." Kanye West's 'Never Let Me Down' There is a hint of irony in the fact that the two rappers Jay-Z is most often aligned with -- Tupac and Biggie -- are both deceased. It's probably a fact that has Jay questioning his own immortality as evidenced by his rhymes, like this one. Though referring to himself as "Hov" -- a reworked nickname of Jehovah -- only adds to that irony. Samir Hussein, Getty Images ...

"They say you can't turn a bad girl good/ But once a good girl's gone bad, she's gone forever."

'Song Cry'

This one line was all it took to transform singer Rihanna's entire career. Prior to hooking up with the Roc, RiRi was a Caribbean queen, infusing her roots into her music. While she still does, adopting the philosophy of Jay's line into her album 'Good Girl Gone Bad' gave her career a much needed facelift. Thanks, Jay!

Eugene Gologursky, AOL

"N----s tryna subtract my life, my mathematics is precise/ I carry the nine, so f---ing with me just ain't the answer."

'This Life Forever'

Most rappers struggle with taking one metaphor and applying it to the crux of an entire verse. Not Jay-Z. If he starts with a math metaphor he will finish with a math metaphor, adding a double entendre of carrying a nine in division with carrying a 9mm handgun.

Scott Wintrow, Getty Images

"I'm so far ahead of my time; I'm bout to start another life/ Look behind you, I'm bout to pass you twice."

'Hovi Baby'

While double entendres are mainly Jay's forte, he's also a master of metaphors. Mixing messages with braggadocio, Jay gets his point across. To say he's so far ahead of his time he's about to start another life, puts him so far ahead in first place the competition can't even eat his dust.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

"F--- the system/ At Lady Justice I blaze nine/ Your Honor, I no longer kill my people/ I raise mine/ The soul of Mumia in this modern day time."

'Dope Man'

Jay is the first to confess his drug dealing led to other people's destruction, but these days his life has turned around. His legal hustle has allowed him to thrive and has employed many people in the process. He's now fighting the good fight instead of causing a bad one.

Jeff Kravitz/AMA2009/FilmMagic

"Life is but a dream to me/ Gunshots sing to me/ These other guys with lullabies don't mean a thing to me."

'Beach Chair'

You may catch him in a designer suit these days, but Jay reminds everyone that he's as hard as they come. Comparing gunshots to music and other rappers' tracks as "lullabies" are proof that he maintains his roughness and thinks the others are all soft.

Stefan M. Prager, Redferns

"Never read the Qu'ran or Islamic scriptures/ Only Psalms I read was on the arms of my n----s.

'Intro' From 'The Dynasty: Roc La Familia'

Young people often turn to Jay-Z lyrics now to understand how to navigate their own life's compass. When the rhymer was a youngster, he had the older hood dudes to look up to, with biblical references tatted on their arms. No "decoding" on that one.

Jo Hale, Getty Images

"I'm like hold up, who you smacking on?/ I'm only trying to eat what you snacking on."

Dead Prez' 'Hell Yeah (Remix)'

Jay-Z's collaboration with Dead Prez shocked the masses. Brought together by mutual friend, writer dream hampton, the union seemed unlikely but a perfect fit. As Dead Prez romanticizes credit card fraud, Jay likens rap music in the suburbs to drugs in the hood.

Jeff Kravitz/AMA2009/FilmMagic

"I keep my enemies close/ I give 'em enough rope/ They put themselves in the air/ I just kick away the chair."

'Dig a Hole'

Through the years, a number of rappers have taken shots at Jay-Z. He responds maybe an eighth of the time and the rest he lets expose themselves. While this line doesn't specifically pertain to just the haters on wax, it definitely applies to them.

Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

"I've got "99 Problems" but a b---- ain't one."

'99 Problems'

As the song progresses, the word "b----" takes on different forms, both male and female. This is another example of how one line in a song encapsulated the entire message. Now, people use it everyday to shrug off anyone -- or thing -- that they refuse to acknowledge as "problems."

Jay West, WireImage

"If you tell me our schools gon' be perfect when Jena Six don't exist/ Tell him that's when I'll stop sayin' b----."

'Say Hello'

Throughout the tenure of his career, Jay-Z has been targeted for the reason why the overall lack of lyricism has plagued hip-hop. We know that for the most part this is completely untrue, but here Jay says society is the reason why society is corrupt; not him.

Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

"Flyer than a piece of paper bearing my name/ Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain."

'P.S.A.'(Public Service Announcement Interlude)

For years it was a mystery as to whether or not Jay-Z and Beyonce were an actual item. Even when the two were married, the formalities remained a disbelief. He always manages to cleverly mention her though (read: 'Death of Auto-Tune' where he rhymes, "Bring a blonde, preferably with a fat a-- who can sing a song.")

Jay West, WireImage

"They say it's celestial/ It's all in the stars/ Like Tony La Russa on how you play your Cards."

'American Dreamin'

Tony La Russa, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, wasn't the only one who played his "Cards" well. Jay-Z became a self-made millionaire by applying basic business philosophies to his own career "blueprint". The results? Well, that's a little obvious.

Dr. Billy Ingram, WireImage

"I'm not a businessman/ I'm a business, man."

Kanye West's 'Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)'

Many rappers have been able to brand themselves. However, Jay-Z was the one to turn rappers into mini-empires. By making himself a business -- through fashion, film, cars, drinks and clubs -- music tied it together, but each entity fed off one very valuable man.

Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

"If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be lyrically, Talib Kweli/ Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense/ But I did five mill' -- I ain't been rhymin like Common since."

'Moment of Clarity'

When Jay admitted to rhyming beneath his station, fans and haters alike went wild. He highlighted the fact that rhymes solely based upon lyricism don't make money, so he adapted by "dumbing down" his content. Even in the midst of diluting his rhymes, his lyrics are still heavy.

Stephen Lovekin, FilmMagic

"I father, I Brooklyn Dodger them/ I jack, I rob, I sin/ Awww man, I'm Jackie Robinson/ Except when I run base, I dodge the pen."

'Brooklyn (Go Hard)'

Leave it to Jay to deconstruct the name of a baseball legend -- Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era -- and turn it into a level of criminal activity: "I jack, I rob, I sin." Then he closes the line with dodging (like the Dodgers) the pen (both the baseball pen and prison). Brilliant.

Rolf Klatt, WireImage

"I'm from the place where the church is the flakiest and n----s been praying to God so long that they atheist."

'Where I'm From'

Jay always sends a nod to the Marcy projects no matter where life takes him. However, that same breeding ground is still filled with suffering and the Brooklyn MC reminds us of that. He may have pulled himself out, but others are still stuck in the struggle.

Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

"It gets tedious so I keep one eye open like CBS/ You see me stressed right? Can I live?"

'Can I Live'

Jay-Z's image to word association comes second to none. As the CBS logo displays one open eye, Jay associates that to having no time to rest and always having an eye open. That level of universal distrust has followed Jay throughout his entire career.

Stephen Lovekin, FilmMagic

"We don't believe you/ You need more people."

'Takeover'

An entire diss track against Nas, and this line was the nucleus. A combination of skepticism and arrogance, this line has become the ultimate declaration for all of the Doubting Thomases out there when it comes to questioning the legitimacy of anything.

Ian Gavan, Getty Images

"We used to fight for building blocks/ Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killin'."

'D'Evils'

Jay-Z has never been one to deny his past. His early days as a drug dealer ultimately funded his early rap career that brought him to this very point. His superstardom allowed other rappers to shine without slinging rocks: "Hov did that so hopefully you won't have to go through that."

Rolf Klatt, WireImage

Kanye West's Top Lyrics

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20 Best Lyrics From Kanye West

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:05:00 EST

Once Kanye West crossed over from production to lyricism, it seemed as though there was no turning back. Mr. West was in the building, crafting (or borrowing) lines that encompassed everything the ubiquitous superstar embodied, both enchanting and polarizing. From his early 'College Dropout' musings up to 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' including cameos on his affiliates' (Jay-Z, Pusha T, Rhymefest) projects, Kanye West brings Yeezy 100% at all times. As we await the arrival of his long awaited project 'Watch the Throne' on August 2, with his "big brother" Jay-Z, the Boombox takes a look at some of 'Ye's punchiest lines. His combination of swag and bold audacity make this list only half of what Kanye West is capable of lyrically. Like one of his classic lines states, he found bravery in his bravado. 20 "My big brother was B.I.G.'s brother/ Used to be Dame and B.I.G.'s brother/ Who was hip-hop brother/ Who was No I.D. friend/ No I.D. my mentor/ Now let the story begin." 'Big Brother' Kanye West never falters in thanking Jay-Z for being the catalyst in his success. While his production mentor No I.D. ushered Kanye through the beat-making process, it was Jay-Z who took those beats and used them, urging Kanye to pick up a mic. And the rest is history. Erika Goldring, Getty Images ...

"This week he's moppin' floors, next week it's the fries/ So, stick by his side/ I know these dude's ballin, and yeah that's nice/ And they gon' keep callin' and tryin'/ But you stay right, girl/ But when you get on, he leave yo' a-- for a white girl."

'Gold Digger'

On this particular track, Kanye takes a Ray Charles sample -- by way of Jamie Foxx -- and pushes it through an entire track about girls being gold diggers. Then, at the close of the song, he flips the script by telling girls to stick by their men who will ultimately leave them in the end. The irony.

Erika Goldring, Getty Images

"Uh oh, there they go, talking 'bout how your boy clothes extra tight/ I just remember that my limelight extra bright."

Rick Ross' 'Maybach Music 2'

Kanye's questionable fashion choices are always sprayed upon the cyber-walls of gossip blogs. The more he absorbs global fashion, the more his own personal style evolves. For years, baggy pants were a symbol of true hip-hop. Kanye crushed that stereotype.

Karl Walter, Getty Images

"I know that people wouldn't usually rap this/ But I got the facts to back this/ Just last year, Chicago had over 600 caskets/ Man, killing's some wack s---."

'Everything I Am'

Kanye always shows his loyalty to the Windy City whenever he rhymes. He may be a globetrotter now, but the Chicago streets that raised him are woven into the fabric of his being. When Chicago is suffering, he feels it too.

M Becker, Getty Images for Fox

"Spittin' fire on the PJs in my PJs/ Fire Marshall said I took it to the Max like TJ/ Y'all ain't peep how I said Marshalls, replay/ I guess I'm like the Black Marshall meets Jay"

The Clipse's 'Kinda Like a Big Deal'

It used to be taboo to compare yourself to Biggie in rhymes. Then when Jay-Z took the crown as the G.O.A.T. (to most), it became instantly taboo to compare oneself to Jay. Kanye jumped over that rule and even called himself the Black Eminem.

Nick Pickles, FilmMagic

"We shine because they hate us, floss cause they degrade us/ We trying to buy back our 40 acres/ And for that paper, look how low we stoop/ Even if you in a Benz, you still a n---- in a coop."

'All Falls Down'

It's not always about fashion and flashin' with Kanye. Sometimes he manages to insert social commentary into his rhymes and TV appearances (read: Hurricane Katrina). His own admission of insecurity is a vulnerable trait that not too many rappers would admit.

Noah Graham, Getty Images

"They gonna have me on Concrete Loop in my pajamas/ To hide the goods I would need pants big as Hammer's."

Kid Sister's 'Pro Nails'

With fame comes the hounding from the paparazzi, and like a domino effect, the gossip blogs receive the info and post it. Perhaps Kanye's public image is self-fed, but regardless he's aware of it and doesn't seem to care.

Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

"Does he write his own rhymes? Sort of. I think 'em. That means I forgot better s--- than you ever thought of."

'Diamonds From Sierra Leone'

Someone oddly similar to Kanye made an oddly similar reference to not totally writing his own material. "Don't worry if I write rhymes, I write checks," said Diddy on 'Bad Boy For Life.' Both don't claim to be lexicons and are proud of it.

M Becker, Getty Images for Fox

"They say your attitude determines your latitude/ I'm high as a motherf-----, fly as a motherf-----/ And still the motherf----- you love to hate/ But can't because you love what I make."

Rhymefest's 'Brand New'

Referring to himself as the rapper you love to hate is boldly accurate. Public outbursts, award show disruptions, none of that matters once Kanye presses play on his music. Suddenly the artist and the art split apart.

John Stanton, WireImage

"But I can't complain what the accident did to my left eye/ 'Cause look what an accident did to Left Eye/ First Aaliyah and now Romeo must die/ I know I got angels watching me from the other side."

'Never Let Me Down'

Kanye's accident was a traumatic experience that also doubled as his career-maker. Rapping while his mouth was wired shut on 'Thru the Wire' brought much attention to him as a rapper. On 'Never Let Me Down,' though, he remembers how lucky he is to be alive.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

"S---, these last years been a haze/ Hayes like Isaac/ So I close my eyes tighter than Asian eyes/ Then realize I got the same wings angels fly with/ With Louis Vuitton feathers now that's some fly s---."

T'Pain's 'Flight School'

Kanye makes several references to angels in his rhymes, derived from his near-fatal car accident. In a way, he rhymes like a superhero. The only difference is he's laced in designer fabric, not Spandex.

Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

"She got an a-- that'll swallow up a G-string/ And up top, ugh, two bee stings/ And I'm beasting/ Off the Riesling."

Jay-Z's 'Run This Town'

All it took was one Riesling reference to make that the chosen white wine for any partygoer. In addition, all it took was one reference to smaller breasts to re-inspire an entire community of A-cups. Well done, Kanye. Well done.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

"So if the Devil wear Prada, Adam/Eve wear nada, I'm in between but way more fresher"

'Can't Tell Me Nothing'

While Pharrell Williams could be credited with drawing hip-hop back into fashion, Kanye West took it and ran with it. The "Louis Vuitton Don" upped the designer tax bracket for rappers' threads. Now the cost of a wardrobe could mortgage a small house.

Peter Kramer, Getty Images

"I'm just sayin, hey Mona Lisa, come home, you know you can't roam/ Rome without Caesar."

'Flashing Lights'

While Jay-Z is the purveyor of double entendre in rap, Kanye arrives as a close second. In addition, he's also good at making up words. Remember "Apologin" in 'Can't Tell Me Nothing?'

Karl Walter, Getty Images

"I'ma disrobe you, then I'ma probe you."

Katy Perry's 'E.T.'

There are times where Kanye's lyrics are so abrasive that you can only conclude he's the only artist allowed to talk that way. The line that follows this one is, "See I abducted you, so I tell you what to do." Aliens beware.

Erika Goldring, Getty Images

"'Cause this is Louis Vuitton Don night/ So we gon' do everything that Kan like/ Heard they'd do anything for a Klondike/ Well, I'd do anything for a blonde dyke."

'Stronger'

All cryptic references to future ex-girlfriends aside, Kanye knows how to put his words together. His rhyme scheme can sound identical to the next one, while simultaneously swapping words for other words. Ingenious.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images for AMA

"Two words: Chi Town, raised me, crazy. So I live by two words: f--- you, pay me."

'Two Words'

Despite being one of the most successful men in hip-hop, Kanye West chases checks just like the rest of us. While 'Ye does a lot of favors for a lot of people, it's clear that he's still about his money.

Rob Verhorst, Redferns

"Don't know what's better - getting laid or getting paid/ I just know when I'm getting one the other's getting away."

Dilated Peoples' 'This Way'

When Kanye assisted indie icons Dilated Peoples on the track 'This Way,' he was still rocking his backpack on the eve of fame. He probably doesn't have the same problems anymore that he muddles over in this verse.

KMazur, WireImage

"Have you ever had sex with a pharaoh/ I put the p---- in a sarcophagus/ Now she claiming that I bruised her esophagus/ Head of the class and she just want a swallowship."

'Monster'

Quite possibly the first rapper to ever use the word "sarcophagus" in a rhyme, Kanye West is always pushing the envelope when it comes to bold new vocabulary in his lyrics. Grab a dictionary when you listen to Yeezy.

Kael Amaro, Getty Images

"The same people that tried to blackball me forgot about two things: my black balls."

'Gorgeous'

Kanye West holds no punches. He challenged President Bush during the time of Hurricane Katrina and bumrushed the MTV Music Awards stage when Taylor Swift won over Beyonce. Saying he has "balls" is an understatement.

Johnny Nunez, WireImage

Alicia Keys' Top Lyrics

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Hip-Hop's Top Protégés: 15 Mentor-Student Teams We Love

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

"You still a protégé, that's the reason I don't holler," Drake declares on the track 'A Scorpio's Mind.' Well, no disrespect to Drake, but that's how he started out. Alongside every great rap leader is an upcoming protégé -- learning the ropes of the craft in the hopes of excelling in the Hip-Hop School of Thought, paving a way for themselves. Protégés start out wet behind the ears, and if they're lucky, evolve into something greater. In the spirit of passing the torch, the BoomBox has compiled a list of our favorite protégés and the big brothers who mentored them. You will be surprised at how many of your favorite rappers' favorite rappers began as protégés themselves. 15 Gucci Mane / Waka Flocka Flame Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame have been friends since childhood, so Gucci mentoring Waka surpasses rap. When Gucci entered prison, it became the greatest fodder for Waka's career, as the wild headbanger released his anger on wax. Who would have thought that Gucci Mane's absence in Waka Flocka's life would have led to chart-topping material? Now the Ferrari Boyz are reunited and ready to go hard in the paint. Hot Track: 'Mud Music' WireImage | Getty Images ...

Notorious B.I.G. / Lil Kim

Speaking of Lil' Kim, who can forget how Queen Bee got her B.I.G. break? The slick talking BK representative had Biggie's ears burning and his eyes bulging by her combination of sexiness and sharp delivery. He ushered her entry into hip-hop by supplying the demand. Biggie may have penned a large portion of Lil' Kim's early rhymes, but when the spotlight was on her, it was her star power that put the wheels in motion.

Hot Track: 'Another'

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Cam'ron / Vado

Dipset has a long family tree of rappers with branches of protégés everywhere. While the Ma$e-Cam'ron-Jim Jones timeline runs deep, the best example of a true mentor-mentee relationship exists with the most recent one. Cam'ron has weathered the storm in this industry and has placed his energy into Vado. While Vado does qualify as Dipset, thanks to Cam, the rising star has become his own entity. Now everyone has contracted the Slime Flu.

Hot Track: 'Hey Muma'

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Lil Wayne / Nicki Minaj

There was a time when Nicki Minaj was being groomed as the next Lil' Kim. Those days are long gone, and the visual turning point happened when Nicki joined Young Money. There's photographic evidence of Nicki's transformation once Lil Wayne allowed Barbie to express who she really wanted to be in both her style and song. The result? A female rapper for the ages doing what has never been done for women in hip-hop.

Hot Track: 'Knockout'

Getty Images | WireImage

50 Cent / Lloyd Banks

When faith was placed in 50 Cent, his own G-Unit brand was born and with it came a whole slew of rappers ready to rep the set. One raspy-voiced Lloyd Banks stood out from the rest. While he shared some real estate with Young Buck, Tony Yayo, and for a short while Game, Banks eventually received credit on the mainstream front. Now everyone can't decide between a Beamer, Benz or Bentley.

Hot Track: 'Hands Up'

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Notorious B.I.G. / Jadakiss

Jadakiss remains on most Top 5 Dead or Alive lists. We must remember, though, that one of the G.O.A.T.s cosigned the rapper early on and inspired him to be what he is today. Before Biggie left this Earth, he put a lot of faith into making the Lox the new face of hip-hop. While his teachings to the trio were cut short in 1997, the Lox collectively bettered rap with Jadakiss at the forefront.

Hot Track: 'Letter to B.I.G.'

WireImage | Getty Images

Lil Wayne / Drake

There's no elephant in the room when discussing Drake's graduation from 'DeGrassi.' It's a necessary thumbprint in the superstar's career that would have left many rap dreams stuffed into a locker had Lil Wayne not stepped in. Weezy saw something in the actor-turned-rapper that could up the notch on rap's tax bracket. When the bidding war for Drake began, he went with Young Money. Despite Drake's continuous rise in fame, he still reps Young Money loyally.

Hot Track: 'Right Above It'

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Pharrell Williams / The Clipse

Pusha T and Malice had Pharrell by their side since the earliest days of rhyming under the name Jarvis back in the '90s. When the brothers Thornton finally made an impact with the sonic booms and finger snaps of 'Grindin',' it was Pharrell who introduced them on the cut, hugged by Neptunes production. The Clipse have since gone their separate ways -- with Malice as a religiously good man and Pusha T as a G.O.O.D. man.

Hot Track: 'Grindin''

Getty Images | Diana Levine for AOL

Dr. Dre / Game

Yes, Game could arguably be considered 50 Cent's protégé. When Game aligned with G-Unit, the union was potent, albeit short-lived. However, like the story goes, sometimes the bird needs to leave the nest in order to fly. While Game's break from the Unit was far from amicable, he managed to slide under Dre's wing to become the Doctor's advocate. It was then that Game honed his skills to become the rapper we love today.

Hot Track: 'Dreams'

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Eminem / 50 Cent

Once again, D-Dot could be credited as 50 Cent's original mentor. 'How to Rob' featured the Mad Rapper and presented a wily young Curtis rhyming about sticking up rappers. When Fif survived a near-fatal shooting, he re-emerged as a bionic "new" rapper ready to take his gloves off and give the industry an upper cut. It was Eminem who saw the potential in 50, along with Dr. Dre. Now he's a Vitamin Water-guzzling empire.

Hot Track: 'How to Rob'

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Jay-Z / Kanye West

Jay-Z is responsible for big brothering many rappers, most turning to Memphis Bleek as a classic example. However, when it comes to the most successful examples of Jay's tutelage, all signs point to Kanye West. As a producer, 'Ye was trained by Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie (aka the Mad Rapper) and later No I.D. As Yeezy made the transition from beatsmith to wordsmith, Hov was the helping hand. However, 'Ye did land Jay-Z a huge early hit by producing 'Izzo (H.O.V.A.).'

Hot Track: 'Izzo (H.O.V.A.)'

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Birdman / Lil Wayne

Before there was Young Money, everyone knows it was Cash Money that cut the checks. The Down South movement introduced a teenage Lil Wayne to the world backed by forefather Birdman. The Hollygrove youngster spit some bars for the elder when he was just shy of nine years old. From that point on, he became Baby's protégé. Time passed, Wayne grew in power and has continued his "daddy's" legacy. Now that's a proud papa.

Hot Track: 'Stuntin Like My Daddy'

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Dr. Dre / Eminem

Dr. Dre took a leap of faith, investing his time (and money) into a loudmouthed whiteboy known as Marshall Mathers. That was probably the wisest investment of his career, as Marshall emerged into Eminem and changed hip-hop's face forever. Em pays homage to Dre believing in him when no one else did in the Skylar Grey-assisted track 'I Need a Doctor,' where he looks to return the favor and bring Dre back into the spotlight.

Hot Track: 'I Need a Doctor'

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Large Professor / Nas

Main Source's 'Live at the BBQ' remains a hip-hop classic and staple for any summer party. Large Professor took a huge leap of faith by placing a young Queens rap stalwart known as Nasty Nas as the opener. "Street's disciple, my raps are trifle/ I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle," Nas spits. His verse became a classic. Had Extra P never given Nas that platform, what would've happened? It ain't hard to tell.

Hot Track: 'Live at the BBQ'

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Jaz-O / Jay-Z

Before Jay was throwing up diamonds in the name of the Roc, he was perfecting his high-speed rhyme scheme with rapper Jaz-O. Jaz-O's single 'Hawaiian Sophie' featured Jay-Z in the video with few words including the line: "On the strength, money." A year later, Baby Hov appeared on Jaz-O's 'The Originators' and so began Hov's steady climb to the top. Who would've thought that as Jay's rhymes slowed down, his success would speed up?

Hot Track: 'The Originators'

Getty Images | WireImage

Rappers as Biopic Stars

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Odd Future Put a New Spin on 'Scary' Hip-Hop, Experts Chime In

Kathy Iandoli — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:30:00 EST

Getty Images (2) Call Odd Future "horrorcore" and frontman Tyler, the Creator might stab you in your "goddamn esophagus" like he fantasizes about doing to singer Bruno Mars on his dark single 'Yonkers.' The "horrific" title in question references a short-lived subgenre in hip-hop known for injecting dark and shocking imagery into rhymes. Groups like the Gravediggaz and Flatlinerz paved the way for the horrorcore movement in the '90s. Truth be told, many rap artists throughout history have crafted graphic lyrics for shock value. Many have determined that Odd Future continues that progression -- much to the chagrin of OFWGKTA (short for Odd Future Wolfgang Kill Them All) who feels what they're doing is entirely different ... and brand new. ...

"There is totally nothing new even though nobody was eating roaches in their videos," Jerry Barrow, Senior Editor of the Urban Daily, tells the Boombox. He's referencing, of course, Tyler, the Creator's video for 'Yonkers.' In the video -- which has over 10.5 million views on YouTube -- Tyler eats a cockroach and then regurgitates it. He ends the video with lacing a noose and hanging himself.

The video was tweeted by Kanye West and assisted in boosting Odd Future's steady rise to fame with Tyler at the forefront. The shocking images in the video have since echoed throughout Tyler's career thus far. His second album, 'Goblin,' is currently topping the Billboard charts laden with lyrics like "rape a pregnant b---- and tell my friends I had a threesome" on 'Tron Cat.'

Lines like those inspired Sara Quin of indie rock outfit Tegan and Sara to pen an entire "Call for Change" against the Odd Future movement. "Folks who are shocked by Odd Future haven't been paying attention to hip-hop over the last 15 years or so," Barrow continues. "I think our eyes have been so glazed over by the two-headed monster of club riots and emo rapping that we forget there are other lanes."

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

In the past, rappers like Eminem have penned rhymes about murder and rape, leaving jaws dropped and videos banned. "There's a four-year-old boy lyin' dead with a slit throat in your living room/ Ha Ha what you think I'm kiddin' you?/ You loved him didn't you?" Eminem snarls in the song 'Kim,' where he plots to murder his ex-wife, who in real life is actually named Kim.

His music creates scary images in the mind, but according to Odell Hall of PlanetIll.com, there's a fundamental difference in Odd Future's approach: believability. "In the wake of Columbine and other acts of childhood defiance -- and framed within the context of the youth attempting to supplant the old or the existing powers that be -- Odd Future feels like an authentic rebellion," he explains. "So perhaps that's where the fear comes from, because it sounds like the fantasies of a depressed child."

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for AXE

Still, hip-hop artists have previously conjured up scared emotions in listeners for a long time. Barrow references the Cam'ron track 'Confessions,' where Cam details his sins to a priest. "Til he cried, and he cried, and he cried/ I had to scold him and yell/ Ya know one thing led to another/ I said oh what the hell/ Then I threw him against the wall/ His parents, I told them he fell/ That's why I'm going to hell," he rhymes about his two-year-old nephew on the track. "When you look at Bushwick Bill's 'Chuckie,' he's talking about 900 missiles blew a little girl's back off," Hall says, "and eating bags of BBQ broken legs. None of what Tyler is saying is particularly horrifying when compared to some early rap."

"To me, Odd Future is a refreshing breath of 'I just don't give a f---' to the conventions of hip-hop and entertainment," says Jake Paine, editor-in-chief of HipHopDX.com. "And while the striped socks, Steve Harvey hate and lawn gnomes are definitively 2011, this is a similar counter-punch that we've seen in Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan and Ice-T." Jerry Barrow adds to those sentiments. "Eminem used to be a one man Odd Future," he states. "Then he sobered up."

Rapper Necro -- short for Necrophiliac -- has a long-standing relationship with gore. On his track 'Morbid,' he threatens, "My practical solution to shmucks beefin'/ Is sinkin' my teeth in the flesh of ya neck like Dracula seducin' sluts/ And bite a piece of flesh off, but now you could have AIDS/ I'd rather make you a cadaver with blades." "Necro ... He was a sick mofo," Barrow says.

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While the aforementioned are solo artists, on a crew level, Wu-Tang Clan brought a "shocking" front to hip-hop. With moans on tracks -- thanks to the late Ol' Dirty Bastard -- along with aesthetically creepy attire -- such as Ghostface Killah's early decision to keep his face covered -- Wu-Tang Clan were their own versions of "scary." Producer and MC RZA was even a part of horrorcore as a member of the Gravediggaz alongside Prince Paul.

So why is Odd Future so special? "Timing," Barrow thinks. "Rap music has been disgustingly safe the past few years. Waka Flocka, Rick Ross, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Weezy are safe. We don't even hear as much 'gangsta' rap ... Definitely not on the radio." Per Odell Hall, though, "Odd Future's music isn't new, but their approach is."

While rappers in the past have equally "scared" the masses with either lyrics or images, it's clear that Odd Future is offering a new, youthful face to an old form of expression. "Odd Future caught us napping and woke us up with a golden shower," Barrow concludes. "When someone as hood as Jim Jones is singing about his 'Perfect Day,' the door is wide open for some miscreants to raise hell."

Watch Tyler, the Creator's 'Yonkers'

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Ginuwine Says Aaliyah Would Be 'Neck & Neck' With Beyonce

Kathy Iandoli — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST

Tiffany Rose, WireImage R&B songstress Aaliyah Haughton would have turned 32 years old back in January. After her tragic death in 2001, many female artists drew comparison to the R&B singer with fierce dance moves. However, if you ask Ginuwine, Beyoncé is the artist that reminds him most of Aaliyah. "Aaliyah was in a class by herself," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. "If you're talking triple threat of a writer, singer and actress, that would probably be Beyoncé. If Aaliyah were still here, she and Beyoncé would be neck and neck." ...

Beyoncé's career with Destiny's Child was already thriving when Aaliyah was alive. The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998, and Aaliyah passed just three years after that. Both also went on to pursue acting alongside music. Aaliyah added actress to her resume with roles in 2000's 'Romeo Must Die' and a lead role in 2002's 'Queen of the Damned,' which was released after the singer passed away.

The DC front woman had parts in films like MTV's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001,' along with ancillary roles in 2002's 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' and 'The Fighting Temptations' a year later, before really driving the point home with her riveting roles in 2006's 'Dreamgirls' and 2008's 'Cadillac Records,' which really solidified the artist's position as a serious actress. While Aaliyah's life was cut short and she was unable to continue her career, Ginuwine is confident that Miss Haughton would have been equally successful.

While the Aaliyah comparisons with newer artists still float on today, Ginuwine says it's nothing to shun. "Ain't nothing wrong with that," he says. "I think everyone should aspire to be someone great, and that was one of the greats. Aaliyah was one of the great ones."

Watch Ginuwine's 'Differences'

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dream hampton Remembers the Day Notorious B.I.G. Died

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST

Ernie Paniccioli The death of Notorious B.I.G. on March 9, 1997 was one of the hardest days hip-hop had to endure. However, for Biggie's best friend and longtime confidant dream hampton, it was much harder. The then editor-in-chief of Rap Pages magazine and scribe for the likes of The Source, Village Voice and VIBE, among others, has since gone on to direct the 'Black August' documentary, as well as co-write 'Decoded' with Jay-Z. Despite the fact that Biggie passed away 14 years ago, dream recounts his death as though it happened yesterday. Here is dream hampton's first-hand account of the day before and after Biggie was tragically shot and killed. ...

March 8th, 1997. "I was mad at [B.I.G.] about something, but I still took him the issue of Rap Pages. That Rap Pages cover is of course the iconic one -- if I can say so myself -- Barron Claiborne shot of him in the crown. I was mad at him; You know what it was? He made me do the article. He kept standing up my writer Darrell Dawsey; I didn't want to do the Biggie piece. That ended up being a piece I had to write overnight. The magazine was the crown picture, which I fought with Puff over. Puff said it looked like Burger King, but Biggie liked it and I think [Biggie's Manager] Mark Pitts liked it. I went over to his hotel in Westwood [California]. He had been kicked out of the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills for fighting with Charli [Baltimore]. I hadn't even been to his room, but for some reason I had the information. I was on my way home to pick up my daughter from her sitter after work at Rap Pages, and I had the cover, and I slipped it under his door.

I knew that he was going to be at the Soul Train Awards. I wasn't going; I had to interview the next day with Pedro [Zamora]'s boyfriend, Sean in Atlanta. Remember Pedro from the 'Real World' on MTV? I had done a piece for Poz magazine, which is a magazine for HIV-positive men, well, mostly men. I had done an article about the Red Hot & Rap. I had reviewed that for them, and they had me go to profile Sean for my second article for that magazine, so I had an early morning flight to Atlanta. I didn't feel like going out. L.A. is not like New York, where you just throw on some jeans and really fresh shoes and wear your hair however. L.A. is like, be dressed. I didn't feel like all that s---, so I didn't go."

March 9th, 1997. "I don't really want to talk about those early morning hours. Of course I left and I met with [Biggie's best friend] D-Rock and went to see the sight and all that. I went home and slept that morning, and his mom [Voletta Wallace] was coming in that afternoon. That story that I've told in the 'VIBE: History of Hip-Hop' book happened in the afternoon. What happened was, they were in the hotel room trying to get the room ready for Ms. Wallace. There was dirty women's lingerie, there was weed; I mean it was Biggie's room. I remember we were trying to clean it up. Rock flipped out over a pair of white gators. He was like, 'I f---in' always hated these shoes!' It was like a big ass pair of white gators and a little pair of white gators. They were Lil' Cease and Biggie's gators they got when I took them gator shopping in Detroit. I brought over some Roscoe's [Chicken and Waffles] because it had been all day and night and no one had eaten. I don't remember if anyone even touched the food. I remember I brought over like nine different dinners from Roscoe's.

That was around when D-Rock finally broke down and cried and said the thing about one ass bullet. He said, 'I know mad n----s been shot and this n---- died from one ass bullet.' He just finally cried; he sat down on the couch and started crying, which I think was the first time he cried during that whole 24-hour period. A couple hours later Cease put his arm through the window. From the very beginning they were getting calls from New York like, 'Y'all n----s ain't s---. Don't come back here, y'all couldn't protect this n----.' Of course there were condolences and that was the majority of the calls, but there were definitely some calls from Brooklyn that upset Cease in particular about the responsibility for being his safety and having failed at that. So that was that. By the time Ms. Wallace got there, I had left. I had to start getting ready. We were all trying to get out of L.A. to get to the funeral. It was a crazy 24 hours."

Biggie's murder remains a mystery to this day. In January, it was reported that the Los Angeles Police Department was investigating new evidence that might finally close the unsolved case. Biggie only recorded two solo studio albums -- the cryptically-titled 'Ready to Die' and 'Life After Death' -- before his death at age 24, the latter of which was released just three weeks after his death.

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Ginuwine Aims for Timeless Music With Release of 'Elgin'

Kathy Iandoli — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST

Tiffany Rose, WireImage With a decade and a half in the game, Ginuwine has reached his lucky No. 7 album with 'Elgin,' dropping today. The R&B singer/songwriter opted to use his government name -- Elgin Baylor Lumpkin -- for the album's title, but according to him that doesn't mean the work is too personal. "I just named it 'Elgin' because my mom told me to use my name for something before I'm done with this business," the singer explains. "I thought now was as good a time as any to use it. When they asked me what I wanted to name my album, I was like why not name it 'Elgin'? It's not even about me being deep with this record, it's nothing like that. It's that my mom told me to use my name." ...

Ginuwine's previous album, 2009's 'A Man's Thoughts,' had a personal feel to it. However, according to Ginuwine, the difference in content between the two albums is his use of songwriters.

"People might feel a little different about these CD's because I haven't been writing on my last one or this one," he explains. "It's pretty much because I wanted to see what other people can do and where they can take you. On my first five albums I pretty much wrote 95 percent of it. I'm out of things to say. You're talking about over 100 songs. That's kind of hard."

Ginuwine enlisted famed songwriters like Diane Warren, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Tank to pen his tracks while still writing a portion of the new album. On the Billboard chart-topper 'A Man's Thoughts,' apart from Cox, several lesser known writers were included.

"I was like you know what? I'm gonna let the newcomers come in and help them establish themselves as new artists and new writers. Just try to see if they can help me say the things that need to be said from a different perspective. I can only say things so many different ways."

While other artists with a long history opt to take a more "youthful" approach to their sound, Ginuwine maintains the mentality that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". "My strength has been ballads and I didn't want to stray from that. I just want people to continue to like what I'm doing," he says. His formula has stood the test of time, and he hopes to be an example for newer acts. "A lot of people don't make it to that second CD. I think it's vital that I'm contributing to the music business what an artist should be and what they should be talking about. I think I've been doing a good job too of that so I'm gonna just keep doing that. Good music is timeless." That includes not leaning on rapper cameos, or really any cameos for that matter. "I believe if you want a compilation album, you can get a compilation album. If you want Ginuwine, that's what you're gonna get," he says, as his only collaboration on 'Elgin' is 'Batteries' with rapper Trina.

Ginuwine may be granting his mother's wish by using his name for something in his career before he bows out, but if that's any indication of his retiring, think again. The artist has a few more in store before throwing in the towel. "I'm trying to get to No. 10," he states. "This is only No. 7."

Watch Ginuwine's 'What Could Have Been'

Ginuwine Says Chris Brown Deserves a Second Chance

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST

WireImage I Getty Images With Ginuwine's seventh album 'Elgin' currently reaching the masses, the veteran R&B singer doesn't see many artists with the passion he has for music -- except for one. "Chris Brown. I see it in him," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. Brown has continued the tradition of incorporating dance to his music, much like Ginuwine had. In Ginuwine's early days, he says his goal was to be a combination of Michael Jackson and Prince. While the dancing portion of his career isn't his main priority, Ginuwine feels that Brown has carried the torch, and all controversies aside, should be given a chance to shine. "He deserves a second chance," Ginuwine explains, referencing Brown's 2009 assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna. "He was a kid and he made a mistake. Who doesn't make mistakes? I'm sure he's learned from his mistakes and wants to move forward. He was totally wrong, but it was a mistake. As long as he don't do it again, I just think we should give him another chance." Ginuwine agrees though that the past didn't harm Brown too much. "He's doing really well still; has no. 1 songs, so he's building it back up which is really important. You must fight, you can't lay back down." ...

Ginuwine says his own lack of public exposure is due to keeping a low profile for his family's sake. "I'm a father and a husband now. I don't need my kids nor my wife going through that craziness or embarrassment," he says. "I try to keep it as low key as much as I possibly can." There are some repercussions though.

"Unfortunately when you're not out there like that people tend to forget about you or think you're not interesting," Ginuwine admits. "With all of this craziness on the TV now, the more of a fool you act, the better it is. I'm just not that person."

Watch Ginuwine's 'Heaven'

Sexiest Voices in Hip-Hop

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST

Although lyrics and delivery play the most important roles in the definition of a true MC, another factor weighs in heavily: the voice. An artist's tone, cadence and word pronunciation are all things that can collectively sway an opinion from a dope MC to ... not so dope. So, we at The BoomBox are offering up our take on the sexiest voices in hip-hop. You'll be surprised by some of the results. Check out who whispers sweet nothings on wax best after the jump. ...

Method Man

Call him what you want: Mr. Meth, Ticallion Stallion, whatever, but Method Man's raspy voice and gruff delivery make him a top contender for the sexiest voice. Despite sounding like he swallowed the razor tucked beneath his tongue, Meth manages to slide through lyrics with the greatest of ease. He's like the Tom Waits of hip-hop, with smoke-filled tonsils that somehow transform his voice box into a mood setter. Hey, we can dig it.

Check Out 'All I Need' Lyrics

Jeff Fusco, Getty Images

Lauryn Hill

Years back, Lauryn Hill said in an interview that she's always had a deep voice, even as a kid. Little did she know in her kindergarten days that her sultry tone would lead her to make millions swoon, through both her singing and rhyming. Even when she's speaking, L-Boogie (now Ms. Hill) has a voice that can soothe the soul. Not only is she still one of the top female MCs to ever walk this planet, her voice is still incomparable.

Check Out 'Doo-Wop (That Thing)' Lyrics

Gustavo Caballero, FilmMagic

Andre 3000

While it rings true that Outkast collectively had some sexy, Southern-fried voices, Andre Benjamin wins by 3000%. Lyrically, the ATLien wordsmith glides through his lines with just enough aggression and just enough of that Southern drawl to leave minds blown and ears left in awe. His charisma on the mic is unmatched, and while he's not trying to seduce any dudes while he's wrecking the mic, the ladies are surely standing at attention.

Check Out 'B.O.B.' Lyrics

Michael Loccisano, FilmMagic

Monie Love

We polled several industry figures, and more than enough people expressed their undying devotion to Monie Love as the sexiest voice in hip-hop. The original female rapper with a British accent (a real one, unlike fellow femcee Nicki Minaj's faux meter; Love was born and raised in London), Monie rhymed to the point while maintaining a super-cute edge. Though she's not dropping music now, you can still hear her voice on the radio.

Check Out Monie Love Lyrics

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Big Boi

OK, we said we were picking only one member of Outkast. We lied. How can you not include Sir Lucious Left Foot in the sexy voice category? The other half of Outkast takes that same Down South drawl and adds imagery of strippers and liquor and money, while still being a lyrical beast. No one in hip-hop can talk dirty to us that eloquently. So, Big Boi, congratulations -- you, too, are among the purveyors of the sexy sounds.

Check Out 'Ms. Jackson' Lyrics

Barry Brecheisen, WireImage

Nicki Minaj

While some may argue that Miss Minaj has quite the grating voice, others will strongly disagree. Her slick talking Queens-dipped and Trini-infused vernacular make Nicki something of a goddess. She's sharp when she wants to be, cutesy at other times, and then she takes her sweet sounds across the pond with a London-esque voice of the aristocrats. Lucky for everyone, if you're not into one of Nicki's voices, you have about 50 others to choose from.

Check Out 'Massive Attack' Lyrics

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Drake

Drizzy is a unique contender in the sexy voice category. He was raised in Canada, but having spent some time in the Southern US, Drake's voice has this Canadian-Southern fusion going on. Couple that with the fact that his tone is deep and confident, and this man has it all in the vocals department -- both in song and rhyme. Fans of 'Degrassi' will remember that Drake always had that voice, even as a teenager. What a heartbreaker.

Check Out 'Over' Lyrics

Dr. Billy Ingram, WireImage

Bun B

This UGK veteran has never faltered lyrically, and voice-wise he wins big. While other rappers with full-bodied voices (e.g., Rick Ross, Shyne) bring some air of sexy to their vocals, Bun B ranks supreme with just the right amount of deep and dirty. Bun's solo career has just started to get its wings. But if you love how he sounds now, then take a dip into the UGK catalog and get your full fix of his lyrical sexiness.

Check Out 'You're Everything' Lyrics

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

Eve

"5'7" thick in the thighs/Every thug's dream wife, see the love in their eyes?" When Eve confidently uttered these words on 'What Y'all Want,' men immediately placed her as the prototype. The Ruff Ryders graduate-turned-actress has a voice that screams Philly and commands attention. When we first heard her on the Roots' 'You Got Me,' everyone wanted to know who it was. Eve has that kind of power through vocals alone.

Check Out 'What Y'All Want' Lyrics

Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic

2Pac

Although Pac may no longer be with us, his voice lives on through his abundant posthumous releases. Tupac Shakur's arrogant, deep and angry voice shoots through every beat he lands on. His aggression is always felt and shouts sexy. Plus, Tupac was a poet, so he knows his way around a bunch of words. Whether on this Earth or elsewhere, Tupac still seduces us with his voice.

Check Out 'I Get Around' Lyrics

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Hip-Hop's Most Slept-On Verses

Hip-Hop Lit: 15 Books You Need in Your Library

Kathy Iandoli — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST

Many argue that the written word is the fifth element of hip-hop, and if that rings true, then any solid documentation about the culture qualifies as a contribution to the elements. To help bulk up your hip-hop library, The BoomBox has chosen 15 hip-hop-inspired books for your reading pleasure. Check the selections and stack them on your bookshelf or e-reader. 'Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation' Jeff Chang, DJ Kool Herc This 2005 book is a no-brainer for any hip-hop bookworm. Jeff Chang traces hip-hop's earliest roots and documents the progression of the culture through its many changes. The photos are equally informative and the book reads like a literary timeline. Then there's the intro by DJ Kool Herc, which lays a solid foundation. It's the size of a textbook, with just about as much information as one. Buy the Book Amazon ...

'Hip Hop America'

Nelson George

Author Nelson George's book 'The Death of Rhythm and Blues' shed light on the musical shift that was happening with R&B. In 'Hip Hop America,' published in 1998, he approaches hip-hop in a similar fashion but with greater focus on rap's cultural impact. While some of the discussions in the book -- particularly on women in hip-hop -- are slightly dated, the historical info and George's anecdotes are worth the read.

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'How to Draw Hip Hop'

Damion Scott, kris ex

When comic artist Damion Scott and hip-hop literati kris ex approached the concept of visually encompassing hip-hop, it didn't stop at graffiti. Scott's flair for animation and kris ex's instructions make this a how-to book for anyone curious about entering the graphic side of hip-hop. There's graffiti, anime and comic book elements in this 144-page 2006 manual. Get your sketchbook ready.

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Amazon

'Hip Hoptionary TM: The Dictionary of Hip Hop Terminology'

Alonzo Westbrook

Tools like urbandictionary.com offer some insight into the vernacular of many subcultures. However, 2002's 'Hip Hoptionary' is a book of terms that pertain specifically to hip-hop. Of course, the words in this dictionary are dated now, but it's a fun, little read-through for anyone looking for some hip-hop words to toss around. From slang to standard English, this book is meant to educate and entertain.

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'Decoded'

Jay-Z, dream hampton

One of the most mystical figures in hip-hop finally decided to break down his lyrics for the masses in 2010. Jay-Z's 'Decoded' takes some of Hov's most popular (and confusing) lyrics and breaks them down in his own words. The intermittent discussion points are also pertinent information to truly understand the mind of a hip-hop genius. Line drawings and photographs are sprinkled throughout the rapper's work.

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'The Wu-Tang Manual'

The RZA, Chris Norris

Another guide to understanding an otherwise enigmatic hip-hop group: The RZA breaks down the code of Shaolin for all true Wu schoolers. There's even a picture of the original Wu-Tang Clan logo (made by Wu producer Allah Mathematics), which was far more graphic than the "W." Part of the 2005 book is dedicated to lyrics, giving an in-depth analysis of each rapper's rhymes on the Wu's memorable tracks.

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'The Way I Am'

Eminem

We all knew that Eminem carried years of aggression just by his lyrics alone. However, in '09, Marshall Mathers lays it all out in his book. There are old family photos as well as personal gems -- more than 200 color and black-and-white in total -- and Em goes into detail about his family and his life growing up. It's a truly candid book about a rapper whose emotional struggles can be heard within every bar he rhymes.

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'And It Don't Stop: The Best American Hip-Hop Journalism of the Last 25 Years'

Raquel Cepeda

Journalist Raquel Cepeda collected 29 of the best hip-hop articles over 25 years (from 2004 and back), penned by some of hip-hop's most prolific writers: Nelson George, Cheo Hodari Coker and Joan Morgan. The pieces range from the early days of the culture to articles on the genre once the tax bracket changed. The book serves as a reminder of the importance that hip-hop journalism continues to serve.

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'Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies'

Brian Coleman

This book, published in '07, is for any hip-hop nerd who wants explanations behind the makings of some of the genre's notable albums. With artist commentary mixed in, the book, like the title states, is an extensive version of liner notes from the game's favorite MCs, including the Roots, the Fugees and De La Soul. As digital albums become more popular, more books like this need to hit the shelves.

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'Bling: The Hip-Hop Jewelry Book'

Gabriel Tolliver, Reggie Osse

Bling, the gift and the curse of hip-hop -- and the reason behind most of Kanye West's lamentations, next to models and Louis Vuitton bags, of course. While this is a lighthearted approach to the diamond district of hip-hop, the visuals are pretty fun. Released in 2006, it's a perfect coffee-table book to remind everyone that grills, pimp cups, Jesus pieces and rings worn by the likes of Slick Rick are sought-after jewelry.

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'Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists'

Sacha Jenkins, Elliott Wilson, Jeff Mao, Gabe Alvarez, Brent Rollins, Chairman Mao, Gabriel Alvarez

As blogs continue to embrace the ever so popular lists (hello, like this one), here is the book that started it all. The Ego Trip fellas take almost every aspect of hip-hop and break it down for the masses in this 1999 treat. This is one of the most informative books about hip-hop and its artists due to the detailed lists. How else would you have known that Tupac was originally rhyming as MC New York?

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'The Gospel of Hip-Hop: The First Instrument'

KRS-One

It's no surprise that KRS-One considers hip-hop a religion. In his G'ospel of Hip-Hop,' published in 2009, the 'Return of the Boom Bap' creator approaches the culture through a book that reads like the Bible. Totaling 600 pages, The Teacha uses philosophy to explore hip-hop as a way of life. While this work is pretty intense, if you're a true hip-hop head you'll want this one right next to your Holy Books.

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'When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life As a Hip-Hop Feminist'

Joan Morgan

Author Joan Morgan breaks down how she navigates through hip-hop as a woman while enduring the misogyny that transparently exists in the culture. Published in 1999, this book isn't just for females; men are invited to experience Morgan's message, too. Hip-hop-loving ladies can empathize with much of what she speaks about, while men better understand the hip-hop feminine mystique.

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'Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [Entertainment] Business'

Thembisa S. Mshaka

Chances are if you love hip-hop you have tried at least once to make it your profession. Whether an artist, entrepreneur or something in between, most hip-hop aficionados want to work within the culture. For that reason, Thembisa Mshaka offers one of the most thorough guides (released in 2009) into the music business. Uniquely written from a woman's standpoint, even men can learn from her stories.

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Amazon

'The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop'

Dan Charnas

Another excellent career guide, this 2010 book by Dan Charnas, who was once employed by Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin, has a few stories to tell about the business behind hip-hop. Charnas travels through the tax brackets the genre has climbed with detailed explanations on how hip-hop reached each pinnacle. You'll soon understand why Jay-Z opted to overcharge for what they did to the Cold Crush.

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Hip-Hop's Most Slept-On Verses

Hip-Hop's Most Slept-On Verses

Kathy Iandoli — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST

The phrase "slept-on" has been remixed so many times in hip-hop to mean so many different things. A hard-working rapper with no success is "slept-on," a song that didn't chart is "slept-on," and an album that didn't go platinum is "slept-on." Here at The BoomBox, we're using it to describe verses/songs by emcees from all walks of life, that were under-appreciated in the grand scheme of hip-hop. We had some of hip-hop's prominent voices give us 10 of their favorite slept-on verses, in no particular order. You'll be surprised by the outcome after the jump. ...

'Can I Live?'

Jay-Z

When people talk 'Reasonable Doubt' they usual point to songs like 'Can't Knock the Hustle,' 'Brooklyn's Finest' or 'D'Evils.' While the latter is unquestionably the lyrical zenith, the first verse on 'Can I Live?' is the spirit of the entire album condensed into 32 bars. It isn't just another hustler's tale, it is an emotional reflection full of both regret and triumph; written in code. Anyone who has ever called Jay-Z one-dimensional should be slapped with this verse. - Jeff Ryce, Managing Editor, HipHopDX.com

Read 'Can I Live?' Lyrics

Matt Jelonek, WireImage

'Decisions, Decisions'

Cee Lo (Goodie Mob)

The Cee Lo verse is full of internal rhymes and breaks down the rise and fall of a rap artist in a way that takes other people whole songs to do. No one really took into account how good an MC Cee Lo was at the time because the group was just so colorful, and they were overshadowed by Outkast and still had the Southern stigma ... It was hard at that time to sit back and realize that Cee Lo could spit, especially since a lot of his strength was in his voice and delivery, which was very new to many of us back then. - kris ex, Journalist/Author

Joe Kohen, WireImage

'Mind on My Money'

Nicki Minaj

Nicki says "tell Michelle I got my eye on Barack Obama," which is not only boss, but leads into pop aspirations (Madonna/Hanna Montana), into the Dalai Lama, into worldwide money-getting, into "sayanora" and "nam-myoho-renge-kyo" because she's meditating on her money, which is just f---in' insane. Her singing the last half of the verse and never quite taking her mind off the money fits the song. Every other bar is like "money" - and not just the trappings of wealth or slang for shortcuts but "money."- kris ex, Journalist/Author

Read 'Mind on My Money' Lyrics

Michael Caulfield, Getty Images

'The Next Movement'

Black Thought (The Roots)

It's one of the few songs that reminds me of why I love Hip-Hop. People get so caught in talking about The Roots because they're a band or because of their legendary live shows. They rarely talk about their songs or how lyrical Tariq is. I think 'The Next Movement' truly was The Roots' best shot to crossover and it didn't happen. People may argue that 'You Got Me' was more crossover, but it was so subversive. - Rashaun Hall, Editor, MSN's Groove

Read 'The Next Movement' Lyrics

Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

'Remember Me'

Eminem

That first verse sums up just about everything I love about Eminem lyrically. He's clever with the punchlines and the thinly veiled references to Columbine were controversial, but contextual if you remember Em was bullied. And last but not least Eminem displayed a clinic in lyricism that basically put him in the Hall of Fame on the MMLP. - Chuck Creekmur, CEO & Co-Founder, AllHipHop.com

Read 'Remember Me' Lyrics

John Shearer, EM / WireImage

'Apollo Kids'

Ghostface Killah

Ghostface gets flack for this non-sequitur style of rap being too confusing for the uninitiated. If you're worried about trying to figure out the intricacies of, "Yo, check these up top murderous snowy in the bezzle as the cloud merges/F.B.I. try and want word with this/kid who pulled out bust a shot up in the Beacon/Catch me in the corner not speakin'," instead of enjoying the ride, your loss. - Alvin Blanco, Journalist/Author and BoomBox contributor

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'God Lives Through'

Q-Tip

Q-Tip has had plenty of other verses in his catalog that were considered more popular or considered more profound, but on 'God Lives Through' (off A Tribe Called Quest's classic Midnight Marauders) Q-Tip's flow just sounds particularly effortless. 'God Lives Through' closes out an all around magnificent album with such a playful verse that just really relays Q-Tip's status as a superior MC in Hip-Hop. - Alvin Blanco, Journalist/Author and BoomBox contributor

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'Double Trouble'

Mos Def and Black Thought

Black Thought isn't on many cameos outside of the Roots camp because all of the other MCs are just scared of him, plus Mos Def is just one of the illest of all time. On 'Double Trouble' off 'Things Fall Apart' these two go back and forth for a version of lyrical call and response. The first verse is just sick. - Alvin Blanco, Journalist/Author and BoomBox contributor

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'B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)'

Killah Priest

Though the track was included on GZA's classic Liquid Swords album, 'B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)' was all about Killah Priest. With raw, searing emotion, the cut stings with spiritual lyrics about absorbing wisdom and religious influence, asking rhetorical, thought-provoking questions in rhythmic rhyme. One of the most slept-on gems in Wu-Tang discography. - Steven Horowitz, Editor, YRB Magazine and BoomBox contributor

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'Satisfied' (From 'All of the Above')

J-Live

I remember arguing with my colleagues at The Source to get this J-Live song a Hip-Hop Quotable for that month. Of all the statements made by artists after 9/11, both on and off record, this was the most honest to me. There was a lot of microwave patriotism being served up and while he acknowledged the tragedy of the events, he knew that deep down nothing would change between the people and the police. Ask Sean Bell's widow or Oscar Grant¹s family. - Jerry Barrow, Senior Editor, The Urban Daily

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Author's Pick -- 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin''

Masta Killa

Years back when Wu-Tang were together in the studio recording '36 Chambers,' they would throw on a beat and whoever spit the hardest was featured on the track. Masta Killa always seemed like one of the sideline emcees who never got to spit until his verse on 'Da Mystery Of Chessboxin.'' While everyone was so mesmerized by Meth's mini-hook and ODB's wailing, Masta Killa was the clean-up verse that really proved what a sharp emcee he was.

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