Editorial: The Compilation

Long before iTunes had playlists, some marketing executive at a record company decided to put together a mess of popular singles on one vinyl record and sell it. The idea was a smashing success and the compilation was born. And it has evolved. There are greatest hits ones and collections of the popular songs of the day (Thank you NOW).

Thankfully with the development of the recordable cassette, the major conglomerates lost all control in creating compilations. Now the power of the mix was in the consumer's hand, if he so wished. And the mixtape became the stuff of legend. The tool that kept the party going. The gift that wooed hearts. The coping mechanism for life. Of course the mix has evolved with technology, with MP3s and burners taking mixes to a whole other level. It's even evolved into an accepted marketing process for hip-hop artists.

For those who care about a well-crafted mix, though, it can be serious business. It's easy when the objective is clear cut like "Party Songs" or "Workout Songs", but what about the mixes that are meant to evoke something? If you put the sexually suggestive song too early on the romantic mix, will you put the other person off? Or will ignite them at just the right time? Oh just one example of the dicey business of putting together a mix. I am notoriously anal about them. I usually am never satisfied with the end result but most of my friends come back so I can't be that bad.

Currently, I am in the midst of making a couple of CDs for my cousin's wedding reception. This is hard because there can't be any dancing and the music can't be too "rhythmic." This is what happens when you members of a more conservative sect of Christianity. It makes it much harder. Whereas I would easily place India.Arie or Musiq in the playlist, it's not as easy. At the same time, I don't plan on sacrificing too much of my personality (even though I won't be there) in the mix. Just two songs so far, but I haven't really dedicated myself to it yet. Concurrently I am also putting the finishing touches on a CD for my friend Coffee Bean. This is easier as she can handle contemporary tastes, but hers are peculiar so you have to laser in to some special element of a song to see if it has any appeal for her. Admittedly with her, it's just throw it up and hope it sticks. I probably have a 70% success rate.

I love making them though. I figure its why I have so much music. The same stuff can't be good for too long.

Editorial: The Lord Is Good

I think the thing about music, one of the most underrated gifts God gave us, is it's ability to connect with the human soul. David played the harp to cool King Saul out. And he also danced his booty off in celebration of how good God was.

Today, even though I was listening to the secular (A pox on thee Scott Storch for you amazingly listenable music) it was amazing how it lifted me from a possible funk. Though it is cold and windy and I had a possibly frustrating morning, I still had that music to lift me up. And I did significant damage to the craziness that is my room. Plus I found a song that helped me get a brand new outlook on life.

Oh thank you God (and also Mario and Scott Storch, begrudgingly)

Editorial: Phontiggalo the Rap Gigolo

"I'll scoop you up in my Porsche, sike
You know I got a Nissan
That I'm still paying for, still got a lease on
But it don't matter 'cause that ain't my aim to get you
I got fame, but you know that just ain't the issue
Because you're looking like a woman of virtue
So well-rounded, no wonder you're in my circle
And normally you probably wouldn't give me the time of day
'Cause Tay got rhymes, but no he ain't got time to waste

Sometimes I think I'm from another world (preach)
When I'm trynna tell a woman just exactly where I stand that (aight)
I want a girl, when I want a girl
And when I don't want a girl, I want a girl who understands that
And that's some hard shit to explain
To a woman that's in love with you, it's a pitiful thing
Until I had to figure
That I don't wanna play around, but I don't wanna settle down
And that's a man's dilemma, 'cause every man remembers
How his daddy and his uncles did it
'Cause more than likely that's the way they're gonna do it
I know it sound fucked up and most wont admit it
But yo, I gotta face it 'cause I know I'm living through it
'Cause when the party stops and niggaz get old
And the chain and the cars and the houses get sold, and that
Other side of the bed gets cold, you don't wanna be alone
So girl I'm trynna hold you.."

Phonte of Little Brother everyone. Destined to be one of the greatest.
Or maybe just one of the greatest you never heard.

Seen him live. Heard him on record. He's got the whole package
Charisma. Stage presence. And rhymes.

He did a whole verse and you don't even notice that he didn't rhyme cause his flow was that
tight. The first time you recognize is at the end of the verse when he tells you that he just
didn't rhyme. How sick is that? The kid is cocky before he even sold 7 records.

And he'll tell you he was sad that he only sold 7 records. And does it well. The kid is crazy.

Crazy