Not Ya Mama's Mixtape

Over the past month I downloaded three new mixtapes, given away by the artists or DJs who created them.  One from Sri Lankan rapper/producer M.I.A. (ViCKi LEEKX) and another from Kid Sister, a Chicago-based rapper (KissKissKiss). The third, a ‘proper’ mixtape full of various artists, Who’s Ya Best Emcee? from Femcees is on heavy rotation in my apartment and on my iPod.  These mixtapes are not ones that you and I remember. They are not the cassette tape kind, where you spliced together your favorite songs for either a party mix or to give to that special someone.  (If you don’t know what a cassette tape is, you’re probably too young to be reading this blog). No. These mixtapes, likely the ones your teenagers are listening to, are a significant part of the hip-hop industry and a critical part of promotion.  But they do originate with those cassette tapes from back in the day.  

X-Rated SWIKs

After my bout with the flu, I finally returned to dance class last week for a workout and discovered a new song by Amanda Blank, “Something Bigger, Something Better.” A few months ago one of my music-pushers, Robbie (see Summer Tours), mentioned her debut album, I love You, which came out in August. But I never got around to listening to it. I was immediately hooked on “Something Bigger, Something Better” which sounded like it could have been produced by rapper Missy Elliott. I finally got around checking out Blank’s album. Of course, through my research it turns out that I missed her recent show in NYC with electroclash diva Peaches. I’m, once again, a step or two behind here. But I keep trying anyway. Even though I missed the live show it seems like a good time to say a few words about these X-rated singer-songwriters. (Yes, their lyrics are explicit, so you’ve been warned.)

Trina's Single Again

I'm a little behind the times with this tune. Trina's album Still the Baddest came out a year ago and this was the first single.   I heard "Single Again" where I discover most hip-hop music these days, in a dance class.  The instructor is a great choreographer and I like her music.  By the end of the class, I'm deluded into believing that I could be a back up dancer for Janet or J.Lo. While that will never happen, it is where I find out that Janet and J. Lo have new albums and discover new hip-hop tunes.   She played "Single Again" a few months ago and I was hooked. It also made me realize that I hadn't heard a female rapper in a while.  Was it just my ignorance or was there something more to it?