What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Aesop Rock, not at all associated with A$ap Rocky. Anyway, this guy is one of the most interesting artists I've heard. Most of the time, I'd swear he was just spitting out gibberish that kind of almost makes sense. Despite this, he can really tell a story, as shown on his song No Regrets. Unfortunately, he doesn't have that great of a discography, he has a few mediocre albums. But Labor Days is well produced and just a good album in general, and probably his best. Most of his other album are kind of cheap copies of Labor Days, but None Shall Pass is a good album too, as he tries to take on a more legible delivery.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Stop Sleeping #19: Lindsey Stirling
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
So, I always thought violins were really cool instruments. The way they sounded were always relaxing to me. And I also really like ambient electronic music. Also, video games. If you're still interested, let me introduce you to Lindsey Stirling, an Electronic Violinist who remixes video games songs (as well as composing her own pieces). She always has interesting and unique and is just a fantastic violin player. She has a version of a Zelda theme called Zelda Medley and if you like, get her self titled album.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
So, I always thought violins were really cool instruments. The way they sounded were always relaxing to me. And I also really like ambient electronic music. Also, video games. If you're still interested, let me introduce you to Lindsey Stirling, an Electronic Violinist who remixes video games songs (as well as composing her own pieces). She always has interesting and unique and is just a fantastic violin player. She has a version of a Zelda theme called Zelda Medley and if you like, get her self titled album.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Stop Sleeping #18: Organized Konfusion
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Organized Konfusion is a clustefuck of alternative old school style beats and rhythms with extremely talented MC's, Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po. They have a way of making upbeat music but still making it something you can just listen to while studying. Honestly. every one of their albums is great, but if you want some place to start, I would highly recommend Stress. It is the epitome of their sound, and a very good album. Other albums include their self titled and The Equinox.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Organized Konfusion is a clustefuck of alternative old school style beats and rhythms with extremely talented MC's, Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po. They have a way of making upbeat music but still making it something you can just listen to while studying. Honestly. every one of their albums is great, but if you want some place to start, I would highly recommend Stress. It is the epitome of their sound, and a very good album. Other albums include their self titled and The Equinox.
Stop Sleeping #17: Tim Hecker
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Time Hecker is an ambient electronic artist. His beats are kind of minimalistic, but he pulls it off incredibly well. He is great to listen to if you just want to fade away for a while. His beats are just pleasant to listen to, causing constant fission. I don't even know what else to say, just listen to his albums. Harmony in Ultraviolet is a great place to start and one of my favorites.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Time Hecker is an ambient electronic artist. His beats are kind of minimalistic, but he pulls it off incredibly well. He is great to listen to if you just want to fade away for a while. His beats are just pleasant to listen to, causing constant fission. I don't even know what else to say, just listen to his albums. Harmony in Ultraviolet is a great place to start and one of my favorites.
Stop Sleeping #16: The Weeknd
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
The Weeknd is a must have for anyone who enjoys R&B. His voice is great, his voice is great, his tapes are great. He's been getting a lot more recognition lately, mostly for his work with rapper Drake. He has three tapes, House Of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes Of Silence, and they are best listened to in that order to see his growth as an artist. Echoes of Silence is arguably his best lyrically, but I think the beats and vocals on House of Balloons make it a more enjoyable listen.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
The Weeknd is a must have for anyone who enjoys R&B. His voice is great, his voice is great, his tapes are great. He's been getting a lot more recognition lately, mostly for his work with rapper Drake. He has three tapes, House Of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes Of Silence, and they are best listened to in that order to see his growth as an artist. Echoes of Silence is arguably his best lyrically, but I think the beats and vocals on House of Balloons make it a more enjoyable listen.
Stop Sleeping #15: Vince Staples
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Vince Staples is best known for his works with supergroup Odd Future. Honestly, he's not that great as a rapper. Despite this, he has a great ear for beats and knows how to make them sound good. With his choice few producers, Vince Staples makes music that's only slightly reminiscent of Odd Future, with dark beats and darker themes. Check out his mixtape, Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Vince Staples is best known for his works with supergroup Odd Future. Honestly, he's not that great as a rapper. Despite this, he has a great ear for beats and knows how to make them sound good. With his choice few producers, Vince Staples makes music that's only slightly reminiscent of Odd Future, with dark beats and darker themes. Check out his mixtape, Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Stop Sleeping #14: Doomtree's Dessa
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Dessa is from the group my last post was about, Doomtree. Although Doomtree is a rap group, Dessa sings and does spoken word too. Her album, A Badly Broke Code, has a lot of good examples of her vocal and lyrical ability. At first, her voice was a turn off to me, but it really compliments her style well, and A Badly Broken Code is a great listen after you get used to it. If you enjoy A Badly Broken Code, check out Castor, The Twin, too.
Stop Sleeping #13: Doomtree
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
DOOMTREE DOOMTREE. This group has too many members to give each it's own shout out, so I'm just going to name a couple of the best group albums and maybe go into the other members in their separate posts.
Their self titled is a great place to start. Each member of Doomtree brings their flavor to the album, from P.O.S.'s rapping to Dessa's poetry and other folk and punk influences. No Kings is a very solid album, too, with an obvious Atmoshphere influence.
Stop Sleeping #12: CunninLynguists
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
CunninLynguists (lol their name) are quite the masters of language. They have great lyrics, and Kno has great production. Natti and Deacon are great lyricists too. Admittedly, their albums as a whole are kind of mediocre. A Piece Of Strange is probably their best, but It's not that great as a whole album. Oneirology is more of a concept album, but it's still not as good. CunninLynguists are great to listen to in short does though, so don't hesitate to check them out.
Stop Sleeping #11 The Dynospectrum: The Dynospectrum
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
While we're on this Rhymesayers kick, I should really mention the subgroup of The Dynospectrum. The Dynospectrum has the Atmosphere duo, Swift of Phull Surkle, and Self Divine of Micranots. Their self titled is a fantastic album. There's really not much else to say about it. Everyone did well. Ant killed the beats. Rappers killed the verses. Just listen to it.
Stop Sleeping #10 Brother Ali
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Now, I'll admit this guy is probably the most well known member of Rhymesayers, but if you haven't checked him out, he shouldn't be overlooked. He's a fantastic storyteller with a great discography. He's pretty much a more versatile, less abstract Slug with a better discography. MY favorite album is Shadows of the Sun, but you can't go wrong with any of them. Make sure to check out Us and Shadows of the Sun, as well as his Undisputed Truth and The Truth is Here.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Stop Sleeping #9: El-P
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Wow. El-P. This dude has some of the strangest music I've ever heard. His production is spacey and sometimes minimalistic, in an I-have-no-idea-what-i'm-listening-to-but-it-sounds-good-somehow kind of way, and his rapping is exactly the same. Some good albums to check out are Fantastic Damage and Cancer 4 Cure. He has some instrumental tapes too, the best of which is Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3.
Stop Sleeping #8: Atmosphere
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Eyedea's labelmates, the duo known as Atmosphere, are a great mixture of unique beats and great lyricism. Slug (the MC half of Atmosphere) might be the best storyteller alive, and that coupled with Ant's production makes their albums worth checking out. They're diverse and always interesting. I recommend starting with God Loves Ugly to get an idea of what they're like, then listening to The Family Sign and When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh*t Gold.
Stop Sleeping #7: Qwel
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Qwel is just great. He has an overwhelming discography at this point, with 20+ albums, but there are some that are essential to check out. His albums with the producer Maker are great; So Be It and the Harvest are both incredible. His self titled album under the name Typical Cats is a great listen as well. He's a consistent and top-notch MC with great production.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Stop Sleeping #6: Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
This is a top 10 album. Del's voice over Dan's beats are amazing, and they joined together to make this great album. It has consitant quality all the way through, with a conceptual futuristic style. It's very sci-fi-ish where Del speaks of other worlds and the problems of our own through fantastic rhymes. Combine that with Dan's beats and you have an underground classic. The sequel is supposed to be dropping soon, so look out for that, too.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
This is a top 10 album. Del's voice over Dan's beats are amazing, and they joined together to make this great album. It has consitant quality all the way through, with a conceptual futuristic style. It's very sci-fi-ish where Del speaks of other worlds and the problems of our own through fantastic rhymes. Combine that with Dan's beats and you have an underground classic. The sequel is supposed to be dropping soon, so look out for that, too.
Stop Sleeping #5 Kool Keith: Dr. Octagonycologist
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Kool Keith's album, Dr. Octagynocologist (under the name Dr. Octagon) is a mish mash of abstract horrorcore lyrics over Dan The Automator's beats. It's extremely different and unique, with great production and intriguing subject matter. Kool Keith has a strange way to make not-to-complex rhymes seem technical, and it's worth listening to at least, although it may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Kool Keith's album, Dr. Octagynocologist (under the name Dr. Octagon) is a mish mash of abstract horrorcore lyrics over Dan The Automator's beats. It's extremely different and unique, with great production and intriguing subject matter. Kool Keith has a strange way to make not-to-complex rhymes seem technical, and it's worth listening to at least, although it may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Stop Sleeping #4 Sage Francis
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
If you're a fan of hip-hop and/or spoken word poetry, this guy is for you. Sage Francis is a traveling poet/rapper that always implements unique thoughts and ideas into his songs. His two best mixtapes are A Healthy Distrust and Personal Journals. He also his some albums under his group's name, The Non-Prophets, which are worth checking out. Sage is good at making you think and putting some emotion into his words.
Stop Sleeping #3 DJ Shadow: Endtroducing
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
Let's take a break from hip-hop to visit its trancier cousin, trip-hop. Trip-hop is usually instrumental, with not-quite-ambient beats that are (hence the name), trippy. The epitome of this (and my favorite album from this genre) is Endtroducing by DJ Shadow. Whether you like Rap, Rock, Bluegrass, Country, whatever, this album is pretty much a must-listen. With great deep beats like Stem/Long Stem and Changeling, it's always a great listen in a dark room with your most expensive headphones.
Stop Sleeping #2 MF DOOM
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
This time, I'm going to be introducing an artist that's a little bit more known (under a few different names), MF DOOM. MF DOOM raps under many aliases depending on who he's working with, but whether he's DangerDoom with Danger Mouse or Madvillian with Madlib, he always delivers great rhymes, and great production. He will sample from anywhere, old movies, tv shows, commercials, and his delivery sounds great on beats. The easiest album to get into would probably be The Mouse and the Mask by DangerDoom, but Madvilliany by Madvillian and MM...Food by MF DOOM are all fantastic albums.
Stop Sleeping #1 Eyedea: First Born
What Is "Stop Sleeping"?
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
So my first recommendation, and one of my favorite albums, is First Born by Eyedea & Abilities. This album is something you have to listen to all the way though, and it's a pretty intense listen. Eyedea is a great rapper, but if you don't keep up with what he's saying you may get lost in his metaphorical language when he's talking about his ideas filling him with void (?) comparing human brains to cubicles (??) or imagining his life as a fish (???). The beats are produced and mixed by his DJ, Abilities, who seems to make rather simplistic beats sound complex with his scratches and mixes. They make an incredibly unique duo, and are definitely worth a listen.
Basically I'm just going to reccomend artists or albums that you might not have checked out. Most of these will be Hip-Hop recommendations, as that's the genre I mostly listen to, but I'll try to keep them appealing to a broader public.
So my first recommendation, and one of my favorite albums, is First Born by Eyedea & Abilities. This album is something you have to listen to all the way though, and it's a pretty intense listen. Eyedea is a great rapper, but if you don't keep up with what he's saying you may get lost in his metaphorical language when he's talking about his ideas filling him with void (?) comparing human brains to cubicles (??) or imagining his life as a fish (???). The beats are produced and mixed by his DJ, Abilities, who seems to make rather simplistic beats sound complex with his scratches and mixes. They make an incredibly unique duo, and are definitely worth a listen.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Kuwait okay's death penalty for cursing God.
On Thursday, Kuwait passed amendments to the Gulf State's Penal Code making a death penalty for those who curse God, Mohammed, or his wives. Forty-six MPs, including cabinet ministers, voted for the key amendments that will come into effect only after another round of voting and government approval. The second and final vote will take place in two weeks. Four Shiite MPs voted against the law, a pro-Shiite Sunni lawmaker abstained, while two MPs refused to vote.Shiite MPs have demanded that the new amendments also enforce the death penalty for anyone who curses their sect's 12 revered Imams, but the Sunni- dominated parliament rejected their requests.
The move to stiffen penalties for religious crimes came after authorities last month arrested a Shiite tweeter for allegedly cursing the Prophet Mohammed, his wife and some companions.
The suspect, Hamad al-Naqi, is being detained pending further interrogation and trial.
Sectarian tensions have flared in Kuwait between the Sunni majority and Shiites, who form about a third of the native population of 1.17 million, reflecting rising regional tensions between the two Islamic sects.
How Kids saved a Bus
Two Milton, Washington 7th graders on a school bus had to pull it over Monday after the driver suffered some kind of medical emergency. Surveillance camera video inside the bus shows the driver slumping into his seat as he passes out. As the bus starts to move out of control, one boy is seen jumping out his seat to take control of the wheel. He then appears to try chest compressions on the driver. Moments later, another boy runs to the front and finally brings the bus to a stop. Several children grabbed their cell phones and called 911.
After the bus stops, an adult climbs on board and begins CPR on the driver. Seventh grader Jeremy Wuitschick realized what was happening and jumped into action.
“I ran up, grabbed the wheel … I turned it to the right, took it on the side of the road, took the keys out of the ignition. Bus started slowing down. I’m like ‘Somebody call 911’ and they did. Then Johnny Wood came up and he’s like ‘I know CPR.”
“The videos popped into my head and I was like ‘Somebody call 911. Try to clear the area and start doing chest compressions,’” said Wood.
Wuitschick is only 13, but he has some experience behind a steering wheel. He says his mother lets him back the family car out of the driveway when he washes it. The driver was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. It’s still not clear what kind of medical problem the driver was suffering from.There were no reports of injuries.
After the bus stops, an adult climbs on board and begins CPR on the driver. Seventh grader Jeremy Wuitschick realized what was happening and jumped into action.
“I ran up, grabbed the wheel … I turned it to the right, took it on the side of the road, took the keys out of the ignition. Bus started slowing down. I’m like ‘Somebody call 911’ and they did. Then Johnny Wood came up and he’s like ‘I know CPR.”
“The videos popped into my head and I was like ‘Somebody call 911. Try to clear the area and start doing chest compressions,’” said Wood.
Wuitschick is only 13, but he has some experience behind a steering wheel. He says his mother lets him back the family car out of the driveway when he washes it. The driver was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. It’s still not clear what kind of medical problem the driver was suffering from.There were no reports of injuries.
Alive "Stillborn" found in Coffin
In Argentina, a couple that had thought their newborn dead, are rejoicing after witnessing a miracle. Their daughter was born three months premature, and they were told that she was a stillborn. Crying, they left for the morgue on April 3rd, the day after the baby was born, to say goodbye. The baby was nailed shut into a coffin in a refrigerated room. "My husband used a lever to pry open the coffin," the mother told a local newspaper. When opened, the couple came face to face with their baby who was wrapped in a blanket and looked like she was just waking up. According to reports, the baby then stretched and let out a little cry. Mom fell to her knees saying that it was a message .. a miracle. And the baby was named "Luz Milagro" or "Light Miracle."Hospital administrators will investigate the five doctors who were involved in delivering Luz and mistakenly declaring her dead.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Innocent man spent 17 years in prison, receives no compensation for time and money lost
In 1993, Alan Northrop was playing pool. He was lining up a bank shot when he felt something completely unexpected on his wrist: a handcuff. Northrop was accused for raping and kidnapping a housekeeper. "I instantly said, 'No you've got the wrong guy.'" Northrop said to the detectives. Even though the victim was blindfolded for the attack, the detectives and a jury found him guilty, sentencing the father of three children under 6 years old to 23 years in prison. In 2010, after years of trying to convince the officers that he did nothing wrong, Northrop receives a letter he had given up hope on. "I was jumping around the day room saying, 'I'm out of here! I'm out of here!'. A few months later, he walks out of prison, completely ecstatic. But Northrop had been convicted in Washington, one of the 23 states that do not provide compensation for those who have been wrongfully committed. Northrop had less than $25,000, including the money he was sent in prison, and the 42-cent-an-hour prison job he had. Money would have given Northrop "a chance to get started over again and have a normal life again" but he works full time and lives in a small room in a friend's house because he can't afford his own place.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
PETA
PETA, also known as Peta for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have been known to go to stop animal cruelty in many cases, even going undercover in many cases, boasting the motto "Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment". Documents published online show that PETA has killed more than 95 percent of the pets in it's care in 2011. These documents were obtained from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and were published online by the Center of Consumer Freedom. The CCF is a non-profit organization that that runs campaigns targeting groups that antagonize food producers. These records show that since 1988, PETA has killed more than 27,000 at its headquarters in Norfolk, VA. Virginia's head of the agriculture department, Daniel Kovich, conducted an investigation of PETA's headquarters. Kovich determined that PETA kills 84 percent of the animals they receive within 24 hours. "[PETA's] primary purpose is not to find permanent adoptive homes for animals" Kovich said. CCF's executive director, Rich Berman has also established that PETA has a $37 million annual budget. A PETA representative, Jane Dollinger, did not dispute the high mortality rate, but mentioned that PETA only kills animals because of "injury, illness, age, aggression, or because no good homes exist for them", and said in an email to The Daily Caller website that "most of the animals we take in are society's rejects; aggressive, on death's door, or somehow unadoptable". In 2005, some animals that were described as "perfect" and "adorable" were killed in the back of a PETA owned vehicle by two PETA employees. They were arrested after police witnessed them tossing the bodies into a North Carolina dumpster.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Japan and Space Elevators
A Japanese construction company known as "Obayashi" wants to build an elevator that reaches to space. They report that the elevator would go to about a tenth of the way to the moon and can cary 30 people. They plan to use carbon nanotubes and cables to suspend a counterweight in space (about 60,000 miles away) and attach the other end to a port anchored to the ocean floor. The station could reach speeds up to 125 mph and it would take about a week to get to a space station. The space station would have living quarters and facilities. They hope to reach this by the year 2050.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Lawful Acecss
In Canada, they're pushing for a new bill. This "Lawful Access" bill is basically a bill that allows the government to monitor all your internet activity. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews supports the bill, claiming that anyone who does not want their internet watched is a child pornographer. "You can stand with us, or you can stand with the child pornographers," Toews says. Interestingly enough, someone decided to show Toews how it feels to have no privacy when it comes to your personal information. A new Twitter meme was created in which users shared with Toews every little detail of their lives, and pretty soon the opposite thing happened. There was an anonymous twitter account by the name of "Vikileaks" that was giving away Toews' personal information, such as details about his divorce. Teows has demanded an investigation to find out who is behind this account, and is extremely upset that his information is being leaked without permission.
Here, he even admits that he does not even fully understand the extents of this bill.
Here, he even admits that he does not even fully understand the extents of this bill.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Weekly Top 10 Songs. Do they deserve it?
According to Top10Songs.com (http://www.top10songs.com/archive2012.htm), the top 10 songs of the week of 26 January, 2010 feature hit songs from chart topping artists such as Adele, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, and others. But are these songs any different from every other song on the radio? Let's take a look at them, one track at a time.
#10: Tyga - Rack City. (Last Week: #10)
This track produced and co-written by DJ Mustard and preformed by Young Money member, Tyga. I've heard a few other tracks from him besides this, and they failed to impress me. This track was no exception. It has a dark and brooding production which could have been well used, but Tyga fails to deliver. The song is riddled in obscenity, with lines such as "Get ya Grandma on my ****", but that's not really what bothers me, as I've heard far worse.
The rhymes in this song sound like they were written by a child: "I'm a m**********g star/ Look at the paint on the car" and they fail to deliver a message or take the listener to any deeper meaning. To be fair, I doubt that that's what Tyga meant to do, but even if he was going to write a song about throwing "Ten Ten Ten Twenties and them Fifties b****", he could have at least paid more attention to his rhymes, or included some wordplay or punchlines (as corny as they may be), as I know he's capable of.
It is a fun track to listen to, and I can see why people enjoy it, and there was potential here, but it was all wasted.
Overall Rating: 4/10
Listen to it here
#9: David Guetta featuring Sia - Titanium. (Last week: N/A)
This track written and produced by David Guetta and preformed by Sia is an uplifting track with good vocals. Sia's voice is light and fits the mood of the song well, with a catchy hook. Guetta's been producing a lot of generic sounding tracks lately, and that hurts the overall quality of the song. It's a good song that's sung well, promoting the power of women, and with little-to-no use of autotune, but nothing too groundbreaking.
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
#5: Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris - We Found Love (Last Week: #4)
Rihanna seems to be on a mission to take over the radio lately, releasing two albums within a couple months (Loud and Talk That Talk) and singles from each: What's My Name, S&M, Cheers, Only Girl (In The World), California King Bed, Man Down, You Da One, Talk That Talk, and finally, We Found Love. The bad thing is, with all the new releases, quality took a back seat to quality. We Found Love is an overly autotuned song with lyrics that are supposed to be uplifting: "We found love in a hopeless place", but just comes off as cheesy. It's a very bland and repetitive song with a feature that adds little to the song, and I wish she put a little bit more of an effort in it. She's capable of singing pretty well when she wants to, but this song hides all her vocals behind voice effects. This song is more well suited for someone like Ke$ha, who relies on autotune to make her hits.
Overall Rating: 4/10
Listen to it here
#4: Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) (Last Week: N/A)
Kelly Clarkson comes out with her new hit single "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" delivering a message that asserts "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Stand a little taller, Doesn't mean I'm lonely because I'm alone." The beat isn't anything special, but it matches Kelly well and the lyrics well. It's a nice, catchy song without being too annoying. Again, it's a good song, but nothing groundbreaking.
Overall Rating 6.5/10
Listen to it here
#3: Flo Rida - Good Feeling (Last Week: #2)
Another club song from Flo Rida, most known for hits such as "Low", "Right Round", "In The Ayer", and "Club Can't Handle Me". Recently, every song he released sounds almost identical, and this fits that category perfectly. With the sample from "Pretty Lights" it's a song that is sure to play in the club, but the production is simplistic and generic. The lyrics are even worse with eye-rolling hooks that belt "Sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah", and Flo Rida doing his usual twist/speed rapping talking about clubbing, money, women etc... which, again, I don't really mind, but it would be better if he could do this with some actual talent. At least have some better rhymes or flow. Flo Rida spits: "No trick plays, I'm Bill Gates, takes a genius to understand me. Maybe if he actually rapped more than generic lyrics over generic beats with a pathetic flow and sad punchlines, this line could be met with some credibility, but Flo Rida is has no sense of lyricism or entendres, or anything that would imply lyrical intelligence.
Overall Rating: 3/10
Listen to it here
#2: David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj - Turn Me On (Last Week #5)
David Guetta shows up with his second single in the Top 10, Turn Me One, featuring Young Money's "Rap queen", Nicki Minaj, though she doesn't do much rapping here. The only reason this is so far up the charts is because Nicki Minaj's name on it. It's another generic pop beat by Guetta (surprise), with extremely engineered vocals to the point where she stops sounding like Nicki and starts sounding like a Rihanna rip off. The lyrics are shallow and, apparently, turning into a pop star millionaire makes you forget how to rhyme: "My body needs a hero, come and save me/ Something tells me you know, how to save me". If she was a good singer or had the vocal range, rhyming isn't a big deal, but since they put no effort into the music, they could've at least put some effort in the lyrics. Now, I'll admit that I thought Nicki was decent before she joined Young Money and actually rapped, now she's just another pop star.
She attempts to bring back her rap persona, but it fails miserably with her sounding like she has a bad stutter and has no idea what to say: "D-D-D-D-Don't let me die young, I just want you to father my young, I just want you to be my doctor, we can get it cracking: chiropractor, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I". This is one part that needs to be heard to be appreciated. She makes her flow switching between sweet sounding and yelling, which is one of her trademarks, but sometimes it gets annoying, and it's very gimmicky. This was a weak effort with a weak beat with weak lyrics that was not suited for Nicki at all. This may have gotten a higher rating if it wasn't sung by a weak rapper pretending to sing.
Overall Rating: 2/10
Listen to it here
#1: Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Last Week: #1)
The latest single from Adele, an artist who is no stranger to chart toppers with her previous singles, Someone Like You and Rolling in the Deep, mixes mournful and unique lyrics with a fantastic voice. Most of Adele's song tell of heartbreak, but the topic never seems to get old with Adele belting the lyrics: "But I set fire to the rain, watch it burn, as I touched your face, Well it burned while I cried, 'Cause i heard it screaming out your name". Well deserving of it's top spot, Adele is one of the few female artists that don't need autotune and sex to sell songs.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Listen to it here
#10: Tyga - Rack City. (Last Week: #10)
This track produced and co-written by DJ Mustard and preformed by Young Money member, Tyga. I've heard a few other tracks from him besides this, and they failed to impress me. This track was no exception. It has a dark and brooding production which could have been well used, but Tyga fails to deliver. The song is riddled in obscenity, with lines such as "Get ya Grandma on my ****", but that's not really what bothers me, as I've heard far worse.
The rhymes in this song sound like they were written by a child: "I'm a m**********g star/ Look at the paint on the car" and they fail to deliver a message or take the listener to any deeper meaning. To be fair, I doubt that that's what Tyga meant to do, but even if he was going to write a song about throwing "Ten Ten Ten Twenties and them Fifties b****", he could have at least paid more attention to his rhymes, or included some wordplay or punchlines (as corny as they may be), as I know he's capable of.
It is a fun track to listen to, and I can see why people enjoy it, and there was potential here, but it was all wasted.
Overall Rating: 4/10
Listen to it here
#9: David Guetta featuring Sia - Titanium. (Last week: N/A)
This track written and produced by David Guetta and preformed by Sia is an uplifting track with good vocals. Sia's voice is light and fits the mood of the song well, with a catchy hook. Guetta's been producing a lot of generic sounding tracks lately, and that hurts the overall quality of the song. It's a good song that's sung well, promoting the power of women, and with little-to-no use of autotune, but nothing too groundbreaking.
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
#8: Gotye featuring Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know (Last Week: N/A)
This is a great track that starts out slow and builds on feeling and momentum as it goes on. The beat sounds simplistic and playful, sampling the nursery tune "Baa Baa Black Sheep", but this just enhances the feeling that you get while listening to him sing of an old flame that is now nothing more than "somebody that he used to know". Kimbra sings the second verse, showing how getting hung up on whoever he used to now has hurt his future relations, singing with hurt and fury adding a great effect and further contrast to this song, telling a tale of love and heartbreak while managing not to sound cheesy.
Overall Rating: 8/10
#7: Jessie J - Domino (Last Week: #6)
Another generic pop song. There's not much to say here, Jessie J recycles overused topics and it has a very "Katy Perry" vibe to it (though she did help write the song). It's catchy, but the style is old and played out.
Overall Rating: 5/10
#6: LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It (Last Week: #3)
LMFAO fuses pop-rap and techno for an extremely catchy song. The beat sounds like everything other song they made (See "Party Rock Anthem") yet, somehow, this keeps climbing to the top of the charts. The lyrics are shallow and repetitive, and sometimes rely on shock value to keep it interesting, with lines such as "I got passion in my pants and I ain't afraid to show it" or "When I'm at the beach, I'm in a speedo trying to tan my cheeks". Both of the members of LMFAO are pathetic rappers with no lyrical talent or any flow. Sexy and I Know It is way too overplayed on the radio, and there's nothing special about this song, besides the fact that you'll be saying "I'm Sexy and I know it" all day. Usually without realizing it.
Overall Rating: 2/10
Listen to it here#5: Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris - We Found Love (Last Week: #4)
Rihanna seems to be on a mission to take over the radio lately, releasing two albums within a couple months (Loud and Talk That Talk) and singles from each: What's My Name, S&M, Cheers, Only Girl (In The World), California King Bed, Man Down, You Da One, Talk That Talk, and finally, We Found Love. The bad thing is, with all the new releases, quality took a back seat to quality. We Found Love is an overly autotuned song with lyrics that are supposed to be uplifting: "We found love in a hopeless place", but just comes off as cheesy. It's a very bland and repetitive song with a feature that adds little to the song, and I wish she put a little bit more of an effort in it. She's capable of singing pretty well when she wants to, but this song hides all her vocals behind voice effects. This song is more well suited for someone like Ke$ha, who relies on autotune to make her hits.
Overall Rating: 4/10
Listen to it here
#4: Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) (Last Week: N/A)
Kelly Clarkson comes out with her new hit single "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" delivering a message that asserts "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Stand a little taller, Doesn't mean I'm lonely because I'm alone." The beat isn't anything special, but it matches Kelly well and the lyrics well. It's a nice, catchy song without being too annoying. Again, it's a good song, but nothing groundbreaking.
Overall Rating 6.5/10
Listen to it here
#3: Flo Rida - Good Feeling (Last Week: #2)
Another club song from Flo Rida, most known for hits such as "Low", "Right Round", "In The Ayer", and "Club Can't Handle Me". Recently, every song he released sounds almost identical, and this fits that category perfectly. With the sample from "Pretty Lights" it's a song that is sure to play in the club, but the production is simplistic and generic. The lyrics are even worse with eye-rolling hooks that belt "Sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah", and Flo Rida doing his usual twist/speed rapping talking about clubbing, money, women etc... which, again, I don't really mind, but it would be better if he could do this with some actual talent. At least have some better rhymes or flow. Flo Rida spits: "No trick plays, I'm Bill Gates, takes a genius to understand me. Maybe if he actually rapped more than generic lyrics over generic beats with a pathetic flow and sad punchlines, this line could be met with some credibility, but Flo Rida is has no sense of lyricism or entendres, or anything that would imply lyrical intelligence.
Overall Rating: 3/10
Listen to it here
#2: David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj - Turn Me On (Last Week #5)
David Guetta shows up with his second single in the Top 10, Turn Me One, featuring Young Money's "Rap queen", Nicki Minaj, though she doesn't do much rapping here. The only reason this is so far up the charts is because Nicki Minaj's name on it. It's another generic pop beat by Guetta (surprise), with extremely engineered vocals to the point where she stops sounding like Nicki and starts sounding like a Rihanna rip off. The lyrics are shallow and, apparently, turning into a pop star millionaire makes you forget how to rhyme: "My body needs a hero, come and save me/ Something tells me you know, how to save me". If she was a good singer or had the vocal range, rhyming isn't a big deal, but since they put no effort into the music, they could've at least put some effort in the lyrics. Now, I'll admit that I thought Nicki was decent before she joined Young Money and actually rapped, now she's just another pop star.
She attempts to bring back her rap persona, but it fails miserably with her sounding like she has a bad stutter and has no idea what to say: "D-D-D-D-Don't let me die young, I just want you to father my young, I just want you to be my doctor, we can get it cracking: chiropractor, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I". This is one part that needs to be heard to be appreciated. She makes her flow switching between sweet sounding and yelling, which is one of her trademarks, but sometimes it gets annoying, and it's very gimmicky. This was a weak effort with a weak beat with weak lyrics that was not suited for Nicki at all. This may have gotten a higher rating if it wasn't sung by a weak rapper pretending to sing.
Overall Rating: 2/10
Listen to it here
#1: Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Last Week: #1)
The latest single from Adele, an artist who is no stranger to chart toppers with her previous singles, Someone Like You and Rolling in the Deep, mixes mournful and unique lyrics with a fantastic voice. Most of Adele's song tell of heartbreak, but the topic never seems to get old with Adele belting the lyrics: "But I set fire to the rain, watch it burn, as I touched your face, Well it burned while I cried, 'Cause i heard it screaming out your name". Well deserving of it's top spot, Adele is one of the few female artists that don't need autotune and sex to sell songs.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Listen to it here
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