Pharrell Williams, etc

It can't just be me. Pharrell is getting better. That's quite an achievement given the critic's judgement in 2006. From that spot, Mr Williams' "Blue Magic" is sincerely sinister. It plays like inevitability -- the drums sound like fate itself knocking from the speaker. A preliminary video is below. (Aside: "Blue Magic"'s drums require playback with deep bass. And volume. And a chip on your shoulder.)



Williams' versatility matches his excellence for expressing specific moods -- such as the vanity, fun, and exceptionalism, for which he's most famous. Timberlake party track? The Jam. He's got range. See 'despondent' under 'd' in his alphabetically sorted discography. Pharrell's lyrics amplify the sentiment: "I'm out of my mind, I'm running from guilt, but there's no one around". Despondent is cross referenced with 'saudade' in the 'S' section.

PS: My co-editor's claims to London compel me to keep the pulse of British hip hop: "acting immaturely in a hurry to be old" is an unforgettable irony. I follow New Orleans' best MC out of habit. Minnesota's Minne-appleseed continues to release hit records -- herewith Brother Ali (myspace):



"I just don't believe in quitin' time"



Brother Ali is label mates with Slug. Who is a label mate to Eyedea. Slug and Eyedea rap together. MTV's Sway was easily won over.

In conclusion, a link festival for Slug and Atmosphere: most accessible and pop-like, a good live performance("the patience is short and, of course, the pride is way too tall"), the song that originally turned me on in 1999 (the linked video was produced by a fan). With a live band, Slug slayed a Jimmy Kimmel Show performance in 2006:



"peace, make steps, on the run with BDP in tape deck"

Slug's rapped with lots of folks. In addition to Eyedea, he's recently hooked up with Los Angeles' Murs to create an entity named Felt. They worked well together -- the evidence is posted here for your review:



"but in the middle of the night, reached for a second helpin', got a handful of sheets, I was all by myself, and"

The second song in this couplet is a personal favorite. It's about gratitude.