iPod Hustle: Norah Jones + Hip-Hop

B-Easy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:10:07 +0000

Norah Jones? Norah f*ckng Jones? That smooth-jazz mellow white girl that sings, plays instruments, and is prominently featured on “easy listening” radio stations? Yea, B-Easy has finally lost his mind. Well not really; if you remember last year I did do a whole thing on Chris Martin’s role on tracks by Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Swizz Beatz. Is this really that different? I could be wrong about this, but when it comes to cameos on Hip-Hop songs, I count four Norah Jones appearances (And that’s counting the song she did with Wyclef). That’s more Hip-Hop cameos than John Mayer (And Kanye West was in love with him for a second there). So why are some of Hip-Hop’s most respected artists calling on Miss Jones? One reason could be exposure (She has sold over 36 million records). Or maybe it’s for the right reasons: Talent. As easy going as her music is, the lady has skills…Did I just say that? Shit! Where’s my Only Built 4 Cuban Linx album? A brother must be getting soft.

Download: Q-Tip feat. Norah Jones – “Life Is Better”

Producer: Q-Tip
Album: The Renaissance
Released: November 4, 2008

This is the latest of her collaborations with rappers and it might be her best. Unlike her previous efforts, it seems like Norah gets more into it. What’s crazier is that the track is a love song to Hip-Hop and Q-Tip gets Norah Jones to sings lines like “I’m so into your rich history” & “Tell me stories and take me away”. Yeah, Kamaal could have gotten Erykah Badu, but wouldn’t that be kinda obvious? This combination works very well.

Download: Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones – “Soon The New Day”

Producer: Madlib
Album: Eardrum
Released: August 21, 2007

At first listen you think Norah is relegated to just the chorus on Talib’s song about blind promiscuity (My friend thought the hook was a sample originally). But as the song progresses you hear Jones ad-lib more and even add stronger backgrounds. This was her first true guest appearance on a conventional Rap song, so I guess I understand why she just did the standard R&B stuff hear. The song still comes out high-quality and at least she wasn’t singing about rolling blunts and busting guns.

Download: Andre 3000 feat. Norah Jones – “Take Off Your Cool”

Producer: Andre 3000
Album: The Love Below
Released: September 23, 2003

Okay, so this isn’t a “traditional” Hip-Hop song. But this is Norah Jones first paring with a Hip-Hop artist. Since Speakerboxxx/The Love Below sold like 10 million copies, I’m sure everybody by now has heard this song. Clocking in barely over two minutes, this is more like an interlude than song. But it did bring Andre 3000 and Norah Jones together without either sounding out of place.

iPod Hustle: Michael Phelps

B-Easy — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:55:40 +0000

Don’t get it confused, B-Easy is not doing a report of the 2008 Olympics; not to say I haven’t been watching. While trying to catch the Kobe/LeBron & company steamroll to the gold medal, I’ve actually watched quite a bit. Whether it be track or women’s team volleyball (You know you watch it too), the biggest story of this Olympics have by far been about Michael Phelps and his quest to break the record of gold medals at a single Olympics. This has had people comparing Phelps to the likes of Tiger, Jordan, and Gretzky. But what some people wanna know is what music is he listening to? In practically every shot of him at the pool, Phelps can be seen wearing the iconic white earbuds that are attached to, what else, but an Apple iPod. Well, the results may surprise you. Let’s just say the dopeboys and trappers aren’t the only one who bump Jeezy…

Download: Lil’ Wayne – “I’m Me”

Album: The Leak; Released: December 25, 2007
According to the Today Show on August 12, 2008, when asked what he was listening to during the Olympics, Phelps answered: “What did I have on today? I think I had Lil’ Wayne, “I’m Me”. I think I had that on there.” Personally I thought he would’ve went with Birdman & Weezy’s “Pop Bottles” with lines like: “Shut up bitch, gargle/Straight up out that water with my Mark Jacob goggles/I’m fresher than a motherf**ka”. Naw, but “I’m Me” is a great choice and one of the better Wayne songs.

Download: Young Jeezy – “Get Ya Mind Right”

Album: Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101; Released: July 26, 2006
Young Jeezy? Yep. While no one is really sure what particular Jeezy song Phelps is listening to, he has said in his own website that he was listening to Young Jeezy at the World Championships in Melbourne. I’m gonna go with this Jeezy track because of it’s one of his hardest because I think it’s funny that Phelps might be listening to to lines like: “I’m the realest nigga in here you already know/Got trapper of the year four times in a row”. Plus, this was originally released on the mixtape Trap Or Die.

Download: Outkast – “Roses”

Album: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below; Released: September 23, 2003
On August 8, 2008, Phelps submitted a celebrity playlist to the Rhapsody. The list include Twista’s “Overnight Celebrity”, Usher’s “Burn”, G-Unit’s “Smile”, Eminem’s “‘Til I Collapse”, & Outkast’s “Roses”. While I heard mention of “‘Til I Collapse”in a few interviews, what young white guy doesn’t listen to Eminem? I’ll go to the ever deserving Outkast.

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