5 Songs That Need Love From Your IPOD #2

Mark A. Harris (Darcwonn) is back with the second instalment of  '5 Songs That Need Love From Your IPOD', placing The Roots at #1. Other picks include Juicy J, Black Star, Wzrd and Ras Kass. Be sure to support and above all listen and enjoy.

1.) The Roots f. Phonte & Dice Raw - One Time

For the epic album (opinion of mine, of course) Undun, The Roots once again go with Phonte and the usual Roots family member Dice Raw. This is not one of those happy, joy songs that talk about nothing. This is a song dealing with urban situations of strife. Fittingly done is the chorus, a sing songy ditty that makes sense of lateness in a crazy world. If done correctly, Undun may be a great album. From what I heard, there will be no doubts to that.

2.) Juicy J. feat. Wiz Khalifa- Stoner’s Night Pt. 2

Whatever that can be said about Juicy J. signing to Taylor Gang, I recognize one thing: they make good music together. Stoner’s Night Pt. 2 is just an example of that. Instead of beating you over the head with more viable club tracks, they take the usual smooth route dealing with smoking. If any listener knows anything about Wiz Khalifa is that he can make great songs about Mary Jane.

3.) Black Star- Fix Up / You Already Knew 

Due to the future release of a mixtape inspired by Aretha Franklin, this one is a 2-for-1 special. With the inclusion of Fix Up and You Already Knew to their legendary catalog, fans began to salivate in unison. And with both songs, there is little to be disappointed about. Going in on production from two brothers (Fix Up by Madlib and You Already Knew by Oh No), the listener can already expect dusty fingers and cracking vinyl when these songs are made. If this spells anything for Black Star, they will be right back in the thick of things come 2012.

4.) Wzrd (Kid Cudi x Dot Da Genius) – Brake

This is not your regular hip hop jam. Rather, it isn’t hip hop at all. What it can be called is “good rock music”. Kid Cudi channels his inner Kurt Cobain and sings his heart out about not letting anything stop him. With the lush soundtrack provided by Dot Da Genius, I doubt anything will really keep him from succeeding outside of Cudi himself.

5.) Ras Kass – Holes In The Ozone

Gassed up nukkas putting holes in the ozone, huh? Ras Kass uses the infamous ATCQ sample from the beginning of Bonita Applebum to rip through the beat with nothing short of a verbal epidemic. With references to others being “with poms poms/twirling batons” and “still washing oil off of you pelican’s feathers”, he just goes through the lyrical motions with relentless smoothness. He makes it seem almost too easy.

Mark A. Harris