tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011834419662563584.post2278275159211486887..comments2023-10-24T01:40:31.335-07:00Comments on A People's History of Hip Hop: The Empire State RebellionAbe Beamehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02555083249178098320noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011834419662563584.post-69277071279891348822009-10-11T18:25:46.958-07:002009-10-11T18:25:46.958-07:00In other news, Citizen Kane was a great film. No, ...In other news, Citizen Kane was a great film. No, the songs you mention are great, of course, but a slightly less obvious list would be nice. Like what's the last time someone wrote about how great 'Walk In New York' is? Or 'The Bridge' or Jay's 'Where I'm From' or 'The Place Where We Dwell'? Or maybe you could go out on a limb and make a case for 'Ground Zero.' As for Jay's song... I don't know, it's quite schmaltzy but I think it would be alright if not for Alicia. Not good - I mean, I'm someone who hates post-retirement Jay so much I shake my head at drivers stopped at red lights playing this very song - but okay. Sometimes schmaltz can work, you know. Not every song about New York has to be grimy. The song's vision of NY is very much one of a guy who spends most of his time in the city being shuttled around in limos and has for years, and I feel like that sort of nostalgic detachment from on-the-ground realities is not necessarily an illegitimate approach. Oh and who actually doesn't like 'Respiration'? I'm not too crazy about Rawkus in general, but that's a very clear-cut classic. Maybe I don't get out enough but I've never actually met anyone revisionist enough to find fault with that song.Asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06495408546806192092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011834419662563584.post-51757154930116556392009-10-10T12:21:10.873-07:002009-10-10T12:21:10.873-07:00That song isn't getting any spins in L.A. yet....That song isn't getting any spins in L.A. yet. Kind of amazing that a Jay-Z/Alicia Keys song now qualifies as a "regional" hit.david violahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00818928495128269042noreply@blogger.com