Here’s a track off the upcoming War Report 2 featuring the L-O-X (clean version for now).  This group of MCs on one record is a guaranteed win, plus its produced by the homey Scram Jones.  Everything I’ve heard thus far from this project indicates that a modern street classic is on the way.

CNN ft. The LOX – Bodega Stories

About time we funked things up a bit.  Kool & The Gang are as veteran as they come, dropping a total of 24 studio albums, in a span of 38 years (1969-2007).  Their music went through many phases throughout this time, including jazz, funk, R&B, and eventually pop.  They will forever be linked to hip hop from their record “Hollywood Swingin,” which provides the famous horns used in DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat” and Mase’s “Feel So Good.”  One of my favorite of their records is lesser known “Love The Life You Live,” which was the single off of their 1972 album Music is The Message.  The titles says it all.

Kool & The Gang – Love The Life You Live

BONUS: Kool & The Gang – Hollywood Swinging

I think I tend to gravitate towards any song telling me I’m gon’ make it.  Even though from my experiences, the “starting all over again” technique to fix troubled relationships has not made it … fuck it, I still enjoy this record.  Groove feels right.

Gwen McCrae – Starting All Over Again

“The Burning of the Midnight Lamp” was one of the first records on which Jimi used the wah-wah effect, something that eventually became a regular element in his style of play.  This was also one of the only records on which he played keyboard as well.

Jimi Hendrix – The Burning of the Midnight Lamp

When you have actual band members being shipped out to war, songs like this have even deeper meaning.  This was the case in the late 60’s with George Clinton’s band Parliament.  Almost 40 years later, it still holds relevance – thats not a good thing.  ”The President’s talking bout a change…”

Parliament – Come In Out of the Rain

You don’t need vocals when your band grooves together like this.  Cheers to great musicianship.  

The Meters – Groovy Lady

The Meters – Children’s World (Live)