End–of–year lists in the music world gain credibility by doing one of two things: they either compile a bunch of albums that have already been validated with critical acclaim, or they include obscure bands just to score some indie cred.
January 11 was a good day for music — Britney Spears dropped her new single “Hold it Against Me,” and Kanye West and Jay–Z released “H.A.M.” A few days after, 'Ye tweeted, “Yo Britney, I’m really happy for you and I’mma let you be #1, but me and Jay–Z single is one of the best songs of all time.” Sorry, Kanye: while we might have agreed with you on the whole Beyonce/Taylor Swift thing, we’re not as persuaded by your latest effort.
“H.A.M.” is the first official single off the rap heavyweights’ joint EP, Watch the Throne, and stands for “hard as a mothafucka.” The track has all the bounce of Jay–Z’s best work, but Kanye’s verse is among his worst: his lazy flow sounds like a failed freestyle and features themes he’s covered better elsewhere.
Joke Issue:
Friday, December 10: Big Daddy Charles and the Charlatans, with the Back Alley Sextet, Le Chat Noir, 5 cents
Big Daddy Charles hails from the Mississippi Delta, where he learned to play the gobble–pipe with the coolest cats on the Bayou.
Joke Issue:
While we’re still years away from any comprehensive child labor legislation, one little girl is toiling away, and her hard work is paying off.