u-god throwing white roses.

My favorite part of the Aaliyah tribute video ("I Miss U") is when U-God (of the world famous Wu-Tang Clan, my #2 rap group of all time) throws a white rose at the camera. Dead center at the lens. It not only looks cool, but it also symbolizes, um, well ... nothing in particular, but still. It looks fly as shit.

So basically, RIP Aaliyah. She died on my mom's birthday. (Creepers! "Mom don't say Aaliyah five times in am mirror on your birthday/the day of her demise!")

So here, before steroids and having JT on speed dial, Timbo lays an ill beat and pro-status ad-libs/half-assed raps.

Aaliyah ft. Timbaland - Hot Like Fire (Remix) (1997)

Bonus video!

just move, sugar.

I had written a disjointed narrative about how this song was a ploy by Sylvester to pump up his greatness for a coked-up disco audience and how Larry Levan had a hand in spreading the gospel of Sly, and narcissists, etc, blah blah blah ...

Whatever. Just try not to dance when this comes on. I dare you.

You can't! You have no willpower. And good sense.

Sylvester - Someone Like You (Larry Levan Remix)

round II.

In 1973 (remember, beef was a lot slower back in the day) Paul retorted with "Let Me Roll It"

Apparently "Jet" (also off of Band On The Run) was a John swipe as well.

Get em' Paulie!

Wings - Let Me Roll It

losing ends.

I'm really beginning to appreciate Paul McCartney as a songwriter and performer...

Bu then again, every once in a while, something will come along and sort of slay him.

Like Mr. Lennon melting his face with words/guitars/strings (?!?!)

I mean, "Temporary Secretary" is sick and all, but damn.

A friend of mine suggested this song to me upon hearing me rave a bit about how rad McCartney could be. He said, "Well, John didn't feel that way, listen to "How Do Sleep?" off of Imagine"

It was only after hearing it that I realized that it was truly one of the first diss songs.

You see, John & Paul had been going at each other subliminally for a few years during the last years of the Beatles' existence (i.e. Abby Road to Let It Be era) and well after they'd broken up the biggest band of all time.

Paul had two beetles fucking on the back of his 1971 solo effort Ram. He was extending a 'fuck you' to old Johnny Boy. While the original cover for Imagine had Lennon holding a pair of pigs ears. He was taking at a shot at the Ram cover where Paul was hold a ram by its horns.

The illest shot at Macca comes when John sings:

"Those freaks was right when they said you was dead
The one mistake you made was in your head"

Let's see The Game get at 50 that masterfully.

John Lennon - How Do You Sleep?

all day.

Some free form word association in regards to Arthur Russell's work:

genius

disco

cello

beautiful

overlooked

necessary

Arthur Russell - See My Brother, He's Jumping Out (Let's Go Swimming #1)