» Hip Hop
Laffy Taffy – D4L
Some songs burst onto the music scene, make a huge impact, reach #1 on the Billboard Top 40, and forever afterwards are considered some of the worst songs ever. That seems to be the story of “Laffy Taffy” by D4L that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006 and was fueled by big online sales and a video that featured bikini beauties in a water fight. High art here, folks. The lyrics are, well, simple and … Read entire article »
Teach Me How to Dougie – Cali Swag District
The history of hip hop is full of promising lives cut short due to violence. Tupac. Biggie Smalls (The Notorious B.I.G.). Now add Rapper M-Bone of the group Cali Swag District to that unfortunate list. M-Bone (Montae Talbert) was killed May 15, 2011 in a drive-by shooting in his hometown of Inglewood, California. He was only 22 years old. M-Bone was one of the rappers on Cali Swag District’s breakout hit from 2010 titled “Teach Me … Read entire article »
Da Butt – E.U. (Experience Unlimited)
A silly little late-1980s hip-hop one-hit wonder for you today. The backside (or booty or rump or whatever else you choose to call it) gets lots of attention in hip hop. Remember, this is the genre that unloaded such hits as “The Thong Song” by Sisqo. You’ve got the classic “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot. And “Rump Shaker” by Wreckx n’ Effects. Serious highbrow stuff, this. Add today’s song to the pantheon of booty hits. … Read entire article »
It Takes Two – Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
Most artists work, hope and pray for a number one hit to cement their legend and line their pockets with greenback dollar bills (quoting the late, great Ray Charles there). “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock proves a song doesn’t even have to break the Top 30 to become a legend. Number 36 is good enough. Originally released as a single in 1988, “It Takes Two” started a slow climb up the Billboard … Read entire article »
Pump Up the Volume – M/A/R/R/S
Another instrumental one-hit wonder for you today. Well, maybe it’s not a “pure” instrumental one-hit wonder because you hear vocals in the mix. But nearly all the vocals are samples from other records. So I’m considering them “instruments” instead of “vocalists.” The people behind the Grammy Awards clearly agreed since they nominated “Pump Up the Volume” by M/A/R/R/S for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. It lost to sax player David Sanborn. Click to hear more Grammy Award … Read entire article »
Friends – Eric B. & Rakim
This is a strange one. “Friends” first appeared on Jody Watley’s second album, Larger than Life and was one of four singles that reached the Billboard Hot 100. I owned this record and listened to it a bunch. I wasn’t alone because it sold more than four million copies around the globe. At this point, Watley had already placed three songs in the Billboard Top 10 and landed the Best New Artist Grammy Award in 1987. So she … Read entire article »
Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men
There is no middle ground on “Who Let the Dogs Out.” Some love it. Many hate it. In fact, besides kids under the age of 7 or adults under the influence of overpriced beer and under-buttered popcorn at sporting events, I’m not sure anyone in their right mind loves “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men. But back when the song was new and still had its bite, the Grammy Awards committee awarded Baha Men with … Read entire article »
Start the Commotion – The Wiseguys
During the 20th century (you remember 1900-1999), virtually all one-hit wonders became hits because the songs were played on the radio. Hit radio stations pounded popular songs into listener’s minds and their ears into submission. The formula was simple: Radio play = sales and sales = more records for the artists. That all started to change in the late 1990s and is dramatically different in the 21st century when video games, TV commercials and even cell … Read entire article »