All Things To All People
[Purchase Book] The Rose & The Briar is a collection of essays (and a couple stories) about the American Ballad — the folk story-songs that our grandparents grew up with, the first hit songs. Granted, the original instances of them being hits…
Hello & welcome to What It Is! This is a column that I’ve been telling myself I should start for awhile (ever since Matt asked me to contribute to the site!) but just haven’t really known what to talk about — then…
Isaac Hayes has probably been the greatest discovery I’ve made since my record collecting took a turn for the serious. Not being familiar with anything by the Black Moses I was blown away by the two songs included in the film “Dead…
“Did you ever, when you were younger, attempt to write your own dirty joke?” “I don’t know.” “Like, you know, in 1st Grade or thereabouts, when some of the kids were just beginning to learn about sex and whatnot, and there’d be…
Cover of Desire [Purchase CD] Pharoahe Monch should be a star. But he isn?t. If not a star than he should be a legend whose name is on the tip of any head?s tongue when discussing the best emcees to bless us…
Cover of King Dork [Purchase Book] As most people know, there’?s a recent young adult novel that has made it to the top of a lot of folks? reading lists, even those who aren?t actually young adults. It?s already been optioned for…
So, there’s this big shot talent agent. He’s got a great reputation. He manages most of the really huge acts and almost any newcomer he takes on becomes a huge star in a matter of months. He’s got great connections and a…
Cover of Bayani [Purchase CD] The Scholars, or The Blue Scholars to those of you that don’t call the 206 home are Seattle’s long hyped and only recent claim to Hip Hop fame. They are emcee Geologic & producer/instrumentalist Sabzi and with…
The Pick-Up Artist is a new reality show on VH1 (Monday nights, then repeated ad-nauseum) starring a man named “Mystery” who is a “Master Pick-Up Artist”. He’s on a mission to turn some geeks into into smooth operators. Or nice guys into…