"Here, Listen To This"

I was in the preview section of the local newspaper today. Cool huh? Here's the article. Props to my bredren Kevin Young for inviting me to participate.

"Here, Listen to This" Published: 2006-10-12

This installment of "Here, Listen To This" finds us sharing this space with Robert Ellington, known to many as Papa Robbie, as he was promoting a couple of songs he just finished mastering. After agreeing to be interviewed, he subtly plugged his MySpace page (www.myspace.com/paparobbiemusic) and his blog page ( http://mrellington.blogspot.com) . Now it is time for Robbie to wax nostalgic and offer some music criticism in the process.

BECK - "Think I'm In Love": Catchy. I like it. Sounds like something very retro, but still having a nice feel to it.

WAYLON JENNINGS - "Theme To The Dukes Of Hazzard": Oh my God. This takes me back to, like, the fifth grade when I was looking forward to Friday so I could watch this on television. This and and Jerry Lee's song from "Smokey and The Bandit," "East Bound and Down" were the first country songs I heard and remembered. I can't listen to this without seeing the car jumping over a hill. I had a General Lee. Of course, this was before I understood the whole Confederate flag thing.

HERVE VILLACHAIZE - "Why Do People Fight": Is this Tatoo from "Fantasy Island"? (Papa laughs as this writer nods, "yes"). Sounds like a melancholy Oomp-Loompa. Did he really expect to be taken seriously?

TOO MUCH TROUBLE (AKA THE BABY GETO BOYS) - "Invasion Of The Purse SnatChers": This kind of music was my guilty pleasure in high school and college. It was so over the top. Back then it was more the exception. Now it seems to be the rule. Not the most complex lyrics. They sound like they're fighting rhythm. A third-grader could've written better.

MEGA BANTON - "Sound Boy Killing (Remix)": Ah, Mega Banton. This is the best of both worlds for me, reggae and rap. They're using a Barry White sample. Mega borrowed his flow and gravelly voice from Buju Banton. It's proof that, when done right, there can be a great marriage of hip hop beats with dancehall.

GEORGE CLINTON - "Atomic Dog": I'm a P-Funkateer. Takes me back to middle school, when I was in the arcade. Never understood the lyrics, but I loved it ... probably best left to the imagination. I got friends in Omega Psi Phi who'd automatically get to steppin' when this song came on. This and Zapp were the basis of West Coast rap for awhile there.This came out in 1982, I think. (grins) I'm an old man.

PUBLIC ENEMY - "Rebel Without A Pause": I'm catching flashbacks right now. It's like this, P.E. is the greatest hip-hop group ever - even Run-D.M.C. There, I said it. My mom would go crazy when I would listen to this on my radio. She'd say " What's that!?!? It sounds like a tea kettle!" You know this came out between their first and second albums as a B-side to the first album. They're the greatest because of the message, the innovative production, and because Chuck D.'s voice is so commanding. I could listen to this over and over. Our basketball team came out to this song. My wife can't stand P.E. She's says it has too much chaos, just like mom.
-Kevin Young