25 More, McNabb, and More

Business…here’s a piece on the supposed black-on-black crime perpetrated by Terrell Owens on Donovan McNabb. Enjoy.
Also, if you’re on the update list, check the post directly previous. I didn’t send a notification of that one.
While I was in the car the other day, a few songs came on the boPod that made me realize that I should do another 25 songs that I wish I’d written. Part of the reason I do these is to hip folks to music they may not have heard before. Because of the broad cross-section of folks on this site and the broad cross-section of music that I listen to, I think there’s something everybody can learn from this. And if not, oops.
Listed in no particular order.

Children’s Story – Slick Rick. Of all the songs on the incredible Great Adventures of Slick Rick, this is the standout. The story told is so incredibly detailed while entertaining and cautionary. If you don’t think Slick Rick is one of the most gifted emcees ever, I don’t want to know you.
What’s Happening, Brother – Marvin Gaye. I still contend this is a better song than “What’s Going On.” Just check some of these lyrics from his hypothetical discussion with his brother, just back from Vietnam. “Hey, what you know good?/I’m just getting back like you knew I would/war is hell, when will it end/when will we start getting together again?/are things really getting better like the newspaper says?/what else is new, my friend, besides what i read?/can’t find no work, can’t find no job, my friend/money is tighter than it’s ever been…” And so much more.
Round Here – Counting Crows. I believe Adam Duritz is one of the more underrated writers in the game. It was hard for me to pick just one of their songs to put on here. This one makes it just for the first couplet. “She steps out the front door like a ghost into the fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white/in between the moon and you, the angels get a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right.”
Stand by Me – Ben E. King. This is maybe one of the ten greatest songs ever. So bittersweet, but the dedication he’s offering is clear and undeniable.
Kind of Blue – Miles Davis. And I can’t even play the trumpet.
Sympathy for the Devil – Rolling Stones. “Satisfaction” and “Gimme Shelter” are generally considered the top two songs in the Stones’ uneven catalog, but this is Jagger’s masterpiece. And if you ask Keith, he might really say that Mick’s the devil.
Murder – UGK. Bun B’s verse. That’s all I have to say. Showing you the lyrics doesn’t say enough. Download the song or go buy that classic album it’s on, Ridin’ Dirty.
Hurricane – Bob Dylan. I don’t wanna be like Bob Dylan. Mr. Jones wishes he was someone just a little more funky. However, this is spectacular.
Yo Yo – Little Brother. Thank you, Phonte Coleman, for fully expressing how I feel about those underground hip hop clowns. Not all you underground folks are clowns. Just a lot of y’all.
Down and Out in New York City – James Brown. “I was born in New York City on a Monday/like I was out shinin’ shoes by Tuesday noon…” That’s no joke.
Mic Check – Rage Against the Machine. And that’s for this. “On this mic device I spit non-fiction/who holds the power?/that is the question/the mass or the few in this torn nation/the priest, the pope or the congregation/poli-tricks that shove it all down your zone/or those that give police the keys to their hones?/the pig that’s free to murder one, she-clack?/or survivors who make a move a murder one back?” Yessir.
The Dance – Garth Brooks. That’s right, Garth Brooks. Not keen on too much of his stuff, but this is the one. “And I’m glad I didn’t know the way it all would end/the way it all would go/cuz I would have missed the pain/but I’d have had to miss the dance.” The way I feel about every terrible job and ex-girlfriend I’ve ever had.
Never Can Say Goodbye – Jackson 5. I’ve always said the J5 is the greatest kids’ group ever because they had the best written songs. This one might be the best of them.
War Pigs – Black Sabbath. Don’t quote me, but I’m pretty sure Geezer wrote this. “Politicians hide themselves away/they only started the war/why should they go out to fight?/they leave that all to the poor/yeah.”
Rosalita – Bruce Springsteen. No denying–I love The Boss. “But now you’re said/your mama’s mad/and your papa says he knows that I don’t have any money/well tell him this is his last chance/to get his daughter in a fine romance/because the record company, Rosie/just gave me a big advance!” Yessir.
London Calling – The Clash “London calling, but don’t look to us/phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust.” That’s a bold, bold line. Imagine if TI said something like that about Jigga.
Gray Street – Dave Matthews Band. But only the Lilly White Version.
Stakes is High – De La Soul. “No offense to a playa but I don’t play/nigga take offense?/fuck it, gots to be that way.” Wow. There’s also this one. “Neighborhoods is now hoods/cuz ain’t nobody neighbors/they just animals surviving with that animal behavior.” Wow again. I actually don’t know how I feel about that last part.
I’ll Write a Song for You – Earth Wind and Fire. Someone explain to me how this is a B-side, please.
It’s Hell – Field Mob. This is one of those songs that made me change the way I look at hip hop. “Puttin his hands on my mama again/family ties, this is wehre the drama begins/having my mama on the floor/bitch this and bitch that/in my room praying to God/please make him get back/he’s trippin like, “she’s outta control”/so he had to be smokin/I heard her croak through the wall/she was gaggin and chokin/eleven years old, I don’t need to be hearing this shit/but in my tape deck 8Ball talkin’ bout beatin’ a bitch/and it got me confused…”
Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta – Geto Boys. Know how the Godfather trilogy shows all the places corruption lives? Same thing here.
Hurt – Nine Inch Nails. “What have I become, my sweetest friend?/Everyone I know goes away in the end/and you can have it all/my empire of dirt/I will let you down/I will make you hurt.” To fully appreciate the poignancy of this, check Johnny Cash’s version, which is much less spooky.
Ain’t that a Bitch – Johnny Guitar Watson. It makes no sense how much I like Johnny Guitar. “STopped at the supermarket to get myself something to eat/and when I looked at the prices, they nearly knocked me off of my feet/I was in the bologna section/and I had to take myself a close look/Abdul-Jabbar couldn’t touch those prices/with a sky hook/ain’t that a bitch?”
Solace of You – Living Colour. Their foray into African music. Incredible.
You’re Gonna Miss My Lovin’ – Lou Rawls. R.I.P. to one of the coolest cats ever. This song shows why–he basically says, “nobody’s gonna put this here on ya like me” and makes it sound romantic. That’s a talent.