''M'' TALKS ABOUT MUSIC

TALK ABOUT MUSIC.

I have always considered music to be similar to both fashion and food. This being that these three elements comprise of rather parallel characteristics in which people tend to like or dislike certain components of each element in accordance with personal or even inherent taste, reasons, and if you like attraction. Simply put, everyone has their own taste in music, fashion and food. Basically, I think it could be broken down to people liking or disliking certain areas, genres, parts, components, styles and so forth that exist and in fact make up each of these three elements. This contrast or even disagreement is what I believe makes each of these elements so interesting, intriguing and alluring, and in effect loved or hated. We as humans see, hear and taste things differently.

Consequently, my favorite song may well be, and I am sure is, the most hated by countless numbers of people around the globe. The same goes for my taste in food and fashion. Nevertheless, there is an infinite amount of music, food and fashion out there to discover. Keeping an open mind provides us with so much more opportunity to discover a hint of what we cannot entirely consume. Anyway, this is some of the music I have discovered along the way. 

♪♪♪　　♪♪　♪　　♪♪♪♪　♪♪♪　　♪♪　♪　　♪♪♪♪　

I guess I like non-mainstream music. Not necessarily underground, but at the same time, not well known by the masses. The first act I would like to talk about is the Hilltop Hoods. I first heard of the Hilltop Hoods back in 2000 when I heard their classic “1979”on a local underground radio station. The Hilltop Hoods are an Adelaide based Australian hip hop consortium comprising of MC Pressure and Suffer as well as DJ Debris. These guys are what turned my music away from American based hip hop and full steam towards local Australian gear. Their style, lyrics, attitude, and of course accents, are the driving force behind their magnetism, to me anyway. I feel like I am able to relate to their story and funnily enough, I am the same age as both MCs and this is reflected in their classic line “I was 3 years old in 1979” – this kind of fortified an instant bond I felt. Nevertheless, their music can be heard by anyone. Although comparable to certain types of other Australian hip hop, it is different to the general style of hip hop out there and therefore highly recommended for at least a listen to. Other Australian hip hop artists I can highly recommend are the Funkoars, Pegs, Downsyde, Koolism and Draft.

The second act I would like to introduce is an artist who goes by the name of Gentleman. I must admit, I have never really been a big fan of reggae. Reggae was okay to listen to in small doses, but I could never listen to it for expended periods. That was until I discovered the voice and music of Gentleman, which was by pure luck. But that is another story. Gentleman creates cruisy beats laced with sweet vocals that make you feel simply happy. His songs put you on a natural, feel-good high. I guess his music could be defined as soul food. However, Gentleman isn’t your typical reggae act. He is a native of Germany and learned to speak fluent Jamaican Creole traveling and living between Jamaica and Germany for the better half of his life. Although you may be somewhat confounded hearing him singing in flawless Jamaican, Gentleman genuinely deserves respect for his talent, heart, and work which transcends any cultural contrasts that may urge any judgment upon him for his lack of Jamaican nativeness. Some of my favorite songs are “Intoxication”, “Send a Prayer”, “Love Chant”, “See Dem Coming”, “Unconditional Love” and “Serenity”, which is off his newly released album “Another Intensity”. Be sure to check him out.

♪♪♪　　♪♪　♪　　♪♪♪　　♪♪　♪　　♪♪♪　　♪♪　♪　　♪♪♪　　♪♪　♪