Raekwon - Incarcerated Scarfaces

Straight from the slums of Shoalin, a force so cryptic and mystical that a single title fails to encompass all it represents. Im talkin about Raekwon, the Chef, Lex Diamonds, Louie Diamonds, Shallah Raekwon, the Black Stallion, or simply Rae. The master of slang forms one ninth of the original Wu Tang Clan, but it is off his debut solo album Only Built for Cuban Linx that the Chef cooked up a track that would become an all time rap classic. "Incarcerated Scarfaces" is simply the definition of what Rae is all about: (1) kickin the hardest, grimiest, most thuggish raps around, lettin everyone know how it happens in Staten; and (2) spittin one of the most frenetic rhyme styles around.

Few cats have the dexterity of lexicon to include so many rhymes and keep the flow fresh, but Rae relishes each line, fillin em up to the brim. The RZA cuts one of his vintage beats to accompany the chef mixing influence from the far east with the simple and rugged style that he has become so well known for. The combination is an explosion of street flavor and fly rhymin that left a mark on the rap game, that still hasnt faded for those who know where to look. I did hear that you could catch it in Ceaser's Palace eatin salads...
(For best results listen with the lyrics)

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The Roots - Game Theory

Whats up to all you cats out there in the blogosphere. My name's Moose and Im gonna be helpin out Big Leks droppin only the choicest of jams for the good people of the world. To me, what the Jam and a Half blog is all about is allowing other people to share the connection that we feel with music. We´ve got the blessing to throw our favorite tracks up here of all different styles and genres to help people hear what they want to be hearin, or what they´ve never heard before. I love music but I aint no doctor so please if you have any comments or jams that you want us to posterize holler at us.

That said, for my first jam I wanted to go with something that Ive been feelin real heavy right now, and that's Game Theory, the title track off The Roots seventh album circa 2006. The Roots have been blowin up for a cool minute now, and Game Theory was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. For a mainstream audience the album takes up a more serious tone than most of today´s current beats, and Game Theory sticks with this theme keepin the tone heavy and the lyrics real to their roots. This jam walks that fine line of casting some social commentary without getting on the political soapbox and soundin phony. In his first verse Black Thought explodes out the gates using a thumpin rythm to spark the track, and lets everyone know what Philly is really all about.

Using a real classy Sly and the Family sample (Life of Fortune and Fame), and the irreplaceable flavor of The Roots band, the track builds an intensity that carries into each verse forcing the power of the rhymes on you. After a second rock solid verse from Black Thought, Malik B comes in smokin for the closer. Hittin rhymes within lines and spinnin street stories, the jam closes out as hard as it opens. Game Theory sets the tone for the rest of the album with a force that carries you through until the end, but this Jam and a Half has got everything it needs to stand alone as a classic track.

Outkast-ATLiens

There was a time when Outkast really was “Outkast.” Not too long ago actually. That was before this whole “Put out a double cd, break up, get back together, make a bs period piece, break up, come back and put out a classic jam and a half (Art of Storytelling Part IV), break up, supposedly work on single album and a joint album” phase they’ve been on since after Stankonia. Big Boi’s been around; but Andre 3000’s been missing, on the reg. But god dern, when Outkast was really “Outkast,” they were the greatest musical duo of all time…

Outkast’s second album, also called ATLiens, was a bridge between their insanely promising debut, and their polished masterpiece, Aquemini. With a general theme of outer space and extraterrestrials among us, Outkast included, jams such as Elevators, 13^th floor, Two Dope Boyz define and highlight ATLiens. The breadth and depth of ATLiens is unparalleled in rap history, and the ease that Big Boi and Andre are able to completely switch sounds, content, and style on individual tracks shows their unreal musical versatility. While the whole album is one giant jam and a half, and many song could have higher lyrical merit, or a sicker beat, none of them are more a jam of a half than the album’s title song.

Outkast is what Southern Rap could be…no, Outkast is what Rap should be. Over a pounding Outkast/Earthtone Ideas beat, both Dre and Big Boi lay down lyrical magma. Big Boi starts off, laser beams blazing. Did he just say he was cooler than a polar bear’s toenail? Yeaaa he did. Did he say it tickles to see you try to be like Mr. Pickles? Uh huuu…Did Dre tell you that he put his glock away because his lyrics are “a stronger weapon that never runs out of ammunition”? Si chaval. ATLiens (the jam, not the album) may not be the most introspective, otherworldly Outkast jam of all time, but play it a couple times. It's two rappers, who on only their second album, are asking the world, who better? ATLiens is the jam and a half.

Nina Simone-Sinnerman

The first Jam and a Half had to be that fire, lava, magma....Had to be a jam which I've been playing a lot lately, but one that is also timeless, something you can listen to over and over and over again without ever getting tired of....Had to represent the jams that are going to be on here for as long as this blog is up....There is no other option, Nina Simone take's the inaugeral jam and a half....

Why Sinnerman? Because it's 10 minutes and 21 seconds of musical yummyness. This is a jam and a half in every way possible. Crazy vocals? check. Story? check. Emotion? so much that you can hear the mic messing up. The best musical interlude this side of Rosa Parks? check. This song is pure pooowweeerrrrr.....Been sampled a million times in rap songs, yet no one can ever capture the essence of Nina Simone at her purest. If you've never heard this song, be prepared to be blown away, if ya have, just sit back and jam a little...Sinnerman takes the inaugeral jam and a half

With every song, I'll include a download link and the youtube video. enjoy....

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