The only thing that binds these disparate jams together is their length which in some ways is their defining feature.All clocking in at 8 minutes or more (with only one exception by a few seconds), these songs are the musical equivalent of taking the scenic route-they might take their time to get there but when they're done you're almost always glad you took it. Without the confines of a time limit, pictures are painted more vividly, stories are longer and in more depth, and of course, the jam session is let loose. Proving that almost all artists love a little extra canvas sometimes, this playlist features artists ranging from Berry White to Wyclef, Deadmau5 to Miles Davis. Don't start this playlist if you're in a hurry but if you have a few hours to fill, jam away.
Oooooo. Now this is a jamandahalf for all you lovers out there. Before he was trying to run to be Haiti’s president (up there with the worst jobs in the world), Wyclef Jean was making jams for days and days. Starting off with the legendary Fugees, Wyclef’s solo career has somewhat surprisingly eclipsed Lauryn’s (drugs and a hatred for white people) and Pras’ (not too many recording studios in jail). Starting off with the classic The Carnival, Wyclef has been consistently been putting out dope albums for years, and never shies away from getting funky in different genres and languages. Wyclef also puts on the livest show you’ll see. Two years back a big group of us saw him at the House of Blues in LA. He got the crowd to take their shoes off and Moose hit him in the face with a sock. Wyclef loved it, and soon was drenched in a sock storm and played the rest of the night to a sockless crowd. But that’s a story for Moose to tell.
Today’s story is about “Baby,” a song that is rich in the tradition that is baby-making music. In his best falsetto, Wyclef lets his baby know that they are going to get down to Marvin Gaye, the Isley Brothers, Teddy Pendergrass, Smokey Robinson-the greats of this timeless genre. But this song isn’t just about talking about the greats; this song is about taking the genre to new heights. Dripping with cheesy lines crooned over an instantly timeless beat, “Baby” shows Wyclef talents of taking a genre, making it his own, while always staying true to the original sound. Sing this one out loud to your baby, you won’t regret it.
