Lesson XI: Rehab (remix) by Amy Winehouse and Jay-Z

Goes to prove all you need to get some radio play is a Jay-Z verse on the end of your song. Consider this, Rehab was a great song before S.Carter got his hands on it. But what readio station in the States was playing it? Now you can't escape it.

And since Winehouse is already a regular on the blog scene, I'm going to talk about Hovie's verse. At first I was disappointed. Jay has found himself a formula from starting the verse by yelling young to saying that every time he tries to leave they pull him right back. I knew that with a swag like Jay's he would never admit lyrically to being an addict so he'd obviously have to be addicted to being fresh which is what he said. But when it comes down to it, it's still an awesome verse. He goes for a few throats, makes a few good metaphors, and at the end has a killer flow which is an aspect of Jay-Z that he recently has forgotten. Kingdom Come, Iceberg Slim's last release, was his weakest catalog of flows. The man who once claimed to change his style "every two lines" on his release was now rapping into his ready made formula. But this verse is tight as all hell and more importantly it's got Amy Winehouse all over the radio.

Lesson X: The General by Dispatch

I chose this song because not only is it Dispatch's most recognizable tune, and not only is it an awesome song, but I am going to see Dispatch with my most awesome cousin Steven and my best buddy Frank at Madison Square Garden this month so I'm stoked.

The intro riff is jazzy, funky, and chord melody all at the same time. Perfect lead in, definitely catches the ear and the rhythms are crazy. The vocal comes in over just the guitars and dynamics are shown at full force. As the drums enter to a staccato guitar, they sound rather militant and marching band. Then the pre-chorus comes in with those funky rhythms again! Next thing you know the chorus is blasting you into a scene of forgiveness, melody, and just plain perfection. Everyone who ever went to a college party can scream this hook. It's irresistible.

Right into the little change over, which I must say is genius. When you're doing a song that has the same chords through the entire song and trying to make it sound good, pristine attention to detail in the breaks and dynamics are the only way to keep the song interesting. Then the drop down and the back end of the song reprises the chorus from a tiny frame of it into a huge harmonious outpouring of hook, hook, and more hook.

This band is sick and this song is awesome. I saw their supposed last show in Boston and it was so fucking kick ass. Like 100,000 people on a field in downtown Boston, 98 degree weather, people in trees, water bottle fights, and Dispatch. Their harmonies are awesome, their lyrics are intensely great, African hand drums, rhythms, they have everything. Check them out, they're all over the internet. And if you have a kidney to spare, maybe you can get into MSG and see them with me. Hooty hoot.