Black Music Month Challenge - Podcast Trilogy

Black Music Month Challenge 

Off the bat - the thoughtfulness of each day’s theme is much better than the “30 day song challenge"
Day 1 - A song that makes you feel invincible “Time for some action” aka "Time 4 sum Aksion" Redman Day 2 - A song that gives you hope/encourages you - "Keep Ya Head Up” Tupac ShakurDay 3 -  A song that instantly changes your mood - “Rump Shaker” Wreckx-n-Effect Day 4 - Your Favorite song from a soundtrack - “No Shelter” Rage Against the Machine - Godzilla 1998 Movie Album Soundtrack Day 5 - A song you listen to when you’re angry - “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, we’re all going to go” Curtis Mayfield Day 6 - A song that tells a story - "Midnight Train to Georgia" - Gladys Night & the Pips Day 7- A song that brings you Peace or comfort - "Everyday People” Sly & The Familiar Stone inspired “People Everyday” by Arrested Development 

Day 8 - The first song on your house cleaning playlist  - I don’t clean the house to music - so I changed this to cooking “Ham & Eggs” by A Tribe Called Quest

Day 9 - You’re killing everybody at Karaoke with this song - “Cult of Personality” Living Colour 

Happy Father’s Day 

Black Music Month Challenge Part 2 (Days 10-19)

Day 10 - A song dedicated to your Haters and/or Naysayers  - “Takeover” by Jay-Z… I hate to through 'Nas under the bus — but this song is great. I think it’s my favorite ‘diss track of all time…

Day 11 - Your Favorite Hip-Hop Collaboration  “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest ft/ Leaders of the New School (L.O.N.S.).  Question is Black Starr a collaboration or a group?) if so “Definition”?

Day 12 - A song that was your parents’ jam that is now your jam  (anything by Kool & the Gang)

Day 13 - Your Favorite R&B duet - “You’re all I need to get by” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 

Day 14 - Your Favorite Remix (guess what song is NOT eligible) - Get Ur Freak On  REMIX Missy Elliott (w/ Nelly Furtado) 

Day 15 - A video you wish you could’ve been in 

Day 16 - A song that reminds you of your first love - “Water Falls” TLC 

Day 17 - The blackest song you can think of

Day 18 - The sexiest song you know

Day 19 - A cover that you think was better than the original - Jimi Hendrix “All Along The Watchtower” 

Day 20 - A song most people love that you actually hate  

Day 21 - A song that makes you feel warm and fuzzy — California Soul by Marlena Shaw

Day 22 - A song that always puts you in your feelings 

Day 23 - Your idea of a perfect song  — Grover Washington Jr version of Inner City Blues (Make me Want to Holler)

Day 24 - A song attached to to a great memory - Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC

Day 25 - A song guaranteed to make you dance  

Day 26 - A must have song for summer functions  - Outkast — Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac) 

Day 27 - A song with your favorite lyrics 

Day 28 - Your life is a movie, what song plays over the opening or ending credits  — GZA/Genius Pro-Tools Album has a song called “Life is a Movie” and it’s perfect for ending credits 

Song of the summer 2018

Song of the summer 2018 

Back on June 8th I asked you guys if Childish Gambino’s “This is America” is the song of the summer.  

Rosco got a Dog named “Linus” - Plus andrew has a dog — sooooo — we’re likely going to have our first dueling barking dogs on this podcast. 

You guys told me no then — and you were right - but Rosco had a great take on  Donald Glover - you said you think he might be an unprecedented artist. Huge music star, huge actor and created/writes a huge show which he also stars in. Dude is like a certified quadruple threat. 

Will you guys at least give me the take that Childish Gambino is the greatest actor/comdian to pop music transitions ever. Other examples, Rick Springfield’s Jessie’s Girl and who can forget Eddie Murphy’s ironically amazing “My Girl Wants to Party all the time” collaboration w/ Rick James. 

At the time Rosco also said the song of the summer “might’ve been ‘Nice for what’ by Drake until Pusha T murdered Drake with at least 2 epic diss tracks. Totally agree with that take at the time. This song’s got nearly “half a billion” listens this summer on spotify alone. It’s got everything you need in a summer jam. Great beat, great hook, big star is the performer - i can see that song as perfect for the pool, the beach, the bar, a road trip, anywhere. 

Andrew Patterson is the guy who said to me in the year 2011- "We found love in a hopeless place is my official Jam!"

Back on June 8th - Andrew Patterson said the Camila Cabella’s “never be the same” was the run away winner. 

Apparently the "Never be the same" song is on the country charts and pop charts. 

Rosco said — at the time — “Just listed to Never be the same, probably one of the 5 worst songs i’ve ever heard.” What a hot take Rosco P !

It does have 348 million plays on spotify. I listened to yesterday. Here’s the problem, it’s wildly popular, but it’s way too slow to the the song of the summer, and the fact that i’ve never heard it in a bar, or in someone’s car, or during a baseball inning switch, etc… too slow. Also as Rosco pointed out — it’s not great. 

Worth noting that her smash hit “Havana” is quickly approaching 1 Billion listens on Spotify. 968 million listens. That song kind of took the baton from “Despacito” and ran with it. Latin influence, amazingly catchy chorus  — if that came out at the correct time it might be song of the summer. 

Rosco had another hot take - everybody who still likes country should be thrown in Jail immediately

Fast forward to Aug 2nd and where the heck are we with this "4th annual song of the summer podcast”

Well I agree that Pusha T seemed to have killed Drake’s album release - and Drake got punched by Kendrick Perkins during the Cavs - Raptors series. It was a tough spring for Drake (by Drake’s standards). 

But then - because it’s 2018 — Instagram became the source for the Song of the summer of 2018 — because instagram combined social media, with a challenge, and with a pop song. 

I speak of course of Drake’s “In My Feelings” aka the soundtrack to the viral internet sensation of 2018 the "Kiki Challenge”. Before I start, this song is like a throw away version of “Nice for What” — but then it crossed over on instagram as weird combo of “the harlem shake and the ice bucket challenge"  

Here’s my take on “In My Feelings”

Social media found a way to pull a Drake song off the scrap heap and overcome the fact that Pusha T chopped him off at the knees in late May.

A song literally was made popular and mainstream due to a not very well know comedian posting a video of him dancing to the beginning of this song outside of an open car door of a “parked car”. And a month or so later — we’ve got people doing the challenge in moving cars… we’ve got people making their dogs do the dance outside of moving cars and most importantly we’ve got people “FAILING” in epic fashion to perform the Kiki Challenge

I read this quote, “Many people attempting the viral dance have been injured in different countries, prompting police across the world to warn citizen against doing the Kiki Challenge.” Well, any time the cops tell people “don’t do it” — that’s gonna make even more people want to try it. 

The Trend allegedly began when comedian “Shiggy” post the first video of dancing. Only on 2018 would the most popular song be fueled by a 12 second instragram video, and people failing to do succeed at the challenge to the amusement of everyone and to the chagrin of the authorities. 

Pour yourself a cup of coffee, Google the term “Kiki Challenge Fail” and kick back and cringe — it’s amazing

Kiki Challenge Fails: 

Saw a girl fall of a horse in one

Saw a dude get hit by someone else’s volvo in one

One girl get’s out of the car and her dad yells “Eff the Kiki challenge” and drives away while she shrieks. 

Foo Fighters at Fenway was pretty badass — but the awkward bar at the Club Quarters hotel - might have been the highlight of the evening.

Tales from Newport Jazz fest w/ Rosco P

What’s your personal favorite song of the summer?  And what’s you least favorite song of the summer? 

My Fave: Lil Duval “Smile (Living My Best Life)” featuring Snoop Dogg and Ball Greezy (who sounds fake). The chorus contains language that some would call explicit — but it’s really really catchy and Snoop gives about 65% effort in this one — which is like 40% more than he’s given since 2003.

Least Fave: Camilla Cabello with Pharrell “Sangria Wine” — that’s a bad effort from Pharell and a bad effort from Camilla. They’ve both done great prior work — but this one is a stinker

The Middle - by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey - approaching 450 million spotify listens —this song is likely one of the best examples of a song that actually is on the radio, on in bars, on at sporting event telecasts, on in dentist office waiting rooms, etc 

2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction preview

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2018 - Song selection picks

thoughts are with Huey Lewis - cancelled all future tour dates due to hearing issues

Place listening - Amarillo, TX / Nudgee Australia  / Sao Paulo Brasil / Petaling Jaya Malaysia

Nations of Hungary and Jamaica checked in this week as well. 

What songs will 2018 Rock Hall of Fame inductees play during the ceremony - and who is the best person/ artist to induct them??? 

likely 3 or 4 songs make the televised ceremony on HBO

Bon Jovi: Inductor (Emilio Estevez of Young Guns 2 fame), one of the captain’s from Deadliest Catch (theme song is Dead of Alive), Bill Belicheck? Bruce Springsteen (especially if Richie Sambora skips the ceremony, cuz Springsteen will play with them)

"Livin’ on a Prayer" 100% lock // "It’s my Life" aka Prayer part two // “Dead or Alive” // “Who says you can’t go home” (I’d rather hear Blaze of Glory, Bad Medicine, or You give love a bad name). Dark Horse is “Bed of Roses” — Please to play “I’ll be there for you” and don’t play “Have a Nice Day”. If they want to play New England Patriots TD song “this is our house” i will allow it.

The Cars: Inductor - please don’t be Steven Tyler or Marky Mark. Dark Horse Inductor — Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I think the LCD Sound System Guy, James Murphy will induct them. more on that at the end of my take. 

Just What I Needed

My Best Friend’s Girl

Good Times Roll

You’re all I’ve got tonight

Moving in Stereo — the Phoebe Cates pool scene song from Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Shake it Up

Magic

Drive 

Let’s Go 

The Song “Blue Tip” off of Move like This album is basically the LCD Soundsystem  Starter kit song - it’s good

The Moody Blues - again no clue who will induct them

Tuesday Afternoon

Nights in White Satin

I’m just a Singer (in a Rock N Roll Band) 

Your Wildest Dreams - their 80’s hit 

Question

“I know you’re out there somewhere” - their other 80’ hit has a slim shot 

“The Voice” has a shot

"The Story in your eyes" is a decent jam- good riff, great harmonies  

“english Sunset” is pretty interesting and decent too

Dire Straits:  These dudes are the kings of the 7 minute slow song - almost narrows their choices down to like 5 of their songs. 

I have No clue on who will induct them

Sultans of Swing 

Money for Nothing 

Romeo and Juliet

So Far Away 

Walk of Life 

They have a song entitled “Calling Elvis” which is kind of cool, but again 6:33 long and never heard it until my research for this podcast

Hot Take — i don’t think Dire Straits should get in. This is why LL Cool J was a better choice. If you won’t perform and you’re still alive - that’s messed up

Nina Simone - if Lauryn Hill is in singing shape — she better be involved in this tribute — Since Nina is no longer with us, this has a chance to be a fantastic medley of singer songstress all-stars 

Alicia Keys will likely be involved // honestly Adele might be a great fit here

"Feeling Good" is a no-brainer - such a Classic jam - great horns — great song 

“Sinnerman” 10:22 live version from NYC in 1965 is still very well known

“Baltimore” — super funky song — i think it’s a potential song they’d play

"I wish i Knew how it would feel to be free"

She has a song called “Mississippi Goddamn” — i think it will resonate with the times 

“to be young, gifted and black” - so many of her songs are incredibly appropriate for our time and space here in 2018 

“I put a Spell on you” - strong candidate

Nina does a nice over of “Here comes the sun” by the Beatles  

Sister Rosetta Tharpe  - they better get Eddie Van Halen to induct her - cuz this lady did things with the guitar that were so ahead of her time, it’s not even funny

“That’s all” - her guitar work os like Early Johnny B Goode 

“Sit Down” - catchy pop song - great acoustic guitar work 

“Shout, Sister, Shout!” - also catchy, got some sass to it

“Nobody’s fault but mine” - Did Led Zeppelin cover this?!?!?!?! - they did but modified lyrics. Written in 1927 by Blind Willie Johnson  

“Jericho” - great 2 min diddy 

Team USA , NCAA scandals & Stoneman Douglas

Places listening Uganda, Ukraine, Poland and Brunei Darussalam

Unofficial Sponsor of the week - Meat & Potatoes in downtown pittsburgh. but the whale at the distrikt hotel - no ham for eggs benny and no bloody mary mix — for brunch

WINTER OLYMPICS: Seems like 10 years ago, Curling wasn’t on the radar. It below up on TV during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Kept it’s momentum in Sochi inn 2014, and then we had a Gold Medal winning USA team in 2018 in Peyongchang

Of course the United States has embraced and risen to the top in an “activity sport”. Americans love activities / we don’t as a overall rule like exercising in the snow

We got Norway a tiny Nordic country winning all types of gold medals, especially in sports that are physically taxing (Nordic Skiing) and scary as scary gets (Ski Jumping)

Other “activity” sports that Americans would likely dominate in - Bean Bag Toss (already have seen it on like ESPN News). 

Beer Pong aka Beirut. Dartmouth Pong for sure - because it uses ping pong paddles and balls already - and table tennis is a sport already

Darts would be dominated by europeans but darts = why not ? Make it an olympic sport. 

But Congrats to USA Men’s Curling - that’s an awesome Surprise Gold Medal, and huge congrats to Team USA Women’s Hockey for winning the golf medal over Canada. It’s their first Gold Medal since the 1998 Olympics, and stopped Canada’s gold medal steak at 4. 

NCAA scandal - coaches getting caught on FBI wiretaps discussing bribery and payoffs to steer recruits to potential destinations. 

The answer to all of this could be as simple as capitalism. 

Currently, athletes get their scholarship, and a small stipend some times, and that’s it. They aren’t able to make money via their likeness. 

And that’s the opportunity to get the dirty money out of paying these players. 

Let them become endorsers for local business in the university’s area. 

Let them become endorsers for university sponsors. 

Let them appear in ad’s for the local pizza shop, or if they are they great of a player, for a national pizza hut ad campaign. 

It’s third party money, paying for the endorsement of a product, or for hosting a party, or for signing their autograph.  This would make Paying the players “above board”. That takes many of the “shady business men” and hangers on away from the very best (i.e. most marketable players). 

Instead of players having to hide getting paid, or running payments through their uncle’s neighbor’s sister’s cousin to cover their tracks, the NCAA could spend to money they currently waste on chasing these kids, on providing them with vetted money managers. 

Universities could let these elite athletes, do independent studies for course credit and submit thesis on their business plan for their brand, their development plan for their brand, etc. 

Would it be perfect? No. Will it clean up everything entirely? That’s impossible to promise. 

But, can we surround the best people with good, honest people, and allow them to earn honest revenue? Yes. 

Can schools help these young people learn how to build their brand and manage their money, and give them course credit towards graduation? Most likely. And that just seems a lot more in the spirit of helping people develop and thrive as young adults. What’s going on now, is shortsighted, dishonest, and unfair. 

Over simplified reason that Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting aftermath seems to be going very differently for the NRA. 

#1 The NRA has been running the same playbook over and over again following these tragic events. 

But this time, instead of fighting back with the ‘faceless NRA’ the students from Stoneman Douglas are going after the elected members who accept the NRA's money. 

This has forced politicians like Marco Rubio into a tough position. And Marco Rubio is lacking in charisma, especially in debate settings and town hall typed forums. 

Emma Gonzalez is on the other hand, incredibly charismatic and articulate - and equally as important, she’s armed with the truth. 

But most importantly, Emma Gonzalez and her classmates are handling the aftermath of being mass shooting survivors, differently than folks in past shootings. 

They aren’t sitting on the sidelines. They aren’t letting 3rd party players (on both sides fo the issue) do their typical idealogical back and forth. They are instead saying, we’re speaking from first hand experience, you can’t change our narrative, we’re not letting our classmates who perished go in vain. 

2018 Rock Hall of Fame Nominees - Analysis

Breaking down the 2017-18 rock & roll hall of fame nominees

Asheville / Hi-Wire Brewery also props to High Five Coffee (best bagel sandwich i’ve had south of the Mason - Dixon Line

Places listening - 2nd place The Philippines and  3rd Place Australia // 

Top Cities listening Holden, MA / Boston, MA / Ashburn, VA and then Kilburn Australia

Tales from Vegas

Larry Flynt $10 million for info on trump impeachment

It takes guys who literally don't care what people think (Eminem and Larry Flynt) to take down a guy who will literally do and say anything

HBO’s The deuce - the main characters all coexist in a crime laced world already - what are they going to do to make it dramatic?

Here's a question for you to ponder - what the first crazy thing that's gonna happen on “The Deuce"?

I'm not counting "candy getting beat up and robbed" and going into porno as a big deal! I'm talking like mob issues for Franco or one of the main pimps dying etc

My pick the 2 ladies who are stealing money and are in a bit of a relationship are gonna kill a guy or something... or something happens to the NYU drop out - Abby

Pats are 5-2 but 3-0 on road which is the main reason I'm hopeful they're still a legit contender

Steelers D seems to be tailor made to stop chiefs, and the Pats typically have Steelers number. Pats can't like their chances if they see KC chiefs in playoffs

Rosco P of Drilling 3’s and his solo project “the way out” 

Places listening - the Nation of India #2 and United Kingdom is #3. Top Cities listening the City of Salem, India is #1 - congrats. Ashburn, VA #2 and

Bon Jovi is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Any hot takes Andrew? 

LL Cool J is nominated.  In or Out? Rage Against the machine is nominated. In or Out? 

Rosco will you explain to the listeners about fat Gavin and also why you miss fat Gavin so much

Fat Gavin flashbacks/ fat Gavin's favorites - new section of the filibusterfreestyle.com website

Essentially when I have a cheat day or just slip up - I gotta document it and go for broke

Main categories are wings, but when applicable nachos, pizza, sushi, seafood towers, any type of self service buffet

Plus I'll rate some dirty Martinis and beers perhaps

LL Cool J did more for hip-hop then almost anybody else — he helped make it commercially viable. he pretty much invented the slow jam with “I need love”.

Going Back to Cali, Who do you love, "Doin’ it" and Mama Said Knock you out — murderer’s row of jams - plus Around the way gift, Headsprung, Hey lover, Phenomenon, Rock the Bells… my goodness he’s greatness in a can — and he’s been a TV star for like 20 years

Rage Against the Machine — too original, too politically relevant, too talented to be left out — invited Rap Rock and nobody really ever touched them

Tom Morello is a handsome Vin Diesel