Outkast - Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below CD

Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below album for sale In what he claims to be his final release as a musical performer, Jay-Z drops THE BLACK ALBUM, a sprawling, ambitious effort that rivals the best work of the rapper's already legendary career. Working with a who's who of hip-hop's most high-profile producers, the outrageously talented MC adjusts his flow and subject matter to the wildly varied tracks, proving once again just how gifted he is as a wordsmith. From the epic "What More Can I Say" (a collaboration with the Buchannans) to the brutally honest, Eminem-produced "Moment of Clarity," THE BLACK ALBUM bleeds with inspiration. Other highlights include the fuel-injected "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" (featuring Timbaland behind the board), the club-ready "Change Clothes" (which sports the Neptunes' trademark beats), and the old-school stomp of "99 Problems" (with pioneering hip-hop producer Rick Rubin). It makes one wonder how an artist at the peak of his craft could willingly put the microphone down. Hopefully, time out of the spotlight will remind Shawn Carter why he became successful in the first place, and find him back in the studio. Cedric The Entertainer. Producers include: The Neptunes, DJ Quik, Eminem, Rick Rubin, Just Blaze. Personnel: Sharlotte Gibson, Don Crawley, Leon Harris, John Legend, Kanye West, Danee Doty, Vincent "Hum V" Bostic, Cedric The Entertainer (vocals); Steven King (guitar); Luis Resto (keyboards); Jason Lader (programming). Audio Mixers: DJ Quik; Eminem; Gimel Keaton; Jimmy Douglas; Ken "Duro" Ifill; Andrew Scheps; Rick Rubin; Richard Travali; Steven King; Darrell Thorp. Liner Note Authors: Jay-Z; Shawn Carter. Recording information: 54 Sound, Detroit, MI; Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research,; Baseline Studios, New York, NY; Record Plant Studios, LA; The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL. Photographers: Walik Goshorn; Lenny Santiago; Jonathan Mannion. Personnel includes: Jay-Z (rap vocals); Sharlotte Gibson, Vincent "Hum V" Bostic, John Legend, Don Crawley, Leonard Harris, Kanye West, Danee Doty,

Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below songs For most artists who are discovered behind the mixing boards, making the transfer from producer to MC proves a daunting task. Fortunately for Kanye West, his verbal skills more than rise to the challenge of his consistently superior beats. A sprawling concept record that tackles issues of everyday life with wisecracking humor and unexpected honesty, THE COLLEGE DROPOUT confirms West's status as one of hip-hop's most refreshing voices. The leadoff single, "Through the Wire," perfectly exemplifies West's distinct vision. Recorded while his jaws were still wired shut after a near-fatal car accident, West hilariously reflects upon his predicament over a sped-up Chaka Khan sample. Other songs address potentially somber topics--ghetto life ("We Don't Care"), religion ("Jesus Walks"), and family turmoil ("Family Business")--yet somehow retain a truly hopeful spirit. Although THE COLLEGE DROPOUT features top-notch cameos from Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Freeway, Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Twista, it's clearly West's show. Personnel: Ken Lewis (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, percussion, sampler); John Legend (vocals, piano, background vocals); Tarey Torae, Tiera Singleton, Lavel Mena, Aisha Tyler, Tony Williams , Thomassina Atkins, Kevin Shannon, Candis Brown, Brandi Kuykenvall, Beverly A. McCargo, Consequence, The Boys Choir of Harlem (vocals); Eric Johnson (guitar); Miri Ben-Ari (violin); Josh Zandman (piano); Keith Slattery (keyboards); Bosko (talk box); Tracie Spencer (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Manny Marroquin. Recording information: Baseline Recording, New York, NY; Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Digital Insight, Las Vegas, NV; Edie Road Recording Studio, Argyle, NY; Full Time Dreamer Studios; Larrabee Sound North, Los Angeles, CA; Light @ The End Of The Tunnel, New York, NY; Quad Recordings, New York, NY; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; The Enterprise, Burbank, CA; the Record Plant, Hollywood, CA. Arranger: Miri Ben-Ari. Personnel: Kanye West, CLC, Consequence, Jay-Z, J. Ivy, Talib Kweli, Twista, Ludacris, Mos Def, Freeway (rap vocals); Jamie Foxx (spoken vocals); The Harlem Boys Choir, Syleena Johnson (background vocals). Producers: Kanye West, Brian Miller, Miri Ben-Ari.

Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below CD music Queens rapper 50 Cent ascended to the pinnacle of the hip-hop world in 2003, and the latter part of the year saw his crew, G-Unit, drop by with their own ubiquitous single "Stunt 101" and debut record, BEG FOR MERCY. Far from an entourage cashing in on one member's immediate success, the success of both 50 Cent and G-Unit is more of a chicken-and-egg situation. Since 1999, G-Unit's mixtape moments have been among the most sought after on the streets, helping to pump up 50 Cent's status until he exploded onto the mainstream. Unsurprisingly, BEG FOR MERCY delivers a blistering attack of street rap that survives on its own merits. While 50 Cent opens the show on "Poppin' Them Thangs," he quickly blends into the mix, as G-Unit features two other more-than-able lyricists equal to the task and well-versed in trading off with the wildly talented 50. Lloyd Banks brings an arrogant strut that plays off Buck's subtle yet angry drawl. Together and separately, they both play off 50's familiar laid back style. The most intriguing moment on BEG FOR MERCY is the torn "Footprints," which inserts a renowned religious poem into the middle of the gangster world, a fitting summation of the unique world view of G-Unit. G-Unit: 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo. Producers include: Denaun Porter, DJ Twinz, Dr. Dre, Hi-Tek, Dirty Swift. Personnel: 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Butch Cassidy (vocals); Mike Elizondo (guitar, keyboards); Daniel Seeff (guitar); Scott Storch (keyboards); Tracie Spencer (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Carlisle Young; Dr. Dre; Eminem; Michael Strange Jr.; Kevin Crouse; Patrick Viala; Steve Baughman; Steven King; Sha Money XL. Recording information: 54 Sound, Detroit, MI; Can Am Studios, Tarzana, CA; Circle House Studios, Miami, FL; Encore Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Homecookin' Studios; Larrabee Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Record One Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; Teamwork Music Studios, Detroit, MI; Westwood One Mobile Recording. Photographer: Sacha Waldman. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below buy CD music On "Death Around the Corner," 2Pac proclaimed "Murder me now, see me later," a boast which proved prophetic on both ends. While Tupac Shakur died in 1996, his music has maintained popularity and retained relevancy. That considered, the title for the 2003 documentary about his life, TUPAC: RESURRECTION, is fitting, since the spirit of the tragic thug-poet never really left the hip-hop world. The critically acclaimed movie examines Shakur's all-too-short life in a manner befitting the introspective rapper, using his own words to narrate the action, as scenes from various times in his life are spliced with images of his formative environment. Not surprisingly, RESURRECTION's soundtrack is easily the most satisfying of the various 2Pac compilations, a prismatic examination of the music produced by a constantly conflicted man. TUPAC: RESURRECTION collects 2Pac songs from all of his albums, opting to search for the most representative tracks, instead of just grabbing the hits. These tunes range in character, from the powerful, affecting "Starin' Through My Rear View" to the goofy Digital Underground track "Same Song." TUPAC: RESURRECTION also features posthumous duets with 50 Cent, Eminem and, most compellingly, "Runnin' (Dying to Live)," which combines the recorded words of 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G., his chief rival. Music from and inspired by the motion picture TUPAC RESURRECTION: THE SOUNDTRACK. Explicit. W/ Notorious Big,50 Cent,Outlawz.Incl.4 Prev.Unrel Liner Note Author: Afeni Shakur. Recording information: Echo Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Personnel: Live Squad (vocals).

Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below songs In the year leading up to the release of his third disc, CHICKEN & BEER, Ludacris' distinguished drawl could be heard all over the radio on commanding guest appearance after guest appearance, most notably on Missy Elliott's smash "Gossip Folks." Not that he needed any more airplay--his first two major releases already had the Georgian rapper well established as one of the most accomplished Dirty South crossover acts. CHICKEN & BEER is an apt title for the ravenously hungry record with few moments of sobriety, as Ludacris unleashes his most gentle of furies. In "Southern Fried Intro," he unabashedly admits to throwing all styles, even pop, into his musical stew, before firing the full-out assault of "Blow It Out," a measured, righteous, anthemic response to his doubters and detractors, including an on-point slap at talk show host Bill O'Reilly over their much-chronicled Pepsi flap. He then switches to seduction of the most swaggering brand on the hook-laden, dance-floor bound "Stand Up." As with Eminem, the way he allows his goofiness to take sway, it's easy to forget his similarly supreme ability as a wordsmith, but this forgotten secret to his success is evident throughout CHICKEN & BEER, another appealing record from the Dirty South icon. "Stand Up" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance. Personnel: Ludacris (vocals); Chingy, Dolla Boy, Eritza Laues, Tasniima Malik, Cypress Fluellen, Sandy Coffee, Lil' Fate, MJG, Shawnna, Snoop Dogg, Tity Boi, Lil' Flip, Carl Thomas (vocals); Lenny Mollings, Ruh Anubis "Moby Dick" Yazid (keyboards). Audio Mixers: John Frye; Jimmy Douglass; Lil Pat. Recording information: Audio Vision Recording Studios, Miami, FL; Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL; Chicago Trax Studios, Chicago, IL; Chicago Trax, Chicago, IL; Cutting Room Recording Studios, New York, NY; Dopller Studios, Atlanta, GA; Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA; Hypnotize Minds Studio, Memphis, TN; L.I.T.E. Studios, Long Island, NY; Overdubs Entertainment Infirmary, Baton Rouge, LA; Patchwerk Recordings, Atlanta, GA; Pitch Black Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Quad Recording, New York, NY; Sound on Sound, New York, NY; The Chuuch, Los Angeles, CA; The Cutting Room Recording Studios, New York, NY; The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; The Lab Studios, Orlando, FL; The Lab, Orlando, FL; Tree Sound Studios, Norcross, GA. Photographer: Phil Mucci. Personnel includes: Ludacris, Shawnna, 8 Ball, MJG, Carl Thomas, Lil' Flip, Lil' Fate, Snoop Dogg, Chingy, I-20, Tity Boi, Dolla Boi.

Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below album for sale DMX loves dogs, and feels a connection to them; he's certainly never made a secret of it, infusing his raps with numerous references to man's best friend. On the intro to his fifth record, GRAND CHAMP, the East Coast rapper/actor asserts his canine preference as, not surprisingly, the pit bull ("they make good companions, but even worse enemies/it's all in how you take 'em"). It's a fitting portrait of the gruffer-than-gruff-voiced, remarkably uncompromising hardcore rapper, who leaves the listener to either embrace his stark world or get the hell out. GRAND CHAMP reveals DMX to be as fierce as ever ("only know how to be one way, that's the thug"), spewing his usual blend of unconstrained love and vitriol. He follows the intro with one of his trademarked laying-it-on-the-line rants before launching into a series of furious condemnations. Like 2Pac and Nas, DMX has learned the value of the schizophrenic combination of the inspirational and the ultra-violent; he could be his own greatest companion and his fiercest enemy. It's this quality that makes him one of the most intriguing hip-hop superstars out there, and GRAND CHAMP continues his larger-than-life legacy. Personnel includes: DMX, Swizz Beatz, Chinky, Sheek, Syleena Johnson, Infa-Red, Cross And Drag-on, Eve, Jadakiss, Cam'Ron, Big Stan, Monica, Magic Val, Patti LaBelle. Producers include: Tuneheadz, No I.D., DJ Scratch, Joaquin "Waah" Dean, Swizz Beats.