Rainy Day Playlist
Today is one of those perfectly rainy Summer Sundays, and with music as my muse I am inspired. Like most summer rains, today's storm is merely a brief reprieve from the scorching heat. So I offer this short list of dope tracks to get you through til the sun shines again. ENJOY!
"I Wish That It Would Rain" - Mayer Hawthorne
This guy gets points for creativity and pure dopeness alone. Usually I would be the first to knock yo' grandmama down on my climb to the nearest soapbox, so I could rant and rave about the co-option of black music + white muscians+how we black folks can't have nuffin*SMH* But I'm sorry ya'll, Mayer Hawthorne's just has too much soul to be labeled a copycat. He's down ya'll (or @ lest I hope he is) ;/
"I Wish it Would Rain" - The Temptations
Now I shouldn't have to even explain this one. I would be remiss to compose a rainy day playlist without this soul stirring classic. Just peep how Ruffin shakes the hell outa the microphone while hitting those notes and don't forget the dudes in the back. People dancing in unison can always make me swoon. No Groupie.
"I Wanna Go Outside In The Rain" - The Dramatics
Now imagine how broke ya' heart's gotta be before you think about playing in the rain. Listening to this dude makes me think my man's feet are dangling from the curb with a serious case of drunk sock all around the ankle, like he's lost his best friend.
"The Rain" - Oran "Juice" Jones
Meet the original JUICE MAN. This video is pure crack, 80's fashion, HIGH-larious montages, and the voice-over midway through is too good. "The Rain" is the consummate you broke my <3 now PHUCK OFF, it's like an Rn'B punk song. "You without me is like cornflakes without the milk." They just don't write lyrics like that anymore. (Sigh)
"Rain" - SWV
It's SWV, duh...
"Purple Rain" - Prince
If there was one thing we could send into outer space to show signs of human intelligence, I would send up PURPLE RAIN (movie) and THE PURPLE ONE's entire catalog. It's never been a contest with me, there is only 1*index finger goes up* Prince.
"Love Reign O'er Me" - The Who
Because Pete Townsend is a genius and figured out a way to capture the best thunderstorm of the century on wax.
"I Can't Stand the Rain" - Anne Peebles
Most of us young bucks don't know Nann' about Anne Peeples, but are more familiar with Missy Elliot's song of the same title that sampled this 70's chart topper. Feel free to check out the studio version of this song, but I kinda dig this rustic version.
"Candy Rain" - Soul 4 Real
Because kid groups that can really sing and dance are cute!
"Walk On By" - Isaac Hayes
Anybody that can think of an album title called, HOT BUTTERED SOUL, really is thee black Moses. In the words of Paul Mooney, "Know Ya' History."
Make it Rain - Fat Joe ft. Lil Wayne
Because I'm ignant, and felt like concluding this post with a random Lil Wayne song. Hey, at least it's got "Rain" in the title.
