Kanye West, 'Graduation' (Roc-A-Fella)
Is it still arrogance if you can back it up? Yes.
By Charles Aaron 11.06.07 4:00 AM
According to the historical record, an English professor (Donda) and photojournalist (Ray) brought Kanye Omari West into this earthly cipher in Atlanta in 1977. But in actuality, the rapper/producer was born in the hip-hop ether in 1997 with the release of the orgiastic video for the No.
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The Rainbow Connection
Music Editor Charles Aaron imagines a conversation between R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and chef Mario Batali, if they'd stayed up Wednesday night listening to Radiohead's In Rainbows in Stipe's TriBeCa penthouse loft, and later went out for food at an unknown location, possibly where saffron risotto was being served. Then the music kicked in.
By Charles Aaron 10.11.07 3:00 AM
"Oh, pipe down and eat," says Stipe.
"I do soliloquize at times."
"A tad."
"But the beat on '15 Step' is just so, oh, ambrosial, I could eat it with an acorn squash caponata."
"So glitchy, but so decadent, I know."
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1977: The Year Punk Exploded
Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? The president was a crook, and the saviors of the '60s were either dead or wallowing in bloated luxury. Then punk showed up screaming.
By Charles Aaron 09.20.07 3:00 AM
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Lolla on Shuffle
Spin music editor Charles Aaron breaks down the iPod shuffle-like Saturday bill.
By Charles Aaron 08.05.07 3:00 AM
The eager, smooth-voiced Q101 radio jock worked himself into the requisite I'm-not-just-saying-this- because-I'm-paid-to lather, babbling on about how long it's been since the next act to grace the AT&T stage has played Chicago, eventually booming loud enough so that his platitudes reverberated all the way back to the food court:
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Your Logo Here
Spin music editor Charles Aaron chimes in from Chicago on Daft Punk and deft branding.
By Charles Aaron 08.04.07 3:00 AM
"How ya'll doooo-aaooowww-ing!"
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They Came from Hollywood
Oh, Billy Bob. Oh, Minnie. Oh, Scarlett. Aren't your movie stardom and its attendant riches enough? Why must you go and make records, too?
By Charles Aaron 07.30.07 3:00 AM
"Put it in my hand and tell me how much pressure it takes to get you off!"
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