Benjamin Kassel
"B.O.B": misunderstood frantic goodness
Outkast's magnum opus has taken on quite an interesting life since its 2000 release.
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Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 11, 2022
- 3 min
"She Wants to Move": Hard for me to define, easy for me to love
Simply put, it's N.E.R.D — that says more than any genre label.
Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 10, 2022
- 4 min
As a production, "Otis" has blown me away for more than a decade
You don't sample and rap over Otis Redding and get away with it... right?
Unless you're Ye and Jay.
Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 9, 2022
- 4 min
Revolutionary commentary from the early 70s (2/2)
Gil Scott-Heron took on a decidedly different perspective from the Last Poets in his response to "When the Revolution Comes."
Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 7, 2022
- 4 min
Revolutionary commentary from the early 70s (1/2)
As I ponder various current events and prospects for "revolution," I turn to the Last Poets' Harlem-based perspective toward social change.
Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 3, 2022
- 4 min
I appreciate "Day 'n' Nite" now more than I ever did before
I only came around to hip hop a few years ago, but more recent developments make it resonate with me even more now.
Benjamin Kassel
- Feb 14, 2022
- 3 min
"California Love" was a perfect soundtrack to this year's Super Bowl Sunday
...especially considering the halftime's West Coast hip hop theme perfectly matched the game's outcome.
Benjamin Kassel
- Feb 7, 2022
- 4 min
Dissecting why I love "King Kunta"
Kendrick Lamar's funky 2015 single remains a personal favorite for a slew of reasons, many of which come back to what I like in older music.
Benjamin Kassel
- Jan 10, 2022
- 3 min
"3005" is an inner monologue on "real" friendship and love
Through his celebrity lens, Childish Gambino questions the trustworthiness of, frankly, anyone who seems to be a friend in the digital age.
Benjamin Kassel
- Nov 17, 2021
- 4 min
The whole of "Shook Ones, Pt. II" is far greater than the sum of its parts
From insane samples to hard-hitting rhymes and a splash of motivation, Mobb Deep's signature track is an all-time great rap cut.
Benjamin Kassel
- Nov 10, 2021
- 4 min
In its various forms, "Beggin'" has been a standout song for over a half-century...
...and I had to figure out which one version I liked / wanted to write about the most.
Benjamin Kassel
- Oct 12, 2021
- 4 min
Fugees' cover of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" holds its own and then some
In reinterpreting Roberta Flack's soul classic, Lauryn Hill does the heavy lifting, but she's also never alone.
Benjamin Kassel
- Oct 9, 2021
- 5 min
"DEAD RIGHT NOW," a reflection on fake friendship and love in the wake of stardom
One of the many highlights on Lil Nas X's debut album, its personal narrative stands out to me.
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