Notorious B.I.G.

They're making a movie about him already. I got curious 'cause, you know, rapper's dramatic and chaotic life. Kinda like Tupac's. Well, apparently, they were linked. Their fights and issues were in the same time in the 90's. Very interesting story and somewhat disappointing. What I have here is just the summary. You can check the whole story here.

I didn't know him at first, but when I got to listening to his music, I realized I know him after all. I know his music, not his name.


Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), popularly known as Biggie Smalls (after a gangster in the 1975 film Let's Do It Again), and his primary stage name, The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper.

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Wallace grew up during the peak years of the 1980s' crack epidemic and started dealing drugs at an early age. When Wallace released his debut album with the 1994 record Ready to Die, he was a central figure in the East Coast hip-hop scene and increased New York's visibility at a time when hip hop was mostly dominated by West Coast artists. The following year, Wallace led his childhood friends to chart success through his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A. ("Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes"). While recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the East Coast-West Coast hip hop feud, dominating the scene at the time.

On March 9, 1997, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His double-disc set Life After Death, released fifteen days later, hit #1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in 2000. Wallace was noted for his "loose, easy flow", dark semi-autobiographical lyrics and storytelling abilities. Since his death, a further three albums have been released. MTV ranked him at #3 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time. Because of his success and influence on music, he has become a cultural icon.

Juicy - THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

Filthy Youth

If you know who Chuck Bass is, you gotta hear The Filthy Youth!



This English band consists of Ed Westwick, Benjamin Lewis Allingham, Jimmy Wright, John Vooght and Mitch Cox. Before Ed Westwick became Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl, he first had this band. Their music is Indie, Punk, Rock, Trip Hop. This band is really getting there. No record label signed yet, but they are active on making their band work and be known by the people.

You can visit their Myspace account and facebook account.

City Stop - The Filthy Youth

Superbus

Superbus is a five-piece French power pop band formed in 1999.

After a trip to the United States to perfect her English in 1999, Jennifer Ayache went looking for musicians to make a group. She met Michel Giovannetti, a guitarist, and François Even, a bassist, who already knew each other from another group, and formed a new band. They started out as a three-piece before 2 other members joined.

Those two were later replaced by Guillaume Roussé (on drums), and Patrice Focone (on guitar). Roussé quit the band in 2005 and was replaced by Greg Jacks.

The band got their name from the Latin word superbus, meaning proud, which Ayache stumbled upon while browsing a Latin dictionary.

Superbus' style is reminiscent of a vast array of bands, from No Doubt to Sum 41, via Weezer, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blink-182 and Sublime (and may I add, Save Ferris).

In 2002, Superbus released their debut album, Aéromusical. The band's second album, Pop'n'Gum, released in 2004, was produced by David Salsedo from Silmarils. In 2005 they won the Best French Act award at the MTV Europe Music Awards

Superbus also made a debut in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock with their song Radio Song, featured as an unlockable bonus song.

According to the Sikoras, Superbus are the founders of 'girl noise garage rock', a genre involving garage rock mixed with girl noise.

They kinda remind me of Cibo Matto, too. Not in terms of music. Well, sort of. Haha! :) Anyway, Superbus makes French sound cooler than it already is!

Superstar - Superbus

Esthero

My friend gave me a copy of her songs from different albums. Love love :) Galing nya. Not the usual you hear on normal day-to-day case basis. She sings so sweetly but her lyrics are ass-kickers. Kinda like Lily Allen a bit, but not quite. Hehe! Angas kasi Esthero, but you wouldn't notice that in most of her songs. You wouldn't even imagine she looks like this. Haha! :) Very beautiful and talented. Props! :)


Esthero (born Jenny-Bea Englishman, December 23, 1978 in Stratford, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter who hails originally from Toronto, Ontario, but has recently moved to Los Angeles. The name Esthero, pronounced [ɛsˈtɛroʊ] es-TAIR-oh, refers both to the singer and formerly to the two-person team of herself and producer, Doc. She claims to have gotten the name by combining the name of the heroine (Esther) and last line ("If I am to be the hero, then I cannot fly from darkness.") of the movie from Sylvia Plath's novel, 'The Bell Jar'.

Esthero's sound characteristically features her voice over a mix of mellow bass lines, jazzy trumpets, Spanish guitar and hip-hop. She is sometimes compared to artists Björk, Portishead and Sade . Later artists who count Esthero among their influences include Res, Fergie and fellow Canadian Nelly Furtado.

Esthero's brother, Jason Englishman, is also a musician.

O.G. Bitch - Esthero

Alice in Chains

Very old, right? Hahaha! One of my favorite grunge bands. Of course, my number one is Nirvana. If you don't know Nirvana, I don't know you. HAHAHAHAHA!


Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by guitarist Jerry Cantrell and vocalist Layne Staley. Although widely associated with grunge music, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and acoustic elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released three studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations, and two DVDs. The band is known for its distinct vocal style which often included the harmonized vocals of Staley and Cantrell.

Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. It was one of the most successful music acts of the 1990s and sold over 14 million albums in the United States alone. The band achieved two number-one Billboard 200 albums (Jar of Flies and Alice in Chains), 11 top ten singles on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, and six Grammy Award nominations.

Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was plagued by extended inactivity due to Layne Staley's problems with substance abuse, culminating in his death in 2002. Alice in Chains reunited in 2005 and as of 2009 have been working on their first studio album in 14 years with new lead vocalist William DuVall.

Jayme influenced me, too for listening to them. She still gets chills, listening to Layne's voice. I love their blending 'cause it's very unique and distinct with his husky and rugged voice. Hahaha!

Down in a Hole-Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains

Sorry I have to post two of their songs! Hahaha!

Nutshell - Alice In Chains

Aimee Mann

Okay so let's take a trip to my playlist, shall we? :) First, the previous one, K's Choice, and then Aimee Mann. Wait for the next one. Hahaha!


Aimee Mann (born September 8, 1960) is an American rock guitarist, bassist, singer, and noted songwriter. She has won one Grammy Award (for the packaging of her album The Forgotten Arm).

Early Solo Career

In 1993, Mann released Whatever, her first solo album. Promotion suffered due to the collapse of her label, Imago. With modest sales, the album was critically praised and paved the way for her next release, 1995's I'm with Stupid, through Geffen Records. Again, reviews were positive, but sales were weak.

Mann recorded Bachelor No. 2, but Geffen saw no hit singles in the material and ordered her back to the studio. The album languished while Mann and the label fought.

Meanwhile, film director Paul Thomas Anderson, for whom Mann's husband Michael Penn and Brion had composed a soundtrack, became a close friend. Mann gained greater public recognition in 1999 — indeed, more than for anything else since "Voices Carry" — when she contributed eight songs to the soundtrack of Anderson's Magnolia, including the Academy Award and Grammy-nominated song, "Save Me". Anderson deliberately worked from Mann's lyrics to create the film's characters and situations. Mann soon became sought after as a soundtrack contributor.

K's choice

K's Choice is a Belgian rock band from Antwerp, formed in the mid-1990s and touring as recently as 2006. The band's core members are siblings Sarah Bettens (lead vocals, guitar) and Gert Bettens (guitar, keyboard, vocals). They are joined by Eric Grossman (bass), Jan van Sichem Jr. (guitar) and Koen Liekens (drums). The band has produced gold and platinum albums, and has also appeared on an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There's so much to say about this band. Jayme introduced me to this band. Check it here. They're one of my favorites. I even named my phone after one of their songs, Mr. Freeze. I love Sarah's vocals. Very much! :D

I like this song of theirs very much. I love to play it over and over again. :)

Everything for free - K's Choice