Part One is here.
Part Two is here.
You’re reading part Three!
H is for . . .
My Humps-Alanis Morrisette. Is Fergie hip hop? No, I guess not. But she studied at the knee (on her knees?) of Wyclef Jean. I’ve never figured out why he ruined a really solid rap group by adding Fergie into the mix. No, wait, I did figure it out: $$$$.
The video for this is a must-see:
H is also for Dan Black’s cover of B.I.G.’s Hypnotize. My favorite Biggie hit, this cover turns this dance anthem into . . . A real song?
I is for . . .
I Need Love-Sexton Blake. There’s something charming about this awkward cover. It sounds like nerds trying desperately to get a hot chick. It’s interesting how the same song by LL Cool J is a seduction, not a plea.
Ignition (R Kelly)-Bonnie Prince Paul and Matt Sweeney. R Kelly is more smooth-thug-luv than rap, but he’s gangsta enough to gay bash and get charged with rape, so there you are.
Speaking of R Kelly, this may depart from the theme, but it’s so damn funny….
http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf
J is for . . .
Jimmy (M.I.A. cover)-Of Montreal. M.I.A., like Santogold, is part hip hop, part pop, part soul. I’m not a huge M.I.A. fan, but Danny Boyle made great use of her ubiquitous “Paper Planes” tune in Slumdog Millionaire, the third best movie of 2008 (regardless of what the Oscars said).
J is also for Christmas in Hollis (Run DMC)-Jungl Ed.
K is for . . .
Dirrtylicious (Destiny’s Child)-Keane. DC is also borderline not hip hop, but since Beyonce is nailing the greatest MC of all time, we’ll let ’em in.
KT Tunstall’s cover of MIssy Elliot’s Get UR Freak On.
K is also for Kelis. Richard Cheese-Milkshake (Kelis)
L is for . . .
Some more LL Cool J covers:
Luka Bloom-I Need Love. Lots of rockers like to cover this tune. Not sure why. It’s a lame rap, maybe that’s why guys like this think they can do it. Doesn’t work for me.
Mama Said Knock You Out-Lagwagon
So Fresh, So Clean (Outkast)-Lloyd Dobler Effect This is a live version with a drum machine. It’s not very imaginative, but it’s cool.
