MUSIC: "You've Got A Friend"

This song is great on so many levels! First is that it is a rap song with a positive message and nothing explicitly inappropriate, which lately in the mainstream rap world seems to be a rarity. Second, the group, known as Far*East Movement (or FM for short) is a group of Asian-American MC's. People of Asian decent make up a large and growing portion of the US population and are yet severely under-represented in pop-culture.

The single, "You've Got A Friend", featuring Lil' Rob and Baby Bash, extolls the benefits of not only being a lover but a friend at the same time. This is the Los Angeles-based group's first real mainstream single, however, many people may recognize them from the soundtrack to The Fast & the Furious. Although simple and sweet, this song will become an earworm if you're not careful! Either way, its not a bad one to have on the brain if it does.

Sergio del Limonar

MUSIC: The Adventures of Bobby Ray

First off, I would like to declare publicly that I am NOT obsessed with B.o.B. despite the fact that I have now blogged about him twice in the past two months. My bad. I can't help it if he's one of the only people putting out decent music these days...

If you liked "Nothin' On You" and want more more more, then check out his just-released album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray. If you're cautious and want to test the waters slowly, check out the single islander-tinged "Lovelier Than You," or "Ghost In The Machine" which is a genre-crossing cover song in the making, if I ever heard one! By my personal favorite is "Magic" featuring the bubbly and smooth vocals of Weezer frontman, Rivers Cuomo, and is the perfect blend of rap and pop-rock that make the late-2000's a great time to be a hip-hop fan.

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Nothin' On You" video

Last month I ZONINO!ed about my favorite of-the-moment jam "Nothin' On You" by Atlanta new-comer B.o.B. (featuring the delicious Bruno Mars). Well, that was before I had seen the amazing music video. I love the song; I am infatuated with the video! It looks like it was done using a combination of stop-motion photography and scrap-booking to make it but it turned out fantastically! Check it out here and could someone please have Bruno call me?!?!

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Need You Now" cover

A great song is a great song, no matter the genre. About a month ago, Sergio ZONINO!ed the Lady Antebellum hit single "Need You Now". Not being a huge fan or follower of country music, it took me a second to figure out why the version I heard recently by R&B group, Ahmir, sounded so familiar.

The cover, done in four-part harmony with standard R&B stylings, holds true to all the pain, longing, and angst of the original version. Though not a duet this time around, the lyrics and message are just as powerful. The new single is available on iTunes so go download it now!

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Nothin' On You"

Atlanta just seems to know what's going on in the rap game! New-comer B.o.B. (also known as Bobby Ray Simmons) and his single "Nothin' On You" is burning up the charts, all of them! Not only is this jam ZONINO! but you pretty much have to know this if you're not going to make an ignorant fool of yourself at the bars. Featuring vocals from Bruno Mars this slow groove is perfect for a remixed dance track and as a funky cruising tune in your car.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I like a hip-hop love song that never mentions "ho-in'" or "pimpin'." So thank you, B.o.B., for saying that "they [the girls all over the world] got nothing on you [me]."

Buzzy

YOUTUBE: 2009 World Hip Hop Dance Championships (Series)

As an avid "So You Think You Can Dance" fan, I am enamored each and every time a contestant is selected to do a "hip-hop" routine. I, shamefully, have to admit though, that I don't always 'get it.' I mean, half the time, to me, it looks like The Matrix with extra pop 'n' locking and weird facial expressions going on.

Whatever the case, this series of videos of the finalists and winner of the 2009 World Hip Hop Championships is entertaining. The 4th place Philippine All-Stars (from the Philippines, no doubt) were actually my favorite but only because of the Michael Jackson sequence and their general ability to sacrifice their bodies by flying haphazardly through the air a lot. Singapore's own razor sharp Joyce and the Boys earned a 3rd place finish and Neutral Zone, from Mexico, was the first runner-up.

France's R.A.F. Crew took first place though I couldn't tell you why. But then again, I don't understand what is technically "hip-hop" about any of this. I've never seen LL Cool J or Mary J. Blige bust these moves on BET any time recently...

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Wavin' Flag" charity cover

Toronto (by way of Somalia) artist, K'naan, has been making waves all over the music world with his unique style of hip-hop as well as the messages of his songs. His internationally released second album, Troubadour, have down well in the both the US and Canada and has had several hit singles. One of these, "Wavin' Flag" was selected as the 2010 FIFA World Cup theme song. But K'naan clearly wasn't done working with this catchy and inspiring hit; the songs latest incarnation isn't going to do anything to impede skyrocketing career any either!

Joining together various other Canadian artists in a "We Are The World"-like fashion, the Young Artists for Haiti charity campaign re-worked the tune as a fundraiser and tribute to the earthquake ravaged people of the Caribbean island nation. Featuring performers such as Nelly Furtado, Avril Levigne, Kardinal Offishal, Deryck Whibley (Sum 41), Fefe Dobson, and Justin Bieber (yeah, I know) among others Canadians are probably more familiar with, the recording couldn't come at a better time, as it seems our collective attention span has forgotten the number of people still in dire straights that still need assistance. Rapper/singer Drake asks it best with the new line "how come when the media stops coverin', and there's a little help from the government, we forget about the people still strugglin', and we assume that's really all love again?"

Buy this single on iTunes and support the rebuilding efforts, especially if you didn't want to get the remade "We Are The World" abomination, as good as the cause was!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: "Put It In A Love Song"

Two of my favorite pop/R & B music singers have finally collaborated on a song together. Featured in Alicia Keys' new album, The Element of Freedom, the song "Put It In A Love Song" pairs the piano-playing superstar with the equally empowering and beautiful Beyoncé Knowles.

The song, a little different from the stand tell-off jam, demands that the man quit saying he loves his woman and really prove it by showing her through other romantic measures. The women croon "You say you love me...then put it in a love song! You say you need me...the put it in a letter form!" The beat is great too so get ready to hear it played on repeat on the radio and probably find it on a few soundtracks this year.

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Meet Me Halfway"

While I still love me some "I Gotta Feeling" and don't think I've ever not dance when this Black Eyed Peas song comes on, even all alone in my apartment, I love Fergie's voice even more. The girl can blow and I love songs that feature her vocals, like "Shut Up" and "Don't Lie." It's about time for another...

The sultry and smooth "Meet Me Halfway", off their 2009 album The E.N.D. gives Fergie plenty of center-stage space. Plus, the video has will.i.am riding an elephant on the moon. I think that might be ZONINO! enough right there.

Buzzy

MUSIC: The Blueprint 3

A couple months ago I Zonino!-ed the single "We Run This Town" from Jay-Z's newest album, The Blueprint 3. I finally got around to purchasing it (because I love me some H.O.V.) and it is definitely one of his best to date.

The aforementioned single is fabulous but I'm hoping to hear his collaboration with Alicia Keys, "Empire State Of Mind," on the radio soon. Keys belts out the chorus with abandon, "Now you're in New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't do!" while Jay-Z raps about Gotham itself.

Other highlights that you should download now are "On To The Next One" with Swizz Beatz, "Already Home" with Kid Cudi, and the retro-sampled "Forever Young" featuring British R&B singer, Mr. Hudson.

Most of the tracks are produced by Kanye West, who, despite probably being a huge jack-ass in real life, is a genius in the studio. Timbaland steps in twice as well, as do The Neptunes in a song featuring Pharrell.

If you're a Jay-Z fan, you will definitely appreciate his rhymes and classic flow style on this album. If you're new to the scene, this is a great introduction to why Jay-Z is the best.

Buzzy

MUSIC: "We Run This Town"

Back in my college days I went through a phase where I could not get enough of...wait for it...Jay-Z. Yes, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" was my ring tone and I always rushed the dance floor when I the DJ put on "Can I Get A..." but I eventually let the obsession fade. I occasionally indulge myself and crank the radio way up in my car when I hear a collaboration with Rihanna, Kanye West, Nas, or the dozen or so times he's gone into the studio with his wife, Beyoncé.

Recently, however, my infatuation - neurosis, really - was rekindled when I stumbled up the video for "We Run This Town" with aforementioned frequent musical partners Rihanna and Kanye West. The song, off Jay-Z's most recent album, The Blueprint 3, is fantastic, but the video is ever better. Directed by Anthony Mandler, the same guy who did Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable," Nelly Furtado's "Maneater," and pretty much all of Rihanna's hits, has created a scary-cool underground rebel world full of stylish thugs, gangstas, and revolutionaries. (Plus, I would do anything to join this gang if it meant I rock a pair of shades like the ones Rihanna has.)

Now, excuse me while I go dig out my Hard Knock Life album and reminisce with my old friend...

Buzzy