First off thoughts and condolences go out to Dr. Dre and his family. Keep you heads up.

The biggest record of the moment seems to be “Swagger Like Us” from TI, Jay, Wayne, and Kanye. Dropping this record at the time that the song it sampled, M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes,” is playing on top 40 radio all over the country is very smart. My question is who’s got the most “swagger” out of all the people in mentioned above? I am going with M.I.A. It is kind of late for people to get up on this girl but she makes dope music and will be a superstar by the time her next album drops.

Also if you like “Swagger Like Us” and “Paper Planes” you should check out the original song they sampled, The Clash’s “Straight To Hell”. Check it out below. The Clash are one of the best bands and their album, London Calling, is amazing.

On another note, did anyone catch Daddy Yankee with John McCain? Huh? If this doesn’t show McCain’s age I don’t know what does. If hip hop is dead then what does that make reggaeton? Daddy Yankee had a hit a couple of years ago and since then his career has been over. You may argue that in Arizona he is huge but the reason a presidential candidate aligns with a contemporary musician is appeal to the youth vote and people stopped finding Daddy Yankee appealing on a mainstream level was 2005. But maybe McCain is kind of smart because Yankee’s last album was the top selling Latin album for that year. The grassroots approach might be McCain’s best move. So who does he align with when he needs to get the backpacker’s support?

DP