As the more observant may have noticed, I’ve made roughly two dozen new additions to the blogroll on the right–in addition to several other adds on the more comprehensive links page. Other than the stuff I throw in the Google Reader Icon that I’m convinced no one reads, I regretfully share the wealth far too little. So consider this post an attempt to pay penance for the link languor,

While all the latest sites get my much-sought after endorsement (next time you’re looking for 304 more votes, come to me, Franken), I’d like to shout out a few specifically. Forgive me if it ends up sounding like the unlistenable “outro” litany on Food and Liquor, where Lupe gives props to everyone who ever said “bless you” after a sneeze.

• 17 Dots: The official blog of my sometime employers eMusic, who help keep me from subsisting entirely off ramen and thus, earn the “Roc Boys Award” (i.e. the most important person next to LA Weekly, with all due respect)
• People’s History of Hip-Hop: The new blog from Oh Word wordsmith, Abe “Jim” Beame.
• Basement Elevation: A blog from local Vibe scribe, Jason Parham.
• Buzz Bands: From good friend and excellent, age-defying short-shop, Kevin Bronson. A revival of the much-missed Buzz Bands column that ran in the LA Times until earlier this year, Buzz Bands is essential reading for any Angeleno curious what’s going on in this sun-stunned city.
• Chaos Out of Order: A sports, pop culture, and politics blog from Matthew Bilinsky, whom I have known since I was three years old. Its tagline reads”where megalomania meets heart and soul.” Appropriate.
• Elitaste: Blog of Wale manager and all-around-music guru, Daniel Weisman, whose name, for once, will be spelled properly (the extra “s” adds panache…just saying).
• Fake Shore Drive: The encyclopedia on all things Windy City.
• Hip-Hop Is Read: Crate-digging, must read blog from Ivan, my fellow Hip Hop heeb from the city of Angels.
• Hipster Runoff: Funniest blog around. Bar none.
• Hurt You Bad: Best graf site I’ve read in many moons.
• LaundroMatinee: Very cool new video blog specializing in exclusive recording sessions, brought to you by the great Dodge of My Old Kentucky Blog.
  
• Lyrics to Go: John Q’s successful attempt to make me buy an external drive.
• Major League Jerk: Acerbic, sports-obsessed and jerky. Real recognize real.
• Pay Tray: Look Tray, I’m going to send you traffic. In return, start liking things that aren’t Rick Ross.
• Slav is My Name: Vibe and (ex?) Source contributer, Slav and I go back like M. McFly in a Mr. Fusion-powered DeLorean.
• Smoking Section: Between SS, The Rap Up, and Nah Right, you could become an expert on contemporary hip-hop in three weeks flat. Which, in a way, explains the Internet.
• T.R.O.Y: Spun out of the Phila Flava forums. In just four months, these dudes are hands down, 2008’s blog R.O.Y.
• Tinyluckygenius: Chicago Reader and Chicago Tribune writer, Jessica Hopper, ponders life’s pressing questions–like why wasn’t “Ya’ Mama’s on Crack Rock” a bigger hit?
• Whatevs: Uncle Grambo’s back, in Tumblr form.

And I’m spent.
Download:
MP3: Nas-”Made You Look”
MP3: David Bowie-”Changes”

Stumble It!

This entry was posted on Monday, December 8th, 2008 at 3:35 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.