Someone took a look at my screen name recently and asked me if I liked heavy metal, as she figured me for more of a rap fan. A rap fan? I don’t know if it was the way I come into work in a fuzzy yellow FUBU sweatsuit and a Kangol, or it could be the way that I refer to my co-workers as my dawgs. It could also stem from my throwing gang hand signs around and talking about my girl, J-lo. Perhaps it’s the colt 45 40′s littering my cube or my reliance on the phrase “You steppin’ to me, biatch?” every time I’m asked to do something. Or it could be the way I rhyme everything. Or the linoleum. I don’t know. Whatever it is, I’m not really a big rap fan, yo, so don’t get all up in my grill. Word.

Anyway, I revisited the Friday buy this week, and may have confirmed what I deny. I do like some rap. I like all kinds of music. This week’s Friday buy:

• Dr. Dre – Chronic 2001 (rap): As an NWA fan, I thought that this would be a good addition to the collection. I must admit that I’ve barely listened to it. It’s a little rough, not very clever, and I really don’t know if I like it.
• The Donnas – Spend the Night (rock): If the Ramones were a group of teenage girls, they would’ve been the Donnas. Donna A., Donna C., Donna F., and Donna R.: God bless ‘em.
• Down – II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow (metal): I listened to the first Down album, and set out to buy it…and bought their second album because it was cheaper and had more tracks. I should know by now not to do this as I always get burned. It’s ok on the second listening. Why Down? It’s composed of Pantera’s Philip Anselmo, Corrosion Of Conformity’s Pepper Keenan, Crowbar’s Kirk Windstein, Todd Strange and EyeHateGod’s Jimmy Bower. It’s a good combo.
• Slayer – Diabolus In Musica (metal): Produced by Rick Rubin, who produced Slayer’s latest masterpiece, God Hates Us All, this is an outstanding piece of metal. This a huge winner in my book even on the first listen.
• The Distillers – Sing Sing Death House (punk): This is your typical L.A. pseudo punk trying to be pop while keeping it’s punk cred. It seems ok so far.
• Missy Elliot – Under Construction (rap): I bought this album based solely on hearing two songs over the store’s sound system. It was just that good. I was groovin’ along moving my head around like only a white guy can the whole way home. I hate to admit it, but although this is not the most well written or clever of rap albums, it is chock full of old hip hop references and devoid of negative sentiments. If you go for the feeling that an album gives off rather than the lyrical content, then this is a winner. A hip hop hibby to the hibbity hip hip hop you don’t stop rockin…chwi chwhi freeeeeesssh.

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