The Roots Are Now Platinum

The seminal hip-hop record Things Fall Apart has finally gone platinum, making this the first of The Roots albums to do so.
'Bout damn time. 

Grammy Predictions 2013

The Grammys are fast approaching so, as promised, your boy is gonna weigh in on the pettifoggery: 

Look for Frank Ocean to walk away with a bundle of awards tonight. He is the sort of artist the Grammys loves to be seen supporting; a young, fresh singer who is seen as an advocate for the LGBT community. 

Adele is gonna win for pop performance of the year. Take that to the bank. 

If The Roots Undun doesn't win for Hip Hop Album of the Year I will be extremely upset. That album was genius. If Take Care wins, I won't be as mad. If Nas wins I'll be pissed. Ever since Dream Hampton outed the dude for using ghost writers I can't cheer for him. 

The Grammys love Jack White. Don't ever forget that. Too bad they are in the same category as Mumford and Sons, who were originally called The Grammy Bait, but were talked out of it by their PR guy. They did keep their suspenders and their folk songs about broad, relatable themes, however, so Babel will win the rock Album of the Year. 

I hope Alabama Shakes win for "Hold On". That song is dope. If Springsteen wins, my scoff will be heard from coast to coast. 

Frank Ocean takes home the big one for Channel Orange. 

Paste Magazine's 50 Best Albums

For some reason, (most likely to be FIRST!!!), blogs and magazines begin releasing "Best of 2012" lists in November.  Here is Paste's 50 Best. 

I would like to take the moment to give the credit that was lost as a casualty to this FIRST!!!ness to The Roots' Undun. 

50 Grimes – Visions
49 Kelly Hogan – I Like To Keep Myself In Pain
48 Lord Huron – Lonesome Dreams
47 Baroness – Yellow and Green
46 Damien Jurado – Maraqopa
45 Punch Brothers – Who’s Feeling Young Now?
44 Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
43 Stars – The North
42 Bettye LaVette – Thankful N’ Thoughtful
41 Of Monsters And Men – My Head is an Animal
40 Todd Snider – Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables
39 Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
38 Dr. John – Locked Down
37 Shovels & Rope – O Be Joyful
36 Cat Power – Sun
35 King Tuff – King Tuff
34 Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory
33 Howler – America Give Up
32 Woods – Bend Beyond
31 The Avett Brothers – The Carpenter
30 David Byrne & St. Vincent – Love This Giant
29 Killer Mike – R.A.P Music
28 Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
27 John K. Samson – Provincial
26 Bob Dylan – Tempest
25 Grizzly Bear – Shields
24 Justin Townes Earle – Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now
23 Jens Lekman – I Know What Love Isn’t
22 Hospitality – Hospitality
21 The Lumineers – The Lumineers
20 The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth
19 Rufus Wainwright – Out Of The Game
18 Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
17 Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
16 Tame Impala – Lonerism
15 Jack White – Blunderbuss
14 The Walkmen – Heaven
13 The Shins – Port Of Morrow
12 El-P – Cancer 4 Cure
11 The Men – Open Your Heart
10 First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
09 Beach House – Bloom
08 Japandroids – Celebration Rock
07 Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
06 Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls
05 Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
04 Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel …
03 Titus Andronicus – Local Business
02 Father John Misty – Fear Fun
01 Frank Ocean – Channel Orange

Joey Bada$$ and the Roots Crew