iPick, YouListen

“Zin Zak”
by John LaBarbera Big Band

Stare into space or kill the lights. Fold your hands on your lap. This is the song for your least-known self: the soul. Jazz is the most powerful language I know, and it uses no words. The genre is easy to pick up with the building structure of “Zin Zak.” Begin with the bass and rhythm. The rest will carry you. The John LaBarbera Big Band can give any scene the magic of New York City with this song. Anytime you hear a single player float above the band, there is improvisation at work. Everything about that player’s style is a message. Can you tell how passionate they are about something? How angry? How cool? And yes, I’ve worked out to this song.

“None Shall Pass”
by Aesop Rock

I listen to “None Shall Pass” when I want to begin feeling on-edge. Hip Hop’s fabled grit and grime is calling, and it’s appropriately found underground. I am not going to pretend that Aesop Rock is as accessible as the shallow mainstream, but I put “None Shall Pass” here for the reason that the melodic instrumentals and beat make this tune worth giving the extremely cryptic lyrics a try. This rapper has sat on the Boston University Board of Trustees, and you will practically have an English degree by the time you understand every verse. This song is a protest. This song has a fearless rhyme scheme. This song is dark and complex, yet it will appeal to your subconscious as strongly as any other urge to rebel.

“No Regrets”
by Aesop Rock

The descent is just about finished. “No Regrets” is the final step into where Hip Hop began. This is a story. It’s about a girl’s life – beginning to end. Every line is a simple piece of the tale. The kicker: This song’s message is powerful enough to have you rethink your life. “No Regrets” is Aesop’s beautiful and friendly reminder that every day can and should be a personal achievement. This should not be your favorite song – it is not mine – but it is my favorite presentation of a very special message.

“Who”
by Tujamo & Plastik Funk

Your reward for navigating through my unpopular and contradictory taste in music is this treasure. It was about 2 a.m. in a seemingly blurry Manhattan pizza shop when I first heard this fresh slice of a genre I had begun to lose faith in. “Who” came up on the Shazam read and I was instantly in love. Finally, a House groove that you can sink your teeth into. This song is memorable because the melody is played in low tones and on the floor; the listener automatically feels heavier, unlike most House music. That’s probably why this song reminds my roomate of “gorillas having sex.” My response: Shouldn’t every party feel a bit primal?