I listen to a lot of music. I may listen to different kinds of music at different times, and with different levels of intensity at different times as well. It depends on the genre of music I’m listening to, or the particular artist/band I may currently be listening to and/or obsessed with. But I’m always listening to music.
The genre occupying most of my listening time right now is Hip Hop. The why of that – why I went from a gigantic Deadhead (still am, for that matter) who was obsessed with Furthur and traveling around the country to see them, to someone obsessed with hip hop – is another story. For the moment, I want to talk about Z-Ro, a rapper from Houston, part The Screwed Up Click.
I had never heard of Z-Ro before I picked up his 2010 release, Heroin, but I was an instant fan. He raps with an honesty and self awareness that is not seen very often in hip hop. After spending time listening to his Rap-A-Lot work, I feel like I know a lot about this man – what his childhood was like, who raised him, what he values and doesn’t value, and his overall approach to life. I think it takes courage to rap like he does.
Plus, he’s one helluva a producer, too. I love the beats he cooks up. All from his home studio. So follow the jump, and take a look at a mix of 10 Z-Ro songs I put together. All of these songs have been getting a lot of play in my iTunes.
Here’s a mix to consider. It covers five albums, all on Rap-a-Lot.
- One Two (Feat. Billy Cook) – Cocaine
- HaterZ Got Me Wrong – Cocaine
- If That’s How You Feel – Crack
- Tired (Feat. Mya) – Crack
- Real or Flake (Feat. Mike D.) – Heroin
- We Don’t Speed (Feat. Lil’ Flip) – Heroin
- Mo City Don (Freestyle) – Let The Truth Be Told
- Auntie & Grandma – Let The Truth Be Told
- These Niggaz – (Feat. Scarface) – The Life of Joseph W. McVey
- Happy Feelingz – The Life of Joseph W. McVey
So there it is. Ten songs from five albums. Z-Ro, the Mo City Don.
