Big Boy Chill’s 7 Artists He Can’t Live Without

The Mississippi born and bred M.C. is inspiring in his ability to highlight the every day struggle’s of growing up south of the Mason Dixon Line. That in itself gives me the motivation to get up, get out, and do something constructive each day, and his production is phenomenal! That makes for easy listening and trunk rattling bass when I’m riding in my car.

Next to Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude is very much a protagonist in the long association of Marijuana and Hip-Hop music. Though I’m no smoker, Devin's comical stories, delivered over tight grooves and samples, rival those of a classic Cheech and Chong movie. I listen to Devin tha Dude when I need a good laugh, or to gain some inspiration from not only a lyricist, but also a DJ, producer, and songwriter, of which he does them all.

The late legendary soul singer Issac Hayes is whom I listen to when I need to mellow out, or if I’m experiencing some heartache. His wise poetic lyrics help me make sense of it all, not to mention he was a brilliant conductor of music. His music, timeless.

Probably one of the dopest MC’s to touch a microphone in the 21^st Century, Kendrick Lamar is highly regarded in hip-hop right now, and is on the fast track to being one of the greatest to do it. Though he's new to the game and has much time to prove himself to become one of the great's, I'll only pressure him to be himself and to continue to make the thought provoking hip-hop that he does. Though I wasn't raised in the rough streets of Compton as Lamar did, I can relate to a time where the neighborhood I grew up in was reminiscent of a place that the world only heard West Coast MC's of the 90's rap about.

After my high school senior prom, Tank set the tone as I slid the sunroof back I and participated in a bit of tonsil hockey with a p.y.t., who shall remain nameless. I’m a bit of a singer, shy to an extent, but also as an aspiring songwriter, Tank would be one of the main singer’s I would credit my influence too. I hosted a concert featuring the R&B crooner once, two words, “nerve wrecking.” It was well worth the embarrassment that only I felt, and no one in the audience noticed. Though I didn't get to actually meet with him during the show, I actually had a chance to hang out with him for a few hours, months previous to the concert I hosted. He was just a regular down to earth person.

Considered one of the greatest rappers ever to touch a microphone, Tupac Shakur will always be my favorite rapper, simply because he was afraid of nothing. The fearless MC holds a place in my CD collection far greater than any individual artist that I can think of.  Whenever I need a break from the new rap music, and I want to hrear that raw in your face music, I pull out the classic styling’s of none other that the late and dearly departed, Tupac Amaru Shakur.

Simply because of possibly one of the greatest R&B cd’s ever in the history of music, “Confessions,” Usher will always be one of my favorite artists. Want to soften your lady up fella’s? The ‘Confessions’ and ‘My Way’ albums will help you get the mood right! Now if we can just get him to stop making that EDM crap, the world of R&B would be a much better place.