Dream Variants: Good Songs

I've been neglecting my hip-hop and R&B lately since I've been listening to mostly jazz for the past few weeks. I'm a little disappointed in myself. So here are several really good funk, soul, and hip-hop songs I really like. Have fun!

The Pharcyde-Passin Me Be
A love poem about high school love and an ode to the "dopest Ethiopian." Great song, great samples, great lyrics.

Now in my younger days I used to sport a shag
When I went to school I carried lunch in a bag
With an apple for my teacher cuz I knew Id getta kiss
Always got mad when the class was dismissed
But when it was in session, I always had a question
I would raise my hand to make her stagger to my desk and
help me with my problem, it was never much
Just a trick, to smell her scent and try to sneak a touch
Oh, how I wish I could hold her hand and give her a hug
She was married to the man, he was a thug,
His name was Lee, he drove a Z,
he'd pick her up from school promptly at three o'clock
I was on her jock, yes indeedy I wrote graffiti on the bus
First I'd write her name then carve a plus,
with my name last, on the looking glass,
I seen her yesterday but still I had to let her pass

She keeps on passin me by
She keeps on passin me by
She keeps on passin me by
She keeps on pass

When I dream of fairytales I think of me and Shelly
See she's my type of hype and I can't stand when brothers tell me
That I should quit chasin' and look for something better
But the smile that she shows makes me a go-getter
I haven't gone as far as asking if I could get with her
I just play it by ear and hope she gets the picture
I'm shootin for her heart, got my finger on the trigger
She could be my broad, and I could be her nigga
But, all I can do is stare
Back as kids we used to kiss when we played truth or dare
Now she's more sophisticated, highly edu-ma-cated
not at all over-rated, I think I need a prayer
to get in her boots and it looks rather dry
I guess a twinkle in her eye is just a twinkle in her eye
Although she's crazy steppin, I'll try to stop her stride
Cause I won't have no more of this passin me by

And I must voice my opinion of not even pretending she didn't have me
Strung like a chicken, chase my tail like a doggie
She was kind of like a star, thinking I was like a fan
Dude, she looked good, down side: she had a man
He was a rooty-toot, a nincompoop
She told me soon your little birdie's gonna fly the coop
She was a flake like corn, and I was born not to understand
By lettin her pass I had proved to be a better man

She keeps on passin me by
She keeps on passin me by
She keeps on passin me by
She keeps on passin me

Now there she goes again, the dopest Ethiopian
And now the world around me be gets movin in slow motion
whenever she happens to walk by why does the apple of my eye
overlook and disregard my feelings no matter how much I try?
Wait, no, i did not really pursue my little princess with persistance
And I was so low-key that she was unaware of my existance
From a distance I desired, secretly admired her
Wired her a letter to get her, and it went:
My dear, my dear, my dear, you do not know me but I know you very well
Now let me tell you about the feelings I have for you
When I try, or make some sort of attempt, I symp
Damn I wish I wasn't such a wimp!
Cuz then I would let you know that I love you so
And if I was your man then I would be true
The only lying I would do is in the bed with you
Then I signed sincerely the one who loves you dearly, PS love me tender
The letter came back three days later: Return to Sender
Damn!

She keeps on passin me by..

The JBs-Pass the Peas
Great funky song with trombone from James Brown's backing band

D'Angelo-Devil's Pie
I love me some neo-soul, especially funky neo-soul. This hip-hop-influenced song is too funky.

Erykah Badu-Soldier
This jam was produced by Madlib (at least I think so). Cool vibe and good beat.

TLC-Creep
One of my fav songs of all time. Great beat, catchy lyrics.

Funkadelic-Can You Get To That
More traditional/doo wop-influenced soul from a great funk band.

Black Sheep-The Choice is Yours (Revisited)
With a jazzy bass sample from my boy McCoy Tyner, pianist known for his collaborations with John Coltrane.