![]() ![]() Meek Mill performed the song at the NBA All-Star Game, and recently, on Monday Night Football. Los Angeles Laker LeBron James has used it as a hymn to reflect on his career. Though “Dreams and Nightmares” is Philly to its core, the song’s appeal is far-reaching. What the world loves about the Rocky movie franchise exists in this song - only its origin story for “Dreams and Nightmares” is on Berks Street in North Philadelphia. “Dreams and Nightmares” is Meek Mill’s story, sure, but it’s also a quintessential underdog anthem. The song is so beloved, playing it at gatherings is a must, which is a testament to its staying power. As soon as the song drops, people rap along to it passionately, no matter where they are: cookouts, parties, homecomings, even weddings. The first few seconds of “Dreams and Nightmares” establishes its tone, similar to what Juvenile’s “ Back That Azz Up” does at parties, or UGK and OutKast’s “ International Players Anthem (I Choose You)” does, well, just about anywhere. “Most know how it feels to ‘see your dreams unfold’ and ‘nightmares come true.’ ” “The reason ‘Dreams and Nightmares’ resonates is because we literally know how it feels to be counted out,” said Al Torrance, a high school teacher and unofficial historian of Philadelphia’s rap scene. Ten years after its release, “Dreams and Nightmares” still gets just about any crowd hype. The song is a survival story that not only puts Meek Mill’s life on wax, but also speaks to the harrowing times that gave the track its vibrancy. But the selling point of “Dreams and Nightmares” is the story of its creation. Meek Mill’s signature has always been his own twist on the art of storytelling. In a genre with no shortage of underdog stories, Meek Mill’s “ Dreams and Nightmares” stands out. Boasting the strongest collection of up-and-comers with established veterans, the album produced 4 songs in the year end top 50.Hip Hop at 50 is our yearlong look at the people, sound, art, and impact of hip-hop culture on the world. ![]() – Quite Simply the best DJ compilation album of the year. Strong from front to back, this album was more emotional for Nasir as he raps about his divorce from Kelis. – The comeback album of the year was typical Nasty Nas. With 3 songs in my end of the year top 15, this joint is fun from start to finish. His songs are fun, put you in a good mood, and are as catchy as hell. I dont think 2 Chainz is that talented of a rapper, but it doesn’t matter. – I admit, I didnt wanna put him this high. Impressive overall with a top 20 song in “Ball”. with a multitude of guests (even though I question some of them – Pink?). – I thought about giving this album the comeback award for the year. A quiet drop for one half of the Outkast duo, this album only had one song in my year end top 50, but there isnt a bad track on the album. Not as great as last year’s “Red Album”, but this is a strong follow up filled with solid guest artists.ħ. Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Big Boi However, this is still a solid album, I was just expecting a little more. Yes, this claimed the most overhyped award, and I still believe that. Lots of duds, but if we could compile the hits into one album it would be part of the year’s best! – E-40 dropped 3 solo albums and 2 compilation albums in 2012.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |