(Editor’s Note: Today, I’m introducing a new section at The Impulsive Buy called The Shopping Cart, which will consist of products that I’ve purchased, but won’t write a full review for, and products that I’m lusting over, but either can’t afford, can’t find, or it’s only available in dark alleys.)
What I’m Listening To That May Sound Perverted, But Really Isn’t…I Promise
It sounds like there should be something sexual about a song called “Easy” by the Barenaked Ladies, but rest assured there is nothing sexual about it, and I am disappointed about that. However, if it was sung by either Marvin Gaye, Barry White, or the 2 Live Crew, then it probably would’ve been sexual and I would’ve added it to my “Gettin’ It On” mixtape.
“Easy” is the first single from the upcoming Barenaked Ladies album, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, which is being released in the middle of September. I’ve been listening to both the album version, which I purchased from iTunes (99 cents), and the acoustic version, which I downloaded via eMusic (monthly subscription).
It’s a mellow song and is not as fun as many of their previous tracks, like “One Week” and “Another Postcard,” which make me want to grab a hairbrush and lip sync the lyrics in my bathroom mirror. There’s definitely no “Chickity china the Chinese chicken,” but I’m fine with that.
What I’m Drinking That Keeps Reminding Me Of Jay-Z

When I think of hip-hop and beverages, there are only two beverages that come to mind: Cristal and St. Ides. Cristal has been mentioned in hip-hop lyrics by Jay-Z, P. Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Master P, and I’m sure many others. As for St. Ides, this was what former spokesperson Ice Cube had to say about the malt liquor:
Once again it’s on, I’m gone out the front door.
Ice Cube in the glass house, headin’ for the store.
To get a beer that’s better than the rest.
The S-T-period-I-D-E-to-the-S.
and it will put hair on your chest.
In the black can, so why don’t you grab a six pack and,
get your girl in the mood quicker
Get your jimmy thicker with St. Ides malt liquor.
A few months ago, I tried the Izze Sparkling Pomegranate and every time I drank one all I could think about was “H to the izz-O/V to the izz-A/Fo’ shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in VA.” For those of you who aren’t down with hip-hop, that’s a line from the Jay-Z song “Izzo (H.O.V.A.).” Get it? Izz-E. Izz-O. Izz-A.
Anyway, its tart taste was good, but not great. However, the pomegranate made me feel like I was drinking something healthy, so it made up a little for the taste. I don’t know if the Izze Sparkling Pomegranate is good enough to make it into hip-hop lyrics, but with Jay-Z’s boycott of Cristal it’s one step away from being, “I got Izze Sparkling Pomegranate, I gotta have it./I’m suckin’ them down like it’s a habit.”
Man, I suck as a rapper.
I’m all for whatever gets us more updates. Love the site!
Give the clementine or blackberry Izze flavors a shot. They’re both much better than the too-tart under-flavored pom.
Not sure if i should be proud or disappointed that my country produced the bare naked ladies… :s you tell me?
All you had to do was 2 bars and you settled for a slant rhyme. Tsk tsk, Marvo.
I only converted to the Jay-Z camp with the Black Album, I was all West Coast before that, so I appreciate your covering Cube as well. However, I just recently got a hold of Blueprint for the first time and LOVE “Izzo (HOVA)” so now I’m going to by Izze which I have been eyeing for some time because of its all-natural claims. Keep on hoppin!
You should check out an album called ‘DJ Drank’s Greatest Malt Liquor Hits’
It’s a compilation of all the quick advertisement raps pushing St. Ides in the 90’s. Wu-Tang, Rakim, Ice Cube, Snoop, DJ Pooh, etc.
Go check that out, buy it if you want or if you’re into pirating music feel free to e-mail me and I’ll be glad to hook it up.
Since Barenaked Ladies is one of my favored “cut-downs” to pull out when someone is choosing music…I can’t comment on that, however Izze would make me feel kinda cool if i were drinking it. Kinda like Sobe felt fancy, when it was new…”oooo I’m drinkin a Sobe, what’re you drinking?!”
kagai – Yeah, that’s also kind of the purpose for this. We will see how it goes.
ed – I’ve been eying the pear and apple Izze. Not a big fan of blackberry and I don’t know what clementine is…Wait, just Wikipedia-ed it. Oh, it’s a citrus fruit. Maybe I’ll give that a try.
NobodyFamous – You should really be disappointed that your country produced Celine Dion.
Ace N. – Like I said, I suck as a rapper. I make Vanilla Ice seem like Tupac.
L’il E – I’ve mostly been an East Coast kind of guy. Sure I like Dre, Snoop, Tupac, but my favorite hip hop group of all time is A Tribe Called Quest and I really like Nas. Anyway, I’ll probably try other flavors of Izze, but I wish someone sold them in can form.
thedvs01 – Holy crap! I didn’t know someone put together a compilation. It’s just like someone putting together every single one of the Budweiser’s Real Men of Genius radio commercials, which I have.
skibs – Yeah, Sobe was totally the rage back when I was in college, with their glass bottles and weird lizard designs. We all thought that it was like totally healthy because they had names like Elixir.
Oh I love Tribe too, but I started down the hip-hop trail with N.W.A., so I was all about Dre, Cube, and then Snoop as far as the East-West thing. Weren’t Tribe from North Carolina or somewhere? Maybe that was Black Sheep. I always thought of Tribe as a different kind of hip-hop too, in my mind they were more intelligent, like De La Soul or something, and divorced from the whole East-West rivalry. People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm totally changed me as a person and Midnight Marauders rawked my super-honkey, rhythmless hiney.
I’m kind of glad that I never did East Coast earlier though, because now I still have Jay-Z and Biggie to explore. Can you recommend a Nas CD? I tried one once and didn’t really groove on it at first, but I never grooved on Jay-Z before either, so I think I’m ready.
I’m intrigued by this new section! Also Jay Z is a joke for not drinking cristal. He says it’s because the owner doesn’t want to be associated with hip hop, and Jay Z determined that that was a racist comment. UGH.
Look into Nas’s – Illmatic. His first, and by far his best ever – a straight gem all the way through.
Also, if you’re getting on to East Coast check out some Wu-Tang. ’36 Chambers’ is a good starting point.
Or GZA’s ‘Liquid Swords’, Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx’
All of these albums may take you a few listens to really get a feel for, so dont give up after one try.
L’il E – I’ll have to agree with thedvs01 recommendation below about Nas’ Illmatic, it’s definitely his best album. Also, did you know Black Sheep is coming out with a new album next month? Just thought I’d let you know.
calvin – I’m also intrigued with this new section, let’s see if I can keep it up.
thedvs01 – I agree with you about Nas’ Illmatic. Every track is good and he hasn’t had an album like it since.
Nice! Thanks for the great recommendations thedvs01 and Marvo! I DID NOT know that about Black Sheep Marvo, thanks for the exciting news I will definitely pick that up too. iTunes here I come, take my money please!!
L’il E – Yeah, one night I was just looking up all the groups I used to like in the 90s on Wikipedia and just happen to come across the Black Sheep thing.