shaking it without breaking it since 2006.

The Thriller video is 25, y’all. Happy birthday to one of the most seriously bangin joints of all time, with the most seriously sick choreography. Don’t act like you don’t know it in your damn sleep, people.

And don’t act like you don’t have an original leather Thriller jacket hanging in your closet. Oh wait. That’s me.

Thanks to BB for the 411.

• MTV
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• Entertainment News

Look, I knew what I was getting into when I moved my ass back to the Midwest. Football, freezing winters and casseroles. For real, did you know you can feed six at a potluck with not much more than a can of cream soup and some Tater Tots?

But this winter has gone too far. The temperature has been below zero all weekend, nobody’s car is starting, and my skin feels like dust. I can’t take it any more. There are only so many pairs of socks a girl can wear until the Air Force Ones don’t fit!

I need summer back. But until then, I’ll have to settle for a couple of these warm, sunny jammies. With a nice hot casserole, of course.

Bar-Kays
Too Hot to Stop
Too Hot to Stop, 1976
Filthy funk; if this doesn’t make your ass sweat, your ass must be broke. Or you’re not looking at the picture above closely enough. Thank God for this song. Nobody’s asking you to stop, Bar-Kays.

Leon Ware
Why I Came to California
12″, 1982
Motown producer and Detroit native Leon Ware knew how to do it. Knock out a few masterpieces for Marvin Gaye like “After the Dance” and “I Want You,” then get your shit out to the West Coast, where you’ll never scrape another damn windshield. Write a song about it.

The Sun
Sun Is Here
Sunburn, 1978
Oh lawd, The Sun! These poor freezing boys from Dayton, Ohio knew what it was like to wreck a pair of gators in the snow. What to do? Write this heater to fight off the elements, of course. Sadly, this was their only hit, so they’re probably still in Dayton in front of the radiator right now.

Big Daddy Kane
Warm It Up, Kane
It’s a Big Daddy Thing, 1989
Nobody warms it up like the Kane. I heard he never gets cold.

Lupe Fiasco
Sunshine
Food & Liquor, 2006
Lupe’s from Chicago, so not only does he have deep knowledge of the cold, he’s withstood the crazy gale force winds they get down there. This joint’s so pretty, you almost forget it’s off an album named for the corner stores all over Chicagoland. Stores Lupe probably walked through the blizzards to get to. Ooh, look at me, I just made a circle!

I woke up this morning and it was 2008. What the hell happened to 2007? It went faster than Fu-Schnickens over a ghettotech beat!

There were a grip of songs that made all of us at Morebounce Publications take notice, though. Some were on fire, some were straight crazy, and others made us wonder what we did to make the gods angry. But either way, we’re here to share them with you, the readers who carried our lazy asses through 2007.

So here’s to you, readers! 2007’s most notable cuts:

Grand Pubah
Let’s Go
Top Shelf 8/8/88, 2007
Turns out that Top Shelf album wasn’t from 1988 at all, but a meticulously crafted throwback project. It was hot to death, though, and this is my favorite joint. Throw your hands in the air, if you wit it, let’s go!

Kinfolk Kia Shine
Krispy
Due Season, 2007
Do you know anybody in 2007 who (1) didn’t refer to their shoes/hair/game as “krispy,” or (2) announce that they were through buying Bapes, since they got “errrrrry purrrr?” Me neither. The song itself is ridiculous, but damn. It had reach this year.

Mary J. Blige
Just Fine
Growing Pains, 2007
Ooh, Morebounce loves us some Mary J. This single for her new album is crazy infectious, and it makes us happy.

UGK Feat. Outkast
International Players Anthem
Underground Kingz, 2007
Damn shame Pimp C. left us last fall - we need about 40 more of these jammies this year. It’s sublime.

Fantasia
Hood Boy
Single, 2007
I won’t front on this one, it’s nothing to call Kanye over. But I’m just happy to see li’l Celie keep her grind going.

Chamillionaire Feat. Slick Rick
Hip Hop Police
Ultimate Victory, 2007
Nice to hear a song that’s actually about something. Slick Rick works that patch up in there!

Funkdoobiest
Hip Hop Music
Single, 2007
Now, I know I’m heavily biased toward anything that sounds as old school as this. But dayum. There’s a reason folks go crazy for the ’80s!

Pop It Off Boyz
Crank Dat Batman
Single, 2007
Stop it. Makes me want to take to my bed.

Jason Fox Feat. Hood Presidents
Aunt Jackie
Single, 2007
Dumb, but fun. I’m not mad at young Jason. I think this made some nice ringtones out there…

Kevin Mega
Always Be Your Girl
After 2 Nite, 2007
I’ve got to give some love to Milwaukee’s own Kevin Mega. I love this cut right here, with its rolling basslines, laid back rhymes and shout outs to both Redroom and Malcolm. Cop the whole album on iTunes.

Hey there, >bounce/oz readers! I’m AaronM, a new addition to the site. You may know my writing from Metal Lungies, the blog of the Sound of Young America, Maximum Fun, or my own blog Canned Thinking. Anyway, enough self-promotion for now. Let me set into my topic for today.

Well, the titular instrument at the top of this post is what I’m covering today. I was reminded of the strange power of the talkbox when I saw the fantastic music video for Snoop’s new song, “Sensual Seduction“. The video pays affectionate tribute to the low production values of late ’70s/early ’80s music videos, complete with Zapp & Roger-esque costumes and split images ala “When Doves Cry.” Snoop spends most of the song singing through a talk box to produce that vocoder-sounding singing.

Of course, one of the most famous instances of talkbox use was on the song this blog takes its title from. Zapp’s “More Bounce to the Ounce” is a funk classic and has been heavily sampled in hundreds of songs, including EPMD’s “You Gots To Chill” and Snoop himself on the self-explanatory “Snoop Bounce.”

Wikipedia also has a nice writeup of the basics of the ‘box, along with a short, interesting history. Definitely worth a read.

A talk box is a musical sound effects device that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. The musician controls the modification by changing the shape of his or her mouth.

The effect can be used to shape the frequency content of the sound and to apply speech sounds (in the same way as singing) onto a musical instrument, typically a guitar (its non-guitar use is often confused with the vocoder) and keyboards.

More at Wikipedia.

Here are a few more recent talk box classics. Whether on the hook or used for main vox, the talk box is always a welcome addition to any jam.

Chromeo
Fancy Footwork
Fancy Footwork, 2007
An irresistible jammie by fellow Jewish Canadian electro lovers. Encourages men to impress girls by dancing to “show her that you’re not that shy.”

Daft Punk
Digital Love
Discovery, 2001
A really sweet ballad, with a catchy backing track sampled from synthesizer guru George Duke’s
“I Love You More.” Love songs are sweeter when sung through a talk box, it’s true.

Kool G Rap & Capone-N-Noreaga
My Life (Remix)
Soundbombing 3, 2002
CNN pay tribute to the Kool Genius in a nice collaboration. The remix, done by VIC, has some lovely pumping horns on the beat and a SMOOTH talk box chorus by someone named G-Wise. A nice summer jam for partying gangsters and wiseguys.

Snoop Dogg
Sensual Seduction
Ego Trippin’, 2008
I think you already know.

Bonus Beats: Snoop explains how “Sensual Seduction” is intended as a tribute to Zapp and “not T-Pain”. U.S. only, my apologies (I can sympathize; as a Canadian, I only got to see this recently since I went to Florida).

Do you know what December brings out in me? No, it’s not my Christmas Tree earrings. It’s my hella rude attitude. I know I should be rockin the Santa hat and baking you some damn cookies, but honestly, all I want to do is drink with some of my folks, and hear some Christmas-free joints.

So for you, the Morebounce crüe, here are the most anti-holiday jammies I’m bumpin right now:

Missy Elliot
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
Supa Dupa Fly, 1997
Dark, bass-heavy and a little confusing. Has nothing to do with Santa or fruitcake.

Public Enemy
I Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man
Fear of a Black Planet, 1990
I am actually not a Public Enemy fan. But the thought of Flava Flav in any capacity puts me in just the right no-holiday spirit.

Statik Selektah
Bam Bam
Spell My Name Right, 2007
Not really sure why I love this right now. It’s not really anything different from anything else out there, but one thing I know for sure: it doesn’t have Paul McCartney or a single jingle bell in it.

Riskay
Smell Yo Dick
Single, 2007
Not only does it have absolutely no references to trees, snow or ice skating, this song is brilliant in every way. I will listen to it well into the Easter season.

My sweet, dear reader(s): I’ve been gone, it’s true. Morebounce has been crazy busy, for real. Work’s got me hustling it harder than Weezy at the VMAs, and then I took a vacation to my old hood up in the Dirty D.

My trip to Detroit was fresher than wonder bread - tasty food, nice wine, and the lampin was out of control. So you know I was all up in some of my jammies from back in the day. Now, radio in general gets the gas face, but damn, I miss my WJLB. Especially after 10, when they get it started for the old folks!

So I thought I’d post a few joints that bring me straight back to The Warehouse, Taboo, The Shelter, and some of those other broke-ass clubs in which I spent my formative years:

3rd Bass
Steppin’ to the AM
The Cactus Album, 1989
Oh lurrd, I wore this tape out in the Plymouth Horizon.

Wham!
Young Guns (Go For It!)
Fantastic, 1983
This was a staple in the Federlein household. What with its rebellious anti-marriage theme and charming English-as-a-second-language title, we just couldn’t resist. Highly amusing banter from that toilet-cruiser, weed-lovin’ George Michael.

Bizzie Boyz
This is How it Should Be Done
Droppin’ It, 1989
Oh HELL. This was my jam. In 1989, dropping this meant jiggling asses and spandex skirts at the Warehouse. Not that I ever wore that filth.

MC Fosty & Lovin’ C
Radio Activity Rapp
12″, 1984
In 1983, Royal Cash released the original version of this song, and MC Fosty of LA’s Rappers Rapp Group flipped it up the next year, making it a huge hit in Detroit clubs. And my old place, Spanky’s: the destination club for Detroit’s finest teen break dancers.

Lillo Thomas
I’m In Love (Longer Luv Mix)
12″, 1987
This was all over Detroit radio back in the day. It’s got those crazy ’80s synthy basslines, and meaningless lyrics; in other words, my jay-um!

Cybotron
Cosmic Cars
12″, 1982
Juan Atkin’s second release ever, and the one song that instantly brings me back to my early teens. With its futuristic vibe and ridiculously funky car horn, it’s the quintessential Detroit techno joint.

I remember the first time I ever heard “Forget Me Nots.” I was at my girlfriend’s house after dance rehearsal, and she flipped on some video show. I was all, “Ooh, that’s got a bounce! Who is that?” My friend took a break from checking herself out in the full-length mirror and was all, “Oh, that’s Patrice Rushen. She’s a jaaaaaahhhhhzzzz artist.” And then Miss Thing flipped her hair, for real.

Please. Who even talks like that? The only thing that girl knew about jazz was her damn jazz hands in those corny-ass routines she practiced up in her bedroom. Hm.

But all bougie pretenses aside… old girl was right. Patrice Rushen didn’t just sing bouncy joints to heat up the roller rink; her jazz roots run deep.

Miss Rushen was a child prodigy on the piano; her parents even sent a three-year-old Patrice to USC music classes. After winning a competition at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival at 18, Miss Rushen went on to compose, arrange and record a grip of jazz albums. Her sound became progressively funkier until she finally gave into the forces and went boogie in the early ’80s. Her pure jazz fans were disappointed, but roller skating fans were rejoicing in the damn streets.

Patrice’s sound is smooth and funky, with an unmistakable bounce - the result of her years of classical training and impeccable instincts. Her songs have been flipped, covered and chopped to death by everybody with a turntable and an 808, and they sound just as fresh today as they did 25 years ago.

So now you can bust some Patrice for your snooty Miles-Davis-Coltrane friends and be all, “Oh, you don’t know any of Rushen’s work? Shaaaame.” And then ditch those snoozers and get with a real crew. Damn.

Patrice Rushen
Haw Right Now
Prelusion, 1974
Hot straight ahead jazz instrumental, crazy keys. Nice, full natural afro on the album’s cover, too.

Hang It Up
Patrice, 1977
You can hear Patrice’s sound start to get funkier here.

Haven’t You Heard
Pizzazz, 1979
Forget that churchy Kirk Franklin remake. This is the original, irresistible jammie.

Remind Me
Number One
Forget Me Nots
Straight from the Heart, 1982
This was Miss Rushen’s biggest selling album. “Number One” won a Grammy, and she scored monster hits on the R&B charts for “Remind Me” and “Forget Me Nots.” All straight classics, flipped by everyone from Mary J. Blige to George Michael.

I have always loved loved loved Nas, ever since the Illmatic days. From “NY State of Mind” to “Play On Playa,” I’ve been his straight up Stan.

But what has God’s Son done now? Is he seriously flipping Nipsey Emmer-Effin’ Russell on his new track? From the 1978 cinematic masterpiece The Wiz?

Just so I can be clear here: Nas, Nipsey, and a wistful tin man ballad… ALL IN ONE SONG. Is there there any doubt that not only is Nas a hip hop pioneer, but also a man of impeccable taste?

Nas
Surviving the Times
N*gga, 2007**
I love this so much I am crying right now.

Nipsey Russell
What Would I Do If I Could Feel?
OST, The Wiz, 1978
*Sigh.* Nipsey, if you could feel, you would surely come back from your grave and do a little soft shoe for Nas. He done you right.

Nipsey Russell
Slide Some Oil To Me/Now Watch Me Dance
OST, The Wiz, 1978
My favorite part of this is when the wooden chorus sings backup on the boards. Aww. Watching this makes me sad that Nipsey’s gone.

Quincy Jones
Poppy Girls
OST, The Wiz, 1978
Ooh, this was the nasty part! Sounds kind of like The O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money,” only dirtier, and with more cheeba cheeba. I didn’t realize this was a straight ’70s porn jammie until I was about 32.

Michael Jackson
You Can’t Win
12″, 1979
I know I already posted this a while back, but any disco joint with a floppy scarecrow and funked-up dancing crows deserves another listen. After the soundtrack came out, this song was so popular that MJ released a disco 12″. This is the kind of thing that makes me bitter that I wasn’t old enough for the clubs in the ’70s. A girl can dream…

**This is a rumored title. Def Jam says “hells naw,” but Nas’ PR crew confirms: “buhleedat.”

You already know who Edwin Starr is from that hippie “War” song he did way back in 1970. I heard that damn song so many times, I’m starting to think it was written by the government or The Gap or some shit.

It’s not that it’s such a horrible song - back in the day, it killed. The Temptations even recorded it for Psychedelic Shack, but they wanted to avoid controversy. So they were all, “Oh, give it to that new guy with the turtleneck. He looks like he marches for stuff.”

So Edwin Starr recorded the song, tore up the airwaves, sold some damn records, and promptly sent his career downhill. He’d had some successes in the years leading up that song, but after “War” he was pigeonholed as a protest singer, and never had another hit so big after that.

And it’s too bad, because Edwin could sang. His voice was so soulful, growling, and desperate, he could probably make “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” sound like “Hot Pants.”

Check some Edwin:

Edwin Starr
Twenty-Five Miles
25 Miles, 1969
Edwin’s first hit for the Motown label after they scooped him up with Ric-Tic. That walking sound is Starr and Hitsville, USA’s janitor marching their damn feet on a wooden board in the studio. Hunh!

There You Go
45, 1973
Another Motown hit. This song kills me every time. Sweet and smooth with crispy horns.

Easin’ In
Didn’t It Feel Good To Be Free
OST, Hell Up In Harlem, 1974
“Hell Up In Harlem” was to “Black Caesar” what “Teen Wolf Too” was to “Teen Wolf”: the wrecked sequel to a masterpiece. After James Brown wrote the soundtrack to “Black Caesar,” he turned down the opportunity to write for the sequel; I guess homegirl didn’t have time in his wig-brushing schedule or something.

So Edwin took on the project instead, and unfortunately, since “Hell” turned out to be a hot mess, the soundtrack got no love at all. Which is a damn crime! “Didn’t It Feel Good To Be Free” is a sweet, sunny piece that has Edwin using the melodic side of his voice, with a totally early ’70s motown feel. And it just takes one listen to “Easin’ In” to see the truth. That track is damn near perfect, with its crazy undulating bassline and fanga snaps. Mmm!

War
War and Peace, 1970
Oh, fine. Here you go. Take this and play it for your Iraq protest marches, or whatever it is that you people do.

VH1 Soul has declared October 6th through 8th “New Jack Swing Weekend!”

The stars are aligning, and somewhere Teddy Riley is smiling down from above. Okay, he’s not dead, but still.

I am telling you people, New Jack Swing is coming back. And when it gets here, you know I will be rocking the wire round flip-up glasses, one-pant-leg-up, overalls look. If you’re out in the club, you will know me by my high kicks on the dance floor.

CH-CH…CH-CH-CH!

Another Bad Creation
Playground
Coolin’ At The Playground Ya’ Know, 1991
Little homies should have named themselves “Another FRESH Creation!” They had everything: BBD sangin’ hooks, swingin’ beats at the playground, and they gotta break, ’cause they mother said “be home by dizzark!” By the way, I did not make up that album name.

L.L. Cool J
Jingling Baby
Walking with a Panther, 1989
This is an actual instructional song about how to do the damn thing. Ladies, get them door knockers out, ’cause we about to make ‘em jingle!

U.M.C.’s
Blue Cheese
Fruits of Nature, 1991
I have no idea what this song is about. Seriously. I can’t understand a word of it. CH-CH…

Kid N Play
Do the Kid N Play Kick Step
2 Hype, 1988
When it comes to the New jack Swing movement, this is the sacred dance, created by the high priests. You cannot have New Jack without Kid N Play, pure and simple.

U P D A T E !

Delicious has convinced me to post two of NJS’s basics. I had posted them before, but since that boy is sweet as a butterscotch biscuit, here they are:

Wrecks N Effect
New Jack Swing
12″, 1988
The original, the classic. Yes, T.R., is his name.

Bobby Brown
Don’t Be Cruel
Don’t Be Cruel, 1988
Probably the best known NJS song ever. If you want to be historically accurate, do the car-driving pantomime to this one. Not to be confused with smoking crack and living in your car - do not confuse the artist with his art.