Page 21 of 583

4 Perfect Songs and Artists for Your Next Poker Game

July 9, 2012 /

Everyone loves a great game of poker, from the younger, less experienced players to the aged generations who have mastered the perfect “poker face”. While poker is generally associated with gambling, it has transformed into a game that is strictly for entertainment. During the early days of poker, it was considered easy money for the experienced players, who knew when to make their moves. Since then, many places have made gambling illegal, due to the financial situations that can arise among gamblers. Even so, it is the perfect card game to pass the time and enjoy the company of friends and family. Music is the perfect background noise, especially in lighthearted poker games.

Like any other activity, certain musical genres are preferred for poker games. Depending upon the musical preferences of the players involved, you may decide to choose a more intimidating rock song over a fun classical song. There are a great deal of songs and albums which will go great with a laid back poker game, many of which actually pertain to poker directly. These songs are also good for solitary poker, especially if you are playing through partypoker. Here, we have compiled many songs that will compliment your game, with a little information regarding the artist and lyrics.

  1. “Money” by Pink Floyd : This song is perfect for poker games that involve true gambling. It is a classical song, and was released in 1973 on the album “The Dark Side of the Moon”. The song involves several special effects that relate to money, such as the sound of coins jingling or cash registers. Since this is an older and classical track, it may not exactly appeal to the younger crowd; so it is perfect for reminiscent games.

  2. “The Gambler” by Kenny Rodgers : This song is very popular, and has been entertaining people since its release in 1978. Kenny Rodgers is a renowned country music star, so you know this song is sure to bring a smile to the faces of your guests. It involves a man who takes a train with no particular destination in mind, and another man whom he meets while aboard; this man is referred to as The Gambler. The Gambler converses with him, giving him a life lesson through poker phrases.

  3. “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead : This is a classic rock song, which was released in 1980. Motorhead is an English band, which hit the singles chart in the UK for 12 weeks straight. This song is loaded with metaphors which pertain to gambling, which makes it the perfect track for a competitive game. Rock has been a favorite genre of many for decades, and it’s not going anywhere any time soon.

  4. “The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals : If you are interested in a classical folk song that reaches back into the 1960’s, this is it. This song is not exactly a mood booster, but it is a view of the life of a gambler. This song has many versions, with different artists involved. However, The Animals’ version has our vote. This simple ballad is quite enjoyable, and can be a lesson to players who tend to wager too much during a game.

Songs

Underground Rapper of the Week: Rugged N Raw

July 3, 2012 /

Underground Rapper of the Week is a new feature designed to raise awareness of rappers from all over the world who, if that world were a perfect place, would be more famous than they are. It will be updated every Tuesday before the sun goes down. Feel free to email suggestions of slept-on rappers from your city or wherever to: ezra.stead@gmail.com

After writing this column for two months now, it’s about time I finally got around to profiling an artist from the city where I now live, the city where Hip-Hop originated, the city that never sleeps and should never be slept on: New York City. No underground NYC rapper is more deserving than Rugged N Raw, whose name says it all. RNR is an amazingly versatile and accessible emcee and producer whose music exemplifies the gritty edge of his native city, while also retaining a surprising wittiness and sense of humor. His sound punches you in the face, then cracks a joke or two and makes you feel welcome while you’re still reeling.

RNR’s first full-length album, Another Level, set the tone for the hard-hitting but simultaneously laid-back music he’s been making ever since. As he says on that album’s “Let the Ugly Out,” “[I’m] more chill than the average dude you know / But when my music’s dope, I get stupid, though.” He also gets crazy smart; witness the creativity of his “Advice Column,” in which he humorously breaks life down on an urban Dear Abby tip. Another Level also features “Kick You Down,” a banging track with frequent collaborator Hasan Salaam, a New Jersey emcee with whom RNR formed the wonderfully named group Mohammad Dangerfield (Mo Danger for short). Together, the duo released the free download EP $FREE.99 and subsequent self-titled full-length album, which features the excellent party jam “The BBQ Joint” alongside hard-hitting tracks like “Unredeemed” and the Immortal Technique collaboration “Break of a Star,” produced by the excellent New Hampshire producer Remot.

RNR’s second full-length, Truth Serum, continues to showcase his inimitable skill and relatability. Check out the recession rap anthem “Broke and Proud,” featuring Hasan Salaam, in which he outlines his cheap date and vacation plans: “There’s not a lot I can make possible / Only cheap ideas in the arsenal / I take a chick to the museum / Looks nice and admission fee’s optional / When stress starts to weigh down heavy / Vacation is necessary / What do I do? I pack my bags / Weekend cruise on the Staten Island Ferry.” For those of you who don’t live in New York – yes, the S.I. Ferry is free. Be on the lookout for Rugged N Raw’s new album, Anomaly Book 1, dropping September 4th. Homeboy is the ultimate.

Artists, Get to Know, Hip Hop, Indie, Rap

Underground Rapper of the Week: Desdamona

June 26, 2012 /

Underground Rapper of the Week is a new feature designed to raise awareness of rappers from all over the world who, if that world were a perfect place, would be more famous than they are. It will be updated every Tuesday before the sun goes down. Feel free to email suggestions of slept-on rappers from your city or wherever to: ezra.stead@gmail.com

With the exception of my full-group profile of Solillaquists of Sound a few weeks ago, women have been noticeably absent from this column, which points to a larger problem in Hip-Hop culture and society at large. No female emcee is more important to the community than the Minneapolis-based poet and emcee Desdamona, who has worked tirelessly to make Hip-Hop a better place for women. Her 365 Days of Female MCs blog helps to shed light on many unheralded contributors to the art form of rap, and her annual multimedia festival, B-Girl Be, brings together women from around the world who practice all four original elements of Hip-Hop: graffiti, breakdancing, deejaying and emceeing. She also hosts the long-running Poet’s Groove open mic, one of the very most respected and enduring shows in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

In addition to such community work and activism, Desdamona is herself a powerful emcee and spoken word artist, having won five Minnesota Music Awards for Best Spoken Word Artist in 2000, and then consecutively in 2003-2006, inclusive. She has also toured extensively, bringing her sound to audiences all over the U.S., as well as Germany and France, where she has built a very respectable following with beatboxing partner Carnage in their group Ill Chemistry. Desdamona has opened for legendary artists such as KRS-One; the late, great Guru; Saul Williams; and Wyclef Jean, among others, and is a frequent collaborator with the equally legendary Sly & Robbie, who produced her 2005 debut album, The Ledge. In addition to her strong, poetic abilities as a rapper, Desdamona is also a skilled singer, and has joined Ursus Minor in both capacities on their third album, I Will Not Take “But” for an Answer, and joining them on their subsequent tour along with The Coup‘s Boots Riley.

Desdamona’s lyrics are thoughtful, personal and resonant with themes of identity, equality and body image, and for this reason it is often best to hear her words over sparse beats or no beat at all. For an example of her emotionally moving poetry, look no further than “Too Big for My Skin,” a poem that has since expanded into a campaign aimed at rethinking societal beauty standards and giving a voice to repressed women all over the world. However, this is not to say she can’t murder beats with the best of them, and her live performances – whether solo or with Carnage as Ill Chemistry – are electrifying, and she wisely used live instrumentation to create her 2007 album, The Source, which features Carnage, as well as remixed tracks by Sly & Robbie. Male or female, Desdamona is one of the Midwest’s most vital talents, and her continued work with Ursus Minor and Ill Chemistry, who just released their first full-length album in France, definitely deserves your attention.

Artists, Get to Know, Hip Hop, Indie, Rap, Vocal

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2026 Eat Sleep Drink Music

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑