Similar to their "Who's the Greatest Rapper Alive?" poll competition last year, which Eminem swept hand-down (despite five years of inactivity), Vibe Magazine is currently sponsoring a "Who's the Great Rapper Ever?" on their Website.
Yeah, we think polls are kinda silly, too...but hasn't hip hop always been about competiton -- first on the streets and now on the Internets? Anyway, the contest has entered its semi-finals stage, with the contenders narrowed down to four spots. Em is in the running for first place with the late Tupac, the equally late Notorious B.I.G. (who narrowly escaped defeat by Nas with 53 percent of that vote) and Jay-Z (who took down Rakim by 20 percent). At least we think that's what's going on; it's awful confusing...but we do know for sure that Eminem is competing for the first place title.
We're not suggesting ballot stuffing, of course (though it seemed to work in Florida, as well as in Chicago for years), but if you feel like casting a vote and care to decipher what's going on there (and when you do, fell free to explain it to us), do it by clicking here. Do it for Marshall Mathers. Do it for Detroit.
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Speaking of musical revolutionaries, Sonic Youth is in town next week for a show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Monday, June 29th (check out Laura Wikowski's review of their 16th album, The Eternal, in tomorrow's issue). But our friend Cary Loren has informed us that all the band members will be at Book Beat & Street Corner Music earlier that day, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., for an in-store joint book and record signing.The group will be signing various book projects including; Sensational Fix and the band's David Browne-penned biography, Goodbye 20th Century (just released in paperback), as well as volumes of poetry, small independent press journals and art catalogs. (Note: Street Corner Music, next door to Book Beat, will be officially opening in its new location on July 1st but will be selling Sonic Youth recordings at the event; you also get to check out the store two days before its official opening!). Book Beat is located at 26010 Greenfield in Oak Park; call 248-968-1190 for more info.
Sonic Youth: Be there or be square (for real...)
