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LL Cool J Reflects On Collaborating With Eddie Van Halen
On October 6th, legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. Known for his revolutionary and virtuosic guitar-work, Van Halen’s memory was celebrated by fans and collaborators across social media. One such collaborator was a rather unexpected one, marking a rare foray into the world of hip-hop for the rockstar.
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On his 2013 album Authentic, LL Cool J invited Van Halen to work on a pair of songs — “Not Leaving You Tonight” and “We’re The Greatest.” Now, LL has taken a moment to praise the late Van Halen, speaking with Rock The Bells “I was always blown away by his ability to play the guitar. I thought it was so dope, so I wanted to work with him,” remembers LL. “I got in touch with him. He came by the studio, we talked, we kicked it. One thing led to another, and we made a couple of songs.”
“I think it’s some of my coolest and most interesting work,” he continues. “I think those songs that Eddie and I did together are really special. I think that one day, they will rise. They will get the recognition and the admiration that they deserve.” LL also thanks Van Halen for helping him find creative direction during a particularly uncertain time for the rapper. “That man came in the studio with me at a time when, creatively, I was trying to get my sea legs and trying to figure out what to do, and how I wanted to do it,” he explains. “It wasn’t like I was on the top of the Billboard charts, and he was looking for some kind of hot collaboration. It was just pure artistry, and I respected that about him.”
Rest in peace to Eddie Van Halen. Check out his work with LL Cool J below.
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ReeToxA confronts the past with truth on “HMAS CERBERUS”
“HMAS CERBERUS,” ReeToxA’s new single, is a raw, very personal song about his life experiences. The song sounds like Oz rock from the 1990s, and modern alternative and grunge. It sounds brave and familiar at the same time, like a truth kept secret for a long time.
“HMAS CERBERUS” is based on a true story from Jason McKee’s life, and it shows how his ten years in the Navy changed him and how they still do. The song bravely speaks to the emotional toll of service, including alcoholism and mental stress, sincerely.
The poem is what makes the single stand out. The writing is brilliant and stays smart, and it’s hard without being preachy. The singer got the idea for the song when he saw four seasons in one day at a beer garden in Melbourne. It connects the sudden change in the weather to a life that is constantly changing and hiding how you feel. It’s a potent metaphor for a mind that finally stops long enough to figure out where the damage started.
The song “HMAS CERBERUS” is both intense and at the same time. It makes you think, but it’s also surprisingly easy to dance to, which shows that dark themes don’t have to be sad music. The song is both interesting and challenging to listen to because of the gritty guitars and rock base. In a sea of safe releases, ReeToxA stands out as honest, raw, uncomfortable, and necessary. “HMAS CERBERUS” is a brave meditation that stays with you for a long.time
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Kieran James Honors Memory with “Part of the Grind”
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Set to delicate instrumentation and achingly sung vocals, “Part of the Grind” is both a lament and an honoring, a means of remembering while addressing the unavoidable cost of time and illness. His voice floats, leaving room for silence and the long pauses that so often come with grief. But in that silence, there is warmth as well, a refusal to let memory be totally extinguished.
Resilience is also implied in the song’s title, a reminder that even in heartbreak, life goes on and holding the memory of someone stays with the rhythm of everyday living. it’s an anthem for anyone who has ever looked on witnessing decline, mixed sorrow with love.
In Kieran James’s “Part of the Grind,” we hear music as well as go behind it. He gives us room feel, to mourn, and to honor. In the process, he turns private pain into something achingly universal, a song for everyone who has either loved or lost.
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