Tower Records is gone.
Napster and Kazaa might as well be over.
CDs may be off shelves after Christmas.
What to do?
Check VIBE's 30 best music Web spots to get your fave sounds - rap, R&B, Latin - for free, for pay, and for life. Some are hidden, some right in front of your face. Just don't hesitate.
1.LEAVE NO MUSIC LOVER BEHIND
iTunes - You know it, you live it, you love it - iTunes is the number one digital music retailer in the world. Keep getting those tracks for 99 cents while you still can, though - labels are getting tired of those low prices.
2. MAKE FRIENDS AS OBSESSED WITH CHRIS BROWN AS YOU
imeem - Like a MySpace for musicheads, imeem is a social networking site that allows users to upload their favorite songs as well as make playlists, maintain blogs, and post photos and videos in a snap. Most importantly, you can befriend anyone who's posted "Yo! (Excuse Me Miss)" with one simple click. And it's all free.
3. GET THE COMPLETE WORKS OF LIL' JON
emusic - A subscription-based online music store that offers MP3 files free of Digital Rights Management (DRM), unlike iTunes. What the hell does that mean? Basically, anything purchased from emusic is playable on any music device, from iPod to Zune to the burned CD in your car. The catch? Most of the albums offered by the site are from independent record labels. So you won't find any Mariah Carey (she's on major label Def Jam) but there's plenty of Lil' Jon (he's on indie TVT).
4. STALK YOUR FUTURE BEST FRIEND
Last.FM - Another radio "station"/social community in one, the UK-based Last.FM lets you see the last 100 songs your friends have played so you can ask them why they're still listening to Fergie's album. Let the fights begin.
5. SOUNDTRACK YOUR LIFE
Myspace - Real talk: The song that plays on your MySpace profile is a crucial decision. One false move and you're going to get sonned by your friends. It's also an opportunity to hear more new and undiscovered music than almost anywhere else on the Web.
6. HEAR AND SEE EVERYTHING
YouTube - While technically a space for users to upload videos, many savvy Tube-addicts have used the site to sync songs (like, say, 50 Cent's new single) to a photo of the artist or something more random, like two cats fighting in a tree. While sometimes bizarre and inexplicable, YouTube is still a must-search for new music.
7. UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN TASTE
MusicMesh - Simply designed, MusicMesh allows users to search for their favorite artist and in seconds returns every album with audio samples, a Wikipedia entry, Amazon links, user-submitted reviews, and YouTube videos. Dopest of all, the site offers suggestions for six more albums you may dig. Like Bow Wow? Try Cherish. It's that easy and free.
8. NEVER FALL BEHIND
Nah Right - Written by the ever-hungry "eskay," Nah Right is the number one way station for leaks and New York rap-centric news. If it ain't there, it probably ain't even.
9. BEAT "NAH RIGHT" TO THE PUNCH
Boxden - A secretive forum chock-full of leaked tracks and old gems, Boxden is full of passionate users searching for a simple "props" note for their uncovered tracks. It's notoriously difficult to acquire an account here, making Boxden hip hop's chamber of secrets.
10. HEAR JERRY BUTLER AND CLIPSE
Soul Sides - Run by VIBE contributor Oliver Wang, Soul Sides is one of the oldest and best audioblogs, offering mostly rare vinyl soul cuts with an eye toward the influences those records have had on today's rap landscape. Sharply drawn and cleverly written.
11. GET COMMERCIAL WITH IT
Yahoo Music - Yahoo has long been a music giant, premiering videos on their site and offering an impressive searchable database. They may be the old guard, but they've done a better job than any other site at keeping up with the Joneses.
12. BE A POP SAVANT
BlogMusik - Another community-based site, this one is heavily pop-centric. If you need a Beyonce fix, follow BlogMusik's streaming audio and create the ultimate Bey playlist.
13. STEAL IDEAS 'N' MUSIC
Smoking Section - Originally started as a one-stop shop for leaked music, TSS has discovered its voice and now offers honest essays about whatever is crucial in hip hop and sometimes R&B. And there's still free music.
14. GET YOUR BLATHER AND BOAST ON
Philaflava - A longtime underground message board, Philaflava sometimes offers single leaks and always offers snippy, sharp conversation about recent tracks and forgotten ephemera. A recent subject title: "What rapper/group would you be OK with never hearing again?"
15. FIND JAMS FOR YOUR DJ NIGHT
TJ's Djs - Run by Southern DJ overlord TJ Chapman, this site and its forums feature all sorts of bubbling Southern soon-to-be rap hits free for download.
16. SEE THE STREETS
OnSmash - Though the forums are fun, it's the video section of this all-access portal that keeps us coming early and often to see our favorite MCs talking reckless or spitting in Rap City's booth.
17. BECOME FAMOUS
Rapspace - A free launching pad, this social networking site will host your recorded raps and could put you in the spotlight someday.
18. REMEMBER RAP BEFORE SHOP BOYZ
Konstant Kontact - Legendary NYC DJ Stretch Armstrong writes this blog and fills it with nuggets from the past, including free hosted audio of recordings from his now-defunct radio show with Bobbito Garcia and rare demos from artists like Redman. Don't miss it.
19. HEAR KOOL G RAP RARITIES
Unkut - Australian completist Robbie Ettelson curates this audioblog full of forgotten mixtape gems, dusty 12" cuts and exclusive interviews with rap legends. Go for the music, stay for the smarts.
20. GET YOUR GEEK ON
The Megatrondon - Producer Just Blaze recently started this blog and has made it a must-visit after debuting Saigon's first single "C'Mon Baby," as well as early product reviews of Grand Theft Auto 4 and the BlackBerry Pearl.
21. MEET THE RAP OBSCURISTS
Bust The Facts - From 5ive-0 Posse to Yomo & Maulkie, this audioblog offers downloadable links to some of hip hop's hidden treasures.
22. GET THE RARE AND THE REAL
Wake Your Daughter Up - Written by a kaleidoscope of hip hop heads from Germany, Australia, Croatia, Luxembourg, Ohio and Colorado, WUYD has got opinions galore, nearly enough to match their deep crates of out-of-print albums.
23. GET THE RAREST RAP
Cocaine Blunts - Written by sometime VIBE scribe Andrew Nosnitsky from his home in Washington D.C., Cocaine Blunts is consistently one of the best rare rap MP3 blogs. From Aceyalone to Zev Luv X, this is ground zero for exceptional rap trivia.
24. BE AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER
Discobelle - Written by two Swedes who love dance music and hip hop, Discobelle is a dependable spot for fresh new rap singles and quirky Euro-house music - bastions of today's international DJs.
25. GET YOUR RADIO FIX
Live365 - The most expansive internet radio network on the web, Live365 has thousands of stations, ranging from Smooth Latin to Hard Bop and every in between. For a cheap (less than $5 a month) subscription VIP pass, every station is available.
26. HEAR THAT R&B GOODNESS
Concrete Loop - A crucial gossip blog, Concrete Loop also debuts fresh R&B singles, including recent hits from J. Holiday, Tank and Ne-Yo.
27 & 28. STAY NEW
Hype Machine and elbo.ws - For blog fiends, these aggregators categorize the most recently updated blogs that offer free music and feature a handy search function. You'll never miss an update with these.
29 & 30. STEAL THE WORLD
Soulseek and Oink (Oink is invitation-only) - Still the best, most tucked-away P2P database, Soulseek is a downloadable program that has been relatively unscathed in the label wars to shut down sites like Kazaa and Napster. Oink is an invite-only community (to get in, you better make friends with someone who's already in), but it's also the first place album leaks go when they trickle out. Get them now and you'll never pay for music again. If you can live with yourself.
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Comments
1.
mehmet says:
mp4çalr
September 24, 2007 at 2:25 am
2.
Digiwaxx says:
How could you forget the best. Your favorite DJs favorite service.
Digital Waxx Service™
The Digital Waxx Service is the first membership-only, web-based application that allows record labels to distribute their promotional materials electronically to carefully selected DJs, tastemakers, and musical influencers worldwide. It features a custom built feedback tracking system, which has become a critical research and marketing platform for Digiwaxx clients.
September 21, 2007 at 9:44 pm
3.
Jason Gloss says:
Thanks for the props. We were definitely taken by suprise but truly appreciate it. If you need anything, don't hestiate...
September 19, 2007 at 2:02 pm