Blues | 3BOPS

On the 31^st edition of 3BOPS, we select three awesome songs that are associated with BLUES in some form or fashion.

On 3BOPS, we are totally dedicated to keeping things L-I-T-E! Similar to 5ive Songs, there’s a topic and a short blurb, only with THREE songs instead of FIVE.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On the 31^st edition of 3BOPS, we select three awesome songs that are associated with BLUES in some form or fashion.

1. DMX, “Hood Blues” (Ft. Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher & Conway The Machine)

Exodus // Def Jam // 2021

The world lost a musical icon in 2021 with the passing of gruff-voiced, East Coast rapper DMX on April 9, 2021.  Simmons was ‘rough around the edges,’ but the sheer talent and influence he brought to the game, as well as his tremendous faith, is undeniable.  He’s on fire on the song “Hood Blues,” a highlight from his 2021 posthumous album, Exodus, named after his youngest son.

The production is marvelous, a product of Avenue Beatz and Swizz Beatz.  Creating the jazzy backdrop is a sample of “Shady Blues” (Lee Mason).   Of course, beyond the picturesque production, the highlight are the performers.  Westside Gunn shines on the first verse, asserting, “Pray five times a day, get on the wave, nigga.” Benny The Butcher follows on the second verse, with a number of clever lines. Conway The Machine gets to work on the third verse, quoting Nas: “‘Cause Nas said a G at night wasn’t good enough, and he was right.” Finally, the ‘man of the hour’ arrives to close things out on the fourth verse, asserting, “I done Punk’d more niggas than Ashton Kutcher (C’mon, c’mon).” Woo!  He also memorably states on the outro, “I’m not fifty years old for nothing.”

2. CeeLo, “CeeLo Green Sings the Blues”

Heart Blanche // Atlantic // 2015

“Hello, my name Is CeeLo Green, and I’ve got the blues / Cause don’t nobody love me no more / Maybe just a little bit more than you did yesterday / But not like you loved my before…” “CeeLo Green Sings the Blues” marks the most moving performance from Heart Blanche, the 2015 album by Grammy-winning R&B singer, CeeLo Green.  Why is “CeeLo Green Sings the Blue” so accomplished? Well, it’s because it is something of an apology from Green, who has made his share of mistakes, namely being embroiled in controversy with ‘highly irresponsible’ rape tweets.  The perfect way to get canceled!

Green is incredibly talented, but talent alone doesn’t atone for mistakes, period. “CeeLo Green Sings the Blues” proved not to be near enough to revive the idiosyncratic musician to his full glory.  A line like “My heart is filled with unconditional love / How could anyone hate me?” doesn’t necessarily play out favorably in everyone’s eyes because it seems, um, defensive. Still, from a critical standpoint, the record, to some extent, shows his willingness to attempt to redeem himself, as well as remind us of his remarkable musicianship.  That vocal grit – awesomeness exemplified!

Appears in 🔻:

• 13 More Songs That Feature Names in Their Titles
• 15 Songs Featuring Music Genres in their Title

3. Johnny Cash, “Folsom Prison Blues”

At Folsom Prison // Sony Entertainment // 1968

“I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin’ on / but that train keeps a rollin’ on down to San Antone.” One of the most iconic musicians of all time was none other than the late, great Johnny Cash.  One of his greatest songs of all time was “Folsom Prison Blues.” The key recording of “Folsom Prison Blues” appears on an iconic live album, At Folsom Prison, released in 1968.  This particular record masterfully encompasses country, specifically outlaw country, rock, and references the blues.

“Folsom Prison Blues” fittingly commences the live album, capturing a narrative of how the protagonist ends up in prison.  Was Johnny Cash really incarcerated in Folsom Prison? No, but his imaginative narrative is incredible – #ICONIC! The second verse might be my favorite:

“When I was just a baby, my mama told me, ‘Son
Always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns’
But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die
When I heard that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry.”

Of course, he couldn’t get away with murder… well, it happens, but it shouldn’t.

Appears in 🔻:

• 13 Totally Locked Up, Prison Songs (2021)

Blues: 3BOPS No. 31 (2021) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Def Jam, Enzo Boulet, The Musical Hype, Sony, Unsplash, Wilson Blanco from Pixabay]