A new website sets out to challenge stereotypes while shining light on the music business

NEW YORK, New York, September 1, 2007 – TheHipHopIcon.com officially went online Saturday, September 1, 2007. The website, being touted as a venue for celebrating a new generation of urban professionals, is designed to be fundamentally different from other hip hop websites.
While most urban music sites are centralized around music, The Hip Hop Icon is designed around the maturing hip hop culture. Article’s on the work and lifestyle of both hip hop’s biggest performers (Jay-Z, T.I., Kanye West…) as well as its most prominent executives (Sean Combs, Steve Stoute, LA. Reid…) will anchor the site’s content. Breaking news, fashion, album reviews, editorial observations, humor and music videos will all find a place in the mix.

The culture of hip hop was born from the streets. Though much more polished now, many hip hop artists still use street-savvy techniques and underground outlets to release their music. The Hip Hop Icon honors this tradition by featuring independent hip hop music right alongside that of major label artists. Hip Hop is music for everyone, but it takes someone special to be an icon. The site’s tag line states: “Are you a hip hop icon?”

The extremely talented group Rascal Flatts have released their latest CD on the Lyric Street Records recording label, entitled Melt.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

I’m of the opinion that Melt is certainly some of this groups best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up because it’s a collection that even the casual Country fan can appreciate and enjoy.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 2 – Too Good Is True, track 6 – Dry County Girl, and track 10 – Shine On

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5 – Love You Out Loud. What a nice track!

Melt Release Notes:

Rascal Flatts originally released Melt on Oct 29, 2002 on the Lyric Street Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. These Days 2. Too Good Is True 3. I Melt 4. Mayberry 5. Love You Out Loud 6. Dry County Girl 7. Like I Am 8. You 9. Fallin’ Upside Down 10. Shine On 11. My Worst Fear

Rascal Flatts: Joe Don Rooney (acoustic & electric guitars); Jay Demarcus (bass); Gary Levox. Additional personnel: Larry Beaird (acoustic guitar, banjo); Jerry McPherson, Dan Huff (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Jimmy Stewart (dobro); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, fiddle, violin, viola, cello); Tim Akers (accordion, keyboards); Steve Nathan (keyboards); Lonnie Wilson (drums). Producers: Mark Bright, Marty Williams, Rascal Flatts.