Music Update

I'm pleased with the response to my rap music obituary. I promised to do this, so in the next week or so, I will listen to and blog about the following, based on your suggestions:
Common, Hit the Lights, Houston Calls, Thursday, Head Automatica. Jimi also suggested Kanye West, who I have listened to, though I don't own any of his albums. He is creative, which is good. He's a fine producer, but I don't think he's much of a lyricist, nor am I taken by his raw rapping ability (flow, I guess we could say). I understand his appeal.