Submit Your Question, Topic, Or Song For MinnTrax!

Illmatic really helped me get thru high school. It is such a relatable album for me. Nas touched on topics and questions I had when I was a teenager. I think the album has no skippable tracks imo, love it. Fun fact, Nas did a song for the Street Fighter The Movie ost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msL--MXueJc

hopefully i am not too late! check out kikagaku moyo - dripping sun. japanese psychedelic band

Travis B

Thank GOD you changed the intro to the minnmax show. Sounded like an intro to a dragon quest game

AxeWieldingGoatMan

Hey MinnTrax, check out "Gidim" from Rings of Saturn.

Knobby Buckles (Dave)

What's up MinnTraxxers! I'm very excited to listen to your takes on music, and very happy that Matt Helgesen is back on the mic! My question is are there any video game-related bands that you think stand up musically to non-video game-related stuff? I've always found these types of bands to be kind of fun, but not as impactful as "real" bands - then I discovered The Protomen. They became an instant favorite because not only are they great musicians, but they songwriting and storytelling are top notch. I recommend especially this live performance of "Hold Back the Night" from MAG Fest 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVCdrOOnwZM&t=3101s

Hey All! Seeing as this generation of consoles is nearing it's end, what would you say is the best exclusive title for each of the systems (including Switch)? And, what console would you say has the best exclusives overall? Thank you, keep up the amazing work!!!!

LaRay M. Hare

Hey MinnTrax(2 Ns)!!! This is a great pair of albums. With several of my favorite songs. I wanted to ask specifically about Illmatic, on it are some of the best storytelling lyrics from the era and indeed of all time. I’m curious, with your first and then subsequent listen through what stands out to you the most from Nas? There is a through line of illusionary wordplay coupled with metaphor that I absolutely adore. LaRay M Hare aka BluMayhem

Grizzled Gaming

I don’t really have anything to add, but if the following exchange doesn’t happen on a show covering James Brown tracks, it’s a missed opportunity. "What you gonna play now?" "Bobby, I don't know but what's it ever I play, It’s gots to be funky!" I can’t wait to listen!

Dunder

Hey MinnTrax Crew, Hey have you guys heard the song “Would You Kindly” by The Rapture Twins??? The lyrics are influenced by Bioshock. Apparently one of the band members is this guy that works at GameInformer...

Mark Garcia

Hey Minn Trax crew, With regards to physical media (vinyl or cassette), did you ever come across an album where you felt there was a huge disparity between the quality of songs on the a-side versus the b-side? If so, what album? For me it would have to be Nirvana’s Nevermind. The B-side is definitely not terrible by any means, but it just can’t to compare to the six amazing tracks that make up the A-side. As for my favorite song at the moment, it’s Invincible by Tool. https://music.apple.com/us/album/invincible/1475686696?i=1475687049

I feel like I could write essays about Illmatic. I saw Nas perform the album in its entirety in 2014 for the 20th anniversary. This album sparked an interest in jazz for me from the samples (i.e. I Love Music by Ahmad Jamal - sampled in The World is Yours). Duality plays a huge role throughout Illmatic. On NY State of Mind, Nas romanticizes a life of crime and the excitement that comes along with it and ends each verse saying, "I never sleep cuz sleep is the cousin of the death." He is so focused on crime, he doesn't sleep. Yet, on the song One Love, a letter to his imprisoned friend, he raps "congratulations, I heard you got a son, he looks just like ya, why don't your lady write ya?" Life back home has moved on without him. Even in the third verse, when he gets out, he's back on the streets with a bulletproof vest on, in fear for his life. Nas tells him to rise above the street life. What role should duality play in music, specifically hip hop? Also, a song I'm into right now is 'Cosmic'.m4a (yes that's the title haha - watch the entire Unlocked album video if you haven't) https://youtu.be/lE8POScGElY

Duderado

Hello MinnTrax, What song automatically played on your MySpace page? As an edgy kid I had something from System of a Down like Aerials. My current favorite song is Juniper by the band Slowly Rolling Camera. I like it because it's an interesting mix of jazz and post-rock sounds with an insane guitar solo. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdY6UmV_7hE