Allow me to fill you in really quick on the best kept secret in the cyber world- for all you stingy students who haven’t bought a cd since Linkin Park’s The Hybrid Theory, or those of you who just need new music. The appropriately named “Hype Machine” (www.hypem.com) allows you to search every blog on the internet for music posts and see which songs are getting the most attention. From Britney Spears to Nujabes, no matter how obscure the artist or the remix or the mash up or the pish posh (new slang I just made up), the hypemachine will offer up music. You can favorite the song and then listen to it on your dashboard whenever you like. OR if you’re lucky, click on the “read the full [blog] post” button beneath the song and see if the blog hooks you up with a download link. Using this, not only do you get hooked up with the tunes, I have come across some really dope blogs. For intance, THE HOOD INTERNET (www.thehoodinternet.com):

Seen above: Tupac having a serious with kaki king (one of many examples).

The kings of the remix, the hood internet offers up hundreds of mash-ups, usually music of modern indie or electronic artists with your favorite mainstream or underground rap artists. Best part: it’s all free.

Go check out the Hype Machine. Go check out The Hood Internet. Thank me later.