Maybe because you haven’t stopping partying for the past 3 days? It’s OK – it’s Welcome Week.

But it’s not OK, because even that Red Bull you chugged isn’t working. And you really wanna go out.

The solution? Music, duh.

Invite a few of your girl friends over to help ramp up your partying spirit: throw back a few cocktails, put on your party face, and listen to this awesome mix. If this doesn’t get you goin‘, get back into bed. You are dunzo for the week.

1-Burning Down The House-Talking Heads

Start off with a karaoke-worthy song that you can sing along to.

2-If You Steal My Sunshine-LEN

Forever one of the most upbeat songs of all time.

3-Last Night-The Strokes

A song you’ll want to bob your head to, but be careful if listening to it when putting on eyeliner.

4-Ready For The Floor-Hot Chip

A danceable song by a new British electropop band you’ll want to recommend to the DJ (a fantastic pick-up line!)

5-Fire It Up-Busta Rhymes

Bring in some 90’s tunes while you’re fixing your hair.

6-Hey Ya!-OutKast

A song you’ll never want to stop dancing to, no matter how many years old it is.

7-Paper Planes-M.I.A.

Take a shot for every gunshot sound effect. Just kidding! You’ll probably pass out before you get to the party, or the end of the song.

8-Electric Feel-MGMT

You’ll want to keep your ears tuned to this indie rock band from Brooklyn long after you’ve pre-gamed, gamed, post-gamed, and nursed your hangover.

9-I Believe In A Thing Called Love-The Darkness

There’s nothing better to put you in a good mood than laughing your ass off at your friends’ attempts to hit the high notes.

10-Fuck the Pain Away-Peaches

If you’re still living at home, you might want to turn down the volume on this raunchy tune. Otherwise, pump it up. This is a great song to end your pre-game time with. It goes on a little long, so shut it off whenever you’re ready to head out the door.

Don’t have all these songs? You can listen to the mix at mixwit.com (our newest obsession).

I don’t know about you, but when Outkast released their double album Speakerboxx/The Love Below back in 2003, I was convinced it was the hottest album of the year. Everywhere I turned, I was hearing one of the tracks – and that was fine with me. I loved them then and I love them now. However, their release of Idlewild in 2006 left me a little upset. It was good, sure, but it wasn’t Outkast good. I listen to it now and then, but I still go back to Speakerboxx/The Love Below when I want some sophistifunk.

Keeping in mind that Outkast is probably one of my favorite groups of all time, imagine my excitement if I were to find a leak of what will hopefully be one of their new singles. Can you feel it? No? Well, let me make that a reality.

On Kanye West’s blog, I stumbled upon the first awesome leak of the year. “Royal Flush” is the name of the song, and it has our boys Big Boi, Andre 3000, and features Raekwon. I gave it a listen. And then another listen. And then another. I couldn’t find the lyrics anywhere, so I had to pay close attention…which is no problem for me, really. I turned up my poor beat up computer speakers and listened.

And suddenly, I was back on the porch steps on Decatur Street in Brooklyn, New York, seven or eight years old and only just figuring out that there was more music out there than my mother’s soft jazz. It sounds fresh, but at the same time it sounds deliciously, delightfully, and utterly old skool. I’m telling you, they do the damn thing. It doesn’t have that harshness that a lot of the new (and therefore bad) hip-hop releases do, but it isn’t soft.

As per usual, Andre had the best verse lyrically. He usually does (though Big Boi does occasional show us his amazing prowess). I’m excited about this new album now, though, and I can’t wait to hear more. For now, though, this is all. And as Outkast would say it…

Break.

If you were bummed when “Rich Girl” plugged Gwen Stefani’s brand L.A.M.B. and Eve’s Fetish, Fergie’s contract will be a rough blow. Fergie is scheduled to appear in a number of Candie’s commercials and will even have fans dress in Candie’s clothing at her concerts.

While Fergie is not the first artist to accept endorsements from a brand, the requirements in her contract with Candie’s require her to endorse the clothing very openly. She has basically been purchased and is allowing herself to become a walking Candie’s advertisement.

Will this decrease the quality of the music that Fergie produces? It’s hard to say. Various sources speculate that Fergie may incorporate phrases that seem to be referring to actual candy instead of bluntly stating the brand name.

If this is true, she may be able to pull it off. Outkast produced killer hit, “Hey Ya” while simultaneously endorsing Polaroid cameras. The difference is Outkast was offered money from the company after the song became a hit- they initially incorporated the brand name into their music by their own will.

In an interview with the Sunday Times of London, an executive from Interscope records (Fergie’s label) claims that sadly, this type of brand integration into mainstream music may be prominent in the future of the industry. He claims that since the eruption of piracy in music, record sales have severely decreased and artists must find a way to earn profit.

No offense Fergie, but aren’t you rich enough?

While I don’t blame the pop star for taking up this pricey offer, it makes me sad to think that commercial jingles and actual music will soon become one in the same. There must be a better way to gain considerable profits than to sacrifice the music itself.