If you’ve read this blog long enough you may know by now that, next to training, music is my biggest obsession in life. I go to dozens of concerts and live performances per year and could single handedly keep iTunes in business. Here’s a list of some of the newer stuff we’ve been rocking in the gym over the last few months. Some of it is recent and some of it is just stuff that I have recently gotten into or have had renewed love affair with as of late. I’ll try not to repeat any recommendations I have made in the past.
Pearl Jam- There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t listen to some Pearl Jam. They are my all time favorite band by a mile (Public Enemy is second, for those keeping score). I’ve seen them over 50 times live and will see them at least another 50-100 more times. The two best training tracks off the new record are Got Some and Gonna See My Friend.
La Coka Nostra- This is the original three members of House of Pain along with a couple other lesser known friends of theirs. As far as hip hop training music goes, this is the best thing out there right now. I believe it’s also the best thing Everlast has ever done in his entire career, and I have followed him since his time in Ice T’s Rhyme Syndicate. There hasn’t been anything in hip hop close to this in the last five years. Almost every song on A Brand You Can Trust is gym worthy.
La Coka Nostra member Ill Bill has a few tracks featuring the rest of the crew that are worth getting as well: This is War, War is My Destiny, Pain Gang, It’s a Beautiful Thing.
Also check out Problemz and Get Outta My Way by Slaine. Both tracks also feature other members of the crew and are great for the gym.
Viking Skull- Hard rock/metal without being silly hardcore and unbearable for most human ears. There are a few good songs but my favorite is Start A War.
Obie Trice- I’ve been a big fan of Obie for years now. Recently I downloaded Welcome, Got Hungry, On & On, I Am. All good stuff.
50 Cent- Death to My Enemies, Crime Wave, I Get Money, I’ll Whip Ya Head Boy (featuring M.O.P. & Young Buck)
Eminem- I love Em as much as anyone but I truly feel that he wastes his talent on silly subject matter a lot of the time. He’s at his best when he’s angry and rapping with purpose. Having said that Elevators is a decent warm up track. I’m hoping for big things on his next record.
EPMD- Pioneers of old school hip hop and one my top five all time favorites. They recently came out with some new stuff which is gym worthy. Putten Work In (featuring Raekwon), Actin Up, What You Talkin (featuring Mobb Deep)
Rakim- Another leader of the old school. How to Emcee is a good warm up or cool down song.
KRS ONE & Buckshot- Yet another old school legend returns. Some of the best tracks are Survival Skills, Robot
The Black Keys- They recently did a hip hop album which is pretty damn good. They play, other guys rap. Dollaz & Sense featuring Pharaoh Monch & RZA is the best track to train to.
Rass Kass- Burn This Bitch Down
The Roots- Here I Come, Get Busy (featuring Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi)
Young Buck- Do It Myself
Royce da 5’9”- Royce is an underrated but incredibly talented MC who knows how to make some good training music. I recommend Gun Harmonizing, Dinner Time (featuring Bust Rhymes), Duck Down, Death Day, No Way to Stop Me, Count For Nothing, Scary Movies (featuring Eminem), Nuttin to Do (featuring Eminem)
Slaughterhouse- Fight Klub, Onslaught 2, Yeah
Wu-Tang Clan- Kill Too Hard
Raekwon- House of Flying Daggers
Dropkick Murphys- Loyal to No One, The Warriors Code, Shipping Up To Boston, The State of Massachusetts, Flannigans Ball
Beastie Boys (featuring Nas)- Too May Rappers
Jedi Mind Tricks- Animal Rap, Tibetan Black Magicians, Heavy Metal Kings, Butcher Knife Bloodbath
Army of the Pharaohs- Battle Cry, Feast of the Wolves
2Pac- Hit ‘Em Up, The Realist Killaz (featuring 50 Cent), Troublesome ’96, Ghost, Against All Odds, Untouchable
DMX- I wasn’t a huge fan back in the day but over the last year I have come to embrace DMX in the gym. Outside of the gym I would find most of this to be intolerable. For training I like: Don’t You Ever, Fuckin with D, Comin For Ya, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, Intro, Stop Being Greedy, One More Road to Cross, Get it on the Floor, X Gon Give it to Ya, We Go Hard (featuring Cam’ron)
Marilyn Manson- Definitely one of my favorites in the gym. My latest download of his is Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon. Not as good as classics like The Fight Song, Better of Two Evils, Mob Scene or Little Horn, but not bad.
Static X- Another long time gym favorite. Besides the old classics we have recently been rocking Terra Fied, I’m The One, Z28, Hypure, Lunatic, The Only
Rollins Band- Nothing new here, but I have grown a bit tired of screaming satanic death metal lately (must be that “getting older” thing). I still like it but just can’t take as much of it as I used to. As a result I have found a renewed passion for stuff like the Rollins Band. Some of my favorite cuts are: What’s the Matter Man, Tearing, I See Through, Gone Inside The Zero, On My Way to The Cage, Low Self Opinion, Are You Ready, Do It, You Didn’t Need,
Black Flag (see above)- Six Pack, Life of Pain, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, My War,
Orange 9M- When You Lie
For heavy squat or deadlift days I still like to crank up some of the following stuff for 20-30 minutes. After that I need to take it down a notch as my eardrums can’t tolerate more than a half hour of it…
Slayer
Killswitch Engage
Chimaira
Underoath
Five Finger Death Punch
Slipknot
In Flames
Deftones
Superjoint Ritual
If anyone’s interested I’ll list all the stuff I listen to outside of the gym sometime later this week, as it’s nearly 180 degrees opposite of this stuff.
Please leave your comments below and add your recent favorite training music.
