N.E.R.D. Premieres Studio Version of New Jam . . .on 90210 (and a spur of the moment commentary that no one will read)

::hyperventilating::
The song is called "WTF" or "Radio" depending on who you ask.

I'm right back to being terrified.
Black Eyed Peas, here we come!

N.E.R.D. in 2001-02 = LEGITIMATELY ahead of their time, cutting-edge, genre-smashing, "hey, 2 Black dudes and an Asian can jam this shit too" band making music no one had the balls to attempt to sell, or the flexible fanbase and career stability to pull off.  A perfect storm.  Remember, they were doing this...8 YEARS AGO!

N.E.R.D. in 2010 = Time has caught up, they are now lost in a post-genre soup where what was once unthinkable is now platinum-selling pop.  N.E.R.D. is no longer "different".

The irony:  It was N.E.R.D. that set the table for so much of what us "urban alternative", "blipsters" and "hip-hopsters" are feeling right now.  The worst thing to ever happen to N.E.R.D. was the success of N.E.R.D..  They achieved EXACTLY what they set out to do:  Re-form pop culture without solid color or genre lines...but they did is so effectively, that maybe they're no longer needed.

Regardless . . .No one Ever Really Dies will have a permanent place VERY high on the list of most influential artists for me personally.  They had a tremendous impact on what I listen to, why, how and when.  Even if the next album is a complete shit salad, it won't damage what they've already done.  Not for me anyway.