Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar (April, 2010)

When most people hear the gritty “I Need A Dollar,” during the opening credits for HBO’s How To Make It In America, they probably think it’s some old ’70s soul song. The last thing they would expect to find out is that it’s actually a new song from rapper/singer/producer Aloe Blacc, who’s signed to the underground powerhouse, Stones Throw Records. The L.A. native has been steadily cultivating fans since 1995 when he first touched down with hip-hop producer Exile as the critically acclaimed duo, Emanon. He released his debut solo album, Shine Through, in 2006, but his profile has been raised considerably since HBO decided that his haunting vocals—tucked inside urgent pianos provided by the production duo, Truth & Soul—would be perfect for a show about 20-somethings trying to make their mark in New York.