THE SINGLES FILE

Rapper Project Pat tells us where he's from. (Loud Records)

A weekly playlist for the listener with a one-track mind.

Project Pat: "Raised in the Projects"

The Three 6 Mafia rapper offers this lumbering solo cut, perhaps to remind us why his name isn't Suburb Pat, Countryside Pat or Australian Outback Pat.

Tabi Bonney: "The Pocket"

Flaunting an irresistible hook, the D.C. rapper's local radio staple has started making ripples outside the Beltway. Bonney flows like a drawled-out Slick Rick (or maybe a narcoleptic 50 Cent), but squeals the chorus: "Put me in the pocket!"

Ill Ease: "Too Much Sucky"

These Sonic Youth-aping brats get snotty over a sloppy drum roll, sneering, "I hate drum machines! Don't like keyboards either!" For the bridge, they yelp the chorus to Devo's "Whip It" in mock tribute.

Psychic Ills: "Red Split"

Soaking their sinuous, synth-laden instrumental in reverb, these New Yorkers sound like Sade's backing band jamming with the Jesus and Mary Chain at the bottom of a well.

Jim Jones featuring Stack Bundles and J.R. Writer: "Ballin' for Christmas"

Jones takes his penchant for the absurd to the North Pole, flipping Run DMC's classic "Christmas in Hollis" into a cocky, kooky carol. Hearing him bark "fa-la-la-la-la" provides plenty of ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.

-- Chris Richards