Music is filled with surprises. For every good-looking rebel working diligently to bring sexy back, there's a bookish nerd sitting in a dim corner furiously scribbling esoteric poetry in a lyrics journal. Referencing literature is a surefire way to show the world that you're a sensitive soul with important thoughts. Existentialism is clearly the most badass school of thought because it pits the individual (wearing black) against the absurdity of the uncaring cosmos (also wearing black). Keep reading for a look at ten existential musicians.

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- The Yawpers' deep thoughts come through on Capon Crusade
- The ten most noteworthy music publicity stunts
- Review: They Might Be Giants at the Gothic Theatre, 11/5/09

Motörhead, umlaut intended.

Many musicians insist that one of the most difficult parts of creating a successful band is finding just the right name. Truth is, naming a band is easy. No matter what spirit an outfit hopes to evoke with its handle, there's a vast history of tradition and iconography waiting behind nearly every stylistic or thematic choice. Here's a handy guide to finding the perfect name for the band that's going to change the world as soon as it settles on the perfect name.

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- What does Google think of your band name?

Sometimes flawless technique, inspired lyrics and a devoted fan base aren't enough. Sometimes you've gotta do something outlandish to step up your game and grab the world's attention. Some would say that getting on a stage and saying, "Hey! Watch what I'm doing!" might be considered attention-seeking behavior, but certain musicians take it to a whole new level. Whether for the sake of art, to go down in history or to sell as many records as possible, they devise feats of daring that most of us wouldn't dream.

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- Ten rockers who found religion
- The ten things rock stars do to try to remain relevant when their stars fade
- The 50 worst rock/pop lyrics: The complete list

There's a long history of musicians who suffered from and overcame (or sometimes didn't overcome) crippling shyness, anxiety and stage fright to fulfill their dreams of standing in the spotlight. That spotlight, it's a cruel, uncaring light. So bright. So uncomfortably warm. Everyone's staring at you expectantly. It can all be so unnerving, as any of the performers on our list of the ten most timid musicians could attest.

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- Ten rockers who found religion
- Ten acts that clearly worship the Smiths
- The ten most enigmatic figures in hip-hop

Eric Gruneisen

Drug culture isn't relegated exclusively to rock, obviously. For its part, the rap game is equally loaded with drug references of all kinds, from Promethazine and DMT to LSD and PCP, and likewise addled with its own cautionary tales and fatalities. While there's nothing as concrete to suggest that drugs are integral to making rap music, if nothing else, they have certainly served as one of the many muses. Keep reading for a compendium of drugs and rap and a rundown of where the two converge.

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- Is an addled mind essential to making great music?
- The ten best dis tracks of all time
- The fifty greatest rap groups of all time

Aaron Thackeray

Since hip-hop's genesis, beef has been as integral a driving force to the art as bravado. There've been some titanic tangles over the years, from Canibus facing off with LL Cool J to Jay-Z and Nas locking horns with one another, all of them resulting in some relentless and incendiary rhymes being spit on record. Keep reading for a rundown of the ten best dis tracks of all time.

See also:
- The fifty greatest rap groups of all time
- The ten greatest East Coast rappers of all time
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FIVE POINTS JAZZ FESTIVAL @ FIVE POINTS | SAT, 5/11/13
Since starting a decade ago, the Five Points Jazz Festival has been celebrating the music, culture and history of Denver's historic Five Points neighborhood by highlighting local jazz acts. Acts on the main stage of this year's festival include the Hazel Miller Band, Conjunto Colores, Park Hill Brass, Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra and Southern Journey, while some acts on other stages include Buckner Funkenjazz, Willie Houston, Deep Chocolate and Adam Bodine Trio. The free event also includes food and art vendors.

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Before it was even released, "Get Lucky," the first single from Daft Punk's forthcoming album "Random Access Memories," set the world on fire. From the fan edits of the track to the sixty second commercial from Saturday Night Live to the album teaser from Coachella, "Get Lucky" generated more than ten million impressions before being released last week and immediately topping the charts. No one was probably more thrilled about this than Pharrell Williams.

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- Daft Punk at Coachella? The Rumors persist
- From filmmaking to furniture design, Daft Punk is multi-faceted
- Review: Daft Punk at Red Rocks, 7/31/07

There's something great about a hip-hop group. From the beginning, rap was never intended to be a solo endeavor; it began in cyphers at block parties, and the first established rappers were components of a collective centered around the more important DJ. Even now that the rapper is the star, it's nice to have that change in voice, tone and perspective to give songs and albums depth of character that one MC simply can't provide. Keep reading for the full list of the fifty greatest rap groups of all time.

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- The ten most underrated rappers of all time
- The ten most enigmatic figures in hip-hop
- The 50 best rap lyrics of all time: Complete list

We all have to make a buck, and musicians are absolutely no different. When their music careers start to fade, they still have to pay the bills. And with the endless parade of also-rans appearing on Celebrity Apprentice, we are continually reminded just how low some will go to keep their name in the headlines. Some are clearly shrewder than others. Here's a look at the ten things rock stars do to try to remain relevant.

See also:
- Ten rockers who found religion
- The 50 worst rock/pop lyrics: The complete list
- The best and worst of sitcoms starring musicians