Over the next few weeks, Soundcheck is looking for our first Musician In Chief, in which special guests nominate musicians and make a case for why that artist should become commander in chief. Yesterday, Billboard's Joe Levy nominated Keith Richards. Today, we turn to KCRW DJ Anne Litt for her pick, Patti Smith.

START THE CONVERSATION: Who do you think should become the first "Musician In Chief"? Fill out THIS questionnaire into our comments section, or email your response to soundcheck@wnyc.org 

Pianist Marco Benevento may be most known for his work with jazz and post-rock Benevento-Russo Duo. But for Soundcheck listeners, Benevento is the guy heard every night at the top of the show: Our theme music is his song called "Eagle Rock." Benevento and his trio recently dropped by the studio to perform that song and others from his latest record.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond film and the franchise is being celebrated with a DVD box set, a documentary, a film festival at the Museum of Modern Art, and most importantly, a new movie, Skyfall. Naturally, no new Bond movie would be complete without a new James Bond song for the opening credits. And this time around its by the British superstar Adele. How does it hold up compared to past Bond songs?

The top contender for buzziest newcomer in hip-hop this year is Chicago's Chief Keef, the recording moniker of 17-year-old Keith Cozart. Chief Keef has steadily built a local following through a slew of mixtapes and viral music videos, notably "Bang," "I Don't Like," and "3Hunna," which each racked up millions of downloads and views online.

Rapper Pusha T (one-half of the duo the Clipse) stumbled upon the video for "3Hunna" on the website Worldstar Hip Hop and in turn brought the ascendant Keef to the attention of fellow Chicago native Kanye West. 

West was entranced by the youngster's aggressive flow and true-to-life imagery that depicts the often violent and bleak circumstances of Chicago's South Side. When West and his G.O.O.D. Music collective remixed the track "I Don't Like" with Keef’s verse intact, Keef was catapulted from local star to the national stage. Since then, Chief Keef has since inked a deal with Interscope Records and kicked off a myriad of performances including 2012’s Lollapalooza music festival. Chief Keef's major label debut is slated for November 2012.

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Alana Amram plays Union Pool Wednesday night with her band, The Rough Gems. Download the track "Wooden Houses."