Recently, I wrote an article about what I thought makes the best possible album an artist can make. I’m applying that article to this review.

Talent:

Xaphoon Jones and Chiddy are quite the duo. Xaphoon has made a name for himself by sampling anything and everything and being recognized as one of the best producers in today’s music game. Chiddy has established himself as a serious spitter when he broke the Guinness World Record for Longest Freestyle Rap ,as well as, the Longest Marathon Rapping Record (9 hours and 18 minutes). Yes, I sat, and watched him do it live for a few of the hours. It was nuts. He made it seem like freestyling was as easy as stealing “breakfast” from a baby.

# of Tracks:

As stated before, removing the Intro & Interlude leaves us at 12 actual songs. There’s no overkill on the amount of tracks as the 12 that made their debut, are the ones that are their best (clearing samples, of course). Plus, we all have attention spans of two year olds so quality > quantity.

Features:

I’m not sure if Chiddy Bang actually had Icona Pop come in the studio and work with them for “Mind Ya Manners,” but Shirazi, and Gordon Voidwell (I think) sound like they actually worked with them. The features are kept to a minimal, which makes Chiddy’s verses stand out even more.

Thematic Album:

Not really thematic, but you can argue that “Breakfast” symbolizes the first meal for them in the “industry.” This is their first taste of going big time.

Individual Tracks:

If you keep up with the blog game, “Baby Roulette,” “Mind Ya Manners,” & “Ray Charles” are the only songs we actually knew about. All three are solid tracks as there appears to be a pattern going on here. Dope samples, catchy choruses, awesome production, and complimentary verses.

A few tracks to point out though:

Ray Charles: Not my personal favorite for the fact that he swagger jacked Hoodie Allen’s “James Franco.” I think Lydia is the one who spotted it, but sadly, it’s true.

4th Quarter: Sounds like it was inspired by LeBron James’ lack of talent in the fourth quarter, and Chiddy & Xaphoon were like fuck it, we got the clutch gene! #LeBronsFault

Does She Love Me: I don’t think we’ve ever seen this side of Chiddy before. Does he have #WhiteGirlProblems too?

“I will take her on a date/To a nice restuarant, but I got too much on my plate/Said I’m here for a day she hit me three hours late/Found out I left the city bet she had the sour face/Told I would kick it with her whenever I return/But that was based on the premise that she was my concern.” – Swag.

Out 2 Space: Xaphoon’s person favorite according to his Twitter.

My Personal Favorites: Handclaps & Guitars, Happening, Mind Ya Manners

Album Rating:

7.5/10 

Each song was rated out of five stars on two separate listening sessions. I took the average of both scores and subtracted 1 for the swagger jacking of Hoodie Allen.

“Breakfast” is 12 songs (excluding Intro & Interlude) with minimal features, showcasing production and lyrical talent, with somewhat of a theme going on. I like that. This is a fun ass album from start to finish and this is a solid debut from the duo. Do I think this is the best effort they could of given? No, because it sounds too similar to their mixtapes. Honestly, once WZRD drops, this will be lucky to get any airtime in my rotation. Still, this is the usual Chiddy Bang music so grab a plate and join in on the fun!

- @JDimerrr

I’m sorry for that outburst. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. This song has literally taken over my life. I’m singing it everywhere I go, including public places. It’s embarrassing, but I can’t stop! And I’m a terrible singer. Nameless (consisting of four Parisian dudes) is bad news for everyone with functioning eardrums, and I mean that in the best way possible! It’s because their song is so ridiculously catchy that I have to sing-a-long with it whenever I hear it. I’m spiraling. Seriously. I’m just going to stop now.

MP3: “Angelina” – Nameless

Pleaseeee, you should be dancing with me, you got it alll, ANGELINA!

-

Follow @THEArjunGrover

Download HERE.

Tracklist:

1. Sebastian
2. Please Don’t Kill Me
3. Isoprene Bath
4. Orifice Origami
5. Houseboat Babies
6. Natural Bridge
7. Ghost Bike
8. New House
9. Thank You Gliese 370 b
10. Sweet Sipping Soda
11. Three Shining Suns
12. Water Runs

Body Faucet will be everywhere on May 1st, 2012 via Vagrant Records.
-

Timeflies makes Tuesdays.

As a result of acquiring 2 million followers on his Twitter, Cole cut loose a little present for his fans. This one’s titled “Grew Up Fast” and serves as a reminder that Cole is no longer “Blowing Up,” but rather he’s already there and has no plans of stopping.

 Grew Up Fast. For yallll. Much Love

Download

Peep his live review below, accompanied with some dope visuals and a meet and greet interview post-show (which turns this write up into more of a virtual, VIP Timeflies concert experience, sick.) It looked like a blast, and based on some Twitter evidence, the boys had a little too much fun. Some guys just can’t handle Madison (just playing Rez.)

Madison you guys went hard lets fuckin rage
— Timeflies (@Timeflies) February 16, 2012

The only thing worse than how I feel is having to change rooms to go back to bed

— Rez (@robresnick) February 16, 2012

SCOTCHED UP SCONNIE:

TIMEFLIES AT MAJESTIC THEATER IN MADISON, WI

Apparently time flies when you’re at a Timeflies concert. YouTube sensation Timeflies, Cal Shapiro and Rob “Rez” Resnick, recently performed an hour-long set at the sold out Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI. Disappointment with the set length aside, it was an amazing hour of music which included the expected Scotch Tape tracks as well as a few Wisco themed freestlyes. Clearly well versed in Madison’s party mentality, the duo came ready and threw a few shout outs to a local bar,“The KK”, throughout the show.

The songs off their album “Turn It Up”, “Detonate” “Stunner” and the encore “Until the Sunrise” kept the hundreds of girls screaming all show long, but the Timeflies Tuesday favorite “Under the Sea” did what the lyrics elude and “kept them wetter” as they sprayed their water bottles over the crowd.  The duo previewed an untitled track from their upcoming mixtape (expected release April) featuring Rihanna’s “We Found Love” w/ Calvin Harris as the chorus.  Prompted by Rez, Cal gave an acapella-style rhyme session with the word “Wisco”.  At one point during the show Cal decided to stage dive into the crowd, putting the fans into such a frenzy he was lucky to get back on stage.

However, my personal favorite of the show was the Wisconsin freestyle that Cal spit to the beat of Diddy’s “Coming Home”.  Armed with a list of words from a UW-Madison student, Cal did what he does every Tuesday and freestyled shout-outs to Montee Ball, Russell Wilson, Spotted Cow, Sconnie, Mifflin, State Street, cheese curds, Bascom Hill, Pop’s, the UW student section’s “Eat Shit, Fuck You” chant, Travis Beckum, beating “the shit out of” Michigan State and Heisman winner Ron Dayne.  Although it was hard to decipher his lyrics in between the iconic Wisco themes due to the crowd’s cheers, nobody seemed to care as long as he said something about Wisconsin.

Shoutout to Dustin Bui and Timeflies for tickets to the sold out event.

Follow @dcbui

I HOPE YOU LIKE TRACK 8 THAT IS MY SHIT

— Noah B (Chiddy Bang) (@XaphoonJones) February 21, 2012

BONUS: This jam isn’t on the album but the homeboys made a video for us anyway. Dope!

Follow @dcbui

Here’s what G-Eazy had to say about the song:
Check out my new single ‘Marilyn’ featuring New Orleans’ indie songstress Dominique LeJeune. After seeing her play at a small DIY backyard concert, I tracked her down and brought her to my studio. She’s got such an amazing, unique voice, so I was stoked to see what we could put together. The outcome was an extremely personal song about the highs and lows of an intense relationship.

Life is too short trying to hold it all together/ It’s gone before you know it, but tonight could last forever

[via Interview Magazine]

Here is the second single from Strange Clouds dropping in May called So Good. This is a track to cruise to in the summer.

B.o.B – So Good

So yeah, big expectations. And then to say that your video ought to get you to the level of Spike Jonze? Hmm. This must be good right? (PS, too many tweet screenshots…doing it anyway. Fuck it.)

So this one’s going to be big. Still haven’t actually watched it yet…we’ll get to that later in the post. But anyways, to preface the video for those of you unaware, this is the first music we will hear from Odd Future’s upcoming OF Tape Vol. 2, a collaborative effort from the rap collective. We’ve seen pictures of Tyler with Pharrell, Kanye, etc. so it should be pretty crazy to see what they release as the first single. Also, the possibility of hearing new, polished music from Earl Sweatshirt (not that shitty “Home” he released the other day…sorry Thebe, that just doesn’t cut it for me) is really exciting to me. Oooohhhh the possiblities.

I’m going to watch the video now! Yippee.

Oh, wow. This is absurd and extraordinary, in a way only Odd Future can ever be. Absurd as in Tyler is a centaur and extraordinary as in “goddamn that production is unbelievable and Hodgy, Domo and Tyler, the Centaur just killed that.”

In terms of this being the first single, I couldn’t be more excited to hear what I’m hearing and see what I’m seeing. Odd Future has progressed, certainly, but they have not changed what makes them them.  They are still Odd, and their music is still the future of hip hop.

Ludicrous video–shouts to Luis Perez on the camera and Tara Razavi with the production, and of course the glorious Wolf Haley with the direction.

Question–how do they cast people for roles like this? Like “your daughters got the role! They’re going to play Hanky Panky and then Hodgy is going to ejaculate a lazer on her and turn her into a cat! It will be great and really advance their careers, I promise!”

I’m not sure this touches Yonkers, but I love this. Can’t wait for the album to drop.

Money in my pockets like I’m 45, Hodgy Beats recording live

March 20!

—-

Dream Big

Follow @DJDPrep