Hip Hop
CP – Not The Only One
CP has long been a friend of this site from his mystery-shrouded project One Room to his solo mixtape based around the Eddie Murphy movie Boomerang. The LA via NY rapper is just about ready to take over the world, and it starts with this song featuring a legendary Jhene Aiko sample. Oh man, that beat.
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Doley Bernays – Blessed + Raise Your Weapon
This new Doley Bernays song sounds a bit like the new Kanye West material, which is amazing because he had to have written it well before he heard that. Maybe that speaks to where Doley Bernays head is these days. Both the songs below work to push the envelope–I mean, “Raise Your Weapon” samples Deadmau5. This sort of beat selection and apparent mindset is refreshing in a growing industry of clichéd, robotic rappers. Also, Doley was part of one of my fav moments on Twitter.
RT @rachelle_jl: Lol yup! @doley_bernays RT @thearjungrover: @katertot527 My fav part is where he is like I miss you idk that cracked me up.
— King doley reelife™ (@doley_bernays) May 21, 2013
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Everything We Know About Kanye West’s New Album [Update #5]
Every since he tweeted “June Eighteen” there has been an excessive thirst for news on Kanye West‘s highly-anticipated sixth studio LP. Well, Rolling Stone has managed to snatch up some clues about the album, and I am going to try to connect some of the dots. Here is what we know:
- He has been in Paris, France since the beginning of the year, staying in the illustrious Hotel Meurice (also known as “The Hotel of Kings,” so you know it’s real).
- Hot 97′s Peter Rosenberg said that Kanye played the album for Def Jam and apparently it’s “dark but really good.”
- Kanye went to Brazil instead of The Grammys back in February. He was photographed in the studio with… Will Smith.
- He is playing SNL’s season closer on May 18th. This is three days before Daft Punk‘s album drops, and he has at least two songs with Daft Punk. Thomas Bangalter, half of the influential French duo, said that ‘Ye was “kind of screaming primally” during one of their recent sessions.
- Kanye tweeted “June Eighteen,” which I think is a single release date and not the album release date. Even though I would think he would release a single right after playing SNL in May, I do not think he would undercut label mate Pusha T‘s album My Name Is My Name (which is due out July 16th), with his own album. Oh also, June 18th could totally be Kim Kardashian’s due date.
- West has brought in Skrillex, Chief Keef, and members of Odd Future. The Odd Future feature is especially not surprising as he is a huge Tyler, The Creator fan. For a while Tyler’s legendary “IFHY” music video was the only item featured on Yeezy’s website.
- According to Pigeons & Planes, there may be a Kanye/Gunplay collaboration in the works as well.
UPDATE #1: Kanye took the Met Gala stage by storm last night performing some new material. One song, presumably called “I Am A God,” began with him yelling that. Another featured him telling Kim K that she is so awesome (watch here). Lastly, Hudson Mohawke, half of TNGHT and recent G.O.O.D. Music signee, played a new Yeezy song at one of his sets.
Also, it has been reported that Kanye bought the Hudson beat below. Hopefully, the final product sees the light of day because the instrumental is FIRE.
UPDATE #2: Hud Mo played another new ‘Ye song, this one probably called “New Slaves,” at a recent set.
Kanye said: “You see there’s leaders and there’s followers, but I’d rather be a dick than a swallower.”
Update #3: Kanye stopped by Roseland Ballroom in NYC and performed ANOTHER new track as well as the song we think is called “Awesome.” SNL this weekend is going to be insane.
Update #4: ’Ye took to 66 buildings around the globe to project his new song “New Slaves.”
NEW SONG AND VISUAL FROM MY NEW ALBUM BEING PROJECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE ON 66 BUILDINGS, LOCATIONS @ KANYEWEST.COM
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 18, 2013
Update #5: Ugh. I’ll just embed a #tweet about this “Kanye” character. We can probably expect the “New Slaves” CDQ, featuring Frank Ocean tonight after SNL. Kanye’s album (title still not confirmed) Yeezus will be everywhere on June 18th.
New Kanye album may be called Yeezus, and will be out June 18th (Amazon). “New Slaves” CDQ features Frank Ocean. twitter.com/THEArjunGrover…
— Arjun (@THEArjunGrover) May 18, 2013
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Premiere: Cam Meekins – High (ft. Skizzy Mars)
I had a preconceived notion of Cam Meekins‘s music. Just yesterday I probably thought the same things you are thinking right now, and at first listen I thought this song did not really change my opinion of him. It sounds too clean, too good, too poppy, etc. Ugh. I could feel myself making lame excuses not to like this track. Cam Meekins is my age. He’s rapping about things that I go through. It sounds good because, not only has he improved as a rapper–especially in delivery–since I last listened to him (admittedly not since he first started), he has also made huge improvements as a producer. He says in the song that he’s living what he’s rapping. How can anyone hate on that? He’s telling his story, and it’s feel good music.
Look for his debut album Lamp City on May 21st. Pre-order it here.
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Noname Gypsy – Paradise (ft. Queen SheCago) [Music Video]
We introduced you to Noname Gypsy‘s solo music after Chance The Rapper introduced her to the world on his incredible Acid Rap mixtape. “Paradise” is one of the songs we featured (she has since removed it from SoundCloud, but it can still be found on her FB page) and is really a perfect introduction to the Chi-Town poet. The song touches on No Name’s childhood, and the delivery is candid and occasionally playful à la young Chancellor. Without gushing too much, this song/video is further proof that this rapper is the real deal. Look for her Telefone tape to drop later this summer.
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Interview: G-Eazy in ATL
There’s an old wives’ tale about going to a concert in the rain when storm-drenched boots line the venue floor and a really ratchet drunk girl double fisting two beers like a champ tries to dance with you and your friends–
Wait.
While those things totally happened I don’t know where I’m going with this. Also, I’m not totally sure I know what the phrase “old wives’ tale” even means. What I do know is that G-Eazy and Skizzy Mars gave one hell of a performance in that beat up Atlanta joint a couple of months ago and made new fans with carefully prepared set lists, lighting, and live percussion. I had the unique privilege of interviewing G before the show.
Hit the jump to read our interview with G-Eazy… Continue reading “Interview: G-Eazy in ATL” »
Hoodie Allen – Make It Home (ft. Kina Grannis)
A couple of years ago this collaboration would be way out of the ball park for Hoodie Allen, but after solid songwriting turns on his All American EP and more recently on his Crew Cuts mixtape, it comes as no surprise. Fuse TV actually brought these two together, resulting in a pretty dynamic track. Wow, sorry that was such a normal post. I usually get weird on Hoodie Allen write-ups. Maybe we are both maturing at our craft. Okay, that got a little weird.
Support good music and buy the song on iTunes here. Also, shout out to McKayla Maroney.
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Logic – Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever [Download Mixtape]
Logic is a young rapper we’ve had on the radar for a couple years now, but he recently really came into the spotlight when he was selected as a member of the XXL Freshman Class of 2013. We had the honor of doing an interview with Logic back in 2011, at which point he told us the following:
“In five years I see myself 2 studio albums in with a cult following all over the world and on the cusp of a successful acting career.” – Logic[Quote from 2011 Interview with Sunset in the Rearview]
Well it’s 2013, so it’s been two years, and he’s a lot closer to that goal than he was when he originally said it in 2011. He made the XXL Freshman Class list and he signed a deal with Def Jam Records. This release of Welcome to Forever is his fourth mixtape in just as many years, and it puts him much closer to his goal than where he was just days ago. In the opening track, “Welcome to Forever,” Logic shows off his rhyming skills and brushes off the haters who don’t believe in him just because of his skin tone. He makes a ballsy move on the third track by spitting over Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” instrumental, but he kills it. He tells us about his upbringing, from the days of eating off food stamps to being the white kid who’s denied attention because he appears to be white. He lets us know in “5AM” that though you wouldn’t know it from appearance, he’s half black, but is that supposed to make him a better rapper? Are we still judging based on skin tone alone?
In all honesty, I think it still influences what I think about a rapper before I listen to anything. It’s ridiculous, but I can’t deny a hint of truth in that. But after listening to Logic, it’s hard to tell much of a difference between his voice and J. Cole’s.
That said, I don’t think the mixtape is perfect. A song like “Break It Down” doesn’t do anything for me. It’s one of those songs about getting high that really doesn’t have much more of a purpose, in my opinion. It’s fluff that could have been cut out because I think the mixtape is already too long at 20 songs. “Life Is Good” is another one that doesn’t appeal to me. It’s a story about how he’s got it good these days, but Logic…remember where you came from, man. I understand that you’re telling a story as you go through the mixtape, but you’re still a young buck who just got signed. It’s all relative, man. Overall, I think Logic sounds better over some thicker production than he does over the minimal beats, because he’s more of a straight spitter than a harmonic addition to a minimal instrumental.
Oh and one last thing. I’ll echo Logic (in “5AM”): shout out to his homies Chance and Skizzy Mars.
came a long way from eating with goverment-gave permission/ if you think these lyrics aint deep, you too stupid to listen/ just an outcast with a mission that spits at whoever listens, bitch it’s logic - Roll Call
Download “Welcome to Forever”
Logic on Twitter | Logic on Facebook
Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap [IRL Review]
About a week ago Chance The Rapper released his much-anticipated sophomore mixtape Acid Rap. The album quickly became, perhaps, the one project the entire Internet seemed to agree on. Now, we have gathered (I imagine Lydia with a conch shell calling us to do these reviews) on Google Hangout to give our very #important input. Who do you agree with most? What did you think about Acid Rap?
Download Acid Rap
Related: Kid Cudi – Indicud [IRL* Review]
*IRL means “in real life”–if you didn’t know
Tape Tuesday: Lost in the Funhouse
I respect people who try to stay true to themselves, even when everything in the world is trying to get them to do the opposite. Completely original people, too, like Andy Kaufman who heavily inspired this tape. They say, “You are who you surround yourself with,” but sometimes you get lost. I think recently I was lost–trapped in the dark corners of my own mind. This mixtape is about how I lost myself and how I continue to fight the surrounding negative energy. It’s less sad and serious than it sounds. These 17 songs are essential summer music. Burn them on a CD, go for a drive, and get lost in the funhouse.
- Josh Record – Wonder
- Bipolar Sunshine – Rivers
- The Hard Knocks – Pocket Full of Change
- Wet – Bad Idea
- SomeKindaWonderful – Reverse
- Cave Painting – Rio
- Swim Deep – She Changes The Weather (Whitely Remix)
- Mychal Cohen – Sentimental Guy
- Cowboy Indian Bear – Let It Down
- Noname Gypsy – Sunday Morning
- SPEAK – Peaks
- Kid Astray – Hey Sister
- The Casual Tuesday – Seatbelt
- Majical Cloudz – Bugs Don’t Buzz
- Planetarian – Zoned
- PHOX – Slow Motion
- The Dear Hunter – Whisper
If it were up to me,
I would’ve remained in that dream a little later
DOWNLOAD ‘LOST IN THE FUNHOUSE’ HERE
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Watch A Video About Chance the Rapper and Nosaj Thing’s Song “Paranoia”
If you haven’t downloaded Chance the Rapper‘s Acid Rap yet, you’re missing out on what might be the independent release of the year. Yes, it is that good. There was a secret track on the mixtape called “Paranoia” featuring LA producer Nosaj Thing. Both artists came together for an interview with Yours Truly to talk about the track and where it came from. Watch the interview below and stream the track after the jump.
With every song, every time I get in the booth I want to record it 40 different times so I can see what I really want to do. Eventually I hear the one that I want to use. -Chance the Rapper
Download Acid Rap
Continue reading “Watch A Video About Chance the Rapper and Nosaj Thing’s Song “Paranoia”” »
[Video] Fortune Family – Gravity ft. JohnieB
There was a time when I thought we had seen the last of Fortune Family. Family’s fall apart sometimes, but sometimes they come back even stronger. Fortune Family fell apart for over a year, but then they did just that; the music they’ve been working on recently is better than anything they’ve released, and this is our first taste of that. Hop’s production has reached a new level, and his and Reef’s lyricism is deeper and realer than ever before. On this track, Hop and Reef discuss their journeys, both as single artists and as a whole, and deliver a glimpse into what happened to the Fam and how they ended up coming back together. I am so glad they did. Watch the video below, and expect to hear a lot from the Fam in the coming weeks and months.
Welcome back, Reef and Hop. You’ve been missed.
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Dream Big
