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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
A$AP Rocky - “Goldie”
The first track off of Long Live A$AP. Hit-Boy provides a cold, mellodical beat over gritty snares; reminicent of a Neptunes’ formula. The content is a little redundant, but it is what it is; true to Rocky’s brand of trap-less trill rap. I’m actually a big fan of A$AP Rocky’s ode to Houston trill rap flow—an interesting perspective from somone so disconnected from Houston roots. Hopefully more good things to come from this album.
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Kendrick Lamar - “Cartoon and Cereal” [Feat. Gunplay]
Another dope concept delivered through a raw and innovative flow — This song is about Kendrick gaining peace through his recent success in music. A peace that was never felt since the days of watching cartoons and eating cereal as a kid. There was too much struggle and animosity around him while growing up to maintain any kind of bliss.
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Rick Ross- “Stay Schemin’” (Drake vs. Common)
Essentially, I gutted out the track and left both Drake and Common’s verses for easier listening. Recently, Common [Sense] himself took the proactive approach and unleashed verbal shots at Drake over Rick Ross’ Stay Schemin’; a song which features a Drake verse full of subliminal warnings and insults aimed at Common. The download link below if you wish…
Personally, I think Com is just bored. He’s a certified legend with classic albums under his belt. He has nothing to prove. He doesn’t need to earn the co-sign of today’s rap fan because he’s earned his position in hip-hop when they were still in diapers. With Drake’s growing appeal in our pop culture, it’s not a stretch to say a chunk of Drake’s fans don’t even listen to Common or any music similar.
I myself am a big Drake fan but it looks like he’ll never be a hip-hop artist of Common’s calibre. Not that he doesn’t have the potential to—it has a lot to do with our generation of music and how it has influenced popular hip-hop. Drake’s a different artist than Common and has already developed tools that distance himself from a traditional hip-hop artist i.e. singing (which is one reason Common has this distaste towards him).
These days in hip-hop, beef has become something of the past; at least these two arent afraid to trade bars. Gotta miss those days where there was tension in hip-hop. Not serious, life-threatening tension, but tension through competition and the art of battle rap. This new wave of rappers seem like they’re all on each other’s team; I guess they don’t possess the no nonsense mindset that popular rappers had when I was growing up i.e. Jay-Z, Nas, 50 Cent, The Game, Jadakiss, Ja Rule etc. Where if you do something I don’t like, I’m calling you out. Maybe this generation is scared because many rappers I just mentioned careers’ went cold due to their quarrels.
Even still, these emerging rappers lack the grit that was tied to the typical on-paper rapper. Kinda sucks to see the more ‘hood’ rappers stray away from mainstreams’ eye, but that’s just how hip-hop is changing and how this generation decided to define what’s relevant.
Anyways, even though the justifications of the ‘beef’ are a little blurry, it’s good to have a little sport again.
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Odd Future – Unreleased
The Odd Future team have gone ahead and released 13 unreleased tracks on their tumblr. The originator/compiler of the mixtape include: Loofy, Itzmurda, Tascam, Keith, AL, GJ and HK from forum Odd Future Talk. This release has three unreleased/rare Earl tracks including: Rebellious Shit, Sly x Stones throw and Earls first song ever called WattStax… (Read More)
Not really interested in hearing early OF other than the 3 Sly Tendencies tracks. #FreeEarl
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Some Unreleased Sweatshirt Has Been…Released. The Guys Over At OFT Had Put Together A Mixtape Of Unreleased/Rare OF Shit, And 3 Early Man Songs Were Included, This Is One Of Them. Click Here To Download That Tape. Free Earl, We Miss You Nigga.
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Florence + The Machine Covers Drake’s “Take Care” on BBC Radio 1
Ms. Welch provides her take on Drake’s take on I’ll Take Care of U..in one take? Good stuff.
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The Weeknd - “The Knowing” Music Video
Some of the most creative visuals for a song, from an artist on the ‘radar’, I’ve seen in a while. The song serves as the outro for House of Balloons.
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Black Star - “Fix Up”
And they’re back! Trying to capture that same umph like it’s 1998. This is the first of forthcoming Black Star music in 2012. Fix up, look sharp, elevate.
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Kendrick Lamar - “Buried Alive (Interlude)”
Here is K-Dot’s contribution to Take Care liberated from Marvin’s Room. A captivating verse about falling to the allure of the rap industry.
VOICE [BOX] BRAIN
you want to know...just seek and you find.
I'm like a brain in the voicebox, I SPEAK MY MIND ***
