| bad, real bad: *walks to exit* |

Here's footage of ex-Fugee (and long-ballyhooed hip-hop recluse) Lauryn Hill showing up 4 hours late to a gig in Brooklyn. Upon being booed by the impatient crowd, she reacted by scolding them like she was their Mama. By the end of the short clip, there are two lines that remains festering in my head:

"I personally know I'm worth the wait."

Few, if any, people walking this planet should ever be able to utter those words and get away with it. Yeah sure, it's disrespectful of the fans to boo. But did they ever stop to think about why people boo? Maybe it's because by throwing down $100 for a pair of tickets, you have purchased the right to see the featured artist perform at the time shown on the face of the tickets. Any experienced concert-goer will tell you that if you have to wait more than 1 hour (after doors) to see the opening act, that's pretty bunk. If you have to wait more than 2 1/2 hours to see the headliner, they really must not have their shit together. So in the case of Lauryn Hill's Brooklyn gig shown above, a 4-hour wait is totally worthy of boos.

Side story: I recently went to see J.Cole at Fortune Sound Club. Doors @ 8PM, the opener didn't hit the stage until 11-something, and Cole didn't come out until just past 12:30AM. And no, it's not because he was late or held up at the border... his tour bus was outside the club well before people even started to line up for the show at about 7pm. Yeah, mindlessly waiting around for someone to show up is incredibly frustrating. This is especially true when the club is over capacity, and people are drunk, sweaty, and tired. Worst 4+ hours of my life.

That said, I fully support any and all people at the Lauryn Hill show who booed or made an attempt to show her that this kind of shit doesn't fly. It's truly disappointing how little of a shit she gave that people had to stand around and wait for hours on end. Like how is she going to hit the stage and front like her time is more precious than everyone else's, like she's doing everyone a favour merely by showing up? The crazy part is they're there just to see if she can still put on a good show. No one even knows is she's still got it (whatever "it" is that she's supposed to have).

"You get what you get."

Dear Lauryn: what they got was TICKETS to your damn show! They showed up on time, so should you! No one said it's easy getting a tour up and running, but how is calling your fans ignorant going to make things better? We probably don't know what it takes to set up a concert, but evidently neither do you.What you get is two clenched fists pointed in your direction with my thumbs pointing downwards. I hate it when people ego-trip like they don't need or want your money. If no one buys tickets to your shows, you don't have a job anymore, Lauryn Hill. You understand me?

I don't care who you are: if you're going to address the lateness, just apologize and sing a damn song.  Either that, or just don't address it but put on a great show.

I'm all for real talk, but exposed in this clip is a once-great entertainer believing her own hype well before she's earned back the right. In a "What have you done for me lately?" world of celebrity, this definitely knocks her down a few pegs in my books. Disappointing...

| merry christmas! |

(still like the version with just Yeezy, CyHi and Teyana tho)

| change gon' come |

Timbaland wants to start a new chapter in the new year. Part of his refreshed take on life is "Timbaland Thursdays," which is his version of Kanye West's GOOD Fridays. While definitely a nice gesture, the concept isn't "different" at all. In fact, he's not even the second or third artist into the gate. West originated the concept of free weekly music drops earlier this year, with the idea already taking hold with a few hip-hop notables, including Swizz Beatz (Monster Mondays) and Lloyd Banks (Blue Fridays).

With Timbaland being the latest of the super-producers trying his hand at scheduled, pseudo-official leaks, we're now beginning to see a new trend in the digital music era. Artists have already circumvented the relative PR stranglehold of their labels by joining the twitters of the world. Now, it appears that at least some of them are given some kind of free-rein to put out new music directly to the consumer. What I see with these kinds of drops is artists trying to maintain some semblance of control over their material. The the most basic of computer users today know something about downloading free music; it's a way of life and even a habit for some. Timbaland himself notes that some people just don't have the extra money for pay for music, so here he is joining his trail-blazing peers in taking the anti-Metallica approach to things.

It would be a huge understatement to say that this is merely an interesting trend. With Timbo the King now also promoting this distribution tactict, are we seeing the war against free music shift towards a more careful embrace of the once(still?)-villified MP3? I'll also accept Dr. Dre Saturdays, but probably stay away from Diddy Tuesdays. Stay tuned...

| doot doola doot doo |

Great interview by one of Vancity's finest, Nardwuar the Human Serviette, with J.Cole during his recent visit to Vancouver. Nardwuar brings his trademark flare and a ton of gifts to boot. J.Cole is also a great interview here - it's always nice to see both interviewer and interviewee having a good time. This might not be as good as Nardwuar's interviews with Snoop Dogg, but it's definitely still worth the 9:34. Check it out!

| something calming |

// Madeleine Peyroux - La Javanaise //

I've dabbled with some of Madeleine Peyroux's material before, but I guess I missed this one. Her version of the classic French ballad, "La Javanaise", was featured in a recent episode of How I Met Your Mother. Great mood music, especially for the stresses of the holiday season. It's nice to have something calming after a few solid days of blasting my ears with Tron.

// Download //

| tron-a-rific |

// Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy OST //

Rating: 3.8 out of 5

As nostalgic 80s-babies will soon flock to movie theatres in droves to catch the new update of the iconic sci-fi flick, fans of the film's audio have been treated to its monstrous soundtrack a little early. Orchestrated by electronic gods Daft Punk, the film's score is comprised of short-ish tracks that are intense and moody.

Well known for their plethora of party jams, the French duo display a drastically different kind of range with their work on this soundtrack. Sinister horns and white-knuckle string arrangements are featured throughout most of the album - a far cry from the dance anthems that got Daft Punk to the big show. Uppn reaching the end credits, my sense is that there's a bit of a sameness to each song. But that's kind of expected given the relatively limited scope of the project. Despite this small issue, each song is an absolute treat to listen to. Pick any one of the main tracks and turn it up as loud as your speakers will allow:

Summary: it's tricky comparing this to a normal album release because the of the narrow focus of the project. It's expected that there won't be a huge variety from song to song, but the entire thing is so masterfully put-together that it's impossible to not appreciate what they've done. The Tron: Legacy soundtrack is no doubt the work of polished professionals; add this to an already-impressive resume for the godfathers of electronica.

// Torrent //
// DL //

| bad, real bad: don gorilla |

Probably the worst album cover I've seen all year.

Racist jokes will ensue...

| the single life: issue thirteen |

// Jay-Z & Kanye West f. Elly Jackson (of La Roux) - That's My Bitch //

 

Former Tribe stalwart, Q-Tip, continues his streak of tight production with this track featuring the duelling kings of rap. "That's My Bitch" is rumoured to be a feature single off Jay-Z and Kanye's upcoming joint EP, Watch The Throne. The quality isn't great, but it's definitely enough for you to bump in your car. The bongos are crazy! I don't mind admitting that I've drummed the shit out of my steerling wheel to this song.

// T.I. f. Kanye West & KiD CuDi - Welcome to the World //

 

T.I. must be the unofficial king of coming out with stuff that sounds like 90% of his previous hits, but people continue to eat it up anyway. A grim, bassy synth beat with slick lyrics of hardship, struggle, etc... Both rappers go hard over the No I.D. production, with Tip peaking with a series of punchy, stuttering lines. Ye answers with an exhaustive verse addressing various conspiracy theories. His line about the illuminati scandal is a classic. Cudi provides his trademark haunting vocals on the hook. Would've been awesome to hear J. Cole or Pusha on this one...

// Keri Hilson f. Kanye West - Pretty Girl Rock RMX //

 

Ms. Keri is almost ready to drop her 2nd album, No Boys Allowed. The lead single, "Pretty Girl Rock," is a pleasant pop tune packaged as an anthem for young girls to feel good about themselves. It's something of a self-esteem booster, I suppose. Or maybe a self-esteem over-booster for chicks who are actually hot? "Knock You Down" collaborator Kanye West makes a cameo, recycling  part of his verse from the Good Friday release, "Take One For The Team." It's aight.

// B.o.B f. Wiz Khalifa - Fuck Tha Money //

I'm not posting this so much because I think B.o.B and Wiz are amazing on the track, but more so because this beat is actually the work of pre-College Dropout Kanye. "Crazy" was written by the late great Static Major and recorded by an R&B chick named Aura and The Clipse. Although a complete copy of "Crazy" surfaced earlier this year, it's pretty clear that Aura isn't destined to cash in one of the remaining Dropout-era soul beats from Mr. West. B.o.B doesn't do much with it either, but Wiz does his best to bring some life to the track.

// Metric - Black Sheep //

 

For fans of Metric, this isn't a new track. The band has been performing "Black Sheep" on tour for years, but never committed to including it on a studio album. Fans have clamoured for them to do it, so they did the smart thing and ponied up for the soundtrack of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (which is a great movie by the way). The song appears in the movie for about a minute, and it defeinitely stood out in my mind. I managed to track it down, so here it is. A real gem!

 

// Destroyer - Chinatown //

Vancouver-based indie artist Dan Bejar (aka Destroyer), has been putting out music and gaining devout fans  for the better part of the last decade. I don't know much about him, but I'll definitely try to get my hands on his older stuff if "Chinatown" is any indication of his talents. It's a beautiful, uncomplicated song that one typically wouldn't hear this late in the year, but the warm nostalgic feel and jazzy horn sections are certainly welcome as we get deeper into the winter months. The instrumentation and songwriting style reminds me of Memphis, the vastly under-appreciated duo headed by Stars frontman, Torquil Campbell. Look for Destroyer's next EP, Kaputt, due out in January 2011.

| mr. (im)perfect |

// Kanye West //
// My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy//

5 out of 5

When Kanye West tentatively named his 5th studio album Good Ass Job, it seemed he would do the expected and just make another hit record, no big deal. Unexpected, though, was West's now-famous MTV VMA stagebomb.  Mr. West has since made strides in redeeming himself but still struggles to win back that segment of his fanbase that just can't get over his douchebaggery. How ironic, then, is it that his glaring faults became the springboard to his latest triumph? Lauded as one of the most artistically diverse rap/pop albums of our time, Dark Twisted Fantasy stands out as an intimate look into the psyche of a modern hip-hop visionary.

Simply put, Dark Twisted Fantasy is Kanye at his dynamic best, crafting a balanced effort that is as sophisticated or simple as the listener makes it. With a stacked tracklisting that reads like a best-of, there's no doubt that the album is strong enough to garner acclaim from even the most critical music writers. What makes the difference between an "A" effort and "A+" like Dark Twisted Fantasy is the fact that it makes people feel things. If you should so choose, you are invited to delve deeper into West's schizophrenic, over-indulgent lifestyle.

Not since Eminem's "Love You More" have I felt this degree of "holy shit, what has this guy been through?" If it weren't for the luxurious instrumentation and story-time pacing of the album, there'd be little for Kanye's demons to hide behind. Take "Runaway," for example. Unfortunately, the "toast for the douchebags" hook is what most people remember the song by. The track finds the normally-egomaniacal West pointing the finger at himself for everything shitty he's ever done. I'm glad the Rick James sample (like live version he premiered at this year's VMAs) was added to the album version of the song. The "look atcha!" line adds to the track immensely, relentlessly taunting West at his most insecure moment. It is this brand of honesty that will continue to be Kanye's saving grace and downfall. As a real fan, it's not hard to appreciate the sincerity behind the lyrics.

For those not interested in the message behind the message, the album is tricked out with an impressive lineup of guest stars from John Legend to Elton John to Fergie to Nicki Minaj to big brother himself, Jay-Z. It's evident that Kanye aimed to go big on every track. He has effectively designed and constructed a sonic boardwalk, each song representing a landmark building with a unique structure and aesthetic. What ties everything together is a sense of an A-B-C progression (Minaj's storyteller intro sort of primes you for it). It begs for the listener to hear it in full, in this order only. When listening to the album, it seems to makes sense.

It's very hard for me to describe how rare an accomplishment Twisted Fantasy is. In the age of viral internet, it doesn't take long for the most obscure, unfinished track to be up- and downloaded thousands of times before the artist even knew it was leaked. Using Good Fridays, Kanye willingly gave away most of the album over the last few months. If the songs were anything less than classic, I would've been done with them a long time ago. I'm so not-done with this album that I had to go buy the CD and hear it as it needs to be heard. $14.99 plus tax later, I'm completely satisfied that I've heard it in all of its uncompressed glory. It's like those poor people who think waiting for Avatar to come out on DVD is good enough; no it's not, and you cheated yourself when you didn't line up to see it in 3D at the theatre. If you don't buy a hard copy of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, your ears will miss out on the last little bit of polish that you just can't get with an MP3.

Summary:  It's hard to classify Dark Twisted Fantasy as pop, rap, R&B, or hip-hop. The neatest description I can offer is: it spans multiple genres and weaves every version of Kanye West together seamlessly. What I call it is music for life. It's a soundtrack for people who act first and process later. It's fuel for those souls who want to be bigger and braver, but are crippled by insecurity and regret. For better or worse, we look to celebrities to give us a compass towards success. What Kanye West has done is told us a story about the riches, but also reminded us that success - however you measure it - can a nasty bitch. The music is great, but that was a given. What puts this album over the top is the fact that he didn't just write a few lines about living large, dating crazy bitches, or repeatedly drawing the wrath of a nation. He wrote whole songs about sensitive topics and packaged them as anthems. Perfect, through and through.

// Torrent //

// Mediafire //

^ but seriously, it's worth the purchase

| :-o |

| Keri Hilson f. Rick Ross - The Way You Love Me |

All I'm gonna say is, damn this video is raw as hell. The female portion of the internet is hating on Ms. Hilson's slutted out persona... but this clearly isn't for the ladies.

Pretty Girl Rock, this isn't. You won't hear any complaints out of me ;)

| the single life: issue twelve |

I'm not sure if I ever explained this, but all of the tracks I post are downloadable. 
Just click the down arrow and select 'Download'. =)

---

// Girl Unit - Wut //

 

Who knew one simple word and a bunch of chopped up gibberish could be the glue that binds? British dubstep wiz Girl Unit has crafted an absolute thriller with his new single, "Wut." The 7-minute track takes a little while to get its footing, but hits impressive highs at many points. Boasting some life-altering bass knocks and an infectious vocal samples, "Wut" is a triumph for it's marvelous progression and attention to detail. Don't sleep on the budget album artwork, this thing is a slice of epic worth listening through.

 // Girls - Heartbreaker //

 

San-Franciscan guitar pop outfit Girls released a nice little LP last year to a rather warm reception. Favourable reviews followed, and I can personally attest that a couple of the singles are real keepers. "Heartbreaker" is off their new Broken Dreams Club EP, their first work since the success of last year's Album. The bright tone of the song is balanced by frontman Christopher Owens' melancholic lyrics about love lost. In a weird way, this duality is pretty satisfying. Broken Dreams Club is worth the pickup, btw.

 // Black Eyed Peas - Do It Like This! //

 

It's odd to have BEP on this side of the Single Life/BRB fence, but here it is. "Do It Like This!" does a bit of a Jekyll & Hyde. The first half of the track is hype despite the fact that most of the lyrics are pretty weak. But this is pop, so whatever. The second half is where the track dies a slow, tragic death. It's basically a really bad ripoff of Benny Benassi. (That's why I've only posted the part I like.) The full version can be heard here. Whether you like it or not, it's destined for the clubs.

// Dr. Dre f. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg & Akon - Kush //

 


Years of waiting, delays, and excuses later... the King of the West Coast is readying his return to the spotlight. After a series of clumsy leaks (and subsequent rants), Dr. Dre gets official with the release of yet another chronic-boasting street anthem. Thumping bass? Check. Vintage Dre piano loops? Check. Snoop and Nate Dogg in tow? Check. Yep, it's a real Dre joint. Amen to the return of one of the best to ever do it.

| hella dope |

The skinny: A streetwear brand called dope rounded up a few up and coming emcees for a little cypher action. I think the order is something like this: (Il Duce,  Young Gage, Luke St. John, AR, Two Feet, LG, and Ronny My) These guys are actually pretty legit!

I think what makes goods cyphers so impressive is that the guys are pretty much one-taking their verses. It's pretty clear these kinds of cyphers aren't done off the top of the dome, but seeing these guys on beast mode is something special. I wonder how many - if any - of these hip hop hopefuls will make the jump to primetime in the future.... props to 2dopeboyz

| all world |

// Girl Talk - All Day //

The cult of Girl Talk is smiling today. He's spent the day breaking the internet, and the hype will only grow. For the foreseeable future, party-goers will find themselves either marking hard every time All Day comes on, or they'll be asking their friends, "WHO IS THIS?! IT'S FUCKING AWESOME!"

We should really download from Illegal Art and give them the traffic stats, but their servers are on meltdown. If you can't wait, check the links below. The review's on the way. ;)

// DL //    // Torrent //

| hold my hand, dude |

// Michael Jackson w/ Akon - Hold My Hand //

Here is the final mastered copy of the duet between MJ and Akon which actually leaked almost two years ago. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, but I do know that it's a million times better than that thing by T-Pain... off the upcoming album, MICHAEL, which borrows the 2Pac formula and boasts 10 never-heard-before tracks from the late King of Pop. Other rumoured collaborators include 50 Cent (ugh...) and Lenny Kravitz. Yippee!

| bright lights ahead |

// J. Cole -  Friday Night Lights //

4.75 out of 5

"What good is it being The One when you're the only one who knows it?"

Not a lot of people know who J. Cole is. (Actually, it's come to my attention recently that a lot of people still don't even know who Kid Cudi is. Hmm.) The hip-hop scene is ever-expanding, encroaching on pop music territory more and more every day. It's busy, and it's not always easy to know who to dedicate your iPod space to. Consider this as your notice that J. Cole is a sure bet for those spare MB's.

Both rappers and producers alike are faced with the challenge of keeping up with trends while maintaining a distinctive sound. It's a tall order establishing a stable career in one field.  Becoming a serious double-threat as a rapper and producer is a whole other story. Even amongst the most successful rappers or producers, only a select few can rightfully claim success at both. Did anyone ever laud Timbaland or Diddy as great rappers? How about Eminem's mediocrity behind the boards?

That brings us to the story of J. Cole. I really do think he just might be the next one to do it big. His body of work to-date suggests that it's only a matter of time before he becomes a household name. Just to show you how much respect he's getting these days: Kanye West delayed a G.O.O.D. Friday drop a whole day because Cole wasn't done recording his verse for the track. Devout fans were vocal when Kanye failed to deliver by midnight Friday, but willingly bided their time once they learned that Cole would be featured on the track. It's a special kind of power, especially so early in his career.

The November 12th release of his 3rd official mixtape, Friday Night Lights, marks his first since signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation stable. Cole produced most of the tape, getting a helping hand on only a few tracks. The overall sound is polished without feeling too shiny or canned. Casual listeners will be encouraged that Cole's beats aren't too raw. On the whole, Friday Night Lights is fair and shouldn't alienate hip-hop heads nor those who are just looking for a reasonably easy listen.

Lyrically, J. Cole is bold and confident. Every word is spoken with purpose, leaving little space for unnecessary filler. Perhaps what impresses me most is his seemingly limitless (content) range. His subject matter touchs on things that we all know and can expect from a rap song, but he manages to delivery it in a way that makes us want to hear it all again anyway. It's undeniable: he's got that fire in everything he spits. Even in his half-sung or mellow flows, there's a sense of real work being put in.

I can't name a favourite track, as each one is just too good to pass up on. I'll toss up "In The Morning" (f. Drake) and "See World" as just two (previously unheard) must-haves.

Summary: If this was a major-label release, it would easily stand up to the best albums out on the market right now. Get your hands on this, and then pass the word to your friends. Do you want to be the guy who found out about Kanye only after Late Registration dropped? This is your chance to get in before the next proverbial College Dropout hits. It won't be long before people all know that J. Cole is The Truth, The One, or whatever else you want to call him.

// Download //

// Torrent //

| the single life: issue eleven |

left you single-less for a while, so here's a drop of the best of what I've come across in the last month or so (in no particular order).

---

// Kanye West f. John Legend & Chris Rock - Blame Game //

 

News broke today that Rolling Stone has awarded Kanye West's upcoming fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a rare 5-star rating. Remarkable enough as it is, this actually marks the second time Kanye has achieved the coveted perfect score from the influential magazine (the first time being Late Registration). While he has hyped the entire album as a comprehensive work of art, Yeezy fingered "Blame Game" as his favourite track off the album. Having had this on repeat for most of the night thus far, I can attest that the John Legend- and Chris Rock-assisted track just might be Fantasy's crown jewel. As blasphemous as it may be, I've removed Chris Rock's portion of the song for this post (sorry 'Ye, but I'm just not feelin' this part). If you're curious, the full version can be heard here. November 22nd, guys... the official launch of Kanye's next Grammy season.

 // Wiz Khalifa - Black and Yellow //

Though Pittsburgh isn't known as a hip-hop hotbed, Wiz Khalifa could be the key to putting the city on the map. Since the 23-year-old MC put out "Black and Yellow" in early September, he's been toasted as the man who brought the Steel City a new anthem. Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fans alike are getting up every time the track hits the speakers. It's early to say if he's starbound, but damnit this song is really catchy. Kind of makes me wish we could unify all of our sports teams under one song title too...

 

// Lloyd Banks f. Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, Ryan Leslie, Fabolous & Pusha T - Start It Up RMX //

 

HFM2 will easily be Banks' most anticipated album since 2004's original Hunger For More. Mostly due to the surprising heat he got for "Beamer, Benz or Bentley," The G-Unit teamster is taking another shot at superstardom. It helps when you have one of those stacked tracks of the year under your belt. Phenomenal amount of talent coming together on one track = one of the best rap joints of the year. Note: Pusha's verse was originally a separate freestyle, but I added it myself. There's another mix out there like it, but it has DJ tags. Thankfully, I don't yell my name over simple mixes that I make. Enjoy!

// J. Cole - Before I'm Gone //

All before J. Cole drops his first studio album, the Roc Nation rookie of the year is slated to release a highly-anticipated mixtape featuring a number of his unreleased tracks and street singles. The soulful first single, "Before I'm Gone," will surely help build his reputation as the new truth in hip-hop. By all accounts, the guy does it all. He writes, raps, produces, and even does a little singing here and there. Don't sleep on this superstar in the making.

| bowdown |

Kanye West and recent G.O.O.D. signee Pusha T took over Hot 97 w/ Funkmaster Flex this week and treated listeners to a candid interview and a scorching freestyle set. The blogs are on fire, and for good reason. Pusha's everything is on a hundred thousand trillion, and I'm glad because I've been nut-hugging him ever since I heard "Grindin."

Push paid Kanye lip service by introducing him as the best rapper in the world, but it ain't hard to tell that his wordplay, pacing and delivery are simply in another league. (Dare I say on Eminem's level?) Just watch Kanye's reaction after Pusha's first verse: there aren't too many MC's that would want to follow that up. "Wow" is right.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the freestyle that has the net abuzz. I'm out of words for this. Yeeeuck..

| bad, real bad: Do We Miss MJ Yet? |

 

Why, oh why, would the legendary Quincy Jones risk one of his greatest hits with T-fucking-Pain and also-ran Robin Thicke? "P.Y.T." is my favourite MJ tune. It's better than "Thriller." Better than "Beat It." I'd even put it above "Human Nature," which I love to no end. I have no doubt that The King of Pop is doing a spinning nut grab in his grave this very minute. So imagine my motivation to make this my second Bad, Real Bad post in the last 12 hours.

My heart just sank hearing T-Pain's modulated runs paint a shit streak across the song's iconic opening guitar riffs. I can't even begin to describe how much my hate juices are brewing for this remake. This is about as egregious as asking Flo-Rida to cover "Juicy."  Can you imagine how awful that would be? This is worse.

The music industry needs to adopt a system to retire certain songs. Just like how players in the NHL can ever wear No. 99, there are just some songs that should never be touched again. You're messing with greatness here, Teddy! Nobody wants to hear this shit. And those who do (aka teens and younger) don't get a vote because they don't know what classic music is. Shit, I'm 26 and even I can admit I've barely scratched the surface when it comes to anything pre-1990.

Now almost an hour later, I've just pushed the play button for the 7th or 8th time and just realized that I think I would rather listen to the house band on Dancing With The Stars. I would even go so far as to say I'd rather put on my Beats headphones and blast Fergie Live. (Please click this link. It's effin' deadly.) Seriously though, I don't think I could possibly stress any more how badly this song is harshing my ears.

Quincy Jones has done some great things in his time - things that I could only dream to accomplish. My gripe here is: it's one thing if this is a one-off, but it's a whole album of this stuff! Check out this tracklisting. Save for a few names, this album is chock-full of people who have no business even breathing near these songs. It's a poorly-disguised money grab, and it makes me want to download a bunch of Quincy Jones songs and rip him off for even trying to get me to go out and buy this CD.

I didn't cry when MJ died. I think tonight was the first time I really actually missed him.

| bad, real bad: KING HAMMER |

I normally wouldn't bother writing about some stupid rap beef, but this one is so bad that it's good. Those of us following Kanye West's streak of Friday-night dominance will have heard Jay-Z's killer line about MC Hammer on "So Appalled." Enraged, MC Hammer KING HAMMER took to Twitter to announce his plans to fire back at Hov. And so it is: November 1st, 2010, will go down in history as the day the 48 year-old Hammer took a futile swing at one of rap's all-time titans. And missed.

This track accomplishes little more than a fart in a windstorm. It's another painful reminder why faded stars should stay faded. You had hits and spawned an iconic Halloween outfit or two... but PLEASE, mighty King Hammer, never step into a booth ever again.

Watch below if you want to see Hammer train MMA, attempt dance moves way too hard for him, and generally move his hands way more than he needs to. Oh yeah, he also baptizes(!) a Jay-Z lookalike. Oh, the badness!

| spirited (run)away |

After making its premier at select private events, Kanye's short film is finally available for public consumption. Runaway is about 30 minutes long, and features a few cuts (some of which we've already heard) from his upcoming album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy."

I'll be the first to admit I know nothing about film and cinematography, so I won't comment on the artsy side of thie short. I will, however, say that there isn't much talking going on here. This could've ended up bothering me, but the few spoken lines afforded to West and co-star Selita Ebanks reminded us why neither should take up acting. There are a few previously-unheard snippets of new material, and there are some beautiful scenes to accompany Ebanks' astonishing hotness. Overall, it wasn't as epic as I thought it would be, but it's entertaining. After watching through it, I'm left with a feeling that something about this ambitious project was lost on me. Or maybe it's crazy epic, but I'm just not cultured enough to appreciate it... ;)

See for yourself below!

| kinda scary |

// Willow Smith - Whip My Hair //

I still don't know how I feel about this one. The track hits so hard, but she's only 9 years old! If you didn't know (and couldn't tell from the freakish similiarity), Willow is the daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. While it might be a little early to call her the next big thing in pop music, there's no doubt she'll definitely have her chances. Something about "Whip My Hair" reminds me of Lil' Mama, which isn't bad for your first single. Where she goes after the initial splash will determine if she'll be a star, or... Lil' Mama. Also a point of interest (for me, anyway) is if Willow will keep things clean, just like dad. ;)

But seriously though, it weirds me out that Jaden and Willow look so much like their dad. I feel like I just watched a juvenile, cross-dressing Will Smith music video..

| keepin yo b*tch entertained |

// Yelawolf f. Gucci Mane - Wanna Party //



yela smashed his cipher at the BET Awards, and this video is a fine platform to set up his upcoming debut album. I can't wait to see where his career goes.

| the single life: issue ten |

Download

| is em a role model? |

// Eminem f. Lil' Wayne - No Love //

A solid video for the next single off Eminem's multi-platinum-selling album, Recovery. Shady and Weezy take on the always-relevant issue of bullying, and the imagery goes pretty well with the content. I wish there was a little more storyline, and a little less of Em in the booth or just standing there looking angry/tough. Still, a great song and one of the best showings by possibly the best rapper of our generation.

| punishment: an editorial |

A reminder that Kanye puts on G.O.O.D. Fridays for free to keep his fans happy.  People still disrespected him by leaking and sharing unfinished tracks after he publicly asked them not to. In light of how generous he's been for putting out stellar tracks for free, legal download, I have to agree he's right to draw the line when it comes to spreading rough, incomplete cuts from his next album.

It's the same reason why Dr. Dre was so pissed when "Under Pressure" (which was hardly half done) leaked in June. The harsh reality is that while it did have enough substance to give us a sense of what to expect from Detox, it was still so raw that it exposed Dre to unfair criticism from marks and naysayers just waiting for a chance to lambaste him for building false hype around his music. It wasn't done yet! Give the artists a chance to put out what they intended to, then you can talk all the shit you want. But at least appreciate the process, people! So many songs, albums, and mixtapes hit the blogs daily, often with the acknowledgement or even approval of the artists nowadays. They know their shit is getting leaked, and that's why I don't have any issues with upping and sharing on this blog. But if you step into the artists' shoes, they're just trying to balance this out by safeguarding what little material they can. In the internet age where few things are sacred, at least leave the half-baked snippets and reference tracks alone.

For this reason, I won't be upping any of the leaked Kanye tracks from this week. Sorry, but not really.

- D

| w.e.a.k. |

// N.E.R.D. - Hypnotize You (Prod. by Daft Punk) //

You'd think that a collaboration between two of the most prolific production camps on the planet would produce something with a little more oomph... kinda underwhelming, if you ask me.

| we are all one |

While MMA may be missing the talented and very entertaining Genki Sudo, the world of J-Pop seems have a new star on the horizon. If not that, the retired grappling ace is at least making his mark in the viral video game with his original "World Order" music video. The video premiered last December, but its popularity still seems to be on the rise.

With the song now catching on in North America, Sudo was smart to film a new version of the video in New York City. It's a treat to watch, and the song is actually pretty catchy! I love the expressions of the random people who have no idea who he is or what's behind the choreographed dance routines.

It's really too bad he retired so early (at only 29 years old!), but it's nice to see his talents and colourful personality haven't gone to waste after all.

| bad, real bad: these costumes |

yeah, these costumes.

| the single life: issue nine |

gonna try using soundcloud for previews/downloads from now on. seems more reliable =)

---

// Bruno Mars - Grenade //

Does anyone really care that the dude got busted with cocaine? I mean it could've been worse, couldn't it? Character judgements aside, no one can knock the man for his tunes and his butter-smooth vocals. This is easy-listening personafied. I think of Bruno Mars as kind of like Ne-yo: nothing he does will make you stand up and pay attention, but his sound is consistently better than the next guy. It pays to be really solid, it seems. Look for Doo-Wops & Hooligans to leak any day now.

 // Quadron - Baby Be Mine (MJ Cover) //

Dutch duo Quadron released a classy little album earlier this year, and it seems they've been getting a little blog love lately. It takes a significant departure from the original to score a winner when you're covering The King of Pop, but Quadron's downtempo take on "Baby Be Mine" accomplishes just that. This one's definitely a gem.

// Kanye West f. RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & Cyhi The Prynce - So Appalled //

Just like the main tagline says, you know this shit is fuckin ridiculous. I'm usually wary of marathon songs that are this long for no reason. After all, not every rap joint is meant to be a Whoa! Remix. Thankfully, this is 7-minutes of greatness I don't mind putting on repeat. After a just-alright  effort with "Lord Lord Lord", Mr. West kills G.O.O.D. Friday once again. Let's just hope he gives Uncle Charlie Wilson a rest for the next few weeks... I can't help but feel that dude only made the track b/c John Legend was busy or something.

 

| get money |

Ladies and Gents, this is what a really, really expensive speaker looks like.

Custom-made by UK-based company Living Voice, the Vox Olympian speakers sell for roughly $330,000 per pair. The hand-made speakers take 1400 man-hours to make, and each speaker tips the scales at 120 kg.

I have no idea what makes these speakers that much better than my $500 Razer/THX system (which is pretty nice by computer speaker standards), but I bet these things would blow my socks off. The Vox Olympian speakers are actually made for superyachts and other living spaces that I reasonably don't expect to ever occupy legally. Dare to dream...

show me a man who has $400,000 to spend on speakers, and I'll show you a man who has won at life. period.

| is this cool? |

// The Flaming Lips - See The Leaves //




... when the video is so effed up, the music stops mattering. (Yeah, I just verbed "matter.")

| best-evers: issue one |

It's been almost 10 years since Miri Ben-Ari's "hip-hop classics" performance blew the roof off the famed Apollo Theatre. Later named an "Apollo Legend," Ben-Ari went on to tour with Kanye West, and she also appeared on numerous artists' tracks throughout the early and mid-2000's. While her striking beauty and musicianship would seem to be a formula for success, the world was never quite ready for a hip-hop violinist. I personally hope to see her make it to headliner status, but I'm prepared to replay this grainy footage over and over. Yeah, it's a new-generation classic... and it's the first of many best-evers to grace this blog.

| bad, real bad: there IS such thing as too long |

// Diddy f. Lil' Wayne & Justin Timberlake //

// Shades //

Is it just me, or is there a trend towards long, drawn-out songs right now? If you're going to push 5 minutes or longer, your song had better be fuckin awesome or at least not repetitive. This song is lacking in awesome, and despite my most sincere attempts, I've been unable to focus on the song because it's just so damn boring.

Listening to Diddy's lazy (and not to mention played-out) auto-tuned verses is so agonizing, my brain refuses to commit more than 30 consecutive seconds of attention juice to it. I get halfway into Wayne's totally unnecessary spoken word intro, and before I know, it I'm spacing out, reminiscing about the time a wasp flew up my pants and stung me mercilessly. To put it into perspective, my brain subconsciously decided that a phobia-inducing memory is somehow more pleasant than paying attention to "Shades" long enough to form an opinion about it. Yeah, that bad.

The lone bright spot - and even this is a stretch - is JT's hushed rap verse near the end of the 6-minute snoozefest. The guy's still got the magic, and to stand out on a track as fromage as this is much proof as he'll ever need.

Yeah, I'll take off my shades for you, Diddy. But I'm putting on ear muffs instead.