Wednesday, July 28, 2010

| still so def |



This reminds me of watching him on Def Poetry Jam years ago.. the dude's some kind of performer. He sounds kind of silly at 1:38 but there's something refreshing about watching him switching personas on the fly.

This just ups the ante for his next album (which is no longer titled Good Ass Job, by the way). Just take it from Toomp: the album is "incredible".

Monday, July 26, 2010

| supersize her |

10 years ago, Foxy Brown was battling Lil Kim for the #1 spot. Today, she's battling the law and a mean case of all-she-can-eat.

No, this picture isn't suffering from poor resizing. Look at the guy "Damn!"ing her in the background; he's normal sized, normal aspect ratio. She really did blow up that much.. she looks like Kenan Thompson from SNL with long hair...

It wasn't that long ago when Foxy was shooting vids and flaunting her goods. But man oh man did she let herself go. I'm not saying you need to be skinny and pretty to be a star, but it sure as hell helps. If you're that big and can't/won't do anything about it, at least put some damn clothes on. Make like early Missy and bring back hammer pants and baggy sweats. That side-boob is just horrendous...

As Rah Digga and Lil Kim also returning to the studio to record their respective albums, can the queen bees of yesteryear make it back? After seeing how Foxy and Digga have aged, it looks like Kim might be the only one with the looks to keep the comeback bid afloat. That's really telling you something, ain't it?



Image courtesy of Rap-Up.com

Sunday, July 25, 2010

| guitar hero for real |






John Mayer did a short live set at the Today Show last Friday, including a  rendition of "Crossroads". So many people don't know just how damn good he is on the guitar... it's a sight (and sound) to behold. Check the solo at 1:15!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

| marriage killa |

In a follow-up to my previous post... Dream tried to divorce Christina Milian 9(!) days before the birth of their first and only daughter. C-l-a-s-s-y.

I wonder if Ludacris is gonna appear in his mirror.....

Probably the saddest part about it all? If they've been separated since February, why is she still wearing his ring? Dang.

| nooooooo! |

// Nicki Minaj - Your Love //



// Audio DL //

Still not a huge fan of the song (the "bap dadat dat doh" part bugs me haha), but it feels about right in terms of where her career is going. Take a glance at the Hot 100 and I bet her name pops up at least 5 or 10 times - she's definitely the one of the busiest chicks in the biz right now, and she's making the most of the opportunity. The sword battle is mad lame, but you gotta love Michael Jai White's cry at the end.

NOOOOOO CURSE YOU, OTHER WAY-HOTTER SAMURAI CHICK!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

| the single life: issue five |


// Pharrell - Despicable Me //



I didn't know much about Despicable Me before seeing it this past weekend. It was definitely a nice surprise to see that Pharrell co-produced the score for the movie. This is the title track, and it just cracks me up.

// DL //


 // Robin Thicke - My Life //



Also from the Despicable Me soundtrack. Is it just me, or is Thicke majorly channeling his inner Justin Timberlake here? I like the throwback Pharrell piano. It's fun and easy. Good stuff for the summertime.


// DL //


// Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are //



Bruno Mars is the boyfriend your girlfriend wishes you were. Being a solid songwriter and impressive live performer, there's no reason to believe he won't be around for a long time. Get comfortable hearing his name. His time to shine is right around the corner.


// DL //


// Drake - Do It All //



Drake's in what I like to call "The College Dropout" zone. He can put out a million songs that all sound the same, and people will dig it en masse. That's a winning formula if I ever saw one. Favourite punchline: "Someone please tell me the problem with my competition / I ask 'Wussup?' and they just always say 'The cost of livin'". It must be nice...

 // DL // 


 // Black Milk - Welcome (Gotta Go) //



Detroit rapper/producer Black Milk is set to release his 5th album in 6 years. Hmm. I can't say I know much about him, but I like this track off the ambitiously-titled Album of the Year. Look for it later this year.


// DL //

Monday, July 19, 2010

| bad, real bad: jizzle |





"Everybody try to do the muthafuckin jizzle
They can't do the muthafuckin jizzle!
EY JIZZLE, holla at these fuckheads(?)
Let em know what time it is! YEYAAAA"

- Lil' Jon,

So do they want me to do the fuckin jizzle or not? Fine if you're gonna tell me to do something, but I draw the line at being called a fuckhead by the songs I listen to, thanks.

The Recession was soooo good, and this is soooooooo bad. I can't resist the urge to mush my face into my open hand.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

| the single life: issue four |

// Tennis - Marathon //

In search of more songs to add to your summer playlist? Well here's one more courtesy of American husband-wife duo, Tennis. I don't know much about them other than the fact that their upcoming album, South Carolina, was inspired by a recent 8-month sailing trip along the Eastern Seaboard. It's a fuzzy little pop song that reminds me of poodle skirts and classic Cadillacs.

// Listen & DL //

// Curren$y - Breakfast (Original Version) //

As much as I hate it when people use dollar signs in their name, I had to give it up for this track from one of hip-hop's many rising stars. Co-produced by urban legend Mos Def, "Breakfast" is about as classy as hip-hop gets. His first official studio release, Pilot Talk, doesn't live up to the hype though. It's too bad, because songs like this would make him a star.

// Listen //   // DL //


// Big Boi - Daddy Fat Sax //

If you've read the review for Big Boi's Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, you'd know that I'm a fan. Now that I've had some time to sit on the album and sort out my favourites, the cream of the crop seems to be "Daddy Fat Sax". The second track on the album, it really starts things with a bang.

// Listen & DL //



// Neon Hitch - Billionaire (Cover) //

She's travelled all over Europe as a circus performer, lived with Amy Winehouse, and was recently scooped up by Warner after catching the eye of American Idol's Kara Dioguardi. Having co-written Ke$ha's "Blah Blah Blah", pop newcomer Neon Hitch thinks she'ss ready to step into the limelight. Her take on Travie McCoy's "Billionaire" isn't as impressive as it is buzz-worthy, but it's worth a listen. It's a fresh take, to say the least.

// Listen & DL //


// Asher Roth - G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It's a New Day) //

It's sophomore season for Roth, as he is faced with the task of improving on the disappointing retail action on his first album. "G.R.I.N.D." might help him get there. It's nice and all, but something tells me that it's not the attention-getter that he needs to live up to his initial hype. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to dig it more, but can't. It goes with the summer mood.. I'll give him that.

// Listen //   // DL //


// Trey Songz f. Nicki Minaj - Bottoms Up //

He's the prince of R&B, she's rap's reigning queen bee. They're both working with everyone, and crushing every chance they get. Get these two on the same track and it's a hit. It's not going to change your life or anything, but DJ's need something to spin in the clubs and "Bottoms Up" fits the bill just great.

// Listen //   // DL //




// Dent May - That Feeling //

Dent May is pretty one dimensional. He's got the ukulele/nerd thing, and the funny part is that it works for him. Last years' album produced a few good songs, including the retardedly addictive "Meet Me In the Garden". With "That Feeling", Dent May picks up right where he left off. It's simplistic and ultra wussy, but you gotta love the guy for getting the most out of what he has to work with.

// Listen & DL //

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

| ... what? |

// M.I.A. //
// /\/\ /\ Y /\ //

1.0 out of 5

When it comes to the arts, I appreciate direction and a semblance of structure. Music can still be enjoyable when it's chaotic, so long as I still have a sense of what's going on. In the past, M.I.A. found a way to blend all of her styles and make it work. As you can see from the rating above, she missed the mark. Large.

Perhaps more famous for her outlandish persona and politicking ways than her actual music, M.I.A. has never shied away from the fine line between brilliance and weirdness. She got away with it on Arular and Kala, but this time it feels different. People (ie. media) discovered that she loves running her yap, so they started asking her about all kinds of stuff just to get a soundbyte out of her. And get a soundbyte, they do.

But when you run your mouth and generally act like a little bitch, your music better back it up. For example, look at what Kanye has been able to sustain in his career: total asshole, but a) he usually apologizes after, and b) the dude makes incredible music, only like ALL THE TIME. Then look at Amy Winehouse. Back in Black was so good that it kept her afloat for an amazingly long time. But people are demanding, and all they want to know at the end of the day is: "What have you done for me lately?" As M.I.A. might soon discover, no one is exempt from this reality. If you turn out global winners like "Paper Planes", people couldn't care less about all the other drivel pouring out of your mouth. Unfortunately, /\/\ /\ Y /\ is sorely lacking in any songs with reasonable replay value. So then, the blinders are off, and people will rub the sleep from their eyes and see M.I.A. for what she really is today: over-exposed and over-hyped.

I've listening through the album, and picked out the best of the worst. "XXXO", the first single released, is listenable but hardly worth recommending to your friends. "Steppin Up" has a cool thing going on lyrically, but the power tool effects are distracting and wear on you very quickly. The rest of the album is a faceless jumble with a question mark on it. It's loud and kind of offensive to the ears.

Summary: In the beginning, I tried really hard to get into this. The truth is, there isn't much to get into. It's shallow and lacking anything worth getting attached to. There are few, if any, redeeming qualities to /\/\ /\ Y /\. It's all over the place, and the listener is never afforded an opportunity to absorb what's going on. It's a lesson in stacking shit on shit. You're better off listening back on Kala and remembering what it sounded like when all the stars aligned for M.I.A. Is it too early to tag her as a one hit wonder?

Bonus fodder material:




... if one M.I.A. ain't doin it, why would we want 12?

| my kind of trio |



// Kid Cudi, Bethany Cosentino (of Best Coast), & Rostam Batmanglij (of Vampire Weekend) //  
//All Summer //

Part of Converse's "Three Artists. One Song" series, this fantastic summer jam is exactly the kind of music to go with Vancouver's much overdue heat spike. A surprising collaboration, but impressive nonetheless. I've been a Vampire Weekend fan for a couple of years now, and Best Coast is definitely on my list of albums to look out for later in the year. "All Summer" has been on heavy repeat in my iTunes for the last week, and today's launch of the video just made me love it even more. I wish I had a giant paper head to wear, too! Direct DL from Converse can be found below. Get it before it's gone!

// Audio DL //

Monday, July 12, 2010

| called it |

According to Us Magazine, The-Dream has finally finished ruining Christina Milian. 5 months after the birth of their daughter, the couple has decided to call it quits.

Following in the adulterous footsteps of other high-profile men-who-make-all-of-us-look-bad (ahem, Tiger and Jesse), the American Dream was paparazzi'd while attempting to impregnate his assistant through his friggin swimming trucks. Don't people realize what happens when they're famous? Really, I wouldn't imagine there are many places on Earth that you can go where photographers can't.

"Come on, baby. I know this nice little spot in the Caribbean where no one will see you give me a bronco buster out on the open beach. Pannies to the side, please."

Maybe Christina Milian's secretly a crazy bitch. If that's the truth, she must be a pretty good actress because she appears to be infectiously bubbly and simply pleasant all the time. Or, you know, maybe Dream's graduated to a new level of ballerism. Maybe he doesn't like his woman talented, sexy, and flexible. Right.

Meanwhile, on planet Earth, sane men will welcome the return of Christina Milian. I know I'll enjoy it when she comes back and does spinaroonies in ink again. :))


Thursday, July 8, 2010

| bad, real bad: shaWHO? |

// Shareefa f. Rick Ross - By My Side //




"I got you hooked on this good good. Handcuff, handcuff.
Want some of this good good? Want some of this sweet stuff?"

Oh GOD. Where do I start?

Tired Bangledesh beat... badly over-sung vocals... awkwardly-mixed entrance and exit by Ricky Ross. What a mess.

The worst part is the poor, poor soul who commented on the youtube video:
"R&B is back baby! YESSSSSSSS x love it xx"


... and that concludes the first and last time you'll ever hear about Shareefa.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

| now all i can hear is... |

// Sky Ferreira - One //



Just barely 18 years old, Sky Ferreira is set to do shake up the pop music scene very soon. Her debut album release is on the horizon, and a handful of singles and covers have music snarks like me keeping a very close eye on her. Working with Bloodshy & Avant (of Miike Snow/Britney Spears' "Toxic" fame), Ms. Ferreira has churned out a sinfully addictive electro-pop hit with "One". It's a bit of a diversion from what I would expect from her. But then again, I don't think anyone knows what to expect from her just yet. It's fun and catchy - that's all we need to know for now. Enjoy!

// Audio DL //

| finally, on par with 3K |

// Big Boi //
// Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty //

4.8 out of 5

Despite being one half of hip-hop's most famous duo, it seems Big Boi has never gotten his due. Andre 3000 was always the flashier one, leaving Big Boi to look plain and boring by comparison. In discussions of the top emcees in the game, he's always taken back seat so badly that his name never even came up. All of that's about to change.

Since the modest success he enjoyed with Speakerboxx, Big Boi has quietly continued to step his game up. When asked about his evolution over the years, Big Boi confidently stated: "I'm just really serious about my craft, I've mastered it, and I'm very skilled at it, and I take pride in making this music". After listening to Sir Lucious Left Foot, the said mastery is evident, making the rapper's second solo foray a near-perfect marriage of skill, art, and musicality.

It began with the advance release of "Royal Flush", which put us in the middle of one of the sickest ciphers not involving Eminem or Black Thought. Although it never made it to the final product, the track was both significant and very, very good. Then came last year's release of "Shine Blockas", a candidate for song of the year (regardless of genre). The production values and whip-smart rhymes from both Big Boi and guest Gucci Mane hit all the right notes. It's incredibly rare to find a rap song that is so wholly satisfying; if you've somehow managed to make it this far without having this in your life, Merry Christmas. Combined with third pre-release single "Shutterbugg", Sir Lucious quickly began to look and sound like one hell of an album. Having spent only an hour and a half with the album, I already know that this album is something special.

The album is wonderfully varied but never feels unfocused. The bassy guts of the album hit hard and almost jellify my eardrums. It is relentless, yet welcome. Beginning from "Feel Me", a Western-ish intro track, the tone is set: he's about to put in some work. From there, it's a smorgasbord. Please believe me when I say that each song is just deadly. Musically, the contributions from multiple discplines and genres are evident. There are nods to old-school hip-hop, rock, R&B, funk, and contemporary rap. All of these influences are fused seamlessly to produce a very exciting experience for the attentive music listeners out there. Lyrically, the acrobatics on display here are staggering - the dude is effing exquisite.  I could go on, but there is no way you could listen to this album and get hooked on 5, 6, or 10 songs.



Summary: The son of a retired American Air Force ace (nicknamed "Chico Dusty"), Big Boi does his old man proud and pilots his own career to astounding heights. It's stunning to see how far he's come; there should be no doubt whether he can hang with today's top lyricists, let alone his own groupmate. He's confidently leapt out of Andre's shadow and can no longer be considered an afterthought. No way. Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty just might be one of the best rap albums of this era. Just imagine how good the next Outkast will be, now that we've witnessed this..


// Torrent //    // DL //

Monday, July 5, 2010

| the single life: issue three |

// Gilbere Forte - I Know My Love //

This dude is on my 2010 heatseekers list. I don't know where he came from, but he's got some flair and joins the throng of emcees crossing over into different genres and creating exciting music. This cut is off his upcoming mixtape, 87 Dreams.. coming soon. Check his Myspace for more.

Source: HIF



 // Rick Ross f. Kanye West - Live Fast, Die Young //

Even Officer Ricky can sound golden over a vintage K-West beat. The Teflon Don puts in some work, but Kanye shines brighter on this one. The soaring mariachi trumpet shifts effortlessly from grimey to classy, and easily makes "Live Fast, Die Young" a favourite for any summer party playlist. Look for this on Teflon Don, out July 20th.

// Listen & DL //




// Best Coast - Boyfriend //

Acoustically? Like going to sunbathe, and quickly realizing that you're sundrowning. I've been listening to a few other artists who also make liberal use of the reverb knobs on their mixers, so I can dig this. Lead singer Bethany Cosentino's vocals border on grating, but actually contrast well with the overall dreaminess of the song. Off the group's upcoming debut, Crazy For You.

// Listen //    // DL //


 // Stars - Dead Hearts (LightsoverLA Remix) //


The lead track from Stars' sixth LP, The Five Ghosts, has gotten some astounding remix treatment. It was already a good song, but LightsoverLA made it into something totally different. This is a remix that I could've imagined Stars themselves doing. Just terrific!

// Listen //   // DL //




// Andre 3000 - All Together Now //


Only Andre 3000 could pull this off. I don't know where he gets his inspiration from, but this is one musician we should cherish. This a snippet of this song was used for a Kobe-themed NBA playoffs promo about a month ago. Here's the full version of the song. It's just fun, enjoy it!

// DL //

| bad, real bad: teairra overkill |



// Teairra Mari - My Lovin' //

Poor Teairra Mari. The one-time Jay-Z protege tanked on her first album (if you can call 280,000 records a flop), was effectively replaced by Rihanna, and still hasn't released her sophomore album, At That Point. It's a shame, because I can see a lot of potential in her. She's got the vocal chops to pass, and she's definitely got the look. For reasons unknown, the album keeps getting swept under the rug at Warner.

Determined to keep our attention, she has released a series of R&B covers (w/ videos) that basically scream: "HellOOOooo? Milk chocolatey sex kitten over here!" I won't front: the first video (over Usher's "Hey Daddy") was smoking hot.  Even her racy version of Drake's "Over" was okay. A little shameless, but you won't see me complaining about it. Judging by the feedback, those who like it, like it a lot.

Now a couple of videos later, even I'm getting tired of seeing her half-naked. Yeah yeah, your body is stunning and your hair is like a friggin' pantene pro v commercial, but please do something impressive with clothes ON again. At this point, she's got to make a choice: either sing us a damn song (your song, not someone else's with a female spin on it) or quit blueballin' the internet and leak a sex tape. She's operating under the assumption that there aren't enough hot, useless chicks spamming the internet with their smut. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Tila "DJ-fucker" Tequila. God. Do porn or sing, not both.