Weekend Rap Up: Kendrick Lamar, DJ Drama ft 2 Chainz & Meek Mill & Jeremih, 1982 ft Big K.R.I.T., S-Preme, Bas + Jon Connor
You know, I get really frustrated with rap music sometimes. First of all, there are way too many rappers nowadays. And second, way too much money and fame gets credited to undeserving/untalented assholes. But it’s dudes like Kendrick that keep me coming back. You see, there will always be the business aspect corrupting the game. And there will always be wannabe rappers over-saturating the internet. But there will also forever be masterful young talents coming up under the radar that eventually, with enough push from the true hip hop fans, will get their chance to shine and rep the genre the right way. Exhibit A…
Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
I couldn’t NOT post a 2 Chainz song if I even tried. The dude is literally EVERYWHERE. I gotta say though, this is probably one of the more respectable verses I’ve heard from him. Although, I do try to avoid him at all costs, so what do i know. I will say this also; I don’t hate what the dude is doing. I know I hate on him, but it’s more of me hating on the game. Is hip hop really turning into a hype machine likened to fashion trends decided by some clown overseas (exec) who passes that down to someone famous (rapper) who then leads the sheep of the world to follow suit? Regardless, I like this song. Thank you Meek Mill and Jeremih.
DJ Drama – My Moment (ft 2 Chainz, Meek Mill & Jeremih)
I’m a big fan of the sound that Statik creates for Termanology to showcase his lyricism. It seems only right for Big K.R.I.T. to jump on that same canvas and deliver his “indestructible flow.”
1982 – Lights Down (ft. Big K.R.I.T.)
This dude is a spitter, period. He’s not your typical “hard” gun/coke/money rapper. It’s crazy to think about in today’s ego-infalted materialistic rap game, but get this; dude lets his rap skills do the talking. Waaaaoooooooowwwww.
I just recently discovered this Bas dude, and I think more than anything I just like his vibe. He seems like a chill, lighthearted dude with a nice flow and natural content selection. He’s not reaching like some of these clowns trying to make up for their insecurities. I dig that shit. This joint is pretty smooth btw.
Sometimes I get sucked into looking for new songs for hours on end. It’s like a nervous addiction that can’t be stopped once begun, or at least until I find that joint that finally satisfies my hunger for the day. I almost gave up this morning, but told myself I’d give it one more page of listens before I call it a day. Much to my delight I found this Jon Connor link at the bottom of the page (page 17 to be exact) and took a listen with hopes he would quench my desire. Oh, and it was good. With a little help from BRIX’ utilization of a sample from one of thee GREATEST RAP SONGS OF ALL TIME (along with the chipmunked Gavin DeGraw hook, as pointed out by the wifey), JC and his uncanny lyrical prowess comes through in the clutch.
Weekend Rap Up: Kendrick Lamar ft Busta, Wale ft Rick Ross, 2 Chainz & Trey Songz, Red Cafe ft Trey Songz, Wale & J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa & Snoop, Sway ft Lupe Fiasco, Asher Roth, CYNE + 1982
Sorry for the hiatus, but your boy was in a little bit of a funk. And not the good kind of funk you’ve come to regularly find on the funk. Nah, this funk had me boycotting my Beats altogether. You ever just get sick of music? Shit, that’s hard for me to come to grips with, but that’s kinda how I was feeling.
Rap music really pisses me off sometimes. So in actuality, it’s not all that inconceivable to find myself needing a break. I may have been warming back up to the thought of throwing on my Beats and bingeing through all my go-to blogs to see what’s up in these streets, but then I witnessed the most obnoxiously arrogant, not to mention annoying, encore in live rap show history; Watch The Throne. “N’s in Paris” is not the most amazing song ever. It’s not even the best Jay or Ye song. Therefor, what would warrant playing it over and over as if to achieve the Guinness World Record for consecutive playbacks? The opposite of D. Rose, that’s what. I mean, the show was AMAZING (minus Kanye’s boring Amber Rose dedication set) but I literally ended up leaving the UC pissed off after that shit. It was especially disheartening to look around at the 10,000+ stans fans encouraging this type of behavior in the first place. Moving on…..
I’ve found myself with some extra downtime this weekend and decided it was a good time to get back at it. After a long discovery session yesterday, I have a good amount of new music I’ll have to share throughout the week. But let’s start off with that rap shit.
Now I’m not going to pretend like I know every new artist out there, or equivalently have heard every new song from the up and comers I’ve already been introduced to. But I do know this; Kendrick Lamar is going to be making one of the biggest leaps in the rap game coming up in 2012. Not as big as K.R.I.T., but seriously, listen to this shit. Kendrick is nice as hell.
Kendrick Lamar – Rigamortus (remix) (ft. Busta Rhymes) (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
I’ve always been a big fan of the soulful scratches from Statik Selektah. Team him up with the knowledge kickin’ Termanology and there you have the underground masterpiece known as 1982. If you’re into the head nodding lyrical shit, check it out.
1982 – Play Your Role (ft. REKS) (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
Never heard of these guys but immediately after hitting play for my first listen, I had to snatch this chill ass shit. I have a real love/hate reaction to short songs like this. I love them because of their simplicity, but I hate them because they always leave me wanting so much more. Oh well, repeat.
CYNE – Boxing Day (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
Asher and Blended Babies come together again to create that nonsensical head nodding shit Asher’s skill set adhere so well to. Another simple beat with a beautifully rhythmic flow to match.
Asher Roth – Common Knowledge (prod. Blended Babies) (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
This one comes off Wiz & Snoop’s “Mac & Devin go 2 High School” soundtrack. I don’t really know the details of the movie. Are they featured in the film as well? I don’t really care, actually. I’m not that big on Wiz or Snoop, but this one seemed pretty smooth. Chill shit.
Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dogg – It Could Be Easy (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
This is the opposite of chill. Following the vibe of his latest mixtape, Friend of the People, Lupe hops on this UK native’s high octane jam sure to get you a speeding ticket if left on repeat in the whip.
Sway – Still Speedin’ Reloaded (ft. Lupe Fiasco) (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
And finally, we have remixes to two of my favorite commercially appealable jams of 2011 featuring some more popular names from the year. Shout out to the producers on both of these, since beats are basically 90% what we’re talking about when we’re talking commercial appeal, right? Regardless, shit is bangin’.
Red Cafe – Fly Together (remix) (ft. Trey Songz, Wale & J. Cole) (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
Wale – Bait (remix) (ft. Rick Ross, 2 Chainz & Trey Songz) (right click, “save as” to dl) or @ Hulkshare
Weekend Rap Up: DJ Khaled ft Drake, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross, XV, Game ft Trey Songz, Jay Daniles ft Royce Da 5’9”, Mickey Factz + Slaine
DJ Khaled did it again. This beat is toooo nasty. I’ll definitely be rocking out to this one on repeat for the next couple of weeks. Rick Ross (whuh!) and Lil Wayne do what they do, but Drake really is that dude. No one man should have all that talent.
MP3:DJ Khaled ft Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – Im On One
Love this remix right here. I wasn’t a huge fan of the beat on the original, but that’s just the beauty of a remix. XV is the real deal, man. Even when he makes a song dedicated to drinking and smoking, he starts it off with a line that makes you look at the reasons for it all instead of simply glorifying a life of partying.
MP3:XV – Swervin’ (Lunice Remix)
I post most of the Game joints I hear because he keeps it realer than most. I’m sure you can tell by the title, this one really isn’t on that deeper level. Just another jam calling out some women on there ho-ish ways. That’s definitely not to say he’s not still keeping it real. Good beat. Good hook. Solid joint.
MP3:Game ft Trey Songz – She Wanna Have My Baby
Now we’re getting into my shit right here. Hip Hop about life. You know, real life. Not the image of a fantasy life “we” as consumers seem to be obsessed with. Are any of us are really living the good life ALL the time? Do any of us have the luxury of partying everyday of our lives without regret? And how many of us fuck models all the time (ever)? And I know none of us can treat money like toilet paper because we just made $50,000 just for showing up. Funny thing is, most of the time neither do these rappers. For some reason though, that seems to be all the people wanna hear. So they simply deliver the order, fiction and all.
Getting back to the songs though, you know I’m feeling this dude up next. Statik Selektah kills this shit with the instrumental but Slaine brings the reflective rhymes to make it the jam it is. I really, really like this song. Although I am slightly biased towards my fellow micks…
“I ain’t no guinea driving around in a Coupe de Ville
I’m an Irish alcoholic staring with the ruthless grill”
MP3:Slaine – The American Way (prod. by Statik Selektah)
“I try not to hate, continue showing love
And keep on showing love when no one does”
Mickey always keeps it real. And again he’s just thinking out loud in this one. Now, no one person is the same. But I gotta believe there is a different breed of people (on a smaller scale, rappers) who can’t seem to ignore the things that are wrong with the world around them. It’s kind of like a curse almost. Like even when things are going good, there are still things that could, and should, be better that need to be addressed. Or is that just called idealism?
“I’m scared of life, how do I deal wit it
I guess I’ll take a mic, and just reveal wit it”
Going off what I was I was saying earlier, I actually prefer listening to songs about the artists’ struggles before they “make it” and then the money and the lifestyle takeover. At which point it is possible that they may not have much more to talk about other than their…..what’s the opposite of struggles?
Freeway Presents Free Money – Running The Streets (Produced by Statik Selektah)
Don’t know how I missed this one in the rap up, but it’s a jam for sure. I spoke about gangster stories in my last post, but I will gladly listen to Freeway tell them because simply put, “flow way sickuh then most flow, the flow cold, throw rap niggas in choke-hold positions, listen.” Puts those slow ass punchline rappers to shame. Free could spit like 4 different ideas in the time it took Rick Ross/Young Jeezy/Lil Wayne (just to name a few I believe recieve more credit than what is due) to deliver one line. Regardless, Statik steals the show with the beat in this one.
Freeway ft Free Money – Running the Streets (prod. Statik Selektah)
Freeway & Statik Selektah ft Mac Miller – P.A.
This one’s off Free and Statik’s new EP conveniently titled, get this, Statik-Free. Good music right here. Statik always has a knack for linking up with quality MC’s, probably because his production always makes for a beautiful slate to rhyme to. Mac Miller jumps on this one as well. Not a huge fan, but for a 19 year old white kid, I can definitely respect his grind.
Freeway & Statik Selektah ft Mac Miller – P.A. at hulkshare
To add to that, here’s a classic State Prop joint with a new twist….Free’s voice and flow with the beat at the beginning of this song is awesome
Freeway ft Jay Z, Benie Sigel – What We Do(Vodka & MIlk Remix)
And here’s another example of that classic production that only the quality MC’s can shine on
Statik Selektah – Stop, Look & Listen ft Styles P, Terminology, Q Tip
White Men Can't Funk 