Weekend Rap Up: Trae The Truth ft Lupe, Big Boi, Wale & Wiz, Drake, G-Eazy, Game ft Dr. Dre & Snoop, STS + Rockie Fresh ft Tayyib Ali
Damn, I don’t know how I missed this in early July. Oh yea I do, I wasn’t paying attention to shit. Anyway, props to dude Bo-ski for puttin me on. Whoooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaooooohhh, im on! I know you recognize that sample…..c’mon Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack! Although it looks like they couldn’t get the rights to the real sample from Mark, but luckily MDMA did a damn good job of jocking the Mack’s style. Check out this all-star lineup, shit’s crazy! Too many quotables in this one to be able to single one out.
(MP3): Trae the Truth – Im On (ft Lupe Fiasco, Big Boi, Wale, Wiz Khalifa & MDMA)
I’ve said it before, but I respect Drake because of his self-awareness. Complacency is a common enemy for many of us. It’s easy to get comfortable with something, even if you’re walking a tightrope just waiting for something to knock you down into what could be an abyss. I know I gotta remind myself quite frequently of my strengths and more importantly, weaknesses to make sure I keep myself in a good place. Rappers gotta do the same thing before they lose it all. Although drake only has one album out so far, so he must really be full of himself if he’s ALREADY struggling to keep that hunger alive.
“I might be too strung out on compliments, overdosed on confidence
started not to give a fuck, and stop fearin’ the consequence
drinking every night because we drink to my accomplishments
faded way too long, I’m floatin’ in and outta consciousness”
(MP3): Drake – Headlines
Smooth ass G-Eaz does it again. Dude raps what he knows, and raps it well. This sample/instrumental is a breath of fresh air to my ears, I love that Motown type shit.
(MP3): G-Eazy – Make-Up Sex
How’s the saying go? Oh yea, “if you can’t beat em, join em.” Don’t sleep on Sugar Tongue Slim because even when he’s on that cliche, he’ still doing it better.
(MP3): STS – Cliche (prod. By The Knux)
I spotted this over at GMAD, but haven’t gotten around to listening to Rockie’s full mixtape The Otherside yet. Sound’s extremely promising after getting a first dose with this joint.
“And I don’t love these hoes, so if they don’t go then girl you gotta say bye
and at the end I hope they see that I’ma be me when they don’t understand why”
(MP3): Rockie Fresh – They Don’t Understand Why (remix) ft Tayyib Ali
Let’s NOT get high off something, let’s get DETOX! Wtf Dre? As a huge consolation, this one is courtesy of Game’s upcoming album release Infrared. Always interested in new shit from Jayceon though, and you know Dre and Snoop gonna bring a lotta hype.
Weekend Rap Up: Asher Roth ft Akon, Drake, Tayyib Ali, Chiddy Bang + Miami’s Finest
I don’t have a whole lot of material this weekend, but that’s not from lack of effort. I spent a good chunk of my day looking for new shit, but A) my internet is slow as hell back home in the burbs, and B) there just hasn’t been a ton of quality shit come out the past week. This one hits pretty hard though. Pretty impressed with Asher for recruiting Akon to come kill the hook.
(MP3):Asher Roth – Last Man Standing ft Akon
Personally, I think this sample was better used in G-Eazy’s “Kings”. Sounds like this producer liked that one too, but wanted to change it up a little bit so he added some drums and kicks from Drake’s “Light Up.” At least thats what it reminds me of. I can always appreciate some new Drake. Dude kills it. I’m still re-listening to catch em all.
(MP3):Drake – Dreams Money Can Buy
Finally got through this Tayyib Ali mixtape Keystone State of Mind. Real impressive music coming from a 18 year old. That “California Girls” joint I posted a while back is that jam for sure, but here’s another one I liked a lot off the tape.
(MP3):Tayyib Ali – High Definition
Chiddy Bang recently released their mixtape Peanut Butter & Swelly. Props to dudes for making that Taco Bell money. You’ve seen the commercial with their song “The Good Life”, right? Swelly, swelly, swelly! I’m actually kinda disappointed with the mixtape as a whole, but this one is a pretty cool jam.
(MP3):Chiddy Bang – Jacuzzi (Lost in the Vapors)
This next one’s at least a year old, but it’s never too late to get up on a dope jam. These dudes dropped a pretty cool mixtape called A Midsummer Night’s Dream a long time ago. Welp, it’s getting to be summertime again and I could use some more jams. Let’s hope they come with some new material soon. Love the Lauryn Hill sample along with the rest of the instrumental.
Weekend Rap Up: Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Wale, Tayyib Ali, Donnis, Chiddy Bang, DJ Drama + More
So I finally realized in order to get outta this funk (no pun intended) I just gotta get back to what I do to feel that sense of accomplishment and the rest will work itself out. After a good 2+ hours of playing catch up on the blog scene, I got a real hot set for you in this week’s Rap Up. I’m still a little hungover, somewhat mentally drained, and really wanna get back to “The Wire,” so forgive me for being short with this post and skipping the details. I got a lil something for all my hip hop heads though (including that hard shit), so make sure to at least skim through all of the songs. I guarantee you’ll find something you like. Thanks for tuning in again, coming up on some heat like this makes it all worth it, trust me.
Berner ft Wiz Khalifa & Big K.R.I.T. – Yoko Ono (prod by Big K.R.I.T.)
Chiddy Bang ft Mac Miller – Heatwave
Oun-P ft Lloyd Banks, Fred The Godson & Jadakiss – Whatchu Talkin Bout (remix)
Weekend Rap Up: New Music from Mike Petrow, Dre-Ski, Nike Nando, CurT@!n$, Jackie Chain, J. Cole, Tayyib Ali
“Apparently I’m passionate, the concept I’m graspin it
I’m trying to find the balance of hard work and happiness”
Being able to grasp your audience’s attention right from the get go is essential in Rap. It’s too easy to just fall into the rhythm of the instrumental and forget to pay attention to the lyrics. You can tell though, Mike wants you to pay attention to his lyrics as he provides some insight into “life.”Awesome use of movie samples (i.e. Almost Famous at the beginning) as well. This one comes off his recent mixtape “Wet Paint.”
Mike Petrow – The Balance (right click, save as to download)
Speaking of falling into a trance from the instrumental, this is exhibit A. I love this beat, and judging by the lyrical flow provided, so do Nike Nando and newcomer Dre-Ski. This one is off Dre’s newest mixtape “Cloud 8.7.” Pretty decent piece of work, with this being a highlight.
Dre-Ski ft Nike Nando – Music & Sound (produced by The Madman) (right click, save as to download)
“She goes out and he goes in, in his shell where he wont bend
and he don’t fake and he don’t break, cuz he can’t take another heartbreak
she can see it on his face, that he ain’t happy but he wont say
cuz he don’t speak much and she can’t keep up, with his needs and he can’t either”
Here comes another rapper going over that “Knocked Up” Instrumental/sample from Kings of Leon/Lykke Li (see Tabi Bonney). CurT@!n$ (very annoying name to type btw) gives you his personal insight on women and relationship troubles. It’s pretty simple why I am attracted to songs of this nature rather than those about drugs/money, per se; I can actually relate. Isn’t that the point of music?
CurT@!n$ – Kings of Dope Master (right click, save as to download)
When I see Jackie Chain’s name, I gotta take a listen. First off, that name is awesome. And second, his country-ass, white boy flow is unfuckwitable. Always feelin Jackie when he gets a chance to spit over a solid instrumental. He’s got the voice to provide a solid hook as well, and this is no exception. This one’s dedicated to all those that don’t necessarily like to partake in the marijuana smoking activities. It’s ok, you aint gotta puff, you can get a contact hiiiiigh.
Hollywood Floss ft Jackie Chain – Contact High (produced by Chris Rockaway) (right click, save as to download)
I’m telling you, Chris Brown is puttin in work. He’s gotta come up big in 2011 or he may never get back to that level of popularity he had before the Rihanna incident. Anyway, he contributes a nice hook on this one from the British rapper Chipmunk. That’s another trend that’s about to take on, the British are coming! I kinda dig the funny accent though, so I’m not mad. Of course, the main reason for this songs inclusion here is the J. Cole verse at the end of it. Its a Cole world (especially in Chicago).
Chipmunk ft Chris Brown & J. Cole – Champion (Official Remix) (right click, save as to download)
Did someone say this world was cold? Well, Tayyib Ali agrees. Here, he describes the struggles he’s seen growing up, including his short journey to fame so far. This beat is too nasty. It’s a beautiful thing when the instrumental of a song matches the mood of the song, as delivered through reflective lyrics, perfectly. This one is produced by B-Free off Tayib’s recent mixtape “Eighteen.”
Tayyib Ali – Cold World (produced by B-Free) (right click, save as to download)
Underground Appreciation Post
Honestly, i think the hardest thing to get into if you’re not a big hip hop fan is underground rap. mostly because the beats are very chill, simple, and made to accentuate the lyrics. These are not always the most pleasing to the ears, especially to the typical music listener. But I understand, its hard to really get into a song if you don’t like the beat. Here’s the solution. I don’t know about you, but i could listen to this shit all day, regardless of the content. DJ Juke does a number on this onetime lyrical record, and turns it into a head-nodding lyrical banger. Gotta love the DJs
Planet Asia ft Blabbwona & Pep Love – Soundclash (DJ Juke Remix)
Heres another good example of what a Remix makeover can do for a track. Producer Brenton Duvall mixes this Tayyib Ali record over his original instrumental featuring MJ’s PYT. Good shit for sure.
Brenton Duvall ft Tayyib Ali – Pretty Little Penthouse
This one’s more of the traditional underground style. All about the lyrics. The very beginning of this song, the lyrics really got to me, thinking in terms of hoop dreams. But fairly quickly I realized it was a much deeper story than that. This is a really good introspective look at some negative aspects of our cultures preoccupation with fashion and brand names. Most notably, Nikes. For me, I liked whatever I thought was cool, and more importantly, what my parents would buy for me. Didn’t even own any Jordans until I was in college.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Wings
Here’s a couple of my favorites:
Pippen’s Nike Air Uptempo
Nike Air Penny’s II
And of course AI and Rebook’s Question
White Men Can't Funk 