Sonically cheesy, aesthetically competent.
Lupe Fiasco - What U Want
A few things about this tune:
- This is an unfinished version (sounds finished to me though)
- It is on Lasers
- It's worth a listen or two
Janelle Monáe featuring Big Boi - Tight Rope
If you're like me, you have a soft spot for Ms. Monáe after her appearance on the classic Chester French track "Nerd Girl".
Her latest album, The Arch Android, drops May 18th.
And for old times' sake, here's "Nerd Girl":
Cookin’ Soul - Big Pun and J Dilla - Big Dilla (Mixtape)
Dilla.
Pun.
Cookin' Soul.
This can't possibly be a bad thing.
Thanks to Cookin' Soul for the link.
Cookin’ Soul - Big Pun and J Dilla - Big Dilla (Mixtape) (please ignore the ridiculous audio ad that this file sharing site makes you suffer through)
Damian Marley and Nasir Jones - Strong Will Continue + As We Enter
I like it!
Distant Relatives drops on 4/20, which I assume both Nas and Damian Marley will be actively participating in.
Chip Tha Ripper - Here I Am + Jon Hope feat. Mike Maven - Average Joe (produced 6th Sense)
Both these songs are fantastic. Check back soon for the entire mixtape.
Consequence featuring Asher Roth - Childish Games
I haven't heard from Asher in a minute, but thankfully he and Cons took some time to tear up this very mellow beat produced by Mr. Attic.
Wu-Tang Wednesday
The Wu-Tang Clan are like those little Russian Matryoshka dolls that decrease in size but gain in numbers as you disassemble them. In the case of these two songs we have little rap-supergroup dolls inside of...enough about dolls.
Who really wants to talk about little babushkas all day long anyways?
Oh yeah, basketball!
Group 1.
Ghost, Rae and Meth = the 1996-1998 3-Peat Chicago Bulls. Meth is Jordan, Rae is Pippen and Ghost is Rodman cause he's bat-shit insane.
Check out the song.
Group 2.
GZA, Masta Killa & Inspectah Deck = the 2003 - 2007 San Antonio Spurs. These guys are all team players who believe in fundamentals (beats, rhymes, life). They're all Tim Duncan.
This song is off of Mathematics' Return of the Wu & Friends which drops on February 16th. Props to Matt for the song.
Here's a taste:
The RZA is definitely more of a Phil Jackson kind of coach than a Gregg Poppovich, and on a completely tasteless note, ODB = Len Bias. Sorry.
David Byrne & Fatboy Slim feat. Santigold - Please Don’t
Lisa: Nerds are nothing to fear, Dad. In fact, some nerds of note include popcorn magnate Orville Redenbacher, rock star David Byrne, and Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
Homer: Oh no! Not Souter!
Raheem DeVaughn – Mr. February (aka March Madness) (Mixtape)
If you aren't familiar with the "R&B hippy neo-soul rockstar" Raheem DeVaughn, aka "Radio Raheem", get acquainted.
Raheem's new album, The Love & War MasterPeace, drops March 2nd.
Enjoy the tape.
Underground-backpacker-nerd rap sidenote: I really thought that Ghost and Raheem's collabo on "Baby" should've got a lot more airplay, but instead this douche climbs the charts.
Seriously though, how douchey is that picture of Jay Sean? They say it takes 37 muscles to frown and only 22 to smile, but it probably took him only 3 muscles to make that face. No effort!
Wild Tour Stories: Meth, Red and Ghost
I would pay an exorbitant fee for a series of podcasts featuring real-life stories told by Red and Meth.
Jay Smooth on the Disaster in Haiti
The best vlogger alive tells you why you should help out in Haiti (if you didn't already know).
On another more skeptical (perhaps cynical) note, I spotted this over at Eskay's place, and I'm having a little bit of trouble posting it.
Is it wrong to call into question the actions of an organization that is probably doing more good than harm? I don't know. Check out the documents yourself and then decide about Wyclef's charity.
To be fair to the dude, he's been doing his thing in a real 'boots on the ground' kind of way. The man's a damn hero for being there like that, but it's always good to know about where your money is going.
Check out the news clip below about 'Clef's efforts in his homeland.
Donate to Doctors Without Borders here.
EDIT:
Check out Wyclef's response to the Smoking Gun's allegations.
Gucci Mane - Diplo Presents: Free Gucci (mixtape)
Not gonna lie: I never really thought that the industry's infatuation with this dude was warranted whatsoever, and all I can remember is watching "So Icy" on BET: Uncut and not being impressed at all.
Hype Machine Art
File this post under 'perty'.
The good folks at Hype Machine commissioned original artwork for the 50 most blogged artists of 2009.
Here are some highlights:
Royksopp artwork by Mark Silipo
Lykke Li artwork by Nitzan Ron
How many of these roads must you walk down, Bob?
Simpson-related digression:
Mother Simpson: [singing] How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?
Homer: Seven.
Lisa: No, dad, it's a rhetorical question.
Homer: OK, eight.
Lisa: Dad, do you even know what "rhetorical" means?
Homer: Do I know what "rhetorical" means?
Kid Cudi artwork by Jenny Herbert
Cudi exudes pretension, this time in triangle form.
Camera Obscura artwork by Chris Govias
Love the pulp.
LCD Soundsystem artwork by Hannah Donovan
This is hauntingly beautiful. New York, I love you, but you're bringing me down.
Click here for the full list, but please come back!
