Monday, July 20, 2009

What I'm Listening To...Keelay & Zaire - "Alright With Me" feat. Dminor and Phonte


Much appreciation goes out to @Summa_Reign for dropping a little tidbit of music in my ear. She mentioned she was listening to a Dminor. I searched for him and found this video by Keelay & Zaire featuring Dminor and Phonte. Dope, smooth, great vibe with this kind of music. I love finding this kind of music for my listening pleasure and I hope you do too. Check it out!




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Saturday, July 18, 2009

Krizz Kaliko "Misunderstood"

Check the vid

"Make it Rain..."


I remember the first time I heard this story, I thought it was absolutely ridiculous. Watching the clip today on rippdemup.blogspot.com made me laugh, especially the Sports Center Intro "Jones infamously took to the club stage to quote, 'make it rain'". Like my man said on his blog, lets go ahead and file this one under "Never should have given you n*ggas money".

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Slaughterhouse - One



Shout out to Got That Good?'s blog for this video. Slaughterhouse's 1st single off their upcoming album that will be released August 11th. Check out the video and cop the album when it drops!


Wednesday, July 15, 2009

"Knock You Down" Acoustic Cover

This Keri Hilson, Kanye and Ne-Yo song may be a bit overplayed on the radio (actually very overplayed) but I dig this acoustic cover. Homegirl's voice is good and dude comes in and definitely does his thing. A friend sent the link and I figured I'd share. Peace.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Road to Release Day: Eternia & MoSS: "AT LAST" Episode 6


In Episode #6, Eternia revisits the playground with 88-Keys and makes a grown man cry in Queens, after an impromptu performance on the block with Mauikai. 88 & E reminisce over recorded tracks that never leaked (including a song w/ Kanye West & E?!) and Skyzoo recalls the 1st time he saw E spit @ Squeeze Radio.



Check Episode One
Check Episode Two
Check Episode Three
Check Episode Four
Check Episode Five

Did Drake Drop the Ball with "Best I Ever Had" vid?

Music Monday - Soul Position "Hand Me Downs"


This track is real talk! It's been kicking around for a bit but it's still relevant.

There is some crap coming from the mainstream music market right now. No disrespect to folks that attended a community college (I did) but it's like mainstream music is turning into a community college, because anyone and everyone can get in. The music industry use to be Harvard but now it's your local community college spot.

Here's the forumla: Just give us a catchy hook and no content... Oh, and a dance step or too also. Who cares, right?! Labels don't care about artist development, because you'll be out and irelevant when the next instructional-dance-ringtone-song hits the scene. Nah, I want more from my music.

For music cats out here just looking to enter the industry for a job to make money, look elsewhere if you don't have any passion or love for your craft, because it's disrespectful. Be an artist, because right now a lot of these cats are record company employees. You know the difference? An artist does what's in their heart and an employee does exactly what their boss says.

Check this Soul Position joint, Hand Me Downs. Happy Monday and enjoy!

[Chorus]
Come on say it loud
Look what we handed down
Don't it make you proud?
Look what we Handed Down

Come on say it loud
Look what we handed down
Don't it make you proud?
Look What We Handed Down

[Verse 1]
My mommy gave me Donny Hathaway
I miss the Positivity, I want to bring it back
But Rap now-a-days is by a bunch of ignorant cats
No young gifted and black
Just guns, bitches and crack
I react by turning off BET and Sambo's telling me what blackness is supposed to be
Used to give us world news now it's all videos replaced Tavis Smiley with reality shows
If you let the TV define what black is you think ice and violence is all we think that matters
I guess this is what happens when rappers look up to thugs
And kids look up to rappers
To some of y'all if I don't talk about the gat enough
Or sell crack enough
I ain't black enough
But I rather be a pro at being myself
Than be an idiot trying to be somebody else, what?!

[Chorus]
Come on say it loud
Look what we handed down
Don't it make you proud?
Look What we Handed Down

Come on say it loud
Look what we handed down
Don't it make you proud?
Look What We Handed Down

[Verse 2]
I'm at the bus stop with my bike
Been there for awhile
Mom's taught me how to catch this route when I was a child
-Another kid walks up freakin up black and mild
Fifteen same age, I learn shits wild
An older lady walks up greets us with a smile
Asks how we both doing and sits down
She knows what's it's like to grow up in the south
Civil Rights when the whites was hosing us down
I started thinking to myself that even though that time's were tougher
They still took time out to speak to one another
But look at us, me and this young brother
Acting to proud to break down and speak to each other
So inside I felt ashamed
Not sure of how to but I wanna change
And as long as I'm alive than the fact remains
That it's never too late for us to break the chains
Come on y'all

[Chorus]
Come on say it loud
Look what we handed down
Don't it make you proud?
Look What we Handed Down

Come on say it loud
Look what we handed down
Don't it make you proud?
Look What We Handed Down

Sunday, July 12, 2009

What I'm Listening to Right Now ... "Rather Be With You"


Listen closely, because Rather Be With You is one of my joints. Check out the Wale track featuring J Cole & Currensy, produced by 9th Wonder off that Back to the Feature mixtape. Enjoy!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Maxwell ... Grown Up Music


Maxwell's new album BLACKsummers' night is a problem! From beginning to end, the neo-soul artist proves he hasn't lost a step since his last studio album. In an industry saturated by the unoriginal, Maxwell steps forward to provide some grown-up music! Hope they are asking folks for id when they purchase this album, because this isn't for the ringtone music generation (even though it would provide one hell of an educational lesson).

I personally grabbed the album immediately on Tuesday from iTunes and haven't stopped playing it since. This is the definition of baby making music. I'm not sure what his first week numbers will look like in terms of sales but I'm sure conception rate via his album will be through the roof and a lot of babies will be born nine months from now (all with Maxwell as their middle name). If you don't have it, get it.

The only drawback is that the album is just nine tracks long. I guess Maxwell is a drug dealer and is just giving us a taste. When the next two cds drop, we'll know exactly where to go for a follow up hit. Maxwell definitely sets us up for his follow ups.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

What I'm Watching...KRS-One & Buckshot: Robot



KRS-One & Buckshot finally did a video to the fire track titled "Robot". I'm sure you have heard about it. And if not, this video should refresh your memory. Take another listen to the lyrics. Hip Hop music needs a mainstream revamping. Check it out...




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