What EMS Is Listening To ... The Weeknd

Sex, drugs and R&B?

So fellow blogger-colleague, Q aka ThroatChopU, turned me on to The Weeknd. I had no idea who it/they was/were and apparently there has been an insane amount of buzz going on about this artist all over the internet. I have to admit, I hadn't a clue what to expect and even when I turned on the record, I wasn't sure about it then. But after I listened to it all the way through a couple of times, I started falling in love. I'm one of those folks who, while loving and embracing all kinds of music, have certain genres that need a few listens before having the ability to digest and understand it. With all that being said, I LOVE THE WEEKND!

"Let me see you dance / I love to watch you dance / take you down another level / get you dancing with the devil / take a shot of this / but I'm wanting you / I'm on that shit that you can't smell baby / so put down your perfume / bring your love, baby, I can bring my shame / bring the drugs, baby, I can bring my pain / oh, I got my heart right here /oh, I got my scars right here / bring the cups, baby, I can bring the dranks / bring your body, baby, I can bring you fame / and that's my muhf*ckin' words too / ay, so let me muhf*ckin' love you..." - The Weeknd (verse two of Wicked Games)

The Weeknd is an up and coming artist that showcases the fusion of Electro/Pop and R&B and their mixed tape is extraordinarily raw. Although riddled with profanity from top to bottom, you can get past all of it just by listening to the incredible instrumentation of each song. Something I love about Electro/Pop and R&B is the marked uniqueness the genre possesses. I've always thought that combining different elements of base genres provide us a way to create fresh new sounds. With their debut entitled House of Balloons, The Weeknd has given us a glimpse of just that.

"So, tell me you love me / only for tonight / only for tonight (even though you don't love me) / just tell me you love me / I'll give you what I need / I'll give you what I need (even though you don't love me) oh, oh..." - The Weeknd (chorus of Wicked Games)

A particular favorite off of House of Balloons is the track "Wicked Games," which I can honestly say is 5 minutes and 25 seconds well-spent every time I listen to it. With this song, you can let your imagination run wild. You can hear the synthesizers, the dope drums and those beautiful guitars. "Wicked Games" is slow, methodical and let's the listener experience the song. If they elect to do any videos for this album, I'd prefer this be the first or second cut.

The Weeknd isn't going to be for everybody. I think you'll either hate or love it, but at the very least, give it a listen. It may surprise you. You'll be able to download the 9-track mix tape from their website the-weeknd.com and catch a listen here. Enjoy peoples and have a wonderful Saturday night.






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What EMS Is Watching ... Me'Shell NdegéOcello - "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)"

I love, love, LOVE Me'Shelle NdegéOcello. I think she's absolutely gorgeous and her voice is so sultry and beautiful. She's always been one of my favorite neo-soul artist. I first came up on her music when the classic Black love movie Love & Basketball came out in 2000 (forgive me for being a youngin') and her "Fool of Me" became incredibly popular. I've adored her ever since. Well, today, I just felt like jammin' to some Me'Shell while I wrapped up my day at work. I think this video is funky, unique and shows off her talent as an artist. You can't tell me this woman ain't dope.

Enjoy the rest of your Friday peoples.




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Check It ... Pharoahe Monch - W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) Album Preview

If you STILL have not bought, yes bought and not f'ing downloaded, Pharoahe Monch's W.A.R. album, then check your brain for inadequate amounts of Hip-Hop because you have to be deprived. Check it out here where you can listen to the album on YouTube and hopefully run out and get a copy. $10 ain't much for quality dopeness. Boom!



Preview Pharoahe Monch's W.A.R. Album Out Now: http://bit.ly/hO5DHo.

Album Track Listing:

1. The Warning feat. Idris Elba (produced by Pharoahe Monch)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP-WZKyN4ds
2. Calculated Amalgamation (produced by Lion Share Music Group)
3. Evolve (produced by Exile)
4. W.A.R. feat. Immortal Technique & Vernon Reid (produced by Marco Polo)
5. Clap (One Day) featuring Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind (produced by M-Phazes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG_iDZbSZ3I
6. Black Hand Side featuring Styles P & Phonte (produced by Mike Loe)
7. Let My People Go (produced by Fatin "10" Horton)
8. Shine featuring Mela Machinko (produced by Diamond D)
9. Halie Selassie Karate featuring Mr. Porter (produced by Sam I Am)
10. The Hitman (produced by M-Phazes)
11. Assassins featuring Jean Grae & Royce Da 5'9 (produced by M-Phazes)
12. The Grand Illusion (Circa 1973) featuring Citizen Cope (produced by Adam Deitch & Eric Krasno)
13. Still Standing featuring Jill Scott (produced by M-Phazes)

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Check It ... "Behind The Unsigned"

You ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of up and coming artists? What their current path is like? The struggles they have to conquer to get to where they want to be? Well, here's a project titled "Behind The Unsigned" being put together by O.Williams and his motivated camp that's going to take you on that journey with videos and stories of these unsigned artists. I've recently got to chat with the folks there and delved deeper into the workings of BTU. Here at The Mad Bloggers, we're all about showing love to dope cats in the music field whether signed or unsigned. BTU is playing their part by showing love to the latter of the two. Get to know more about "Behind The Unsigned" by clicking 'Read more' and make sure you check out the videos at the end. Inspiring moves.

Friday's Five Random Questions with @TheoMartins

"He can't be a rapper wearing boat shoes ..."

We all know I rock boat shoes, so with that one line Theo Martins instantly became a favorite. Ha!

I caught Theo just around the time he was putting out You Can't Do That on Television. I hit play on that project, which starts with "The Letter" and immediately thought the dude was dope. His latest project Sincerely Yours, The Dance Floor takes you into a slightly different direction. Some folks would be scared to test the waters musically but for Theo he doesn't let a genre define his style and with that his latest is making waves musically.

With two fresh videos for his recent project, Theo has a style that is outside the box. In today's music of so many cookie-cutter-rappers-so-called-emcees, Theo Martins is a breath of fresh air.

Anyway, this week he decided to take the challenge. Check out how Theo answered five random questions after the jump.

Backpack Jax "Da Goodsh!t" x "Feeling Good"

When I first heard "Da Goodsh!t" I wasn't quite sure. I'll be honest it didn't hit me right away. Then the track played out a little more and I found myself nodding my head to the beat and rhyme. Backpack Jax's (Mauikai & Boogie Monsta) sound is fresh. It kind of has this old school feel to it. I dig that. Check out "Da Goodsh!t" up top and a live performance below. Hit up the comment section with your thoughts. Chea!



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Check It: @MaraHruby Has Soul

Mara Hruby has soul. Her music is absolutely stunning. I discovered her sound based on one simple retweet from @JCrillz last night.

I respect his taste in music so I gave it a click. This is one of those examples of how twitter comes in handy musically. Honestly, I think at least once per day you should click a link to some music you're unfamiliar with to discover new things. I don't mean those annoying @ replies folks send you to check out their "hot new banger" or whatever. I'm talking about folks you follow. Many are amazing music resources. In a time where marketing budgets don't really exist, word of mouth is ultimately how you'll discover raw talent and great new music.


Street Etiquette-Sartorial Sounds from LightUp Film on Vimeo.

So, when I saw Mara Hruby name retweeted from a familiar source I decided to give it a listen. That led me to the video above on her tumblr page. The video is a behind the scenes look at Street Etiquette-Sartorial Sounds. The amazing track includes spoken word, tap, rap and singing. It's an amazing production featuring Jesse Boykins III, Mara Hruby, Joekenneth Museau, Joshua Bennett, Theo Martins, Melo – X and Rinaldy Alvarez.

The video led me to track down the actual track. Amazing.



Sartorial Sounds Editorial
“Sartorial Sounds integrates both music and style, two elements embedded in every culture past and present. We think it’s important to remember that everyone is an artist in their own right. And it’s the life experiences we encounter that provoke what we splash on our own blank canvas. We assembled seven individuals to partake in this editorial. The finished product incorporates their individual talents such as spoken word, rapping, singing and tap.”

This ultimately had me circle back to her project, From Her Eyes. Mara has an amazingly beautiful voice with so much soul for a person only in her early 20's. Her sound is melodic. I'm sure I'm not the only person discovering the Oakland songstress at this point in the game, so don't be shy and hit play on From Her Eyes. Mara Hruby has soul.



twitter.com/MaraHruby
www.MaraHruby.com

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What I'm Listening To: @TQDofBNC "The Tunnel" (Produced by @EcidFITB)

Here's a new song by T.Q.D which has Ecid of Fill In The Breaks doing work behind the boards.

T.Q.D is currently at work on a new album and EP which should be out this year.

Download: T.Q.D "The Tunnel" (Produced by Ecid) (Right click, save as)

Adebisi "F-ck The Dollar" (off the Blaxploitation Mixtape)

Adebisi returns with another track off of his upcoming Blaxploitation Mixtape presented by TMB and BLAX. This is one of my favorite cuts on the mixtape. Blaxploitation features some borrowed beats and a few original cuts. Look out for the project coming soon. In the meantime, enjoy "F-ck The Dollar." Chea!



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A History Lesson For Chris Brown (via @jsmooth995)

"You need to drop these enablers and get some people in your circle that are going to help you work on yourself ..."

And there it is folks. J. Smooth lays down some stern words for Chris Brown and I co-sign EVERY BIT OF THIS VIDEO.

twitter.com/jsmooth995

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Theo Martins “Turn It Up” feat. Plan-B

Sometimes intros are too much. And sometimes they are just right. Theo Martins lets Plan-B ride out on “Turn It Up” until the 1:55 mark and then he just tears into his verse. Dope. This track is off Theo's recent Sincerely Yours, The Dance Floor project.

Theo writes on his tumblr about the video:

Because it’s the first song on Sincerely Yours, The Dance Floor, the ‘Turn It Up’ video is basically about me being at a crossroads. We used imagery of me sitting in the middle of railroad tracks, and again in the middle of a street, to represent that. It’s like I can either run from being at the crossroads aimlessly without a plan, or I can just sit there, brace the impact of what’s to come and deal with it. In the end, with dignity, I opt to stay the course. I can say this much, I’m so far pleased with the results of that decision.

The video is directed by my go-to team of auteurs Albert Huerta and CPA. They also manned the lens for “Final Fantasy” and “Power”.

Enjoy & thank you.

The track is dope. Theo Martins is dope. Plus he's down with #TeamTopsiders. Ha! Enjoy the vid!

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TheSeKondElement & Bettis in 6th St Can Hear It

TheSeKondElement & Bettis in: 6th St Can Hear It from TheSeKondElement TheACE on Vimeo.

TheSeKondElement has been featured on the site a few times. I dig her sound. She has this old school vibe with new school bars. Her rhymes are deep and always well thought out. It's like spoken word meets a dope beat. She's talented. Anyway, she was down at SXSW (like the rest of the music universe) last week. I caught this video from her camp as her and drummer Bettis take over 6th Street in Austin with a live performance. You gotta love this type of energy. Dope. Enjoy the vid.

TeamT2E.com

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