Songs like @bigkrit's new one below make me really hopeful that Southern Hip Hop is headed in the right direction. There's a cavalcade of good reasons for the effusive compliments I've given K.R.I.T. in the past and What You Mean only validates what I've said about his music to date. The undeniable funk, heavy bass and overall tough tone of the track from the beats to the grimy hook to the flawless way he navigates the beat...it's a unique kind of awesome.
I'm guessing that if you didn't grow up on Southern Hip Hop like I did, then you may not appreciate K.R.I.T.'s music as much as I do. The biggest reason I've got so much respect for him as both a rapper and producer has to do with the way he's advanced the styles and sounds of the music I grew up with. From Three Six Mafia to UGK, the slow, heavy, codeine soaked rhythms had always set the standard of quality. Keepin' it 100, only UGK was ever been able to mix in large doses of funk successfully in Southern Hip Hop until K.R.I.T. came along. Sure the messages are ignorant and repetitive too like UGK, but you can't tell me that the rolling funk on the beat below doesn't immediately cause you to start nodding your head.
For me, @LUDACRIS's typical, well thought out verse was merely icing on the cake. He's never short on the witty bars, which is why he's always added value on his features. Still, I would have liked it just as much without him, it's that dope. I'm guessing the track below will surface on K.R.I.T.'s new Live From the Underground mixtape due out June 5th, which is cool, but I've got September 27th circled as a much more noteworthy date since that's the scheduled release of his studio album that is also set to be titled Live from the Underground. Mixtapes are cool and all, but you boy is finally getting the call up to the big leagues, which is long overdue for those who listen to his music...#BigLeagueReady
So now that you've read Part 1 where I detailed the opening acts at Bamboozle, it's time to focus on the main events. The first act I deemed to be a "main event" was @macmiller. Let me preface my review of his set by letting you know that I already saw him open for Wiz Khalifa about a year ago, so the novelty or new car shine of his act had worn off. Still, Mac held it down and kept the energy high for every minute of his 45 minute set. After seeing him twice live, there's no doubt my favorite track of his has become Best Day Ever. There's a nostalgic quality to the track from the video of him rapping as a kid to the simply addictive beat...it's just a great track. Coming in a close second was his crowd inspiring performance of Frick Park Market. All in all, a solid set from the resident Rostrum Records white boy extraordinaire.
Next up was @incubusband after a quick stop at the Taco Truck. I'm not even remotely a big Incubus fan, but a few of their songs have found there way into my iTunes library at some point. So, I figured, might as well check them out while I'm here and there's no one else on any other stages I want to see at the moment. Good news was, their set ended up being the calm 45 minutes I needed before the craziness ensued. Hell, they even awarded my attendance by playing my favorite song Are You In?. Much appreciated Incubus, I have a healthy respect for your adult contemporary concert music now that I've seen you live.
We left the Incubus set at 8:40 PM and the next hour was an absolute blur. Not only did we have to make the long walk all the way across the Bamboozle grounds to catch two bands we were excited to see (@Timeflies and @VOLBEAT), but we also needed to be back to the main stage by 9:30 PM. Herein lies the downside of music festivals, sometimes timing doesn't work in your favor when two bands you want to see are playing at around the same time. I mentioned yesterday that Timeflies was late to get on stage and as a result, we only got to see two or three of their songs. Same thing for Volbeat, we stayed for about 20 minutes and then booked it across the beach in the direction of loud electronic music.
The source of that loud electronic music was none other than @Skrillex. If you've been following my blog the past six months, you know darn well how enamored I am with his music. Even better, loud electronic music translates well to wide open venues like Bamboozle, making it a perfect concoction of awesomeness. Fighting through the amped up crowd in pitch darkness on the beach was an unenviable obstacle, but we managed to find high ground and an above average view of the stage. Put it this way, when you're short, motivated and have been to more than a few concerts, you develop a knack for finding ways to see...#HobbitTricks
The first song playing when we walked up was one of my favorites, a remix of @Avicii's Levels...
Avicii - Good Feelin' (Skrillex Remix)
The next time I arrive fashionably late to a set, I can only hope it'll be half as awesome as what I witnessed with Skrillex. Like any other electronic/dubstep there are literally no breaks in the action, only lulls in between high energy synthesizers. One after another, he kept mixing in his own remixes with other well know dubstep/EDM tracks that everyone in attendance was familiar with. For example, I'll always be partial to his remix of @nerouk's Promises because it was the first song that I ever heard from Skrillex...
Nero - Promises (Skrillex Remix)
As his set continued, I kept thinking to myself, he's got a whole hour and a half on stage, but only a few EPs to rely on. I wonder how he's going to fill the time? The answer is became really simple as he seamlessly weaved his way through organic hits like Bangarang and Summit, while sprinkling in a few well known hits that aren't his like @knifepartyinc's Internet Friends.
What I've come to appreciate about seeing EDM artists like Skrillex in concert is that you never feel cheated when it's over. If anything you feel completely drained because of the constant high energy stimuli in your face. Maybe you get used to the unabashed electronics after attending a few concerts, but I've never felt like "man I wished they just would have played a couple more songs" at an EDM show. Yea part of it is because I'm on the shady side of 20, but intense, loud music can only be interesting for so long. It just so happens, Skrillex kept my interest piqued for his entire set as he rounded third heading for the finish line when he went In for the Kill...
La Roux - In For the Kill (Skrillex Remix)
So what are the five key takeaways of my first festival experience?
1) Get there at least 45 mins early if you want to see the first act because a lot of people have to go through security to get through
2) Don't automatically go for their festival sponsored parking options. It would have cost me and my girlfriend $10 each to park 7 miles away and have to wait for a bus. Instead we parked 4 blocks away for free and walked. #Clutch
3) Take advantage if the festival permits you to bring in one unopened water bottle
4) Time management, time management, TIME MANAGEMENT! It's a good problem to have when so many great artists are at the same festival, but they don't always stay on schedule and sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on to the next set
5) Any beach concert is going to be chilly at night, prepare for being near the ocean. In what can only be described as a rookie mistake, my girlfriend and I had to buy $5 long sleeve t's to make up for our lack of night weather consideration. Just because it's 80+ degrees during the day, doesn't mean that ocean breeze isn't going make you pay later at night
Feel free to peruse my modest album of pictures I took at Bamboozle and don't hesitate if you're offered the opportunity to see Skrillex in concert. It was well worth the full price of admission...#RulerOfEDM
It's long overdue, but until last weekend I had never been to an all day music festival. I know what you're thinking, you've been to dozens of shows, surely somewhere in there you mixed in a Coachella, SXSW, Bonaroo or Lollapalooza, right? Nope, not one despite multiple misfired attempts to attend one of the aforementioned festivals. So what does that make me? A really experienced concertgoer, but complete festival rookie.
Now before you go jumping to conclusions based on my intro paragraph, don't think for a minute that I didn't mitigate as much risk as I could before the festival began. Self awareness and preparation were two variables I had in my favor, so my planned route for the festival was as follows:
5:25-5:55 Mike Posner (Main Stage)
6:00-6:30 Aer (Temple of Boozle)
6:30-6:55 (Eat as much food as I possibly can)
6:55-7:40 Mac Miller (Main Stage)
8:00-9:50 Incubus (Main Stage)
8:50-9:15 Timeflies (Temple of Boozle)
9:15-9:30 Volbeat (Zumiez Stage)
9:30-11:00 Skrillex (Main Stage)
Looking over the lineup, there isn't much more that could have been packed into the one night of music. Clearly, the folks who planned out the three day festival made Friday night the rowdy, young crowd night and the final two days more contemporary, alt rock flavored music. Prior to the concert I was most excited to see Skrillex, Timeflies, Aer, Mike Posner and Mac Miller in that order. Incubus would serve as a tolerable time filler and Volbeat was a necessary watch because it's my girlfriends favorite band.
Part one of @thebamboozle concert review is going to be devoted to the smaller, opening acts. The first of which was @mikeposner who had somehow eluded me up until Bamboozle. I've written many times about how much I loved his latest mixtape, so I felt like I lucked out getting to see him when I did.
The best part of his set by far was the drum interlude he did with his two partners in crime onstage. I really enjoy it when artists go outside of what is expected and do something cool with percussion like he did. Cool performance gimmick aside, the best song he did in his set was by far Cooler Than Me (below)...
Next up was the up and comers from New England by the name of @theaermusic. In 2011 they released their What You Need EP, but to date, they are most well known for their laid back single Feel I Bring. Luckily for me, @beware4 of @tsscrew had provided me all I needed to know about Aerback in April, so I was well equipped with the recording device when they cranked out their crowd favorite...
Lesson learned, I am now officially on the Fresh Aer Movement bandwagon after seeing them wild out in concert. Just two crazy white kids who can pull off anything from Hip Hop to Reggae...watch out folks.
Last, but definitely not least on the list of opening acts was @timeflies. After writing about them back in December 2010, they DM-ed me thanking me for the love and giving them a shout out through my New Artist Spotlight piece I did on them. Now two full years later, they've got a healthy following and aren't so underground anymore. I can say that after hearing fans go word for word with them on some of their well known tracks. One thing is for sure though, @whatupcal is a talented dude when it comes to vocals. Case in point, his acapella rendition of Flo Rida's Wild Ones...
The biggest regret I had about Bamboozle was not getting to see as much of Timeflies set as I wanted to. Too many acts were scheduled around their set time of 8:50 PM and it didn't help that they didn't hit the stage until after 9 PM. You can bet the I will be on high alert for any tour dates within a 100 mile radius in an attempt to make up for my lack of coverage on their set.
That leaves me with nothing but the opening acts to write about. Keep it locked for part 2 of my Bamboozle review that will heavily feature Mac Miller, Incubus and Skrillex...
The track below is a direct bi-product of my experience at Bamboozle last weekend. Chalk this one up to me not being down with EDM a year ago because when I heard @skrillex's version of Cinema in concert, it was noteworthy to say the least. The original version was released over a year ago in March 2011 and in case you missed it, peep the video below...
Yea it's a catchy ass dance track thanks in big part to the vocals delivered by @garygo, who I had not previously not been familiar with. I'm including both the original and the Skrillex remix because it's really 50/50 mood toss up if you asked me to pick a favorite. The original is more of a calm, sing along dance track, while Skrillex's dubstep seasoning takes the electronic energy of the track to another level. No doubt, @bennybenassi deserves some dap for crafting the original and for his set at the Indy 500 this weekend, but hearing Skrill chop it up with thousands of people going nuts to it on the beach was a memory I will not soon forget.
Much more to come in the form of a full, two part concert review for Bamboozle, but for tonight I needed to play catch up on the tracks below...#MemorialDayIsForRelaxingNotWriting
Benny Benassi feat Gary Go - Cinema (Radio Edit) |iTunes
Benny Benassi feat Gary Go - Cinema (Skrillex Remix) |iTunes
After making a big splash with his debut album Camp, @donaldglover is back for round two in the form of a new mixtape. The yet to be titled mixtape is supposed to drop next week and will feature the previously released track Unnecessary with @SCHOOLBOYQ and his new one below featuring a verse from @nipseyhussle and production from one of Canada's finest, @Boi1da. Also, it's the first feature I've seen from Boi-1da proteges The Maven Brothers (@zalezy and @BretRyan).
Luckily for us, Donald was nice enough to post the track for download on his website along with an interesting commentary by Big Ghost aka Childish Gambino/Donald Glover imitating Ghostface Killah while providing commentary on new songs...
The lyrics on Black Faces of American Chariot (according to @samspratt the artist who provided the cover art) go hard and send a clear message that the new kids on the block are on some new shit. They're about gaining and keeping wealth instead of spending wealth so their family and future generations can come up. It's an interesting, enlightened message that is clearly aimed at a new school train of thought. I say more power to them, there's a lot of intelligence in that message.
Keep an eye out for that new mixtape next week and if you're like me, you've already signed on to see Childish live this summer on his Camp Tour...#SummerConcerts
Childish Gambino feat Nipsey Hussle - Black Faces (American Chariot) (prod by Boi-1da and The Maven Boys)
I've always had a healthy respect for Diplo, mostly because of all the artists he'd help make relevant. From @_m_i_a_ to @MAJORLAZER, he's always been known for making upbeat, electronic music that doesn't sound like anything you've heard. And that didn't change one bit on his newest single Set it Off. From the back and forth electo rhythms to the high pitched sample and dancehall percussion, this song is the real deal. Around the 2:15 mark it even sounded like a there was a @knifepartyinc sample in there? When considering the song as a whole, I wouldn't dare ever try to keyhole it into any specific genre, all I know is that it has the propensity to make you wanna dance.
I'm not sure where exactly @LAZERDISK factored into the creation of this track, but in my mind, the good news is they're now associated with a track I really like. That's enough to get you on my radar because I already know @diplo is one of the most intriguing, creative DJs in the game and collaborating with proven vets like him is key in becoming relevant to a blogger like me.
Diplo's upcoming Express Yourself EP is due out June 12th. It'll be considered his "first foray into the maddening beats and booty-popping sound of New Orleans Bounce" or NOLA Bounce. Call it whatever you want, it's booty shaking greatness that's got a permanent home on my party playlists...#HandsArentTheOnlyBodyPartThatClaps
Two heavyweight videos hit the internet this week with @realwizkhalifa's Work Hard, Play Hard and @official_FLO's Whistle. Most interesting to me was hearing @ryanleslie talk about his new album and how he's transitioning to more of a Hip Hop sound on his new album. I like his well thought out plan of how he's planning on making money touring rather than with his music. Trying to make his music into advertisements is smart because it's a reacting to current market conditions that a lot of rappers ignore. Similarly, banking on the "live concert experience that you can't download" is a smart business model for the type of music he creates. He's one of maybe a handful of people in the industry who get it and are trying to blaze their own trail because the old way of making money doesn't work anymore. Hey man more power to your creative vision R Les, keep doing what you're doing, enough people will catch on to a point where you're on real TV rather than just R Les TV...#BetOnIt
Wiz Khalifa - Work Hard, Play Hard (Video)
Flo Rida - Whistle (Video)
Jay Sean feat Pitbull - I'm All Yours (Video)
B.O.B - Next 48 Hours (Part 2)
R Les Talks New Album and Plans on Releasing New Music
When I first posted the original version of @JustinBieber's latest single Boyfriend, I commented that the track sounded a lot like Ying Yang Twins' Whisper Song. So what does Biebs do? He goes and recruits @yingyangtwins on the Boyfriend (Remix). I'd say it's safe to say Ying Yang sounded at home on the remix and added a needed level of subtle sleaziness to the track.
Even though the first remix was solid, I'd favor remix number two featuring the fresh new lyricists. Maybe, just maybe @2chainz is starting to grow on me a little with his unapologetic southern rhymes. @macmiller and @asherroth did some work on their verses by adding their own quick witted playalistic bars. All things considered, Asher's verse wins in this remix competition. From the 7 minutes in heaven reference, to the talk of sliding his hands to second base, and finally finishing with the most universal truism that everyone wants to be like Selena and Biebs, Ash simply slayed it. It's the type of lyricism that was needed from the start, causing me to give an emphatic stamp of approval...#CountIt
Justin Bieber feat 2 Chainz, Asher Roth & Mac Miller - Boyfriend (Remix) |iTunes
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest gamer. Sure I've dabbled in a few addicting PC games like the Command and Conquer series and I've been known to play more than a few iPhone games, but a couple Halo free for alls is about as far as I've gone on the first person shooter games. I preface this post with the qualifiers above for two reasons. First, many of my work friends are absolutely addicted to the newly released Diablo 3, which has sold 6.3 million copies in the first week of sales. Yep, that makes it unofficially the fastest selling PC game ever. Second (and more importantly), the folks over at Ubisoft made a wise decision by employing @KENDRICKLAMAR for their new game. IF you're wondering what the game is all about, below is the trailer for the newest version of the Ghost Recon series...
Yea, it's probably about what you expected with a really in depth story line, above average graphics and advanced game play. Along the same lines, War is My Love does a solid job of exuding the quiet intensity of the game. Kendrick fits in an many war/battle references as he can on the track and delivers his message at a steady march that is bound to get at least a few teenagers pumped. It's about as Quiet Storm as you can get, which isn't too over the top and should resonate well with the gamer types.
Ecstatic is a good word to describe my initial reaction when I heard Goodie Mob was coming out with a comeback album. I use the phrase comeback album because it's been since 2005 (7 years!) since they last released an album. To be fair though, I was guilty of tuning their last album, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show, completely out. Keepin' it 100, it was because that album just wasn't good at all...at least compared to their first two albums, which were really solid.
A lot has changed since the group first got together around 1995. For starters, @ceelogreen is now a universal pop icon, which wasn't the case when the group first started releasing music. It will be interesting to see how that changes their music because on first glance, the first two songs that have surfaced off their upcoming album Age Against the Machine are heavy on the vocals and light on the verses. Speaking of which, they just performed their lead single titled Fight to Win on NBC's The Voice this week (below)...
Julius Ceasar and his band of glowing grilled trojan fighters? That's what came to mind when watching that video. Very inspirational and radio friendly, which is a 180 from the music they used to create. Not hating one bit, just stating the facts and noticing the change in style.
If I had to pick I'd choose their other new song Is That You God? over their lead single. I'd choose it because the amount of soul they're able to pack into one track is incredible. Sure Cee-Lo's vocals really help, but the general mood of the track reminds me exactly why I'm such a big fan of Goodie Mob. They always manage to hammer home a positive, spiritual message through their verses while imparting soul on the hook. If you haven't heard of Goodie Mob and only enjoy Cee-Lo's music, then this is the perfect track to introduce you to their sound. Southern soul with a Hip Hop twist has never sounded so right...#GoodieMobbIsBack
I know it's going to come as a complete shock, but @LUPEFIASCO's lead single off Food and Liquor: The Great American Rap Album is filled with politically charged lyrics! (GASP!) Ok, so what if it's not a surprise at all that Around My Way has lines like:
"Straight hair, high heels and a handbag
Crucifixes, racism and a land grab
Katrina FEMA trailers human body sandbags"
Politics and propaganda aside, the sample is just as politically charged as the lyrics. I say the because the beat put together by Simonsayz and B-Side has drawn some serious criticism from the @therealpeterock who originally put the beat together on the original classic Hip Hop track T.R.O.Y.
I understand the soul of Hip Hop is wreckless sampling on anything and everything. It's been written into the DNA of Hip Hop since it's inception. But in my mind, there is such a thing as respecting a classic. In other words, I think it would have been a classy common courtesy to ask permission to borrow the beat since it's widely regarded as a timeless Hip Hop track. Especially since it's going to be the lead single off your album that you self titled The Great American Rap Album.
I get that it's easy for me to judge, but the last thing I'd want if I were Lupe is for critics to focus on the sampling of the beat rather than the message I'm trying to convey with my controversial lyrics. Who knows though, sometimes no publicity is bad publicity and it could help in the long run. Either way, it's an interesting start to a widely looked forward to album that I've got circled on my 2012 notable Hip Hop releases calendar. Word has it the album is set to drop on September 25th, stay tuned for much more to drop between now and then...#FNL2
Lupe Fiasco - Around My Way (Freedom Aint Free)
|iTunes
Ah yes, back to the winning formula for @seankingston. When I say formula, I mean a @jonathanrotem beat with old school sample and high profile cameo feature. For his newest single, Back 2 Life (Live it Up), the cameo feature happens to be @tip and the sample is from Soul II Soul's 1988 hit Back to Life (However Do You Want Me). Video below for a quick refresher on what 80's Pop/R&B sounded like...
Man that was the jam back in the day, wasn't it? Whether Sean Kingston did it justice with the sample is up for debate, though. I'll say that he's done a lot better (Beautiful Girls) and a lot worse (Born to be Wild) on previous samples. One thing I am sure of is that it's palatable enough to start a wildfire on top 40 radio. By my count this will be his fifth single released so far from his upcoming third studio album Back 2 Life.
If you asked me to rank the singles, I'd probably go with Letting Go (Dutty Love), Back 2 Life, Eenie Meenie, Party All Night, and Dumb Love. Rumor has it that Kingston may blow up the tracklist and start all over with the single below, which would be a ballsy move. Why not throw them in as fillers and have an end result that is a classic album with front to back singles? No release date in sight, but like any Sean Kingston release, it'll be chalked full of fun reggae and repeatable radio hits...#Back2Life
Sean Kingston feat T.I. - Back to Life (Live it Up) (prod by JR Rotem) |iTunes
Like death and taxes, there are a few things you can count on in life. Another truism you can add to that list is @neyocompound producing consistently top notch R&B music. From producing to writing to performing songs himself as a vocalist, he's really good at what he does. Thankfully, in an effort to post a few more R&B tracks per month and get back to the Slow Jam of the Month post, he came through with a new single that fits in nicely with what I'm trying to do.
From the whiny instrumental lead in to the slow, heavy drum and bass mixing with soft piano, the ingredients for a great slow jam are there from the start. It helps that Ne-Yo's lyrics on the verses tug on the heartstrings and the easy to relate to hook is delivered so soulfully that you can't help but sing it yourself. Dude just knows how to craft a slow jam from start to finish by getting the most out of the trifecta of hitmaking (writing, producing, vocals).
It's not everyday I post a passionate kiss as the hero image for a post, but this one was a little too interesting to pass up. I don't think anyone could have predicted @NICKIMINAJ casting @Nas as her romantic interest in her latest video Right By My Side. That being said, Nas seems to be all over the news lately dropping tracks left and right and showing up in videos, so the timing makes it seemed planned. Still, topping off the video with a passionate kiss at the end was interesting to say the least.
Also, it is me or have the animatedvideo become the cost effective way to go now? That's two in a week counting Wolfgang's new one, @THEREALBANNER's video with @Chrisbrown's new video for Amazing. I'm still waiting for @calvinharris's new one with @neyocompound to start taking over top 40 radio. To top it off, check out the two videos at the bottom that show how white people and alcohol mix quite well. Speaking of which, holler atcha boy if you're at Bamboozle tonight...#Bamboozle
Nicki Minaj feat Chris Brown - Right By My Side (Video)
Calvin Harris feat Ne-Yo - Let's Go (Video)
David Banner feat Chris Brown - Amazing (Video)
Kid Rock, Paradime and Yelawolf Perform Fight For Your Right (Live)
It's been well established that @MYFABOLOUSLIFE and @ryanleslie make great music together. It started on @kerihilson's Everything, Everyday, Everywhere and more recently morphed into one of the best songs of 2010 when they got together on You Be Killin' Em. Knowing their past together, you can imagine why I rushed their most recently collabo straight to the nearest iTunes playlist. I mean I might have even thrown it into the baby makin' music playlist inadvertently, IDGAF as long as it somehow found it's way on my iPod.
Even more intriguing, I really liked the original, solo version of Beautiful Lie that R Les cooked up. Add in an point verse from one of the most creative wordplay artists in the game and it's a done deal. Word has it, Les is More is actually going to be released on June 5th, which is nothing short of a miracle considering how many times it's stopped and started. I'll buy it though, especially with this flood of new content including his new promo video for Rain in Australia (below).
Aaaannd as I'm watching the end of the video it says, "Les is More This Summer." I stand by my original statement, I'll believe it when it see it. And when I see it, you better believe I'll be pumped...#LesIsMore
I'll be the first to admit, I was late on the whole EDM craze and as a result, late on really talented artists like @WOLFGANGGARTNER. Fear not, I'm not about to let that dissuade me from catching up to the pack and staying up on the newest singles like Wolfgang's new below.
If you haven't heard of Wolfgang or somehow missed his new melt your face off awesome collabo with Tiesto (We Own the Night), I'd start with his debut album Weekend in America. For all Hip Hop fans tuning in, you'll be interested to know that he collaborated with @TheRealEve, @jimjonescapo, @Mr_Camron and @iamwill on Weekend in America. Without a doubt the standout track on the album was Get 'Em feat E-V-E if you're looking for the cliff notes version.
Even if you haven't heard his music yet, if you're a fan of EDM, you'll hear about him sooner or later since he's a part of the Ultra Music family, which might as well be the epicenter of EDM worldwide. Ultra is to EDM, what Def Jam is to Hip Hop. You feel me?
This week Wolfgang created a nice little animated video for you to follow along for all you visual learners...
Call it simple, low budget, or even childish, I think it does a pretty decent job at focusing the listener on the music, which is enough to keep my attention. Overall a great single, that you should add to your (I assume) growing list of favorite EDM tracks...#EDM
If I were to take a trip this summer to the UK, I'd probably base my trip around the @nickyromero, @davidguetta and @NERVOMUSIC concert at Alexandra Palace on June 1st. If you're sitting there wondering why in the world someone would do that, feel free to press play below for the tip...just to see how it feels:
Yea, I'd say it's safe to say the calibur of EDM is a step higher over in Europe with the likes of the gentlemen below, plus @avicii, @djafrojack, and @calvinharris to name a few. I'll caution the casual listener about the track below, though. If you're not into repetitive synthesizers, then Metropolis probably isn't for you. On the flip side, if you're in the mood for some high energy dance music after a few adult drinks, then you may in fact wild out to this. Every genre is best consumed at a different temperament, the track below just happens to be tastiest while under the influence. Enjoy responsibly kids...#GoHam
David Guetta & Nicky Romero - Metropolis (Original Mix)
Seeing that I'm a fan of Swedish pop music, there was little hesitation in deciding to post Australian DJ @dirtysouth's uptempo, EDM rendition of @miikesnow's hit Devil's Work. In case you're not familiar with the original song that was recently released on Miike's latest album Happy to You, feel free and check out the video and supplementary film accompanyment...
Yea I know what you're thinkin', man that might have been the plainest, most mundane video I've ever seen. I guess some people might find it artsy in a way? Either way not my deck of cards.
The good news is, the original track got a shot of hot sauce in the form of a electronica thanks to DJ Dirty South. If you're wondering whether this track came out of left field, you are mistaken and I've got a few heat rocks as evidence. On his list of badass remixes are @nerouk's Me and You, @skylargrey's Invisible and @DIRTYMONEYCREW's Coming Home. That's a stacked lineup of great tracks that he managed to infuse energy into and I can say that I've had all of them on a playlist at some point in the past year.
Only beef I've got with the remix below is the first minute of the track, which is so repetitive it might cause you to drive your car into oncoming traffic. On the flip side, the cover art that mixed his logo with Miike Snow's logo was pretty exemplary. Nothing cooler than a devilish jackalope for cover art...#Truth
Miike Snow - Devil's Work (Dirty South Remix) |Beatport
A couple weeks ago @SLAUGHTERHOUSE debuted their newest single My Life to mixed reviews. After listening to it for a few weeks, it's become clearer to me that the group as a whole just isn't meant for the radio. The unfortunate consequence of not always translating to radio is that it usually affects the bottom line of record sales, but I want make sure and clarify my opinion that not being meant for top 40 radio isn't a slight at all to their overall talent. In fact, I probably have more respect for their music because it has the depth that generally repeatable, bubble gum pop tracks will always lack.
The main beef I have with Slaughterhouse's choice of singles is that their verses aren't as substantial. I say that because they're known for witty, sometimes edgy lyrics and that gets lost when shooting for middle of the road content meant for the radio. Using the song below as an example, it was tough finding a witty quoteable for the title of the post, which is rare for any of their songs. Still, having @ceelogreen on the track gives it a fighting chance for top 40 success. Radio worthiness aside, they are releasing a video for My Life in the coming weeks and earlier this week @joebudden gave a behind a behind the scenes interview with MTV to describe the video concept...
Their new album, Welcome to: Our House is due out in about three weeks on June 12th. Unlike most albums I'll be immediately sifting through the non-singles to find my favorite track. Can't wait to hear the end product and influence that their new record company will have on their overall sound...#ShadyRecords
Slaughterhouse feat Cee-Lo - My Life (prod by StreetRunner and Sarom)
|iTunes
Call it a remix or version 1.5 of We in This Bitch, either way it's got the same instrumental from @KANEBEATZ, so don't expect much different than the original. What you can look forward to are new verses from @drake and @1future who are both running a train on FM radio at the moment. It's been a minute since Drake dropped a new verse, so his 16 was a welcome addition to the track. There weren't the usual amount of quoteables that he usually comes through with, but his jubilant tone was a good sign.
Maybe I'm a little late to the bus stop, but I have yet to hear a verse or song from Future that's really stood out. I know he's being touted as one of the big new up and comers (I see you XXL). Maybe similar to newly minted G.O.O.D. Music signee @2chainz, his style will grow on me because he's rubbing shoulders with a lot of my favorite artists. For now feel free to get with his Twitter sweepstakes by tracking this...#SameDamnTime
DJ Drama feat Drake & Future - We in This Bitch 1.5 (prod by Kane Beatz)
A few noteworthy videos flew across the radar this week both on the music and film front. First and foremost, the preview for The Campaign came out this week and looked ridiculously funny. Picture a plot based on brutal opposition similar to Step Brothers with Will Ferrell and @galifianakisz, except written by the writers of Eastbound and Down and directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents, Dinner for Schmucks). I'm envisioning a really funny plot that is going to be borderline inappropriate with the Eastbound influence, but at the same time maintain an underlying message like the more classier comedies that Jay Roach has been attached to.
Cinema previews aside, the @maroon5 and @realwizkhalifa Payphone video was a fun watch. I'm not sure I'm a fan of @kanyewest and @s_c_'s choice of Made in America for their third single off Watch the Throne. On a positive note, the @tiesto and @wolfganggartner collabo is a perfect get the weekend started track. Cheers to the weekend y'all!...#ItsFriday
The Campaign Trailer (Will Ferrell & Zach Galafianakis)
Maroon 5 feat Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (Video)
Tiesto feat Wolfgang Gartner & Luciana - We Own the Night (Video)
Nicki Minaj Performs Right By My Side & Starships on Ellen
Whenever I hear the words Far East Movement, for some reason I think of America's Best Dance Crew. Maybe it's because that show was blowing up around when they were put on or it could be due to their act is so heavily centered around dancing. Either way they make music that's meant for the club, which jives well with my musical tastes.
Their newest single, Dirty Bass, is the title track for their upcoming album. It features a verse from YMCMB youngin' @Tyga and some heavy rhythms crafted by the @stereotypes. Check the newly released video for the track below...
No idea who is on the hook, but after a few listens you start wondering whether the track is catchy or annoying. It's a thin line sometimes in pop music, so indulge with caution and be prepared to have the repetitive track served up at a club near you this summer...#DirtyBass
Far East Movement feat Tyga - Dirty Bass (prod by The Stereotypes)
So many people associate EDM with electro craziness that young kids listen to while on drugs. Despite that being partially true, there are a few artists who have a unique ability to calm listeners with soothing synthesizers. No electronic artist can put together a Pure Moods quality track that is upbeat enough to play in the club, but has the ability to take you to a open field mentally like @deadmau5.
With the help of house producer/vocalist @CjamesOfficial, Deadmau5 managed to create a really enjoyable lead single off his upcoming The Veldt EP due out June 22nd. There are a couple really cool behind the scenes tidbits about this track that make it all the more enjoyable. First, the song is based off the short Sci-Fi story "The Veldt" by renowned author Ray Bradbury. Second, Deadmau5 released the instrumental to fans only to hear one of his fans (Chris James) had created a vocal version with lyrics inspired by the Ray Bradbury story. He ended up doing such a great job on the vocal version that the official released version will feature his lyrics. Not only is the song great, but the story behind the track is great and has an added layer of meaningfulness...#EveryoneWins
I've talked many times before about how the business model in modern music needs a serious overhaul. Artists don't get as much as they de$erve and fans get raked through the coal$ by having to pay increasing amounts of money for an album. So how do you fix it? That's the million dollar question that has yet to be answered, but David Banner is going to attempt to follow in the footsteps of two well known comedians in an attempt to find a solution. Long story short, I've got a lot of respect for @louisck (Live at the Beacon Theatre) and more recently @jimgaffigan (Mr. Universe) for swimming against the current and cutting out the middle men out of the equation.
When you think about it, if you're well known and already have a fan base, why do you need a big network to air your show or a record company to endorse and promote your release? It's like saying I'm going to drive across the street in this huge, fancy SUV when walking across the street would make a hell of a lot more sense and be more cost effective. What's great is @THEREALBANNER feels the same way and going to put his album on his site available for download if you donate any amount of money. Hear him talk about how much value you're getting for an amount of money you think he deserves when you purchase his newest album Sex, Drugs and Video Games.
What's really cool about the album is that it's chalked full of singles and has every bit of assumed quality you'd get out of a highly publicized studio album. Case in point the four singles he has already released Castles in Brooklyn, Califonication, Let Me In, and Believe prior to the track below. I'd say this one would fall in right behind Believe as my favorite so far on the album. The beat is about as sick as it gets for an upbeat Hip Hop track and features a solid hook and verse from @chrisbrown.
Do me a favor by joining the 2M1 Movement and show a lil love to Mississippi's finest rapper not named Big K.R.I.T. on May 22nd when he sticks his neck out and attempts to do what no other rapper has done before by taking control of his intellectual content...#CopIt
David Banner feat Chris Brown - Amazing (prod by David Banner) |Donate
In an attempt to flip the script on a mundane Monday, below is a feel good track by the NY based production duo @theknocks. I was surprised myself when I went through old posts trying to find another track of theirs I had posted, but came up empty. They've done so jammin' remixes of songs you've heard like Pumped Up Kicks and also released some decent tracks of their own like Dancing with the DJ. Even better, they've been known to rub shoulders with one of my favorite duos @realchiddy and @xaphoonjones on tracks like When You've Got Music and their remix of Dancing with the DJ.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Learn to Fly is probably going to serve as the lead single for The Knocks upcoming debut album. No idea what the title of the album will be or the timing of the release, but I'm excited to hear more of the modern day disco that @djbroc and @mrjpatt create together. I'll put it this way, if The Knocks are considered Indie, then I'm even more proud to be an independent music supporter. Be mindful of your surroundings when you uncork this gem because you'll be compelled to dance...#NoChoice
There isn't much that @avicii can do at this point to stop his meteoric rise from obscurity to the top of EDM. His new single Silhouettes isn't nearly as flashy as his last few releases, but that doesn't mean the quality has slipped. Instead of a hyped up dance anthem like Levels or No ID, the mellow synths give off more of a calming, care-free vibe. It helps too that on the vocal/radio edit, the lyrics are somewhat inspirational with the whole never look back, forward focus message.
You're probably just as surprised that Avicii has yet to put together a full length album, but when you're selling out venues and churning out hit singles, why worry about all that goes into a studio album. Case in point, his newest soon to be showstopping club hit Last Dance. It's been over a month and still no full version, but I've got hopes. Just like I hope to one day cross out "see Avicii in concert" off my bucket list...#ItWillHappen
