Videos of the Week November 30th

Definitely an off the wall week for videos and for good reason as Hip Hop has dominated posts this week. Partly as a way to mix it up and keep a healthy dose of variety, there's a full spectrum of choices below. If you're not one of the 1.5 million people who have viewed @realPaulVlahos's Family Guy remix of @ChrisBrown's (twitter shut down) Look at Me Now, you need to check that out. Dude nails Peter, Cleveland, Stewie and Herbert to a T and does it with creative lyrics and a fast pace.

The other really awesome video is @Skrillex's Scary Monster's and Nice Sprites on piano. If you're like me, you're thinking how in the hell could Dubstep sound good on piano? My only answer is, you'd be surprised. Don't sleep on that Rolling Stones featuring @flo_tweet concert video of Gimme Shelter either. I'm not the biggest Stones fan, but there's something about seeing Florench Welch and Mick Jagger sharing a mic on stage that resonates with me...#TalentGalore

Family Guy Rap Chris Brown's Look at Me Now (Paul Vlahos)

will i am feat Britney Spears - Scream & Shout (Video)

What Skrillex Would Sound Like on Piano

B.o.B. ft. Playboy Tre – Just A Sign (Video)

Florence Welch Performs Gimme Shelter with the Rolling Stones

Eminem & Skylar Ride Bikes - "My Wheels Spoke to Her"

It doesn't get more winning than combining @AlexDaKid, @SkylarGrey and @Eminem on a track together. Sure, Eminem's Freddie Mercury impression is downright comical, but it sets the tone on C'mon Let Me Ride. For all of you who missed the Queen reference, the "I want to ride my bicycle sample came from their song Bicycle Race. I can promise you one thing, the original track isn't have as suggestive as the new lyric video for Skylar's version of the track...

I'm digging this edgy pop vibe Skylar gives off on the track. The addictive Alex da Kid beat screams bubble gum pop, but you better believe both Skylar and Eminem use some grown up language throughout the track.

Honestly I'm a little bummed for Skylar that the lead single (below) off her upcoming album Don't Look Down leaked two weeks early. For all of you with patience (crickets), C'mon Let Me Ride will hit iTunes on December 11th. Only time will tell if I can get over the corniness of this track...#MightBeTooPopForMe

Skylar Grey feat Eminem - C'mon Let Me Ride (prod by Alex da Kid)
|iTunes

"She Can Get the Lay Up...All Night"

First off, shame on me for missing the original version of the track below by @MeekMill. I really don't have a good answer for why the @KaneBeatz produced track slipped through the cracks. For those of you that missed it like me, the original version of Lay Up was on Meek's debut album Dreams and Nightmares.

This one reeks of an unofficial remix because Meek Mill isn't even on the track. Still I keep finding myself singing the @TreySongz hook and vibing out to the pristine Kane beat. No joke, if water hitting crystals needed an instrumental, I'd suggest this one because it's so damn clean. I'm just saddened that it took @s_c_'s cameo verse to get my attention...#MyBad

Rick Ross feat Jay-Z & Trey Songz - Lay Up (Remix) (prod by Kane Beatz)
|iTunes

"My Life, My Life Makes Me Wanna Run Away"

Wow...just when you thought @50cent had turned 100% businessman, he comes back with a vengeance with a dope new single featuring @eminem and @adamlevine. The track is produced by Grammy award winning producer @SymbolycOne and was supposed be on @drdre's legendary Detox. As a bonus, fiddy shot a video for My Life and decided to release it on iTunes today...

The beat really reminds me of Naughty by Nature's OPP or Mobb Deep's Throw Your Hands with the hard, rolling percussive clap on the beat. Sure it helps too the Eminem drops a thorough 16 on the track, but I'm going to venture a guess that this will move some units on iTunes because of the Adam Levine hook. You know what they say, by hook or by crook...#StreetKingImmortal

50 Cent feat Eminem & Adam Levine - My Life (prod by Symbolyc One)
|iTunes

Deadmau5 Takes a Trip to Arcadia

Every now and again, @deadmau5 releases a track for fun via his Soundcloud name "fuckmylife." His newest free-lease is an easy listening EDM instrumental titled Arcadia. The whole track stays relatively monotone, so if you're expecting either vocals or any sort of change in tempo or epic drop, this one might not be your favorite. Nonetheless, it's still a soothing reminder of the type of awesomeness Joel Zimmerman is capable of putting together with ease...#EDMGenius

deadmau5 - Arcadia

"I've Gotta a Feeling That I'm Not the Only One"

In an attempt to conclude Global Warming week with a bang, below is my best guess at @Pitbull's fourth single off the album. The track takes direct aim at his European audience with features from the British boy band @thewantedmusic and Dutch EDM kingpin, @djafrojack. The accordion during the hook mixed with aggressive electronics throughout the track makes for a dynamic pop club track.

Early reports have Global Warming opening up with respectable 35-40K first week sales. What most people don't realize is that there is much more to hear than the first three singles that have been released, so I would be willing to bet that number is only the starting point on his way to a second consecutive gold album...#GlobalWarming

Pitbull feat The Wanted - Have Some Fun (prod by Afrojack)
|iTunes

"Moonshine, Take Us to the Stars Tonight"

Leave it to @BrunoMars to create a funky, 1980s sounding ballad in 2012. Moonshine is the third single off Bruno's upcoming album Unorthodox Jukebox, due out on December 11th. On his first album, Bruno did what he could to push the limits of pop music mostly through sing along ballads that incorporated a lot of different styles like doo wop, R&B, and reggae. I think he put it best when he declared that his three man song crew, The Smeezingtons "refuse to pick a lane" when it comes to the sound of his newest album.

I described Moonshine as 1980s sounding because of the throwback disco feel it has beat wise. It's a track you could imagine Micheal Jackson pulling off back in the day. The cool thing is, not many people could pull that off, which is a testament to Bruno's versatility. I'll put it this way, I haven't heard anything ordinary off his new album, which implies a sophomore slump is very unlikely...#UnorthodoxJukebox

Bruno Mars - Moonshine
|iTunes

Videos of the Week November 23rd

Straight Hip Hop and R&B this week with a wide range of strange and psychedelic videos from some of the most unique artists in the game. Between @NickiMinaj's symbolic, black and white to color video and the two trippy, otherworldly videos from @ducidni and @BigBoi, artistry is on high this week. To top it all off, how about a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas parody from @liltunchi?...#MightAsWell

Nicki Minaj - Freedom (Video)

WZRD feat Desire - Teleport 2 Me Jamie (Video)

Lil Wayne feat Detail - No Worries (Video)

Big Boi feat Kelly Rowland - Mama Told Me (Video)

Trey Songz - Never Again (Video)

"I'm the Butt Police, and I'm Looking at Your Rear, Rear, Rear"

What better a Thanksgiving gift than a new @Rihanna track with @Eminem. I'm sorry to say, it's not another @AlexDaKid produced super-hit like the past two singles they've done together, but a critic might say their collaborations are always too serious and emotional. In contrast, Numb is more of a Hip Hop sounding track featuring a production from @Oakwud and armed with a pun filled verse from Slim Shady.

If you haven't already copped Ri Ri's new album, the song below is track three on her new album Unapologetic, which just landed on iTunes this week. Some are calling it a 5 out of 5 classic album, so early indications are it's as good as advertised...#Unapologetic

Rihanna feat Eminem - Numb (prod by Oak)
|iTunes

"You Make it Feel Like Home"

When a new electronic single jumps to the top of Beatport's top 100, you can bet that I'll be posting it. Such is the case for @nickyromero and @nervomusic's new hit Like Home. The combination of Nervo's soothing pre-drop vocals and Nicky's aggressive synths allow the track to play well on both radio and in the club. You better believe it's a prime time, end-the-set type of electric crowd pleaser.

Like most great house tracks, Like Home isn't on iTunes yet, so if you want to cop it, you'll have to venture to the European equivalent. The real question is, will European electric artists start pushing for their music to be on iTunes as much as they do with Beatport? In my eyes, it's heading that way, but there are probably a lot of good rea$on$ why it hasn't happened already...#TheMightyDollar

Nicky Romero & Nervo - Like Home (Beatport)

"What Happens in Miami, Never Happened"

As promised, more new @Pitbull from his newly released album Global Warming. The main takeaway I've gleaned from listening to his new album is that it's very heavy on the electronica thanks in big part to @djafrojack. The biggest reason why this song will stick on the pop charts and clubs around the world has to be with Pitbull's newly coined Miami version of "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."

There's always a market for going out to the club and getting drunk theme songs and Last Night absolutely nails it. Honestly, my first thought when listening to this track was Hangover 3 in Miami. In every way, from the beat to the lyrics, the song would work well as the theme song. The schizophrenic, high pitched electronic beat contrasts well soothing vocals provided by @djhavanabrown. It's got the trifecta: catchy lyrics, club beat and melodic hook. When all the dust settles, this may end up being the most popular single on Pitbull's new album, which is actually saying a lot...#GlobalWarming

Update: I guess I wasn't the only one who took notice of the track because @liltunchi and @ParisHilton just released a remix of the track below today called Last Night (I Wanna Bang You). Same beat, different vocals and lyrics...#OriginalIsWayBetter

Pitbull feat Havana Brown - Last Night (prod by Afrojack)
|iTunes

Smooth EDM: Kill Paris - Baby Come Back

What do you get when you mix a timeless hit from the late 70s with new school EDM? You get a surprisingly smooth, refined mix of old and new thanks to the creativity of @KillParis. If you're thinking to yourself, I really like dance music and there is no chance I was alive back in 1978 when Player's song Baby Come Back was released, check the original below...

Mixing classic soul with Dubstep is not an easy thing to do, which is even more reason this will probably be a mainstay in my electronic playlists for the next few months...#BabyComeBack

Kill Paris - Baby Come Back

"I Just Wanna Feel This Moment" - Pitbull & Christina Take on A-Ha

Just in case anyone thought @Pitbull was taking any sort of break this year, he's back with yet another soon to be platinum album Global Warming. The track below with @theRealXtina is the latest single off his new album scheduled to drop on November 19th. If you're thinking to yourself, man that sample sounds really familiar, what's that from? I've got you govered, A-Ha moment!

Like only Armando can do, he successfully transformed an 80s pop anthem into a Miami club anthem. Sure Christina will deserve a lion's share of the credit for this becoming a top 10 single, but The Messengers deserve just as much dap for weaving all elements (sample, vocals, verses mixed with Pitbull's upbeat Miami club sound) together. As a quick sidebar, I had no idea that one of my favcorite ghostwriters @NasriWorld was one half of The Messengers (along with @AdamMessinger_). It all makes sense now...

If I were to forecast this weekld be cold with a 100% chance of turkey and lots of Pitbull... #StayTuned

Pitbull feat Christina Aguilera - Feel This Moment (prod by The Messengers)
|iTunes

"We Are the Lucky Ones, We Are Free to Love"

Earlier this week I posted @thelumineers feel good single Ho Hey and I wrote about how it was jovial, feel good track. If it could copy and paste that sentiment into this post, it would describe it's essence to a T. I'll say this though, @wyntermusic sounds strikingly similar to @gwenstefani on her new track Lucky Ones. Just close your eyes and listen to it, you'll think you're listening to a @nodoubt track.

Comparisons aside, the upbeat, positive vibe of the track is infectious x 10. It's the type of emotion evoking track that finds it's way on a big time motion picture. What I can tell you is that Lucky Ones is scheduled to surface on part two of Wynter's four part Human Condition EPs. The first one was called Doleo, which was released four months ago via Soundcloud. About a month ago she started releasing her second Human Condition EP, Sanguine, which is where Lucky Ones landed.

Lucky for us, Wynter is nice enough to provide it all to us for free...#WeAreTheLuckyOnes

Wynter Gordon - Lucky Ones

Videos of the Week November 16th

This week comes in a a little Hip Hop heavy with @Slaughterhouse, @Ludacris, @RealWizKhalifa and @S_C_ coming in with new videos. Along with that is a developing EDM favorite with @CAZZETTE's latest single Beam Me Up. I said it when I first posted the track, but Slaughterhouse's track Goodbye is a really moving track if you give the stories a listen. I know you wouldn't normally think of the group as serious or intensely sensitive group, but if you listen close and take a minute to get into their stories, you'll be pleasantly surprised...#RapGeniusAssist

Slaughterhouse - Goodbye (Video)

Ludacris ft. Usher & David Guetta – Rest of My Life (Video)

Wiz Khalifa feat The Weeknd - Remember Me (Video)

Cazzette - Beam Me Up (Video)

Jay-Z Performing Dead Presidents & Can I Live?

"I Belong With You, You Belong With Me, You're My Sweetheart"

If there's one thing I refuse to be ashamed of, it's being late on posting a pop hit. As much as I try to be omnipresent and post music from a wide range of genres, y'all know my bread and butter is Hip Hop and now recently, EDM. That being said, I love great music and if it doesn't fit inside the usually categories I post, I don't have the slightest issue with grabbing and posting songs that move me...

...which is exactly the effect that @thelumineers song Ho Hey had on me. Considering the track is now in the top 10 iTunes singles tells me that it has taken a while to sprout wings and catch on. To give some context, the video for the track below was released back in April...

It's not easy to do folk rock on a pop level, so when a group manages to do it right, it really comes off well. From the beginning of the track I was immediately reminded of Kurt Cobain and maintain that lead singer Wesley Keith Schultz could probably sing a wicked cover of Where Did You Sleep Last Night with his raspy voice. In short, the playful, sing-songy, happy-go-lucky vibe of the track is infectious and resonated with me. It's not usually what I post, but if you're reading this, you're as open minded as me when it comes to music, so you won't mind...#GoodMusicKnowsNoGenre

Lumineers - Ho Hey (iTunes)

"Baby Don't Forget My Name When the Morning Breaks Us"

You know what, it's a shame @elliegoulding and @skrillex broke up because they make great music together. Even though their split was amicable and due to distance, it makes you wonder if future collaborations will possible.

Ironically their new track Bittersweet is centered around breaking up. The somber, emotional tone is perfectly fitting for the newest episode in the teen angst driven Twilight series. With Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 hitting theaters this weekend, I would imagine a lot more tweens are going to be going to iTunes in search of the soundtrack.

If you're a Dubstep fan, you're probably going to listen to the track below and think to yourself, how in the hell was Skrillex involved in this track? The only hint of electronics on the track is the reversed sample, which is similar to what he did with Ellie's vocals on Summit. If anything I gained a new appreciation for Skrillex's genius on Bittersweet because the track was well put together and a complete 180 from his usual music. Anybody who can manage to make rave quality dance music and turn around and help craft a beautiful ballad deserves some dap...#Versatility

Ellie Goulding - Bittersweet (prod by Skrillex) (iTunes)

"Miss America, Petty Thoughts"

I've repeated stated over the past year that @JColeNC is without question in my top five favorite artists in Hip Hop. I've always struggled trying to pinpoint which of his abilities I have more of a respect for, his lyrical talent or his ability to produce his own music. Part of me appreciates his realness and penchant for storytelling, but what really set him apart from the rest is his ability to take song from start to finish.

And that's even more evident with new lead single Miss America off his upcoming album Born Sinner due out on January 28th. On the track Cole takes a critical angle at things like the government and other Hip Hop artists with lines like, "Rap game changed, this is embarrassing sh*t/Bunch of b*tches posin’ on some old Miss America sh*t." Beat wise, the rolling percussion heavy beat comes off sounding like a formidable march. In essence, the track achieves what it needs to as a lead single by being loud and memorable. It's more than enough to have me excited for his new album...#BornSinner

J Cole - Miss America
|iTunes

The Doors Get Skrilled & Break a Sweat

I'm about six months late on posting the track, but now that a "real video" (rather than a documentary video) has surfaced for the track this week, I'm going to act like I posted the track below when Bangarang dropped last December. Break'n a Sweat is the much-hyped @skrillex collaboration with @TheDoors that has received just a much criticism as it has praise because of the generation blending of the two collaborating artists. Some people were up in arms because a Jim Morrison interview was sampled on the track, while others thought the effort was somewhat admirable. Either way it is what is it because in today's music world there is absolutely nothing that is safe from sampling.

Check the new sci-fi flavored video below or the iTunes link to cop the track...


Skrillex & The Doors - Break'n a Sweat

"I’m so Wrong, I’m so Wrong"

With a debut studio album on the way, it seems like every other day a new @theweekndxo track surfaces on the interwebs. Out of the few that have dropped, the one that stuck with me was Twenty Eight. Known to be the just as melancholy as @ducidni with the lyrics, Abel lives up to his reputation on his new one below.

The cool part about his debut is that he's combining his previous three mixtape releases (House of Balloons, Thursday, Echoes of Silence) and adding on one new song to each of the three discs. Twenty Eight is going to be on the first disc with the other tracks from his highly acclaimed House of Balloons mixtape. If you're in the market for a moody, somber ballad that just might have you questioning whether or not The Weeknd might be channeling his inner Michael Jackson, you'll enjoy his new one...#OVOXO

The Weeknd - Twenty Eight
|iTunes

"We Waiting on a Savior, Maybe Barack"

Four years later, @YoungJeezy is at it again, putting a Hip Hop stamp on another election win for Barack Obama. This time the message is a little different, focusing more on hope rather than a polarizing and uplifting statement like "My president is black!" You could see this coming too with President Obama shouting out Jeezy back in April saying, "In my first term I sang Al Green. In my second term, I'm going with Young Jeezy."

Feel free and check out the newly minted visuals below...

If I were president, I'm not sure if Jeezy would be the wagon I'd want to hitch my Hip Hop fandom to, but the sheer fact he's making an attempt to immerse himself in Hip Hop is good enough for me. Word has it this is going to end up on a new mixtape, but as a stand alone single, it'll still make some noise...#WeDoneItAgain

Young Jeezy - We Done It Again (prod by Cool & Dre and Sap)

Videos of the Week Novemeber 9th

The biggest takeaway from this week's round of videos has to be the video game Hip Hop Dance Experience. The game is set to be released on November 13th and features a wide array of hits from the past few years. Even better, @TooShort put in his two cents on the game and even touched on his favorite dance "The Freak"...or what white folks call grinding.

The best part of the clip is when the producers somehow persuaded Short Dawg to get in between the two dime pieces and start dancing. But he doesn't do just any dance, he does one of the most well known go-to white guy dances with the dice roll dance. Part of me wants laugh at Ubisoft for incorporating such stereotypical "white guy Hip Hop-isms", but then again, if their audience is composed of a lot of Caucasians (with presumably limited dance moves), then it would be a little counter intuitive to try and sell advanced stuff like Baltimore Club to white kids...#GoodLuckWithThat

The Hip-Hop Dance Experience Video Game Review with Too Short

Rihanna - Diamonds (Video)

The Weeknd feat Drake - The Zone (Video)

Ludacris feat Usher & David Guetta - Rest of My Life (Behind the Scenes)

Kid Cudi feat King Chip - The Way I Am (Video)

"I'm in My Zone, I'm Feelin' It"

Just in case you thought @bobatl had forever turned pop because that's the costume he has to wear to appease the suits who invest money in him, he's back with a track that will remind everyone where his allegiances lie (Hip Hop). Featuring the production of everyone's new favorite Southern producer, @MikeWiLLMadeIt, Bobby Ray proceeds to cook up a fairly hype club anthem. Even better, the track features @therealjuicyj and @tip, who take the track up a few notches.

If you're wondering how in the world you're going to manage to procure the track below, fear not, it will be on Bobby Ray's upcoming mixtape F*ck Em We Ball due out on November 15th. The real question is, where's the video to hype the mixtape...might as well call him king of the vlog...

Not sure about y'all, but I feel like any artist who can impress no matter what type of music he's making deserves some dap...#Hustlegang

B.O.B. feat T.I. & Juicy J - Still in This B*itch (prod by Mike Will)

"If Everyday Goes Like This How Do We Survive?"

In my humble opinion, there's always room on my playlists for uplifting tracks. No matter what genre, if it manages to get me going or impact my day in a positive way, I will gladly share it with you. That being said, feel free and put @ericprydz's new single Every Day in that feel good conversation. For all of you who aren't sure who Eric Prydz is, you've heard of him, he's the one who had everyone singing Call on Me a few years back.

Sure that track is about as complex as a paint by numbers, but the 80s style synths and smooth hook sucked me in. The vocals are so easy-going and the beat is so simple and catchy, it worked for me. Who knew 80s synths could still be used to make modern club music?...#ThrowbackCreativity

Eric Prydz - Every Day (Original Mix)
|Beatport

Skrillex Bug Hunts on Wreck-it Ralph

You can now count Disney in as a supporter of the EDM revolution that is steadily permeating American culture. Yep that's right, Disney's new animated creation has a Dubstep theme song. For those of you who have yet to see it, Wreck-it Ralph has gotten a crowd sourced certified fresh badge on Rotten Tomatoes. I don't know about you, but "clever, colorful adventure built on familiar themes and joyful nostalgia" sounds like good time to me.

All credit can't be given to @skrillex because @Noisia_nl was the one who chopped up Bug Hunt. Usually soundtracks are one of three things: 1) star studded 2) a musical score 3) underrated up and comers. Wreck-it Ralph's soundtrack is a combination of all three with some star studded names like Rihanna, Kool & the Gang, Owl City, some unheard of names like Buckner & Garcia and AKB48 and the final 18 songs are done by Henry Jackman. I have no idea why you'd mix all three, but in the world of iTunes, it matters less when you can more easily buy individual tracks. I'm more excited about the movie and the assortment of animated superheros I grew up with...#StreetFighterIsMyJam

Skrillex - Bug Hunt (Wreck-it Ralph) (Noisia Remix)

GoPro Commercial with Tom Wallisch

95% of the time commercials on TV are too loud and generally annoying...especially during election years. That being said, in my eyes, marketing departments have the ability to make an impression through the music they choose. Case in point, GoPro's new commercial with professional skiier @TWallisch managed to get my attention...

It's a simple EDM track by @MichaelMayeda that perfectly fits the 3D action happening in the commercial. The key to music in commercials is matching the tempo and choosing a genre of music that suits the interaction in the commercial. Well done GoPro, your marketing department has earned a shout out tonight --->This camera is awesome!

Michael Mayeda - Perfect Ending (Original Mix)(iTunes)

"If You Live For Somethin, You're Not Alone My Friend"

Go ahead and add @Ludacris to the group of Hip Hop artists who have embraced EDM. Maybe electronica has become such a big part of pop music that it's not a surprise to see Luda go full electronic on his new single, Rest of My Life?

I'd argue against assertion because I think it is a big deal. We expect the @UsherRaymondIV and @official_flo's of the world to respond to pop trends because they make their $$ on what people want. Ludacris on the other has traditionally never had a problem getting his albums to #1 on the charts, as his first five reached RIAA platinum status. What's noteworthy about that is he has seven studio albums, which means his past two albums haven't quite reached platinum status. Call me crazy, but when it's apparent that your albums haven't reached the high bar you initially set, why not try something new?

By trying something new, I mean check out what he did with @davidguetta in the studio...

If you're trying to re-invent yourself, why not consult the guy who has the formula for success? I have no doubt this single will get Luda on track to a bounce back platinum album in the form of #Ludaversal...

Ludacris feat Usher & David Guetta - Rest of My Life (prod by David Guetta)

Videos of the Week November 2nd

If I were to pick a theme this week, it would be behind the scenes. Between the @UsherRaymondIV and @THEREALSWIZZZ behind the scenes videos and @TWISTAgmg's freestyle, it's officially backstage week. Mixed in is a short Halloween freestyle from newly minted lyricist of the year @kendricklamar and a really entertaining new video from the reincarnation of @SnoopDogg through Snoop Lion.

I'll say this, lyricist of the year needs to be broken up into categories. I say that because when it comes to telling as story through lyrics, Kendrick has everyone beat hands down this year. If you asked me to pick who could freestyle off cue cards best as a lyricist, my vote would go to @realchiddy, who still coincidentally owns the record for longest sustained freestyle. Not taking anything away from either and to be honest they're two different forms of intellect being manifested through Hip Hop, so they both deserve credit in their own right. Either way it should speak volumes that I've posted about Kendrick three times this week. Simply put, his ascension into my live starting five with Drake, J Cole, B.O.B., Wiz Khalifa may have sent Wale to 6th man...#JamesHarden

Kendrick Lamar Halloween Freestyle with Cue Cards


Swizz Beatz ft. Ludacris & Chris Brown – Everyday Birthday (Trailer)


Ludacris & Usher Record Rest of My Life


Snoop Lion - La La La (Video)


Twista - Show N Off Freestyle

Kendrick & Cole - The Jig is Up

I think if you would have told @kendricklamar that he'd sell 241,000 records with his debut good kid, m.A.A.d city, he would probably take it. I can't think of an example in the past decade (other than Drake) where every media outlet went all in on a Hip Hop artist after hearing his debut. In my eyes, much of the success with his debut has to do with the storytelling cohesion his album had, but I don't want to shortchange his ability as a lyricist because that's another big part of what sets him apart from the average Hip Hop artist.

So what do you do when your album is a complete success? You take a victory lap and release a bangin' track produced by @JColeNC.

"The Jig Is Up (Dump'n)" soundcloud.com/topdawgent/ken… … Prod. by @jcolenc & Canei Finch @caneilive [@mixedbyali] #GKMC
— Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) October 30, 2012

If anything the beat on Jig is Up (Dump'n) fills the very small void that reviewers have critiqued regarding "wow" instrumentals. There's so wow in the track below and it's split 50/50 between two of the most talented trendsetters in Hip Hop...#Truth

Kendrick Lamar - The Jig Is Up (Dump'n) (prod. by J.Cole & Canei Finch)