Saturday, January 31, 2015

Louis Futon Gets on the Board With First EP


Part of what makes music so accessible to me is an affinity for a range of tempos. Tempo aside, a common thread between all of the favorites is a healthy dose of bass. As a result, I continue to be intrigued by new and novel uses of bass within the realm of EDM. While I've got a soft spot for Trap because of it's close proximity to Hip Hop, I'm warming up to this chill, Future Bass movement.

If you're wondering what exactly Future Bass is, I'd invite you to give a listen to Louis Futon's new self-titled, four song EP. Despite the fact that Sir Rock has been out for over 8 months, it's still hands down my favorite track on the EP. The bass on the track is more therapeutic than show stopping, but it fits so well with the bouncy, melodic vibe. If you're digging it as much as I am, you'll be happy to learn that Louis is handing out free downloads of the EP on his website. On this glorious Saturday night, feel free and break yourself off a piece of free awesomeness...#LouisFuton

Louis Futon - Sir Rock

Friday, January 30, 2015

Videos of the Week January 30th


For the life of me, I can't come up with a good way to describe the group of videos being posted this week. There's some creativity, plenty of childishness and even some heartfelt love in the mix. Leading the way is OnCue's video poking fun at other videos and memes that have become popular over the past year or so. Props for creatively using an interface as the viewport for a video making fun of the internet as a whole.

As far as childishness is concerned, N.E.R.D. and Jimmy Fallon have you covered with a Spongebob flavored video and an Ew! montage. For those of you who dislike Kanye West, take a deep breath because there's a soft side behind the often antagonistic exterior. The way he opens up and outwardly shows massive amounts of love for his family makes you want to cheer for him. Closing out the top 5 is a new one from Selah Sue, who for some reason is extremely enchanting to me. She's got an aura and voice that continues to suck me in like a bug looking at bright light...#Top5Videos
OnCue - No Way (Video)

N.E.R.D. - Squeeze Me (Video)

Kanye West Debuts Only One on Ellen (Video)

Jimmy Fallon - Best of Ew! Supercut

Selah Sue - Alone (Video)

Image Credit: YouTube

Thursday, January 29, 2015

"I'm Waaaay Up, I Feel Blessed"


Out of the blue Big Sean announced last week that he's got a new album coming out on February 24th. That's exciting enough, but a Drake collaboration coming out the same week? Now we're talkin'!

Before I come off too critical, understand that the expectations couldn't have been any higher for the song below since Big Sean and Drake are two of my favorite Hip Hop artists. While the verses did not disappoint, the beat was a bit of a head scratcher because it limited the potential of the track. I liked the lead in to the track, it was simple and set the tone, but then the beat just stumbled along seemingly without a discernible pattern. Shoot, the hook was even a net positive to the track. Maybe I'm a sucker for good production, but this is a great example of how a beat can cap the verses off at the knees. Did I want more? Yes. Is Blessings worth a listen? Yes, it's a solid effort from two of the best in the game right now...#Blessings

Big Sean feat Drake - Blessings

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Thomas Jack's Tropical House Series Reaches Volume 7


The sheer fact that Thomas Jack has reached Volume 7 on his Tropical House series is an indication of the Trop House explosion within pop music in the past year. Having witnessed the craziness of Thomas playing on a side stage at Snow Globe, I can say with absolute conviction that Trop House deserves to be on main stage with the big boys. I'll put it in plain terms, I had much more personal space to myself watching Skrillex on the main stage than I did watching Thomas Jack on a side stage.

Rhetoric aside, consider Volume 7 as a proper introduction to Robin Schulz. He's an up and coming German producer who took the reins and ran with it on the hour long mix below. It will be really hard to top Kygo's Volume 6, but I guarantee you, if you were to play this front to back, you wouldn't have an urge to switch mixes. Maybe it's because the DJs are consistently top notch, but when Thomas Jack releases a new mix, I get little kid on Christmas excited...#TropHouse

Thomas Jack Presents: Robin Schulz Tropical House Vol. 7

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

"It's Not Hard to See, the Girl is Mine"


Whoa whoa whoa, wait a minute, hol up! When did Flo Rida start dabbling in deep house grooves? Between he and Pitbull, I never know what to expect beyond delivering a beat that's going to make me want to dance. It just so happens that Flo's latest dance escapade sampled everyone's favorite duet back in 1998 between Brandy and Monica. Check the original video for reference...

There's a simplicity in the instrumental of Girl's Mine that's downright addicting. Similar to trance, the rhythms are so bouncy and delicious that you don't even pay attention to the lyrics. Sure the sample is a bit forced, but who cares, I just want to dance to this song. Maybe I'm a sucker for uptempo pop, but after a drink or two at the club you'd be shopping your new dance move to this beat...#DontLie

Update: Ah, so you know that initial surprised reaction about Flo Rida going all deep house? Yea, that might have been too good to be true. This isn't the first or last time Flo may have overstepped his bounds by riding the momentum of a hot new dance track. Below you can check out the original version of The Girl is Mine by 99 Souls. Gotta give credit where credit is due because there isn't much original about Flo Rida's version when you compare it to the original.

Flo Rida- Girl's Mine (Taken down at the request of the original artist)

99 Souls - The Girl is Mine


Monday, January 26, 2015

Club Music That Will Blow Your Mind


Ah yes, there's a comfortable familiarity that goes along with hearing another club thumping new single from Tiesto. This time, he enlisted the help of MOTi to put together an in-your-face, aggressive progressive house banger in the form of Blow Your Mind. Whatever you do, don't sleep on that mid-track transition at the 3 minute mark. It's as if they injected a minute long bridge into the pedal-to-the-metal start and finish of the track. I genuinely appreciate it when there's a change in tempo between drops to break the monotony. If the track below does anything well it's exactly that. Feel free to head on over to Beatport to cop if you're a fan...#BlowYourMind

Tiesto & MOTi - Blow Your Mind

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Haywyre Proves EDM Requires More Talent Than You Think


I don't know if it's a stroke of luck or whether EDM artists are starting to outwardly show more of their skills manipulating instruments. While the average consumer probably thinks that anyone with a MacBook and the right software can make electronic music, there's clearly much more to it than what you'd expect. Previously Zedd did some unplugged versions of songs, then Kygo went all candlelight on Firestone this week when he performed it live. Yet, neither of those had quite the entertainment value of Haywyre playing his new single Insight live in studio. Press play below to see what's up...

Wow! What a diverse mix of tempos and energy. From smooth keyboard led jazz to vibrant drum and bass dubstep eruptions, Insight has it all. There's a lot to like, not only about this track, but the undeniable talent on the keys from Martin Vogt. Would you be surprised if I told you he's been studying and playing the piano since the age of six? Yep, that's what I thought. I'll be keeping my ear to the ground for anything coming out of his camp because I'm finding it impossible to not be interested in him after viewing his in-studio performance...#Insight

Haywyre - Insight

Saturday, January 24, 2015

"I Think I've Had Enough, I Might Get a Little Drunk"


Well...if you're looking for a break the internet type of single, the new mega-collaboration below is armed with the appropriate amount of star power. As a quick side note, the phrase "break the internet" needs to be put to rest. Sure, we all like to over-exaggerate to make eyebrows raise, but no nude photo or leaked song is ever going to do anything but slow down traffic on the internet the same way a car accident on a major bridge would. It's jumped the shark, let's let it rest in peace, please. Thank you.

Anyways, back to the music. As it turns out, FourFiveSeconds ended up being an acoustic duet between Rihanna and Kanye for all intents and purposes. I'm betting Sir Paul did his fair share of leg work behind the scenes, but you're going to be let down if you're expecting any vocals from the Beatle. It has to win some sort of award for being the most mellow song about wildin' out of all time. I'm willing to bet that since Rihanna did all of the hyping, this will end up on a future album of hers. Whatever the case, the internet is damn sure enamored with the song's arrival and I found it to be interesting as a result of it's restrained tone...#FourFiveSeconds

Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney – FourFiveSeconds

Friday, January 23, 2015

Videos of the Week January 23rd


While most people struggle to do things simultaneously like walk and chew gum, there are other much more talented humans who can multi-task in crazy ways. Like for example, Logic, who very casually solved a Rubik's cube while rehearsing for his tour. Sometimes life just isn't that hard, right?

Speaking of hard, SNL roasted Bieber with their Calvin Klein parody. Can't say that they left any stone unturned when it comes to his public perception. By far, my favorite video of the week was Kygo's live acoustic version of Firestone. It's proof that even though EDM is synth driven, you can strip away all the electronics and still have something great. If you haven't heard of Majid Jordan, he now has three of my top 10 R&B songs I've heard in the past year. Such a great voice and his somber tone resonates with me. Last but not least, I present to you visuals from one of the nerdiest looking synth-pop boy bands I've seen come out of the UK. That's not an insult by any means, especially coming from someone who played Magic the Gathering and works at a tech company. Really excited to hear more from the up and comers from across the pond...#YearsAndYears
Logic Casually Solves a Rubik's Cube in a Minute While Rehearsing

SNL Mocks Bieber Calvin Klein Ad in Promo

Kygo Performs Live Acoustic Version of Firestone

Majid Jordan - Forever (Video)

Years & Years - King (Video)

Image Credit: YouTube

Thursday, January 22, 2015

"You've Got to Show Me Love" Gets a Modern Facelift


Too many times original versions of songs are completely neglected when someone decides to take a swing at a cover version. Very seldom does an artist truly make a cover version their own by transforming the track into something fresh despite sounding familiar. Before I get to the new version, I'm going to take a quick trip in the time machine to 1993 when Robin S came up with the timeless dance classic Show Me Love. If you're not old like me it may be a new song, but this is a glimpse of what 90s pop sounded like...

Having the original fresh in mind, it's clear to see how much Sam Feldt deviated from the original version. It took me the better part of a minute to realize that his version was a cover of the original, which was an awesome mid-listen revelation. If you're not familiar with Sam Feldt, he's a name that's frequently bandied about in Tropical House circles. If you listen close enough to the birds chirping in the background and the vibrant synths, you'll understand why he's associated with that sub-genre. The vocals are what stood out to me, but the sprinkles of chill house mixed throughout to give the song a modern feel. Love it when I get to hear a re-imagined version of an old favorite from decades ago...#ShowMeLove

Sam Feldt - Show Me Love

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

"Is it Real, Real, Real, Real Love?"


Staying true to form, The Chainsmokers are back on the grind remixing that favorite song of yours that you didn't even know was your favorite song until you heard them remix it. For those of you who don't know much about Clean Bandit, their debut studio album New Eyes was off the leash. Generally you lead off your album with one of your best tracks and I can see why Real Love was the song that they chose...

While the original is a swanky, symphonic groove, the remix takes a different path toward a much more mellow sounding track. After a few listens, the melodic, bouncy synths are what I'll remember about the remix. It's a palpable departure tempo wise from the original, which changes the uplifting tone into a much more soothing vibe. I'll say it again, a big part of the allure of The Chainsmokers is their experimentation with tempos and EDM styles. Sure, they've opened my eyes to a whole arena of music I hadn't previously been privy to, but they also do it in a way invites you to expect the unexpected. Now, if they'd only collaborate with Kygo...#Catfished

Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne - Real Love (The Chainsmokers Remix)

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Intoxicating House Music From Martin Solveig


Ahh yes, who is in the mood for some horny Deep House? Wait...that came out wrong, but yea, there's plenty of trombone, bass line depth and feel good vibes embedded in Martin Solveig and GTA's new one Intoxicated. On first listen, I thought I heard some Mayer Hawthorne falsetto sprinkled in the mix, but that didn't end up being true. What I do know is that the heat rock below gets after it and should be played generously at any self-respecting dance club. Any song that rides the fence between hard hitting and happy wins in my book, so get with the newness that just surfaced on Beatport yesterday...#Intoxicated

Martin Solveig feat GTA - Intoxicated

Monday, January 19, 2015

Can You Feel it Overloadin'? Life of Dillon Can


Any doubters in Adam Alpert and Disruptor Management's ability to build a formidable force in the music industry need to take a long hard look in the mirror today. Not just because their leading act, The Chainsmokers, have evolved into a household name, but because they've got a second card up their sleeve that they're about to deal. Introducing a new acoustic house trio from the UK, Life of Dillon.

If Avicii taught us anything in 2014, it's that there's an untapped market for acoustic or bluegrass flavored house. Similar to the way Trop House has become incredibly popular thanks to the likes of Kygo and Thomas Jack, Life of Dillon has that type of Top 40 appeal that can put Acoustic House on the map. If you need proof of the potential, all it will take it one play of their new single Overload. With the help of what sounds like ukelele, banjo, and steel drum samples, David Keiffer, Joe Griffith and Rob Griffith found a way to produce an inescapably jubilant sound on their lead single. Even if it's only their first single, I feel like I've learned enough today about them to be really excited about what they're going to do in 2015...#Overload

Sunday, January 18, 2015

"Did it Ever Occur That You Forgave Yourself Before I Did"


Remember when Kid Cudi first made a huge splash with his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day? At the time, his mix of lyrical skills and roller coaster emotions made his music accessible to so many people. But it wasn't solely the lyrics and vocal delivery that allowed his music to stand out. Looking back, all of my favorite tracks (Soundtrack to My Life, Cudi Zone, Solo Dolo) on his debut were produced by the largely unheralded, but extremely talented Emile Haynie.

Sometimes it's hard to discern whether the success of a song is due to the artist or producer. The great thing about Emile's new single, A Kiss Goodbye, is that it allows the listener to have a more informed opinion on his ability as a producer. With the help of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Devonté Hynes and Sampha, he concocted a beautiful symphony of somber. If you aren't reminded of Cudi's music by listening to the track below then you have some serious familiarity holes in his discography.

The best part about it is that Emile made two different versions of his single, an original and a dub-flavored reprise. For the life of me, I can't figure out which one I like more, but I appreciate the depth and power of reminiscence they provided me...#AKissGoodbye

Original:
Emile Haynie feat Charlotte Gainsbourg, Devonté Hynes and Sampha - A Kiss Goodbye


Reprise:

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Mustard on the Beat Flexes All Over Beyonce's 7/11


Very rarely do Hip Hop producers cease opportunities to flex their abilities on remixes. It's as if DJs that specialize in EDM are the only ones allowed to take original versions of tracks and run with them. But then again, DJ Mustard was a man amongst boys among Hip Hop producers in 2014. Before getting to what he did to Beyonce's 7/11, don't pass up the opportunity to refresh yourself on the entertaining visuals from the video...

Where the original is slow and bouncy, the remix takes on a few different personalities that are all just a bit more turnt up than the original. Dap is deserved for a head nod worthy chord progression injected by "Mustard on the Beat Hoe." Again, what I heard on the remix wasn't in the realm of the expected, which is why I'm waxing poetic over the novelty of the remix. For those looking for a way to transform 7/11 into a dance anthem, worry not, Mustard has you covered...#MustardOnTheBeat

Beyonce - 7/11 (DJ Mustard Remix)

Friday, January 16, 2015

Videos of the Week January 16th


Eclectic week for videos with Fallon and Gwyneth leading the way on Broadway versions of Hip Hop hits. I really don't know how Jimmy keeps doing it, but he has an uncanny ability to get celebrities to play unfamiliar roles in really entertaining ways. Right behind the clear top video is deadmau5's Spirit of Gumball documentary. It's interesting bioptic on featuring the always entertaining deadmau5. Yea, it's a safe bet that you're going to hear some great music mixed throughout the exotic card racing on the sixteen minute documentary.

In other news, Childish Gambino and Run the Jewels were the talk of the town when it came to late night. For those of you keeping score at home, Donald Glover took over Kimmel, while RTJ took over Conan. So many late night options these days it's becoming hard to track. Rounding out the top 5 is the Mikey Posner assisted video for Sugar by Maroon 5. Ever wondered what wedding crashing is really like? Well press play and watch Adam Levine go to work...#Sugar

Jimmy Fallon & Gwyneth Paltrow Sing Broadway Versions of Hip Hip Verses

deadmau5 Spirit of Gumball Documentary

Childish Gambino Performs Sober on Kimmel

Maroon 5 - Sugar (Video)

Run the Jewels Perform Lie, Cheat, Steal on Conan

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, January 15, 2015

When Tiesto Dabbles in Indietronica, We All Win


Usually The Chainsmokers are the ones introducing me to new Indie artists, but Tiesto decided to take a turn this week with his new remix of Mikey B's Stay a While. First off, good luck finding an original version of the track. You're more likely to see Bigfoot riding the Loch Ness Monster in person than you are coming across the original version of the track below. That doesn't bother me a bit or take away from the happy-go-lucky tone of the remix, though. Shoot as soon as I heard the whistling leading up to the drop, it was over with. Kudos for Tiesto for going down the road less traveled on this one...#StayAWhile

Mikey B - Stay a While (Tiesto Remix)

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Ne-Yo and Guetta Know Who is Taking You Home


I'll admit, when I first learned of a new collaboration between Ne-Yo and David Guetta, this was not at all what I expected. Usually when you think of David Guetta's influence on a track, uptempo synths made for the club and top 40 radio come to mind. Not so much the case with Who's Taking You Home, which is 100% melodic ballad from front to back. Despite the attention grabbing title, the tone of the track follows the peacefulness of the gentle chord progression that leads the way. The track will be one of the many singles that will litter Ne-Yo's new Non-Fiction album that will be hitting stores on January 27th. If anyone was wondering how to pull off an interesting lyric video, press play and enjoy the kaleidoscope visuals that compliment the audio quite well...#NonFiction

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

"We All Sing Along, But the Notes Are Wrong"


There are few groups that literally breathe fresh air into the music industry every time they decide to make new music. Over the past two years, this blog has evolved into an everyday source for new EDM with Hip Hop filling in the gaps, but there will always be a place for Matt & Kim on this property of the internet. Despite usually trying in vain to categorize music into silos of genres and sub-genres, there's a clear "good" genre that doesn't need any labels. That, my friends, is where you can find music from the famed Brooklyn duo.

What is prompting all of this effusive praise is the announcement of the release of their 5th studio album, New Glow, on April 7th. Leading the way on their new album will be their bouncy new lead single Get It. As per usual, infectious doesn't even begin to explain how addicting and fun the track sounds. It's a stay up all night, make questionable decisions track that has more than enough live instrumentation to keep you engaged and listening. It's a downright awesome mix of good vibes sprinkled over the course of three minutes. Not sure if you can tell, but I'm excited and the announcement of a new album means I may be able to knock "see Matt & Kim in concert" off my bucket list...#NewGlow


Photo Credit: YouTube

Monday, January 12, 2015

Eclipse is a Reminder That Hardwell's Debut is Coming


Quietly, Hardwell is becoming one of the more well-known EDM artists globally. I say quietly because his name doesn't resonate in non-EDM crowds like an Avicii, Calvin Harris, or David Guetta would, but he consistently churns out great music. Between headlining festivals and releasing a weekly podcast, it's only a matter of time before he reaches a critical mass popularity wise.

In two weeks, Hardwell will be releasing his debut studio album, United We Are. Leading off that album will his new single Eclipse (below). It's got everything you'd want in an album leadoff, starting with an harmonious, synth driven lead in that gives way to a high-pitched, attention grabbing chord progression. Without knowing the direction of the rest of the album, I'd say with confidence that Eclipse has me excited to hear the rest of it when it drops on January 23rd...#UnitedWeAre

Sunday, January 11, 2015

RL Grime Goes Low on TNGHT's Acrylics


It doesn't get much more exciting than seeing RL Grime remix a track by TNGHT. Acrylics is one of TNGHT's more noteworthy tracks, but the trap re-work injects a shot of life into the original. Peep the original video below for reference...

Don't get it twisted, the remix isn't a huge departure, aside from the 808 bass that takes it from a energetic track to a speaker rattling, crowd igniting jam. If RL wanted us to get excited about his upcoming tour, this was one hell of a way to stir up some excitement...#VOID

TNGHT - Acrylics (RL Grime Edit)

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Guetta's Dangerous Just Got More Dangerous


Here's another reason why David Guetta continues to have American pop music on the palm of his hand. Despite his latest album Listen being chalked full of hits it didn't stop him from doubling down and reaching wider audiences. He's been known to dip into R&B and out of all the tracks he could have picked on his new album, Dangerous is the most well suited for the duo of Trey Songz and Chris Brown chip in vocals. I really didn't think anyone could touch Sam Martin's vocals on the original, but Chris Brown came really close on the remix below. The original was great, but this is a rare case of the remix being just as good as the original...#DangerousPart2

David Guetta feat. Trey Songz, Chris Brown & Sam Martin – Dangerous (Part 2)

Friday, January 09, 2015

Videos of the Week January 9th


It was a super diverse and entertaining week for videos all around. Led by the very artsy, somewhat sexually controversial video for Sia's Elastic Heart featuring the talented Maddie Ziegler and Shia LeBeouf. I'll admit, I was drawn to it because it was so out there, but I was a bit weirded out by the sensual touching between the 28 yr old and the 12 year old. I kept reminding myself it was acting, but if Sia thought people would interpret that as her two opposing alter egos, then she's sorely mistaken.

In other news Jimmy Fallon and Nicole Kidman almost dated...until Jimmy evidently blew it. The Human Serviette came through with yet another awe inspiring interview, this time surprising Zedd from the characteristically detailed stalking. If you've never seen an artist go through their own YouTube comments, Wiz Khalifa would be a good one to start with. Happy to see him take it in stride with equal amounts of humor and not giving a crap. Finally, in case you hadn't laughed enough, Funny or Die came through with an awesome trailer for the new Chris Bosh movie, Tall Justice 2. Yep, it's just as much of a mockery as you'd expect...#TallJustice2
Sia - Elastic Heart (Video feat Shia LaBeouf & Maddie Ziegler)

Jimmy Fallon Blew a Chance to Date Nicole Kidman

Nardwuar Interviews Zedd

Wiz Khalifa Reads and Responds to YouTube Comments

Chris Bosh Stars in Funny or Die's Tall Justice 2

Image Credit: YouTube

Thursday, January 08, 2015

"I Was the King Under Your Control"


It's not very common, but I've been known to fall for catchy electro-pop every now and again. The latest example of which comes from the UK in the form of up and comers Years and Years. Tonight we venture off the path of EDM and Hip Hop to throw some dap in the direction of the trio from London.

First and foremost, Olly Alexander has "it' when it comes to vocals. The catchy synths and soulful undertones are icing on the cake, but the well executed verses and sugary sweet hook are what I will take away. I sincerely hope they aren't going to wait until March 1st to release King because it's going to get more than a lot of plays before then. They've got more of a focus on instrumentation than you're average boy band, which is why I'm refusing to categorize them as such. Simply put, after one single, I'm on board and excited to hear what else they're capable of producing...#YearsAndYears

Years and Years - King

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Full Round of Applause, Give it Up for Jimmy Napes


If you've been following this blog for longer than a week, you've probably become aware of my appreciation for the talented individuals in music that exist behind the scenes and never get the credit they deserve for the value they add to music becoming successful. I'm talking about both producers, who make instrumentals catchy enough for the listener to give the artists a chance, and song writers who craft those perfect hooks and bridges that allow those vocalists to shine for three to four minutes at a time. The most recent example of a song writer coming to the forefront to make a name for himself is Jimmy Napes. He's been a driving force behind a lot of the music that well-known superstars like Disclosure, Sam Smith and Mary J Blige have released.

With the help of one half of Disclosure (Howard Lawrence), Jimmy came through with a lead single off his upcoming The Making of Me EP. Give it Up is every bit as bubbly, funky and easy-listening as you'd hope. The track fits tempo-wise with a lot of new Disclosure and MJB songs that have been released lately. A great comp would be MJB's new track Follow, which has a subtly funky bassline that is a bit more uptempo, but has a mellow house feel to it. Don't sleep on the vocals either, Jimmy isn't your average ghostwriter as he proves below that he can carry a track by himself...#GiveItUp

Jimmy Napes - Give It Up (prod by Howard Lawrence of Disclosure)

Tuesday, January 06, 2015

"Why You Ready to Die? You Just a Baby"


It may have seemingly taken months and years for Lupe to release a new album to drop on January 20th, but the wait may actually turn out to be worth it. Every new song Lupe has released has been just as good as the last, proving that he hasn't lost a step over the years. Unlike most Hip Hop artists there is always an underlying message that makes listening to his lyrics worth it. I wish that wasn't the case, but having a purpose worth listening to in Hip Hop has become rare.

It's icing on the cake that he's been working closely with DJ Dahi on Tetsuo & Youth, which has made the instrumentation on his latest releases spot on. Take for example his newest release Adoration of the Magi, which goes back and forth between jazz sax and lullaby twinkles. Add in a snap beat and you've got an easy listening canvas for Lupe to share his favorite track on the album with us...#AdorationOfTheMagi

Lupe Fiasco feat Crystal Torres - Adoration Of The Magi (prod by DJ Dahi)

Monday, January 05, 2015

"Your Body is the Ship, Your Soul is the Passenger"


Ever listen to a song and on first listen it's hypnotically amazing? I usually have a some sort of preconceived expectation before pressing play, but the new one from Royal below was truly the mystery flavored dum-dum. What a fun surprise it ended up being, too. The soundscapes of a spring thunderstorm followed by methodical chanting on Passenger sucked me in like bug fixated on a light after the sun goes down. Then come the soft, easy to digest vocals, followed by an ever-so-delightful beat drop. It's a big mellow soup that finds a way to consistently be consumed at the right temperature with each listen. Tip of the cap Royal, I'm a big fan of the opening track of your upcoming #CyclesEP...

Royal - Passenger

Sunday, January 04, 2015

Take Ü There Got a Makeover by LDRU


I've posted a few LDRU remixes and each one has been better than the last. This time he decided to tackle Jack Ü's latest single Take Ü There. Below is the original version of the track for reference...

The remix leverages the original vocals from Kiesza, but slows it down a bit, adding in twangy synths that gives the beat a bit more bounce. In hindsight, the beat sounds a lot more stripped down and easy-going, which isn't a surprise given that LDRU is known for Trop House. Quick aside, after seeing Thomas Jack in Tahoe at Snow Globe, I can definitely say that Trop House is thriving and continuing to grow like a weed in popularity. If there's one thing I have a rooting interest for in the music world, it's that Tropical House continues to become mainstay in popular music...#TropHouse

Jack Ü feat Kiesza - Take Ü There (L D R U Remix)

Saturday, January 03, 2015

Skillz Put Together the CliffNotes for 2014


Like clockwork, the New Year brought with it a new Rap Up by Skillz. It's an unenviable task trying to weave together a coherent, stream of consciousness freestyle that adequately summarizes all that happened the past 365 days. Yet, Skillz pulled it off like a champ, inducing a full five minutes worth of head nod worthy memories. He covered everything from sports to politics to Hip Hop to noteworthy trends. Call it a pop culture time capsule or Hip Hop summary, no matter the label, it serves as the perfect cliff notes for 2014...#2014RapUp

Skillz - 2014 Rap Up

Friday, January 02, 2015

Videos of the Week January 2nd


It was a surprisingly active week for videos despite the holidays over the past week. Leading the way is my new favorite single Get You Alone by Maejor and Jeremih. Such an interesting beat, not to mention the glowing, beautiful women. Two other male/female collaborations got videos this week in the form of an acoustic version of Love Me Harder and You Know You Like It. One thing I know for sure is that Ariana Grande can do no wrong right now as she is being featuring on everything of late.

Rounding out the top five are a behind the scenes look at how many localized takes Jimmy Fallon does on a nightly basis. When Fallon, Martin Short and Jerry Seinfeld are all on stage, you know it's going to be a fun watch. Last but not least, Drake took over Marquee on New Years and part of it was recorded. Seeing anyone perform at a club isn't usually on my priority list, but I will say that Drake definitely plays better in a smaller, more intimate environment versus an amphitheater. It's hard to go back to that once you're capable of selling that many tickets, but I'm going to continue hoping that I can recreate moments like this in the future...#Drake
Maejor feat Jeremih - Get You Alone (Video)

Ariana Grande feat The Weeknd - Love Me Harder (Acoustic Live)

Jimmy Fallon Gets Distracted by Martin Short, Seinfeld During Commercial Break

DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge - You Know You Like It

Drake Perfroming at Marquee in Vegas on New Years

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Emotional Kanye & Paul McCartney Duet for Nori West


Well then, how about we kick 2015 off with a bang? It's as if Kanye wanted to be on the front page of 2015 when everyone woke up from their New Years hang over. I know Kanye catches a lot of flack for being a terrible person, but nobody can take away how talented he is. When he puts his mind to it and pours his emotions into his music, he's capable of great things.

On his new single, Only One, he takes a tone similar to Hey Mama. Instead of a tribute to his mother, this time he sent one out is to his one and a half year old daughter Nori West. With a bit of help from Sir Paul McCartney and some auto tune, he penned a deeply personal ballad that will resonate with any dad who has a daughter. Kudos for Kanye starting the year off on the right foot. As you listen, feel free and read along with the lyrics below...#OnlyOne

Kanye West feat Paul McCartney - Only One

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