"I Don't Wanna Be Your Secret Anymore"

Last week Mija teased a new track that generated a lot of buzz called Secrets. This week, we finally got to hear the Tegan & Sara sampled track in its entirety. I'll start by saying I get that comparing different artists to one another has to be the lowest common denominator of hot takes when reviewing music, but I couldn't help but envision Skrillex when I heard the track below. Everything from the high pitched sample to the frenetic drum and bass rhythm reminded me of his music stylistically. Shoot there were even a few explosive Skrillex-y drops sprinkled throughout that smacked you in the face unapologetically. No doubt, the comparisons are a compliment and Secrets is a hype track that deserves its time in the sun. Go ahead and check it out for free as Mija was gracious enough to provide the .wav and cover art for the track via Dropbox...#Secrets

Mija - Secrets

"Do We Need Somebody, Just to Feel Like We're Alright?"

An EDM power ballad, eh, Martin Garrix? I dig it and I hadn't previously heard the vocals of Dua Lipa, but the Rihanna or Leona Lewis comparisons were immediate. When you press play below, be ready to be rocked to sleep with whiny synths because if you go into it wanting a rowdy club track you're going to be sorely disappointed. Matter of fact, I hope Top 40 radio gives Scared to be Lonely it's time in the sun because I can't even begin to picture how this would be played at a festival. That's not a good or bad thing, it's a fact and it isn't going to prevent me from adding it to the list of GWDJ Favorites. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a sucker for a sad relationship ballad that punches you in the feels, so I'll be running a few laps around this and singing it in the shower if you need me...#ScaredToBeLonely

Martin Garrix feat Dua Lipa - Scared to be Lonely

"I Just Wanna Go Where Love is Alive"

As I alluded to on the Videos of the Week post on Friday, Louis the Child is on an absolute heater. Everything they churn out makes me feel like they're pushing EDM in directions that I want it to go as a fan of the genre. I'm not even sure I'd characterize their new single Elohim as EDM. Love is Alive is a quietly powerful, heavy, yet uplifting from start to finish. There's an undercurrent of love rules above all that I really dig, but the contrast of soft vocals and hammer-like rolling bass line is what gets me going. I'm not sure whether to sing along, nod my head, dance or just cool out. It's these moments where I really love great music because so few things on earth can stretch and pull you in different directions like an addicting beat. What is there left to say, I can't wait to see what they come up with next...#LoveIsAlive

Louis the Child feat Elohim - Love is Alive

"Love Becomes Clear When in Pieces"

Oh man, smooth R&B is so hard to come by nowadays, I’m going to savor this new one by Gallant. The trio of Tablo and Eric Nam may have put together the grown and sexy track for 2017 in Cave Me In. If you listen closely there are a few bluesy guitar ad libs thrown in the mix that take the track to another level. It’s tried and true rhythm and blues with enough jazz and live band instrumentation to keep you entertained for a whole three and a half minutes. The rap verse by Tablo adds another element of intrigue to the track, but don't be mistaken, I came here for the soft R&B vocals. Feel free and enjoy the newly minted visuals for the track below or iTunes and Spotify for those who want more of a right-click, save as type of experience...#CaveMeIn



Gallant x Tablo x Eric Nam - Cave Me In (prod. By Lophiile)

Videos of the Week January 27th

For the first time in a while, this week's top five was directly centered around late night. Three out of the five videos had ties to either SNL or Fallon or both in one case. Led by Aziz Ansari's stellar opening monologue, this week started off with a bang. I don't think anyone could have appropriately summed up what everyone was thinking about Trump being elected than he did. Then, Steve Aoki and Louis Tomlinson showed why their new song, Just Hold On, is skyrocketing up EDM charts as we speak. And to wrap up the late night stuff in a nice neat little bow, Big Sean went on Fallon to talk about his first appearance on SNL. #FullCircle

If you need a music fix, Louis the Child has your back with a fiery new video for their new single with Evalyn. It's apropos because anything Louis touches is white hot fire right now *spoiler alert their new single released today is dope*. And last but certainly not least is a video that got me hype as hell. Being from Indiana, I've been to the big race a few times. I've only been once since they went full on EDM with the Snake Pit, but this year's lineup is more than worth the price of admission. The trio of Zedd, marshmello, and RL Grime is about as dope as it gets for a one day lineup. If you're on the fence about going, the fence should now be like a mile behind you because you're sprinting to get tickets...#SnakePit
Aziz Ansari SNL Monologue

Steve Aoki & Justin Tomlinson Perform Little Things on Fallon

Big Sean Talks First SNL appearance on Fallon

Louis the Child - Fire (Video)

Snake Pit Trailer

"I Told Him Pull Up On Me, Fasta Than Danica"

Well...it looks like Major Lazer is taking no prisoners with their onslaught on pop music. Truth be told, their off-the wall, trappy tribal music is what I like most, but I can appreciate their forays into the radio friendly variety. Their new one with PARTYNEXTDOOR and Nicki Minaj isn't quite on the level of Cold Water in terms of replay-ability, but it's catchy enough. If I were to offer one critique, I'd say the hook runs the risk of being overly repetitive, but that's probably what makes it successful.

Another unsurprising, par for the course move for Major Lazer was their lyric video for the song below. Their uses of vibrant color and playful typography is always on point and fun to watch. Make sure and check that out below or iTunes and Spotify for all you hoarders...#RunUp



Major Lazer feat PARTYNEXTDOOR & Nicki Minak - Run Up

"I Just Can't Take it Anymore"

I'm hesitant to characterize Breathe Carolina and Bassjackers new one as Newgrass, but it's a fun mix of chill vocals and thumping bass. I guess that's a bit of a no brainer since the Bassjackers were behind the track, but CADE's somewhat country/folk-ish vocals are what had me thinking Newgrass initially. Yet, the more I listen to Can't Take It and watch the video for it, I'm sold more on it's ability to run the full spectrum of tempo. It's yet another addition to the ridiculous discography that Spinnin' Records is continuing to grow as it maintains it's heavyweight status in the EDM realm. You know the drill, Spotify, iTunes, or better yet the video below for all you visual learners...#CantTakeIt


Breathe Carolina & Bassjackers feat CADE - Cant't Take It

"I Don't Wanna Go Home, No, No, No"

Here's one thing you'll never see me write, "Man I wish someone would come up with a new form of House music!" Damn near everyday a well-known DJ finds a way to borrow some element of House music and take it a new direction. Like for example, Oliver Heldens new one, I Don't Wanna Go Home. The bubbly, infectious bass line sucks you in from the beginning, giving way to deep vocal accents that steadily build toward a booty-shaking drop. It's the perfect late night anthem that you could imagine everyone wilding out to as they attempt to plow through last call. The call and response aspect of the lyrics fuel the fire of energy given off by the track. If you find yourself subconsciously nodding your head or tapping your foot to the beat, you're not alone friend. Follow me over to iTunes or Spotify to digitally collect...#IDontWannaGoHome

Oliver Heldens - I Don't Wanna Go Home

TH3RD BRAIN Has Another Star in NoMBe

It's a fact of life that who you associate with can open up doors and create opportunities quicker than people grind hard every day. Not to say that up and comer NoMBe doesn't grind, but you start throwing around the names ZHU, Stephen, and Gallant and I start getting excited. As it turns out, your boy NoMBe from LA plays on the same TH3RD BRAIN team as the aforementioned stellar artists. When you press play on his new one Wait (below), you can expect a tranquil dose of soulful blues. The mix of whiny guitar riffs and sentimental lyrics are a match made in heaven.

Speaking of heaven, you ever had a crush so bad you could be convinced a lady walked right out of heaven? Well, buckle up lonely hearts because this one has a story behind it..

"When I was in middle school I had a huge crush on what was quite literally the girl next door. We were childhood friends and for many years, my fear of tainting our time spent together kept me from telling her how I felt. Everytime I thought: “the night’s still young…” And thus I procrastinated until it was too late.
I sent her the new song “Wait” a few minutes ago and didn’t say anything….Let’s see how it goes lol" - NoMBE

If that story is in fact true, then more power to homie. I hope he got the reply he wanted from his three and a half minute surprise. I know I did and I'm gonna continue to stay on the lookout for his upcoming debut album They Might’ve Even Loved Me that is slated to drop at some point this year...#Wait

NoMBe - Wait

Time to Reload the Big Grizmatik

Big Gigantic, GRiZ, and Gramatik combining forces has to be one of the best decisions to combine forces multiple artist have made in EDM. I'd call that a hot take when stacked against the duo of Jack U, but the proof continues to be in the saxy pudding.

Take for example their latest salvo, As We Proceed. There's soul, there's funk, and plenty of quirky synths to add an extra layer of intrigue. They take turns speeding it up and slowing it down to a live band vibe, but it all meshes together to create this really unique blend of old and new. What I mean by that is your parents probably really dig the live band aspects and you are probably loving the drops and added tempo that the electronics bring. It's seemingly the perfect blend of sounds and vibes to bridge generations of music fans, which fascinates me. We can only hope that this is a breadcrumb leading to some sort of album manifestation, but for now I'm cool with running laps around their new one on iTunes and Spotify...#AsWeProceed

Big Grizmatik - As We Proceed

Above & Beyond Get Back to Making Stellar EDM

There's nothing like the steady build of a progressive house track. Tracks like Above & Beyond's new one Balearic Balls are the symphonies of EDM. They don't need a hook or catchy verses to be interesting, they use chords to transform a quiet rhythm into a roaring, triumphant chord progression. Truth be told this is another reason why seeing Above & Beyond in concert is on my bucket list. The incredibly talented trio can do everything from acoustic to synthesized (below). No matter what style they go with, it's always well-composed and this signal of getting back to EDM is literally music to my ears...#BalearicBalls

Above & Beyond - Balearic Balls

Videos of the Week January 20th

Storytelling was the common thread in this week's top five. Led by E-40 and G-Eazy's 45 min Bay Area biopic, there was well over an hour's worth of material this week. If you're in the market for unique, a drummer named Matt McGuire did a pretty dope cover of Madeon and Porter Robinson's Shelter. With EDM teetering between synthesized music and live instrumentation, it's cool seeing the backbone of the beat in its rawest form.

If you're wondering what it's like to tour with Skrillex, you've now got a full eleven minute summary of his last tour to wade through. I've always been someone who has mad respect for people who do the dirty work behind the scenes to produce the end result of what you end up hearing, so it was cool to go behind the curtain. If passionate love is something you enjoy watching, you'll enjoy the visuals for Snakehips and MØ's Don't Leave. The song was emotional enough, but seeing it come to life gave it a whole different meaning. And last, but definitely not least, we've now got a Gorillaz sighting. With the help of acclaimed poet and British composer Benjamin Clementine, they put together a pretty surreal video for Hallelujah Money. Weird doesn't do that video justice, but it does everything it needed to start the hype train for their new album...#HallelujahMoney
Bay Area With E-40 and G-Eazy

Drum Cover of Porter Robinson and Madeon's Shelter

The Same Place - 11 Min Skrillex Tour Recap

Snakehips & MØ - Don't Leave (Video)

The Gorillaz feat Benjamin Clementine - Hallelujah Money (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

"He’s Not Something I Want to Explain, Don't Say His Name"

Let's call a spade a spade, I'm a sucker for a talented vocalist when it comes to EDM tracks. I always shout out The Chainsmokers for being the gateway drug of up and coming singers, but truthfully, there have been countless artists who have introduced me to new artists. Like for example, Kygo. He was the one responsible for providing a proper intro to Maty Noyes. Thanks to Stay, I make it a point to give her music a listen.

The newest example is her collabo with Vanic. Don't know the name Vanic or his real name Jesse Hughes? Well get to know it soon because the up and comer from Vancouver recently inked a deal with Disruptor Records. The same Disruptor Records that signed those guys Alex and Drew...you know, The Chainsmokers.

His new single, Too Soon, is equal parts bouncy and chill. Between the quirky riffs, the soothing vocals, and overwhelming stench of a recent breakup emanating from the lyrics, there's plenty to dig into on this one. Something tells me this won't be the last time you see Vanic's music in this hood, but for now, off to iTunes and Spotify to get acquainted with his music...#TooSoon

Vanic feat Maty Noyes - Too Soon

"Can't Find Love, But Hell, I'm on the Way"

For someone who has been leading electronic music for over two decades, credit Tiesto for continuing to evolve his music over time. I'll put it this way, if you close your eyes and listen to his new single, there's no way in hell you could have predicted that it was his song. Featuring a vocal assist from Bright Sparks, On My Way has to be one of the most chill, easy-going tracks Tiesto has done. There's plenty of horns, a sing-along hook, and even inspirational lyrics as icing on the cake. Not sure about y'all but it's going to take me a while to fully wrap my mind around this one...#OnMyWay

Tiesto feat Bright Sparks - On My Way

Savoy Serves Up Some Funk in Living Color

I love it when a band who is known for a certain type of sound switches up their style and it makes you re-think the music they're capable of making. That happened tonight with Savoy, who I generally associate with a more electro-rock sound. I'm thinking a song like The Bridge if you're looking for a frame of reference on EDM/Rock. Anyways, their new track, Living Color, breaks out of that mold with a much funkier, mellower vibe. With a vocal assist from Fatherdude, there's a soulful undercurrent throughout the whole track that I'd never expect from Savoy. I'm going to go back to the drawing board on my expectations for their music going forward and chalk this up to a talented trio boldly breaking the mold of preconceived notions. Heads up on their upcoming five song Tomorrow Today, Part 1 EP that will be landing on e-tailers on February 10th...#LivingColor

Savoy feat Fatherdude - Living Color

"Chemistry Means Way More Than Anatomy, She Mad at Me"

Usually I'm a sucker for the inspirational, against all-odds type of tracks that Big Sean usually puts out. His silky smooth delivery and next level wittiness is what puts him in a category by himself as a rapper, but he rarely puts out moody or depressing music. Halfway Off the Balcony definitely fits that description and even though it's not his usual vibe, the mic skills still shine through. My favorite part was when he slowed down the speed of his vocals at the 2:10 mark to add an element of emotion that words can't communicate. It added a unique, screwed type of feel to a track that sounds more Cudi than Sean Don.

Right now this is slated to be track 9 on Big Sean's upcoming album, I Decided. The release comes on the heels of two previous singles, Bounce Back and Moves. You've got about three more weeks to hold on your excitement before the album drops on February 3rd, so don't hesitate to keep the hype train moving along...#HalfwayOffTheBalcony

Big Sean - Halfway Off the Balcony

Life of Dillon Sure Know How to Brunch

In late 2015, Life of Dillon released one of my favorite songs that year with Overload. The mix of vibrant chords with ever-so-catchy, excitable vocals made for an addicting listen. It's one of those songs rare songs that have the ability to instantly flip your mood with how upbeat it is.

Now fast forward to 2017 and the trio from the UK are at it again. This time, they put together an equally catchy, but more mellow track in Sex for Breakfast. Their new one has more of an acoustic sing-along vibe, but they definitely hit the Millenial crowd with the lyrics. Chalk it up to the scattering of pop culture name drops and the casual tone they go about singing about the sex, drugs, and bad decisions that college is known for. If you're in the market for a mellow track that everyone can vibe to, this one will check all those boxes...#SexForBreakfast

Life of Dillon - Sex for Breakfast

"Let's Show Them We Are Better, We Were Staying in Paris"

It's gotten to the point that when The Chainsmokers release a new single, the music world quietly pauses their life and presses play. I don't need to give you the, "I'm so proud of how far they've come speech" because you've gotten that enough from me. What I want to focus on with the release of their new single Paris is their ability to continually grow without losing the stylistic elements of what got them to where they are now.

Paris is more of a quiet duet than a festival banger, but between Drew continuing to flex his vocal muscles with Emily Warren and the underlying Indie tone of the track, there's a lot to appreciate. While some will quickly move on to the next track and dismiss this one because it's not as "catchy", others will admire the depth and nostalgia behind the track. We all long to be places we aren't and Paris seems to capture that sentiment with dead on accuracy. 2017 may have just begun, but something tells me Alex and Drew aren't going to be falling back on their successes from last year. Not sure about y'all, but I'm looking forward to all that is on the horizon for The Chainsmokers...#Paris

The Chainsmokers - Paris

Videos of the Week January 13th

Strange week for videos in that it was dominated by odd music videos and quirky cover performances. Leading off is marshmello's video for his new single Summer where he shares a moment with Vine star Lele Pons. It's hard to hate on any video at a skating rink, but the added eye candy is always appreciated. Then there was the over the top 80s and creepy video from The Weeknd for Party Monster. Put it this way, his videos make you think that there may be some things going on in his head that we find hard to imagine.

Moving on from music videos with an endearing Fresh Prince Theme cover from Ed Sheeran. His new music is downright dope, so I'll be tuning in to anything his name is attached to in the near future. Speaking of a Midas touch, The Chainsmokers felt the need to release a hype video to drum up some excitement for 2017. No disrespect, but I have a hard time imagining this being as successful as 2016 was. They've proven me wrong many times, though, so I guess nothing should surprise me at this point.

Just when you thought this was turning into a music only post, you knew I had to mix in some silly with Fallon. This time he was on stage with Kevin Bacon doing a word spelling parody of The Kinks 1970s hit Lola. Before you listen, I challenge you to think of as many words that rhyme with Lola. Let's just say they came up with a few more creative things to rhyme than the mental list you just came up with. Needless to say, I'm humming Lola now as I write this, so it'll stick with you...#Lola

marshmello - Summer (Video) (feat Lele Pons)

The Weeknd - Party Monster (Video)

Ed Sheeran Covers The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme Song

The Chainsmokers Are Out to Slay in 2017

Kevin Bacon and Jimmy Fallon Struggle to Spell Words to the 70s Hit Lola

Photo Credit: YouTube

"No One Loves Me Like the Piano in My Mothers Home"

Solo piano ballads seem like a thing of the past with music becoming more high tech with every year. The fact that good ballads are so few and far between make me appreciate ones like Sampha's new one, (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano. If you don't get even the slightest bit of nostalgia when listening to the song below, then you are no friend of mine. I got a warm sense of comfort from being home near family when listening to Sampha go on about his childhood and growing up. There's a simplicity about the quiet chords and soulful vocals that I really wish I had more of in my life. Mad love to Sampha on this one, make sure and check out his upcoming Process album that will be dropping on February 3rd...#NoOneKnowsMeLikeThePiano

The Weeknd's Hills Gets Triple Remixed

It sounds silly saying this, but you haven't truly made it until you create a track that someone has triple remixed. What's a triple remix you ask? Good question, it's when you create a track so good that it can be re-imagined three times and still sound fresh. Case in point The Weeknd's The Hills.

Over a year ago, RL Grime slapped his usual Trap treatment on the original, which was deserving of some GWDJ love. The remix must have been awesome because Porter Robinson then took it upon himself to flip it once more into what I'd describe as an ethereal, borderline epic reboot. Then, a YouTube user by the name of Red_ Hokkaido took Porter Robinson's version and transformed it into an even more epic, face-melting version. Better buckle up and hold on before subjecting yourself to the drop on that third mix, kids. This one runs the entire gamut of intensity, which somehow allows it to distinguish itself from the previous two versions. If your head is spinning, that makes two of us, but the good news is you've got three electronic versions to pick from now...#TheHills

Photo Credit: YouTube

"I'm Talkin' Bout Sweet, Sweet F'in Love"

It was only a matter of time before Kaytranada's funk made it to the masses. What I mean by that is he's been making dope music for quite a while now, but he probably doesn't have near the following he should have given how great of music he consistently makes. That's all going to change soon when people get wind of tracks like his new one with Alicia Keys.

The best part of Sweet F'in Love is how well both Alicia and Kaytranada's styles blend together. For the first 40 or so seconds of the track you're duped into thinking that this is just another Alicia lullaby. Then the beat drops and the funk comes in with a smooth, but powerful vengeance. It's the best of both worlds, you've got the silky vocals from Alicia and the booty shaking funk that Kaytranada brings. I can't offer a link to stream or download yet, but you can bet that it will be available for mass consumption in the coming days. In the meantime, let's raise a glass for Alicia who is back to releasing top notch, exciting music...#SweetFinLove

Alicia Keys - Sweet F'in Love (prod by Kaytranada)

Kaytranada Flips TLC's Diggin' on You

A classic TLC tracked flipped by Kaytranada? Yes please! Before you get too excited about the remix, rewind the clock with me for a minute to the original TLC track, Diggin' on You...

Back in the 90s they set the bar for smooth R&B with their sexy vocals. Before you go thinking the remix is going to sound anything like the original, check you expectations at the door. It's more of a sample from Diggin' on You that Kaytranada used as the foundation for a funky break beat. It's these types of beats that put him in a category of his own because there simply aren't many other DJs who can marry deep house and Hip Hop styles together on a beat. This one recently landed on his recent .001% Mixtape that dropped back in September. In case you missed it, give it another lap or two because there are plenty of hidden gems like this sprinkled through the hour and a half tape...#FlippinOnYou

TLC - Flippin' on You (Kaytranada Remix)

"I'm in Love With the Shape of You"

After a year of radio silence, Ed Sheeran is back with a vengeance. This week he released two new singles that have generated enough buzz to carry the whole music industry. Without hesitation, my favorite of the two is Shape of You . While Castle on the Hill fits the instrument driven, inspirational ballad style that we've all grown to love from Ed, Shape of You is about as infectious as it gets for Pop music.

From the beginning of the track, the bubbly beat sucks you in as Ed winds up into a Jason Mraz-esque sing-song rap. Between the slightly Dancehall tempo and the ebb and flow between singing and rapping, I can't think of another track he's done that follows the same style. That type of stylistic exploration into something new and awesome is why Ed is one of the most talented artists in music. As I keep listening to the track, I can't get over the beat, which is something like a mix of Drake's One Dance and Sia's The Greatest. It's an exciting track and provides all the momentum needed for his upcoming ÷ album...#ShapeOfYou

Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

"Oh Wow, You Make Me Feel Like a Wild Child"

With all the negativity in the world, a new, uplifting Lupe Fiasco track is exactly what we all need. Forget politics, unnecessary violence or whatever is conspiring against humanity succeeding, it's all good when you press play below. In my eyes, his new single ranks up there with other heartfelt love songs from Lupe's past like Sunshine. Riding high on a live band sound and a hook from Jake Torrey, there's an underlying appreciation that shines through on Wild Child. The happy, chill vibe goes against Lupe's usual sharp, politically charged ways, but that's all good by me. I appreciate all that he does in shedding light on issues that most artists wouldn't dare touch, but mixing in a feel good track every now and again reminds me why I've always been a big fan of his. Word has it this will be on his upcoming DROGAS Light album that will be landing on playlists worldwide in February. I'd say there's a great chance I'll be posting at least a few more of the 14 songs on the album before it drops in about a month...#WildChild

Luke Fiasco feat Jake Torrey - Wild Child

Videos of the Week January 6th

What better way to start off the year than a memorably embarrassing performance? If you haven't seen Mariah's memorable technical mishap with the lip synching during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, I'm not sure I can even recommend watching it in good conscience. It's that hard to watch. But since I'm a purveyor of pop culture, it's my duty to share. Besides, it opened up the door for Colbert to spoof it, which added a bit of levity to the situation that hasn't lost steam with all the negative publicity it created.

Embarrassing performance aside, there was a lot of new music that graduated into videos this week. Led by DJ Snake and crew's dance party video for The Half and Big Sean's very purple, glow in the dark video for Moves, music was the main course this week. But by far the most impactful video of the week goes to Showtek and Major Lazer for Believer. Like most, they were touched by the photo of Omran Daqneesh who has become the visual personification of the crisis in Syria. In their own way, Showtek and Major Lazer found a way to preach hope through their music story, which was one of the best uses of video I've witnessed in quite a while...#Believer
That Mariah Carey New Years Performance Everyone Was Talking About

Stephen Colbert Having a Mariah Moment

DJ Snake feat Jeremih, Swizz Beatz, & Young Thug - The Half (Video)

Big Sean - Moves (Video)

Major Lazer & Showtek - Believer (Video)

"But Ain't Nobody Gonna Love You Better"

File this one under songs I knew I'd be writing about before pressing play. Damn near everything Snakehips puts out falls under that category, but you throw in some MØ vocals and it's hard to hold back the expectations. That being said, I did not expect Don't Leave to be a vocal centered, power ballad. The instrumental amplifies the emotion dripping from the vocals, though, which makes for a catchy listen. It's the type of track you belt out in the shower or in the car coming home from a tough day. The line "I may not ever have my sh*t together, but ain't nobody gonna love you better" will be what sticks in peoples' minds, but credit to Snakehips for doing everything in their power to let MØ shine and get the hell out of the way. I'm going to be playing the hell out of this in anticipation of top 40 radio playing it into the ground. Follow me on over to iTunes or Spotify...#DontLeave

Snakehips feat MØ - Don't Leave

Cheat Codes Cook Up Some Broccoli

In case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard D.R.A.M. and Lil Yachty's Broccoli, here's another chance to hop on the bandwagon. Before diving into the live Spotify cover by Cheat Codes, press play below for a quick refresher on the Hip Hop sing-along anthem...

The flutes, it's all about the flutes on that beat. Unfortunately, the high pitched, video-game like flutes aren't carried over on the cover below, but that didn't stop Cheat Codes from cooking up their own Timeflies-esque live band version. Stripping the Hip Hop influence leads to even more sing-songiness, which gives the version it's own unique allure. Feel free and give it a few listens if you're looking to extend the lease on life of the original...#Broccoli

Cheat Codes - Broccoli (Cover Recorded at Spotify)

"Yea You Wanna Be Like Me, Like Like Me"

Sometimes an artists' favorite tracks aren't necessarily the fans' favorites, and vice versa. Take for example Baauer's track CandyMan. The folks at LuckyMe Records were all but pleading Baauer (Harry) to add the track to his most recent album Aa. Despite their pleads and the fans of the track on YouTube, it didn't make the cut for the album. But all good things come to those who wait and today we get ourselves a delicious slice of Trap goodness. You won't find any vocals on the track, but the pitchy vocal sample adds enough intrigue to carry the track. It sounds like something Keys N Krates would do and great minds think alike because it comes packed with bounce for days. Feel free and cop the track for free here and peep the long winded story below if you're someone who doesn't like the cliff notes...#CandyMan

"@Baauer made this in the room for Fetty Wap when recording 'Promises'. We have an original take of 'My Way' recorded over this beat. For months we hounded Harry to add it to the 'Aa' album and he made it into a full song. Harry took it off the album track list a couple months before release and we've been watching the YouTube comments ask for a release for months. So, here it is... Baauer one the best doing it." - LuckyMe Records

Baauer - CandyMan

The xx Just Want You To Be More Affectionate

2017 is off to a slow start new music wise, but today The xx seized the opportunity by releasing a new single titled Say Something Loving. It fits the Indie/Electro, vocal driven style they've become known for, but this time around they really layered on the emotion. Following a steady ebb and flow beat cooked up by Jamie xx, Romy and Oliver trade heart wrenching vocals that plead for the listener to be more affectionate.
It's a rare song that I wasn't really a fan of on first listen, but after a few laps around it, I can't seem to stop pressing play. Being a fan of lyrically depressing songs, this one is sticking on me. The track is the second single off their upcoming album, I See You. As icing on the cake, yesterday they tweeted a karaoke session in Japan where they are singing the song. It's a small thing, but little snippet performances can give much needed context to a new track. Needless to say, I'm a fan...#SaySomethingLoving

A few weeks ago we were in Tokyo and filmed ourselves doing karaoke to our new song 'Say Something Loving', we had a lot of fun! xx The xx pic.twitter.com/zctL2funtL

— The xx (@The_xx) January 1, 2017

The xx - Say Something Loving

Tory Lanez Stakes Claim to 2017 With Two New Mixtapes

While everyone was getting over their New Years hangover, Tory Lanez was prepping a heavy payload of new music. Today he let loose two full length mixtapes in Chixtape 4 and The New Toronto 2. Both releases are the next chapter in two different series of mixtapes as he previously released The New Toronto, Chixtape, Chixtape 2, and Chixtape 3. With 25 new tracks to wade through it was tough to pick just one to post, but Proud Family stood out as an immediate favorite. I say that because it's exactly what you'd expect from Tory with a whole lot of autotune aided crooning over a slow and steady beat. Aided by production assists from Play Picasso and CoopChardonnay, it's another BMM quality track to add to his list of grown and sexy R&B releases. Feel free to pick your own favorite and join the internet buzz surrounding the releases by hopping on this hashtag --> #Swavey

Tory Lanez - Proud Family (prod by Tory Lanez, Play Picasso & CoopChardonnay)