Friday, March 31, 2017

Videos of the Week March 31st


Well, after a few weeks of non-stop music video, this week we got a large dose of variety. Random doesn't even begin to explain this week's top five. Starting with the office supplies version of Fallon, The Roots crew, and Migos performing Bad & Boujee, it was far from ordinary. Continuing that trend was Danny Brown's new Jonah Hill directed video for Ain't It Funny. Think 80s sitcom visual aesthetic with all the craziness you could imagine from two of the most out there minds in entertainment. As a final bit of randomness, there's Kelvin the Deer Whisperer who visited a zoo and introduced us to a bunch of animals he enjoys. In case you missed it, Kelvin has a special relationship with animals, so you can imagine why people would film him visiting a zoo.

Moving on from the random to the salacious with Iggy Azalea's video for Mo' Bounce. Let's just say, lot's of twerking and a whole lotta a$$. And serving as the icing on the cake for this week's visual collage was a formal introduction to Stormzy. You may have heard him on Ed Sheeran's latest remix of Shape of You, but he's a much more dynamic talent than you may have thought. Go ahead and fast forward to the eleven minute mark to hear his cover of Frank Ocean's Godspeed and you'll start buying tickets to jump on the bandwagon...#Stormzy

Fallon and Crew Play Bad & Boujee With Office Supplies

Danny Brown - Ain't It Funny? (Video) (Directed by Jonah Hill)

Life Lessons From Animals Brought To You By Kelvin the Deer Whisperer

Iggy Azalea - Mo' Bounce (Video)

A Formal Introduction to Stormzy via BBC 1

Photo Credit - YouTube

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Kendrick Lamar Tells Hip Hop to "Sit Down, Be Humble"


Just when you thought Kendrick Lamar was done making news this week, he went all biblical on the whole game of Hip Hop. Today Humble arrived in video form before hitting iTunes and Spotify, which made its release all the more surprising. With a high powered assist from Mike Will on the beat, Kendrick didn't mince any words on his verses. He basically told Hip Hop, "sit down, be humble, I got this game on lock." Switching between a church setting to an urban block and finishing with an ironic last supper re-enactment, there was plenty of symbolism in the mix.

Some say this was even more shade being thrown directly at Big Sean, but I don't buy it. The long story of their back and forth is so indirect that it's more click bait than factual at this point. My favorite lines centered around that "show me somethin' natural like ass with some stretchmarks" line. Hat tip to K Dot for encouraging women to embrace what God gave them rather than being something they're not. At this point, I'd say it's safe to say Kendrick is going to do whatever it takes to steal the spotlight from any and every rapper trying to stand in his way...#Humble



Kendrick Lamar - Humble (prod by Mike Will Made-It)

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

"Made That Thing a Starfish, Right Up on My Swordfish"


Countless times in the past I've gushed over Hip Hop and EDM collaborations. When done right, they go together like PB&J because everyone loves a hot 16 over a high intensity beat filled with bass. That being said, the PB&J sandwich below could have used a little bit better bread because it's waaay more Hip Hop than EDM in an overtly poppy way.

Let's unpack that a bit. David Guetta has the ability to produce some of the best Pop EDM and I don't need to sell you on the skills of Nicki Minaj and Lil Tunechi. But, Light My Body Up didn't live up to my lofty expectations because it was sort of awkwardly Trap-y, which isn't exactly the lane DG usually rides in. Not saying he can't do it or that the track sucked, but it wasn't what I hoped when I pressed play. To each their own, though, and you may like it more than I do, so iTunes and Spotify if you're a fan...#LightMyBodyUp



David Guetta feat Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne - Light My Body Up

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

"I Might Lose My Way, But I Won't Lose Myself"


Time for a quick mid-week Pop detour from Life of Dillon. Having finally turned the page on Sex For Breakfast, it seems fitting they make another playlist donation. Focus is an accountability anthem set to a chill acoustic guitar beat. It's about living the way you want but manning up and taking responsibility for your actions. I've got a soft spot for sing-songy verses, especially when the lyrics are chalked full of inspiration.

More than anything I really enjoy Life of Dillon's easy-going, laid back, beach music vibe. They've released a lot of great singles and an EP, but they haven't jumped up to the studio album level yet. No word yet on whether that's going to become a reality in 2017, but their string of recent singles should be ample bread crumbs. Sing along with me on Spotify y'all...#Focus



Life of Dillon - Focus

Monday, March 27, 2017

"Down and Down We Go, We'll Torch This Place We Know"


With about a week left before The Chainsmokers debut album drops, you'd think they'd be riding the wave of their latest single with Coldplay leading up to the release. More specifically, you've probably heard Something Like This playing into a commercial on an NCAA basketball tournament game or heard the candlelight version of Don't Let Me Down that was turned into an All-State commercial. For some that would be plenty of momentum, but today we got one last push in the form of The One.

To put things into context, their new one will serve as the lead off hitter on Memories...Do Not Open. Like most tracks that Alex and Drew put together, there's plenty of added meaning soaked into the lyrics. Similar to the way we all felt Drake's rise to fame in visceral way because of how transparent he lyrically in his music, The Chainsmokers pulled back the curtain a bit on this one in opening up about how they're having to constantly prioritize life's increasing demands. It's not an easy thing to empathize with since many of us couldn't even imagine the doors that have opened up in their life, but fame forces you to change in a lot of ways you may not have intended. I can say personally I appreciate that they still take the time to email over their new music and maintain a connection with people who have been down with them since the beginning.

The One may not end up being your favorite track on their album, but it will be one of mine because of it's authenticity and depth. It gets away from the upbeat catchy sound of the past singles and returns to a mellow vibe, characterized by a soft, mesmorizingly chill bassline. It's a good look that I'm considering icing on the cake as I continue to anxiously eye the other nine yet-to-be-released tracks that will arrive on April 7th...#MemoriesDoNotOpen



The Chainsmokers - The One

Sunday, March 26, 2017

"Don't Tell a Lie on Me, I Won't Tell the Truth 'Bout You"


Remember that day when Kendrick put Drake subliminally on blast a few days after he released his new album? Yea, that happened this week with 's release of The Heart Part 4. I say subliminally because he didn't outright mention Drake by name, but the timing and long backstory of jabs back and forth are starting to feel more direct than subliminal.

There are also rumors circulating that Big Sean was in the crosshairs of Part 4, which lends some credence to the whole purebred rapper vs part-time rapper who went pop debate. What I mean by that is Drake and Big Sean rap, but they cast a wide net stylistically, which make them seemingly less of a true lyricist since they cater to a Pop audience. Seeing that Kendrick has always maintained a stance as the lyrical king of Hip Hop, the battle lines are becoming much more defined with the release of his new track. Will there be a follow up response from Drake or will he tip his cap and continue staying in his own lane? Time will tell, but one thing's for sure, there's nothing wrong with how well More Life is selling after the first week...#HeartPart4



Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 4

Saturday, March 25, 2017

"I Don't Care Who's Watching, Dennis Rodman"


It doesn't get any more random than Dennis Rodman, especially on a cameo feature for a new single. But, random is exactly what Mike Posner and Blackbear do, so there should be little surprise that they would script a track around the enigmatic former Chicago Bull. Off top, the bubbly beat sucks you in as it leads you toward a rock/funk break down. It's the type of sing-songy, hybrid R&B/Pop/Hip Hop style that you'd expect from mansionz. Especially after seeing them at the Grammys letting their freak flag fly free, the pieces to the puzzle all add up.

Could I have done without the mindless babbling of Dennis Rodman at the end of the track? Sure, but it gives an authenticity to the track that wouldn't be there without hearing his voice, so I get why they added it. It'll be a solid addition to their self-titled debut that just landed on iTunes yesterday. How could you not give it a listen after a ringing endorsement like this...


I'll need to be in the mood for randomness, but at some point over the next week I'll doing a few laps around it on Spotify...#DennisRodman

mansionz feat Dennis Rodman - Dennis Rodman

Friday, March 24, 2017

Videos of the Week March 24th


Couple interesting story lines baked into this week's top five. The first being the ultra sexy, Willy Wonka colored video for Jason Derulo's Swalla. Needless to say, the lyrical innuendo on the track manifested itself as well as you could have hoped in the video. Next, let me introduce you to DJ Hanzel, the German alter ego of Dillon Francis. As entertaining as he is, you could imagine why TBS sought him out for his own One Deeper Talks series. There are now seven short episodes in the series and two of them made this week's top five. If you're a fan of tongue in cheek humor and EDM, these will be right up your alley.

Just in case you forgot there was still social turmoil across the US, Run the Jewels took the liberties to bring that to the forefront like only they know how. Let's just say there's a police lineup and all signs point toward it being a setup. And last, but not least, I'm ending this week's top five on a heartfelt note with Sampha's Tiny Desk performance. The dude can flat out sign and all he needs is a crowd and his piano to put on a show. Tip of the cap Sampha, you rocked that tiny desk and had us all on pins and needles...#TinyDesk

Jason Derulo feat Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign - Swalla (Video)

DJ Hanzel (Dillon Francis) Interviews Calvin Harris on One Deeper Talks

DJ Hanzel (Dillon Francis) Interviews Flosstradamus on One Deeper Talks

Run the Jewels - Legend Has It (Video)

Sampha Performs an NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Photo Credit - YouTube

Thursday, March 23, 2017

"Got to Keep on Hoping, When it All Feels Broken"


Y'all may not know this, but I'm a closet Folk fan. Considering how much Newgrass I've posted over the past two years, it may not be as big of a stretch as I'm making it seem like. To be clear, when I say Folk, you better believe I mean that Pop Folk you hear on the radio from the likes of Mumford and the Lumineers.

While you're at it, might as well throw the X Ambassadors into that mix. Past songs like Renegades and Cannonball showed you the type of guitar driven, new age Folk sound they were capable of producing. On their new one, Hoping, there's a heaviness that permeates the vibe of the track. Despite the somber tone, the amount of inspiration packed into the vocals is what will make you continue pressing play over and over again.

Word has it the proceeds of their new single will be going to the ACLU who is continuing to fight our President's recently proposed immigration ban. Given the constant flux that recent political events have created, we could all use a bit more hope, so this one came at just the right time...#Hoping



X Ambassadors - Hoping

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

"I Got You Keeping Me Afloat, When I'm in Your Waterfall"


I've been writing about Stargate tracks dating back eight years ago when they were producing tracks for the likes of Brandy and Beyonce. The Norwegian production duo have a discography that would put 99% of producers to shame both on the number of collaborations they've pulled together and the star power they've worked with over the years. Just in case you forgot about them, they just released another new noteworthy single with vocal help from Pink and Sia. It's every bit the power duet you'd expect from two of the best vocalists in the game, but the slow and sexy Dancehall vibe is why you'll keep hitting play. It may have taken them years, but Waterfall is the first time Stargate listed themselves as the lead artist on a track. They must like playing the behind the scenes, supporting role because their music speaks for itself. Hopefully they'll put a whole album together so I can continue to speculate why it's taken them so long to play the Batman role...#Waterfall



Stargate feat Pink & Sia - Waterfall

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

"Back Again, Fresh Off Tour in the Trap Again"


It's not a stretch to say that when it comes to injecting energy into music, there's no one better than Flosstradamus. All you need is one listen of Sound Clash to verify that last statement. But that's not the end of the story because they're Back Again with their PICs Mayhem and Waka Flocka. It may not be the best lyric video I've seen, but you can get a glimpse of how turnt a Flosstradamus gets...



If you're in college, this has to be considered a Spotify must add if you're hosting a party in the coming weeks. Just promise me this, if you're going to use this to pour gasoline on a crowd, please don't skimp on the speakers because the top line and bass on this one need to be appreciated with subs. Consider yourself warned, bang this one out and if you're sitting in a cubicle, don't hesitate to make the folks around you turn their heads...#BackAgain

Flosstradamus & Mayhem feat Waka Flocka - Back Again

Monday, March 20, 2017

"Nightcrawler, is this the Death of Me?"


If you've been following ZHU lately then you probably heard about the not-so-subtle shot he took at the top DJs last week. The shade ZHU threw was directed at the list of DJs below in a dark, hype video his posted to Instagram for his new track below, Nightcrawler...



Subliminal shots aside, the track is as bouncy and deep as you'd expect from ZHU. His distinct, falsetto vocals work to undermine the creepiness of the lyrics, but the rolling deep house vibe is impossible to ignore. It's a forceful track that's destined to ignite clubs around the world. If you're biting on the track, you may want to opt-in on becoming part of The Blacklizt. No idea what that really means, it could be a tour, album, or even a cult. Even though I just openly speculated, it's not really my place to guess, I'm here to report on music that moves me. Needless to say, the plot thickens and there will be plenty more to sink your teeth into as he takes the EDM world head on...#Nightcrawler

ZHU - Nightcrawler

Sunday, March 19, 2017

"You Don't Deserve Me at My Best"


Real talk, Machine Gun Kelly is cornering the market on inspirational Hip Hop. I use the phrase "Hip Hop" loosely because both Bad Things and his new one below (At My Best) are every bit as much pop as they are Hip Hop, but that doesn't take away from how dope they are. His newest heat rock features an addicting hook from Hailee Steinfeld and enough emotion soaked lyrical inspiration to get the attention of anyone who's ever been overlooked.

When I say overlooked, I mean never been a "cool kid" or felt like they're accepted for who they are. The underlying message is that everyone has faults and makes mistakes, but you shouldn't allow that to slow you down on your pursuit of being great. Hate on it for sounding too Pop, but the world needs more confidence inspiring tracks like this one. Having gone through some stuff myself and previously relied on music as a friend to get me through it, I've got a special place in my music library for tracks like this. Word has it MGK's third studio album will be dropping any time now and I don't need to tell you how close the kid from Cleveland is from super stardom...#AtMyBest

Machine Gun Kelly feat Hailee Steinfeld - At My Best

Saturday, March 18, 2017

"I Hear My Battle Symphony, All the World in Front of Me"


As we turn the page to start another chapter in Linkin Park's reinvented sound, I present to you Battle Symphony. Some may have thought Heavy was an outlier, but no sir, this thoughtful, contemporary new sound may be what they are now. They've always made emotional music, but there used to be a lot more rock edge and rage in the past. Not saying it's a bad thing at all, I liked who they have been and I'm beginning to like what they're evolving into. Shoot, they're even upping their game to get on par with their lyric video game...



For those who missed it, their new album, One More Light, will be dropping on May 19th. It may end up being a polarizing album because of how different it is from previous albums, but I'd encourage those who liked them through the Chester screaming days to hold back judgement until the full, ten song album drops. They've always made music that makes you feel and they're continuing to do that with added depth, so think long and hard before you hate on their "new sound"...#BattleSymphony

Linkin Park - Battle Symphony

Friday, March 17, 2017

Videos of the Week March 17th


Another week in the book and another music video heavy top five. Those rumors about Fallon falling off a bit since Colbert won the election must be somewhat true considering the dearth of funny content coming across the radar of late. Nevertheless, the show goes on starting with crisp new videos from The Weeknd and Linkin Park. The former is what you'd expect from a video shot on another planet, while the latter is emotionally charged and dramatic as the lyrics suggest. BUT, it all paled in comparison to the massive uproar that Snoop caused with his slightly more than suggestive shot at Trump. He even got the old Donald to lash out on Twitter, which is nothing new, but interesting that the video was taken seriously.

Outside of the world of music videos, we got some fresh reaction from Chance the Rapper off his recent Grammy win. Hip Hop is lucky to have a well-spoken, genuinely good dude like him leading the way. He does a lot of good things and that's all in addition to the amazing music he's been churning out of late. Lastly, we got a fun behind the curtain look at how Ed Sheeran and UK rapper Stormzy feel about internet trolls. There's a lot of negativity in the world, so it's nice to see an example of how artists let it roll off their back. It may not quite have lived up to a Kimmel Mean Tweets, but it was a fun watch anyways...#InternetTrolls

The Weeknd feat Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (Video)

Linkin Park feat Kiiara - Heavy (Video)

Snoop Dogg feat BADBADNOTGOOD & Kaytranada - Lavender (Video)

Chance the Rapper Complex Interview

Ed Sheeran and Stormzy Respond to Internet Trolls

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, March 16, 2017

"I Give You Love and Affection, Baby You're My Obsession"


Full disclosure, hadn't heard of Vice prior to listening to his collaboration with Jon Bellion below. Now I know he's a talented DJ and he rubs shoulders with the right people. Obsession mixes a funky beat with a quirky, synth sax sample and a heavy dose of falsetto vocals. The beat affords JB all the room necessary to let his crazy good vocals shine through. It's catchy enough to garner plenty of Top 40 love and give Vice a foundation to build off of as an artist. Check it on iTunes or Spotify if you found it as likable as I did...#Obsession

Vice feat Jon Bellion - Obsession

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

"I Want You to Feel Surreal"


If you've kept up on EDM over the past few weeks you've been privy to a heavy dose of Louis the Child. A few weeks back I boldly declared Love is Alive as a front-runner for song of the year. Then last week they put out Phone Died, their tongue-in-cheek, excuse anthem. This, week they're back on the grind with Surreal, a funky, mellow jam with a vocal assist from RKCB. It's every bit as grown and sexy as you'd hope for out of a new Louis the Child track. Between the soulful undertones and smooth keys, it'll be right at home on your latest Cool Out mix. Don't have one of those? Well, then this one probably isn't for you, so I'll catch you on flip side tomorrow...#Surreal

Louis Futon feat RKCB - Surreal

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

"I'm Damned 2 Loving You"


Not sure how I missed this one when it flew across the radar a few weeks back, but hopefully you can hear the regret in my implied internet voice. DJ Premier teaming up with Miguel on a track? Hell to the yea, that's a great idea that someone should have thought of months ago. If you're a Miguel fan, 2 LOVIN U is going to sound really familiar because the vocals are from a bonus track off his last album titled damned. Normally I'd post the original version to compare, but the new version with Primo is leaps and bounds better. For newly minted visuals, check it below...

Miguel's vocals fit like a glove over the vibrant, thumping beat with cuts and breaks galore. Can't say for sure what album this will ultimately end up on, but it was released via DJ Premier's new TTT (To The Top) outfit, which is interesting. In some cases like this one, I'm totally fine with sweating the details on a track as I run laps around it...#2LOVINU

Miguel - 2 LOVIN U (prod by DJ Premier)

Monday, March 13, 2017

"I Don't Need No Lies, Pick a Side, Pick a Side"


Gotta admit, it's nice to hear the Young Money/Cash Money crew back together. No Frauds signifies in a big way turning the page from the whole Meek Mill situation and moving onto a new beef with Remy Ma. Check the back story if you're curious on how all that came about.

What you can expect when you press play are a few dope verses from the three amigos over a Murda Beatz beat. It goes hard in the deck (#808 check) and leaves plenty of room for all parties to leisurely spit their tough talk about fake people. It's a treat because you get to hear Drake and Tunechi at their best over a hard beat. Word has it Nicki's 4th studio album is well on it's way toward a mid-late 2017 release. Not sure about y'all, but hearing the gang is all back together leads me to believe I'm going to checking out Nicki's new album soon...#NoFrauds

Nicki Minaj feat Drake & Lil Wayne - No Frauds (prod by Murda Beatz)

Sunday, March 12, 2017

"Never Trust a Girl at Coachella"


Maybe it's the music nerd in me, but I genuinely appreciate hearing about how songs came to be. Whether it's a friend of a friend introduction that turned into a collaboration, a song about a significant other that went bad, or in this case, a shared festival experience, I'm usually inclined to spend my time sharing stories that move me. Usually I do a quick summary, but thanks to Matoma, I can sit this explanation out...

"I played my first ever Coachella last year and it was a truly incredible experience. Between the two weekends I was doing writing sessions in L.A. and met up with Nasri from MAGIC! who I have always been a huge fan of because of their feel-good reggae-inspired music.

We wanted to write a song about Coachella since I had the moment of my life at that festival, so we came up with this story about a girl who teases with a guy’s feelings at heart at the festival. It's just a fun story about the good vibes and reckless fun that people experience at a music festival.

We finished the song really quickly and then asked D.R.A.M. if he could do a verse since we felt a rapper could take the song to exciting new heights. After hearing his verse I can from my heart say that he nailed it. I was so honoured to work with such amazing artists and hope you love this feel-good summer song!"

I usually associate Matoma with Trop House, so seeing a collabo with MAGIC! really piqued my interest. I don't have too many examples to go off of, but mixing anything reggae with Trop House is usually a good look. The subject of the track is pretty self-explanatory, but I feel like the sheer fact that they based on it meeting a girl at a music festival is a genius move. I'm apathetic about D.R.A.M.'s verse, but with all the music festivals popping up weekly, you can bet this one will have a ton of replay potential. Give it an iTunes or Spotify if you feel like beating your friends to the punch on this one before summer festival season starts...#GirlAtCoachella

Matoma feat MAGIC! & D.R.A.M. - Girl At Coachella

Saturday, March 11, 2017

"'Cause Your Feelings Anesthesia, Word to Keisha"


There are few things in music right now that get me as pumped as the rolling basslines of Kaytranada. This time he laid an exquisite foundation for GoldLink to rattle off his pitter-patter flow on Meditation. Don't get me wrong, I get why GoldLink is as hot as he is right now, he's got mad skills on the mic. But my goodness, I could vibe out to the instrumental on this track all night.

Can't forget to give some love to Jazmine Sullivan on the hook too. Her contribution gave the listener a quick break from the non-stop intensity of GoldLink's verses. It's the second track he's put out this week following on the coat tails of Crew. Two very different tracks, but both fire in their own right. Whatever you do this Spring, stay on the look out because GoldLink is probably coming to a city near you...#Meditation

GoldLink feat Jasmine Sullivan & Kaytranada - Meditation

Friday, March 10, 2017

Videos of the Week March 10th


It was bound to happen at some point, but this week there's a rare top five filled with all music. Leading the way was Snakehips and MØ's in studio cover of Childish Gambino's Redbone. I'll admit, it was a lot jazzier than I thought it would be, which was a cool surprise. After that there was a little bit of dark EDM (I Love You) and a little bit of fun EDM (Just Hold On) brought to you by Axwell Λ Ingrosso, and Steve Aoki. Both were cases where I got to re-live two songs I really like and had written about previously, but in more intimate ways.

If you were wondering whether Bebe Rexha was as good looking as her vocals led you to believe, you got a resounding answer to that question in her FFF video. Her and G-Eazy make for a dynamic duo and their chemistry is palpable. And if you haven't gotten a big enough dose of sexy, Jeremih has you covered on I Think of You. As a bit of icing on the cake, this week's top five ended on a high note with a roller skating dance video. Who doesn't love a good Hip Hop video at a roller rink??...#IThinkOfYou

Childish Gambino - Redbone (Snakehips & MØ Cover)

Axwell Ingrosso feat Kid Ink - I Love You (Video)

Steve Aoki feat Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On (Video)

Bebe Rexha feat G-Eazy - FFF (Video)

Jeremih feat Big Sean and Chris Brown - I Think of You (Video)

Photo Credit - YouTube

Thursday, March 09, 2017

"You Were Made of Matches and You Burned Me Down"


When I hear the name Cash Cash, the thought of fun dance music comes to mind. Most recently I'm thinking Millionaire or How to Love, but I'm willing to go back all the way to their collabo with Bebe Rexha on Take Me Home. Simply put, the three brothers from Jersey bring a lighthearted energy to their music that's easy to like.

That trend continued on their latest single with Rozes, Matches. At first, you might confuse it with a power ballad, but the triumphant, Future Bass feel on the drop will tell you otherwise. We got our first glimpse of Rozes vocal talents on The Chainsmokers' Roses and she continued to show off her emotionally charged vocal prowess on this one. When all is said and done, this one may not match the heights of Millionaire, but it's destined to get plenty of love on Top 40 radio. Don't be bashful y'all, crank this one out and sing along with me...#Matches

Cash Cash feat Rozes - Matches

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

Kaskade Shares an Ode to Every Woman


Happy International Woman's Day y'all! In celebration of today, Kaskade went ahead and flipped a Whitney Houston classic like a boss. Sticking with a deep House vibe, he enlisted the help of Laura Lanm and S2_Cool to unite women across the world through his own version of I'm Every Woman. It didn't stop with the song either as he released a companion video that's as happy and celebratory as you'd expect. Check it below...


Kaskade sent this one out to all the "powerful women in his life, both personal and professional, past and present." Wherever you are, I hope you take a minute to make a special woman in your life feel loved today because they deserve it. And if you can't think of anything to give them or say to them, at least share the free download link to this song with them...#InternationalWomensDay

Kaskade feat Laura Lanm + S2_Cool - Woman

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

"And You Can't Beat That With a Baseball Bat"


It's been years since a new Fatboy Slim single came across the radar. That being the case, I couldn't help but press play when Where You Iz surfaced last week. I'll say this, you can't ever question the amount of raw energy Fatboy Slim packs into his music. Sure, the vocals on a lot of his tracks walk a thin line between being catchy and annoying, but there's a kitschy element in his brand of funk that I have a hard time resisting. Maybe it's because it reminds me of the music I grew up with, but as long as you don't take it too seriously, you may find yourself humming it along to yourself hours later. At the very least, I have mad respect for Norman because he's one of the few 50 years olds that can probably still get a crowd of teenagers moving at a festival. We'll see if this warning shot leads to a full scale EP in 2017, but for now I'm cool jammin' out this for a bit...#WhereYouIz

Fatboy Slim - Where You Iz

Monday, March 06, 2017

"I Like, Yea I Like, the Falling Down"


Sticking with the melodic house to start the week on a high note. There's something innately inspirational about Arty's new single, Falling Down. For starters, be patient on the build, it takes a full minute and a half to hit its stride. I call it a slow build, but it's more of a compliment to the soothing vocals of Maty Noyes who sets the stage perfectly before the cascade of bubbly chords take over. I'm going to add this one to my work mix because it hits the perfect sweet spot of being calming, yet rhythmic in a way that will allow me to zone out in productivity mode. iTunes or Spotify y'all, you know the deal...#FallingDown

Arty feat Maty Noyes - Falling Down

Sunday, March 05, 2017

"You Make Me, You Make Me Feel Good, I Like It"


When it comes to breakout artists for 2017, Gryffin is on my short list of up and comers I'm anticipating writing about a lot in the coming year. Whole Heart was one my favorite tracks in 2016, so in my eyes, he's already riding momentum from last year. On his new one, Feel Good, he teamed up with Illenium and Daya on a melodic dance track. It's just as chill as the cover art suggests, riding the wave of Daya's emotional vocals that usher you toward the slow, steady drop. As I think about it more and more, there's an undercurrent of folk/Newgrass on Gryffin's music that I really dig. You're going to have a tough time convincing me that this won't do some damage on Top 40 radio when the dust settles. If you're as much of a fan as I am, give it a more permanent listen on iTunes or Spotify...#FeelGood

Gryffin & Illenium feat Daya - Feel Good

Saturday, March 04, 2017

Kill Paris is Back With a Dose of Good Love


The artist formerly known as is back to his old bass heavy antics as Kill Paris. On Good Love, he flexes his trap muscles by sucking you in with a soothing vocal sample before hitting you in the face with a thunderous drop. It falls in that sweet spot of melodic trap that I'm slowly falling in love with as DJs get more and more creative, stretching and pulling EDM past it's boundaries of what we're used to hearing.

This new one will be landing on Kill Paris's upcoming Awakening EP that coincides with his Awakening Tour that will be coming to a city near you. And in case you missed it, he released a dope remix of The Chainsmokers Paris last week. Definitely give that a listen below and don't miss the free download of his new single...#GoodLove



Kill Paris - Good Love

Friday, March 03, 2017

Videos of the Week March 3rd


Since we're still knee deep in award season, you're getting a large dose of live performances again this week. Kicking off the week was the cast of The Voice coming together to collaborate on a TLC Waterfalls cover. I was a bit surprised by the folk/country vibe of the track, but given the odd-pairing of pop styles coming together, it makes more sense the more I think about it. Needless to say, no shortage of vocal talent on that cover.

If music videos are what you're after, you'll enjoy Gallant's new video for Talking to Myself. Anything that man touches turns sexy, believe that. If you're starting to get stoked for summer movie season, then the newest Guardians of the Galaxy trailer surely took those expectations a notch higher. Such awesome personality on all those characters, can't wait for the new one to come out.

And then we've got the Oscars. It was tempting to post the confusing ending of the award show, but you've probably already seen it by now and it's kind of a train wreck watch. In turn, I decided to post my favorite moment and performance. By far my favorite performance was Lin-Manuel Miranda and Auli'l Cravahlo's performance of How Far I'll Go from Moana. If you've seen the movie, you got goosebumps watching that. And finally, my favorite moment of then night when an unsuspecting bus full of tourists became the entertainment for everyone. There's so much comedy goodness baked into that clip that it wouldn't be right for me to try and summarize it, just watch it...#Yulree

Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Perform Waterfalls

Gallant - Talking to Myself (Video)

Gaurdians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (Trailer)

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Auli'l Cravahlo Perform How Far I'll Go from Moana

Bus Full of Tourists Gets to Experience the Oscars

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, March 02, 2017

"All You Have To Do Is Stay a Minute"


Match Zedd up with any talented vocalist and it'll be a sure hit. I could rattle off a laundry list off past stellar collabos like Selena Gomez, Matthew Koma, Ryan Tedder, Ellie Goulding, and Jon Bellion to name a few. While you're at it, might as well add in one more to that list in Alessia Cara. Who is she you ask? You might recognize her latest single Scars To Your Beautiful?

At this point, whether you recognize her or not is irrelevant because she's going to keep making music like below that will force you to get to know her on a first name basis. Stay is a vocal driven ballad with just enough electronic influence to get you nodding along. I really dig the computerized, Daft-Punk-ish vocal overlay on the hook. It's a fun track and one that I'll be rooting for as it makes its foray into the blender of Top 40. Check it on iTunes or Spotify if you feel so inclined...#Stay

Zedd feat Alessia Cara - Stay

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

"Paparrazi Goin' Think That I'm Cuffin' Now"


It's been a minute since Wale came through with a track that made me do a double take. To put things into perspective, his first two albums were absolute fire, but since then his last two albums have caused we'll call it a "reduction in minutes" if you're speaking NBA terms. Not quite on the DNP-CD level, but he hasn't even been getting backup minutes. Know what I'm sayin'?

But in the world of music, you're always one song away from being back in everyone's good graces. Enlisting the help of Bay Area's own G-Eazy, he was able to conjure up some of the magic from previous years. Fashion week is an ode to the baddest of the bad women out there. Trading playful barbs back and forth Wale and G-Eazy make show off their lustful, braggadocio sides with lyrical gymnastics over a bubbly beat on Fashion Week. It'll be surfacing on Wale's upcoming Shine album that is slated for a 2017 release. Cheers to hoping this is the start of a win streak for Olubowale...#FashionWeek
Wale feat G-Eazy - Fashion Week

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