"Sometimes Even Thugs Fall"

Even though The Runners haven't been churning out songs like they did in their heyday a few years back, I'm still a big believer in everything they touch. If you were to tell me that a hook by Kevin Cossom is included on a track they produced, you could be Joe Schmo from the corner bodega and I'd still give the track a serious listen. What's great is that Ace Hood is much better than Joe Schmo and he just released a new album this past week called Trials & Tribulations. Call it a thug ballad if you will, it's a new school slow jam that has a healthy mix of bars, a great hook and smooth production.

If you're buying the album on iTunes, don't expect to see them gem below on it. Instead you'll need to go to Target because the suits need to give you just a little more incentive to spend a few extra bucks on the music. What fun would it be anyways if you could buy it for $1.29 on iTunes anyway?...#BrokenBusinessModel

Ace Hood feat Kevin Cossom - Thugs Fall (prod by The Runners)

Videos of the Week

Seems like when @drake releases a video, it's a mandatory post for every blog. I'll gladly follow suit along with a few others from some of my favorite artists. One thing is for sure though, I will never get tired of seeing @araabmuzik on the MPC. Dude is an absolute #BEAST...

Drake - Headlines (Video)

Beats by Dr. Dre & Beats TV Presents: AraabMUZIK

Big K.R.I.T. - The Vent (Video)

Ace Hood feat Kevin Cossom - Memory Lane/Spoke to My Momma (Video)

J Cole Performs Cole World on Jimmy Kimmel

Final Episode of Wiz Khalifa's DayToday Series

Florence and the Machine - Shake it Out (Video)

Videos of the Week

Whole lotta content this week with plenty of Chris Brown cameos and a few high profile videos for lead singles to albums. Anybody lucky enough to be at that Rihanna show in NYC when Kanye dropped in? smh, best I've gotten was Baby at a Drake show...have a good weekend y'all!

@thegame feat @chrisbrown - Pot of Gold (Video)

@kanyewest & @Rihanna perform All of the Lights in NYC (Live)

@MacMiller - Best Day Ever (Video)

@acehood feat @chrisbrown - Body 2 Body (Video)

@Tyga feat @imchrisrich - Far Away (Video)

"Wet as Dasani, Bet if I Hit Your Spot, I’ll Make You Tsunami"

Very few Hip Hop singles can claim to be as soothing and sexy as @therealacehood's new single Body 2 Body. You may be re-reading that last sentence a few times and I don't blame you since prior to hearing this, I didn't think it was possible either. But, with the help of @rookbeats' smooth baby makin' instrumental and yet another flawless hook and bridge by @chrisbrown. The laundry list of features mechanical dummy has executed this this year is getting to be ridiculous. Doesn't it seem like he's damn near every radio hit this year? You need a hook, call CB...instant iTunes best seller.

This one shouldn't buck that trend and you can expect it to surface on iTunes shortly. It'll be the third single off his upcoming Blood, Sweat & Tears album due out August 9th. Third time's a charm and it'll follow up his two @smokedoutluger produced "street singles" Go N Get It and Hustle Hard quite nicely.

Ace Hood feat Chris Brown - Body 2 Body (prod by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
|iTunes

Best of Planking in Hip Hop

It's not everyday that a worldwide fad is started by Australians, but the whole Planking craze can be traced back to the land down under. Back in May, it took the country by storm as Brisbane, Australia police warned of the dangers of planking following the first of what will probably be more than a few tragedies, as plankers continue to push the completely flat, downward facing envelope. (Note: At time of publish 436,000 likes on FB)

It took a few months, but the ripples of the odd craze were eventually felt in the US when all the sudden everyone was posting plank photos on Twitter. It's all cause and effect and the cause of it becoming a craze in the US was hugely in part to Twitter and the opinion leaders on Twitter (celebrities), taking part in the trend. Like anything else odd and potentially dangerous, when planking or the laying down game is done in safe surroundings, it can be entertaining to see people rigidly balancing between or on top of two objects in creative ways. This week Hip Hop had their run with planking as it adopted it's own index-able way to segment the fad with the hash-tag #PlankLife. Below are a couple of my favorites, along with a photo album of the highlights...

@BigSean Planking

@joebudden Planking

@thegame Planking in Studio

@bigboi Planking

@DIPLO Planking on Elephant

@djafrojack Planking

Check the photo album below for more planking highlights...

What Is Racks on Racks on Racks?

It's rare for a completely unheard of artist to come out of the blue with a track that makes Hip Hop as a whole stop walking and acknowledge it's presence. It's rare, but not impossible, especially if you're name is @1YUNGCHRIS and you managed to entice fifteen (@cyhidaprynce, @YOUNGJEEZY, @BUNBTRILLOG, @twistagmg, @Doseworld, @bobatl, @BIGSEAN, @CORYMOMUSIC, @corygunz, @nelly_mo, @TRAEABN, @wakaflockabsm, @Wale, @RealWizKhalifa and @YOGOTTIKOM) noteworthy Hip Hop artists to join the cause on the extended remix. IDGAF what Hip Hop track I'm listenin' to, if it has a very simple beat and lyrics that aren't thought provoking in the least, it's just too much. It's like going to Coldstone and getting a Gotta Have It size, you feel me? I damn near had to delete half my hard drive to clear space for this monstrous 29.3 MB track and even more alarming, I managed to run about a mile and a half just to this remix. I exaggerate, but sill, unless it's a techno/dance track, it shouldn't be half as long as 12 mins 47 sec.

Needless to say, if I wasn't thoroughly annoyed with this track from hearing it everywhere I go, I was at the end of the extended remix. For all you folks who Googled this and are wondering what the hell "racks on racks racks on racks" means, they are referring to bundles of money in thousand dollar amounts. In other words, 1 rack is $1000, so racks on racks refers to this picture of YC below with the stacks of $1000 on top of each other...

I'll admit though, on first listen, I fully understood why the track blew up. It's a simple pleasure, even for the most sophisticated Hip Hop fan. The bouncy beat,  non-stop repeatability, creates a fun, dumbed down feel that keeps it simple, which can be good sometimes. Shoot even the producer on the track, @SONNYDIGITAL was completely unknown to most of Hip Hop until this track. Time will tell if this turns into a one hit wonder effort, but I'd rather be a has been then a never was. Peep the video, which managed to top @106andpark today...

As a bonus, check out @BEIMAEJOR's piano version of the track below...

The original track is off of the @DJGREGSTREET hosted Got Racks mixtape that dropped back in early April. Universal Records liked Yung Chris enough to sign him, so maybe there's more heat to come. Time will tell, til then feel free to catch up on all that is racks below...

Yung Chris feat Future - Racks on Racks (Original)


Ace Hood feat YC - Racks on Racks (Remix)


YC feat. CyHi Da Prynce, Young Jeezy, Bun B, Twista, Young Dose , B.o.B., Big Sean, Cory Mo, Cory Gunz, Nelly, Trae The Truth, Waka Flocka, Wale, Wiz Khalifa & Yo Gotti - Racks on Racks (Remix)

"White Flip Flops, Designer Shades Louie, Big Faced Blockas, Family Guy Stewie"

Let me say this, if you take one thing away from this track, let that be the rising potential of my new favorite Canadian producer Boi-1da. Sure his rise and new opportunities may have been aided by Drake's meteoric rise, but I'd argue that Drake's unique sound and style couldn't have stood out without the help of Matthew Samuels. Consider it a symbiotic relationship that benefits all who have gotten and are continuing to get a chance to listen.

You wouldn't necessarily think much of an Ace Hood and Sean Kingston collab, but everything about this track works well and compliments a very easy going Hip Hop track. From the beat, which is every bit as snappy as it is bouncy...to the laid back vibe set off by Kingston on the hook...and don't discount Ace Hood's verses, sure they're pretty simple and laughably corny at points, but on a radio friendly hit like this, it's not outta place. I had to rewind that Family Guy Stewie line a few times after laughing initially.

That's what I'm talkin' bout, what Hip Hip blog doesn't need an image of Stewie Griffin rockin' some headphones and aviators??? Similar to the image above, don't overthink this one, like it for what it is, a catchy Hip Hop Top 50 hit that's about living the life...a sentiment everyone should carry on into summer.

Give it a listen...
Ace Hood feat Sean Kingston - Life Style (prod by Boi-1da) | Download