"Gimme That Old School Love Right Now"

I remember about a decade ago when soulful R&B hooks were used on a weekly basis to compliment meaningful Hip Hop verses. It was a great chapter in music history that really represented Hip Hop's growing influence on pop culture. Stripped down soulful tracks like Lupe Fiasco and Ed Sheeran's Old School Love happen so infrequently now that when they come along they really stand out.

Forget the easy-listening, rolling, piano driven beat and beautiful hook by Ed Sheeran, the verses are what elevate this track to greatness. Whether anyone wants to give him credit, Lupe is one of the best storytellers in the game. If you have any doubt how well he's able to craft a meaningful, thought provoking narrative, give his third verse on the track a listen. It's deep, well-delivered and thought provoking all at once. And is it just me, or does this track sort of support the whole "after this one I'm done" sentiment from Lupe? It has the mood of a nostalgic swan song, which is probably what makes it so alluring, but it makes you wonder if he really might hang up the mic after his upcoming Tetsuo & Youth album. Let's all collectively hope that the album as a whole is as thoughtful and well-written as his first single...#OldSchoolLove

Lupe Fiasco feat Ed Sheeran - Old School Love

"Grow Your Beard Out, Just Weird Out and Go Berzerk"

We've been anticipating it all summer and it's finally here. The lead single of Eminem's upcoming Marshall Mathers LP 2 is here and it's as rowdy as you'd expect. On the track, Em takes it back to the 90s with a Beastie Boys sounding vibe that is crafted brilliantly with the help of the wise whitebearded Hip Hop legend Rick Rubin. The beat samples Billy Squier's The Stroke and there are a ton of great fiercely delivered one liners that Slim Shady has become know for. Check out the audio below...

I think my favorite one liner on the track has to be:

"They say that love is powerful as cough syrup and Styrofoam
All I know is I fell asleep and woke up in that Monte Carlo
With the ugly Kardashian
Lamar, oh sorry yo, we done both set the bar low"

I'll invite you to follow along with the lyrics thanks to Rap Genius because there are more than a few well conceived gold nuggets of wittiness on Berzerk.

In general, I've always been very black and white when it comes to Eminem. Half his albums are barely listenable, drug induced pop albums and the others are nothing short of classic Hip Hop. Based on his lead single, I'm gonna bet that on November 5th, I'm going to be a happy camper when his album drops...#MMLP2

Eminem - Bezerk (prod by Rick Rubin)

"Boys Tell Stories About the Man"

It's been a full year and the lead single to @Drake's upcoming third album finally dropped two weeks in advance of it's scheduled release on Grammy night. Not only did he release Started From the Bottom via Octobers Very Own, he provided free clean and dirty Hulkshare download links and Soundcloud player. To sum up it's buzzworthiness, the track has over 100,0000 streams and over 90,000 downloads in one day.

In addition, he released the statement below via OVO giving a little background on the genesis of the track...

My good friends,

It has truly been too long. I assume you're all keeping well and making the most of this year that has been given to us. Today is the day to begin sharing my newest work with you. This is the first single off of my upcoming album. I feel sometimes that people don't have enough information about my beginnings and therefore they make up a life story for me that isn't consistent with actual events. My family and my second family (consisting of the best friends anybody could ever have) all struggled and worked extremely hard to make all this happen. I did not buy my way into this spot and it was the furthest thing from easy to achieve. I am proud of every part of my past and I'm excited for this song to find a place in your life as well. I didn't feel I needed any interviews or radio or press to launch this song. It felt right to come back to the site that I started on and release it to the people that started here with me. Judging by this post, the tour that we've been planning, the conversations about new songs and album artwork...I think it's safe to say we're back together again. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

"You don't have to ask me how I'm doing...just listen to the music" - K.Samir

So on first listen, I'll admit I was really let down. And not let down in the way I was when I first heard Headlines and thought to myself, "This is going to get old quick because radio is going to play this every other song for the next six months." The frustration he lets loose on the track makes it clear that he wants to make sure everyone knows his whole story, rather than drawing their own conclusions based on the limited facts they know. I understand why he created the track and I'm not going to fault him for the message he wanted to push across beecause I would be frustrated too if people thought I was born with a silver spoon. That being said, I really disliked the track from the annoyingly repetitive hook to the over the top thuggish tone. The beat by @MikeZombie is alright, but the song made me fearful that Drake may be choosing a different lane for his third album.

If this is just a one time thing to vent, I can live with it as long as the rest of his album doesn't lose the storytelling and substance that his first two albums had. Whatever you do Drake, don't get too hung up on your image, keep doing your unique thing by singing, rapping, and making music that inspires people like me...#StartedFromTheBottom

New Single "Started From The Bottom" tinyurl.com/byqa7c8 OVO SOUND

— Drizzy (@Drake) February 2, 2013

Drake - Started From the Bottom (prod by Mike Zombie)

"It's Like Acid Rain in a Hurricane"

I don't care who you are, when you can get Jay-Z to offer you a record deal with Roc Nation, then turn around and release a lead single featuring @JColeNC with production from Stargate and writing by @siamusic, you've got my attention. I hate to make it seem like my blog is a "you gotta know somebody to get in the club" type of website, but since I can only post once a day, I gotta make it good. Unfortunately I get a good amount of music sent to me on a daily basis that doesn't get posted as a result, but no aspiring artist is afraid of competition and I do listen to everything sent my way, so keep it coming.

Anyways, back to the point of this post. It's no secret that associating with certain producers or featuring certain artists who I already have a lot of respect for will definitely help you get posted. With all the star power @AlexisJordan enlisted for Acid Rain, she was able to make her debut on the blog tonight. Best part about it is Stargate even took a piece of @bingo_players' single Rattle on the instrumental, which added a quirky element to the beat. There's no doubt Alexis has a great voice and she showed it off to the max on the hook by hitting notes that only vocalists like Sia could reach. Pretty dope Buzz track all things considered...#RocNation

Alexis Jordan feat J Cole - Acid Rain (prod by Stargate)

Cash Money Signs an Electronic Duo From Australia

Let me get this straight, @BIRDMAN5STAR just signed an Australian electronic dance duo to Cash Money Records? If there ever was a sign of the Mayan Apocalypse, Baby signing the @staffordbros to be a part of YMCMB ranks up there. Most will probably hate because it's trail blazing move, but it's becoming abundantly clear where pop music is heading and by signing an electronic act, he's assuring himself of making more money, which is what you're supposed to do as a businessman, right?

While I'm at it, I'll compliment @CMilianOfficial for her extremely well delivered hook on Hello. Back in the day she was one of the biggest rising stars in R&B and in the past decade she's gotten a little lost in the shuffle despite signing on with the newly forward thinking Cash Money. Glad to see her fine self back on the scene.

As far as the track is concerned, it's a pretty likable pop dance track. If you're wondering whether @liltunchi sounds a little out of place on a dance anthem, it's no stranger than hearing him on @davidguetta's I Can Only Imagine or @itsKevinRudolf's Let it Rock. I'll keep saying it, but the hard drink that used to be Hip Hop has definitely reached maturity as a genre, which leaves it wide open to getting frequently mixed with everyone's favorite liqueur known as electronica...#DanceHop

Stafford Brothers feat Christina Milian & Lil Wayne - Hello (iTunes)

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

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

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

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

Lumineers - Ho Hey (iTunes)

"Under Solid Light Skies, Wide Awake I, Don't Wanna Go Home"

In a copycat world where bloggers battle everyday to provide their opinions on new music as it becomes available, it's tough to differentiate yourself from the masses. Sure there is a deviation from the mean every now and then, but for the most part, it's like monitoring the waiver wire for new stuff and quickly share the track and let everyone know how you feel about it. I'm just as guilty of taking that approach daily, but there are times I get really tired of trying to keep up and instead strive to post something you wouldn't normally hear.

Cue up the entrance music for an electronic duo out of BK that you may not have heard of. The band (The Hundred in the Hands) was named after the phrase the Lakota Nation gave to the 1866 Fetterman Battle in Wyoming, in which Crazy Horse led his warriors to a victory that resulted in the death of 100 enemies. +1 to the historical reference and deeper meaning behind the band name for starters. Additionally, they remind me a LOT of LCD Soundsystem, which is a great thing. The dark haunting synths combined with Eleanore Everdell soothing vocals mix together for an interesting concoction. Put it this way, if you told me that James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem produced this track, I wouldn't have thought twice about questioning you.

The track below, Keep it Low, surfaced back in May and was featured on their new Red Night album released in June. Remember as a kid when your mom tried to get you to try something new that she said was good for you? Consider this a musical version of that episodic memory...#EatYourLimaBeans

The Hundred in the Hands - Keep it Low
|Download

"If Happy Ever After Did Exist, I Would Still Be Holding You Like This"

Tonight viewers of NBC's The Voice got a treat in the form of @maroon5's new single Payphone featuring @realwizkhalifa. Shoot Wiz even appeared out of thin air around the 2:34 mark to deliver his cameo verse on the track. Check the video hot off the press...

It's good to see @ADAMLEVINE leveraging his position as a judge on the show to get the new single some exposure. You'd be kidding yourself if you thought Maroon's lead single off their upcoming album Overexposed would be anything short of ridiculously catchy. I'd assess the track as an upbeat, uplifting track that steadily marches to the ebb and flow of excitement brought to a crescendo at the chorus. Credit is in order for the producers Shellback and @itsbennyblanco for seamlessly weaving in Hip Hop a sounding beatbox for Wiz to go in on toward the end of the track.

It's pretty rare that the full tracklist is already posted for Overexposed since the album is due out in two months on June 26th. Hey, more power to them if they can sell that many copies in advance, besides it's not a Hip Hop album, so the likelihood of it leaking already decreases by at least 50%. My guess is you have a solid week or two before this becomes all your friends favorite track. Don't sleep on it, be the opinion leader this time around...#LeadersDontFollow

Maroon 5 feat Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (prod by Shellback & Benny Blanco)
|iTunes

Bobby Ray and Taylor Swift Make Uplifting Music Together

"I wish I was strong enough to lift,

Not one, but both of us"

Yep, it's safe to say I'm just as surprised as you are to find a song featuring @taylorswift13 on my blog. I've always been pretty outspoken against everything that is country music, but I'm willing to make an exception for a member of my live starting 5, @bobatl. All the haters who thought Bobby Ray was going to take a step back on his sophomore album might want to hit the exits after listening to Both of Us.

I say that in all seriousness because if the track below doesn't become a #1 single on iTunes at some point, then I should probably stop writing about music since I have no idea what I'm talking about. Between Taylor's angelic voice on the hook and the substance filled sermon Bobby delivers on the verses, it's a well put together collaboration. It helps too that @thedoctorluke crafted instrumental is about as universally likable as it gets, maintaining a deep Hip Hop sound, but staying Pop/Contemporary enough that the most devout Taylor Swift country fan could probably still respect.

By my count, Bobby Ray is 3 for 3 so far for singles on Strange Clouds with Strange Clouds and So Good preceeding Both of Us. That doesn't even count Play the Guitar and Never Lost, which aren't on the official tracklist, but I'm guessing will be iTunes bonus tracks. Six months ago if you would have told me Strange Clouds was going to be half as good as The Adventures of Bobby Ray, I would have probably laughed under my breath condescendingly and answered politely with a "yea right." I couldn't have been more wrong and I'll continue to eat my words on May 1st when I gladly support Bobby Simmons by copping his album...#NoSophomoreSlump

B.O.B. feat Taylor Swift - Both of Us (prod by Dr. Luke)

|iTunes

CyHi Holds Down the A-Town Like a Prynce

"Ridin' in the Cutlass smokin' on a black,

Man it don't get mo' Decatur than that!"

If you weren't sure whether or not Hotlanta was in fact the epicenter of Southern Hip Hop, your mind will be made up after listening to @cyhitheprynce's new ATL anthem. We've heard the rep yo home town team track like @slimthugga did for the Houston Texans and the rep yo state track like @DAREALPETEY did with Raise Up, but the attempts to uplift a large city as a whole have been few and far between. And that's probably for good reason because the absolute last thing you'd ever want to be known for is not repping your city to the fullest.

In other words, it takes some balls to try and cook up anthem that a city known for Hip Hop will be impressed by. With the help of two of Decatur's most notable alumni @bobatl and @iamtravisporter, Stone Mountain native CyHi was able to step up to the plate. I use the baseball reference because the Braves are mentioned quite bit on the track with Chipper Jones getting a special shout out. What will end up instilling the most pride is the Tomahawk Chop sample on the beat. Sure it helps that Bobby Ray and CyHi both killed their verses, but you can only do so much wrong with a dope beat like the one on A-Town. I wish I could come through with a production credit, but Google let me down. What I do know is that this is the first single off CyHi's new mixtape titled The Ivy League Club, so keep an eye out for that...#ComingSoon

CyHi The Prynce Ft Travis Porter & B.O.B.- A-Town

Justin Bieber Wants to Be Your Boyfriend

Now that @justinbieber has more million followers (19) than he is years old (18), it's safe to say he is probably the most popular artist ever to be that age. Maybe it was a coincidence that the Social Networking revolution happened as soon as he was making it big, but you gotta admit, getting 60 mentions per second twenty four hours of the day is some pimp shit. Even better, out of the 65 million tweets that are posted daily, three out of every 100 tweets concern the Biebs. An employee of Twitter was quoted saying, "At any moment, Justin Bieber uses 3 per cent of our infrastructure. Racks of our servers are dedicated to him." Oh yea, that was back in 2010 too...#GTFOHWT

The real question is, does he even need to market his music? I ask because, let's say only one out of 19 twitter followers who hang on his every word buy his album. That's still a platinum album solely on a small fraction (5.2%) his followers, which is beyond nuts. I used to be proud that I was on his bandwagon right after One Time (which now has 288 million+ views on YouTube), but what's the point anymore. I don't say that out of anger or disgust, more out of exhaustion. I mean I still like his music, but it get's tough to keep cheering for the undefeated team after a while if you know what I mean.

Commentary aside, I do like his @mikeposner produced Whisper Song sounding new single Boyfriend. As soon as I heard the intro, all I was waiting for was the line "wait til you see my d***!", anybody else think that on first listen? I would have gained so much respect for him if he would have went that route (#StreetCred). His new single is scheduled to appear on his upcoming album Believe, due out sometime in 2012. It's every bit as sing along as you'd expect, but I can't hate too much on the inclusion of the acoustic guitar and subtly mischievous whisper tone. The shelf life on this one will be like a comet in the sky for me, but that isn't going to prevent me from sharing it before it gets pounded into your skull by top 40 radio...#YoureWelcome

Justin Bieber - Boyfriend (prod by Mike Posner)

|iTunes

"You Know What We Doin', Whiskey For Communion Tonight"

All it takes is one big track to make a name for yourself in Hip Hop. Sure, it helps that your one big track features a legendary name like @justblaze. For me, that's what got me to sample it, name brand recognition. It's sad and sometimes I feel like a snob for doing it, but in a world where time is curren$y, folks like me who review music don't have the time to listen to everything. The best advice I can give to an aspiring artist is to get someone on your track that a lot of people know.

A cameo or feature will get your foot in the door enough to kick in wide open if you bring the heat like @MyNameCuey. This track reminds me a lot of one of my favorite hidden gems by @chrisyoungraps called Bottles of Fiji Water & a Beautiful Girl. It's got an infectious hook and a equally upbeat vibe on the beat brought to you by Just Blaze and @XpartysuppliesX. OnCue is everything his name says. He's able to go bar for bar on the verses and isn't doesn't sound out of characters singing his own hook.

For all of you hardcore fans who made it out to SXSW last week, you may have caught him performing throughout the week. Word has it he's got a new Just Blaze produced video for his song Kinda Late faeturing @mikeposner and @eightyocho. You can bet there's plenty more to come from one of BK's finest up and comers. Keep it locked here because this past week I just became a believer in all that is Cuey...#BoutToBlowUp

OnCue - New Religion (prod. by Party Supplies & Just Blaze)

"We Are Young, So Let's Set This World on Fiiiyah"

On a daily basis, I take a lot of pride in posting music that you otherwise wouldn't hear on mainstream radio. Whether it be due to the track not being formally released or whether it's sole purpose is to stay unreleased, I really don't like following the crowds. Not so much the case with tonight's post.

If you'll notice, I've got a handy widget on the right sidebar showing the current top ten list for most popular iTunes tracks. The track below by @ournameisfun just happens to be holding down that #1 spot with their beyond buzzworthy track We Are Young. The track (subtly) features the lovely and talented @janellemonae and recently surfaced on the group's debut album Some Nights. Before I go into my overly descriptive rant, feel free and take the temperature of the track by watching the video, which does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the track.

On first listen, you can't help but think it has the potential to be a timeless track. I say that because my mind immediately went to Queen because on the track they are able to evoke the same type of unbridled emotion that came out of a track like We Will Rock You. When the calming lead in gives way to the everyone-sing-along chorus at the 49 second mark of the track, I couldn't help but get a little nostalgic and think about all nights out at bars that I could barely remember in college. It's a song that goes beyond accessibility; simply put, it's a shot of youth to the old and a real-life anthem for the young. It's a modern day Piano Man because it's the type of song you'd want to close the bar with. I can picture me and a group of my friends with our arms around each other's shoulders swaying and drunkenly belting out every last word on this track.

By the time a new single cracks the top 10 in iTunes, I've usually written it off as just another great track that was chewed up for days by contemporary radio, only to be spit out months later when it's been milked for every last drop. It's refreshing to know that there are still tracks that fly out of left field and come out of nowhere before exploding like a nuke in our faces. The light is still bright on this one and I've got a good feeling that no matter how much of a beating Top 40 radio gives it, I'm still going to enjoy this one down the road...#Timeless

Fun. feat Janelle Monae - We Are Young
|iTunes

"My Shadow Days Are Over Now"

It's been a little over two years since John Mayer pulled together an album, which makes today's release of his new single an even bigger breath of fresh air. Shadow Days is slated to be the lead single off his upcoming album Born and Raised, due out sometime in 2012.

Why reinvent the wheel if you're travelling faster than everyone else who is walking? That's my response to the music critic who says Shadow Days is just like any other, slow, twangy Mayer track. It's got what you'd expect from the lament soaked lyrics, to the bluegrass inspired piano and guitar riffs behind soft vocals. Smart is what I'd call launching a landing page on your site the day that your first single leaks. It's interesting to note, he's shying away from the arenas in favor of more intimate auditorium venues. I've seen John in concert I want to say three times in the past decade and every time, it was a big huge sold out show. I'm intrigued at the thought of him choosing to go a quieter, more reserved route on his upcoming tour.

My only request is FREE DAVID RYAN HARRIS!!! He's on my concert bucket list and when I witnessed Ernie Halter's cover of Pretty Girl, it reminded me of how great of a vocalist he is. I know @drh3 is probably making bank touring with you and playing guitar/providing backup vocals, but he's just as talented as Javier Colon and more people need to know his name rather than recognizing him on stage behind you...#My2Cents

John Mayer - Shadow Days

|iTunes

"I'm Leanin' Like a Kick Stand"

I'm as guilty as the next man when it comes to falling for sugar coated, repeatable Hip Hop anthems. I've been wanting to post the track below for a while, maybe close to two months, but I kept thinking to myself, do I really like this song? I mean really, actually like it? The answer to that is probably yes and no 50% of the time, but today I heard @StueyRock on Sirius XM 44 (Hip Hop Hits XL) on my way home and thought to myself, ya know what...tonight it's gettin' posted.

At this point I feel comfortable categorizing Leanin' with the Rack on Racks of the world. The type of track that you hate to love and hate that every time it plays, you can't help but turn it up. Shouts out to @honorablecnote on the beat and sexy tag line at the beginning. Heads up for plenty more from Stuey Rock, who is rubbing shoulders with a lot of your favorite Southern Hip Hop artists and producers like @reallilscrappy, @roscoedash, @therealjuicyj, @YoGottiKOM and even one of my favorites who doesn't get enough love, @djmontay. If you like what you're hearing below and would like more of a main course rather than an appetizer, feel free to check out his latest mixtape Feature Presentation.

Either way, pour it up and slow it down...#PintOfLeanOnDeck

Stuey Rock - Leanin' (prod by Honorable C-Note)

|Mixtape

"Rise of the Black Kings, Lions and the Pharaohs"

The internet does not know much about @sunnicolon, but that won't stop me from giving him a shout out and posting one of his tracks. The cool thing is, if you're wanting to get to know him feel free and ask him a question on his website. In fact, recently he was asked who his top five favorite rappers are. In no particular order, he listed "Andre 3000, Phonte, Nas, Method Man, and Jay Z." Can't say I could offer a compelling argument to disclude any of those five, but I probably would have an entirely different list...#ToEachTheirOwn

Anyways before I go any further, I feel like it'd be a good move on your part to press play below and check out the visual version of Sunni's track Lost Tribe...

The march worthy pace of the percussion is hard to ignore and it gives the track an inspirational feel. Stylistically you could probably cut and paste Kanye with Sunni and not notice a change, which is pretty cool. Who needs a hook when you can go bar after bar for a full three minutes spitting not so subtly about various race issues. If I were a betting man, I'd feel comfortable putting my money on someone with the propensity for lyrical depth like Sunni is capable of. The sheer fact that he lists the items below to describe himself, leads me to believe there's some serious potential bubbling below the horizon.

Keep the newness comin' Sunni, I like what I'm hearing so far...

Sunni Colon - Lost Tribe

Quicker Than a Lana Del Rey of Light

Ya know that old saying, "There's no such thing as bad publicity?" That seems to be a common theme I've noticed this month as I've managed to find two likable new artists because someone seemingly "important" very vocally denounced them as artists. First it was @donaldglover, who I discovered because one of my favorite blogs Pigeons and Planes did a long winded reactionary post on Pitchfork giving his album Camp a 1.6 out of 10. Nothing screams "your album is awesome and I have a personal grudge against you and don't want you to succeed" than a 1.6 out of 10.

Now it seems the public has turned it's eye to an interesting young woman named @lanadelrey. How did I get wind of her you ask? Simply put it was because @bwilliams's thought her performance on Saturday Night Live was "one of the worst outings in SNL history." In case you missed it, feel free to watch her performances of Blue Jeans and Video Games. And here's a good summation of the degree that everyone went HAM on Lana after the performance.

So what's all the buzz about then? Well for starters, Elizabeth Lizzy Grant transformed into Lana Del Rey overnight and released the video below, which is now up to 21 million views...

Video Games was the beginning of people becoming curious of her for a lot of reasons. For one, she's got a female Johnny Cash thing going on with her slow, drawn out diction. On top of that, it'd be fair to say she's sort of girl next door cute and her throwback style perfectly aligns with her "Gangster Nancy Sinatra" image.

So why is everyone attacking her? That's a good question and I have a few theories. First off, she's sooo incredibly different than anything else out that many people are skeptical of her authenticity. From the millionaire parents to the intricately recreated persona, the super botoxed lips...it's easy to see why people are skeptical. Add to that the @kanyewest comparisons because of her dark, haunting song lyrics and slightly inflated self-confidence and you've got a bullseye starting to form her back. When you describe your own music by saying, “Think Nina Simone singing a Cat Power song over Lil Wayne’s track. It’s Sick.", then it can rub writers (whose job is to come up with these creative descriptions) the wrong way. It's like giving yourself a nickname before anybody really knows you...#OhWaitSheAlreadyDidThat

If you're wondering how I feel about Lana, the jury is still deliberating. Do I think her reincarnation as a new artist is interesting as hell and she is worthy of respect for bringing something different to the table? I'd say so, but let's all keep in mind that her debut album hasn't even hit stores yet. My hope is that you take a similar stance and wait to judge after you hear Born to Die, which is due out next Monday, Jan 31st. From an underdog perspective, I hope she shakes the haters and becomes the rose that grew from concrete. That being said, I really hope she isn't being forced down our throats because she has a Rebecca Black type backing both financially and creatively...#FridayWillNeverBeTheSame

Lana Del Rey - Video Games

|iTunes

"If I Took You Home, It'd Be a Home Run"

When damn near every song of an artist produces sounds the same and has the same tempo, its hard for an artist to continue to grow their sound. With that being said, there are exceptions like @official_flo who don't need to evolve to continue to be successful. It doesn't matter who he features or what producer is on the track, he has the market cornered for the Hip Hop dance genre. His sound consistently plays and sets the bar for the competition. If you're the best in your neighborhood and consistently producing music that sells, why tweak it?

You can add this and his latest dance floor hit Good Feeling to the tracklist for his upcoming album part 2, Only One Rida (Part Two). Rumored to be dropping on January 1st, 2012, the album is shaping up to be just as good as the part 1, One One Flo Part 1. As an aside, doesn't it seem like every new single he drops gives a new R&B artist their first chance at limelight? You had @keshasuxx on Right Round before she had made it big, @WYNTERMUSIC on Sugar and now @siamusic gets her turn to shine on Wild Ones. You better believe Sia shined all over Wild Ones and absolutely did her thing on the hook. I'd expect there's a lot more where that and Titanium came from. She's clearly got a great voice, hopefully more Hip Hop artists will take note and give her some more opportunities.

I'll put it this way, if I still sent out my monthly song list, this one would be #1 for December. It'll be in the iTunes playlist rotation for at least a week, which is no small feat. Can't wait to hear this one in the club and go #HamSandwich...

Flo Rida feat Sia - Wild Ones

|iTunes

"I Got This Drank in My Cup"

If @1yungchris can come up with a single that every artist in Hip Hop wants to be a part of, then anything is possible. I preface my review of the track below with that statement because you probably haven't heard of Kirko Bangz yet. Proof that the codeine and promethazine, white styrofoam cup with a Jolly Rancher is alive and well, Kirko fully represents H-town and everything that it stands for.

What's interesting to note is that there hasn't ever been a big R&B artist to ever come out of the Houston area. Will @kirkobangz be the first one? Hard to tell, but his lead single has Hip Hop talking, which is a good enough start to a career. Check his new video for Drank in My Cup below to see what everyone is talmbout...


Who says autotune is dead?...#NotMe. There's always room for thuggish R&B and that's what you can expect below. It'll be interesting to see which big name Hip Hop acts hop on the remix, but my vote is for Twista. It'll probably end up being some combination of Lil Wayne, T.I. and T-Pain on the remix, but I can always hope. Keep an eye out for Kirko's new mixtape Progression 2 and feel free to peruse Progression over at datpiff or the remix to his track What Yo Name Iz feat Wale, Big Sean and Bun-B if your interest is piqued...

Kirko Bangz - Drank in My Cup (iTunes)

"The Real is on the Rise"

Three months prior to the release of Take Care, we get a nice Sunday gift from the folks over at OVO. The lead single @drakkardnoir's upcoming album will be Headlines produced by @ovo40 and @boi1da. So that's what that tweet two weeks ago meant...

His new single has come in addition to more news this past week surrounding other possible tracks on the album like Free Spirit feat @rickyrozay and The Real Her feat @liltunchi. Even more interesting is the thought of him getting together with other unique acts like @REALDJPREMIER and @flo_tweet on Take Care.

As far as the track is concerned, it's another mix of verses and harmony over a vibrant, tempo-building rhythm provided by @WelcomeOVO members Boi-1da & 40. Honestly, I'm not overly blown away with the track like you'd expect from on a first single, but I'm more than willing to judge the track in a few months when it's part of a bigger picture that Drake's trying to paint. I can understand his rationale for "hating singles" because usually it involves in the artist giving in to the record company in favor of something that will cash in on iTunes. What's great about a track like this is that it'll probably still move more than a fair share of units based on brand name to make the suits happy, but Drake probably didn't have to sacrifice much creatively in his choice of single. In other words, I have no idea why he chose this to be his first single since it doesn't fit the build of what you'd expect, but I'm ok with being patience and judging based on the final project in it's completeness. I don't think a lot of artists have the wiggle room to get away with that, but when you're on top and consistently release quality music, you get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to fans' patience.

Like a paycheck, I'm taking to the bank that there will be a lot more to come that'll probably top this before the October 24th release...#Watch

Drake - Headlines (prod by Boi-1da & Noah "40" Shebib)