Childish Gambino's Redbone Gets a Mustard Upgrade

Calling Childish Gambino's Redbone a modern day classic is getting less and less outlandish with each day. I'm still amazed that he pulled off that falsetto so flawlessly. You'd be hard pressed to find me another artist who could sell hundreds of thousands of records as a rapper, then turn around and drop an R&B classic.

Original aside, when I saw the track below on DJ Mustard's new DON'T BOX ME vol. 1 playlist, I was more than a little curious. Pressing play resulted in a much more excitable, snappier remix. The slow ebb and flow of the original was augmented with some heavy bass and a bouncy synth progression on the hook that almost overpowers the vocals. Were the vocals trampled a bit? Maybe, but the vibe of the original still carried over in a much more party friendly fashion. Share it with your friends to defamiliarize them with the original version that they're probably getting tired of hearing around now...#Redbone

Childish Gambino - Redbone (DJ Mustard Remix)

Thanks to DJ Mustard, It Was a Cold Summer

Unfortunately, we no longer live in a world where Hip Hop producers are the tastemakers of pop music. About a decade ago, the likes of Timbaland, Polow da Don, and Danjahandz were the secret sauce that made music turn into hits. Now, I'd go as far to say that most Hip Hop fans wouldn't be able to name more than one producer of Hip Hop music. Noteworthy beats are now put together by EDM artists who are generally front and center when performing, rather than being back up support like in Hip Hop.

Given all that, there's still one producer in Hip Hop who is still doing his part to carry on the torch superstar beat makers. DJ Mustard just released his second full length studio album and as expected, it's filled with many household names you wish he'd collaborate with. After a brief sprint through Cold Summer, my favorite of the thirteen tracks is Don't Hurt Me with Jeremih and Nicki Minaj. It's the track that reminds me most of all the booty shake worthy club anthems that I usually associate with DJ Mustard. It has the snappy flair and smooth synth undertones that you expect from a track that starts with the signature "Mustard on the beat" intro. Take my favorite with a grain of salt, but don't let me stop you from taking a deep dive on the album. In fact choose your own adventure here on iTunes or Spotify...#ColdSummer

DJ Mustard feat Jeremih & Nicki Minaj - Don't Hurt Me

"We Set the Roof on Fire, We Set the Roof on Fire"

There's only one way to listen to Rae Sremmurd's music and that's all the way turnt up. To be clear, you have to have at least a few drinks in you to be able to get into their music. I can count on one hand songs I like of theirs and when I'm in to the mood to hear those songs, they're my favorite. Feel free and add Set the Roof to that playlist with others like with No Type and Come Get Her.

Before you start testing the high end of your speakers with the track below, let me point out one thing. A great deal of the awesomeness of this track can be directly attributed to Mike Will AND DJ Mustard. Both are stellar in their own right, but when they combine forces, it's GAME OVER. Shoot, you might even get a little nostalgic with all the Lil Jon can and response screams on the hook. Hopefully this one finds you in the right state of mind and you're able to crank it on your commute home...#SetTheRoof

Rae Sremmurd feat Lil Jon - Set the Rood (prod by Mike Will & DJ Mustard)

"You Chase Them All Night, I Pick"

Anybody thinking that G-Eazy peaked with When It's Dark Out just got a rude awakening today when he released two new heat rocks. The one I'm most stoked about is the DJ Mustard and Quavo assisted In The Meantime. You know when Mustard is on the beat, there's going to be plenty of bass on deck. Maybe I'm late to the party on his flow and verses, but Eazy dropped more than a few witty quoteables. The start of that third verse is straight fire! This one might end up being the tipping point when it comes to attending one of his many Endless Summer Tour dates. See y'all at Shoreline in early July...#InTheMeantime

G-Eazy feat Quavo - In The Meantime (produced by DJ Mustard)

Videos of the Week January 15th

This week's top five is all about variety. There's a bit of Trop House, Hip Hop, Pop and even some mashed up alternative. Led by the editing insanity of The Usual Suspect on his use of 183 movies to mash together Linkin Park's In the End, there was some high end novelty potential this week. No idea how long it took for him to create that video, but the nearly two million views are well deserved. Coming in close behind is a much tamer, but equally awesome performance Stole the Show from Kygo and Parson James on Ellen. Sidebar - Kygo killed it last night in SF.

In the realm of Hip Hop, DJ Mustard and Travis Scott led the way with their booty shake inducing new one Whole Lotta Lovin'. Speaking of booty shaking, the final two videos offer plenty of dancing. 99 Souls video for The Girl is Mine is about as fun as it gets with creative editing and interesting transitions. The final video of the week from Miike Snow is about as interesting and outlandish as it gets from a plot perspective. Picture a Dr. Evil-esque villain who is experiencing some bit of sexuality confusion. Then, he falls for the secret agent that he captures and lives happily ever after as a same sex couple. Can't make that type of stuff up, you just have to watch...#GhengisKhan
Kygo Performs Stole the Show on Ellen

Linkin Park's In the End Sung by 183 Movies

DJ Mustard feat Travis Scott - Whole Lotta Lovin' (Video)

99 Souls feat Destiny's Child & Brandy - The Girl is Mine (Video)

Miike Snow - Ghengis Khan (Video)

Photo Credit

"I Don't Need No Lip, Just a Whole Lotta Lovin'"

I've been impressed with how DJ Mustard has went from one of most well-known Hip Hop producers to an artist who has the capability of headlining a show. It's an evolution that not a lot of Hip Hop producers have been able to make and it speaks to his ability to produce a wide range of high energy music. Recently I've enjoy how he's been able to start catering to the electronic demo by bringing in some trap elements to his music.

Case in point, his new one, Whole Lotta Lovin', with Travis Scott. The track starts with a cooled out, snappy vibe, but by the time it gets to the hook it takes on a whole new personality. There's an EDM-esque build up that gradually works its way to the top before giving way to a trippy, bass heavy breakdown. It's not something I saw coming, but that's what made it so interesting. All in all, definitely one of my favorite tracks to date from Mustard...#WholeLottaLovin

DJ Mustard feat Travis Scott - Whole Lotta Lovin'

Warriors Win, How Bout Oakland Tho?

How fitting, Louis Futon drops an Oakland track the night that the Golden State Warriors win the Western Conference Finals. It's been a while since Oakland has been on the map for basketball, so you an understand why the Bay Area is buzzing right now. All you Bay Area Hip Hop heads might recognize the vocal samples on the vocals on the track from Vell and DJ Mustard's Oakland below...
Little did we all know, all the track needed was some heavy bass and a few drops. Louis Futon did a hell of a job harnessing the hyphy in the original and changing the vibe of the track to more of a chill trap track. Best part about, he's giving it away from $free.50 via Soundcloud. No need to second guess on this one, join in the Bay Area celebration tonight by copping this one...#OaklandTho

Louis Futon feat Vell & DJ Mustard - Oakland Tho

DJ Mustard Takes FourFiveSeconds to the Club

If you were one of the many people who wished Rihanna's new single FourFiveSeconds was a bit more uptempo, you're in luck. DJ Mustard just came through with a slightly Trap, but mostly uptempo Hip Hop remix of Rihanna's new single. In general, Mustard is on fire of late with remixes to Beyonce's 7/11, a collabo with DJ Snake and a new one with Cashmere Cat on the way. Sure, he's established himself as one of the best Hip Hop producers in the game, but I'm really digging his remixes and collaborations with EDM DJs of late. Hopefully all these new remixes signify a new album is on the way. I liked 10 Summers, but if his recent remixes are an indication of a new direction, I'm on board...#MustardOnTheBeat

Rihanna feat Kanye West & Paul McCartney - FourFiveSeconds (DJ Mustard Remix)

DJ Snake & DJ Mustard Get Extra Faded

You ever have one of those weird occurrences where you have two friends who hang out in different circles from each other, yet one day you find out that they were friends before you knew either of them? That's what I feel like tonight as I listen to DJ Snake & DJ Mustard's hard hitting remix of ZHU's Faded. Prior to this remix, who would have thought that they would ever collaborate?

Last April, I posted ZHU's Faded and it seems like ever since then he's been a shooting star. In support of ZHU's grammy nomination, Snake and Mustard gave the funky original a snap and trap makeover. The resulting sound is heavy, grimy and will give your speakers a workout. Chalk this one up to the rare occurrence when two great producers actually manage to craft a remix that is just as good as the original...#Faded2

DJ Snake & DJ Mustard - Faded 2.0

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

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

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

Beyonce - 7/11 (DJ Mustard Remix)

Videos of the Week November 22nd

I'm going with the lead with Hip Hop, end with novelty angle on this week's rendition of videos of the week. Ever since the Rihanna twerk video, I've become fully enamored with T-Pain and B.O.B.'s new single Up Down. Twerking aside, DJ Mustard (who produced the track) is my leading candidate for Hip Hop DJ of the year. Between the beats from Headband and Up Down, it's clear that he's got a knack for getting people to shake it.

Interesting that Kanye and Kim decided to film a soft core porn for everyone to see. And that wasn't to be outdone by Lady Gaga and R Kelly on SNL either. Whole lot of affection this week y'all, buckle in and I'd even go as far to suggest that a few of these are NSFW. The good news is, for those who don't enjoy salaciousness, Disclosure and Aloe Blacc are here to save the day with a live performance and new video...#PitchforkParis
T-Pain feat B.O.B. - Up Down (Video)

Kanye West - Bound 2 (Video)

Lady Gaga And R. Kelly Perform “Do What You Want” on SNL Disclosure Performs at Pitchfork Paris
Aloe Blacc - Love is the Answer (Video) Photo credit: YouTube

"My Bad if My Ex Try and Fight You"

With every production I hear from DJ Mustard, I become a bigger fan. In a year that has been relatively quiet for a lot of the industry heavyweights like The Runners, Danja, Lex Luger, Boi-1da, and 40, DJ Mustard has stepped his game up with attention grabbing beats that elevate artists to heights they wouldn't have achieved had he not given them something to go in on. His newest one with Kid Ink and Chris Brown samples Robin S's classic hit Show Me (below)...

If you're not up on Mustard's discography, he's the one who is behind B.O.B.'s Headband, Tyga's Rack City and Ludacris's Helluva Night to name a few. For me, it's a toss up between Headband and Show Me for my favorite beat of his to date. Real smooth cut below, give it a listen...#ShowMe

Kid Ink feat Chris Brown - Show Me (prod DJ Mustard)

"Day You Can Mess With Me That Would Be Neveruary"

I dropped the ball about a month ago when Bobby Ray's newest single hit the internet while I was exploring Europe. Needless to say, the track is now on the radio, which is what reminded me to finally post it because the whistlin' Dixie style snap beat is addicting. Sure the lyrics are borderline trashy, but what did you expect with a 2 Chainz feature?

No firm release date on B.O.B.'s upcoming Underground Luxury album that is due out this summer. What I do know is that you will find the DJ Mustard produced track at your local gentleman's club. Not sure if the track below has anything to do with him calling his new album "the edgiest project to date", but if you take it for what it's worth, you won't be upset when you see some booties shakin' around you...#UndergroundLuxury

B.O.B. feat 2 Chainz - HeadBand (prod by DJ Mustard)