Drake Speaks on His Favorite Verse

When I first saw the caption "Drake speaks on his favorite verse" last weekend, I was more than a little curious to see what his choice was and how it aligned with what I thought. Before I speak on it, watch the video of his explanation below...

Can't argue with his choice, there is an uncanny amount of emotional venting on that track that's so real it put him in Marshon Lynch style beast mode on the mic. Anyone ever notice he used two rhyming sounds in the song with the first verse using the hard ō (like in own) and the second banking on a hard ā (like in gain)? I'm a firm believer that the emotional bi-product of adversity can be so inspirational, it can result in truly amazing shit at times. Put it this way, you wouldn't be reading this post right now because I wouldn't have decided to design a blog if my two year relationship that I went all in on didn't end abruptly (#RealTalk), so I can attest to how focusing and harnessing the power of adversity can result in inspiration if pointed in the right direction. And it just so happens Drake used the same energy when he went in the booth and let out the raw emotion explaining the chaos surrounding his life. From the raw energetic delivery to the haunting clap of the beat cooked up by @ovo40, it went from a diamond in the rough track to a standout on one of the best mixtapes in the history of Hip Hop. Song will never have an expiration date in my archives and always own a parking space in my iTunes...#Truth

That wasn't the only interesting video that dropped last week either, as the 17 sec viral Twitvid of @justblaze also hit the blogsphere. Only so much can interest someone in 17 sec (#TWSS), but when @DRDRE insinuates that another album will be coming out on 04/20 as the camera pans to him, people tend to have the patience to watch it...

This was fun for like a day until it was announced by "a rep close to Dr. Dre" that 04/20 wasn't a release date for Detox. Sure it's been damn near a decade long witch hunt with multiple sightings, but with the release of one and a half singles in the past couple months, there seemed to develop a calm before the storm sort of feeling. Ya, I know we've heard this thunder before off in the distance and had our expectations cause anger through immense anticipation, but I think we can all settle on a realistic, we'll believe it when we see it attitude...#KeyserSozeStyle

Also finding it's way on the internet Hip Hop blotter was the birthday of Aaliyah who would have turned 32 last Sunday, Jan 16th. It's more than crazy that she passed away tragically ten whole years ago when she was only 22 years old. Man just think about that, I feel like she made so much great music in so little time and then was taken from us at the drop of a dime. I can still remember back in the day bein' absolutely blown away when I saw the video below:

Man I was only 9 years old when I heard that track and fell in love with it. That song went so hard for a lady R&B singer, it was hard for the fellas to not take notice of he's thug undertones, which were delivered with such melody it was unmistakably different from any other artist at the time. And that's a big reason why she was such a big inspiration to Drake, who needed her to be the pioneer he leaned on to lead by example and instill in him the confidence to do more than just rap. It was interesting to me to hear how he was inspired by her non-gender driven lyrics that were written and delivered in a way that appealed to both men and women at a time where it was strange for a guy to be singing a R&B melody. If you missed it check his open letter to Aaliyah he wrote a year ago...

Evidently @drakkardnoir wasn't the only one who grew up idolizing Dana Haughton either, as @JColeNC also hopped on the cameras provided by SoulCultureUK to open up about the beat he made for Aaliyah when she passed and how he was crushin' on her back in the day...

I'll leave you with one last one of Drake performing Fireworks with Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine live at the Hammerstein Apollo in London. Can't really touch his version with Alicia, but still pretty damn cool...

For Real This Time? Detox First Single

To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd ever see the day that Dr. Dre would formally announce a finished track off his legendarily delayed Detox album that has been coming out each of the past seven years (supposedly). All good things come to those who wait? That's a pretty stupid assertion, everyone knows it's going to be a classic album filled with select cuts that could all be singles...I mean this long...it has to filled with the absolute best right? If you let fine wine grown from the best grapes marinade in a cellar for years, it tastes pretty damn good...nam sayin?

Regardless, the classic Dre traces are sprinkled all over this track from the bouncy piano scattered throughout the track to the speaker punishing bass and gruff verses. Add in a little Snoop and some Nate Dogg Cheif Thunderbird aka Sly on the hook...wait what? Cheif Thunderbird? C'mon Nate raise up off that retirement for one hook just like the good ol' days man! As as aside, the beat ride out at the end is appropriate and I hope he continues to go with that on all of these top notch beats.

Even better Detox is presently planned for "early 2011" release. Check it...

“I see the finish line right now,” Dre added. “I’m wrapping it up. I need about two or three more songs, and hopefully I’ll start the mixing process at the end of next month. From that point I’m about 30 days out. One of the reasons it was taking so long was because I felt like I was doing it more out of obligation as opposed to actually feeling it.” (Nov 16)

The sheer fact he's even hinting at being within reach of finishing is epic and implying he's actually feeling the material is enough to reinvigorate all that excitement I've harbored for years like a lil' kid who keeps running down to the Christmas tree to find nothing but wrapping paper, a few unwrapped gifts that look like pieces of what you wanted and the promise of better prsents next year.

Give it a listen, I mean the song even has a damn website dedicated to it, there's not much more I can say that will make you like it any more than you already will...it's Dr. Dre...he's incapable of producing sub-par Hip Hop music and is so well respected I'd venture a guess that even my parents would know him by name and be able to sing along to one or more of his songs...

Sidebar: Under Pressure > Kush...#IMO

Dr. Dre feat Snoop Dogg and Akon - Kush

|Download

Dr. Dre Remasters the Laptop with HP Envy

So is this supposed to mean that since Dr. Dre used his new high tech HP Envy Laptop to remaster his "supposed" first single Under Pressure (off Detox) that Detox is imminent and coming soon?  Sidebar: What is that retractable face covering in the commercial that looks like some sort of storm trooper sunglasses with a cup shaped breathable mouth region? Also, does that come with the laptop? I'm just saying, if I'm going to make an informed purchase of a laptop that is over $1,000, I need to know the capabilities of this robotic Dr. Dre beat mask and whether or not they are included in the price of the laptop. If they are included, will they contribute to my digital mixing skills? Finally, would mixing goggles or beat facemask be appropriate names for this apparatus and if not, can I still buy them separately to wear when I'm not mixing and in a social setting?

Retractable beat mask aside, like all good things that are too good to be true, I'm gonna assume the role of devil's advocate hater and point back to that Coors Light commercial he did that spotlighted the immaculate beat from the "supposed" Detox reference track The Next Level made with the help of The Neptunes (@chadhugo & Skateboard P). Remember when he did this beat and everyone hopped on the "OMG Detox is coming" bandwagon in 2007. See below...

But, what if it is true that this is another step toward the album and first single? Well, this is what Dr. Dre posted on his website about the unfinished leak of Under Pressure.

Adding more drama to the story, Scott Storch who co-produced Under Pressure with the good doctor, said

"Dr. Dre was looking for the right hook for the single Under Pressure" and now "the hook is now ready and chosen." - Source

Honestly, I'll be happy if I still like Hip Hop music in 50 years when Detox is finally released...til then it'll continue to be the lock ness monster of Hip Hop. For real though if he includes finished versions of The Next Level with Snoop and Under Pressure with Jay-Z on Detox, it's over with...Hip Hop will have a King and I will would fully watch a 1 hour special anoiting him that, even if it doesn't involve any free agency. With these "hypothetical" lead tracks, I really don't think the momentum for his album could get any unstoppable...wait a minute...

I'll let that marinade for a bit for all my hatinass friends who look down on my loyal @justinbieber support...

Gossip Worth Posting...1st Single off Detox featuring Jay-Z Coming This Week??

Now I'm not one to get all excited about somebody opening their mouth about something just to gain a lil notoriety, especially if it sounds ridiculously far fetched. Wait a sec, let's reconsider...by posting this I'm going completely against what I just said in the last sentence, but it's one of those too good to be true rumors that could potentially make this week one to remember. Why Michael Yo from E! News and Y100 would be the one announcing this is beyond me and makes me hella skeptical of the track, album etc...but c'mon dream a little??

Supposedly this "nameless" track will be the first single off the mythical album known only by whispers through the years as Detox. It is supposed to be an "uptempo" track that again is rumored to be released this week...or at least that's what all the buzz is at Interscope.

We'll see if it comes to fruition (my guess is it won't) but I'm willing to sacrifice a little personal journalistic integrity on the mention of a potentially legendary track...