"Bad Boys Ain't No Good, Good Boys Ain't No Fun"

Even with all the new material @drake has put out lately, the majority of it hasn't taken on the serious conversational tone like he did on @maryjblige's new single Mr. Wrong. When I say serious conversational tone, Paris Morton Music or Karaoke come to mind. The songs that he mixes in a little R&B harmony and kicks a thoughtful verse are where he's able to differentiate himself from the rest of the less talented R&B artists who can't rap and the rappers who can't sing.

I know what you're thinking, what about Marvin's Room and Club Paradise? To an extent they're worthy of comparison and maybe it's wishful thinking on my part that the other half of Take Care will be filled with tracks that share that tone. It isn't much of a stretch to assume his track with Stevie Wonder will at the very least be a ballad, but at best all I can do is speculate. All I know it's I'm pretty pumped that there are still up to ten tracks that I still haven't heard out of the 18 that are slated to be on the album.

Enough about Drizzy though, what you need to know is that Mary J is dropping her 10th studio album on November 21st. It is set to be titled My Life II...The Journey Continues (Act II) and will feature multiple tracks produced by @iamjimjonsin and one by @ONLY1DARKCHILD. If you weren't listening closely, the twinkling synthesizers on Mr. Wrong were a dead give away that Jim Jonsin did the beat. Shouts out to @iamricolove, who never gets the credit he deserves for all the production/writing credits he churns out.

Mary J Blige feat Drake - Mr. Wrong (prod by Jim Jonsin & Rico Love)
|Pre-order

"I Don’t Wanna Be in the Blind, But Sometimes I Stevie Wonder"

As bits and pieces of Take Care continue to trickle out before it's November 15th release, the album as whole is starting to take shape. If you're like me, you're most excited to hear @drake's collaboration with Stevie Wonder on Doing it Wrong and you've been mostly satisfied with the material that has surfaced so far. To recount, I'm a big fan of Headlines, Marvin's Room, Club Paradise and Make Me Proud, which means I'm 50/50 on Free Spirit, Dreams Money Can Buy and the newest addition below, The Real Her.

You might be wondering how I could be on the fence about a Weezy and Drizzy collabo? To be fair, they have set the bar really high with all the songs they have done together. In comparison, their last track together, She Will, might have been my all time favorite, but that wasn't because of anything Drizzy did though, as he only added a hook and @liltunchi went all homicide on the verses. Still, Wayne seems to think Drake's style is from another planet because of his trend setting conversation verses that draw the listener in. Couldn't have agreed more, he did a great job of summarizing part of the intrigue that Drake provides as an artist (below):

You've gotta be in the mood for a slow jam if you're going to give The Real Her a full listen. On the track Drake speaks on an the immediate connection that he's felt with a woman before, attempting to rationalize the undeniable allure the woman possesses. It's a scenario he's really good at explaining, especially over a slow, @ovo40 piano beat. It will probably grow on me over time, but for now there are more tracks out there that I'm excited about on the album that I'm cool with it.

Stream only since it wasn't an OVO sanction release. Til the next time, change that hash tag from #Oct24 to #Nov15 and keep it locked the next couple weeks as the official tracklist starts to unfold...

Drake feat Lil Wayne - The Real Her (prod by 40)
|iTunes

Videos of the Week

High powered week as far as videos are concerned, with Drake, Coldplay, Rihanna, Ash Roth, B.O.B. and Wale all releasing new ones. Not gonna lie, I'm a little disturbed at both Coldplay and Rihanna's videos. A person in an elephant costume riding a unicycle down the highway to meet up with his other elephant band friends? Who knows, it's buzzworthy, weird and low budget, maybe it works. As far as Rihanna, I get the track is all about finding love in the most hopeless places, but good god, drugs much? Little too trippy and downward spiral-ly for my taste, but maybe that's why there's successful. The more people talk about them, the more free publicity they get I guess. Whatever works I guess, have a good weekend y'all...

Coldplay - Paradise (Video)

Drake - Take Care Album (Trailer)

Rihanna feat Calvin Harris - We Found Love (Video)

Asher Roth feat Chuck Inglish - In the Kitchen (Video)

B.O.B. feat Playboy Tre & Meek Mill - Epic (Video)

Wale - Bait (Video)

"I'm So, I'm So, I'm So, I'm So, I'm So Proud of You"

With Take Care looming on the horizon and rumors circulating in regards to potential tracks, it was cool seeing the timing of his newest leak that lead up to his SNL performance last night. Set to be the second single off the album, it's a feel good track that pays homage to that special woman that's worth penning a song about. You know that special chick that is so bad that calling her underrated is a understatement?

As far as the collabo is concerned, the chemistry between @nickiminaj and @drake is undeniable. @ProducerTMinus did his thing by providing a simple, but still head-nod worthy beat for Drake to do his well-known harmony on the hook and rapping on the verses with Snicky. If you're wondering what to expect when you hear the track, look no further than the YouTube re-run from SNL last night...

Good god Nicki was blessed with curves, that's all I gotta say bout that video. Exactly 30 days left til Take Care and I have yet to be anything but pumped about everything I've heard. It's still going to have to be better than great to top Game's R.E.D. Album...#JustSayin

Drake feat Nicki Minaj - Make Me Proud (prod by T-Minus)
|iTunes

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

What a random NBA 2K12 commercial with the likes of MJ, Drake, Brian Wilson and Mark Cuban. Three of the hottest concert tickets this fall include Adele (ridiculous how much her tickets are going on stub hub), J Cole and Big Sean. It's called marketing folks, make yourself visible so people will go watch. Give bloggers something to embed to their site!. I realize I'm only a part of the game and that's cool with me as long as you're reading and clicking around...

T-Pain feat Lily Allen & Wiz Khalifa - 5 O'clock (Video)

Big Sean - I Am Finally Famous Tour Trailer

Adele - Someone Like You (Video)

Drake and Micheal Jordan's NBA 2K12 Commercial

J Cole - Daddy's Little Girl (Video)

Enrique Iglesias feat Pitbull - I Like How it Feels (Video)

"Just Call Me Genuine, ’cause I’m the Same Ol' G"

You might think I'm a fan @Tyga just because I endorse damn near everything Young Money. For me though, it's more of a chicken before the egg sort of admiration I have for Thank You God Always. Before I had an appreciation for what Young Money was going to be with the addition of @drakkardnoir, @jaysean and @nickiminaj, I was writing about songs like Press 7 and Coconut Juice.

Fast forward three years and now Tyga's sophmore album, Careless World: Rise of the Last King, is due out November 19th. I haven't seen an official tracklist yet, but I did already let y'all in on his first single called Far Away. For single #2, Tyga enlisted Drake and @Ovo40's help on a very "Drake sounding" track called Still Got It.

When I say "Drake sounding", I mean beat-wise with the organ lead in and signature kick on 40's instrumental. You may be saying to yourself, haven't I heard this somewhere? Why yes you have observant reader...

Call it a demo, call it a throwaway, whatever you name you pick, it's still an adequate foundation for a hit that Young Money wasn't about to see leave the compound. I'll give it a thumbs up, even though a verse from Drake would have been appreciated. Can't always get what you want, though, so a long hook with a lil bit of harmony will suffice.

If you remember anything from this post, remember not to sleep on young Tyga on November 19th. He's got the backing and talent to make enough noise that your iTunes playlist may need his assistance coming up here soon...

Tyga feat Drake - Still Got It (prod by Noah "40" Shebib & Supa Dups)

Drake Goes in on a Lex Luger Beat

I know, I know, this remix is like a week old, but I didn't plan on this week being so chalked with big releases, so it got pushed back. Still, you know I wasn't about to let some new @drakkardnoir slip through the cracks without sharing it, especially because it marks the first time he's been able to get on a @SmokedOutLuger beat. What you expect is what you get from any @WakaFlockaBSM track, so if you're hoping for substance, then you clearly don't enjoy frequenting strip clubs where all of his music is played. In other words, even though 99% of the music I listen to has substance, it's impossible for me to follow my better judgment and instincts to ignore Waka's tracks because Lex Luger's beats are my kryptonite (see what I did there superman?) Good got I'm a nerd...

Not the usual delivery from Drizzy on his verse either, which is interesting. The change up of flow makes him sound kinda subdued, but it fits in with the company he keeps on the track. So much booty bass on this one that I damn near slapped on the 808 check label on this one, but that's sorta like saying a zebra has stripes when you're dealing with a Luger beat. More of a novelty remix, but well worth a listen...

Wacka Flocka feat Drake - Round of Applause (Remix)(prod by Lex Luger)

"Tell Me, Who Did I Leave Behind?"

Put it this way, I'd rather visit Club Paradise any day of the week rather than call myself a Free Spirit. That's wasn't meant as an obvious T&A shot either, instead it was more for those who have been paying attention and know my thoughts on Drizzy's new track with Raaawwwwss! In the grand scheme of things, Club Paradise would have fit in nicely on So Far Gone because he goes back into storytelling mode, as if to give us listeners another chapters into his life while he gives us an update on what the effect success is having on his life. From the old friends at home who claim he's sold out that he rhetorically asks "Tell me, who did I leave behind?", to the entourage he brings with him on the road that he can count on being real since they have known him since day one...it's another wide open door to the psyche of a real dude trying his best to stay real through it all.

Lord knows I'll never have the notoriety @drakkardnoir does, but if I did, I'd imagine I'd be fighting the same internal thoughts and dealing with the same dilemmas he faces as his fame and fortune increases. Yea I know it's fun to pretend, but find me another rapper or artist for that matter, who speaks so openly about their life that you feel like you know them. It's a unique quality that he's always possessed and I don't care what the haters who claim he's too emotional or vulnerable with his lyrics...dude had the balls to tell millions of people some of his innermost, honest thoughts. I'd like to see you try that in front of a room full of people, much less put it on wax for everyone to dissect again and again.

Conflicting reports on whether this will surface on Take Care, but I'm cool with it being a diamond in the rough or deluxe bonus track if that's the case. All I know is that it's far from a filler track and not single material, which would make it a great choice for the album. Shouts out to @OVO40 on the instrumental.

#October24th

Drake - Club Paradise (prod by 40)

"Tat My Name on You Girl so I Know It's Real"

Presumably upping the stakes in an attempt to weed out the groupies, @drakkardnoir and @rickyrozay are setting the bar higher if you want to really get with them. Spotted over at OVO, the picture above is evidently how you know it's real. I get it, it's like physical collateral because if the girl turns out to be fake, she'll forever have a reminder of it with your name tatted on her. Interesting concept, sorta forward thinking in nature and a potential asset for a lot of high profile celebrities to add to their arsenal. Still, I know a lot of fake girl that get a tat just to get with a celebrity. If it were up to me, I'd make it "tat my name where I can see it, so you know it's real", so that all the undercover one can't fake the funk.

As far as the execution and sound of the track, @ovo40 gets the production credit for providing the mellow template. Call it a street cred track with a touch of harmony for Drizzy Drake, displaying lyrics that get in it where they fit in with the Rozay influence. Not my cup of tea in the grand scheme of Drake tracks, but I can see why he went the direction he did with the track in collaborating with the industry's hottest rapper out now. Should further his clout/Hip Hop influence and provide a firmness to Take Care that all the trappers and gangstas were missing on Thank Me Later...#Oct24th

Drake feat Rick Ross - Free Spirit (prod by 40)

Canadians Unite! Drake and Bieber Finally Team Up on a Track

Suffice to say, this collaboration was a loooong time coming and even though the finished product isn't quite as epic as I would have hoped, it's still cool to see @drakkardnoir and @justinbieber get together on a collabo. It was the first time I had really noticed a big voice changes in Bieber's harmony too, but to his credit, he's handling it quite well given the evidence on the track below. As I listened to the track, I really hoped to get a new remix verse from either Drake or Justin, but unfortunately they stuck to the original script.

Don't let my lukewarm reaction to the track ruin it for you, especially if you're one of those teenie boppers who salivate over Biebs' every word. It's aiiiight, but I'll hold out for a more high powered collabo in the future. A little less than two months before Take Care, I can't wait to hear that joint, Doing It Wrong that Drake did with Stevie Wonder...#Oct24

Drake feat Justin Bieber - Trust Issues (Remix)

Weezy Chops Hov and B Down To Size

When it comes to Hip Hop royalty, generally there's a no-fly zone or heir of invincibility that protects the top dogs from any sort of disses or lyrical jabs. I'm not gonna include Kanye in that group because his temperament as an instigator is downright abrasive, so he attracts a lot of the hate that comes on him. I'm talking about the likes of Jay-Z, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland...the type of industry vets that have done so much work in the game that in some way shape or form, they've fed everyone they've touched and made very little enemies. Yea, I know this sort of thing has happened before and all remember the highly publicized Nas vs Jay-Z spat back in early 2000, but that never seemed to interest more than a lot of dedicated Hip Hop fans who knew the gravity of the situation.

What has the internet currently abuzz is @liltunchi's more than subtle jab at @s_c_ on one of his new Carter IV tracks It's Good. In general, I think everyone is overreacting and reading a little to heavily into the tea leaves, but I'm finding it interesting that Weezy had the audacity to give a "stay in your lane" shot across the bow at Forbes' top breadwinner of 2011. Sure, everyone is used to the braggadocio that goes along with making so damn much money you use $1 bills as Kleenex, but it sounds like Wayne got a little fed up with the extend Jigga went in bragging about his wealth, especially because it subtly going after Wayne's partner in crime/mentor Baby.

The original line Weezy was responding to was from Kanye & Jay's track H.A.M., which landed as a deluxe bonus track off Watch the Throne. The response came as more of a non-direct subliminal on Wayne's new track It's Over, lines below...

"I’m like really half a billi ni**a, really you got baby money, keep it real with ni**as, ni**as aint got my lady money.” - Jay-Z verse on H.A.M.

"Talkin’ bout baby money, I got ya baby money
Kidnap yo b**ch, get that how much you love yo lady money
I know you fake ni**a, press yo breaks ni**a"
I’ll take you out, that’s a date ni**a - Lil Wayne verse on It's Over

Yea I know shark week is over, but that line was like a stealth killer whale shot to a great white.

Suspected beef aside, @boi1da did his thing on the beat and I enjoyed a rare high profile verse from @therealkiss. Yea and about that feisty @drakkardnoir verse, damn man, did I hear a little anger mixed in there? We'll see if the whole pump your brakes subliminal is received with any response, but my guess is they'll hug it out and life will continue to go on as usual in Hip Hop because they've got too many mutual friends to actually beef. Time will tell...Carter IV drops on iTunes this Sunday, Aug 28th in case the leak hasn't come across your radar yet...

Lil Wayne feat Drake & Jadakiss - It's Good (prod by Boi-1da)

|iTunes

"Where's All the Girls Too Busy Studyin' to Make the Guest List?"

I'm finding it really hard to disagree with the growing consensus that @thegame sounds best over @COOLANDDRE beats. Sure he had a moment there with the good doctor, but when it comes to longevity and consistency of sound, he just keeps churning out dope music with the help of Marcello and Andre.

And who would have thought he and @drakkardnoir could rip it up with the chemistry they did on Good Girls Go Bad? Not that a feature with either of them would be a challenge to anyone involved, but with two differing styles, they meshed well over the slow, steady, bangin' instrumental. With all thes R&B tracks and cameo hooks Drake has put out of late, it was refreshing to hear him go in and spit a nice verse. Between this leak and Game's other tough new one Martians vs Aliens, The R.E.D. Album is starting to enter the discussion for album of the year. When 5 single worthy tracks have leaked prior to the album's release, it's almost to a point where anything beyond this is icing on the cake. And we still haven't heard a CDQ version of Game's new tracks with @realdjpremier or the other @IMADEITINC track or even the few Dr. Dre produced tracks.

I mean I'm enjoying Watch the Throne and I've got high expectations for Carter IV and Take Care, but 8 months into the year, find me another album that's this stacked front to back...#Crickets

The Game feat Drake - Good Girls Go Bad (prod by Cool & Dre)

|iTunes

"I Tried to Pay Attention, But Attention Paid Me"

I mentioned the genesis of this track last night when I posted @liltunchi's studio video of him working in the studio on the track with @drakkardnoir. Now this is the heavyweight track I've been waiting for, with Weezy dotting his T's and crossing his I's on ever bar and Drake delivering a calm, but exciting hook.

The proverb worthy wordplay Weezy spits on damn near every line is exactly why he's on top of the game and currently ruling over Hip Hop like a King who understands what the new Hip Hop fan wants, and delivers it. The new school Hip Hop fan pays attention to ironic/metaphorically creative lyrics that make you think a little bit. In other words, everything he speaks on has a deeper meaning that makes you think. For example, "Karma is a bitch, Well just make sure that bitch is beautiful" or "I already know that life is deep but I still dig her" or "But I’m Ray Charles to the bullsh**". Nothing earth shattering about the vocabulary he uses, but he's presenting a fresh, new take on old proverbial phrases, which takes some creativity. Boom! Therein lies the appeal of why Drake, Weezy and Kanye continually set the bar higher with their lyrics.

Don't overlook that beat put together by @ProducerTMinus either, he did that. Also, word on the streets today is that this may not be the final version and that @rickyrozay is going to be featured on the final version here. Sorta apathetic about that decision, but after listening to the verse, Raaaawwwse did his part to fit in by elevating his game, I'll give him that. Still woulda liked to have heard a full verse from Drizzy Drake instead of just the hook. In a perfect world...

Carter IV...August 29th

Lil Wayne feat Drake - She Will (prod by T-Minus)
|iTunes

Videos of the Week

Man I can't wait til that new Weezy single drops with Drake. Carter IV, coming in two weeks...
Redband Trailer of Jonah Hill's New Movie The Sitter

Karmin Music Performs I Need a Doctor with Skylar Grey

Lil Wayne Working on New Single She Will feat Drake

Jay-Z and Kanye West - Otis (Video)

Wiz Khalifa - No Sleep (Video)

The Cool Kids Perform Roll Call With Asher Roth (Live)

Videos of the Week

With Drizzy makin' Headlines this week (literally), he gets a lotta ink this week deservedly. That track is growin' on me now, especially after seein' him perform it live in concert. In case you forgot, Watch the Throne is due out in three days and hasn't leaked other than Otis, which is some kind of accomplishment these days. No idea how they did it, but bravo Hov and Ye, as a blogger I am impressed man.

Drake Performs Headlines For the First Time in Windsor, CA

Drake Talks About New Single Headlines and Take Care

Drake Talks About Remixes to Marvin's Room, Calls Them "Flattering"

The Cool Kids - Down to Ride (Interview/Video)

Lil Twist feat Mishon - New Money (Video)

"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)

Video/Images of the Week

Between the lack of videos and the noteworthy announcements that became images, there wasn't all that much to post. What you need to know is that:
1) Kanye/Jay-Z's album Watch the Throne is damn near done and coming to fruition
2) Drake's new album Take Care is due out October 24th
3) Cory Bold has a new remix out

@katyperry - E.T. (Remix) (prod by @corybold)

Take Care...October 24th...

Anybody have any doubts that their new album is gonna be anything but classic?

Videos of the Week

Lots of good stuff including a new Eminem video, a couple with Drake and the trailer for Moneyball, out September 23rd...

Moneyball Trailer feat Brad Pitt and @jonahhill


@drakkardnoir - Marvin's Room (Video)


@Eminem - Space Bound (video) feat @sashagrey


@drakkardnoir Honors @boi-1da and @OVO40 at ASCAP Awards


@therealdjkhaled feat @drakkardnoir @rickyrozay and @liltunchi - I'm On One (Video)


@Coldplay - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall (Video)


@BigSean & @kanyewest perform Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay on @106andpark


@1YUNGCHRIS feat Everyone & They Moms - Racks on Racks (Remix) (Video)


@TINIETEMPAH feat @RealWizKhalifa - Till I'm Gone (Video)

Trust Issues Exist...Even on The Weeknd

My guess is the next name you will hear about that's coming out of the T Dot is @theweekndxo. You may have missed it, Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd released a debut album titled House of Balloons back in March and it was well received, generally speaking. Pitchfork gave it an 8.5 out of 10 and Rolling Stone, which isn't known for consistently high reviews, gave it a 4 out of 5 star rating.

Sure, the @drakkardnoir co-sign has really helped, but alone, he's got some talent to write home about. Case in point, his track Wicked Games, that is covered in raw emotion and pain.

To take it a step further, he'll be all over Take Care, which should do nothing but help get his name out there. Along the same lines, he took a stab at his PIC's new ballad, Trust Issues. On the cover, he did a sufficient job of making it his own, taking it a completely different direction, adding a little more harmony and importing his own lyrics.

You be the judge, did he do the original justice? Either way, get used to hearin' him, with Drake's help, you'll know his name sooner or later...#Watch

The Weeknd - Trust Issues (Remix)