"Everything Reminds Me of You, I'm Losing My Mind"

I've waxed poetic multiple times about how much I enjoy the duo of Gilbere Forte and his producer extraordinaire Raak. Sort of the way Emile Haynie helped create Cudi's original sound, Raak has consistently delivered unique, attention grabbing instrumentals for Gilbere to shine on.

The track below immediately caught my attention because of the eerily somber and dramatic tone that the beat and Active Child's vocals created. There's plenty of vigor and frustration in Gilbere's delivery that eventually culminates with an eruption of honesty as he states his real feelings at the end of the track. Nolita will serve as the second single off his upcoming Pray album due out on May 15th. Shout out to Epic Records for signing Philly's most underrated artist to a record deal...#Nolita

Gilbere Forte feat Active Child - Nolita (prod by Raak)

Videos of the Week

Interesting week of videos with @davidguetta taking the lead with his Little Bad Girl video. Been a while since somebody resorted to action figures for a video like the @beastieboys did.
David Guetta feat Taio Cruz & Ludacris - Little Bad Girl (Video)

Pusha T feat Tyler the Creator - Trouble On My Mind (Video)

B.O.B. in the studio with Drumma Boy

Gilbere Forte feat Tyga & Raak - Burn Me Down (Video)

DJ Khaled feat Mary J Blige, Fabolous & Jadakiss - It Ain't Over Til It's Over (Video)

Foster the People - Helena Beat (Video)

Beastie Boys feat Santigold - Don't Play No Games That I Can't Win (Video)

"You Can Bring the Flames, I'ma Bring the Snowstorm"

If you haven't heard much from @gilbereforte, you better get learned quick because dude is about to become a household name when his new album 87 Dreams to Reality drops. I don't have a release date yet on the album, but coming soon seems about right with this being one hell of a lead single.

The track is actually somewhat if a retread since the original Burn Me Down was on his first album 87 Dreams. Seeing that it was most fans favorite track, he took the same beat delivered by @iamraak outfitted with new verses and a hot 16 from Young Money's own, @tyga. I feel downright foolish that I missed this one last year when it dropped, but I'm damned to make up for it by lettin' y'all know that Gilbere is done with being an artist making a living off mixtapes. If you don't get it, read his description below of his new track that is posted on his website where he offered up the track for free...

"It’s been a long journey. From releasing my first remixes and freestyles just two years ago to now stepping into the next chapter of my career…and life. This “Burn Me Down” record is more than just a new song featuring a crazy verse from the homey Tyga. Its the realization that this music shit is meant to be. Everything that has happened up to this point has happened for a reason. The people I’ve met throughout my life, the places I’ve been, and the things that i’ve beared witness….have all led up to this. It was all preparation for what I feel is about to happen.

Back to the record.
Those of you rocking with me since the beginning are already familiar with the original “Burn Me Down” off 87 Dreams. It was ALOT of people’s favorite song after the first listen of the project. So I felt it’s only right I give it new life (w/all new verses) as the introduction to my next solo project entitled 87 Dreams To Reality.
What is that you ask? Its what happens when you take a dream and make it your reality." - Source

Bout time that me and you start giving credit where credit is due. You can start by playing this heat rock loudly with friends around, the raw energy on the track will reel 'em in...#BetDat

Gilbere Forte feat Tyga - Burn Me Down (prod by Raak)

"It's a Shame How it Plays Out, Left Me Naked Took the T and Let the Pain Out"

Residing somewhere between mainstream obscurity and being a solid bet to become a household name in 2011, @gilbereforte is part of a group of upcoming MCs that make interesting music. I say interesting because the breadth and variety of Hip Hop he is capable of creating can only be matched by the likes of @bobatl or @chiddybang. He can go hard and spit bar for bar like on Born in 87, he can pull off the dance sound with Kanye like on the Alors on Dance (Remix), but what sets him apart for average rapper are his covers of Indie tracks. Simply put they are a a template for how to weave a well known, beautifully creative song into a Hip hop sample. From his remix of Adele's Set Fire to the Rain to his sample of Florence and the Machine's Dog Days Are Over, he is a master at translating Indie likability to Hip Hop success.

With all that being said, he takes on more of an R&B stance with the track below, Die For You, off his @doncannon hosted mixtape Eyes of Veritas. The mixtape was released in early Feb and I'm still not exactly sure why less than 2,500 people have downloaded the tape of datpiff. Kind of a head scratcher because I would have willingly copped it just to listen to the track below that features the production of everybody (including me)'s favorite beatsmith @SmokedOutLuger.

Even more notable, Gilbere released a video for the track today that is more of an Asian mafia style short film directed by @jwhi...

The slow, methodic way Gilbere steadily attacks the track lyrically fits well with the cinematography. I'm always a fan of cohesiveness and when it can be achieved by telling a story visually that fits the similar message that his lyrics are trying to convey, you deserve dap. Well done @gilbereforte and @jwhi, I can appreciate different and that's what you pulled off with the video...#LugerBeatWasIcingOnTheCake

Bonus: Don't sleep on that new mixtape Gilbere dropped last week titled Philadelphia Freshman...

Gilbere Forte - Die For You (prod by Lex Luger)

Adele and Forte Set Fire to the Rain

I'm waaaay late, but fully running behind the @officialadele bandwagon. I haven't heard a woman with as much organic soul in her voice since @jossstone and I'd even go as far as to say she's twice as good as @iamduffymusic despite sounding eerily similar. Right now I'm zoning out to her rendition of @311's Love Song and the only thing that's missing is that whiny background guitar riff that sets offsets the sappy lyrics to perfection.

Not to be discounted is @gilbereforte's emotional verses that find a way to match the powerful hook delivered by Adele on the original track. My girl just said, "This reminds me of Rihanna and Eminem" and I can't disagree, the raw emotion can be compared to I Love the Way You Lie. Also deserving mention is @UnknownNick aka Twice as Nice who weaved Gilbere's verses in while adding a Hip Hop touch to the beat, preserving the quality of the original and taking it a step further to make it appeal to Hip Hop heads.

A+ track, clearly one of my favorites this month, not enough praise or time of day to give this one justice...

Adele feat Gibere Forte - Set Fire to the Rain (Remix)

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Buzz Track: Gilbere Forte - Dog Days Are Over (Yeasayer Remix)

Always cool when Hip Hop mixes with Indie and this is yet another reason why. Gilbere Forte, who recently jumped on remix of international hit Alors on Dance with Kanye, is an artist based out of Philly who is starting to make some noise with some of the material he's putting out. This time he borrows a sample of the huge hit Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine. You may remember her extremely well executed performance at the VMAs that had everyone in awe of her beautiful song. See the video of their original song below...

Kinda cool too that Indie champions, Yeasayer were behind the creation of this remix, providing the Indie bridge needed to pull together the two different styles. The "leave all your lovin' your lovin' behind" sample that is featured on the remix fits perfectly with the beat and @gilbereforte does his thing with upbeat, well thought out and methodically delivered verses.If I were to compare his delivery to another artist, it would probably Travie McCoy who has a really clear delivery and coherent lyrics.

Give it a listen, it's got radio appeal, but it comes from artists you wouldn't necessarily know. Expand your musical tastes, it's good music that blends different sounds and furthers the reach of Hip Hop. You know I'm all about that, do it for me then...

Gilbere Forte - Dog Days Are Over (Yeasayer remix)
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Stromae feat Kanye West & Gilbere Forte - Alors on Dance (remix)

This track was originally more of a global hit than a US hit, with Rowandan/Belgian Hip Hop/Electro rising star Stromae leading the way. In May, this track had become a number one single in France, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Romania and the Czech Republic. Yet you had never heard of it until @KanyeWest dropped a cameo verse on it...isn't that some shit?? Weird how musical tastes differ so greatly in different countries/regions.

For all of you paying attention closely, I posted a version of this track that Lumidee covered back in May, around when the original was making waves in Europe. At the time, I didn't realize Lumidee was covering the track, but it's a little ridiculous how insanely popular this track is. Check it out, YouTube video has almost 13.5 million views?? Seriously??

It's catchy, danceworthy and club-friendly...I'm left wondering why this wasn't released in the US earlier? I'm betting in my naivety, there's a lot of music out there like that and maybe being a #1 single in 20 countries was enough? What I want to know is how @STROMAE went #1 in that many countries and still only has #4,381 twitter followers? #MaybeImAHater

Yea what he said, (anyone know French?)...give it a listen...

Stromae feat Kanye West & Gilbere Forte - Alors on Dance (remix)
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