Videos of the Week

When watching @iamwill's new video for T.H.E., the only though that crossed my mind was that's about right. I wouldn't expect anything less than interstellar, Michael Jackson-esque, Scream type, CGI driven madness. The only thing I'm in complete awe about is what jboymoo said about him on iTunes (below):

Saying Will I Am is a great rapper would have been debatable ten years ago, not today. Now he's more international pop star, let's try and keep his pop star persona from the association of the word rapper, k?

As a sidebar, it's pretty cool seeing all of the behind the scenes footage of Kanye and Jay's Watch the Throne tour. Other than the fact that they play N words in Paris a record 10 times in one concert (not joking), it seems to be the most highly sought after concert ticket. I'll be the first to admit, I was very lukewarm on their album initially, but lately I've found myself going back to it and liking it better the more I listen to it. Some things are just too intense and shoved down our throat and over-hyped that it borders on too cliche to even say nice things about. Now that the dust has settled, I'm more than happy to say should be in the conversation for album of the year...#NotTheBestThough

Will.i.am feat Jennifer Lopez & Mick Jagger - T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) Video

The Cataracs feat Dev - Sunrise (Video)

Gym Class Heroes feat Neon Hitch - Ass Back Home (Video)

Kanye & Jay-Z Watch the Throne Episode 3

Kanye & Jay-Z Watch the Throne Episode 4

Kanye & Jay-Z Watch the Throne Episode 5

Young Jeezy Performs I Do and Lose My Mind on Jimmy Kimmel

B.O.B. on NBC Nitecap

"Give 'em Hell, Turn Their Heads, Gonna Live Life Til We're Dead"

Leave it to Ryan Tedder to turn an otherwise mundane track into a crescendo of emotion filled vitality. That's the best explanation I have for @GYMCLASSHEROES's new single The Fighter off their upcoming album, The Papercut Chronicles II. From the soft, piano lead in to the rolling march of the beat, it's as if @TRAVIEMCCOY decided to throw a few verses on a well put together @onerepublic.

It's a well put together single and should push the sales meter just as much as their lead single Stereo Hearts did. Coincidentally, their new album will be out the same day as Take Care on November 15th. With four singles and 11 tracks on the album, it's packed full of goodness and repeat-ability. This one had me singin' in the car and I'd suspect it could have a similar effect on you...#JustWait

Gym Class Heroes feat Ryan Tedder - The Fighter

|iTunes

"Oh Everytime I Close My Eyes...I See My Name in Shin-ing Liiiiiggghhhtttsss"

This track had me at hello...I'm talkin' like the first 10 sec Bruno Mars (pictured above on the right) reeled me in like a poor kid just saw a $20 hit the ground. Between this track and Bruno's collabo with B.O.B., you better believe he's the next go-to R&B sensation for soulful, but radio friendly hooks.

The sound of this track is so carefree and fun, it's undeniably addictive. Sure it's more pop than R&B, but the contrast between the harmonic chorus leading into the bouncy Jamaican inspired guitar (think Dwight Pinkney) Hip Hop beat is well drawn up. At first you really don't know what to think when Bruno starts in with his "I wanna be a billionaire, sooo f'in bad and buy all of the things I never had". You don't expect to hear a soulful vocal lead in with an f bomb within' the first five words, but it's that slight edge that makes it a little more than your average pop track. It takes the bubble gum wrapping off the chorus a bit and makes it more of an attention grabbing, cool sing-along rather than a "man I can't be caught singin' this?" type of track.

Travis or Travie McCoy which he's now going by, is more well known for being the lead singer of Gym Class Heroes, but he's launching a solo album this spring titled The Lazarus Project. I'd rank this one right up there with T.I. and Drake's new singles as the three best songs to come out thus far in 2010, I really do think that highly of this track. It's lightheartedly fresh I'll call it cause you can't help but smile hearin' Bruno singing...you can actually hear the smile in his voice inflection and it's a nice touch. Enough of my rhetoric though, y'all be the judge and stop sleepin' on Bruno!!!...

"I'd probly pull an Angelina and Brad Pitt and adopt a bunch of babies that ain't neva had shit..."       - Travie McCoy

Travie McCoy feat Bruno Mars - Billionaire HHOOOOTTTTTT!!!!