Videos of the Week

I can't remember a week that had this many high profile videos. From @drake to @thegame to @Rihanna, there were a lot of attention grabbing videos that found their way onto YouTube. Love the Bay Area setting for The Motto and Game's Martians vs Goblins was just as creepy and weird as you'd expect from the title. Nothing creepier that @fucktyler having a striped cat on his shoulder throughout his verse? Anybody else, that probably would be out of the ordinary. Like the @liltunchi image below...

Good luck reeling in those last minute gifts today and tomorrow y'all. Lord knows I'm gonna be busy like a bee no honeycomb...#DrakeQuote minus #TheMoneyTrees

Drake feat Lil Wayne & Tyga - The Motto (Video)

The Game feat Tyler, The Creator & Lil Wayne - Martians vs Goblins (Video)

Rihanna - You Da One (Video)

Asher Roth Performing G.R.I.N.D. in Chicago

David Guetta feat Sia - Titanium (Video)

Lloyd feat Trey Songz & Young Jeezy - Be The One (Video)

Real Players Make Love Mentally

"That’s how this lovin' be, love it when she under me

She say that she celibate, I penetrate her mentally"

In what can only be described as a unique way to respectfully go about getting with a girl, Wale preaches how it can be just as cool to go about getting to know a girl before thing turn physical. Sure the kind gentleman talk still eminently leads to the same endgame, but there's a degree of respectability that needs to be recognized by @WALE's attempt to appreciate the value of sex by attaching a cerebral element to the chase. One thing I've learned when listening to many of Wale's songs is that he must have had and continue to have a strong mother figure and/or sister that has taught him respect women. If you're not sure what I mean, give a listen to Ambitious Girl...

I wouldn't call it an abstinence anthem, but the picture being painted is soaked in wisdom as he offers more than a few nuggets of advice when he speaks on the never-ending battle between temptation and doing what's best in the long run....

"But I’ma wait it out I’m bout to see that drought
Cuz if I hit it now these feelings take a different route
So, I’m on some 40 days and night sh**
Feeling like it’s Ramadan and I just need a bite quick
Tryna get inside your mind without that night shift
So I’ma be aight for the night with a goodbye kiss"

What's cool to me is the candid, realistic way Wale goes about describing the rationalization struggle in a man's mind as he tries to "Find His Way" in deciding whether to hit the gas pedal or slow play it out of confidence, knowing it'll be better in the long run to wait. It's funny too how sometimes men will end up mentally thinking they took the high road out to justify getting denied because 1) the girl wasn't feelin' him or 2) you were too scared to make a more. Like on some, "Yea it's prolly a good idea to take it slow, I mean I coulda smashed shorty if I wanted" knowing damn well your ass got shot down in some way shape or form and you woulda been ankle deep in that woohoo rushin' to the back of line for seconds had you even been given a glimpse of hope that smackin' bellies would occur. Wale said it best...

"We getting closer every moment, I’ve been waiting for it
Ain’t saying I don’t need it, if you gave it I would take it
Have you shaken I would break you off
Without a second thought, but you got my respect is all
And I can show you all this love without a bit of sex involved"

With this group of intelligent new Hip Hop artists has come with a trend for treating women with more respect and for that, they should get dap. It used to be uncool to treat a lady like anything but a bitch, but Hip Hop has started to evolve and evolve in the right direction.

Raise a glass for the women in your life and treat 'em right on Christmas...#OrSantaAintGonnaBringYourAssNothin

Wale feat Lloyd - Let's Chill (prod by Tone P)

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"LV's and G's All Over My Clothes, Bank Rolls Everywhere Banks Goes"

A single like Beamer, Benz, or Bentley is enough to regain attention. A track like Any Girl is enough to take attention a step further and translate it into legitimate buzz for a new album like H.F.M. 2 (Hunger For More 2).

For me, I've always recognized Banks' talent on personal favorites like I'm So Fly and Hands Up. I'd find it hard to argue with someone telling me that he's a product of his production though since the previously mentioned tracks are produced by Timbaland and Eminem and Beamer Benz or Bentley was produced by Soundz. This one was produced by...Dready? Hey man, if you've got more beats in the oven half as hot as this, I'll keep singing your praises Alicia Keys style from now on. The combination of the attention grabbing, jumpy synth backbone giving way to an upbeat, bangin' beat...real well done going back and forth from the beat to the synth, gives contrast and works well together toward the end of the chorus. Can't go wrong with Lloyd either, he's been known to donate a solid hook or two and blend well with hardcore Hip Hop verses...like this other new one he's got with Chamillionaire and Twista.

I'm really looking forward to playing this loud driving down the highway to see Aubrey Drake Graham part 2 (see Part 1 here). Matter of fact when you get around to reading this tonight, think of me at the Fillimore sittin' bout row 10 goin' nuts. Matter of fact Drake just highjacked this post, go out and purchase his damn album like the good folks at Crooks and Castles who bought out a whole Best Buy's worth of Thank Me Later Albums. Cop it, lord knows I will...probably at the concert tomorrow....

Don't forget to press play below and nod your head a bit to the Lloyd's gettin' after it on a track that is meant to be shared as secondhand Rap...

Lloyd Banks feat Lloyd - Any Girl (prod by Dready)
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September 1 R&B

Might as well start the month off right with some new Colby O & Lloyd to set it off.

Lots goin' on this week with the best Song List sent out this year highlighting the abundance of high caliber tracks that August has now became known for.

Gave Blueprint 3 a first listen today & have yet to gain an appreciation for the non-Timbo produced tracks, but still know they are going to grow on me because they definitely showcase a more refined, grown up style of music that is a lot more actual music than Rap...know what I'm sayin? Probably not yet, but you'll see....

Colby O'Donis - Talkin Bout Us (prod by Darkchild) Top 5 R&B AUG!!

Lloyd feat Juelz Santana - Pusha (prod by the Runners) AHHHH Hot!!!

TC - Where She's At Very Underrated Song!!