Stranger Things Theme Get's Bonfired

As both a Strangers Things (Netflix show) and Childish Gambino fan, you could imagine how floored I was to see that both were combined together. I'm generally hesitant to post mash-ups, but this one was too hard to pass up. Not only is there the 1980s synth nostalgia from the Stranger Things instrumental, but there's also the nostalgia of Childish Gambino when he was ripping out hot 16s left and right. If you're like me, when you listened to the mash up below, you thought it sounded very familiar lyrically. Here's the original for those that need to catch up...
Bonus points for those who were able to immediately recognize the track as Bonfire from Childish's Camp album back in 2011.

As far as the mashup is concerned, it's a clash of two different moods with the instrumental amplifying the spooky and the verses projecting pure aggression. It's hard to tastefully blend moods the way this mashup did, which is why it's deserving of a post. As a side note, I'm equally excited to hear What So Not's remix of the theme song whenever it decides to drip drop all over the internet. Is anyone as excited as I am for season two to hit Netflix? Probably not, but join me in raging to this molotov of mystery below...#StrangerThings

No Need to Go to College if Being a Dropout is This Good

Now that everyone has access to software that can cut and trim music, it takes a special mashup to get my attention. If special is the bar, then Dropout's mashup with Anna Clendening of Flume's Never Be Like You with Gnash and Olivia O'Brien's I Hate U, I Love U far exceeds it. The beat is something to write home about with a slow build up, engaging chord progression, and more than its fair share of clangs and clacks to add intrigue. Anna Clendening deserves mad props for ducking in and out of both songs seamlessly over the hype instrumental. Did you catch that acoustic break down leading into the hook too? It's equal parts melodic and energetic, which makes for a fun listen. Feel free cop this one for $free.50 before dragging and dropping onto that under construction summer playlist you've been putting together...#NeverHateU

Dropout feat Anna Clendening - Never Hate U (Flume & Gnash Mashup)

Videos of the Week January 1st

This week's top five kicks of 2016 in an interesting fashion. Before moving full speed ahead into the New Year, give Mashup Germany's seven minute, 53 song mashup put a nice bow on 2015. Such a great time capsule that will serve as an easy way to go back to a lot of mental bookmarks. And for those of you now starting to experience winter after a warm January, check out Ja Rule reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Why include this on VOTW? Well why not, I can't think of anything more random.

In the land of new music, Skrillex came through with some visuals for his new remix of his own song Stranger. If eye candy is what you're after, imagine for a minute Selena Gomez stalking you. Yea that's not the worst visual and the video reflects that sentiment. And last, but not least a slighty NSFW video for Kendrick Lamar's latest short film, God is Gangsta, contains two of the tracks (u and For Sale) of To Pimp a Butterfly. If the song lyrics don't make you think about some things, then the video sure will...#GodIsGangsta
Mashup Germany's Top of the Pops (Year End Video)

Ja Rule Reads How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Video)

Skrillex - Stranger (Skrillex Remix with Tennyson & White Sea) (Video)

Selena Gomez - Hands to Myself (Video)

Kendrick Lamar - God is Gangsta (video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Flosstradamus Makes a Jack U & Post Malone Sandwich

Those of you thinking that Cyber Monday is strictly for online purchases need to check yourself. Flosstradamus just flipped that assumption on it's head with their mashup of Jack Ü's Where R Ü and Post Malone's White Iverson. The track starts out innocently enough, but when the hook comes around it all comes together like that relationship between two of your good friends that you never saw coming. It shouldn't be a big surprise, but Post's vocals work pretty well over the bouncy Diplo/Skrillex beat. It's seamless enough that you could convince me his vocals were meant to be there from the start. Credit Flossy for being creative enough to mash these previously unrelated hits into a brand new reincarnation...#WhiteIverson

Jack Ü X Post Malone - Where R Ü Iverson (Flosstradamus Edit)

Sam Smith & Kanye Sound Great Together

Alright Carlos Serrano, you've got my attention. First it was the 2pac and Banks mashup, now you've got the audacity to mix some classic Kanye over Sam Smith's I'm Not the Only One? (*initiates slow clap*) Well done sir, the verses match up in a way that almost dares the listener to try and find seams. Much to my delight, I came up empty in that search and was left with a mix of nostalgia and delight when hearing it all mixed together. If I've learned anything from the two Serrano mixes, it's that there's a clear opportunity for mixing classic Hip Hop with great modern vocalists...#TellMeImNotTheOnlyOne

Sam Smith & Kanye West - Tell Me I'm The Only One (Carlos Serrano Mix)

Never Envisioned Hearing a Banks & 2pac Collaboration

After 2pac died in 1996, a decade's worth of remixes and mash ups ensued. While a few remixes/mash ups were great, hearing many of his recorded words blended over damn near every single hot new beat of the week got pretty old. Luckily for us, the remixes finally tapered off and we were able to gain appreciation for his legendary talents through mostly silent rememberance.

Being an avid Banks fan, I fought back the initial dismay that I usually have when I see a new 2pac mash up. There was part of me that actually thought, "you know what it's been a while since I've heard 'pac's voice, maybe this will be good." And good it was thanks to Carlos Serrano. The original Drowning beat didn't strike me as a Hip Hop friendly beat, but therein lies the creativity in Carlos's mashup with 2pac's Thugz Mansion verses. I never envisioned hearing or, better yet, enjoying Banks singing the hook on a 2pac track, but I'm better off now after hearing Thugz Drowning...#ThugzDrowning

2Pac vs. Banks - Thugz Drowning (Carlos Serrano Mix)

ZHU Achieves Rare Mashup Success

I've been trying to wrap my mind around the mashup below for the past few days. What I do know is that an artist by the name of ZHU managed to blend together four Outkast tracks into a deep house track. *Sinks in* Yea, it was done...and it was done really, really well. So much so that I would venture to say that most 5-start lounges would play this in a heartbeat.

You'll notice hints of Ms. Jackson, So Fresh and So Clean, The Way You Move and The Whole World in the mix. What you won't notice is any hint of the original beats or verses by Big Boi or Andre 3000. All you're gonna get is some subtle female vocals sprinkling the samples throughout over sonically pleasing backdrop, giving the listener just enough to stay engaged. Looking at it from above, I can appreciate the design that went into this delicious audio concoction...#MovesLikeMsJackson

ZHU - Moves Likes Ms. Jackson (Mashup)

Videos of the Week July 5th

Great mix of interesting and funny on this week's version of VOTW. Pretty cool to see Wale throw out the first pitch at the Nats game recently, then learn that his album debuted #1. We're now less than a week away from Magna Carta Holy Grail being released to the non-Samsung, common-folk crowd. I have little doubt that the album will be anything less than classic.

Funny or Die came through with a nice David Spade Catfish spoof, but the most entertaining video of the week has to be the Lumineers vs Will Ferrell playing Harry Caray Ho Hey mix. What a great mashup, really made me miss the old Cubs broadcaster. Speaking of which, if you're in Chi-town this weekend holler atcha boy, I'll be in the bleachers on Friday...#GoCubsGo
Wale Throws Out First Pitch at Nationals Game

Jay-Z Previews His New Track Oceans

Lumineers vs Will Farrell Playing Harry Caray (Hey Ho Mashup)

David Spade Gets Catfished...by Selita Ebanks

The Game feat 2 Chainz & Rick Ross - Ali Bomaye (Video)

Major Lazer x Popcaan X Harlem Shake Mash Up

Been a while since I've posted an interesting mashup, but it doesn't get much more interesting than @majorlazer taking a stab at their Mad Decent homie @baauer's hit Harlem Shake. The track enlists the vocals Jamaica's own @PopcaanMusic and takes samples from the Harlem Shake beat. It's a little bit of madness, but that's to be expected when you start shaking lazers.

Best part about it, you can cop the track for free on Major Lazer's new, free Lazers Strike Back EP. Oh and thanks to the Timberwolves, it's safe to say Harlem Shake has officially jumped the shark...#BoutTime

Popcaan Ft Major Lazer & Baauer - Talk Bout We (Harlem Shake Remix)

Before This Night is Through You Will Know Avicii

Tim Berg, otherwise known as @avicii is quickly becoming one of my favorite arists/producers/DJs...whatever you want to classify him as. Through a mix of original songs and remixes, he's won over my fandom as he continues to impress me with every new electronic beat he cooks up. His newest track to catch my attention is the original mix of Before This Night is Through (Bad Things), which is every bit as much of a story as it is a club thumping house track.

I say story because there are literally chapters within the track that tell a different story. The first chapter that leads up to the haunting demon voice's "I wanna do bad things with you!", is more of a build up introduction. The middle part is where the beat is at it's best and gets all upbeat house for a few minutes. Then, the beat slows down in a harmonic, end of fairytale way, only to pick the rhythm back up with increased ferocity. Listening to it right just led to looking up Avicii tour dates, it's that badass. As far as manipulating the ebb and flow of energy on a dance track, it doesn't get much better than what Tim Berg is able to provide...#EvidenceBelow

Avicii - Before This Night Is Through (Bad Things) (Original Mix)


As a bonus, I'm not sure if this is an Avicii created mash-up or something someone did on the side. Either way, it takes his widely acclaimed song Levels and mixes it with @JLo's track Until It Beats No More. Levels is one rare beat I will probably never get sick of or annoyed at other artists sampling.

Jennifer Lopez & Avicii - Until It Beats No More (Levels Mash-Up)

A Mashup Worth the Price of Admission

For the second straight week, 17 year old mashup artist known around the blogsphere as The Friendly Giant has mashed two completely different songs with polar opposite tempos from two different genres. This week, it's one of my personal favorite club bangers of 201, @WakaFlockaBSM's No Hands getting put in a blender with @TAIOCRUZ's Higher.

Prior to listening, it's easy to doubt that the two tracks would be able to mesh together like some basketball shorts, buuuut don't judge prior to listening, you'll end up bein' that guy everybody hates because he likes the original so much, he can't conceive it being mixed into a more likable track. Please someone point out to me the seams on this, I'm having a hard time with each listen finding a place in the track it doesn't match up. Great way to resurrect two independently awesome tracks that had lived out their shelf lives.

S/O to Eli, good look on the track, keep the creativity comin' man...

Waka Flocka feat Roscoe Dash & Wale vs Taio Cruz - Hands Up High (Friendly Giant Mashup)
|Download