Videos of the Week December 30th

In perfect 2016 fashion, I'm ending this year on a completely random, somewhat entertaining, yet slightly disappointing way. While I wouldn't characterize any of the following videos as must see, they all cater to a specific music demographic. If you're a diehard, music OG who supports artists who consistently put on stellar live shows, then you'll enjoy Bon Iver's BK warehouse and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def)'s Fallon performances. As a side note, it was heartwarming that Mos gave the NY folks a proper goodbye at the Apollo last week. I'm bummed to see him hanging up his mic, but he'll always be one of my favorite multi-dimensional performers.

If you're the type of person who geeks out over typical Hip Hop videos stocked with full-lambo tricks and video girls, then you'll appreciate Travis $cott's new video for Biebs in the Trap. Side note - watching Travis surprise his family with a new house was pretty cool. Continuing on, if you're the type who loves getting up on that new video everyone is watching then I need to introduce you to Moshow. He's a rapper/cat enthusiast who released an awesome new video promoting washing and adopting cats. Can't make that stuff up, you just have to watch. Finally, looking forward to 2017, Movie Pilot put together a two and a half minute movie trailer montage for all the films you're looking forward to in 2017. If you're a cliff notes type of person, this one is perfect for you. Happy new year y'all...#Welcome2017

Bon Iver Live at the Pioneer Works Warehouse in Brooklyn (presented by NPR)

Yasiin Bey Performs Seaside Panic Room and N.A.W. on Fallon

Travis $cott - Biebs in the Trap (Video)

Moshow Raps About Adopting Cats

2017 Epic Movie Trailers Montage

Photo Credit: Facebook

"Rumble Young Man Rumble, Life is a Trip, So Sometimes, We Gon’ Stumble"

There was a ton of chatter on Twitter last week from @kanyewest putting on full display his raw excitement surrounding his Power (remix). And his inspiration came from an eclectic group of professionals...#Understatement

Picture that..Kobe Bryant, @MOSDEF and @therealswizzz in studio? No seriously, picture it below...interesting mix of Power in the below...

Interesting combo, but but the finished product blew me away with Swizzy taking it a notch above what I thought was possible for a song I was originally lukewarm on. As a sidebar, it's pretty entertaining to witness the mutual admiration/borderline love-fest going on between @kanyewest and @justinbieber. Let's be honest if you have over 783,000 people following you on Twitter and you choose to follow one person and that happens to be Justin Bieber, it's going to draw attention. How in the hell a Kanye, Bieber and....Chef Raekwon? track is going to come to fruition is beyond me, but I wouldn't put it past them to make it work.

Shouts out to Kanye's blog, Kanye University for giving everyone the first listen on an extremely dope remix. Do 'Ye a favor and cop it on iTunes if you're feelin' the original and wanna support his work. And as usual, mad respect for @s_c_ for his contribution to this track and it's really hard for me to disagree with Kanye's statement that Swizz is one of the best ever after  hearing the trunk rattling madness that the second half of this remix turns into.

Check it out...

Kanye West feat Jay-Z - Power (remix) (prod by Swizz Beatz)
| Download

Ask Yourself - Are You Living or Are You Existing?

I've always had my eye on Kidz in the Hall because of their refreshingly organic, true Hip Hop sound. Being signed to Rawkus Records with the likes of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, you can see where the organic Hip Hop comparisons come from by association. On top of that, they've always been intriguing duo to their close proximity with MegatronDon (Just Blaze)who has invested in both Naledge and Double-O after he oversaw their first album School Was My Hustle.

With tracks like Wheelz Fall Off and their block rockin' banger Drivin' Down the Block, their new album titled Land of Make Believe is sure to push more than a few copies when it is released on Tuesday March 9th.

Credit is due to the track below for the uplifting message provided lyrically and the inspiring intro Naledge uses set up the performance. There aren't too many Hip Hop songs these days that encourage you to challenge the way you're living life and strive to get the best out of the hand you're dealt like this track does. In the words of Naledge:

"We party and shit right?, but at the end of the day, we all have a dream, you know we not on this earth for nothin', so I ask you one question
Are you living or are you existing? see what I'm doing right now is I'm livin,, for the hope that you take this what I'm doin right now leave out here and can go to your job and live too and if you not living the right shit, shit tell your boss I'm bout to stop existing god dammit..."

I was more than happy to snack on the food for thought with the Living vs Existing argument because when you think about it and over analyze (like I tend to do with everything), it can be pretty thought provoking. Generally speaking I don't have much sympathy for people who fight to exist everyday because usually they're too lazy to change and lack the intrinsic motivation to make a change that will allow them to live. I know it's not always that cut and dried and there are extenuating circumstances that can make living seemingly impossible, but life really is what you make it and there are plenty of people who have it worse than you, so you might as well do your best to view the glass as half full or at least have the desire to make a change that may cause the water level in the glass to rise in some way shape or form. Just sayin', positivity is contagious, so tracks like shouldn't go unnoticed and truly are the hidden gems that deserve to get to the masses (unlike most of processed music you hear on the radio).

As I climb down off my soap box, I'll again encourage you to give this track and their new album Land of Make Believe a listen when it comes out on Tuesday. I would also be remiss if I didn't point out Colin Monroe's positive influence and mellow contribution to the chorus in giving this track it's inspirational tone. Give it a listen...

Kidz in the Hall feat Colin Monroe - Taking Over the World (prod by Just Blaze) Great Great Track!!!

"And dreams like women, if you only sleep wit 'em nothin' ever comes from 'em, but I bet you still love 'em" - Naledge