Videos of the Week March 24th

Couple interesting story lines baked into this week's top five. The first being the ultra sexy, Willy Wonka colored video for Jason Derulo's Swalla. Needless to say, the lyrical innuendo on the track manifested itself as well as you could have hoped in the video. Next, let me introduce you to DJ Hanzel, the German alter ego of Dillon Francis. As entertaining as he is, you could imagine why TBS sought him out for his own One Deeper Talks series. There are now seven short episodes in the series and two of them made this week's top five. If you're a fan of tongue in cheek humor and EDM, these will be right up your alley.

Just in case you forgot there was still social turmoil across the US, Run the Jewels took the liberties to bring that to the forefront like only they know how. Let's just say there's a police lineup and all signs point toward it being a setup. And last, but not least, I'm ending this week's top five on a heartfelt note with Sampha's Tiny Desk performance. The dude can flat out sign and all he needs is a crowd and his piano to put on a show. Tip of the cap Sampha, you rocked that tiny desk and had us all on pins and needles...#TinyDesk

Jason Derulo feat Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign - Swalla (Video)

DJ Hanzel (Dillon Francis) Interviews Calvin Harris on One Deeper Talks

DJ Hanzel (Dillon Francis) Interviews Flosstradamus on One Deeper Talks

Run the Jewels - Legend Has It (Video)

Sampha Performs an NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Photo Credit - YouTube

"No One Loves Me Like the Piano in My Mothers Home"

Solo piano ballads seem like a thing of the past with music becoming more high tech with every year. The fact that good ballads are so few and far between make me appreciate ones like Sampha's new one, (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano. If you don't get even the slightest bit of nostalgia when listening to the song below, then you are no friend of mine. I got a warm sense of comfort from being home near family when listening to Sampha go on about his childhood and growing up. There's a simplicity about the quiet chords and soulful vocals that I really wish I had more of in my life. Mad love to Sampha on this one, make sure and check out his upcoming Process album that will be dropping on February 3rd...#NoOneKnowsMeLikeThePiano

"Did it Ever Occur That You Forgave Yourself Before I Did"

Remember when Kid Cudi first made a huge splash with his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day? At the time, his mix of lyrical skills and roller coaster emotions made his music accessible to so many people. But it wasn't solely the lyrics and vocal delivery that allowed his music to stand out. Looking back, all of my favorite tracks (Soundtrack to My Life, Cudi Zone, Solo Dolo) on his debut were produced by the largely unheralded, but extremely talented Emile Haynie.

Sometimes it's hard to discern whether the success of a song is due to the artist or producer. The great thing about Emile's new single, A Kiss Goodbye, is that it allows the listener to have a more informed opinion on his ability as a producer. With the help of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Devonté Hynes and Sampha, he concocted a beautiful symphony of somber. If you aren't reminded of Cudi's music by listening to the track below then you have some serious familiarity holes in his discography.

The best part about it is that Emile made two different versions of his single, an original and a dub-flavored reprise. For the life of me, I can't figure out which one I like more, but I appreciate the depth and power of reminiscence they provided me...#AKissGoodbye

Original:

Emile Haynie feat Charlotte Gainsbourg, Devonté Hynes and Sampha - A Kiss Goodbye

Reprise:

"Like a Potluck, You Need to Come With It"

I still haven't listened to Nothing Was the Same enough to have an informed opinion on it, but I do know that after a few listens, I'm really digging Too Much. Maybe it's Sampha's unique vocals on the hook or the mad scientist Emile behind the emotion dripped instrumental. Whatever the case, Drake always seems to do his best work over beats that are piano driven. There are probably plenty of exceptions to that statement, but the ivory keys seem to be the backbone of his trademark "sound." In case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard me mention it a million times already, Nothing Was the Same hit iTunes two days ago, which means it's probably a worthwhile investment to go check it out...#NWTS

Drake feat Sampha - Too Much (prod by Emile)