Hopefully you know Stephen's name by now through tuning into the GWDJ blog over the past year, but in case you haven't here's another reason. You remember Stephen's single from late last year titled Crossfire? Pretty dope track, right? Well, I must not have been the only one who got stoked about it because Hip Hop legend Talib Kweli and remix extraordinaire KillaGraham flipped a remixed/part II version this week. While Crossfire II is being dubbed as a continuation of the original version, Stephen's vocals carry on a similar vibe from the original. However, the new version is much more Hip Hop, adding a bouncy beat to the original instrumentations. There aren't many examples of Hip Hop being tastefully blended with real instruments, so I'm comfortable calling this one a diamond in the rough. Check the newly minted video for Part II below...
If you're as intrigued as I am when I first heard the type of music Stephen is capable of producing, give a listen to his latest album, Sincerely, while you're at it. Oh and if you're into leasing, rather than buying follow me in adding it to your latest Spotify playlist...#Crossfire
Stephen feat Talib Kweli & KillaGraham - Crossfire II
I'm a bit late to the party, but this whole electro-soul movement is pretty dope. Lead in large part by GRiZ, it's as if someone said, "Hey Hip Hop, funk and soul, you're invited to the electronic party, come on in." The tone is grown and sexy for the max, like that type of music you can probably share with your parents in a last ditch effort for common ground on a long road trip. Between this song and Snails/Big Gigantic's recent song Funk With Me, it's becoming abundantly clear that a concerted effort is being made to expand electronic music in a way that welcomes with open arms the use of the saxophone. It's all about dat sax man!
It's been a while since I've heard a Talib Kweli verse, but when you combine his powers with high quality back up vocals and funky live instrumentation vibe, it's hard not to dig. For the Love is one of many new ones on GRiZ's third studio album, Say it Loud. You'll have to wait about a week for it to drop, but that give both you and me some time to catch up on his past two albums. With GRiZ leading the way, I'm really looking forward to this futuristic direction of funk...#SayItLoud
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.
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...
