"I Am Not a DJ, This is Not a Replay"

When I think of Keys N Krates, I think of hype, high pitches samples and bangin' trap music. That's not to say their new album isn't that, but Cura strikes me as much more melodic and break-beat heavy than I'm used to. It's as if they're trying to channel their inner DJ Premier with more Hip Hop sounding beats that are sprinkled with live instrumentation.

Music To My Ears epitomizes the whole live instrumentation generalization I made above. The high-pitched strings and soothing vocals of Tory Lanez produce an overwhelmingly jubilant, feel-good vibe on the track. It's much more mellow than some of my favorites from Keys N Krates like Treat Me Right, but I can appreciate how their style has evolved over the year. Their trap sound has always done a solid job of mixing both Hip Hop and EDM flavors, so the fact that their new album slants a little more heavily toward Hip Hop is all good with me. Check it on iTunes or Spotify if you're as intrigued by their ability to exist on the wide spectrum from EDM to Hip Hop...#Cura



Keys N Krates feat Tory Lanez - Music To My Ears

"24 hours in a Day, I Think About You More Than 24 Times"

Keepin' it 100, the temptation was real before pressing play on the one below. Cashmere Cat's quirky electronic style mixed with Major Lazer's bounce and Tory Lanez's passionate vocals? Seems like an odd mix of styles but Miss You turned out to be a dope track. I'd call it a playful ballad with tribal percussion. There are Reggaeton undertones and heavy horns that reek of Major Lazer influence, but it's Cashmere's quiet, bubbly aesthetic that serves as the glue that holds it all together. On top of that, Tory's high pitched vocals mix well with the complimentary styles on the beat. It's already been added to GWDJ Favorites, but feel free and cop it for yourself on Spotify or iTunes...#MissYou



Cashmere Cat feat Major Lazer & Tory Lanez - Miss You

Tory Lanez Stakes Claim to 2017 With Two New Mixtapes

While everyone was getting over their New Years hangover, Tory Lanez was prepping a heavy payload of new music. Today he let loose two full length mixtapes in Chixtape 4 and The New Toronto 2. Both releases are the next chapter in two different series of mixtapes as he previously released The New Toronto, Chixtape, Chixtape 2, and Chixtape 3. With 25 new tracks to wade through it was tough to pick just one to post, but Proud Family stood out as an immediate favorite. I say that because it's exactly what you'd expect from Tory with a whole lot of autotune aided crooning over a slow and steady beat. Aided by production assists from Play Picasso and CoopChardonnay, it's another BMM quality track to add to his list of grown and sexy R&B releases. Feel free to pick your own favorite and join the internet buzz surrounding the releases by hopping on this hashtag --> #Swavey

Tory Lanez - Proud Family (prod by Tory Lanez, Play Picasso & CoopChardonnay)

"I Just Wanna Get Drunk and Throw Myself a Party"

Well this is timely. A bouncy, trap banger about throwing a party released right before New Years eve. The genre bending rages on from Cashmere Cat who hooked up with a few of Hip Hop and R&B's best on Throw a Party. Featuring a swag-laden verse from 2 Chainz, a panty dropping sixteen from Tory Lanez and a repeatable hook from Starrah, there's a lot to sink your teeth into below. The slow build leading to the bass drop around the 24 second mark reminded me a lot of a Mike Will production, which isn't a bad thing at all. If you're looking for a new one to throw into the mix that has the potential to ignite your New Years party, throw this one into the mix and watch the homies geek out on it...#ThrowMyselfAParty

Cashmere Cat feat Starrah, 2 Chainz & Tory Lanez - Throw Myself a Party

Snakehips Gives Some Luv to Tory Lanez

As someone who has made it a habit of writing about music daily, my job gets a lot easier when an artist I like remixes another one of my favorite artists. Take for example Snakehips latest remix of Tory Lanez summer hit hit Luv. I gushed about the original back on June 11th and now six months later it gets the Febreze treatment by Snakehips who added some bounce and snap to the original. Relying on the strength of the original vocals, the remix serves as a smooth re-interpretation that succeeds in reminding me how much I liked the original, while giving it a bit more thump on the back end. It's a perfect addition to the weekend cool out mix, so follow me on over to Spotify to toss it into whatever bin of music you see fit...#Luv

Tory Lanez - Luv (Snakehips Remix)

Sean Paul and Tory Lanez Will Keep Your Heart Protected

With every song Tory Lanez jumps on, I become a bigger fan. There's something about his emotion dripped delivery that lures in me every time he gets on the mic. In the past he's dabbled in reggae vibes, but his new one with one of the kings of Dancehall (Sean Paul) takes that dabbling to a new level. What you're getting below is a slow, rhythmic ballad from two talented vocalists. If you're a connoisseur of all things Sean Paul, you may have recognized the bouncy horn sample added to the beat toward the end of the track from one of my favorite tracks of his, Deport Dem. Love that track and how he sprinkled it into Tek Weh Yuh Heart to give the ending a but more pizazz. If you're interested, check the iTunes or Spotify for your listening pleasure...#TekWehYuhHeart

Sean Paul feat Tory Lanez - Tek Weh Yuh Heart

"Don't Trust Nobody, Said Only I Could Touch Your Body"

With most artists, when I hit play on a new track, there's a baseline expectation for what I'm about to hear. Cashmere Cat is not like most artists because I never know what to expect from him. My best guess for his music is somewhere in the melodic trap neighborhood, but he does so much instrumental experimentation that it's hard to get a bead on him.

For his latest single, he hooked up with uber talented vocalists Tory Lanez and Selena Gomez. Trust Nobody is a easy-listening, almost tropical trap sounding track that will gently pop and clack it's way into your good graces. It's a light snack, not a heavy banger, know what I'm sayin'? Press play if you're in the mood to cool out or add it to your latest Spotify joint if you're getting turnt...#TrustNobody

Cashmere Cat feat Tory Lanez & Selena Gomez - Trust Nobody

Videos of the Week July 29th

Any week that features a new seven minute video from Kanye is probably a noteworthy week in a lot of peoples' eyes. It's hard to ignore how cinematic his videos end up being, but somehow they all seem to fit the dark, edginess of his lyrics. In his new video for Wolves, he shed tears, he walks around in expensive jackets, his wife makes a cameo and there are plenty of models walking around in black and white attire. Have your opinions about Kanye, but he makes provocative act in a lot of ways.

In the land of other videos, there was a whole lot of entertainment on Fallon. Starting with G-Eazy and Tory Lanez's performance of Drifting on Fallon, Jimmy brought out the A list this week. If actors are more your bag, Will Smith did his best to show what it means to make an epic entrance and Matt Damon is a really convincing liar, but Jimmy has an uncanny ability to sense the truth. If only we could say the same for Matt who fell hard for a lie. Rounding out the week was an interesting collabo between JoJo and Wiz Khalifa. I've always been a big fan of JoJo, so seeing an edgier side of her with Wiz was the most entertaining video of my week. It probably won't be for you, but hey, some of us crush hard and don't let go of said crush years later...#FApologies
Kanye West- Wolves (Video)

G-Eazy and Tory Lanez Perform Drifting on Fallon

Will Smith Makes Multiple Grand Entrances on Fallon

Matt Damon Plays Box of Lies on Fallon

JoJo feat Wiz Khalifa - F**k Apologies (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week July 22nd

It was a slow week for videos, word is bond. There was a whole lot of nothing when it came to new music videos, so here's this week's top five dollar store video bargains. Leading the way by a large margin was seeing rappers genuinely react to Rich Chigga's Dat $tick video. If you haven't seen it yet, go here to watch it because it's not something I could do justice describing. Lord knows we need more tough talking, buttoned up, fanny pack wearing, gun toting, mean mugging, sixteen year old Asian kids. Hate on it all you want, but you can't look away from a car crash, even if you know it's manufactured. Despite all that, gotta admit, his flow was lit.

Also dropping this week was a series of videos from Deadmau5 detailing some of the work he does with NVIDIA in crafting these incredibly advanced computers. It's a fun watch if you're a hardware nerd who doesn't mind when engineering crosses over with music. In the land of late night, Idris Alba and Fallon did their best to karaoke their way into our hears, while Missy and the First Lady did in-car rapping with James Corden. And last, but not least, I would have felt weird not finding a way to timestamp this week in history as Pokemon Go found a way to create a new category of gaming with the use of augmented reality. Evidently all your favorite DJs love Pokemon too and rappers are even riding the wave. I've only played it a bit, but hell, I'm more amazed with how impactful it is in getting people to move and explore their surroundings...#PokemonGo
Rappers Reacting to Rich Chigger's Dat $tick Video

Episode 2 of Deadmau5's "The Deadmau5 Project" with NVIDIA

Idris Alba and Jimmy Fallon Play Box of Microphones

Michelle Obama and Missy Elliot Rap During Car Karaoke With James Corden

Hardwell Trolls Ultra Europe With the Pokemon Theme Song

Photo Credi: YouTube

"Everyone Falls in Love Sometime"

There are only a handful of R&B artists that I consider automatic posts whenever they release a new track. At this point, I'd put Tory Lanez in that category because of his recent streak of great releases. I still haven't stopped listening to In For It and Initiation, but Luv might be his best track yet. With the help of production superstars Cashmere Cat and Benny Blanco who crafted an addictive Soca riddim, there's a lot to like about the track before Tory even begins singing. There's an easygoing, relaxing vibe to it, which will surely contribute to its Top 40 appeal. Pop music hasn't formally met Tory Lanez yet, but with tracks like the one below, it's only a matter of time...#Luv

Tory Lanez - Luv (prod by Cashmere Cat & Benny Blanco)

"All Summer Sixteen, Playing Dirty Not Clean"

Now that we know Drake's new Views From the 6 will be arriving in April (probably on April 16th since Toronto's area code is 416), it's time to sit back and relax as new music trickles in over the course of the next two months. Following the mo' money, mo' fame, mo' problems, mo' haters rapper career trajectory, it seems like with every passing year Drizzy picks up a new rival. We've seen him and Chris Brown get involved physically and verbally, then there's the ongoing Meek Mill saga (yawn) and lately it's been fellow up and comers from Toronto (Tory Lanez) taking subliminal shots at Drake. Rapping over a beat concocted by Toronto's finest (40, Boi-1da and CuBeatz), Drake takes on all incumbents with subtle jabs. I'm not going to pretend to do a better job than Lyrics Genius at illuminating the beef and subsequent jabs, so if you want to dive deep, head on over to that fine site.

Do I think it's lame that Meek Mill dropped a response (War Pain) to Drake's Summer Sixteen a mere 15 minutes after the song was debuted on OVO Sound radio? Yea, I do. And while Meek may be grinning like a little school girl by proudly flipping Drake's "ghostwriter", Quentin Miller, he's still coming off like a younger brother snitching on big brother because he's jealous of the attention that big brother gets. I digress, it's all pretty stupid anyways. Getting back to the music, the slow beat reminds me a lot of Three Six Mafia's Da Summa from 2009. It's slow, heavy and bangin', setting the tone for tough talk. It's not your usual Top 40 single from Drake, but it will succeed in getting everyone to start talking. And you know what they say, no publicity is bad publicity, especially when you're about to release an album...#SummerSixteen

Drake - Summer Sixteen (prod by Noah “40,” Shebib, Boi-1da, and CuBeatz)

"I Love the Way You Operate"

Wow...this confirms the excitement I initially felt about BenZel after hearing Waiting. What I didn't expect was a collaboration with Tory Lanez and a Kill Paris sample as icing on the cake. Initiation is a track that will remind you of Drake or Trey Songz stylistically. It's that thuggish sing-songy R&B with a slow, heavy beat. Using a sample from Operate, the track ebbs and flows between a soulful harmony and slow trap. Very chill, but plenty of of intrigue on the beat with this one...#FargoFridays

Tory Lanez x BenZel - Initiation

"Whip Game on Bruce Wayne"

Suffice to say RL Grime isn't getting complacent and riding out the success of his debut studio album VOID. He's back at it in a supporting role, helping Tory Lanez with his new single In For It. The beat has RL's paw prints all over it, but the R&B vocals and verse continue to remind you that it's a heavy Hip Hop track. It's another shining example of how Trap and Hip Hop can make intriguing bedfellows when the two forces combine. If you're looking to cop it, you're going to wait for the new Tory Lanez EP to drop. Until then be on the look out for more from Argentina Fargo and continue livin'...#Swavey

Tory Lanez - In For It (prod by RL Grime)