"We Fell in Love in a Hopeless Place"

There are few artists as powerful as @rihanna when it comes to pushing weight on Billboard/iTunes. What's interesting to me about her new single is her decision to collaborate with up and coming Scottish DJ/producer @CALVINHARRIS. If you haven't heard of him, then you must not know he's the one behind Bounce featuring @iamkelis (below)...

You know me, I'm all about electro/dance rhythms, which is why I'm posting her new single below off her yet-to-be-titled, 6th studio album due out November 21st. If anything, I'm really impressed and pumped that so many well known American pop acts are incorporating European dance/club production into their music. I'm finding it harder and harder to hate on contemporary/pop music nowadays because it's becoming more interesting and innovative.

I'm sure this will be force-fed to you until you learn to dislike it, but for now, I'm ok with promoting it and giving it some love...

Rihanna - We Found Love (prod by Calvin Harris)

|iTunes

Videos of the Week

Bunch of Timbo this week, which is building up some serious excitement for Shock Value 3. Still a big fan of those Wale, Bei Maejor and Chiddy singles too. Pretty pumped they made videos for both tracks...

Timbland feat Pitbull - Pass at Me (Video)

Bei Maejor feat J Cole - Trouble (Video)

Wale - Bait (Video)

Timbland feat Jet - Timothy Where You Been (Video)

Red Cafe feat Fabolous & Lloyd Banks - The Realest (Video)

Chiddy Bang - Mind Your Manners (Video)

Garbage Verses Can't be Recycled

I've got a Bad Feeling that the track below may end up on @TaioCruz's upcoming third studio album. I say that because @official_flo's verses are 100% copied and pasted from his new single Good Feeling. Now I've already vented about what became of that track with the tease surrounding the initial beat-jacking of Avicii, but it'd be more than a little embarrassing to use the same verse on two radio singles. The more I listen the more I'm just confused. Is it a B side or demo? Remix? I have no idea because the beat even sounds like Good Feeling and follows the same formula that a lot of Taio hits did with the upbeat club rhythms.

I'm not one to be quick to judge or over-react, though, and I'll admit there's probably more shock value than truth in that last paragraph, but C'mon Man!!! (#CCVoice) My guess is the use of Flo's recycled verses are more of a placeholder and if the track ever makes it to the light of day as a single, we'll either get new verses or a completely different feature than Flo Rida.

Take it for what it's worth, but I doubt this version will ever make it to the masses, so feel free to indulge in what could turn out to be a hidden gem...

Taio Cruz feat Flo Rida - Hangover (prod by Dr. Luke)

"Girl What You Grabbin' Cash For, All You Need is Your Passport"

Real smooth jam from @Wale off his upcoming album Ambition, due out November 1st. On this track, @rickyrozay officially patented his increasingly noticeable ad-lib "hurrrumph" grunt. Usually it was once or twice a verse, but we're talking like every other bar dude is grunting nowadays. Must be catching on considering how many features and other noteworthy artists who are trying to do albums with him lately.

The biggest takeaway in my eyes is hearing Wale return to his style that I really liked on his first album. No more pointless, gratuitous Mayback Music tracks (yea I heard the beginning of the track). I'm convinced he was out to experiment and appease his new crew when he took that turn for the worse the past couple months. Either way between the track below, Bad Girls Club, Bait and yet to be heard tracks with Cudi and Big Sean, I'm starting to get geniunely excited for his second album.

Shouts out to @kevincossom on the hook too. It's about damn time other artists started valuing his abilities and giving him features. Between Ambition and Take Care, I should be set the next month for new music. Lots to be excited about, including this melee of awesomeness I'll be taking part in this weekend...

Wale feat Rick Ross & Kevin Cossom - Best Night Ever (prod by Beat Billionaire)(No DJ)

"I Predict an Earthquake Up in Here"

For those of you not up on British Hip Hop, you may not be familiar with @Labrinthda1st. He was the writer and producer of @TINIETEMPAH's debut single Pass Out, which was a big springboard for his now blossoming International notoriety. While you and I may have slept on Labrinth's talent, Simon Cowell didn't when he made him the first non-talent show signing of Syco records.

Now it's looking like a solo album titled Furtherworks is in the works and the original version of Earthquake (below) will serve as the lead single. Strangely, you can pre-order the single and wait for a month until October 24th, which doesn't really jive with the rapid dissemination of music these days. I can respect an artist trying to make a splash on the solo scene, though, so I'm instead going to post the more upbeat, dance version of the single produced by none other than @bennybenassi. I'm usually a bigger fan of the dance remix, but in all honestly both versions are well worth a listen and the one you like best will probably depend how hype of a mood you're in.

I'm adding this to the growing proof that British Hip Hop deserves more love than it's currently getting. One or two more Tinies or Dizzee Rascals and that may be the tipping point that leads to American legitimacy. Time will tell...

Labrinth Ft. Tinie Tempah - Earthquake (Benny Benassi Remix)

|Cop Original

High5Collective + Frank Ocean

Seems like there's a new go-to production crew Hip Hop has fallen in with recently. If you haven't heard of High 5 Collective, you probably failed to notice that they did the video for Kanye and Jigga's newest single, No Church in the Wild. Seeing that @frank_ocean collaborated with Ye and Hov on the track, it's no surprise he enlisted @H5C who specialize in "Visual art, fuckery and getbuckery."

The common denominator between the two videos seems to be an Indian/Pioneers sort of settlers theme. Sure, if you expected to see the artists, you'll probably be a little disappointed because the visuals are more of an artistic representation of what's being said than a typical cars and women style video. Check it below...

Video aside, I really like D'Angelo style sound Frank gives off with the high pitched falsetto. The calmness of the verses mixes well with the simple beat and makes it seem like the hook is sung by somebody completely different. I'm betting this will make it to iTunes and when it does, I see no reason why you wouldn't want to purchase it or anything else Frank releases for that matter.

Frank Ocean - Thinkin' Bout Ya

|iTunes

Drake Goes in on a Lex Luger Beat

I know, I know, this remix is like a week old, but I didn't plan on this week being so chalked with big releases, so it got pushed back. Still, you know I wasn't about to let some new @drakkardnoir slip through the cracks without sharing it, especially because it marks the first time he's been able to get on a @SmokedOutLuger beat. What you expect is what you get from any @WakaFlockaBSM track, so if you're hoping for substance, then you clearly don't enjoy frequenting strip clubs where all of his music is played. In other words, even though 99% of the music I listen to has substance, it's impossible for me to follow my better judgment and instincts to ignore Waka's tracks because Lex Luger's beats are my kryptonite (see what I did there superman?) Good got I'm a nerd...

Not the usual delivery from Drizzy on his verse either, which is interesting. The change up of flow makes him sound kinda subdued, but it fits in with the company he keeps on the track. So much booty bass on this one that I damn near slapped on the 808 check label on this one, but that's sorta like saying a zebra has stripes when you're dealing with a Luger beat. More of a novelty remix, but well worth a listen...

Wacka Flocka feat Drake - Round of Applause (Remix)(prod by Lex Luger)

Who Rocked it Better? Lil Eddie vs JoJo

Complete toss up between one of my favorite demo singers/songwriters Lil Eddie and @JoJoistheway, who I've always been a big fan of on the low. I say on the low because when she was 16 she released High Road, which was a great album front to back, but I got some strange looks from the fellas when I spoke highly of it. To each their own man, I'ma live my life, she's got a great voice and is a talented vocalist!

Both are great, under appreciated vocalists, so picking a favorite version isn't something I'd feel comfortable doing because (for once) I don't want to influence your opinion either way. Like me, you should add both to your newest playlist and hopefully gain a respect for both because both versions are great in their own way. Heads up for that new JoJo album Jumping Trains out early 2012. It'll be her first album in six years and you can cop her new single Disaster on iTunes.

Lil Eddie feat Ameriie - Guardian Angel


JoJo - Guardian Angel

Videos of the Week

Lots of Kanye this week on the videos, including him bringing out his whole G.O.O.D. Music crew out to perform All of the Lights. Pretty cool to see Cudi and Big Sean join him on stage...

Kanye West & G.O.O.D. Music Perform All Of The Lights (Heineken Red Star Access)

J.Cole feat. Trey Songz -Can’t Get Enough (Video)

Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Nervo - The Way We See (Video)

Big Sean – Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay Feat. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash (Video)

B.O.B Performs New Track Strange Clouds at Syracuse

Behind the Scenes on Rhymefest feat Kanye West - Alligator Boots (Video) with Kim Kardashian 

Behind The Scenes on Tinie Tempah feat. Wiz Khalifa - Till I'm Gone (Video)

Asher Roth feat. Akon - Last Man Standing (Video)

"I Got a Hublot I Call it Tebow, I Strap That B**ch With a Gator Band"

"No more Mr Nice guy, hello Mr Nice watch”

When giving a once over at @JColeNC's upcoming albums' tracklist, I'm pretty sure everyone had the track below circled. It's not everyday you get a @s_c_ collabo on your album, but when he's writing your checks, it's in his best interests to throw in a hot 16. What I really like about the track is the fast paced, drum/bass, almost dubstep feel to the beat, done by none other than Cole himself. Can't harp on how much credit he deserves for producing his own stuff man, other than Kanye, name me another artist that is as talented on the mic and still gets it done behind the boards.

Two more weeks til Cole World: The Sideline Story drops on September 27th. Got a couple noteworthy tracks so far that have leaked, but I've got a vested interest in hearing it in it's entirety because great albums make their name with the non-single tracks. Man I really hope it lives up to the hype...

J. Cole feat Jay-Z - Mr. Nice Watch (prod by J. Cole)

|iTunes

"I Dream of Para-para-paradise"

When it comes to easy listening, harmonic, but subtly uplifting tracks, there is absolutely none better than @coldplay. Put it this way, they're one of those bands that prior to listening to a new single of thiers, I already know I'm going to post about it. They know how to singles because when they release them, it leaks via iTunes and you allow people to stream it. That's just how it works and when you've been blogging for a minute, you figure that out by either getting C&D'd or just be observant to your surroundings, get in where you fit in, like I've chosen to do.

I can't really explain it, but between the strings, rock solid backbone synth, and Chris Martin's velvety vocals, this track has that je ne sais quoi. In other words, it'd be unfortunate if you didn't add this to your iTunes collection if you haven't already decided to wait patiently for Mylo Xyloto to drop on October 24th.

Coldplay - Paradise
|iTunes

"Tell Me, Who Did I Leave Behind?"

Put it this way, I'd rather visit Club Paradise any day of the week rather than call myself a Free Spirit. That's wasn't meant as an obvious T&A shot either, instead it was more for those who have been paying attention and know my thoughts on Drizzy's new track with Raaawwwwss! In the grand scheme of things, Club Paradise would have fit in nicely on So Far Gone because he goes back into storytelling mode, as if to give us listeners another chapters into his life while he gives us an update on what the effect success is having on his life. From the old friends at home who claim he's sold out that he rhetorically asks "Tell me, who did I leave behind?", to the entourage he brings with him on the road that he can count on being real since they have known him since day one...it's another wide open door to the psyche of a real dude trying his best to stay real through it all.

Lord knows I'll never have the notoriety @drakkardnoir does, but if I did, I'd imagine I'd be fighting the same internal thoughts and dealing with the same dilemmas he faces as his fame and fortune increases. Yea I know it's fun to pretend, but find me another rapper or artist for that matter, who speaks so openly about their life that you feel like you know them. It's a unique quality that he's always possessed and I don't care what the haters who claim he's too emotional or vulnerable with his lyrics...dude had the balls to tell millions of people some of his innermost, honest thoughts. I'd like to see you try that in front of a room full of people, much less put it on wax for everyone to dissect again and again.

Conflicting reports on whether this will surface on Take Care, but I'm cool with it being a diamond in the rough or deluxe bonus track if that's the case. All I know is that it's far from a filler track and not single material, which would make it a great choice for the album. Shouts out to @OVO40 on the instrumental.

#October24th

Drake - Club Paradise (prod by 40)

Bad Boy's New White Boy

Seems like every big record label needs a white boy these days. First it was Eminem, who blazed a trail for the likes of Asher Roth, Mac Miller and Yelawolf. Enter new Bad Boy/Interscope signee @machinegunkelly, a 21 year old from Shaker Heights (Cleveland) who makes a living with his rapid fire flow (hence the name). I'll let Sway fill in the rest of the details...

I can't hate one bit on the come up MGK has made from rapping in his basement, all the way to the bidding war that Diddy ended up winning. Which brings me to my next point, would Diddy not only invest, but outbid other prospective labels over just anyone? If the shoe fits, wear it (see Ciroc) and after one song, I'm listening. Shouts out to @jonathanrotem on the beat and @livvifranc on the hook on Warning Shot...#Duck

Machine Gun Kelly feat Livvi Franc - Warning Shot (prod by JR Rotem)

"Tat My Name on You Girl so I Know It's Real"

Presumably upping the stakes in an attempt to weed out the groupies, @drakkardnoir and @rickyrozay are setting the bar higher if you want to really get with them. Spotted over at OVO, the picture above is evidently how you know it's real. I get it, it's like physical collateral because if the girl turns out to be fake, she'll forever have a reminder of it with your name tatted on her. Interesting concept, sorta forward thinking in nature and a potential asset for a lot of high profile celebrities to add to their arsenal. Still, I know a lot of fake girl that get a tat just to get with a celebrity. If it were up to me, I'd make it "tat my name where I can see it, so you know it's real", so that all the undercover one can't fake the funk.

As far as the execution and sound of the track, @ovo40 gets the production credit for providing the mellow template. Call it a street cred track with a touch of harmony for Drizzy Drake, displaying lyrics that get in it where they fit in with the Rozay influence. Not my cup of tea in the grand scheme of Drake tracks, but I can see why he went the direction he did with the track in collaborating with the industry's hottest rapper out now. Should further his clout/Hip Hop influence and provide a firmness to Take Care that all the trappers and gangstas were missing on Thank Me Later...#Oct24th

Drake feat Rick Ross - Free Spirit (prod by 40)

Kendrick Lamar Has a Pair of Pumped Up Kicks

My boy Mikey Mike, aka Indie music extraordinaire, posted this track on the blog shortly before it hit mainstream radio. My opinion as a general music observer, was that it sounded like a solid Indie track that had some universal likability. In that last sentence there was no mention of it being a top single and making serious waves on contemporary radio like it did.

Since I enjoy shades of Indie and Hip Hop, anytime the two worlds collide, I generally like it. As such, daps & lbs are in order for @djreflex of Power 106 for putting Compton's prince into the limelight on the remix to @fosterthepeople's hit single. If Detox ever comes out, that may would definitely be the tipping point for @Kendrick_Lamar's career. Until I'm gonna continue to post his stuff to get the word out because he brings a unique combination of intelligence and ferocity when on the mic. In other words, if you haven't already, you should probably go and cop his new album Section 80 on Amazon for $3.99.

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks (DJ Reflex Remix)
|iTunes

Videos of the Week

Lot of Cudi this week and if you're not in the mood for a Steven Segal esque, me against the world beat down, then his new video for Mr. Rager may not be for you. I still love that Skylar Grey track and top 5 beat of 2011 by Alex da Kid on Invisible. Oh yea, that new J Cole is dope too, I might just have to go see him in Philly when he comes around in about a month...

Skylar Grey - Invisible (Video)

Kid Cudi - Mr. Rager (Video)

The Knux feat Kid Cudi - Run (Video)

DJ Drama feat Big Sean, Trey Songz, 2 Chainz - Oh My (Remix) (Video)

J Cole Performs New Song God's Gift Off New Album in Toronto

Travis Porter - You Don't Know About It (Video)

The Cool Kids feat Maxine Ashley - Summertime (Video)

"It's 5 O' Clock in the Morning, Conversation Got Boring"

Not everyday you hear a proper English accent on an auto-tune heavy @TPAIN track. Thanks to the hook provided by @MrsLRCooper, I'm left feelin' like this track is pretty dope. It's got a real chill vibe to it and I'm giving a lot of the credit to Teddy Pain for evolving his style that was getting a little bit tired with his non-stop mix of auto-tune and in your face club tracks. Rarely do we a heartfelt ballad about sitting up waiting for the object of your affection.

This is probably going to serve as the lead single to his upcoming album RevolveR, which is slated to come out sometime by the end of 2011. Shouts out @RealWizKhalifa on the mini-verse at the end with the iPhone shout out...as if the girl would be out her damn mind for charging her Droid...smh. I'm playin'! I've got an iPhone and was more than a little elated today when this hit the iTunes store today. Forgive me in advance for mobile blogging y'all...#boutTimeGoogle

T-Pain feat Lily Allen & Wiz Khalifa - 5 O'Clock

"No Album to My Name and I’m Already Hot, You Can Say I’m Pre-heated"

In an effort to build the buzz heading into his debut album's release on September 27th, @JColeNC is taking over Sundays. His plan is to keep his music on your iTunes playlists, so that when Cole World: The Sideline Story hits the shelves, you'll think about all that free music he's been handing out of late. You won't find the track below on his new album, but you better believe it's album worthy, as it featured both verses and production from Cole himself.

Anybody else get a Nintendo vibe from the beat on this track? It's head nod worthy, but what makes it stand out are those old school synthesizers. Like straight up Contra, you feel me?

Man Contra plus Super Techmo Bowl was my youth in a nutshell. Three more weekends til Cole's masterpiece finally makes it out of the oven. It's hard to say whether it will compete with The R.E.D. Album and Watch the Throne, but what I do know is that it should tide me over til Take Care and most likely be better than the medicore Carter 4. Only real question is, is it worth driving an hour to pay homage on a Wednesday night?...#WellSeeHowGoodTheAlbumIs

J Cole - Heavy

Kem is Grown and Sexy

Man it's been a while since I heard @kem_intimacy's grown and sexy ballad Share My Life. The track and Kem's Intimacy album has been out about a year now, but when I woke up to the track below as my radio alarm on Sunday, it was such a calm, peaceful way to start the day that I couldn't help but have a good day. Straight up, dude is the modern day Teddy Pendergrass and epitomizes what my twenty-something generation refers to as grown and sexy music.

What's Grown and Sexy you ask? Urban dictionary defines it as:

"Older, mature yet hip; something that is for a more mature group of people"

Somethin' like Earth, Wind and Fire or Isley Brothers...anything that a girl in their 20s wouldn't look at you like "No way you're puttin' that on and gettin' in these jeans" (#ginuwineVoice). In other words, somethin' so classic that it plays even with the younger ladies. In short, G&S music walks a tenuous line with young women and is usually a tool only used by the confident, audacious male types, but to be fair, in the end your chances are probably more contingent on your level of game.

I digress, but real talk, if you don't have game and you're still tryin' to impress a girl, learn the lyrics to this track for the pillowtalk move, slow dance style. Lord knows this has been on my BMM playlist for quite a while, but hearing it when I woke up this weekend reminded me just how much I loved this track. I'm givin' it the classic stamp, it's reached that level of legitimacy...which rhymes with Intimacy...cop that!

Kem - Share My Life

|iTunes

New Bei Maejor - Till We Get it Right

It's been a lil bit since I've heard a smooth ballad from @beimaejor. I'm hopeful that this and his newest single with @JColeNC will mean that a major label debut is soon to follow, but it seems like the mixtape route is his favorite and most traveled route. In case you missed it, he's already released a mixtape, Throwback and he's got another one on tap, maejorMaejor.

I'm guessing the track below will surface on his upcoming maejorMaejor mixtape, but that's only speculation. Either way I'm sure he'll keep it USD and hopefully keep the new material coming...

Bei Maejor - Till We Get it Right

"I'm Spendin' Money Like a Rich White Girl"

Kinda crazy how far @pusha_t has come relevance wise in the past year. Sure, anyone familiar with Hip Hop has always admired Push from his work with Clipse, but for years mainstream success and attention were elusive to the talented lyricist. Then came along @kanyewest who put some faith in Pusha in signing him to G.O.O.D. music, which then parlayed into a Def Jam co-sign this week. Yea that's a lot of important, distinguished Hip Hop folks putting faith in you and you abilities...

The track below will presumably serve as the second single off I'm Yo Pusha's sophmore solo album, Fear of God 2: Let Us Pray, due out September 27th. Feelin' Myself is more of a mid-tempo, for the radio track with a quality beat from @ThaBizness and an equally solid hook from @kevincossom. It's a stark contrast from his no holds barred lead single with @fucktyler, but will provide a needed diversity to his upcoming release. I'm digging the video too, feel free to peruse either and keep an eye out for that high profile G.O.O.D./Def Jam release in late Sept.

Pusha T feat Kevin Cossom - Feelin' Myself (prod by Tha Bizness)

You Ever Made Love Thru the Speakers?

Y'all know by now that I'm a huge buyer of anything @KEVINCOSSOM is affiliated with. I can see why all the top producers hand him over beats to create demos because he's got a knack for creating high energy tracks. His newest one below is no exception as he teamed up with @MrBangladesh for an all out assault on your speakers. Put it this way, if this were making love through speakers, baby girl would wake up with a limp the next day. Know what I'm sayin?

#808Check in this b i atcha, mind the corny, repetitive sample on this track and give the speakers some room to breathe...

Kevin Cossom - Make Love Thru the Speakers (prod by Bangladesh)

Videos of the Week

Lots of good stuff below including Adele shutting down the VMAs with her superb vocal performance of Someone Like You...

Adele Performs Someone Like You at VMAs (Best Performance)

Yelawolf - No Hands (Video)

How in the hell did Tyler, the Creator win best new artist over Wiz Khalifa & Big Sean?

J.R. Rotem Producing Nicki Minaj's New Single Fly

Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna - Fly (Video)

Wale feat Jeremiah & Rick Ross - That Way (Video)

Neon Hitch - Gucci, Gucci (Kreayshawn cover) (Video)

"Oooh Sometimes I Get a BAD Feeling"

Dammit @official_flo! You were so close to what could have been the dopest lead single off any album in 2011, but it looks like the unofficial version of the track where you *borrowed* DJ @Avicii's Levels beat was too good to be true. Hey Atlantic Records, how about throwing Avicii a bone and hashing out a compromise the way Leona Lewis did with him? I'm betting the settlement included throwing him a couple racks on racks on racks, but Leona is (presumably) getting to use the version she's already released.

Memo to Atlantic Records, hopefully you've crunched the numbers on the ROI for the original vs the diluted, official version because you had an absolute gem on the original beat. Was the goal to change it just enough so that it didn't sound too much like the original beat? That way DJ Avicii would have less of a plagiarism complaint right? Maybe so, but lengthening out the sample a little bit and absolutely watering down the beat with a bland synths is like bull dozing a rain forest with beautiful exotic plants so that you can plant corn. Yes, the corn will sell because the masses will eat anything made of corn (Flo Rida on a dance track), but what you had was a top 10 single of 2011. Settling for less is like stealing a car, replacing the engine with something that has less horsepower, changing the paint job so that it looks different, then selling it for the same price it was worth when you stole it. Check the original version below in case you missed it...

Flo Rida - Good Feeling (Original with DJ Avicii beat)

In an all or nothing world, being semi-shady and going safe after being ballsy leaves the door open for criticism, which is the reason for this post. No, I don't know why the track was ultimately changed and I'd love to hear the extenuating circumstances behind the decision to change it, but all I've got to go on are my theories discussed above. I dunno about you, but I'm going to continue to ignore the version below and pretend like it never happened. Buyer beware, I'd give a listen to the original before settling for the recycled, manufactured garbage they're going to try and sell you on iTunes and in the club. #DoTheRightThingAtlanticPayAvicii

Flo Rida - Good Feeling (Official Final Version)

|iTunes

David Guetta Knows His ABCs

In case you've been sleeping in a cave or are too lame to care, @davidguetta just released an album yesterday titled Nothing But the Beat. You've heard the high profile singles, Where Them Girls At and Little Bad Girl, but it's my job to dig deeper to find the hidden gems like the one below, Alphabeat. You'll find the track below leading off disc 2 (the electronic disc) with an absolute elctro/rock/house BANG!

From the peaceful piano lead, DG lures you in, as if to tempt you to wonder how in the hell the song is going to turn into a club track. That's when the pace of the piano picks up before sharply giving way to a driving synth guitar riff that will force your eyelids backward. From there, Guetta shows off a bit with a cascading array of electronic samples that continue the riff in different pitches. If you were wondering why he's regarded as one of the best house producers, consider this as the newest exhibit A. Oh an add to it, his collaborations with Afrojack and Aviici on the electronic disc and the mention of the word classic isn't so far fetched.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and cop this album. Whether you use it as cardio music, a party starter or just something that will make you get up and dance, it does the trick and then some.

David Guetta - The Alphabeat

|iTunes

Canadians Unite! Drake and Bieber Finally Team Up on a Track

Suffice to say, this collaboration was a loooong time coming and even though the finished product isn't quite as epic as I would have hoped, it's still cool to see @drakkardnoir and @justinbieber get together on a collabo. It was the first time I had really noticed a big voice changes in Bieber's harmony too, but to his credit, he's handling it quite well given the evidence on the track below. As I listened to the track, I really hoped to get a new remix verse from either Drake or Justin, but unfortunately they stuck to the original script.

Don't let my lukewarm reaction to the track ruin it for you, especially if you're one of those teenie boppers who salivate over Biebs' every word. It's aiiiight, but I'll hold out for a more high powered collabo in the future. A little less than two months before Take Care, I can't wait to hear that joint, Doing It Wrong that Drake did with Stevie Wonder...#Oct24

Drake feat Justin Bieber - Trust Issues (Remix)

"Mirror on the Wall, Here We Are Again"

You may be wondering just who in hell is pictured above with @BrunoMars. Far left is @philsmeeze (Phillip Lawrence), in the middle is @arilevine (Ari Levine) and of course Bruno rounds out the trio known as the Grammy Award winning production/writing team, The Smeezingtons. Yea, you've heard stuff by them and may not have known it like Cee-Lo's - F*ck You, Flo Rida - Right Round, Travie's - Billionaire, B.O.B.'s - Nothin on You, Bad Meets Evil's - Lighters and oh by the way all of Bruno's hits, Grenade, Just the Way You Are and Lazy Song. Saying they produce top notch, iTunes dominating hits is like saying Jigga and Beyonce's first child is going to be privileged.

Coincidentally, the track below, which is one of those really well placed deluxe, make you pay a couple extra bucks for one of the best songs on the album type of tracks. You'll find it on The Carter IV, which just hit iTunes today matter of fact. On the track you can expect a Pure Moods style instrumental with heartfelt, introspective verses from @liltunchi that show the deep, mature side of his music. As usual, Bruno brings his ever so melodic vocals on the hook that blends seamlessly with the harmonic tones and serious lyrics.

You were already gonna cop Carter IV, but you didn't know it would come with a track this deep. Don't hate, be pleasantly surprised like I was...

Lil Wayne feat Bruno Mars - Mirror (prod by The Smeezingtons)

|iTunes

Converse Invented the Morgue Dance Party

Yea I saw this one coming. Hah! Talk about predictable! Gonna have to be more original Converse, collaboration blending together the similar styles of @mattandkim, @ANDREWWK and @souljaboy is something that happens daily...especially with the whole morgue dance party theme on the video, totally played out!

Alright...now that I've got all the sarcasm out, seriously *WTF* is this track? This type of weird, genre blending music is almost too audacious, like a kid trying to fit in with everyone by incorporating bits of style from all the different cliques at school. I can't even hate on the finished product, I actually kinda like it. 98% of the reason for that is because Matt and Kim kick so much ass it's unbelievable, but that makes me think, what if they would have done this track by themselves without the completely out-of-left-field verses from two completely different walks of musical life? Yea, I'm afraid I probably would have liked it more had they gone solo, but now I'm left with this awful feeling like I have to reverse my lack of respect for Soulja Boy because he's done a track with Matt & Kim. #ThanksConverse

Oh well, such is life when something completely unexpected comes along, what can ya do? Well, I'm gonna continue listening to this strange creature of a track and continue wondering who in the hell was in charge of making Soulja Boy look like a zombie. #Fail

Matt & Kim feat Andrew W.K. & Soulja Boy - I'm a Goner

Videos of the Week

Plenty of new videos to go with a high profile cameo at one of Wayne's shows. Not just Hip Hop though, keep an eye out for that new Florence and the Machine lead single What the Water Gave Me.

Rihanna - Cheers (Video)

Kendrick Lamar - ADHD (Video)

Florence and the Machine - What the Water Gave Me (Video)

Bad Meets Evil feat Bruno Mars - Lighters (Video)

Karmin Music Covers Bad Meets Evil's Lighters (Video)

Lil Wayne Brings Out Drake to Perform in Toronto

Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie (Video)

"Your Address is Now Cloud 9"

There's a strong correlation between songs I really end up liking and @ryanleslie producing them. That's not much of a stretch considering he was behind the board on the best Hip Hop track last year You Be Killin' Em. Put it this way, R Les knows how to market himself because every time he produces a high profile beat, he always releases the in-studio "making of the beat", like on Fly Together (below)...

It's not even showing off or rubbing it in everyone's face, dude is just crazy talented when you get him in a studio producing a beat. From scratch, there's so much that goes into the finished product and with every video he releases, I appreciate that more. Hard to mess with him on the synths and he's got a knack for throwing in three or four more elements that do nothing but further augment the synths. To put it lightly, his beats are more like orchestrated symphonies and I haven't been too proud to search daily for finished products of tracks that he produced.

Not sure what @redcafesd album this will land on, but you better believe this will serve as the lead single. Can't even hate on @rickyrozay, who did his thing on his verse too. Just a solid track front to back, neatly wrapped by ya boy R Les.

Red Cafe feat Rick Ross & Ryan Leslie - Fly Together (prod by Ryan Leslie)

Weezy Chops Hov and B Down To Size

When it comes to Hip Hop royalty, generally there's a no-fly zone or heir of invincibility that protects the top dogs from any sort of disses or lyrical jabs. I'm not gonna include Kanye in that group because his temperament as an instigator is downright abrasive, so he attracts a lot of the hate that comes on him. I'm talking about the likes of Jay-Z, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland...the type of industry vets that have done so much work in the game that in some way shape or form, they've fed everyone they've touched and made very little enemies. Yea, I know this sort of thing has happened before and all remember the highly publicized Nas vs Jay-Z spat back in early 2000, but that never seemed to interest more than a lot of dedicated Hip Hop fans who knew the gravity of the situation.

What has the internet currently abuzz is @liltunchi's more than subtle jab at @s_c_ on one of his new Carter IV tracks It's Good. In general, I think everyone is overreacting and reading a little to heavily into the tea leaves, but I'm finding it interesting that Weezy had the audacity to give a "stay in your lane" shot across the bow at Forbes' top breadwinner of 2011. Sure, everyone is used to the braggadocio that goes along with making so damn much money you use $1 bills as Kleenex, but it sounds like Wayne got a little fed up with the extend Jigga went in bragging about his wealth, especially because it subtly going after Wayne's partner in crime/mentor Baby.

The original line Weezy was responding to was from Kanye & Jay's track H.A.M., which landed as a deluxe bonus track off Watch the Throne. The response came as more of a non-direct subliminal on Wayne's new track It's Over, lines below...

"I’m like really half a billi ni**a, really you got baby money, keep it real with ni**as, ni**as aint got my lady money.” - Jay-Z verse on H.A.M.

"Talkin’ bout baby money, I got ya baby money
Kidnap yo b**ch, get that how much you love yo lady money
I know you fake ni**a, press yo breaks ni**a"
I’ll take you out, that’s a date ni**a - Lil Wayne verse on It's Over

Yea I know shark week is over, but that line was like a stealth killer whale shot to a great white.

Suspected beef aside, @boi1da did his thing on the beat and I enjoyed a rare high profile verse from @therealkiss. Yea and about that feisty @drakkardnoir verse, damn man, did I hear a little anger mixed in there? We'll see if the whole pump your brakes subliminal is received with any response, but my guess is they'll hug it out and life will continue to go on as usual in Hip Hop because they've got too many mutual friends to actually beef. Time will tell...Carter IV drops on iTunes this Sunday, Aug 28th in case the leak hasn't come across your radar yet...

Lil Wayne feat Drake & Jadakiss - It's Good (prod by Boi-1da)

|iTunes

Keri Hilson and Kevin Cossom Are Both So Good

Ah yes the timeless question, Who Rocked it Better? Was it the writer who demo'd the track (@KEVINCOSSOM) or the artist who managed to put it on their album (@MISSKERIBABY)? Usually it's a cut and dried distinction because one of the artists knocked it out the park, while the other managed to make it their own, but still came up short.

This one is more like picking your favorite kid or for me, picking your burrito place. Usually it's Chipotle, but sometimes I can't help going to Baja Fresh because their salsa is so damn good. I've consistently been in both Keri and Kevin's corner (say that three times fast) and that's not just because they're both really talented, but they also rub shoulders with two of the best producers in the game @TIMBALAND and Danjahandz. While Keri is more known as an elite singer, Kevin is more known for writing and producing, but that doesn't mean he can't pull off his own ballad.

Case in point, his version of the song he wrote, So Good, produced by Danja and officially released as a deluxe bonus track on Keri's newest album, No Boys Allowed. It's really splitting hairs as to who did it better because every time I hear one version, I think it's the better one. You be the judge though, who rocked it the best?

Kevin Cossom - So Good (Solo Version) (prod by Danja)

Keri Hilson - So Good (prod by Danja)

|iTunes

David Guetta + DJ Afrojack Make Electronic House Sound Like a Video Game

Maybe this fell off the Daft Punk wagon on the way to the Tron Soundtrack? Genesis of the track aside, it was the track I immediately circled when the official tracklist of @davidguetta's new Nothing But the Beat album surfaced. Being big fans of both Guetta and @djafrojack, I was more than curious what would ensue when they both got behind the boards together on a track.

I call it well organized electronic chaos that does everything in it's power to force you to make strange gyrations with your body (kinda like this). While Game remains my pick for top Hip Hop album of the year so far, I'm not sure he'll be able to sell half the albums that Guetta is going to starting next Monday, August 29th when his new album drops. I haven't even gotten to his new song with Usher and have yet to skip a song. Can't go wrong with any of DG's uptempo, powerful brand of dance music that injects just the right amount of harmony into his nicotine addictive electro rhythms. Have I sold you yet? #WhoCaresILikeIt

David Guetta feat DJ Afrojack - Lunar
|iTunes

"And I Ain’t No Hipster, Girl I Can Make Your Hips Stir"

New lead single off @MacMiller's upcoming Blue Slide Park LP. Slated for a Fall release, between this lil heat rock and Donald Trump's YouTube co-sign, it's looking like Mac's ascension to Hip Hop is continuing past his first album. Check the video below and feel free to cop the single on iTunes below...

Mac Miller - Frick Park Market (prod by ID Labs)

|iTunes