Gee golly wilikers... I know not whether to go outside, guns ablaze and start a violent revolution, or to go inside and read more books to start an intellectual revolution. Kendrick Lamar has been a mainstay in my rotation as of late, with his OverlyDedicated mixtape growing on me daily. Add to that, the J. Cole-produced banger HiiiPower??? Come on, son... K. Lamar (as reluctant as I am to claim this) might be the next to blow. Forget the West Coast that is primarily about gang-banging. This Compton representer has conscious crossover written all over him. Not to mention, his visuals have been as compelling as I've seen in the past year or so. The video for HiiiPower juxtaposes an army behind K. Lamar with a barrage of images championing the revolutions going on in the Middle East, and those that went on in our own country over half a century ago. Enough talk, though. Check the video, and be on the lookout for #Section80...
Say what you will about Fear of God (yes it was a bit of a let-down), Pusha has a way with those coke raps, and his music videos are no different. He doesn't really have to be doing much in his videos to make them hot. The younger Thornton brother recruited a children's marching band, some of his Re-Up Gang constituents, a sexy Lambo coupe, a funeral hearse, and a bad light-skinned biddie to accompany him in his video for 'My God'. The cut-scenes of church revivals and people catching the spirit line up perfectly with the lyrics detailing his dealings with fiends, and one can almost taste the juxtaposition between drug addiction and religious fervor. I'm not sure if that's what Pusha or the director Nabil Elderkin were going for here, but I suppose it's just something to marinate on for heavy thinkers such as myself. Check the video out and get hyped for the Fear of God EP.
PS: I'm tired of rappers putting out EP's of mixtapes/albums we've already heard. If Pusha doesn't switch it up a little, I will be severely disappointed...
If you are an Odd Future fan, then you need to pledge your allegiance and your swag to the man immortalized in the video above. In the midst of the golden era of hip-hop, rife with its complex rhyme schemes, witty metaphors and loopy wordplay, one movement stuck out as being able to reach music fans who didn't necessarily like hip-hop. That was the Wu-Tang Clan. While the group boasted a host of accomplished rhymesayers and producers, the true surprise was their Clown Prince, the one we affably call Big Baby Jesus. Ol' Dirty Bastard left the physical realm of our celestial body in November 2004 at the hands of a drug overdose. Before meeting his maker, he lived life within a foot of the edge, as evidenced by his music, which became an outlet for his larger-than-life and almost psychotic persona.
Today, ODB lives on in the shadows and minds of acts like Odd Future and Lil' B. Nonsensical, sociopathic and deranged lyrics pervaded his work, and do the same in theirs. If there was a way to direct lineage in hip-hop, I'm sure that the ODB would have more than a few seeds planted in today's hip-hop generation. Today's Singing Telegram is a commemoration of that. 'Brooklyn Zoo' (also the title of a good amount of my fantasy teams) is a cacophonous warning to those that deemed it safe to throw shade at Ol' Dirty and his Wu-Tang crew. Threatening his adversaries with Lysol, among other strange pieces of weaponry, ODB has his way with the beat and surprisingly makes more sense than he usually does. That the video is as gritty as the man himself is simply a sign and testament to the times. While we may never truly know the extent of Russel Tyrone Jones' affliction, we do know that it birthed some memorable hip-hop. RIP to ODB and let his raucous incantations rile you to a new level of hype...
As inspired by @itsThiz.. Make sure you check out The Interludes for great hip-hop articles.
Now that Lil Tunechi is out of Rikers, it was imperative that the NOLA native got his image back on the scene. The interwebs received his single '6 Foot, 7 Foot' featuring Cory Gunz (at least Wayne didn't jerk Cory out of another platinum feature) warmly, and it was only natural that there needed to be a video to accompany the madness that is Weezy's return. Of all directors, I suppose it made the most sense to hire you, Hype Williams for the job of visually resurrecting Wayne's career. Yet, upon further review of your latest directorial offerings, I'm drawing a few head-scratchers.
The video for 'All of the Lights' had none of the budget and induced more Pokemon-esque seizures than it made fans. While Nicki Minaj's 'Massive Attack' was a frisbee from jump, your visuals did little more than confuse the viewer. Sure there was 'Empire State of Mind', but anyone can juxtapose shots of Alicia Keys and Jigga performing with epic shots of NYCers in all their working-class glory. The megahit 'Forever' with Drake, Ye, Wayne and Eminem was little more than a remake of every club scene, and there's been little to write home about other than those. To tell you the truth, Hype, little if anything has hit as hard as your earliest videos.
Hype, your M.O. in directing has always been larger-than-life productions, combined with colorful scenery, and different cinematic viewpoints. '6 Foot, 7 Foot' is a far cry from the visually stunning cuts for tracks like 'Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See', 'Woo-Hah' or 'Down Low'. Hell, you didn't even scratch the fish-eyed lensed, trippy heels of Ma$e's 'Feel So Good' or the almost-macabre grittiness in DMX's 'Get At Me Dog'.
The video for '6 Foot, 7 Foot' is tame at best, for what is an adversely hectic track. Your references to the movie 'Inception' were well-intentioned, but sloppily undergone. Rather than go over-the-top with some of the punchlines, in your usual fashion, you used simple sight gags. Half of the punchlines didn't even get those half-assed visualizations. In fact, the only part of the video I thoroughly enjoyed was Cory's verse (on wax, too), with the Young Gun doing his best Agent Smith impression. To tell you the truth, you're not losing it, but you're losing a lot of traction in my book. The whole 'crew in front of the white screen looking cool' motif has been played out in the recession era of hip-hop. You've outworn your welcome to use the slow-mo camera, and there's little more that you can do with black and white filters. To sum it up, all of the cinematic that made your videos the vanguard of hip-hop are becoming more stale than 'Gettin Jiggy With It' in 2011. It's not enough any more. I've said it numerous times and will continue to: creative hip-hop videos are becoming a lost art, with you being a prime example. I guess even for you, the hype is exceeding the actual products... #youseewhatididthere
As much as people like to complain about rap videos, they're just a way to visually perform the song and convey the song's meaning. All that really changes in videos nowadays is the locations. So I guess it's no surprise that the Kid Daytona switched his locale up in his video for 'On the Hill'. Set in majestic wooded area of Friday Harbor, the scenery shows Daytona literally on a hill looking down with binoculars. I guess that's to say that he's head and shoulders above the competition in hip-hop. Not the most valid claim, but the visual does match the idea of the song. Glad to see this thing getting rotation on MTV2, too. Check out the video...
LASERS comes out on March 8th, 2011. I repeat: LASERS comes out on March 8th, 2011. What was becoming a Detox-esque wait for stans such as myself, is almost over. That's not to say that this is my favorite song, but sometimes some music is better than none, especially when there's not a lot of good music coming out. Lupe shows the viewer his path to the stage, complete with high-res visualizations and random cronies helping him put on his performance attire. It's a simple video but exemplifies the title of the song as well as the way to alleviate his label woes: by letting the show go on. Check out the visuals and keep waiting for LASERS...
One of the reasons Curren$y is one of the best out is that he never rests on his laurels. Where a lot of rappers are content to put out music and content (see what I did there?) once a year, Spitta has dropped three works this year, all of which have been good. What's crazier is that he has another on the way. Maybe those Young Money days rubbed off on him and made him a lab-rat like Wayne. We'll never know, but it's nice to see an artist with dedication like that, nor does it hurt to have one of the best flows out. Curren$y keeps holding up to the name Hot Spitta when he raps over different types of beats, and still comes up just as cool. This particular visual is for his cut over Rawse x Kanye's 'Live Fast and Die Young'. Spitta, in a very hairy state, waxes philosophical about his affinity for Chevys. Enjoy...
PREAMBLE: I've decided I'm doing a new type of post. It's called the Singing Telegram. Not that most of you would care. I just felt like stating it... Anyways, these will feature older songs and videos, and anything in between, hence the antiquated name.
This week's feature is late 90s New York hip-hop on its rise. With Biggie laid to rest and the West Coast reeling from the death of 2Pac and Death Row's instability, New York's crown was up for grabs. Cam'ron made his play at the throne with catchy tracks like this riff with Ma$e. 'Horse and Carriage' reminded me today of why I love 90s and 2000s hip-hop videos: the cameos. Take a look at any hip-hop video form the 90s and early 2000s, and you're guaranteed to see a who's who of rap's elite in the background, probably singing along or having random rapper fun. 'Horse and Carriage' is no different. I spy Styles P, NORE, Jim Jones (who looks ridiculous, by the way), among other hip-hop personalities. See who else you can spot...
Amanda Diva is one talented lady, but I had no idea, aside from a guest spot with 'The Kid Daytona, that she had such a soulful way about her. Regardless, I was driven to post this up simply because the story being depicted in the video is something all of my peers can relate to. During this period of pre-adulthood/post-adolescence, most of us are trying desperately to find our way in a world where there aren't lines drawn to direct us after a while. Some are good at finding their own path and becoming successful, while others languish for what seems like an eternity. The result is this constant tension, this battle, not only of the sexes, but of the ages. We're constantly told to 'grow up', sometimes with no good examples of what a grownup is, hence the term 'Manchild'. Amanda Diva's Ski Beatz-produced ballad about a guy who is physically a man, but mentally a child resonates for both sexes. It's also a welcome reminder of what life holds with no aspirations. Shouts to TSS for the heads up, and I'll definitely be looking for Amanda Diva's LP, 'Technicolor Lover'...
Curren$y needs to be one of your favorite rappers. I don't care what you think of weed raps or sneaker-laced diatribes. Hot Spitta has one of the best track records in hip-hop over the past 3 years, with several mixapes on the circuit and now 3 albums under his belt. You would swear that the New Orleans-born MC was pushing some illegal pharmaceuticals with the way he has his listeners addicted to his slippery flow and easy-going lyrics. That's the concept behind the video for his Pilot Talk track 'Audio Dope'. Spitta clearly is the guy pushing lyrical weight out here, and he's got the addicts and goons under him to prove it in the visual. No one can say the man isn't working hard. A cut off his new album yesterday and a music video from his old album today? JETS is all you need to say at this point...
I've been quoted as being a huge Mikey Rocks fan. That's not without reason, though. Mikey, as a solo artist, has as much charisma as he needs to be successful, as evidenced by random tracks and guest spots scattered throughout the blogosphere. No, we don't have a timetable for any solo releases for the rapping half of the Cool Kids. No, this track isn't well placed, by any means. Summer is well over, though the humidity outside belies that fact. Even so, Mikey decided to give the idea of summer solstice one more spin on this track with Chi-town vocalist Latif. The result is a breezy, mid-tempo song that shows Mikey's versatility, considering the trademark bass-heavy Cool Kids productions. Also, can anyone cosign this for me? Mikey would probably be the man in 1995, even though he's got 2010 bars. If you agree, hit the Digg, Retweet or Like buttons below this post. Mikey needs to be on your radar. If he's not, check the video out and decide for yourself...
Hip-hop can seriously get depressing and upsetting at times. Even with so-called uplifting rappers, you get the sense that they're complaining about the wrongs of the world instead of being happy for the good in life. I suppose that's just the way the music, and essentially society is. That said, it's great to hear a rapper saying something truly positive, not in the Rev Run mold. Asher favors Matthew McConaughey in 'Dazed and Confused', but I suppose the look fits the track. Asher is working on his new album 'The Spaghetti Tree', slated to drop later this year. From the album title, it sounds like he's on another planet these days, but that's not even a bad thing. Check the video...
The Cool Kids have been one of my favorite groups over the past few years simply because they reek of nonchalance and apathy for the direction of the game. Rather than tailor their quirky rap styles to what's going on, Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish swerved into their own lane. Now that the two have become successful as a group, it would only make sense that they branched out on their own. Mikey Rocks has taken that calling and ran with it. This video is the visual for the Tye Hill and The Produktionix-produced Foreign Features. The beat is a little much at first, but when you hear Mikey rhyme, you get where it's going. Mikey definitely has an ill flow and an abundance of charisma on the mic. Whether he can parlay that into a solo career or just be content to kick it with Chuck, we shall see. What I do know, though, is that talent has a way of finding its way out. Keep it locked for more releases from Sir Michael Rocks...
Okay, so Mickey Factz is claiming in his upcoming mixtape 'I'm Better Than You' that he's... better than everyone else in the rap game. While he's had some great leaks, some of them have been sub-par, retracting back to that tired, convoluted flow. The track 'Paradise' was one of those that I was kind of lukewarm about. But as most hip-hop heads know, sometimes the best part about a song isn't the song itself, but the music video. That's the case with the visuals for 'Paradise'. The video, directed by Phil the God, takes Mick back to his roots in the Bronx, where he does the typical hood music video. Complete with trademark bodega, random street shots and a gang o' n*ggas behind him, Mickey does his best 90's impression, and surprisingly makes the song sound a lot better. I guess the sepia tones and mean mugs served him well. Hopefully, the whole mixtape doesn't need a visual for us to rock to it. Whatever the case, check out the video for Mickey Factz's 'Paradise'...
I've had this since last night, but I really wanted to wait for the uncensored version, simply because a song this good can't be censored, lyrically or visually, in the case of the video. Kanye revisits the whole motif of power and how easily people are drawn to it in the video with a photo-esque display of lavishness. The theme seems to be somewhere in between Egyptian luxury and a sick Kanye West fantasy. Either way the scene is spectacular. From the gradients and shading to how the people move in place, this video (I don't even want to call it a video anymore) look like it's from the most divine brush ever created. I can't stress how hyped I am for Ye's album. I really think it's going to be game-changing, especially if it comes equipped with visuals like this one. Check out the uncensored version of Kanye West's 'Power'...
PS: In reference to the dude that Kanye singled out and followed on Twitter, all the people mobbing him should be ashamed of themselves. I really think this is one huge, sick social experiment that Kanye is playing on the 'social media generation' to show how easily they give people power. Then again, who am I to guess? *takes off conspiracy theorist hat*
Is it just me, or does J. Cole have a knack for being subtle, yet dope in everything he does. Cole talks about women, but not in a bragging way. He curses, but it's all for a purpose. The kid from Fayettenam makes precise moves, which can explain the lack of leaks. Who Dat is the antithesis of most tracks out right now because it's not as glitzy as the rest, but still manages to throw heat rocks, with J. Cole ripping his bars. The video is no different. It actually reminds me of something from the late 90's, just rapping.. with cool stuff happening behind you. The explosions at the end tell exactly the story that J. Cole wants to tell: he got that flame (sounds weird writing that). Grammar aside, the video is tough...
One thing I'm not afraid to admit is when I've slept on an artist. The homie @MichelleHux told me last year that Phil Ade was a problem. I promptly downloaded his mixtape 'Starting on JV,' gave it a listen, then forgot about it for some reason. Maybe there was a plethora of other music that I was more interested in at the time. Maybe it didn't hit me as hard at first. Whatever the case, the tape stayed in my iTunes untouched for months. Saw the video for his track 'The Letter' floating around the blogosphere, and gave that a spin. My opinion was immediately swayed. Phil has a maturity on wax that I don't see from a lot of artists. He also has a great handle of vernacular, evident in his lyrics and delivery. There aren't wasted words in his delivery and he seems to hold a penchant for stretching metaphors, especially basketball ones (can't ever be mad at that). Regardless of what I say, you've got to check this video out. It feels... organic, how much of a natural Phil is. I can't wait to hear his next mixtape 'The Letterman'. If the music doesn't reel you in, then the Don Cannon cosign should. Check the video and get ready for the tape to drop on July 6th (MY BIRTHDAY!!!!)...
Am I safe in assuming that Vado is the next hot rapper to come out of Harlem? Yeah.. I suppose that question was a bit silly. Vado's been tearing up the scene as of late. He's dropped new music every time you turn around, and put out dope freestyles. Now he's teaming up up with Goliath and Crooks & Castles for a limited edition t-shirt (below) and listening party for his mixtape 'Slime Flu'. Yeah, I guess being Killa Cam's new protege and getting cosigns from Jada don't hurt. To add to that, the video for his single 'Large on the Streets' hit the interwebs today. Can't say the man isn't trying. The visuals are just what you'd expect for the track: gritty, but subtle flash. Let's hope Slime Flu doesn't disappoint either...
Not even remotely fresh.. The stans and hypebeasts will cop for sure though...
As you can see, Diggy's back. The not-so-average middle child from the Simmons clan is set to drop a new mixtape, entitled 'Airborne', and blessed the Twitterverse with a new track from said mixtape. After 'The First Flight', I was anxious to see if there was a falling off of Dig's lyrics, whether the biographical raps about how he's trying to break away from the image of his father and uncle would still hit home. Newsflash: he's still got it. Diggy's mid-range rapid flow goes really well with the Drumline-esque beat and aside from his kinda-spastic music video moves, the visuals are just right too. Whatever the case, Diggy's got us on our toes again. Check out the music video and the d/l above...
One of my BIGGEST #petpeeves is the hip-hop community's fixation on luxury brands and the expensive patterns that cost way more than they are actually worth. Marky apparently feels the same way. His new video, 'Louis Squares' deals with that exact problem, stating that 'just because you got Louis squares, doesn't mean you're not phony'. Everyone pines and runs after Louis V, Gucci et. al. thinking that they will add to their livelihood, only to realize that they are just clothes and accessories. You can't take any of those things with you after death, and although I like looking good as the next person, it shouldn't come at such steep prices and with the label of being materialistic. I don't know. If you rock with the luxury brands like that, more power to you. Just know that the man makes the clothes; clothes don't make the man. Check out Marky's video...
