Child Rebel Soldier - Don't Stop!

Child Rebel Soldier - Don't Stop!

In 2007, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell recorded a song called US Placers, under the group name Child Rebel Soldier, which set the internets ablaze. The beat, by Skateboard P was a minimalist piano and snare-laced instrumental where the three waxed philosophical about the ills of their combined riches, dropping rhymes like dimes (10 e-points to whoever knows that reference). Now its 2010, and up until yesterday that was the group's only known recording, and a project standing in the Detox-mold, maybe never to be released. Lo and behold, Kanye has not left the CRS faithful down in his GOOD Friday series, dropping a track with one of the funkiest beats I've laid ears on in a while. Reminiscent of mambo and salsa music, Don't Stop features CRS going, as we say, dumb. P actually raps again, and he sounds refreshed from not having spit a bar on wax in a while. Lupe (the best verse in my opinion) then jumped on, riding the beat and fitting more words and wordplay in one line than a lot of songs. Ye gets the beat switch-up and does it justice with a few hilarious punchlines. All in all, I'm trying to hide my excitement for this project (apparently, you can't like something without being a d*ckrider), but this track is great. Check it out and enjoy a GOOD Saturday...

Chiddy Bang - The Good Life (Co-produced by Pharrell)

Chiddy Bang - The Good Life (Produced by Pharrell)

The whole producer-MC combination somewhat throws me for a loop, especially when the producer doesn't really rap. Acts like Kidz in the Hall are dope, but without Double-O, can Naledge hold a track down? Can Mikey Rocks rock a beat that Chuck didn't bless? Was CL Smooth as good without Pete Rock? I guess those questions are more rhetorical than ones that can actually be answered, yet it's always interesting to see the MC rock over another producer's beat. In this case, Chiddy Bang hooked up with Skateboard P (he co-produced it) for this cut off their upcoming work 'The Preview', to be released in October. You can definitely tell where Pharrell left his mark (the drums for sure) and where Noah did his thing (the crescendo has his name all over it). Add some nice verses by Chiddy, and you've got a certified head knocker for the fall. Check the track out and be on the lookout for more from Chiddy Bang...

Lupe Fiasco - 'Love Letter to the Beat' x 'Horn Synth' (Snippet)

Looks like the nuttiest photoshoot ever...


Lupe Fiasco - Love Letter to the Beat (ft. Alicia Keys)


Lupe Fiasco - Horn Synth (ft. Pharrell) (SNIPPET)

Can you feel it in the air? I can. Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' is drawing nearer. Today we got two leaks from the new album. The first one, 'Love Letter to the Beat,' is a star-studded lineup, with Alicia Keys jumping on the track, which is produced by Chad Hugo. It's a really jumpy synth beat with a lot of drums during the breakdowns. I think Alicia plays the keys along with her vocals. The second one, 'Horn Synth,' I didn't even want to post, because it was a snippet, and I HATE partial leaks and snippets. But the one minute and sixteen seconds of music that Pharrell and Lupe were so dope that I had to. The beat, the lyrics; EVERYTHING. If this is the caliber of hip-hop music that Lupe's bringing for Lasers, then I for one can't wait. Check both tracks out...

NERD - Hot N' Fun (ft. Nelly Furtado)

NERD - Hot N' Fun (ft. Nelly Furtado)

Well, I for one am hyped, because I'm seeing N.E.R.D. tonight. Chad, Pharrell and Hugo have been off the scene for about 2 years touring and doing God knows what. I suppose their first leak from the new album 'Nothing' would come straight out of left field. They recruited Nelly Furtado for some vocals and threw together a snappy, bop-your-head beat to talk about girls who just want the physical pleasures in this life. I especially love the piano breakdown. If 'Seeing Sounds' was their return to a grittier sound, then this album should be a lot more diverse musically. I'm expecting a banger. Check out the track...

Despicable Me (2010)

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I've been liking kid's movies a lot more recently. After watching 'How to Train Your Dragon' I started looking at more animated flicks coming out soon. One of them is Despicable Me, casting Steve Carell as the world's greatest villain. The movie's soundtrack features Pharrell. It's been a long while since we've heard from Skateboard P in the music department. He's been jetsetting and being a worldwide fashion icon, which you can't even be mad at. The new track, also titled Despicable me has P using autotune (a little late on the fad, eh?). Even so, the beat is bananas and Pharrell lays down some lyrics about being a bad guy. The movie comes out July 9th, and you can grab the track below...

Pharrell - Despicable Me

The Clipse - Popular Demand (ft. Cam'ron & Pharrell)

Popular Demand - The Clipse (ft. Cam'ron & Pharrell)

Dude, why do Malice and Pusha insist on pushing back Till the Casket Drops?? Tracks like this shouldn't be allowed to sit there and fizzle due to record label politics (see Jockin Jay-Z). Even Cam came through and blessed us with his dopest verse in a LONG time. I'm not going to mince words with this post. Listen to this track. GET READY FOR TILL THE CASKET DROPS!!! It drops in December (completely tentative)...