Archive for Hip Hop
Only weeks after releasing his album God Forgives I Don’t, the boss of MMG offers up even more street music. Rozay felt like adding verses on some of his favorite songs from other rappers so this is a mixtape in the traditional sense. It also features new verses by Drake, 2 Chainz, Gunplay, Rockie Fresh, and Pharrell.
Download it here.
Visuals for one of my favorites off Nas’ latest album Life is Good. Directed by Jay Martin.
At this point I think we all expect Kanye to only put out incredible music. Well once again Mr. West proves to be the kind of artist who doesn’t just know how to show off his talents, he knows how to showcase others too. The way he put together Cruel Summer is impressive. The G.O.O.D. Music roster is obviously abundant with talent but the way Kanye uses them in all the right spots is what distinguishes this album. The music ranges from braggadocios rap at its finest (Mercy, Clique) to songs with more introspection to them (Bliss, Creepers). It all works together as a cohesive album that I can actually listen to all the way through. In this single driven market that’s really saying something. Cruel Summer is one of the best group efforts I’ve ever heard in hip hop and it’s already sold over 200K. Download it here.
The highlight of my New York Fashion Week experience was hosting a showcase event for Case Mate that featured a performance from Common. Lately the word freestyle has been used loosely and a lot of MC’s are getting away with just reciting prepared rhymes but Common is one of the few MC’s that still actually freestyles. That skill for spontaneity was on full display right here.
G.O.O.D. Music is definitely earning it’s title this week. Most hip hop fans have gotten their ears on the leak of Cruel Summer and this album Big Sean put out for free (so we’ll call it a mixtape). Detroit is packed with incredible collaborations with Common, Jhene Aiko and J Cole (among others). While a lot of the mixtape is more of the fun we’ve come to expect from Big Sean, songs like Once Bitten, Twice Shy (produced by Hit Boy) have real depth.
Download it here.
Some meat on the bones of this free album. It came out earlier this summer but I’m finally getting a chance to chew on it. Well done Mr. Chrys and your executive producer Timbaland knows a thing or two (or 3…or 4) too.
Jeff just seems to be getting better. On this mixtape he features some of the hottest new songs along with classics from back in the day and it all seems to make sense together the way he mixes them. Shout out to LRG and Complex for sponsoring it.
Archive footage never felt so fresh. God Forgives I Don’t is out now.
The term “freestyling” has been used very loosely for a while and not a lot of MC’s actually come up with rhymes on the spot anymore. Thankfully, Lupe Fiasco is not one of those MC’s and he proved it when he appeared on Flex’s radio show to promote his upcoming album Food & Liquor 2. I’m still a bit salty about Lupe referring to Barack as a terrorist but his talent is a pretty undeniable spectacle in this clip.
