Swizz Beatz has a new song called “Where the Cash At”. This song has a LOT going on…perhaps too much, but it’s still kinda cool. I wonder if he is every going to reinvent his sound or keep making basically the same beat over and over again with a twist. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of this track? Should Swizz just stick to producing?
Posted by Reecie
Janelle Monae has a song called “Many Moons”. I won’t even pretend to have a clue about how new or old it is. Anyway, this is an interesting song and the production reminds a little of “Bombs Over Baghdad”. I’m sick and it’s midnight, so right now I’m brain dead and the song is flying over my head. Nonetheless, I still like it. The honorable and I are going to be checking her out this Tuesday at a performance in LA, so I’ll have more insight to offer about her as an artist after that. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of the song?
Posted by Reecie
Maroon 5 and Rihanna have a new song called “If I Never See Your Face Again”. I’m kinda digging this…Adam Levine and Rihanna both bring the bad ass attitude to the track and make a really interesting combo. I gotta give Rihanna credit for being able to do a Pop/Rock song without sounding contrived or forced. As I’ve said before, seeing her in concert gave me a new-found respect for her talent and I believe that this sound is better suited for her voice. They are shooting a video for this song so expect to see that soon. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of the track? Do Adam & Rihanna make a good combo?
Posted by Reecie
Young Jeezy has a new track called “Put On” featuring Kanye West. This track has that hard edged production that is Young Jeezy’s trademark. The contrast between Jeezy’s flow and Kanye’s is really stark. Jeezy raps very aggressively and adds an extra roughness to the track, while Kanye uses the voice decoder and is much more smooth and laid back. Jeezy raps about drugs and being a thug of course, yet Kanye gets much more personal in his verse. To me that’s what sets the song off…but I guess whether you like Jeezy or Yeezy more is a matter of taste. Click here to listen.
What do you guys think of the track? Do you see this being a big hit?
Posted by Reecie
Bow Wow has a new track called “Pole In My Basement” and yes it is as bad as it sounds lol. As if making a song about strippers isn’t cliche enough, he compounds it compounds it with rapping with the T-Pain voice decoder thing. It’s unfortunate to me that Bow Wow’s idea of growing up or showing his audience that he is older is making his music more sexualized and throwing in a few curse words. I’m sure that he is just talking about his experiences, but considering that his fan base is still 21 and under…it would be noble of him to continue keeping his music at least somewhat clean and harmless. While I’m ranting…I’m sick of songs about constantly bigging up strippers…that is NOT something that needs to be glorified at all. But on a sidenote, he is a handsome young man. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of this song? Do you think this is the right direction for Bow Wow to go with his more “adult” music?
Posted by Reecie
What happens when a college educated woman from the streets of Philadelphia studies Caribbean and West African drumming?
In 2002, Santogold produced, wrote, and arguably inspired the vision behind Res’s cult classic – “How I Do.” (Sidebar: Her concert last week was not impressive because the band played the same reggae ska beat on the 5 songs performed).
In 2008, Santogold’s release her self-titled debut, which is the arguably the perfect blend of new wave, electronica, rock, hip-hip drums, punk, and rhythm.
This is a partially biased review because I loved “How I Do.” “L.E.S. Artistes” (video above) is an example how she takes “How I Do” to the next level.
At times, it may have sound like Santogold took a page out of M.I.A.’s “Kala” album. For instance, her American single “The Creator” could have easily been performed by either artist. This isn’t a bad thing…I simply compare it to how R&B producers and writers work with the same artists (think The Dream, Ne-Yo, etc.) to spread their sound. It’s good to see the same trends are appearing in the evolving genre of mash-up world music. “The Creator” may be too much for American audiences, but her reggae influenced “Shove It” has the potential to catch a spark.
Popmatters.com stated that the production crews included “snowboarders, electronic and dub-based producers like Squeeze and Diplo and sounding like what happens when London, Jamaica, Brooklyn, Philly and an old school Hindi film soundtrack explode out of a Nintendo set, Santogold’s self-titled first album is ska resurrected, punk retooled, drum and base repossessed and pop reborn.” Please come with an open mind…Santogold receives thehonorable’s seal of approval.
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/santogold
How does the HM audience feel about this emerging genre of music? How does Santogold’s sound resonate with you? Do you appreciate something different from the saturated hip-hop/R&B world? What do you think of the songs posted above?
Posted by thehonorable
So…I know I’m several weeks late on this, but oh well I’m gonna post this track anyway. Lil Wayne has a new-ish track “Milli” and it is the hotness! The song has received mixed reviews, but I think it’s a banger. I’ve always given Lil Wayne credit for constantly bringing a different flow to each track…there is nothing redundant or boring in the way he flows. I love the energy of the track (it has a slightly reggae vibe) and it just makes me want to hit the dance floor. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of this track? Are you looking forward to The Carter III?
Posted by Reecie
Chris Brown has a new video for his song “Forever”. I guess someone in Chris Brown’s camp figured that the Pop route sells more records so he is upping the Pop ante in his music. This song isn’t my cup of tea, but the video is pretty good. He has great choreography as usual and the video is visually interesting.
Lloyd has a new video for his song “How We Do It” featuring Ludacris.I don’t know whether to call this video low budget or creative…I’m going to have to think about that one. Whatever the case, it’s an upbeat video for an upbeat song. This song sounds pretty teeny bopperish so I’m interested to see if this will be a hit in the clubs. I’m sure this song will be a hit with Lloyd’s fans though.
Lil Mama has a new vid for her song “L.I.F.E.”. Lil Mama gets serious and personal for this track, I’m just not sure if this is autobiographical or not (my guess is no). She raps in the first person, but in part of the video she is pregnant that threw me off. Perhaps I need to pay more attention to the song, but it’s too damn early in the morning and I really don’t feel like it. At any rate…I gotta give Lil Mama kudos for making this kind of video and song that has a pretty powerful message. She showed some pretty good acting chops and this kind of shows that she is more talented than a song like “Lip Gloss” would have you believe.
What do you guys think of these three videos? Are you looking forward to the Chris Brown re-release, Lloyd album, and/or Lil Mama’s new album?
Posted by Reecie
Busta Rhymes has two new videos hitting the tubes/net from his upcoming album “Blessed”. First up is “Don’t Touch Me Now (Throw Water On Em”). It’s good to see Busta getting back to making fun and comical videos. For a while there he was doing like every other rapper and just doing the whole sound stage video…but this time he did something a little different. I can’t really call it if this song will really blow up…my guess is probably not.
Next up is “Together We Made It” featuring Linkin Park. He flipped it from the other video with something much more dark and dramatic. I don’t recall a collaboration of this sort from Busta before, but this is hot. I was half expecting the song to sound a bit contrived, but Busta and Linkin Park go great together on the track and end up creating something that I think will have an appeal to both Hip Hop and Rock fans.
What do you guys think of these two videos? Which one is the better joint?
Posted by Reecie
Soulja Boy has a new song called “iDance”. I know Soulja Boy catches a lot of flack for his brainless music, but I still like the kid. I can appreciate that he is going to rap about what he wants and have fun with it. If 30 and 40+ year old men can go platinum rapping about selling drugs, being a player, shooting people, etc…then a 16/17 year old can rap about dancing or something juvenille. Unless you have a stick up your a$$ it’s hard to not at least mildly enjoy the energy of his songs. I’m interested to see what new dance he is going to come out with that will have people all over the country looking like fools lol. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of this song? Are you willing to admit to actually liking some of Soulja Boy’s songs?
Posted by Reecie
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