DOWNLOAD MP3 Knaan-MoreBeautifulThanSilence.mp3 Summary: A softer song that anyone can enjoy. This is some international hip-hop as K’naan is a Somali-Canadian. I really like the musical elements in this song and fits K’naan’s style real well. About Artist: K’naan comes from Somalia and after his song Wavin Flag became the official song of the 2010 World Cup we quickly became the most famous Somali artist. His fusion Hip-Hop is something a little different than what we normally got up here, a little more pop but you can’t deny this is a good song. About Song: This is the title track off of K’naan’s Jan 31st EP More Beautiful Than Silence. The EP only has 5 songs, all pretty different from another, this one being my favorite. Favorite Part: The track on this is just great got an awesome beat and some beautiful piano. Below is just the first part of the 1st verse. “Ok, ain’t it funny how the talkers always talking?
Never firing, but always say they cocking
And they’re cocky until they end in parking lots
Suddenly they got Parkinson’s, they can hardly talk
No karate buddy, no pilates buddy
It’s a new game, no Atari buddy
Body chalk, well I’m used to bodies chopped
I’ve seen shit to give new meaning to the body shop”
DOWNLOAD MP3 JayZKanyeWest-MurderToExcellence.mp3 Summary: Real fans say this is the best song off Watch the Throne. About Artist: Jay-Z and Kanye West. If you don’t know who they are I don’t know what to tell you. One thing you may not know if you’re not into Hip Hop though is that Kanye West got one of his first big breaks producing for Jay-Z’s classic Blueprint album. Jay-Z pretty much was the one that gave Kanye a chance and made him famous. About Song: This song is a song (not yet a single) from Jay-Z and Kanye’s collaboration album Watch the Throne. While the album has recieve positive (but not stellar) reviews I think it really work as an album as a whole and is a rare true collaboration between two Hip Hop greats. Murder to Excellence has two distinct parts, the first produced by Swizz Beatz and the second by S1. The song talks about black on black crime and social mobility in the African American community. This song has more a message and conscious than other tracks on the album which is why is may have received such a positive response from fans (the song is also just a great song). I LOVE the beats to both parts of the song, especially the guitar, chorus and hook of the first part, and the lyrical compliment it very very well. Favorite Part:
“No shop class but half the school got a tool” (1:02)
“Plus his little brother got shot reppin his avenue, it’s time for us to stop and redefine black power 41 souls murdered in 50 hours” (1:07)
“Is it genocide?
Cause I can still hear his mama cries
Know the family traumatized
Shots left holes in his face about piranha-sized
The old pastor closed the cold casket
And said the church ain’t got enough room for all the tombs
It’s a war going on outside we ain’t safe from
I feel the pain in my city wherever I go
314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago” (1:34-1:58)
The ooohs at 1:58 as Kanye ends and Jay-Z come in is so so good.
“I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died
Uh, real niggas just multiply
And they say by 21 I was supposed to die
So I’m out here celebrating my post-demise” (1:58-208)
Transition at 2:42 is great.
“Black excellence, opulence, decadence
Tuxes next to the president, I’m present
I dress in Dries and other boutique stores in Paris
In sheepskin coats, I silence the lambs
Do you know who I am, Clarice?
No cheap cologne whenever I “shh-shh”
Success never smelled so sweet
I stink of success, the new black elite
They say my Black Card bears the mark of the beast
I repeat: my religion is the beat
My verse is like church, my Jesus piece
Now please, domino, domino
Only spot a few blacks the higher I go
What’s up to Will? Shout out to O
That ain’t enough.. we gonna need a million more
“Kick in the door” Biggie flow
I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go” (2:52-3:42)
“In the past if you picture events like a black tie
What the last thing you expect to see, black guys?
What’s the life expectancy for black guys?
The system’s working effectively, that’s why!
I’ll be a real man and take care of your son
Every problem you had before this day is now done” (3:52-4:09) Other: Watch the Thone Wikipedia
DOWNLOAD MP3 KendrickLamar-FuckYourEthnicity.mp3 Summary: Kendrick Lamar is the best up and coming rapper. Bring the West Coast back with a vengance. About Artist: Kendrick Lamar is a young Compton rapper who has been hailed as the next king of the west. He has amazing lyrical ability and speaks truth with an unmatched authenticity. Kendrick Lamar is currently my favorite rapper. I got to see him recently in his hometown of LA and was blown away. His live performance had so much energy and he was even better live than he sounds on his records. The show started a little late only because Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg showed up to watch. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Kurupt, Game, Big Sean and Snoop all graced the stage to come out and support Kendrick who has very quicky gained the respect of the entire hip hop community. About Song: This song is the intro to Kendrick Lamar’s recent and highly regarded project Section.80. Favorite Part:
“Fire burning inside my eyes
This the music that saved my life
Y’all be calling it hip-hop
I be calling it hypnotize
Yeah, hypnotize
Trapped my body but freed my mind
What the fuck is you fighting for?
Ain’t nobody gonna win that war
My details be retail
Man, I got so much in store
Racism is still alive
Yellow tape and colored lines” (1:03-1:22)
“I mosh pit
Had a microphone and I tossed it
Had a brain, then I lost it
I’m out of my mind, so don’t
You mind how much the cost is
Penny for my thoughts
Everybody, please hold up your wallets” (1:45-1:53) Other: Kendrick Lamar Wikipedia Fuck Your Ethnicity Lyrics
DOWNLOAD MP3 KendrickLamar-HiiiPowerprodbyJCole.mp3 Summary: Hip Hop. About Artist: Kendrick Lamar is part of the new west coast movement. Decades after Snoop, NWA, Tupac came out of Compton Kendrick Lamar it trying to lead a second wave, a rebirth, of LA rap. J. Cole produced this track, which is a little strange since J. Cole is better known as a rapper. About Song: This song is atypical of Kendrick Lamar who normally goes off with fast high intensity rhymes (check out other Kendrick Lamar songs on gregshiphop here). In this song however Kendrick Lamar takes a more reflective approach. One thing that jumps out at me about this song is how it borrows from Kanye West / My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy this song is. Kendrick borrows from Kanye’s So Appalled line “shit is, fuckin ridiculous” at places like (1:36, 2:48, 4:23), it takes Kanye’s signature ”huh” around 2:00, and takes a voice effect that Dark Twisted Fantasy popularized at 2:05. Favorite Part: No part really jumps 0ut at me but I like message Kendrick Lamar puts forward over this protest beat.
DOWNLOAD MP3 PharoaheMonch-WARftImmortalTechniqueVernonReid.mp3 Summary: Rise Up! Pharoahe Monch is Back! About Artist: Pharoahe Monch is a rapper with a concious and is one of my personal favorites. Immortal Technique is even more a political rapper, also love him because he’s in it for the movement and to make a change. No clue who Vernon Reid is, but I just read he’s an all time great guitarist. About Song: This hip hop song is off of Monch’s recently released W.A.R (We Are Renegades) album which is AWESOME! I like this song because it really sums up the military feel of the album. In my mind W.A.R. is what Lupe’s Lasers should have been. All I can see is you like responsible Hip Hop go listen to W.A.R. Favorite Part:
This song just goes hard with two of my favorite political rappers. Really though this song just represents how great We Are Renegades is. Other: Pharoahe Monch Wikipedia Vernon Reid Wikipedia AdeleImmortal Technique Wikipedia
DOWNLOAD MP3 Jelani-Paradise.mp3 Summary: Positive Hip Hop that we need. About Artist: Never heard of Jelani before this About Song: Here’s a quote from Jelani about the song
“I do music full time, it’s my day job, and throughout the day while I’m working in Pro Tools I leave my Gmail open to handle emails and chop it up with friends, 98% of whom are at their respective 9-5s. With this track, using the triumphant feel of the beat as a soundscape, I basically wanted to create something that would somewhat ease the stress of a 9-5 and soothe a bit of that “case of the Mondays” that people tend to get. This is something for the folks who rock headphones at work to use as an escape. If a beautiful Saturday afternoon had a soundtrack, *this* would definitely be on that CD.” (courtesy of 2dopeboyz.com) Favorite Part:
Both the lyrics and beat. Just listen to it Yo. I don’t have time to type all those lyrics out Other: Jelani Twitter
DOWNLOAD MP3 Nottz-InMyMindftAsherRoth.mp3 Summary: Reflective Hip Hop About Artist: Nottz is mainly a producer, from Virginia. He’s done work for Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, AZ, the Game, Busta Rhymes amoung others. Asher Roth got famous with his college anthem I Love College which, while propelling him onto the radio, didn’t recognize the real rapping talent that he has. About Song: This song is off of a joint project between Asher Roth and Nottz called Rawth. I don’t think many people are gonna love this song, I myself don’t think its the best but something about the feel of the song rings true to me, maybe you’ll have the same feeling. Favorite Part:
The soul of Hip Hop vibe. Other: Nottz Wikipedia Asher Roth Wikipedia
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