Summary: Kendrick Lamar is the truth. This song is so smooth, so hard, so fire.

About Artist: Kendrick Lamar has been the reigning king of the west coast for over a decade. I’ve been a fan since I saw him perform in Los Angeles just after the release of his debut album Section.80 in the summer 2011.  With 50 Grammy nominations, 29 BET awards, and a Pulitzer Prize, Kendrick has is one of the most highly regarded rappers alive today. In February 2025 Kendrick hill headline the Super Bowl  halftime show.

About Song: This untitled track dropped on Instagram on September 11th. It is the first song Kendrick has released since the his beef with Drake earlier in the year. This track was produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Pasqué & Anca Trio Plus One.

Favorite Part: The jazzy melodic instrumental track in the background is amazing, so smooth and juxtaposes so nicely with Kendrick’s assertive lyrics.

“Why reason with these (…) if they can’t see the future first?
Why argue with these clowns if the circus is well at work?
Just walk that man down, that’ll do everyone a solid
It’s love, but tough love sometimes gotta result in violence” -0:36

“Influencers talk down ’cause I’m not with the basic shit
But they don’t hate me, they hate the man that I represent
The type of man that never dickride ’cause I want a favor
The man that resides in patience, so where the soldiers at?
The one’s that lost it all and learnt to learn from that
A thirst for life, head inside a book ’cause he concerned with that
Information that’ll change his life because he yearns for that
Dedication, findin’ out what’s right ’cause he can earn from that” -1:00

“The flashy (…) with nasty decisions usin’ money as a backbone
I want his head cracked before he’s back home
The radio personality pushin’ propaganda for salary
Let me know when they turn up as a casualty, I want agony
Assault, and battery, I see a new Earth
Filled with beautiful people makin’ humanity work” -2:37

“My (…) Jay Estrada said I gotta burn it down to build it up
That confirmation real as fuck, it ain’t too many real as us” -4:28

Other:

The Day The Party Died (Lyrics)

Kendrick Lamer (Wikipedia)

Summary: How long you want it? Uh, foreverrrr duh.

About Artist: Big Sean is one of my favorites of my generation. He is from Detroit and has been featured on this blog many times. Originally signed with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. music Big Sean has long since parted ways with Ye. I’m happy that Big Sean is still doing his thing.

About Song: This song is a bonus track off of Big Sean’s sixth album “Better Me Than You”.

Favorite Part: I love the soulful track. This song fills me with nostalgia for a time long past, but I time that will on forever.

Other:

Better Me Than You (Wikipedia)

Summary: Mick is so smooth

About Artist: Mick Jenkins is a Chicago rapper who’s been featured on this blog several times since 2015. JID is an Atlanta rapper who gained prominence after his sophomore album Dicaprio 2 (2018)

About Song: This song is the first single off of Mick Jenkins upcoming fourth album “The Patience” which drops at the end of August.

Favorite Part: As always I like Mick Jenkin’s jazzy beats and smooth delivery. Both Mick Jenkins and JID’s verses really bring the vibes.

Other:

Smoke Break-Dance Lyrics
Mick Jenkins Wikipedia
JID Wikipedia

Summary: I love Norteño, Ranchera, Banda, Corridos… ¡Viva México!

About Artist: Eslabón Armando is a group from Patterson California. They’ve released five projects since their debut in 2020 and have already won several awards for their “Regional Mexican Music”. Peso Pluma is from Jalisco and has entered the spotlight in 2022 with collaborations with Becky G, Natanael Cano, and others.

About Song: This song has become a huge hit after going viral on Tik Tok.

Favorite Part: I love everything about this song. The horns, the guitar, the corrido lyrics

Other:

Peso Pluma Wikipedia
Eslabón Armado Wikipedia
Ella Baila Sola Lyrics

Summary: Timbaland forever!

About Artist: BIA gained popularity in 2014 from the TV show Sisterhood of Hip Hop. She then signed a record deal through Pharrell before her first big track, a remix of A Whole Lotta Money (ft. Nicki Minaj) in 2022. This track is produced by SkipDaBeat who I don’t know a lot about but who has worked with Drake, Kodak Black and others.

About Song: This song is a single off of BIA’s upcoming album “Circles”. This song is actually a remix of sorts of Missy Elliot’s “She’s a Bitch” off of her 1999 album “Da Real World”. Like many Missy songs the beat was made by Timbaland, and his original production work really come through on this new BIA song.

Favorite Part: I mostly like the updated Timbaland beat, and the way the song still stays true to the original.

Other:

I’m that Bitch lyrics

Summary: “Red Moon in Venus” on repeat!

About Artist: Kali Uchis is a Colombian-American singer who hit is big with her debit album “Isolation” (2018).  Her genre blending latin ne0-soul sound is hers alone and has gained her a loyal following.

About Song: This song “Not Too Late” is off of Kali’s third album “Red Moon in Venus” (2023). This album is sooooo good and deserves a full listen. I chose to put this song up but other tracks like “Endlessly”, “Moonlight”, and “Blue” are equally good.

Favorite Part: This song is just an interlude so it’s more about the vibes. I really like the little harmonies in the vocals and of course the little verse in spanish.

Other:

Kali Uchis Wikipedia
Not Too Late (Interlude) Lyrics

Summary: Just doin life

About Artist: Aminé is an American Ethiopian Eritrean rapper from Portland Oregon. Aminé was a member of XXL Freshman Class 2017 and had a lot of success with his first album “Good for You” (2017) specifically the single “Caroline”.

About Song: This song is the first track off of Aminé’s second album “Limbo” (2020). I like to boom bap feel with the laid back bars. Make me feel like a cruisin with the top down on a Sunday afternoon.

Favorite Part: “And to top it off, my best friend had a baby
We twenty-five, I told that nigga, “Boy, you fuckin’ crazy”
Maybe I’m the one who really need the Lord to save me
The last time I went to church was in the fckin’ 80s” (2:02)

Other:

Aminé Wikipedia
Burden Lyrics

Summary: Good times with B.o.B.

About Artist: B.o.B has been one of my favorites since 2008. Despite the fact that he is a well documented “free thinking” conspiracy theorist he is a great songwriter, musician, rapper and he definitely has blazed his own trail.

About Song: This song is off of B.o.B’s 7th album “Better than Drugs” (2022). I got to see him at a small venue in Tucson in late 2022 and got a shout out from B.o.B when he saw my “B.o.b. vs Bobby Ray” t-shirt.

Favorite Part: “It’s a thousand of the same faces I can’t differentiate, apеs, I disintegrate. You be playing bеstie with her, I do chest to chest-ie with her” (0:28)

“My whole clique, outside of the norm.
Ain’t no uniform, we do not conform” (0:43)

“Gotta be able to gas yourself, it’s called self esteem.
Don’t let these n****s sell your ass a dream” (1:29)

Other:

Vimana Lyrics

Summary: Thank G*d for the journey.

About Artist: Koffee is a 23 year old reggae pop artist from Jamaica. She is the youngest, and only female, artist to win the grammy for best reggae album. Koffee has a ton of really great songs including Ragamuffin, and Cyanide (remix).

About Song: This song is the first single off of Koffee’s 2019 EP “Rapture”.I love the chorus. Even though the song is pretty basic, there is something about the riddim and the joyous praise god feel that I really feel

Favorite Part: “Blessings all upon me life and, me thank god for the journey the earnings are just for the plus, gratitude is a must”

Other:

Koffee (Wikipedia)

Summary: All y’all thinkin bout is kissin and huggin
About Artist: Samm Henshaw is a London born singer songwriter who is really gives the John Legend vibes vocally. Tobe Nwigwe is a Texas rapper known, in part, for his role in the TV show Mo.

About Song: This song is off of Samm Henshaw’s debut album Untidy Soul (2022) which I loove. The tracks Grow, Still Broke, and 8.16 are all great songs themselves and the whole album feels like a throwback to Get Lifted (2004).

Favorite Part: I love the cool, relaxed swagger of the vocals on top of that tight playful groove. The song is laid back, fun, and sexy. Walking baseline is fiiire.

Other:

Same Henshaw (Wikipedia)
Untidy Soul (Stream)
Tobe Nwigwe (Wikipedia)

Summary: I miss you always Dad. This one is for Jim Epstein, my loving dad.

About Artist: Buddy Fo was born in Honolulu in 1932 and was percussionist and vocalist for many years.

About Song: This sone is the title track from Buddy’s 1976 LP “When It’s Time to Go”. I first heard this song in 2021 just before my dad Jim Epstein fell ill. I listened a lot of Buddy Fo throughout 2021 and 2022 when I visited Oahu for the first time as an adult.

Favorite Part: I love the composition. The melancholy Hawaiian marimbas, the surf guitar, and the mournful vocals. I especially like the staccato guitar on beat 2, and the offbeat of 3 and . I love at 0:15 when that guitar pulls a little curveball.

Other: Buddy Fo

Summary: I don’t even flex like that on the regular.

About Artist: Mick Jenkins’ new album “The Elephant in the Room” is coming in a few weeks.

About Song: This track is off of Mick’s 2020 EP “The CIrcus”

Favorite Part: The whole thing.

Other:

Summary: The truth is only what you get away with.

About Artist: Kanye West is an egomaniac who has done some horrible things. Having said that I still listen to Ye’s music.

Roddy Rich and Shensheaa are of a more recent generation, both in their mid 20s.

About Song: Pure Souls, Hurricane, Praise God, Jail, Jesus Lord, New Again, are just some of my favorite tracks from DONDA.

Favorite Part: I love the celebratory vibe.

Other:

DONDA (Wikipedia)
Roddy Rich (Wikipedia)
Shensheaa (Wikipedia)

Summary: Pure Nas with a fire verse from Ms. Hill

About Artist: Nas and Lauryn Hill are two of the greatest to ever do it.

About Song: Nas’s 14th album Kings Disease II dropped last week and this song “Nobody” is just one of many smooth classics on the album. Lauryn Hill has a great verse and it’s got those illmatic vibes.

Favorite Part:
“My awareness like Keanu in The Matrix
I’m savin’ souls and y’all complainin’ ’bout my lateness
Now it’s illegal for someone to walk in greatness” (3:15)

“I’m in the secret place, I keep a sacred space
They keep showin’ their hands, but keep hidin’ their face
If I’m a messenger, you block me then you block the message
So aggressive, the world you made is what you’re left with
Pride and ego over love and truth is fucking reckless
Y’all … got a death wish, the stupid leaves me breathless”  (3:50)

Other:

King’s Disease II (Wikipedia)
Nobody Lyrics