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BoB-HeadBandft2Chainz Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3BoB-HeadBandft2Chainz.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. B.o.B had a summer hit yay
About Artist: B.o.B might be the most musically talented diverse hip hop artist in the game right now. I’ve lovin him for a long time and while he’s mainly gotten radio play on some of his more popier songs, it was great this summer to hear him blowin it up on the radio in a straight up hip hop track with 2 Chainz. 2 Chainz is from Georgia and while he’s been around forever he’s only recently gotten famous. While not too lyrically inclined his unique style and personality has taken him a long way.
About Song: HeadBand is the first song off of BoB’s highly anticipated third album Underground Luxury, which will be more hip hop focused. The album isn’t close to being released but my hopes are sky high.

Favorite Part: 

I love the beat on this song. It’s just a good song to blast out your car.

Other:
B.o.B. Wikipedia
2 Chainz Wikipedia

KanyeWest-GuiltTrip Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 KanyeWest-GuiltTrip.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Yeezus was one of the great albums of the summer, my favorite track on the album was ‘I’m In It’ posted previously here.
About Artist: Kanye West is my favorite. While he is known mostly for his personality the music he creates is always interesting and often unparalleled. He’s not afraid to try new things and yet somehow consistently creates really great music.
About Song: This is heavily samples the classic hip hop track Chief Rocka by Lords of the Underground, though I guess technically it feautes Pusha T’s Blocka which samples Chief Rocka. This was the last song from Yeezus that grew on me,.
Favorite Part: 

I guess I just like the first verse

“Maybe it’s cause she into Leos
And I was into trios, plus all the trips to Rio
Couldn’t have helped, it’s gettin’ cold
Better bring your ski clothes, peeking through the keyhole
The door locked by myself and I’m feelin’ it right now
Cause it’s the time when my heart got shot down
Blocka, blocka, blocka-blocka, blocka
Pour a little champagne, cranberry vodka   <-The rymthem on cranberry vodka is dope
Feelin’ lied to like parents never said you adopted
Your feelings like Zulu, then nothing is a Shaka
I hit her with Jamaican dick, I’m the new Shabba
She lookin’ for her daddy, call me Big Poppa
On to the next saga
Focus on the future and let the crew knock her
Star Wars fur, yeah, I’m rocking Chewbacca  <- Love the Star Wars reference
The one Chief Rocka, number one Chief Rocka”

Other:

Kanye West Wikipedia
Yeezus Wikipedia
Guilt Trip lyrics (via RapGenius)

KanyeWest-Bound2ftCharlieWilson Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 KanyeWest-Bound2ftCharlieWilson.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Yeezus was one of the great albums of the summer, my favorite track on the album was ‘I’m In It’ posted previously here.
About Artist: Kanye West is my favorite. While he is known mostly for his personality the music he creates is always interesting and often unparalleled. He’s not afraid to try new things and yet somehow consistently creates really great music.
About Song: This song off of Yeezus was the last one on the album and stands out in style because it is more a throwback classic ‘hip hop’ Kanye song as opposed to the experimental electronic stuff that made up the rest of the album.
Favorite Part:
I really like the old school Kanye feel of this song. And while the rhyming scheme is super simple I really like some of the lines…

First Kanye has these ‘punchlines’ that he uses at the start of each verse that I’d like to talk about

“All them other niggas lame, and you know it now
When a real nigga hold you down, you supposed to drown
Bound” (0:15)
This phrase “When a real nigga hold you down, you supposed to drown” is one I’ve struggled with. I really like the interpretation that when love is real it can be overwhelming and overpowering. I also recognize the violent domestic abuse undertones about men keeping keeping ‘their woman’ in place, and the idea that love/relationship is supposed to be painful for the woman. The two sides of this verse, one representing a positive intense love and the other an unhealthy relationship, really grabbed me and made me drawn to it in a dark way that I can’t explain.

“Close your eyes and let the word paint a thousand pictures
One good girl is worth a thousand bitches” (1:37)
This line is a little less dark. I really like the first part about closing you eyes and letting words paint pictures. The second part, like the fist punchline above, is problematic from a feminist perspective, enforcing this good girl bad girl dichotomy.

Other random lines I like

“They ordered champagne but still look thirsty
Rock Forever 21 but just turned thirty” (0:40)
I like how he says thirtey lol

“Uh, this that prom shit
This that what we do, don’t tell your mom shit
This that red cup, all on the lawn shit
Got a fresh cut, straight out the salon, bitch” (1:12)
I like the picture he paints of being younger and playing beer pong on the lawn”

I also like the second verse where he talks about being in the beginning of a relationship and just taking it a couple weeks at a time.

Other:
Kanye West Wikipedia
Yeezus Wikipedia
Bound 2 Lyrics (via RapGenius)

KanyeWest-BloodOnTheLeaves Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 KanyeWest-BloodOnTheLeaves.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Yeezus was one of the great albums of the summer, my favorite track on the album was ‘I’m In It’ posted previously here.
About Artist: Kanye West is my favorite. While he is known mostly for his personality the music he creates is always interesting and often unparalleled. He’s not afraid to try new things and yet somehow consistently creates really great music.
About Song: This is a track off of his sixth studio album ‘Yeezus’ which dropped the same day as J. Cole’s Born Sinner. Kanye said that lot of the Yeezus album was expression frustration and you can definitely here that in this song.

Favorite Part: 

I love the Strange Fruit Sample, and then when the horns drop at 1:08.
The intro is really one of my favorite parts the whole piano and the
“I just need to clear my mind now
It’s been racin’ since the summertime
Now I’m holdin’ down the summer now
And all I want is what I can’t buy now
Cause I ain’t got the money on me right now”
Plus the song just really captures a story and emotion of a breakup like that.

Other:
Kanye West Wikipedia
Yeezus Wikipedia

KanyeWest-NewSlaves Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 KanyeWest-NewSlaves.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Yeezus was one of the great albums of the summer, my favorite track on the album was ‘I’m In It’ posted previously here <– CHECK IT OUT.
About Artist: Kanye West is my favorite. While he is known mostly for his personality the music he creates is always interesting and often unparalleled. He’s not afraid to try new things and yet somehow consistently creates really great music.
About Song: This track was the first song off of his sixth studio album ‘Yeezus’ which dropped the same day as J. Cole’s Born Sinner. This song grew on me and while I’m still not crazy about the beat the lyrics say things that for whatever reason other rappers don’t say.
Favorite Part:
This song is all about the lyrics and message for me. I don’t care about the beat so much. CHECK OUT THE LYRICS HERE. Highlights…

“Y’all niggas can’t fuck with Ye
I’ll move my family out the country
So you can’t see where I stay
So go and grab the reporters
So I can smash their recorders
See they’ll confuse us with some bullshit
Like the New World Order
Meanwhile the DEA
Teamed up with the CCA
They tryna lock niggas up
They tryna make new slaves
See that’s that privately owned prison
Get your piece today” (2:00-2:22)

This song prompted the ACLU to create to create a RapGenius account to explain and comment on the line about the CCA (Corrections Corporation of America)

Other:
Kanye West Wikipedia
Yeezus Wikipedia
New Slave Lyics (via RapGenius)

JCole-ForbiddenFruitftKendrickLamar Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 JCole-ForbiddenFruitftKendrickLamar.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Born Sinner was one of great albums this summer with Power Trip, Trouble, and Crooked Smile, Niggaz Know being some of the great songs on the albums.
About Artist: J. Cole was a freshman in the rap game not that many years ago but with his diehard following he continues to climb to new heights. J. Cole is known for his storytelling style and quality albums. Kendrick Lamar, new king of the west coast, stayed hot this summer with songs like How Many Drinks, Robin Thicke’s Give it 2 U, Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe (with the Jay-Z feature) and his diss track Control (ft. Big Sean and Jay Electronica).
About Song: Crooked Smile (ft. TLC) should probably hold this spot since it was a Born Sinner track that got considerable airplay but I just like this song was better. Forbidden Fruit is the third single off of Born Sinner but we’ll see how successful it is.

Favorite Part:
The intro with Kendrick singing “oh no” at 0:09.

The bass line throughout the song.

The adam and eve apple concept.

Other:
Born Sinner Wikipedia
Kendrick Lamar Wikipedia
J. Cole Wikipedia

JCole-PowerTripftMiguel Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 JCole-PowerTripftMiguel.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. The lead single off of ‘Born Sinner’. Check out the other three Born Sinner songs Trouble, Niggaz Know, and Forbidden Fruit that I posted(sorry I didn’t like Crooked Smile enough to post).
About Artist: J. Cole was a freshman in the rap game not that many years ago but with his diehard following he continues to climb to new heights. J. Cole is known for his storytelling style. Miguel is a an R&B singer who also hit the stage in a big way this summer with songs like Beautiful, Come Here and How Many Drinks.
About Song: While this single was released in Febuary the Born Sinner album was released the same day as Kanye’s Yeezus on June 14th. This summer was really a summer of great albums and Born Sinner was one of them.

Favorite Part:
Nothin in particular stands out in this song. I do like Miguel’s “Would you believe me if I said I’m in love…”

Other:
Born Sinner Wikipedia
Miguel Wikipedia
J. Cole Wikipedia

MariahCarey-BeautifulftMiguel Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 MariahCarey-BeautifulftMiguel.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Miguel had a good summer, that’s for sure.
About Artist: Mariah Carey is a pop artist who’s name I haven’t thought about in a loooongtime. That’s why I was surprised when this song dropped and made me fall in love with it. Miguel is an R&B singer who had a really good summer. I really started liking him with songs like How Many Drinks and Come Here then this song and then J. Cole’s Power Trip (to be posted) and Janelle Monae’s Primetime (also to be posted).
About Song: This song is a single form Mariah Carey’s 14th album that came out in May 2013. I haven’t listened to any of it… but maybe I should. I really like this song, it’s just a solid solid song.
Favorite Part:
From the country rock guitar intro to the end I love the feeling of the song.

Other:
Miguel Wikipedia
Mariah Carey Wikipedia
Beautiful (Mariah Carey song) Wikipedia

RobinThicke-4TheRestOfMyLife Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 RobinThicke-4TheRestOfMyLife.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. May there be true love for the rest of my life. Blurred Lines wasn’t the only this song that was a hit, “Give It 2 U (ft. Kendrick Lamar)” got on the charts, and I absolutely hated it. One other song on the album however that I really liked and is this one.
About Artist: Robin Thick, flamboyant R&B singer extrodinaire.
About Song: Blurred Lines the album, was actually a pretty good album, though I didn’t like the Give it 2 You (ft. Kendrick) single. This song is one of my favs from the album and it is based the relationship Robin Thicke had to his future wife whom he knew when he was a kid growing up.
Favorite Part:
The song is a great love song about budding young love and wanting to be with someone for the rest of your life, sigh.

I like the harmonies and most of the verses (except the basketball in the park part). The breakdown at 3:05 is nice.

Other:
Robin Thicke Wikipedia

RobinThicke-BlurredLinesftTIPharrell Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 RobinThicke-BlurredLinesftTIPharrell.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. The radio’s official song of the summer. The catchiest rape song you ever did hear.
About Artist: Robin Thicke is an R&B singer who, while being relatively famous, broke through big time with this smash hit. Pharrell, fresh off of the Daft Punk hits, keeps it goin with this even bigger one. T.I. is a souther rapper who’s currently gunnin for a comeback.
About Song: First I want to say I posted this song to Facebook on March 21st. A month later on June 22 it snagged billboard’s number 1 spot and stayed there for 12 weeks making him the fist summer season number 1 by a lead solo male since 2004 (remember Usher’s Confession pt 2? lol)

When I first saw the video I loved the song and thought the video was cool. However as soon as the song made it big the video and song received a barrage of criticism as a song that demeans women and encourages rape. I couldn’t agree more but the song is still catchy and I still like the stylization of the video. I do feel very conflicted however and want to give shout outs to 2 of the best responses to the song…
Blurred Lines [Feminist Parody] – “Defined Lines” VIDEO
From the mouths of rapists: The lyrics of Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines

But it wasn’t only this song that was a hit “Give It 2 U (ft. Kendrick Lamar)” hit the chart, and I absolutely hated it. One other song on the album however that I really liked and is worth posting is 4 The Rest Of My Life.

Favorite Part:
The song is just so catchy. The walking baseline is awesome and Robin w/ Pharrellls vocals/harmonies are awesome.

“Baby, can you breathe I got this from Jamaica
It always works for me Dakota to Decatur” 3:14

Other:
Robin Thicke Wikipedia
Blurred Lines Wikipedia
Pharrell Williams Wikipedia
T.I. Wikipedia

DaftPunk-TouchftPaulWilliams Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 DaftPunk-TouchftPaulWilliams.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Random Access Memories was a great album so here’s a post to all the songs I couldn’t fit from the album. This song in particular holds a special place in my heart.
About Artist: Daft Punk is an electronic duo, pretty super famous. Paul Williams is some old school song writer who wrote hits such as “The Rainbow Connection” the theme to the loveboat and more.
About Song: Random Access Memories was a great ablum! My favorite song on the album was Lose Yourself to Dance which I posted here on gregshiphop earlier, Get Lucky was also pretty awesome, obviously. After those 2 songs there were 3 others that I really liked that all played in succession on the album Touch, Instant Crush, Within.
Favorite Part:
This song (and the 2 songs that followed Instant Crush, and Within) really spoke to me and reached a special place in my heart at the time.

I like how the ‘kiss’ at 2:31 brings the song alive. This song just captures so many emotions.

Other:
Daft Punk Wikipediak
Paul Williams Wikipedia
Random Access Memories

DaftPunk-GetLuckyftPharrellWilliams Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 DaftPunk-GetLuckyftPharrellWilliams.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever.
About Artist: Daft Punk is an electronic duo and Pharrell is one of my favorite artists in Hip Hop. I love Pharrell’s sound, his voice, and just the vibe he brings to the projects he works on.
About Song: This was the hit single off of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories (released May 17th)
Favorite Part:
Like the rest of the album this song just jams on a little guitar riff that feels so good.

The voice/electronic solo at 3:27 is great. Everyone Sing Along!

A little Pharrell doesn’t hurt either.

Other:
Daft Punk Wikipediak
Pharrell Williams Wikipedia
Random Access Memories

BoB-Missing Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 BoB-Missing.mp3
Summary: Hottt off the presses
About Artist: B.o.B is all over this blog, sometimes I feel like I post him too much, but he has really been cranking out some awesome songs through his career. He is from ATL and runs with T.I’s Hustle Gang. While he gained mainstream popularity with pop songs like Nothin On You (ft. Bruno Mars) he can also go hard on the rap beats too.
About Song This song dropped a couple days ago and is in anticipation to his third album Underground Luxury which will be more hip hop focuses
Favorite Part:
The didgeridoo thing in the beat is dope, and I like BoB’s rap about real issues (poverty, corruption etc) and there are a couple lines I like in particular.

“Seems like since we got a black president
Black people stop questioning the government” (0:05)

“For god sakes there’s an all-seeing eye on the back of the dollar, we can’t even trust money
You need to understand who you dealing.. With
These are like modern day villains
These are type of people that would kill a whole village
Build a fucking building.. And say it’s just business
Who you think gave you religion?
Land of the free.. Who you think built it?” (0:35)

“I don’t need a hook but for hooks sake
If I had a hook, I’d make the hook say
“Be a good slave, be a good slave”
(Be a good slave, be a good slave)” (1:24)

Other:
B.o.B Wikipedia
Missing Lyrics (via RapGenius)

Wale-GullibleftCeeLo Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 Wale-GullibleftCeeLo.mp3
Summary: A laid back jazzy Waletrack.
About Artist: Wale is a DC area rapper and has been one of my favorite rappers that I’ve followed over the years. Cee-Lo Green now needs no introduction but has been in the game for years first as a part of Goodie Mob and then as the duo Gnarls Barkley.
About Song: This song comes off of Wale’s recently released third album “The Gifted”. The Gifted is a prettys solid album from top to bottom and is something I’ve been putting on in the background while I work. This probably won’t be the last song from the album that I post here.
Favorite Part: The trumpets and band in the back brings a really nice sound but it’s the message that Wale brings to the song that I like.
In the beginning he raps about technology and government surveillance, as well as mass marketing…
“What if they told you this music was bogus?
The government run it, they controllin’ the culture
Would you believe that? If you read that?
What if they told you the iPhone was tapped?
They see all of your browsin’ and know you via your apps
And Twitter and Instagram is really like middle men
And internet soldiers, everybody was carrying Macs” (0:19-0:36)
I like Cee Lo in the chorus but again it’s music married with the content of the lyrics that I like. For example in the smooth bridge…
“TV killed the radio
And then the internet slit the television throat” (1:56)

Other:
Wale Wikipedia
Cee Lo Wikipedia
Gullible Lyrics (via RapGenius)