Posts in Category/Tag: Good Production

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: 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: Throwback to a sunnier summertime.

About Artist: J. Cole is one of the reigning kings of lyrical hip hop.

About Song: This song is off of an EP called “Truly Yours 2” which came out in 2013 just before his second album “Born Sinner”. This song, like many of his, is also produced by J Cole himself.

Favorite Part: I really like the sample and the vibe J. Cole created in the production booth.
“B*****s saying: “You a rapper n****, ain’t you s’posed to tip more?”
I don’t see no pussy, baby, ain’t you s’posed to strip more?
Confessions of a cheap-ass n****
But I finally put my Momma in that E class, n****
And I told her quit her job, but hold your horses
If my next album flops it’s back to the post office, both of us, shit
They’re saying that’s a real possibility
The thought alone is killing me” (1:03)

Other: Truly Yours 2 (EP)

DOWNLOAD MP3 Prof-SquadGoals.mp3
Summary: Just a funny song I got stuck in my head
About Artist: Prof has been at it a longtime as part of the famous Rhymesayers label. I’m not an especially big fan but I love this song.
About Song: This song is off of Prof’s seventh album Powderhorn Suites (2020)
Favorite Part: I love the background vocals singing “feels good”
Other:
Prof Wikipedia

Download
Summary: The CD runs 77 minutes in 50 tracks featuring over 60 artists. I hope you find your new favorite song. I know we can all use a little more music in our lives rights now.

About: I wanted to create a mixtape that had a little something for everybody. The tracks are edited to be short but offer a glimpses into pop hits and odd audial obscurities and alike. A project of the quarantine.

Other: Enjoy some easy listening or get out Shazam and find your new favorite song!

DOWNLOAD MP3 YBNCordae-FamilyMattersftArinRay.mp3
Summary: A little soul from the next generation.
About Artist: I don’t know much about YBN Cordae but I really loved his debut album “Lost Boy” this year. YBN Cordae was listed on the XXL Freshmen list of 2019 and I’m excited to see where he goes. Definitely worth checking out.
About Song: This song samples Kendrick Lamar’s “Faith”.
Favorite Part: I really love the sample and the soulfulness.
Other:
YBN Cordae Wikipedia

DOWNLOAD MP3 TPain-MayIftMrTalkbox.mp3
Summary: Just head it. It’s my new favorite song. Listen all the way through.
About Artist: T-Pain’s “I’m Sprung” went platinum in 2005 and T-Pain never looked back.
About Song: This song is from T-Pain’s fifth album “Oblivion” which just dropped November 17th 2017. While this song is pretty light and jazzy there are some real bangers on the album like “Goal Line (feat. Blac Youngsta)”
Favorite Part: It’s a long song but it switches up at 3:40 which I love.
Other:
T-Pain Wikipedia

TheophilusLondon-CantStopftKanyeWestAudio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 TheophilusLondon-CantStopftKanyeWest.mp3
Summary: Oh I really love this one.
About Artist: Theophilus London, original from Trinidad, is an underground somewhat experimental, rapper from Brooklyn. Kanye West needs no introduction.
About Song: This song is from London’s second album Vibes (2014). The cover art for the Vibes was shot and signed by Karl Lagerfeld, famous fashion dude from Chanel and Fendi.

Elements of the song are based on Norman Feels’ You Can’t Stop My Love
Favorite Part: There is so much I love about this song.
The intro “to grow old, in my arms, oh girl” is so beautiful and then layer on that “can’t stop, can’t stop” mmmm. Brings a tear to my eye.

And then in Kanye’s verse when the syncopated drums drop in. I really like Kanye’s line “But it ain’t ralph though” in reference to a rant he had on Sway in the morning.

I like this part in Londons’ verse…
“Please spend the night forever
The silence in my room is louder than kaboom
Let’s skip the north freeze for the southern breeze
The grass is always greener when there’s bumblebees”

The slow flowing outro is also so nice, something about the mix of the flowery parts with that sick drum pattern.

Other:
Theophilus London Wikipedia
Can’t Stop lyrics via RapGenius

JCole-GetFreeColeWorldftMajorLazerAudio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 JCole-GetFreeColeWorldftMajorLazer.mp3
Summary: Too real. I just want to get free.
About Artist:
J Cole is a younger-ish rapper who has a diehard following and has been very well established ever since he signed with Jay-Z and released his blockbuster debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story in 2011. He is known for his lyrical ability and the way he weaves stories and scenes with his words. Major Lazer is a DJ goup anchored by the one and only Diplo

About Song: This song is just single that dropped in 2012. I recently saw a friend post it online and gave it another listen. It feels as real as it ever felt. Too much truth in this track : (

Favorite Part:
Major Lazer does an awesome job on the track, I really love the hook. The track is really really great… but the best part is J. Cole’s lyrics. The truth in his words are so powerful.

Other:
J Cole Wikipedia
Major Lazer
Get Free ColeWorld Lyrics (via RapGenius)

TalibKweli-ComeHereftMiguel Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 TalibKweli-ComeHereftMiguel.mp3
Summary: This song is so suave. It makes me smile big and brings out my inner hopeless romantic.
About Artist: Talib Kweli is a critically acclaimed rapper who’s been around the block. He makes up half of Blackstar along with Mos Def, and is a hip hop legend in his own right. Miguel is the red hot R&B singer who’s been on so many amazing tracks recently (more to come on the blog). Sean C & LV are a production duo from New York affiliated with Diddy.
About Song: This song is the third single off of Talib Kweli’s 5th studio album Prisoner of Conscious which was release in May 2013. The song to me sounds like it samples Marvin Gaye’s Mercy Mercy Me.
Favorite Part: I love the chorus of this song. Miguel sounds soooo good, and the hook just gets stuck in your head. Talib Kweli adds his own real talk rapping to this love song which makes it a truly complete song. This song spoke to me the moment I heard it for the first time.

Other:
Talib Kweli Wikipedia
Miguel Wikipedia
Prisoner of Conscious Wikipedia
Sean C & LV Wikipedia
Come Here Lyrics (via RapGenius)

KanyeWest-ImInIt Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 KanyeWest-ImInIt.mp3
Summary: New Kanye! Turn those speakers UP
About Artist: Kanye West is one of my alll time faves. Hailing out of Chicago as a producer in the late 90s Kanye’s career has continued to climb to new heights.
About Song: This track is off of Yeezus which is Kanye’s 6th album which was released June 18th (today) but leaked nearly a week ago (I waited till the album was released to start posting songs from it). The song features Jamaican rap by Agent Sasco (aka Assassin), don’t know much more about him. It also features vocals from Justin Vernon who is the frontman for Bon Inver which collaborated with Kanye in “Monster” off of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Favorite Part:
Well first of all this song is amazing! I love how Kanye continues to evolve and always bring new sounds into the mainstream while still maintaining his ‘Ye-ness.

I really like the seductiveness of the begining of the song. I don’t mind the Kanye’s blunt sexual explicitness cause it just makes the verse feel real and doesn’t feel over the top to me. Even though it’s very dark and crass it still has a certain sensuality.

Then the song Really gets going at 1:19. I LOVE that drop! Agent Sasco sounds awesome when he goes all doubletime on it.

Then the hook at 1:40 remind me of The Weekend, and adds to the sex on the dancefloor feel.

The minimalist verse at 2:11 is also awesome. The beat just drops out except for the drums and Kanye brings  a solid verse with lines like “She cut from a different textile” and “Put my fist in her like a civil rights sign”. While I’m not into fisting the verse just works. I’d suggest checking out the lyrics at RapGenius.

Finally the outro/last verse (3:23) is the BEST part. Just one fucking drum, and Kanye, goin hard!
“Time to take it too far now
Uh, Michael Douglas out the car now
Uh, got the kids and the wife life
Uh, but can’t wake up from the night life
Uh, I’m so scared of my demons
Uh, I go to sleep with a nightlight
Uh, my mind move like a Tron bike
Uh, pop a wheelie on the Zeitgeist
Uh, I’m finna start a new movement
Uh, being led by the drums
Uh, I’m a rap-lic priest
Uh, getting head by the nuns
Uh, they don’t play what I’m playing
Uh, they don’t see what I’m saying
Uh, they be balling in the D-League
Uh, I be speaking Swaghili”
Of course it’s not just the lyrics but it’s the delivery.

Other:
Kanye West Wikipedia
Agent Sasco Wikipedia
Justin Vernon Wikipedia
Yeezus Wikipedia
I’m In It Lyrics (via RapGenius)

DOWNLOAD MP3 BustaRhymes-TwerkItRemixftNIckiMinaj.mp3
Summary: WOW. Don’t worry about who the artists are just turn those speakers alll the way up.
About Artist: Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell.
About Song: This track dropped June 6th and is a remix of a Busta Rhyme’s only version that dropped as a single in early May.
Favorite Part: Holy f-ing shit this song is so good. I can’t believe Pharrell does the Daft Punk album and then has this goin at the same time. The beat is sooo sick. And Nicki Minaj finally brings it so good in this song. And Busta rydin the beat all Jamaican like that. This song has all the pieces and I love it!

Other:
Busta Rhymes Wikipedia
Nicki Minaj Wikipedia
Pharrell Wikipedia
Twerk It Remix Lyrics (via RapGenius)

DOWNLOAD MP3 TonyWilliams-AnotherYouRemixftKingChipFreddieGibbsKanyeWest.mp3
Summary: Quality Slow Jam.
About Artist: The World Famous Tony Williams is an R&B singer songwriter from the midwest. He first made it big recording vocals for songs on Kanye West’s debut album College Dropout (2004) including I’ll Fly Away, and Spaceship. He’s since contributed to songs on each of Kanye’s subsequent albums though is never listed as a featured artist even on songs where he is prominently featured like Roses. Listening to Tony Williams’ material you can see how much of an impact he had on the sound of Kanye West’s early albums. On Tony Williams mixtape Finding Dakota Grey (2010) is one of my favorite mixtape projects of all time. One of the songs from that tape was on gregshiphop back in 2010 here (Tony Williams – Nightmares). King Chip, formerly Chip tha Ripper, is a favorite artist of mine from Cleveland Ohio. Chip has yet to break through into the big time but he has his own style and plenty of talent. Here are 6 Chip songs that have been on gregshiphop before. I don’t know too much about Freddie Gibbs butI know he has quite a following and has been around for years now. His style is a little more the gangsta but he too is not without rapping talent. Kanye West is Kanye West. This song was producted by Bink! who produced songs on the Jay-Z’s original Blueprint, and did Kanye West’s Devil In A New Dress.
About Song: This song is originally off of Tony Williams debut album King or the Fool (2012). This remix adds verses by King Chip and Freddie Gibbs.

Favorite Part: I like the whole slow jam vibe that Tony Williams brings to the song but there are also a couple parts in particular I also really lik.

King Chip’s first verse sounds so smooth (0:40) and his second verse (2:50) is just as good.

I like the musical piano breakdown at 3:50.

And then Kanye just comes in at the end with his old school care free style.

Other:
The World Famous Tony Williams Wikipedia
King Chip Wikipedia
Freddie Gibbs Wikipedia
Kanye West Wikipedia
Another You (remix) Lyrics via RapGenius

DOWNLOAD MP3 50Cent-WeUpftKendrickLamar.mp3
Summary: Escape to 50 Cent’s world of wealth.
About Artist: 50 Cent is the super famous ‘In Da Club’ Queens NY rapper turned business mogul. Kendrick Lamar is the new face of west coast hip hop and of ‘true/real/authentic hip hop’ (whatever that means).
About Song: This song is the third single off of 50 Cents 5th album due out mid 2013 titled ‘Street King Immortal’. It originally featured G-Unit rapper Kidd Kidd but he was cut from the final version.
Favorite Part: Both 50 Cent’s verse and Kednrick’s are pretty good. I like how Kendrick brags about his clean rap sheet. I mostly like the song because the rap and music just fit with each other, and I’ll admit to being a sucker for Kendrick Lamar.

Other:
50 Cent ‘Street King Immortal’ Wikipedia
Kendrick Lamar Wikipedia
We Up Lyrics via RapGenius