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.
DOWNLOAD MP3 TomCaruana-GotYourMoney.mp3 Summary: Mashup Madness About Artist: I have no clue who Tom Caruana is but you can check out his site here. The Beatles are a rock group from the UK (maybe you’ve heard of them). Ol’ Dirty Bastard was a member of the Wu Tang Clan. Kelis is an R&B singer best known for her single Milkshake About Song: This song is a mashup between the Beatles ‘You Never Give Me Your Money” and “Got Your Money”. It is off of a project made by Tom Caruana called “Wu-Tang Vs. The Beatles: Enter the Magical Mystery Chambers” (a play on the album Magical Mystery Tour and 36 Chambers) Favorite Part:
The mix itself is the best part. But I also really like the part at 1:28 where ODB finishes his verse and it goes into the chorus
DOWNLOAD MP3 JustinTimberlake-PusherLoveGirl.mp3 Summary: Watch out! Justin Timberlake is sweeping the nation (again) About Artist: Justin Timberlake… ya you know him. If you really live under a rock you can check out his wikipedia page below. The entire 20/20 Experience (Justin Timberlake’s new album) was produced by legendary and hip hop producer heavyweight Timbaland. Timbaland got start as a hip hop producer in the mid 90s and has worked with Everyone! He also produced JT’s last mega hit album FutureSex/LoveSounds. About Song: This is the first track off of the 20/20 Experience (and it certainly won’t be the last that I post here. Favorite Part: Just a solid track that encapsulates the FutureSex and now 20/20 sound.
Timbaland’s production on the whole album is fcking awesome.
As a bonus below is a lyric video (much better that the ‘real’ video) for the first single off of the 20/20 experience Suite & Tie which also features Jay-Z. The song is alright but This video really adds the style and flare to it.
DOWNLOAD MP3 JaredEvan-ProCreateftActionBronson.mp3 Summary: A little friday afternoon slow jam about love and sensuality. Lets make some music. About Artist: (copied from a previous post) I don’t know much about Jared Evan. I’d never heard of him before but apparently he’s a singer/songwriter from New York. Apparently his debut EP The 4th Chapter came out in 2012 and is definitely something I’m gonna go check out. You can read Jared Evan’s Wikipedia article here for more info. Lil Fame is half of the longtime famed hip hop duo M.O.P. who have been making music since the mid 90s. Statik Selektah is one of my favorite producers. The musicality and vibe he brings to his music really matches my taste and I always try to check out projects he’s been involved in. Check out more Statik Selektah from gregshiphop (mainly from this EP 1982 that I was obsessed with for a bit). About Song: This song was one of the singles from the just released collaboration album between Statik Selektah and Jared Evan titled Boom Bap & Blues. Favorite Part: I really like the chorus, especially at the little breakdown parts like
“We could put it all on tape, right here
Why don’t we just procreate, what we hear”
(at 0:52)
I also really like the second verse starting with
“put the plug in the socket,
you know I’m gonna rock it,
lets level out this EQ…”
(1:39) Other:
DOWNLOAD MP3 Wale-LetANiggaKnowftChinxDrugsFatzprodbyRicoBeats.mp3 Summary: This is the fun high energy Wale that I love. Feel the beat. About Artist: Wale is a DC rapper who was once one of my favorite rappers. He really makes two different types of music, the original playful kinda rapping and his new Rick Ross / Maybach Music gold chains and car rapping. I have no clue who Chinx Drugs or Fatz are. I’ve heard the name Rico Beats before and I’m sure he’s worked with a lot of artists but the only thing I remember him from is Nicki Minaj’s Roman Reloaded. About Song: This song is one of the better tracks off of Wale’s 2012 mixtape Folarin which was really hit or miss with about 4 tracks that I really liked. (Bad, a song posted here a couple days ago, being another one). Favorite Part: I really like the beat especially in the pre-chorus in places like 1:27 where it then drops into the chorus. I just really feel the beat to this one. Plus I like the kind of obscured singing in the background track.
DOWNLOAD MP3 JaredEvan-UmaThurmanftLilFame.mp3 Summary: A little jazzy hip hop / R&B. About Artist: I don’t know much about Jared Evan. I’d never heard of him before but apparently he’s a singer/songwriter from New York. Apparently his debut EP The 4th Chapter came out in 2012 and is definitely something I’m gonna go check out. You can read Jared Evan’s Wikipedia article here for more info. Lil Fame is half of the longtime famed hip hop duo M.O.P. who have been making music since the mid 90s. Statik Selektah is one of my favorite producers. The musicality and vibe he brings to his music really matches my taste and I always try to check out projects he’s been involved in. Check out more Statik Selektah from gregshiphop (mainly from this EP 1982 that I was obsessed with for a bit). About Song: This song was one of the singles from the just released collaboration album between Statik Selektah and Jared Evan titled Boom Bap & Blues. I can’t say enough about this LP. I would post almost every track from the LP on this blog, in fact I just might. You can listen to the entire album on Jared Evan’s official website and on soundcloud (links at the bottom of the post). Favorite Part: I LOVE STATIK SLEKTAH’S SOUND! The soulfulness, jazzy old school kinda sound just sounds soooo nice. If you like this track at all you NEED to check out the rest of Boom Bap & Blues.
I’ve really been into music like this and Jose James, and the Robert Glasper’s Black Radio, so check those two out if you like this kinda music.
DOWNLOAD MP3 PushaT-Revolution.mp3 Summary: A super short track recapping the career to date of Pusha T. About Artist: Pusha T is a rapper from Virginia currently signed with Kanye’s GOOD music, originally one half of the duo Clipse and a member of the Re-Up Gang. He’s come a long way in his career, I’ve always been a fan, and am happy to see his solo career blossoming. The Neptunes is the famed production team of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams. About Song: This song is off of Pusha T’s 2013 mixtape Wrath of Caine which is meant as a promo to his upcoming album My Name Is My Name. Favorite Part: I like this song because it gives a summary of Pusha T’s path over the years. Check out the RapGenius lyrics for Revolution to learn the story if you don’t already know.
DOWNLOAD MP3 Common-TheNextChapterStillLoveHERftJPeriod.mp3 Summary: A Hip Hop song for Hip Hop. About Artist: Common has been around since the early 90s. Out of Chicago, he’s been know for his positive lyrics and his involvement in hip hop culture and community. J. Period is more of an underground producer/DJ but is well known within hip hop and is very highly respected. His innovative style works to push the boundaries of hip hop an good example being this gregshiphop post which comes from J. Period’s The Messengers Trilogy About Song: This song is off of a J. Period mixtape called Rage Is Back. This mixtape is a soundtrack of sorts to Adam Mansbach’s novel Rage Is Back: A Novel which tells a story of a group of New York subway grafitti artists in the hip hop scene of the late 1980’s. I haven’t read the book but it’s gotten very good reviews. This song is also a part 2 of Common’s famous 1994 hit I Used to Love H.E.R which opens with the famous lines
“Yes, yes, y’all and you don’t stop
To the beat ya’ll and you don’t stop
Yes yes, y’all and you don’t stop
1, 2, ya’ll and you don’t stop”
Which is a love song of sorts to Hip Hop (H.E.R being Hearing Every Rhyme) Favorite Part: J. Period does an awesome job on the production. And finally Common’s on a song where he’s doing what he does best and doesn’t sound whack doin it.
DOWNLOAD MP3 Wale-BadftTiaraThomas.mp3 Summary: Another little love track for valentine’s day. Note this song isn’t exactly a happy love song but I like it none the less. It makes me happy to know that at least the line “I never made love, but I sure know how to fuck” doesn’t apply to me. About Artist: Wale used to be one of my favs but the Rick Ross kind of direction that his musical style went made me less of a fan. Wale is from DC and used to rap over some awesome go go beats from DC, his mixtape 100 Miles and Running is still one of my favorite music albums of all time. About Song: This song was produced and sung by Tiara Thomas (who also did the vocals on one of my favorite track’s off of Wale’s mixtape More About Nothing called The Cloud). Now that I look I see I did a gregshiphop post on The Cloud HERE. On both songs she does a great job on the chorus. Favorite Part: I really like that Tiara Thomas brings to the song. Wale’s verses aren’t spectacular but he sounds really good on a song like this. I think my favorite line is
“Bad girls ain’t no good,
and the good girls ain’t no fun,
and the hood girls want a smart nigga,
college girls all want a thug.
So it seems that we fiend what we don’t need”
(0:57-1:16)
DOWNLOAD MP3 Game-JesusPieceftKanyeWestCommon.mp3 Summary: Just a solid rap track. About Artist: The Game is a mainstream LA rapper. Leading west coast rap in the early 2000s under Dr. Dre, Game joined 50 Cent’s G-Unit clique before leaving due to an apparent feud between him and 50 Cent. His 2005 debut album The Documentary was quite successful with singles including “How We Do” and “Hate It or Love It”. Kanye West is from Chicago and is obviously one of the biggest names in hip hop nowadays. Common is also from Chicago and has been in the game for quite a long time with his first album having been released in 1992. Common is both and R&B and Rap artist and was known for quite a while as a ‘conscious’ rapper, including uplifting and positive lyrics in his songs. Currently Common also pursues an acting career and is now a part of Kanye’s music group G.O.O.D. Music. About Song: Jesus Piece is a song off of the Game’s 2012 album by the same name. Favorite Part: I do really like the beat and the Game’s verses sound solid over it (Kanye’s signature ‘huh’ on the chorus doesn’t sound bad either). However I think my favorite part is Common’s verse at the end of the song.
DOWNLOAD MP3 BigBoi-MamaToldMeftKellyRowland.mp3 Summary: This is one of more Pop sounding tracks off of Big Boi’s December 2012 album Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. About Artist: Big Boi, half of the hip hop duo Outkast, is a huge force in southern hip hop in his own right. Kelly Rowland of course also has a pre solo career as a founding member of Destiny’s Child. About Song: This is off of Big Boi’s second solo album “Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors” a great album that will definitely have more songs featured on this blog. Favorite Part: This song is pretty pop but I like the light and fun vibe. Big Boi does his thin on it and Kelly Rowland fits perfectly on the hook. I think favorite part Is the chorus.
DOWNLOAD MP3 KingLouie-FeelingLikeABillionBucksProdByJUSTICELeague.mp3 Summary: Full and beautiful instrumental porduction by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. just solid song. About Artist: King Louie is a not so well known Chi Town rapper. J.U.S.T.I.C.E League (Just Undeniably Some of The Illest Composers Ever) is one of my favorite group of producers and have worked witha artists like Lil Wayne, Yelawolf, Drake, Nas. JUSTICE League has song real gems in the underground hip hop scene. About Song: This song comes from King Louie’s 2012 Mixtape Drilluminati. This song sticks out from some of the other tracks that are mostly meant to listen to at full blast, faded as fck. Favorite Part: I like the flowery production, and King Louie’s simple thug flow goes well over it.
DOWNLOAD MP3 TalibKweliZTrip-CongregationftBlackThoughtAbSoul.mp3 Summary: This track is the 2nd track I’m posting from an awesome mixtape called Attack The Block. Download Attack the Block Mixtape. While I like this song I’m putting up this post to represent the whole mixtape which I highly recommend. About Artist: Talib Kweli is an established very well respected artist in the game who is a member of Madlib and one half of Black Star with Mos Def. Z-Trip is a DJ who really blazed the trail of many mashup artists behind him. While not well known outside of the Hip Hop community he is respected as a DJ on the very top of his game. Black thought is of course one of the founding members and lyrical base for the The Roots. Ab-Soul really holds his own in this one but he is known mainly for being part of Kendrick Lamar’s rap group Black Hippy and part of the Top Dawg Entertainment crew. About Song: This song is just one of the tracks off of this phenomenal mixtape. Favorite Part:
I like the church inspired track but I also love the lyrics
Check out the Lyrics on Rap Genius
You really have to look at every line because unlike some ‘Hip Hop’ these verses have meaning. Other: Congregation Lyrics on Rap Genius Download Official Attack the Block Mixtape Talib Kweli Wikipedia Z-Trip Wikipedia Black Thought Wikipedia Ab-Soul Wikipedia
DOWNLOAD MP3 KendrickLamar-BackseatFreestyleprodbyHitBoy.mp3 Summary: Another instant classic brought to you by Kendrick Lamar. Look out for “Good Kid, Mad City” dropping Monday October 22nd (AND HE’S GONNA BE ON TUCSON THAT DAY!) About Artist: The new prince of the west coast, Kendrick Lamar is carrying the torch for LA with all the style, grit, lyricism and originality that LA has been known for. While is legacy is still in the making Kendrick has all the makings of a king. His authenticity and pure talent vaults him into discussions of ‘best rapper alive’ and he shines as a beacon that Hip Hop is still alive! About Song: This song is a track that was just recently released here on soundcloud. It is one of the tracks off of Kendrick’s first commerical album Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. The first single off of the album Recipe I really really like but it never blew up on the radio (my guess because it had the word Weed in the chorus). Following that single was Swimming Pools (Drank) which I do hear on the radio a lot. Anyway, back to this song, it ir produced by Hit-Boy which, coincidentadnly, produced another jam that I was totoally into and posted on here a couple days ago Higher. Favorite Part:
Well first off the track is dope! The f-ing bell-chime things and the arrindindin arrindindin get me hyped!
Lay on Kendricks flow over that and it just goes hard!
Kendrick doesn’t go off lyrically like he somtimes does but check out the Rap Genius link below because there are some crazy references.
