DOWNLOAD MP3 TheDream-HigherftPushaTMaseCocaine80s.mp3 Summary: You know I’m a big Kanye fan so there had to be something from G.O.O.D. Music’s Cruel Summer up here. This track is all about the production especially the outro. About Artist: There are a bunch of artists involved in this track so I won’t go into all their bios (you can Google them your damn self) but they are all a part of Kanye West’s music crew GOOD Music which is the collective that put out the album that this track is on Cruel Summer. About Song: This song features the Dream on the hook, Pusha-T on the first verse, Ma$e on the second verse, and Cocaine 80s with the outro. Favorite Part: Like I said I put this song up here not because of the rapping but because of the production specifically the outro.
While the beat on the track is great throughout skip ahead to 3:43 where the outro starts to hear the part that I love so much. You really should listen to the outro on headphones to get the ful effect of all the meticulous production work that went into it.
DOWNLOAD MP3 MacMiller-OnarollprodbyPharrell.mp3 Summary: I do not condone the misogynist lyrics (a disclaimer that should be on at least half of the songs on this site), especially the lyrics that objectifies women. Anyhow, the Pharrell beat is super catchy and Mac Miller’s flow works real well over it. About Artist: Mac Miller a new generation back-pack-type rapper. Born in 1992 Mac Miller is a youngin in the game but has already found success in the mixtape world with tapes like K.I.D.S. and High Light. He raps about smokin weeds and the usual stuff. He is similar to Asher Roth (they’re both white) but I think Asher is a little more lyrical and Mac Miller is a little more about is image and party music. The track was produced by legendary producer Pharrell who is already cemented as one of the best hip hop producers ever (also a member of The Neptunes, N.E.R.D. and Child Rebel Soldier). About Song: This song is apparently off of an upcoming collab EP between Mac Miller and Pharrell which should be pretty exciting since I’m a huge Pharrell fan. Favorite Part: Well obviously the strength of this song is in the beat. I love the halloween/dracula kinda feel of it. While I don’t like the content of Mac Miller’s lyrics his flow works on the the track and I like how it sounds when he says “Big ‘ol butt” in the chorus.
DOWNLOAD MP3 LupeFiasco-StrangeFruitionftCaseyBenjamin.mp3 Summary: Based on the song Strange Fruit popularized by Billie Holiday. Lupe really lets his lyricism shine while blending message AND emotion About Artist: Lupe Fiasco is well established lyrical mastermind who was only focused more and more on his message as his careers gone one. About Song: Lupe moved away from his lyrical basis in his last album Lasers but Food and Liquor 2 brings the best of both worlds with the message and amazing lyricsl skill. I also have to say that the production of the track is really well done the hook plays an integral part to making the song work and the lyrics on the hook could not sound more haunting. Favorite Part: First just look at the chorus “Made in pain, the strangest things you ever seen Oh, look at how they swing, would you look at how they swing? They ain’t dead though No I ain’t die y’all I cut myself down Admire my fall”
DOWNLOAD MP3 TiRon-BernieMacftAyomariAbSoul.mp3 Summary: This one is hard for me describe. All I can say is that the sample in the track is cool and the rap has style. About Artist: First I have to say that another TiRon & Ayomari track was featured on gregshiphop.com back in August 2009 with 3 Drink Minimum. I still don’t know much about TiRon and Ayomari except that they are a duo out of cali and this will be the second song of there’s that I just love. Ab-Soul on the other hand is part of Kendrick Lamar’s collective Black Hippy. About Song: This song is off of a mixtape for charity titled “The Cafeteria Line presents HNGRY” (<-check out the site!). Favorite Part: First I’ll pay good money to anyone who can tell me what is being sampled in this track. I’m also crazy about the integrity of the rap. Something about the verses are just so solid. The song just works for me I don’t know what else to say.
DOWNLOAD MP3 I20-LittleBoyftLudacrisTwista.mp3 Summary: This song is basically a cover/remix of Saigon’s What the Lovers Do. This song is off of Saigon’s 2012 mixtape Warning Shots 3: One Foot In The Grave. About Artist: I-20 signed with Ludacris in the 2000s. He was featured on some Ludacris songs and found some success but never really took off. Ludacris is of course one of long time kings of the south who just keeps on keepin on. Twista, known for his super fast lyrical delivery (aka rapping fast) and is another veteran at this point (Check out that classic Slow Jamz with Twista and Kanye) About Song: This song is off of a recent I-20 mixtape put out by 2dopeboyz.com in spring 2012. Favorite Part: The track is so great and I-20 and Ludacris sound great on it but Twista’s verse is just fiiiiire.
DOWNLOAD MP3 GiftOfGab-Protocol.mp3 Summary: This is a fun upbeat creative flow summer song. About Artist: Gift of Gab is half of Blackalicious who always comes out with positive quality fun stuff. If you like this song you should check out Blackalicious and other posts by both Gab and Blackalicious on this blog. Favorite Part: I really like the hook but of course Gift of Gab’s flow is awesome throughout.
DOWNLOAD MP3 Exile-WaitForMeftBigSeanLupeFiasco.mp3 Summary: This song isn’t a killer but Exile’s mixtape “Intro to the Outro” is just too good not to get some recognition. Get the mixtape for free here. I love the way each song on the tape blends into the next song (very pro) About Artist: Exile is the producer on this song (as he is producer on all the tracks on this tape). Exile has collaborated on critically acclaimed albums with both Blu and Fashawm (both of whom he works with frequently). He is an awesome producer and even better live performer. He’s really brought live beat making back into fashion specifically with his beastly skills on an MPC About Song: This track is off his Exile’s Intro to the Outro Mixtape that was realeased in September of 2011 to promote his debut album 4TRK MIND which has the funniest album cover ever. The song features Big Sean and Lupe Fiasco (you can check out their wikipedia pages below) but I mainly like this song because of Exile’s production. Favorite Part: The rap is pretty solid but I just like the fun beat. Also notice the very end of the song when it starts bleding into the folowing song (which is very killer and very different). You really gotta just listen to the mixtape all the way through.
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 JCole-CantGetEnoughftTreySongz.mp3 Summary: Gregs Hip Hop is back. I didn’t know what the best song to get this started again with would be, but I thought why not this one. About Artist: J. Cole has been on a steady rise over the last couple years. J Cole grew is underground following with some great mixtapes (like The Warm Up) in the mid-late 00s until he became the first signee to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2009. Basically this dude’s got style, he can rap, and the ladies love him. For rapper in his generation he definetly comes off more old school with just raw talent and swag no gimmicks or shit. Trey Songz is the R&B (someitmes rapper) phenom whos also appeared on GregsHipHop a number of times. About Song: This one is the 2nd single off of J. Cole’s debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story which came out in the Fall of 2011. The song really gets an awesome vibe from it’s sample Paulette by Balla et ses Balladins Favorite Part: Of course the I frickin love the way the sample grooves (yes I have the instrumental version too). As far as J. Cole I think the first verse is the best with the following lines. “Now I ain’t got no kids yet, but this right here’s for practice I hate to get the seats in the Benz wet, but that’s how good your ass is Make an old man get his glasses, make Wesley pay his taxes Then follow your moves all week on Twitter, probably make a gay nigga reconsider”
and then “She calling, she texting, she’s falling, but let me explain Gotta tell your old boyfriend skate girl cause a nigga don’t play them ex games”
I also really like the end of the 2nd verse that goes “I love it when you give me head, I hate it when you give me headaches”
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 JayZKanyeWest-Otis.mp3 Summary:Watch the Throne (out August 1st) About Artist: Jay-Z and Kanye West, what else is there to say. These are two of the current if not all time greats. They are coming out with a collaboration album Watch the Throne on August for and of course it will be much anticipated. About Song: This song will appear on Watch the Throne and I believe is the albums first single (not sure if H.A.M counted as single or not). The song, produced by Kanye West, sample Otis Redding’s Try a little Tenderness. Favorite Part:
The sample is sooo soulful and awesome but as far a lines I like…
“Luxury rap, the Hermes of verses
Sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive
I get it custom, you a customer
You ain’t ‘customed to going through Customs” (1:47)
I also love Jay-Z verse right after that and best part it there is NO HOOK.
DOWNLOAD MP3 CyHiThePrynce-Dance.mp3 Summary: Fun song with a track by JUSTICE League About Artist: CyHi the Pryne is one of the newer singees to Kanye’s GOOD Music label. He’s from Atlanta and while this song doesn’t show it, he’s has some really clever rhymes. About Song: This song is of CyHi’s most recent mixtape Royal Flush 2. I really like this mixtape (you can download it free here) so if you’re looking for some new music definitely check it out. This song was produced by JUSTICE League which is an awesome group of producers. Favorite Part:
I really like CyHi but the JUSTICE Leagaue track is the best part of the song Other: CyHi the Prynce Wikipedia J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Wikipedia Download Royal Flush 2
DOWNLOAD MP3 XV-UFC.mp3 Summary: Gregshiphop.com is comin back with at least 2 new songs a week. About Artist: XV is a young rapper from Wichita. I’ve been listening to him for about 2 years now but his most recent mixtape Zero Heroes really blew me away. I really love listening to this tape all the way through and you can download your free copy HERE. About Song: With this song you gotta get some good speakers and just bang it on high volume. I love the track which was produced by Seven, and while the rap is good, the track is just awesome Favorite Part: “…hands go up and down like the Dow Jones” (0:44) Other: XV Wikipedia Download Zero Hereos
DOWNLOAD MP3 JohnWest-LovelyftPushaT.mp3 Summary: Some easy listening R&B About Artist: I never head of John West but apparently he’s signed with Def Jam. His sound mirrors that of a Robin Thicke which might pan out well for him considering how Thicke has done. John West is set to release his still unamed debut LP this summer. Pusha T, from Clipse, is rapper with a really banger street sound so this song is clearly not his usual thing. Try clicking Push T on the black bar below to see other Pusha songs on gregshiphop. About Song: This song is a great spring song. It light and laid back, just some easy lovely listening. Favorite Part:
I love the piano and the guitar arpeggios with John West’s pleasent voice
