Xiomara-ElectricRelaxationftAmerigoGazawayAudio Player DOWNLOAD MP3 Xiomara-ElectricRelaxationftAmerigoGazaway.mp3 Summary: Smooth and Jazzy About Artist: Xiomara is Berkeley singer sonwriter who has yet to catch her break but I really like what she does. Amerigo Gazaway is one of my favorite producers right now. He specializes in remake, mashups, redits, reworks, he is one of my all time favorite remix artists. About Song: This song is a cover of a Tribe Called Quest’s “Electric Relaxtion”, with some other lyrics from Tribe’s “Find A Way”, and a little musical bit from No Diggity (which I guess was originally Bill Withers). Favorite Part: This song is almost a little tooo laid back for my tastes but like how smooth she is on it, and it’s a creative reimagination of the two original Tribe Calle Quest songs.
Also, not gonna lie, I like the don’t mess with bill part at the end ;)
Tupac-DearMamaJPeriodRemixAudio Player DOWNLOAD MP3 Tupac-DearMamaJPeriodRemix.mp3 THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA. Summary: Tupac reworked by the master J Period.
About Artist: J Period is a master producer who has done some of my favorite projects including The Messengers, that Abstract Q-Tip classic, and just recently The Legacy of James Brown.
About Song: This song is off of a yet to be released project “Holler is You Hear Me Remixed” which will be a mixtape inspired by the upcoming Broadway musical about Tupac called Holler If You Hear Me (really not sure how I feel about that :/). This song take Tupac’s 1995 Dear Mama and blends it with Sting’s “Shape of My Heart” (also used in Nas’ “The Message” from ‘It Was Written”)
Favorite Part: Tuac’s lyrics are timeless and the tone of this music really fits with this one.
Sango-BaileSomebodyAudio Player DOWNLOAD MP3 Sango-BaileSomebody.mp3 Summary: A chill little instrumental mix About Artist: I really don’t know anything about this guy. I’m pretty sure he live in the US but he must have some kind of Brazilian background. About Song: This song is from a project that you can download for $1 here call Da Rocinha 2. Rocinha is a favela in Rio which is reflected in the album art. This track is a remix of Aaliyah’s Are You That Somebody, among other things.
Favorite Part:
Just a really creative mix that I like
About Artist: Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) is a super talented guy. He was a writer for the TV show 30 Rock before acting in Community. His Childish Gambino alter ego does all of his own production and the dude can rap. Chance the Rapper is a young guys (under 21) from Chicago and has found huge sucess after his 2013 mixtape Acid Rap (which I really really like too).
About Song: This song is off of Gambino’s 2014 album Because The Internet (Gambino is very public and active on Twitter). If you want to appreciate the song fully check out the meaning of the lyrics on Rap Genius Here. Check out other Childish Gambino song on GregsHipHop
Favorite Part: I like Childish Gambino’s first first. I also like how the song breaks down into those soaring electric guitars at the end.
YasiinGaye-InnerCityTravellinManAudio Player DOWNLOAD MP3 YasiinGaye-InnerCityTravellinMan.mp3 Summary: A Masterful Mix About Artist: This mix is only one track off of a tape by Amerigo Gazaway called “Yasiin Gaye: The Departure”. Amerigo is a producer who who has done some truly awesome projects, one which is a Tribe Called Quest vs Pharcyde album and one that is full of Fela Kuti remixes. This Yasiin Gaye project has been taken down by the RIAA which is complete fucking bullshit. About Song: This was a single from the project but you should definitely check out the rest of the album. Oh wait, you won’t be able to download the free album because the RIAA sent a cease and desist letter and threatened to sue.
These are the samples that I’ve found in this track so far…
Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
DJ Honda – Travellin’ Man (Remix)
Yasiin Bey – I’m Leaving Lyrics
Marvin Gaye – You Can Leave, But It’s Going To Cost You Favorite Part: The whole mix just flows so well.
Wale-LoveHateThing Audio Player DOWNLOAD MP3Wale-LoveHateThing.mp3 Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. My favorite song off of this album was Gullible (ft. Cee Lo) About Artist: Wale is another artist that I’ve like from way back. This album the Gifted wasn’t 10/10 but it definetly didn’t dissapoint and was nice change from his Rick Ross MMG type songs that he’d been doing. My favorite song off of this album was Gullible (ft. Cee Lo) About Song: This was one of the singles off of the Gifted though I gotta say Gullible (ft. Cee Lo) was my favorite.
Favorite Part:
I love the beat on this song. It’s just a good song to blast out your car.
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)
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.
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.
DOWNLOAD MP3 Miguel-HowManyDrinksRemixftKendrickLamar.mp3 Summary: Sometimes I just want to be romantic. (Note: getting a woman drunk at the bar so you can take her home isn’t actually romantic) About Artist: Miguel is an R&B singer from LA. While he’s been around since 2007 he’s only recently gained noteriety. He’s done a couple track wile Wale and J. Cole that I also really like. Kendrick Lamar is a staple on this blog so you probably already know all about the Compton native. About Song: This song is the third single off of Miguel’s second and highly acclaimed album Kaleidoscope Dream.
Favorite Part: Miguel’s voice just makes me melt. He even makes getting girls drunk at the bar sound romantic. Kendrick’s verse is just icing on the cake.
I like in chorus when Miguel sings “back of mind I’m hoping you say 2 or 3”
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 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 BigSean-24kOfGoldftRaekwonJCole.mp3 Summary: A chill little riff on Nas’ If I Ruled the World. About Artist: Key Wane is the producer of the track. I don’t know much about him except that he’s a young guy from Detroit. I would encourage people to check out So Many Keys because while most of the tracks have already been released on other projects you can really get a sense of Key Wane’s sounds. Big Sean hails from Detroit and is a young rapper signed with Kanye’s GOOD Music. J. Cole is another young buck with a ton a skills and a diehard following. He comes from North Carolina and was one of the first artists to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Raekwon on the other hand is the longtime New York legend from the Wu Tang Clan. About Song: This song orignally appeared on Big Sean’s late 2012 mixtape Detroit however I rediscovered it when it appeared on producer Key Wane’s collection called So Many Keys which I would highly encourage people to download. The song kinda plays off of Nas and Lauryn Hill’s hit If I Ruled the World. Favorite Part: I want to give Key Wane credit cause I really like the sound of song. The rap is just some nice dressing on top.
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)
Xiomara-ElectricRelaxationftAmerigoGazawayAudio Player
