Posts in Category/Tag: Mindful

Summary: Kendrick Lamar is the truth. This song is so smooth, so hard, so fire.

About Artist: Kendrick Lamar has been the reigning king of the west coast for over a decade. I’ve been a fan since I saw him perform in Los Angeles just after the release of his debut album Section.80 in the summer 2011.  With 50 Grammy nominations, 29 BET awards, and a Pulitzer Prize, Kendrick has is one of the most highly regarded rappers alive today. In February 2025 Kendrick hill headline the Super Bowl  halftime show.

About Song: This untitled track dropped on Instagram on September 11th. It is the first song Kendrick has released since the his beef with Drake earlier in the year. This track was produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Pasqué & Anca Trio Plus One.

Favorite Part: The jazzy melodic instrumental track in the background is amazing, so smooth and juxtaposes so nicely with Kendrick’s assertive lyrics.

“Why reason with these (…) if they can’t see the future first?
Why argue with these clowns if the circus is well at work?
Just walk that man down, that’ll do everyone a solid
It’s love, but tough love sometimes gotta result in violence” -0:36

“Influencers talk down ’cause I’m not with the basic shit
But they don’t hate me, they hate the man that I represent
The type of man that never dickride ’cause I want a favor
The man that resides in patience, so where the soldiers at?
The one’s that lost it all and learnt to learn from that
A thirst for life, head inside a book ’cause he concerned with that
Information that’ll change his life because he yearns for that
Dedication, findin’ out what’s right ’cause he can earn from that” -1:00

“The flashy (…) with nasty decisions usin’ money as a backbone
I want his head cracked before he’s back home
The radio personality pushin’ propaganda for salary
Let me know when they turn up as a casualty, I want agony
Assault, and battery, I see a new Earth
Filled with beautiful people makin’ humanity work” -2:37

“My (…) Jay Estrada said I gotta burn it down to build it up
That confirmation real as fuck, it ain’t too many real as us” -4:28

Other:

The Day The Party Died (Lyrics)

Kendrick Lamer (Wikipedia)

Summary: Sometime it’s hard to tell if you are in heaven or in hell.

About Artist: Vic Mensa is from Chicago and is someone I started listening to around 2014 when he was feated on Chance the Rapper’s Cocoa Butter Kisses. Ty Dolla $ign helps sing the hook.

About Song: This song is the outro track to Vic Mensa’s debut album “The Autobiography” (2017)

Favorite Part: The chorus is really powerful. I love how this song touches on topics of sorrow, blessings, brutality, and desperation.

Other: Vic Mensa Wikipedia

Summary: Go watch Judas and the Black Messiah

About Artist: Masego is best known for his 2017 collab “Tadow“. JID is up and coming signed with Dreamville, and Rapsody is a long established independent veteran.

About Song: This song was put together for a companion album to the movie “Judas and the Black Messiah” which tells a story of Fred Hampton and the Black Panthers. Go watch it.

Favorite Part: Masego’s vocals really bring the vibe and this verse from JID…
“‘Cause we can never murder hate but can murder a hater
What’s a more American way to try to give ’em a taste of they own medicine?
Prevalent ethnic rebel, the revolution of melanin
Bust a move to the ghetto, we must improve the development
Brought some food for the fellowship, got a noose on my brethren
Call the goons and the government, come correct the corruption
Break the racial construction buildin’ up
In the spirit of liberation, give me life or I’ma take it
That’s my human right, universally, you and I, we could be unified
But when you speakin’ truth beyond your youth, they want you euthanized
Creepin’ through the night, hear something movin’, right?
Intruders, intruders” (0:56)

Other: JID Wikipedia, Rapsody Wikipedia,  Masego Wikipedia, Judas and the Black Messiah 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 Nas-EverytingftTheDream.mp3
Summary: If I had everything…
About Artist: What is there to say about NaS, theking of New York. Obviously one of our aging hip hop royals. Time hasn’t been great to NaS but I like this song.
About Song: This track is off of “NASIR” which was one of the super short albums that Kanye West produced in the summer of 2018. The album wasn’t great but this song stuck with me.
Favorite Part: “If I had everything, I could change anything”
“Some people have everything they probably ever wanted in life. And never have enough” (2:56)
Other:
Nasir Wikipedia

DOWNLOAD MP3 TiRonAyomari-PoliticsAsUsual.mp3
Summary: The crazy politics of 2016.
About Artist: I don’t know much about TiRon & Ayomari but I found them on Bandcamp years ago and they’ve been on gregsiphop.com a couple times in the last 7 years (one of their songs was one of the first 15 songs ever posted).
About Song: This song came out in 2016 and spoke to the dystopian feel the hungover the end of 2016. Watch the music video here
Favorite Part: This song helped me process Trump’s win and keep some perspective on how terrible and corrupt politics and presidents have always been. I like the montage of political speeches that run throughout the background, but I also really love the verses which are both pointed an beautiful.80
“Turn the wheel, turn the wheel
Don’t believe in Somethin real, somethin real
Plug in Sit back & relax Welcome to the trap” (2:21)
Other:
Politics As Usual Lyrics (via Bandcamp)

DOWNLOAD MP3 KendrickLamar-untitled06.mp3
THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA.
Summary: CeeLo & K Dot
About Artist: Kendrick Lamar one of most influential hip hop artists today. CeeLo has been in the hip hop game for more than two decades now and a real one of a kind voice.

About Song: This song is one of the tracks that didn’t make the cut to get onto Kendrick’s 2015 masterpiece To Pimp A Butterfly and is instead on an album called “untitled unmastered”. This song also features singer CeeLo Green.
Favorite Part:

Other:
Untitled Unmastered Wikipedia

DOWNLOAD MP3 PharoaheMonch-EvolveprodbyExile.mp3
Summary: Lyrical. Powerful.

About Artist: Pharohe Monch is most famous for his single “Simon Says” (1999) but is also a respected MC who has continued making revolutionary music. This track is produced by Exile who is a super talented producer and who began his early career in a duo group alongside Aloe Blacc.

About Song: This song came out on Pharoe Monch’s third album “W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)” in March 2011. It was never a single but it did re-apper on Exile’s mixtape “Intro to the Outro” in September 2011.

This is the 2nd song from “Intro to the Outro”to be posted in gregshiphop. Check out “Wait For Me (ft. Big Sean, Lupe Fiasco)”

Favorite Part:
1. Listening to Pharoahe Monch speak truth
2. Pharoahe Monch’s pure lyricism
3. The jazzy gospel track

Other:
Pharoahe Monch Wikipedia
Exile WIkipedia
Evolve Lytics (RapGenius)

LupeFiasco-DotsAndLinesAudio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 LupeFiasco-DotsAndLines.mp3
Summary: New Lupe. Nice and smooth.
About Artist: Lupe FIasco is well known hip hop artist from Chicago. He is know for his positive “conscious” messages and his unmatched lyricism. Lupe it definitely in conversations about best lyrical rapper and his debut album Food and Liquor is a certified classic album. While Lupe’s influence in hip hop has faded dramatically since 2006/2007, which saw the release of Food and Liquor and the critically acclaimed The Cool, he still holds a place among hip hop’s elite.
About Song: This song is off of Lupe’s 5th album Tetsuo and Youth, which dropped today. I haven’t fully deconstructed the song yet so I can’t really say what the song is about but it’s smooth one.
Favorite Part: It’s weird but I like the banjo/guitar intro and outro. I also really like the chorus. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a math nerd or something else but I like this idea of sacred geometry. I also really like the generel instrumentation in the song.
Other:
Lupe Fiasco Wikipedia
Dots & Lines Lyrics (via RapGenius)

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

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”

Other:
More Beautiful Than Silence Wikipedia
K’naan Wikipedia
More Beautiful Than Silence Lyrics

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 KendrickLamar-FuckYourEthnicity.mp3
THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA.
Summary: Kendrick Lamar is the best up and coming rapper. Bring the West Coast back with a vengance.
About Artist: Kendrick Lamar is a young Compton rapper who has been hailed as the next king of the west. He has amazing lyrical ability and speaks truth with an unmatched authenticity. Kendrick Lamar is currently my favorite rapper. I got to see him recently in his hometown of LA and was blown away. His live performance had so much energy and he was even better live than he sounds on his records. The show started a little late only because Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg showed up to watch. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Kurupt, Game, Big Sean and Snoop all graced the stage to come out and support Kendrick who has very quicky gained the respect of the entire hip hop community.
About Song: This song is the intro to Kendrick Lamar’s recent and highly regarded project Section.80.
Favorite Part:
“Fire burning inside my eyes
This the music that saved my life
Y’all be calling it hip-hop
I be calling it hypnotize
Yeah, hypnotize

WATCH Kendrick Lamar in LA Clip

Trapped my body but freed my mind
What the fuck is you fighting for?
Ain’t nobody gonna win that war
My details be retail
Man, I got so much in store
Racism is still alive
Yellow tape and colored lines” (1:03-1:22)

“I mosh pit
Had a microphone and I tossed it
Had a brain, then I lost it
I’m out of my mind, so don’t
You mind how much the cost is
Penny for my thoughts
Everybody, please hold up your wallets” (1:45-1:53)
Other:
Kendrick Lamar Wikipedia
Fuck Your Ethnicity Lyrics

DOWNLOAD MP3 KendrickLamar-HiiiPowerprodbyJCole.mp3
THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA.
Summary: Hip Hop.
About Artist: Kendrick Lamar is part of the new west coast movement. Decades after Snoop, NWA, Tupac came out of Compton Kendrick Lamar it trying to lead a second wave, a rebirth, of LA rap. J. Cole produced this track, which is a little strange since J. Cole is better known as a rapper.
About Song: This song is atypical of Kendrick Lamar who normally goes off with fast high intensity rhymes (check out other Kendrick Lamar songs on gregshiphop here). In this song however Kendrick Lamar takes a more reflective approach. One thing that jumps out at me about this song is how it borrows from Kanye West / My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy this song is. Kendrick borrows from Kanye’s So Appalled line “shit is, fuckin ridiculous” at places like (1:36, 2:48, 4:23), it takes Kanye’s signature “huh” around 2:00, and takes a voice effect that Dark Twisted Fantasy popularized at 2:05.
Favorite Part:
No part really jumps 0ut at me but I like message Kendrick Lamar puts forward over this protest beat.

Other:
Kendrick Lamar Wikipedia
J. Cole Wikipedia
Check out the LYRICS and meaning at Rap Genius