About Artist: Jazmine Sullivan is an R&B/Neo Soul singer from Philadelphia. Her most popular song is Bust Your Windows, but all the songs on her 2008 debut album “Fearless” are awesome.
About Song: Jazmine Sullivan just released her third album a couple weeks ago and I’m a big fan.
Favorite Part: I love Jazmine Sullivan’s voice, and this is just a great song. I like that that slow but moving tempo, all the harmonies. I like the parts like at 1:10-1:21.
About Artist: Seinabo is 24 year old black musician from Sweeden. She only started releasing music in 2013 and her original song Pistols At Dawn is an amazing song on it’s own. Lucia and Mickey Valen seem to be two semi-obscure remix producer dude from New York.
About Song: The original Pistols At Dawn is a great song but this remix kicks it up a notch.
Favorite Part: The song starts with some of that real soul that the original has, adds a little electronic pop in the middle, and rides out with the craziness!
About: YG is famous for his songs “My N*gga”, “Who Do You Love (ft. Drake)”, and was featured on Jerimih’s“Don’t Tell ‘Em. Back in 2009 YG partnered with Ty Dolla $ign to make “Toot it and Boot it”. Ty Dolla $ign is most well know for his song “Paranoid (ft. B.o.B.)”, but also produced Lupe’s “Next to it”(which was awesome). YG created a label, Pu$haz Ink, that includes Ty Dolla $ign and DJ Mustard among others. Big TC, who sings the soulful hook on this song, is Ty Dolla $ign’s younger brother.
Big TC is also incarcerated looking at life in prison for a murder charge. Ty Dolla $ign’s debut album is going to be call Free TC in reference to his brother and to wrongfully imprisoned people everywhere.
The core of Thank God was record from Big TC’s cell. Video below
This song is only one of many great song’s on YG’s 2014 album “My Krazy Life” which was was snubbed by the Grammys. Definitely one of the best rap albums this year. I’m sure YG being a blood had nothing to do with not getting nominated.
Favorite Part: This song is part of a great album with great songs, but this hook still jumped out at me. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered the story behind the song.
YoungOneEra-LifeIsAGameAudio Player DOWNLOAD MP3 YoungOneEra-LifeIsAGame.mp3 Summary: Good rap. Soulful hook About Artist: Young One Era is a local Tucson artist! I don’t know anything about Versailles the Truth but I looked her up on soundcloud and she is actually more of a rapper than a hook singer. About Song: I don’t know much about this song except that it came out in late 2014. Also that it was produced by J. Dominguez Favorite Part: The production on this song is awesome. I love the video game sounds (Mario, the Donkey Kong drop at 1:55 etc). The rap is solid, and hook is the best part. So beautiful so soulful. Other: Young One Era Soundcloud Versailles the Truth Soundcloud J. Dominguez Soundcloud
AmerigoGazaway-TwoWorldsftMosDefMarvinGayeKanyeWestAudio Player DOWNLOAD MP3 AmerigoGazaway-TwoWorldsftMosDefMarvinGayeKanyeWest.mp3 Summary: Taking mash-ups to a whole new level. About Artist: Amerigo Gazaway is my number 1 favorite artist right now. He is a remix artist who blends classic tracks into entirely new creations. He is my favorite example of how remixes can be so transformative, and not just a “rip off” of the original material. About Song: This song is off of a project called Yasiin Gaye: The Departure (Side One), which has launched Amerigo Gazaway’s career to a whole new level. This free project is part of a series called Soul Mates where Amerigo takes two artist and blends their songs together into a whole new album. In this case Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) collides with soul legend Marvin Gaye.
The vocals on this song are from Kanye West’s first album College Dropout (2004), on a track called Two Words (ft. Mos Def).
Favorite Part:
Having listened to the original Two Words version so many times, so many years ago, I love you this song breaths new life into the lyrics.
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 ;)
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-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)
JCole-Trouble Audio Player DOWNLOAD MP3 JCole-Trouble.mp3 Summary: J. Cole at his best About Artist: J. Cole is about 4 years in as a mainstage artist after being the first artist to sign to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. He has a large hardcore following and this song might show why. He’s got the lyrical chops and can really tell a raw story in his songs. About Song: This song is off of J. Cole’s sophomore album Born Sinner and I can’t for the life of me understand why it’s not a single yet. Favorite Part: Yes, I’m a sucker for gospel singing in hip hop but I also love J. Cole’s story telling and his delivery in lines like
“But I’m back on track, jumpshot wasn’t that good
Couldn’t sell crack but I rap good” (2:31)
I can’t lie though the woman singing in the background around 2:46, and the choral chorus and Especially that outro I do love.
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 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 ZZWard-CryinWolfftKendrickLamar.mp3 Summary: If you liked BlakRoc you’ll love this bluesy song. About Artist: This is the first song of ZZ Ward that I’ve discovered but I’m downloading some of her mixtapes and past projects as we speak. Apparntly she did a cover of a Childish Gambino song and has worked with Pete Rock in the studio? I don’t know enough at the moment but I would say looking into more of her stuff is a must! Kendrick Lamar is like my favorite rapper right now. From LA etc etc just look at past posts of mine by Kendrick Lamar. About Song: Is off her debut album which dropped yesterday called Till The Casket Drops (too soon after the Clipse’s album IMO). I’m about to listen to the album now but she seems very ‘Adele’ or ‘Lana Del Rey’ to me so far. Favorite Part: I really really like the bluesyness, which is also why I LOVED BlakRoc. I like when it breaks down with the claps, I love ZZ Wards voice and harmonies, and of course Kendrick’s verse specifically this part
“Don’t forget about us, don’t forget about trust Don’t forget about the kinkiness of playin with the cuffs on the bedspring penetrate the loud screams echoin the hallways is a must”(2:30-2:40)
DOWNLOAD MP3 SelahSue-PleaseftCeeLoGreen.mp3 Summary: Soulful duet with the wonderful voice of Cee-Lo Green and Amy Winehouse sound-a-like Selah Sue About Artist: Selah Sue is a Belgium musician who found crossover American success with her song Raggamuffin as well This World (which I also like). Cee-Lo Green on the other hand is one of my favorite musicians. I guy who brings soul to everything he does he is quite famous as a solo artist at this point but has also put out music as part of Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley. Cee-Lo Green probably reached his pop popularity with his song Fuck You but he’s also had wild creativity and lasting integrity in the songs he puts out. About Song: This song is off of Selah Sue debut 2011 self titled album. Favorite Part: I do like the sound of Selah Sue’s voice on this song but Cee-Lo’s magical voice is what really draws me to this song. Of course I’m a sucker for vocal harmonies so the duet factor doesn’t hurt either.
JazmineSullivan-LetItBurnAudio Player
