MariahCarey-BeautifulftMiguel Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 MariahCarey-BeautifulftMiguel.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Miguel had a good summer, that’s for sure.
About Artist: Mariah Carey is a pop artist who’s name I haven’t thought about in a loooongtime. That’s why I was surprised when this song dropped and made me fall in love with it. Miguel is an R&B singer who had a really good summer. I really started liking him with songs like How Many Drinks and Come Here then this song and then J. Cole’s Power Trip (to be posted) and Janelle Monae’s Primetime (also to be posted).
About Song: This song is a single form Mariah Carey’s 14th album that came out in May 2013. I haven’t listened to any of it… but maybe I should. I really like this song, it’s just a solid solid song.
Favorite Part:
From the country rock guitar intro to the end I love the feeling of the song.

Other:
Miguel Wikipedia
Mariah Carey Wikipedia
Beautiful (Mariah Carey song) Wikipedia

RobinThicke-4TheRestOfMyLife Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 RobinThicke-4TheRestOfMyLife.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. May there be true love for the rest of my life. Blurred Lines wasn’t the only this song that was a hit, “Give It 2 U (ft. Kendrick Lamar)” got on the charts, and I absolutely hated it. One other song on the album however that I really liked and is this one.
About Artist: Robin Thick, flamboyant R&B singer extrodinaire.
About Song: Blurred Lines the album, was actually a pretty good album, though I didn’t like the Give it 2 You (ft. Kendrick) single. This song is one of my favs from the album and it is based the relationship Robin Thicke had to his future wife whom he knew when he was a kid growing up.
Favorite Part:
The song is a great love song about budding young love and wanting to be with someone for the rest of your life, sigh.

I like the harmonies and most of the verses (except the basketball in the park part). The breakdown at 3:05 is nice.

Other:
Robin Thicke Wikipedia

RobinThicke-BlurredLinesftTIPharrell Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 RobinThicke-BlurredLinesftTIPharrell.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. The radio’s official song of the summer. The catchiest rape song you ever did hear.
About Artist: Robin Thicke is an R&B singer who, while being relatively famous, broke through big time with this smash hit. Pharrell, fresh off of the Daft Punk hits, keeps it goin with this even bigger one. T.I. is a souther rapper who’s currently gunnin for a comeback.
About Song: First I want to say I posted this song to Facebook on March 21st. A month later on June 22 it snagged billboard’s number 1 spot and stayed there for 12 weeks making him the fist summer season number 1 by a lead solo male since 2004 (remember Usher’s Confession pt 2? lol)

When I first saw the video I loved the song and thought the video was cool. However as soon as the song made it big the video and song received a barrage of criticism as a song that demeans women and encourages rape. I couldn’t agree more but the song is still catchy and I still like the stylization of the video. I do feel very conflicted however and want to give shout outs to 2 of the best responses to the song…
Blurred Lines [Feminist Parody] – “Defined Lines” VIDEO
From the mouths of rapists: The lyrics of Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines

But it wasn’t only this song that was a hit “Give It 2 U (ft. Kendrick Lamar)” hit the chart, and I absolutely hated it. One other song on the album however that I really liked and is worth posting is 4 The Rest Of My Life.

Favorite Part:
The song is just so catchy. The walking baseline is awesome and Robin w/ Pharrellls vocals/harmonies are awesome.

“Baby, can you breathe I got this from Jamaica
It always works for me Dakota to Decatur” 3:14

Other:
Robin Thicke Wikipedia
Blurred Lines Wikipedia
Pharrell Williams Wikipedia
T.I. Wikipedia

DaftPunk-TouchftPaulWilliams Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 DaftPunk-TouchftPaulWilliams.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever. Random Access Memories was a great album so here’s a post to all the songs I couldn’t fit from the album. This song in particular holds a special place in my heart.
About Artist: Daft Punk is an electronic duo, pretty super famous. Paul Williams is some old school song writer who wrote hits such as “The Rainbow Connection” the theme to the loveboat and more.
About Song: Random Access Memories was a great ablum! My favorite song on the album was Lose Yourself to Dance which I posted here on gregshiphop earlier, Get Lucky was also pretty awesome, obviously. After those 2 songs there were 3 others that I really liked that all played in succession on the album Touch, Instant Crush, Within.
Favorite Part:
This song (and the 2 songs that followed Instant Crush, and Within) really spoke to me and reached a special place in my heart at the time.

I like how the ‘kiss’ at 2:31 brings the song alive. This song just captures so many emotions.

Other:
Daft Punk Wikipediak
Paul Williams Wikipedia
Random Access Memories

DaftPunk-GetLuckyftPharrellWilliams Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 DaftPunk-GetLuckyftPharrellWilliams.mp3
Summary: #Summer2013 is a recap of the songs that made the summer of 2013 one of the best ever.
About Artist: Daft Punk is an electronic duo and Pharrell is one of my favorite artists in Hip Hop. I love Pharrell’s sound, his voice, and just the vibe he brings to the projects he works on.
About Song: This was the hit single off of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories (released May 17th)
Favorite Part:
Like the rest of the album this song just jams on a little guitar riff that feels so good.

The voice/electronic solo at 3:27 is great. Everyone Sing Along!

A little Pharrell doesn’t hurt either.

Other:
Daft Punk Wikipediak
Pharrell Williams Wikipedia
Random Access Memories

BoB-Missing Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 BoB-Missing.mp3
Summary: Hottt off the presses
About Artist: B.o.B is all over this blog, sometimes I feel like I post him too much, but he has really been cranking out some awesome songs through his career. He is from ATL and runs with T.I’s Hustle Gang. While he gained mainstream popularity with pop songs like Nothin On You (ft. Bruno Mars) he can also go hard on the rap beats too.
About Song This song dropped a couple days ago and is in anticipation to his third album Underground Luxury which will be more hip hop focuses
Favorite Part:
The didgeridoo thing in the beat is dope, and I like BoB’s rap about real issues (poverty, corruption etc) and there are a couple lines I like in particular.

“Seems like since we got a black president
Black people stop questioning the government” (0:05)

“For god sakes there’s an all-seeing eye on the back of the dollar, we can’t even trust money
You need to understand who you dealing.. With
These are like modern day villains
These are type of people that would kill a whole village
Build a fucking building.. And say it’s just business
Who you think gave you religion?
Land of the free.. Who you think built it?” (0:35)

“I don’t need a hook but for hooks sake
If I had a hook, I’d make the hook say
“Be a good slave, be a good slave”
(Be a good slave, be a good slave)” (1:24)

Other:
B.o.B Wikipedia
Missing Lyrics (via RapGenius)

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)

Other:
Wale Wikipedia
Cee Lo Wikipedia
Gullible Lyrics (via RapGenius)

SnowThaProduct-Play Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 SnowThaProduct-Play.mp3
Summary: This bilingual FeMC Goes Hard!
About Artist: Snow Tha Product is a Mexican American rapper of the Azealia Banks, Iggy Azalea wave. Snow makes those songs that you just want to bump at full volume. Her mixtape Good Nights & Bad Mornings was highly regarded. Snow got some hype from her independent album Unorthodox but really took off from her 90 second Youtube Video “Holy Shit” (watch it!)
About Song: This song is off of Snow’s upcoming mixtape Good Nights & Bad Mornings 2: The Hangover. Another song from the same tape called On Now was also recently released and is really good.
Favorite Part: I love how hard she goes! And this isn’t the only other song she does this on. Like I said earlier check out “Holy Shit”

Other:
Snow Tha Product Wikipedia
Play Lyrics (via RapGenius)

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.

Other:
J. Cole Wikipedia
Born Sinner Wikipedia
Trouble Lyrics (via RapGenius)

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.

Other:
Talib Kweli Wikipedia
Miguel Wikipedia
Prisoner of Conscious Wikipedia
Sean C & LV Wikipedia
Come Here Lyrics (via RapGenius)

KanyeWest-ImInIt Audio Player
DOWNLOAD MP3 KanyeWest-ImInIt.mp3
Summary: New Kanye! Turn those speakers UP
About Artist: Kanye West is one of my alll time faves. Hailing out of Chicago as a producer in the late 90s Kanye’s career has continued to climb to new heights.
About Song: This track is off of Yeezus which is Kanye’s 6th album which was released June 18th (today) but leaked nearly a week ago (I waited till the album was released to start posting songs from it). The song features Jamaican rap by Agent Sasco (aka Assassin), don’t know much more about him. It also features vocals from Justin Vernon who is the frontman for Bon Inver which collaborated with Kanye in “Monster” off of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Favorite Part:
Well first of all this song is amazing! I love how Kanye continues to evolve and always bring new sounds into the mainstream while still maintaining his ‘Ye-ness.

I really like the seductiveness of the begining of the song. I don’t mind the Kanye’s blunt sexual explicitness cause it just makes the verse feel real and doesn’t feel over the top to me. Even though it’s very dark and crass it still has a certain sensuality.

Then the song Really gets going at 1:19. I LOVE that drop! Agent Sasco sounds awesome when he goes all doubletime on it.

Then the hook at 1:40 remind me of The Weekend, and adds to the sex on the dancefloor feel.

The minimalist verse at 2:11 is also awesome. The beat just drops out except for the drums and Kanye brings  a solid verse with lines like “She cut from a different textile” and “Put my fist in her like a civil rights sign”. While I’m not into fisting the verse just works. I’d suggest checking out the lyrics at RapGenius.

Finally the outro/last verse (3:23) is the BEST part. Just one fucking drum, and Kanye, goin hard!
“Time to take it too far now
Uh, Michael Douglas out the car now
Uh, got the kids and the wife life
Uh, but can’t wake up from the night life
Uh, I’m so scared of my demons
Uh, I go to sleep with a nightlight
Uh, my mind move like a Tron bike
Uh, pop a wheelie on the Zeitgeist
Uh, I’m finna start a new movement
Uh, being led by the drums
Uh, I’m a rap-lic priest
Uh, getting head by the nuns
Uh, they don’t play what I’m playing
Uh, they don’t see what I’m saying
Uh, they be balling in the D-League
Uh, I be speaking Swaghili”
Of course it’s not just the lyrics but it’s the delivery.

Other:
Kanye West Wikipedia
Agent Sasco Wikipedia
Justin Vernon Wikipedia
Yeezus Wikipedia
I’m In It Lyrics (via RapGenius)

DOWNLOAD MP3 BustaRhymes-TwerkItRemixftNIckiMinaj.mp3
Summary: WOW. Don’t worry about who the artists are just turn those speakers alll the way up.
About Artist: Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell.
About Song: This track dropped June 6th and is a remix of a Busta Rhyme’s only version that dropped as a single in early May.
Favorite Part: Holy f-ing shit this song is so good. I can’t believe Pharrell does the Daft Punk album and then has this goin at the same time. The beat is sooo sick. And Nicki Minaj finally brings it so good in this song. And Busta rydin the beat all Jamaican like that. This song has all the pieces and I love it!

Other:
Busta Rhymes Wikipedia
Nicki Minaj Wikipedia
Pharrell Wikipedia
Twerk It Remix Lyrics (via RapGenius)

DOWNLOAD MP3 JCole-NiggazKnow.mp3
Summary: It’s been a minute but I’m back and I got some GREAT songs in the pipeline.
About Artist: J. Cole is a fairly recent newcomer to the game but has already become of the most respected rappers around. His debut album Cole World, released by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, was met with critical acclaim. I’m not a the biggest J. Cole fan ever but he is definitely legit and I would agree that he is one of the best doing his thing right now.
About Song: This song is a bonus track off of J. Cole’s upcoming sophomore album Born Sinner (due out June 18th). This song really proves why J. Cole has the hardcore fan following that he has. J. Cole’s lyrical ability, and personal raw story, is on full display on this track. And he produced the track? dayyum.
Favorite Part: I just like how J. Cole tells a story in his verses. The chorus is good and soulful, but his line after line after line type verses are what really make this song something great.

Other:
J. Cole Wikipedia
Niggaz Know (via RapGenius)

DOWNLOAD MP3 DaftPunk-LoseYourselfToDanceftPharrellWilliams.mp3
Summary: This one goes out to the Villa du Golfe crew!
About Artist: Daft Punk is a wildly successful electronic music duo. Other people probably know much more about them than I do, but from a hip hop perspective they were the ones that were sampled for Kanye’s Stronger. Pharell is one of hip hop’s super producers and he brings his smooth hook singing and distinct style to this song.
About Song: This song is from Daft Punk’s recently released Random Access Memories album. It is a great blend of Daft Punk and Pharrell’s sound.

Favorite Part: I just like the laid back style that Pharrell brings to the track. The song is very repetitive but it is a great summertime jam. This song will forever remind me of my trip to the south of France and the carefree ballerstastic vacation that I had. Great Food, Great People, Great Times.

Other:
Daft Punk Wikipedia
Pharrell Williams Wikipedia

Get Lucky, Icona Pop’s I Love It, the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Sacrilege were also big theme songs of the trip.