April 25th, 2021
Summary: Ryan Beatty is Everything!
About Artist: Back in 2018 a student asked me if I’d heard of Ryan Beatty and told me they thought I would like them. It was true. His 2018 album Boy in Jeans was an album I fell deeply in love with. Ryan Beatty is an extremely talented vocalist and musician. His albums are cohesive and beautifully stitched together.
About Song: This track is just one of my favorites from his debut album Boy in Jeans. The album tells the story of his experiences of being gay in high school. I have so many favorite songs from this album, you really have to listen to the album all the way through to understand his genius. Ryan’s more recent sophomore album Dreaming of David is even more of a masterpiece and something I will surely post about soon.
Favorite Part: You have to listen to the full album!
Other: Ryan Beatty Wikipedia
April 12th, 2021
Summary: Português x Español x English
About Artist: There are ton of artists on this song including Tropkillaz (São Paulo Brazil), J Balvin (Colombia), Anitta (Rio de Janeiro Brazil) and MC Zaac (Diadema Brazil).
About Song: This song came out in spring 2019 and was one of my summer anthems for that summer. It is followup to the smash hit Vai Malandra.
Favorite Part: I love the funk carioca vibe. Tenho saudades do Brasil.
Other: Bola Rebola Wikipedia, J Balvin Wikipedia, Anitta Wikipedia, MC Zaac Wikipedia
March 22nd, 2021
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
March 21st, 2021
Summary: Watch me dance around them puddles.
About Artist: Daniela Andrade is a Honduran Canadian who has gained a following online by posting her covers of popular songs on Soundcloud and YouTube.
About Song: This song is a track off of Daniela’s 2020 EP “Nothing Much Has Changed, I Don’t Feel The Same”
Favorite Part: This song had me at the drop (0:23)
Other: Daniela Andrade Wikipedia
March 18th, 2021
Summary: This is dedicated to that ooh la.
About Artist: John Legend has a voice of gold and face that makes butter melt. I’ve been in love with him since 2003 when I first heard live album “Live at the Knitting Factory”. He has a come along away but he still cranks out the hits.
About Song: This song is the intro track to his recent 2020 album “Bigger Love”. I had ticket to see him in the fall of 2020 but we all know how that ended : (
Favorite Part: I like the old-timey doowap track with the deep bass drop at 0:09. I like the prechorus build and the way the chorus blossoms (0:37). And of course I just love John’s sexy sexy voice.
“You know I’m romantic,
I’d cross the Atlantic for that, Ooh-laa
I’ll wear my best tuxedo,
And you can undress me and we go, Ooh-laa” (1:08)
Other:
March 17th, 2021
Summary: One year later and we still in quarantine
About Artist: Todrick Hall is one of the most talented people in the biz. I’ve gone to many of his shows and he is one hell of a performer. I can’t say enough about his creativity, versatility and just his raw talent. He is a queer icon and all around entertainment threat.
About Song: This song is a remix of his earlier hit “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels”. This song is by no means my favorite Todrick Hall song but on the one year anniversary of my quarantine I thought it’d be appropriate.
Favorite Part: Love the concept and love that he’s spoofing his own song
Other:Todrick Hall Wikipedia
March 16th, 2021
Summary: Haunting, so haunting.
About Artist: Jensen McRae is a young folk singer songwriter from a biracial black and jewish background. Her career is still young with her first single having dropped in 2019. Her songs all have deep personal messages.
About Song: I like Jensen’s other work but this song is just so haunting. After I first hear it, her voice followed me in my head for days. This genre normally isn’t really my thing but wow, this song is something specials.
Favorite Part: I love how the verses flow into the chorus (1:00). Obviously her voice is a major part of what makes this song work.
Other Links: Jensen McRae
March 15th, 2021
Summary: Trying to be grateful for what I have.
About Artist: Kanye West, what is there to say… musical visionary, egotistical sociopath, beloved hit maker, asshole. Kanye West should probably be cancelled but I just can’t let go. This song also features Ty Dolla Sign and longtime collaborator Ant Clemons.
About Song: This song is off of Kanye’s 2019 album “Jesus is King” which won a Grammy award last night. I really did like this album with tracks like “Selah”, “Follow God”, “Water” and “God Is” being a few of my favorites. I also thought the Jesus is King IMAX short film was really powerful.
Favorite Part: I really love the chorus and the feel of the track. I like the message since I always struggle to recognize the blessings in my own life.
Other: Jesus is King Wikipedia
March 12th, 2021
Summary: Chika’s new EP drops today!
About Artist: Chika is part of the XXL 2020 freshman class and looks to have a very promosing future. Her new EP “Once Upon a Time” drops today and I can’t wait to listen.
About Song: This song is off of her 2020 EP “Industry Games”
Favorite Part: I love the vocal harmonies on chorus and synth soul vibe of the song. As far as the bars, the third verse is the best.
Other: Chika Wikipedia
March 10th, 2021
Summary: Usha Usha
About Artist: Usher has been an R&B pop sensation for several decades while Ella Mai hit the scene big with her self-titled debut album in 2018.
About Song: This song came out in 2019 but is actually a single from Usher’s upcoming album “Confessions 2” (not to be confused with his song that I cried to in high school “Confession Part II”).
Favorite Part: I have a hard time not liking Usher, and Ella Mai just makes this duet too good to resist. I really like Ella Mai’s verse at 1:20.
Other: Ella Mai Wikipedia, Usher Wikipedia
March 9th, 2021
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
March 8th, 2021
Summary: Happy Monday
About Artist: Jidenna is member of Janelle Monae’s Wonderland Records. I love his heavily east African influenced style and this song is a great example of that.
About Song: This song is off of an EP Jidenna released in 2017.
Favorite Part: I like the laid back feel of the song. I also really like the bridge at 2:30.
Other: Jidenna Wikipedia
March 7th, 2021
Summary: Throwback to a sunnier summertime.
About Artist: J. Cole is one of the reigning kings of lyrical hip hop.
About Song: This song is off of an EP called “Truly Yours 2” which came out in 2013 just before his second album “Born Sinner”. This song, like many of his, is also produced by J Cole himself.
Favorite Part: I really like the sample and the vibe J. Cole created in the production booth.
“B*****s saying: “You a rapper n****, ain’t you s’posed to tip more?”
I don’t see no pussy, baby, ain’t you s’posed to strip more?
Confessions of a cheap-ass n****
But I finally put my Momma in that E class, n****
And I told her quit her job, but hold your horses
If my next album flops it’s back to the post office, both of us, shit
They’re saying that’s a real possibility
The thought alone is killing me” (1:03)
Other: Truly Yours 2 (EP)
March 6th, 2021
Summary: This is how babies are made.
About Artist: Silk Sonic is the newly formed supergroup duo of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars. They are a match made in heaven and are two artists that I’ve loved for a long time. I got on team Bruno Mars when “Nothing on You” came out in 2009 and have been an Anderson .Paak fan since “Venice” in 2014.
About Song: This song came out yesterday and is the lead single off of their upcoming album “An Evening with Silk and Sonic”.
Favorite Part: Love the vocals, love the drum fills, love the vibe, I love it all.
Other: An Evening with Silk Sonic, Leave the Door Open (YouTube Video), Bruno Mars Wikipedia, Anderson .Paak Wikipedia
