New Music

So, in the past couple of days, I've really been settling into my new job (researching Canadian Black History with the odd break to watch Sopranos and lurk on Nahright). Now, I've always been someone who needs a soundtrack to their life. I always have tunes that I remember from Christmas. Past festive classics include More Reasons by Cam'ron and I Just Wanna Fuck You by Dr. Dre f/ Snoop and Devin The Dude. Right now there is a lot of hot music coming out. I'm tired of hearing "Hip-Hop is dead" I don't believe that at all. I believe it's different.

With that said a few of the songs which have held my soul captive recently are:

Black Milk - Long Story Short. Crack. Caught him at the Toronto Launch Party last week. Interviewed him yesterday - keep em peeled. Dope beats, dope rhymes. Just straight down the line hip-hop. Does exactly what it says on the tin.

Illa J - Sounds Like Love. Unreleased Dilla beats?? With his brother singing/ rhyming on them?? Sign me up. It makes me kinda sad at the same time as we'll never get that RnB album Dilla was planning. Also the Mr Shakes skit with the kid from The Young Hov project is hilarious.

Charles Hamilton - Free Download. I gotta shout this kid out, because I generally tend to be skeptical of things in life if everyone is getting all moist over them. I happened across this song and instantly saw what the fuss is all about. I've been following the mixtape marathon he's been doing on the blogs and that has turned up some interesting shit as well. For those who don't know anything about him, the best description I can come up with right now is imagining the introspection of Slug from Atmosphere mixed with the brashness of 50. It doesn't sound like it should work - like pumpkin cheesecake - but it is, in actuality, The Shit.

What I've heard of the 808s and Heartbreaks. I know this one is going to split people right down the middle. Mr. West is in that same zone that Mos went into on The New Danger, Andre went into on The Love Below and Q-Tip went into on Kamaal The Abstract. It just so happens that instead of transforming into a rock god, Broadway thespian or a jazz cat, Kanye turns into Phil Collins. I'll admit the Auto-tune gets on my nerves after a while, but you can't front on the beats and I like the concept behind the album. After his old dear passed and he split up with his fiancee, you get where the 'Heartbreaks' in the title comes from.

Jay Electronica - Exhibit A (Transformations). I was bumping this while waiting for the bus last Tuesday before going downtown to watch the election. Basically, Just Blaze needs to stop playing and do a group project with Jay and Saigon. After 'The Greatest Story...' comes out though. Extra credit for referencing Ramo from Wild Style. Who even does that these days....

Nora knows what the deal is....

Coldplay f/ Jay-Z - Lost + . I have gone on record in the past as saying I loathe Coldplay. I have called Chris Martin The King Of Whiny Pussies. I am also man enough to realise that I may have been a little harsh. I quite liked 'Beach Chair' and 'The Funeral' (preferred the John Legend version of 'Homecoming') but this is straight up dope. If The 'Play produced that beat themselves they should think about doing that for other people. On top of that - Jay turns in one of his best guest verses for a while. I'm still a little miffed at him for the 'Oh Girl' remix. Shoulda left that one to Ghostface.


More soon.

Also, I have been checking these out for a month or so, but the people over at Whitewood have used the codeine soaked shit sandwiches that end up being Lil Wayne interviews and done their own parody of a sit down with the Cash Money President. Too many quotables, although my favourite is in Part 3:

"Why is 12 at the top of the clock? It's not even the first number in the alphabet..."


"Wacka, wacka, wacka..."




Shortly,
K