364 Down, 1 To Go

It's almost over! Before you go out tonight, drink yourself into a stupper and make awkward sexual advances at your hot second cousins, let's reflect on the year that was.

Uhm. That'll take too much time. Instead, here's a .gif of one of my favorite moments of 2010.

Yes, I have problems.

As you have noticed this blog has a new title. With the new title comes a slightly different format. Don't worry, it will still be mostly about music, but I wanted to incorporate other facets of my life as a way to vent. It's cheaper than a shrink.

So back to 2010. This was a weird year. It was stressing. I studied a lot. A lot. I finally finished school and made some awesome friends along the way. I had my ups and downs with my girl but we've managed to get through it. I was unemployed (an loving it) for three months. I binged on junk food. I listened to plenty of great music. I had fun with my family and friends. I've also learned a lot about myself .

2011 seems like it will be a bitch.

I plan to attend Grad school next Fall so that means I have about eight months to work and save up money. That means I have to get a better paying job for the meantime. Damn, I hate being an adult. Can't I sit around in my Spider-Man underwear and color while watching Saturday morning cartoon?

Back to 2010.

I could sit here and type away about my thoughts on this year's music but I'd rather not. I will say this though, The Root's "How I Got Over" was my favorite album of the year.

Hands down.

Also, I got into a really diverse range of music. Two new bands that I really enjoyed are Real Estate and Tame Impala. If you like twangy, guitar-driven rock then you'll dig Real Estate. If you like trippy, acid-fueled, psychedelic rock them you'll dig Tame Impala.

Oh, and I've also gotten into Afro-Beat! And by that I basically mean Fela Kuti. Just think Jazz, rock, and Africa. That's Afro-Beat.

I also liked the Broken Bells album. That was tight.

That's basically all I want to say at the moment. I hope 2011 brings me more music and more chances to grow and become a better person.

2010 is almost gone so have fun! I know I will. I'll be the one dancing like this.

Lates.

DO Believe the Hype

I hate having to Jump on the bandwagon of a myspace/blogosphere-hyped band but fuck it, good music is good music. And Vampire Weekend makes good music. The hype surrounding this band reminds me of a couple of years ago when the Arctic Monkeys made their debut in the U.S and the internet and all music mags went crazy only to stop talking about them a couple months later.


But, this is a REALLY great band. Their sound is very refreshing just check it out for yourself:

Walcott - http://www.zshare.net/audio/70472487a6a954/Cape Cod Kwassa

Kwassa - http://www.zshare.net/audio/704731359d490b/

The Kids Don't Stand a Chance - http://www.zshare.net/audio/70473607c50487/

Didn't I tell you??! The kid knows how to jump on bandwagons....shit, I go with the flow like nobodies business. I first read about them in an issue of GQ ( Yeah, I know. I read it at my barbershop) and couldn't get over the name or their image, they are all ivy-league preppies. But their music is dope and the name grew on me. They take some pretty gay pictures though (google them and you'll see what I'm talking about). I'll be looking for their album this weekend cuz I get payed tomorrow.

Yes, another Blu post

This is from his next project with Ta-Raach--C.R.A.C. The album is called The Piece Talks and should be dropping soon. Yeah, it sounds different from his pevious work but I think it's pretty dope.



Buy Me Lunch

http://www.zshare.net/audio/7045079b5e28b6/

Love Don't
http://www.zshare.net/audio/704503431eeb29/

Crack Is Wack

What's poppin's suckas?So I was blogging it up and came across the now infamous video of Amy Winehouse smoking crack and decided to finally watch it. DAMN! Bitch is crazy! Watch for yourself.


Man, I remember when I first heard the remix to 'I'm No Good' with Ghosface, prior to knowing of her, I didn't know they were live vocals--I thought it was a sample. I was completely shocked when I saw the video! At first I thought she was kinda hot...in an ugly way. But now...eeeesh! She's ugly in a really ugleee way!

Then


Now

Damn, what a shame. It will make for one hell of a Behind The Music episode. This has actually convinced me to buy Back in Black. Winehouse made a big splash in the U.S because of her Motown-esque throwback style but I guess she hasn't done her homework...60's soul singers used heroine not crack to destroy their careers. Because as we all know....





In Other News...

For all you fans of free music here is what's supposed to be an unreleased song by Talib Kweli entitled "Momma Can You Hear Me" Produced by Kanye West.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/7029740dbcad66/

New Music Tuesday!

Pacific Division-Women Problems



I was sleeping on these kids for a minute but I gotta admit they're nice.

Erykah Badu-Honey


I love this song...and video! Shit is amazing! See if you can name all the albums/artists she references.

I also found this version of 2pac's "Got My Mind Up" with Inspecktah Deck on it. I forgot how the story goes but I now it was originally not a Pac song, he had heard it and wanted to jump on it. For whatever reason Deck's verse was left out but here it is now. Enjoy.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/6930711f0d86b8/

Figgidy Fresh Friday

So, I just found out the name of Common's next album.

Questlove gimme a drum roll

Get ready...here you go:

"The Believer"

(insert applauds here)

Guess he's a big fan of the Ryan Gosling movie.



Or he's a big fan of the magazine of the same name.




Either way it's a pretty cool title. He's supposed to release an album with Q-tip this year entitled "The Standard". Or I think the group is called that? I don't know. Whatever, it's probably not gonna come out. Same thing for CRS ( Child Rebel Soldier). That's Kanye, Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell.

Hip-hop supergroups rarely ever pan out.

Shit, I've been waiting for Helter Skelter for over a decade! That's the alleged super-collabo between Ice Cube and Dr. Dre.

That rumor had been around since they did that one song together back in the day. What's it called? Somebody post the name of the title cuz I forgot.

Or the new N.W.A album featuring Snoop Dogg as a member. I've been waiting for that since that one song on the Friday sountrack came out...1999? Chin Check? That was when the west first made a comeback. Ahhhh, the early 2000's.


Did that Golden State Project album ever come out? It was Ras Kass, Xzhibit (pre-Pimp My Ride) and Saafir.

Come to think of it, it's mostly just west coast groups that never work out!

Shit, I think the only TRUE hip-hop supergroup is The Firm.

I say TRUE because I am not counting The Jay-z/R.Kelly bullshit nor that weak Omarion/ Bow Wow album.

"Yo, you guys got that 'Nigger' CD?"

Word on the streets, or blogs, is that Def Jam will drop Nas if he doesn't change the title of his album, tentatively titled "Nigger". It doesn't really look like that title will come to fruition. Can you imagine if it does?

Your Local FYE
"Yeah, I'm Looking for a CD."-Average run-of-the-mill white suburban hip-hop head
"What's it called?" Middle-age white sales associate
"Nigger."

Or imagine if he's black.

Or imagine if Al Sharpton is in the store as well.

Or imagine if they have to do a price check over the intercom system:
"Larry, can I get a price check on 'Nigger'? I repeat, price check on 'Nigger'.

Oh, the hilarity.

I can just picture all the whiteboys getting their asses kicked over this album, 'cause you know lots of people ( I shouldn't single out white folks) are gonna use this as a license to use the word freely (like I'm doing so, but hey it's serving a purpose).

Who knows what's gonna happen!

Whether you like the title or not you gotta applaud Nas for his balls. Nas is catching alotta hell for this...but fuck it. The truth of the matter is that this word is always gonna create a hot debate between people, of all colors. It's always gonna spur discussion. Does Nas have the right to spark such a discussion? Yes and no. This issue is bigger than Nas, it's bigger than hip-hop. But, as a black hip-hop artist Nas does have the right to address any issues within his community that he feels he needs to address. Plus, I'm pretty sure he just wants to piss off people.

Is he giving his albums controversial titles just for the shock value and attention? Maybe. Nas as always been at the front of the pack when it comes to lyricism and conceptuality in hip-hop so in my book he could name his album whatever he feels. He's earned that respect.

Plus, he made Illmatic.

But, if you think it's just a publicity stunt to garner more attention then you might be wrong. There will reportedly be a song entitled "The Fear", which is short for (get this) 'The Fear of the Black Man's Dick'! And, if you're feeling a little excluded from all the broo-ha-ha because of your race then look no further than the soon to be smash hit "You're a Nigger Too"!

I'm not kidding. Those are actual song titles.

Oh, and I almost forgot the icing on the cake:

It's coming out in February.

Black History Month.

Please, don't shelve this Def Jam. If 'Homeboys in Outerspace' can be on t.v and "Soul Plane" was released then you guys can drop this album.

New Jean Grae

Check out this new track off of Jean Grae's highly anticipated 9th Wonder produced album Jeanius. The track is entitled "Love Thirst" in is one of the many songs that was re-done with live instruments...and no samples!! Sounds pretty fresh--I always love when Jean sings.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/651353504b353a/