Wiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers 2 Out Now
Wiz Khalifa has finally dropped Rolling Papers 2 after teasing the album for what feels like years now. The album is 25 songs and contains a long list of features that include Lil Skies, Gucci Mane, Snoop Dogg, and many others. Jimmy Wopo, who was shot and killed in Pittsburgh, PA last month is also featured with fellow Pittsburgh rapper Hardo on the 3rd song "Blue Hunnids".
Wiz's breakthrough album Rolling Papers, that dropped back in 2011, had anthems like “Black & Yellow,” “Roll Up,” and “No Sleep.” The sequel has similar energy that made the first Rolling Papers a classic. The production from TM88, Sledgren, Cardo, and others has Rolling Papers 2 sounding much like the mixtapes that led Wiz to his popularity.
The intro track "Hot Now" trades the typical melodic hook for back to back verses building up the auto tune setting up the album. Listen to the rest of the album below:
[Review] Jay Z's 4:44 album is refreshing and makes your mind wander and reflect
I owe Jay Z an apology. Since Watch The Throne, I've said "Jay doesn't need to rap anymore." "He's too rich, now." "Jay Z' is above this world of hip-hop to connect with his core audience." The 4:44 album is proof that I was dead wrong. It also proves Jay Z can do anything and he should never be questioned or doubted ever in the world of hip-hop. 4:44 is Jay Z's "Back To The Future II album". It's like the album is recorded in an alternate time warp between 1999-2001. Much like Marty when he had to go to the "other 1985" to make things right for the future of his existence in others. Big Homey Jay has returned and the game is being redirected.
Tracks like "Kill Jay Z", "4:44" and "Smile", give the most revealing Jay ever. He really gives us real clips on his personal life. His struggles of being a married man, a father and a softer individual with feelings that deals with emotions. Something we rarely got over the last 2 decades. He touches on every possible instance that ever made the media and the watching and talking streets. Kanye, Solange, Beyonce, Un and much more. It's refreshing and makes your mind wander and reflect on the life you've had a privilege to watch all this time.
Then you have joints like "Family Feud", "Bam" and "The Story of O.J". These joints put in perspective who really getting this money and moving right out here. Nobody can ever out rap Jay Z when it's time for show and tell. From the tone to the bar itself. If Jay Z says he's got it. You believe it. Blue and the twins have an 8 million dollar painting to cash in right now. Everybody holding money to their ear still making collect calls to Hov and he's not taking collect calls.
"Moonlight" "Caught Their Eye" attacks the industry and everything messed up in it. From the flows to the record deals, Prince and more. It's just that standard "Big Homey Talk" that Hov has been giving out for years.
Is 4:44 the best Jay Z album? You can honestly argue it. This album is 180 growth from Reasonable Doubt. This is The Dynasty content with more detail. This is everything we thought Magna Carta Holy Grail would be. Not to mention Jay Z is still rapping at a high level. "Shinning" and other moments over the last 4 years are easily forgettable after the first 4 tracks on this album. It will honestly be many Jay fans and rightfully so. Chances are if you're a day 1 Jay z fan in real time. [Meaning you bought Reasonable Doubt by at least 1998] You're between 32-38 or older. Which means you and Jay will have an adult conversation about the life he's lived. A life like none other. Take a seat and chill with ya mans and catch up with him. What you doing at 4:44 anyway?
The Story of O.J.
De La Soul Release Discography For Free
De La Soul celebrated Valentine's Day and the 25th anniversary of their seminal album, 3 Feet High and Rising, by releasing their entire library of music for free on their website today. Beginning at 11 a.m. EST, the full discography of one of the most iconic and progressive rap groups of all time for 25 hours. It's an unprecedented dumping of music by the NYC trio and a furtherance of major artist's use of the Internet to market their music and keep their names in the news cycle. In December of last year, Beyonce dropped her latest album, a 14-track 'visual' album by surprise on the web without any prior marketing or advertising around it. That project went on to shatter sales numbers for the year.
With this move, De La Soul really isn't tearing down too many borders (their discography is easily available via illegal torrent sites), although it could go a long way in re-introducing what many consider a 'golden age' of hip-hop music to a new generation. It's crazy that De La is celebrating a 25 year anniversary, and it would be a fitting homage to their first project if the re-release of their initial offering to fans causes a resurgence in younger listeners. Click here to pick it up for yourself.
[Album] Psalm One: "Hug Life"
With all the talk of the violence in Chicago and 'Chiraq' this and that being hawked by out-of-towners on the daily, mucking up the Second City's image for personal gain, it can be easy to forget that there is still plenty of positivity in the city's streets. Chicago's first lady of hip-hop, Psalm One is out to challenge that dubious status quo with her latest project, Hug Life. A play on Tupac's seminal phrase all the way down to the "Hug Life" torso tat on the album artwork, the title is a juxtaposition of nuanced meaning that perfectly accents the message Psalm puts forth on her latest, perhaps most complete project to date.
Released via iTunes under Psalm's alter-ego Hologram Kizzie, the project is an examination of love, lust and the things that come from both. In a story for the Chicago Sun Times, Psalm characterized her different monikers and the roles they occupy as such: "Kizzie is a little — a lot — less inhibited than Psalm One,” the rapper detailed, pointing out that while her biblically derived handle is well suited to her all-ages content and humanitarian endeavors, being Hologram Kizzie “gives me a lot more freedom.” The project includes a who's who of Midwest up and comers and bedrocks alike, including the likes of ProbCause, Tanya Morgan, The Hood Internet, Young Josh of Flosstradamus and Lazerbeak and PO$ from DoomTree, among others. Hanging out at a West Town loft last weekend listening to the project, we listened through several times without noticing it had started from the top again, a true testament to a full-fleshed out project that hits the proper chords from start to finish. Check out Hug Life streaming below and pick up the full project over at iTunes!
[Album] The New Diet: "Basement Minded Thoughts"
The realm of indie music has become over-saturated with too many "me-too" bands aping off of one another's sounds. This notion of independent music is lost underneath layers upon layers of overproduction, shiny bright lights, and a drive to not be "independent," per se, but "dependent" on countless factors. As the Chicago music scene has come to be defined by the rising stars of its hip hop scene, many talented bands have made strides in the shadows of their rap brethren... perhaps embracing this veil of anonymity, never wanting to emerge into a spotlight that is, at times, all too unforgiving. Lost in the sea of Twitter-verified clone bands are the true purveyors of independent music; far away from the multi-layered recording studios are the real bands grinding and doing things their own way, both figuratively and literally.
The New Diet is one such band. Over recent years, the Chicago-based band has been steadily building a fan base with their penchant for lo-fi, DIY aesthetic. With their latest album, the aptly-titled Basement Minded Thoughts, the foursome delivers their first full-length album following a handful of EP releases over the past three years. Recorded live in an Urbana basement during the summer, Basement Minded Thoughts eschews the glamor of an expensive studio for a gritty, real sound that echoes the years spent performing in basements and lofts across the Chicagoland area. The album harkens back to the '90s with its mix of hazy indie/alternative and Midwestern emo sounds. Crooner/guitarist Anthony Focareto's shaky screeches sometimes get lost in the fog of guitar and bass, played by Adrian Serrano and Dillon Kelley, respectively, while drummer Jorge Galvan's hyperactive drumming keeps each song focused... despite a broken leg sustained before recording.
Basement Minded Thoughts extends past the album's sound, as the album has been released by Already Dead Tapes, a DIY record label that specializes in cassette and vinyl releases. Basement Minded Thoughts is available now on limited edition cassettes for only $5.00 (the purchase also comes with an MP3 download code). If you're the type that also appreciates a band's live aesthetic as much as their recordings, The New Diet's next show will be at Quenchers Saloon in Chicago on February 16th. Details for that show can be found here.
[iframe id="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3692889264/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=ffffff/artwork=small/transparent=true/"]
[Album] Mac Miller: "Live From Space"
Mac Miller has been pumping out music all throughout 2013. On the heels of his critically-acclaimed Watching Movies With The Sound Off, he dropped a project under his high-pitched alter-ego Delusional Thomas, and today he dropped a collection of unreleased songs and live recordings of tracks from WMWSO, from this summer's "Space Migration Tour" that featured Chance The Rapper, Action Bronson, The Internet and Earl Sweatshirt. Included on the tape is "Earth" featuring Future and "In The Morning" with Syd and Thundercat. After an exhausting year, this is a fitting way for the Pittsburgh MC to close out a very successful 2013 campaign. You can pick up the latest from Mac, Live From Space via iTunes, or listen below.
1. ‘S.D.S.’
2. ‘The Star Room / Killin’ Time’
3. ‘BDE (Best Day Ever)’
4. ‘Bird Call’
5. ‘Watching Movies’
6. ‘REMember’
7. ‘The Question’
8. ‘Objects in the Mirror’
9. ‘Youforia’
10. ‘Eggs Aisle’
11. ‘Earth f. Future’
12. ‘Life’
13. ‘Black Bush’
14. ‘In the Morning’ feat. Syd & Thundercat