Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza 2017: Chance The Rapper, Arcade Fire, Muse and The Killers to headline Lolla 2017

Lollapalooza 2017 just released it's lineup and it's incredible! Chicago’s biggest music festival returns to Grant Park August 3 – 6, returning as a four-day spectacle.

Four day GA passes went on sale and to no surprise to anyone, sold out a few short hours after release.

Single day tickets are now available but be sure to snag those up as they too will sell out almost immediately.

Headliners Muse, The Killers, Chance The Rapper and Arcade Fire, respectfully all close out the 26th annual Lollapalooza.

Other notable heavyweights include" Lorde, Wiz Khalifa, Run The Jewels, Big Sean, Zeds Dead, Blink -182, Porter Robinson, and Cage the Elephant.

We need some time to digest the return of one of the biggest music festivals. Be sure to check out for an in-depth take on this year’s lineup. We’ll see where it stacks up against previous years.

Single day tickets are available here.

Lollapalooza 2017 lineup

Lollapalooza 2017
Lollapalooza 2017

Review: Big Sean's "I Decided" Album Solidifies His Spot

Off Top, I'm a Big Sean fan. I've been waiting for a new project from the guy I call "The 1A Emcee of this era". The "I Decided" album is here and I'm glad Sean took his time with this one.

I Decided is not the always working and bragging on his girl, Sean. This is the deep thought and caring evolution of Sean Anderson. With the expansion of the subject matter he doesn't slack on the bars. All the above makes this album a must listen.

Even though I didn't know what to expect. I been waiting for a Big Sean and Eminem track. We finally get that with No Favors. Eminem is in a class of his own lyrically. Sean did right by just letting him do whatever and you already know you have to play this a few times to catch every bar crafted. Spoiler Alert. Ann Coulter gets Marshall Mathers LP level venom on this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggvTb2HITn0

Light is a great way to kick off the album. Moves is my favorite joint on the album and Sean's flow on Voices In My Head/Stick To The Plan is crazy!

Inspire Me is an ode to Big Sean's mother. It's refreshing content to hear at a time where the Black Woman is tired of being the most disrespected being on the planet. Especially, in the majority of rap songs.

To my Surprise, Sacrifices with the Migos was very underwhelming. I really expected much more from this combination, but maybe it will grow on me.

I Decided is Big Sean at his artistic best. He hasn't lost a step since we first heard him. He's grown as an artist and as a man and he doesn't mind sharing his journey with the world. With I Decided, Big Sean has solidified why his name should be in "who runs rap" conversations.

In Close, I'm not really sure why Big Sean has to fight for so much "rap respect" in this era. Every 2 years he delivers something worth our ears. He's literally one of the few transparent, talented consistencies in the game. Hit Singles, Street Anthems, Self Crafted Bars that stand up with the greats and the rising stars. That's what y'all ask for right?

I decided Big Sean is one of the best doing it. Salute to Sean Don for dropping another dope album. Listen to the album here.


[Songs of the Day] 3/5/14 (Feat. JODY, Big Sean, Leather Corduroys & More)

Wednesday brought about more music, and it's all here for you to enjoy. Big Sean got quite a canvas from which to spit as Kanye West and DJ Mustard teamed up on the production side for "Sanctified", a soul-entrenched sample piece that has everyone's distinct skills on display. The talented duo of SaveMoney rappers Kami De Chukwu and Joey Purp dropped a new track, "Dat Strong" as their alias Leather Corduroys (what is hotter than a pair of leather corduroys?) which premiered on Fader. PARTYNEXTDOOR got a remix of his song "R A I N" by Rochelle JOrdanBig K.R.I.T. continued to stream out new music, this time linking up with A$AP Ferg for "Lac Lac" which dropped on Rap Radar earlier and BADBADNOTGOOD offered up a new one in "Can't Leave The Night". JODY dropped a gem in their latest single, "M.I.A" and Freddie Carrera teamed up with Taylor Bennett for a new one in "20 More".

Track of the Day: Jody: "M.I.A"

Big Sean: "Sanctified"

Leather Corduroys: "Dat Strong"

PARTYNEXTDOOR: "R A I N" (Rochelle Jordan Remix)

Big K.R.I.T.: "Lac Lac" (Feat. A$AP Ferg)

BADBADNOTGOOD - Can't Leave The Night

JODY: "M.I.A"

Freddie Carrera: "20 More" (Feat. Taylor Bennett)


[Video] Big Sean: "Ashley"

Big Sean has a well-d0cumented love affair with his current beau, Glee star Naya Rivera, whom he is currently engaged to be married. But, before Naya, there was Ashley. Allegedly the name of his former longtime girlfriend back in his hometown of Detroit, the song and the video detail a love lost, a relationship gone, a tell-tale heart of a track that examines feelings still held for another. Featuring Miguel and shot by directorial outfit Verluxe, both the visual and audio components of the working comes together flawlessly to create a world Sean seemingly existed in before meeting the current woman of his dream. Watch it all, streaming here below.

[youtube id="fLBJwGZ8ahA"]


[Video] Big Sean, Kid Cudi Perform on Jimmy Fallon

G.O.O.D. Music was in the building with Late Night with Jimmy Fallon yesterday as Big Sean and Kid Cudi stopped by to do their thing with house band The Roots. Sean, on tour in support of his latest album Hall of Fame, stopped by the set of the show to perform his song "First Chain" with Cudi. Check out the video from the performance below.


[Video] Ariana Grande: "Right There" (Feat. Big Sean)

There's a lot of production value going into music videos these days. After hedging the dip that happened with the proliferation of Canon cameras and easy editing software, the game seems to be back with a slew of long-form, thoughtfully crafted storylines such as this visual for Ariana Grande's track "Right There" featuring Big Sean. The video is a play on Romeo & Juliet, with Grande taking the lead role and Big Sean filling in as the Priest. It shows a depth of both song and performance and is definitely worth a look. Check it out here below.

[youtube id="fhcpubAVdmc" mode="normal" align="center"]


[Sunday Coffee Sipper] Reflecting on the BET Hip Hop Awards

On October 16 in Los Angeles, California Rap music's elite showed out for the annual BET Hip Hop Awards, commemorating the best of all things hip-hop in the past year. Kendrick Lamar cleaned up, hauling in five awards including best album and lyricist of the year while Jay-Z, Big Sean and the rest of hip-hop's governing body took turns patting each other on the back. For today's Sunday Coffee Sipper I break down the list of winners from several of the categories and decide who I would have picked from the very small group of nominees that were available for the awards, enjoy!

Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake "Started From The Bottom": I literally thought this was the most bogus video I had seen until Chief Keef's "Love No Thotties" premiered this week. Seriously though, you're not making it any easier to legitimize the "Started From The Bottom" mantra with the opening scene of a Toronto youth soccer game played in a bubble, or perhaps it's the perfect metaphor. The fake snow, all white everything convertible dance scene is just downright goofy, as is the Wal-Mart confetti-strewn dance party. Drake had a lot of dance parties at the bottom. Where is 'here' anyway? Could be anywhere. Ah, Drake, they'll love whatever you do.

Who Should Have Won: Kendrick Lamar – ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’

Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo, Duo or Group): A$AP Rocky f/ 2 Chainz, Drake & Kendrick Lamar "Problems": Of the nominations, this was an easy favorite for the best collaboration of the year. Featuring the top names in hip-hop today and a blistering verse from K Dot it stood head and shoulders above even Ace Hood and Future's summer banger "Bugatti" and J. Cole and Miguel's "Power Trip".

Best Live Performer: Jay-Z: Not sure about the nomination or the win on this one. Jay-Z is certainly a pillar of hip-hop, but there are plenty of better live acts around the country that could have vied for the title, even outside of the nominees. Granted, Jay-Z proved to be a step ahead of the competition in the crafting of a different live set idea with his "Picasso Baby" art installation, a wholly different take on hip-hop as an accepted artform. Regardless, I can't help but feel there was a better choice to be had.

Who Should Have Won: J. Cole/2 Chainz

Lyricist of the Year: Kendrick Lamar: They probably didn't need to announce this one. Between good kid, m.A.A.d. city, the much-talked about verse on Big Sean's "Control" and a host of outstanding features throughout the year, Kendrick cemented himself as the lyricist to match in 2013. The "Control" verse in general, in which he called out the other top names in the game, nestled Kendrick firmly in the upper echelon of hip-hop artists today.

Album of the Year: Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid m.a.a.d. City: Again, a fairly easy choice as the top rap album of 2013. Kendrick finally emerged from Section 80 to the big leagues with his chart-topping album that, as stated earlier, vaulted him from one of the new guys to the forefront of everything happening from here on out.

Producer of the Year: Mike Will Made It: It's hard to be too upset with this decision, Mike Will Made it had some of the year's biggest songs, using his enormous drum ensembles to shake the walls of clubs from coast to coast with songs like"No Lie" by 2 Chainz, "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J, "Pour It Up" by Rihanna and "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus. They weren't the best songs of the year, but they topped the charts. I can't forgive him for allowing Cyrus to don a Michael Jordan jersey while twerking in their "23" collaboration, though. In comparison, Pharrell did songs with Jay-z, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke and Daft Punk.

Who Should Have Won: Pharrell Williams

Track of the Year: "Started From The Bottom," produced by Mike Zombie and Noah "40" Shebib: Can't even lie about it, this song was not the best track of the year, by any means. Drake's attempt at convincing listeners that watched him as Jimmy on Degrassi that he, "started from the bottom" was ill-conceived and uninteresting. Sure, the beat and hook get stuck in your head, but is that all it takes to have a hot track? Of course, you catch more fish with a larger net and most of the nominees for each category were held to roughly the same six characters. That makes for a small net.

Who Should Have Won: ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’ – Produced by Sounwave (Kendrick Lamar)

Best Mixtape: Big Sean, Detroit: This one just didn't make sense. In a category that included a host of independent artists including Chance The Rapper and Travi$ Scott, this would have been the perfect opportunity for BET to sway towards the up and coming, essentially the heart of hip-hop today. Instead, the crown for best mixtape was given to Big Sean's Detroit, making for an un-inspirational win for the G.O.O.D. Music star.

Who Should Have Won: Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap

Who New? Rookie of the Year: A$AP Ferg: This is deserved. Trap Lord  was easily one of the hottest releases of a packed summer of new music and Ferg showed that the buzz surrounding him and his major debut release was no fluke. With co-signs from just about everyone in the game right now, the award was fitting. Tough competition here, too, with Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson and Joey Bada$$ rounding out the nominees.

MVP of the Year: Kendrick Lamar: Honestly, he could have taken most of the awards with the competition BET stacked up against Kendrick. More than anyone else, Lamar and his TDE crew have brought about a sound and a mentality that had been lacking in hip hop as of late. As he made it known on that fateful "Control" verse, this is now Kendrick's game, and everyone has to step up.

 


[Video] Derrick Rose Commercial ft. Common, Big Sean, 2 Chainz & More

God damn I love Derrick Rose. Chicago's prodigal son will be back on the court in full swing soon and Adidas has been ramping up his marketing with a slew of new videos and commercials, last week dropping a recap of his "All in for Chicago" event with INNANETAPE beats. In the latest installment Derrick reflects on everything he has: the money, the rich friends and the lifestyle, only to remember that at the end of the day none of it matters. It's been fun to see Derrick break out of his shell over the years and it seems he's a popular guy amongst artists. Common, Big Sean, 2 Chainz and Dom Kennedy all make appearances throughout the piece. Basketball season is right around the corner and it will be refreshing to see No. 1 back on the United Center floor.

http://youtu.be/JKWhh8mC0Ww