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It’s already fall. Football is back, school has started and the the 4th quarter race for music supremacy has commenced. The Carter IV sold a milly in a week (really?). This is good news considering the state and taste of the average music consumer. The Young Money World tour is soon to follow. Will venues be sold out across the country? Will Barack get another term? Will the NBA have a season?? Is Peyton Manning finished?!? We’ll see…

First up this week, Jay Z and Kanye‘s “Niggas in Paris” track has gotten more burn then the song “Otis” and all of it’s various remixes. “Niggas” in Paris probably should have been the lead single off of Watch The Throne, as it’s definitely been burning the clubs and radio down. With a dope remix that featured either Gucci Mane or Jeezy, this record would be a mainstay in the Top 100. That said, with a video in the works, let’s see if this latest single can breath some life into a project that seems to be DOA (pardon me Hov..).

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Never thought I’d say it’s nice to hear from T-Pain, but he re-surfaced this week with a dope record, “5 O’Clock,” which features Wiz Khalifa and English songbird Lily Allen. First off, the collaboration of talent on this record is very ingenious. To sample Lily’s voice and make it the basis for a hook should be enough to launch T-Pain right back into iTunes top 10 downloads. Her voice is a welcoming addition to an 808 bass drum loop layered under a set of piano keys. Adding a 16 bar rap from Kool Kush Khalifa (Wiz) is instant seal of ‘freshness’ that any music fan will enjoy.

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Baltimore’s own Mario blessed us with another Gothic R&B track this week with the homie Fabolous titled “The Walls.” Mario has had some near misses as of late. The record “My Bed” was a club smash, but it fizzled out quicker then a 5 minute quicky. In this new age of the “hardcore” R&B/Rap singer (ie Trey Songz, Drake), Mario has chosen to stay in the lane that made him a star at 16 years old.

This is probably why we appreciate new Mario music. Trust me, his voice is more Marvin then Drake moaning ‘F*ck that N*gga’ all over a hook. “The Walls” is a great record that will undoubtedly be the soundtrack to some serious Saturday morning humping.

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J. Cole “Can’t Get Enough.” This is the name of his latest freaky leak which features Trey Songz. On first listen, you might yawn like “really? Like I heard this from you before…” Fans have been listening to rhymes about J. Cole’s bedroom booty adventures for almost year now.

I’m almost convinced he makes rap records for the ladies, which isn’t a bad thing. I’ve seen Cole perform live and I’m sure he has some magic dust to sprinkle on this record that will give it life. As dope as Trey Songz is, it’s not special anymore when you’re on every other artist’s song. That said let’s see if listeners “Can’t Get Enough.”

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Leave it to Jadakiss to give us hardworking citizens yet another motivational track in the same vein as “We Gonna Make It” or “Hold You Down.” “Grind” is definitely theme music for the street corner CEOs, but can also be applied to the 9 to 5 office scrambler. Kiss is a blue collar artist, your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.

He’s never been scared to make a mainstream record and then return to the hood to scuff up his new sneakers. “Grind” probably won’t get that major radio airplay, but it’s still the soundtrack that applies to everyday life no matter how you live it.

Until we read again.

Brandon ‘TNT’ West

Producer, A&R, Promoter

Holla at him @tnt718