Good morning Global universe. Another week is in the bag in this 4th quarter of music. The BET Hip Hop Awards took place in the ATL last week and one thing was a definite; there is a changing of the guard going on in music. Out with the old rappers and in with the new flavor.
Wiz, Big Sean, K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller and Travis Porter were some of the new names that everybody seemed to be talking about or whose party everybody wanted in. Next year in music should be interesting to say the least. Can you believe only 2 months and 23 days till 2012?
Common unleashed the second single, “Blue Sky,” for his upcoming project The Dreamer, The Believer with the Windy City’s most veteran producer. No, not Kanye West but NO I.D. You should definitely get your google on before reading any further if your unfamiliar with “Dion” (NO ID backwards for you slow pokes). This track is another modern hip-hop opus over an older sample of Electric Light Orchestra’s hit record “Mr. Blue Sky.”
Would you expect anything less from Common or NO I.D. than dope music? First “Ghetto Dreams” and now “Blue Sky”; Common is definitely hitting his stride. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 20 years since his classic “Can I Borrow A Dollar?”
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Big Sean gets IT as a young artist. The ‘IT’ is understanding the delicate role a new artist plays at his record label. Most artists nowadays get one crack or one chance (album) at a shot at success. Big Sean has quietly played his position as a new artist on Def Jam and the darling baby boy of Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint, turning chances into another after another.
This week his record “Ass” got the remix treatment from the Gludeous Maxa-mama herself Nicki Minaj. This record has been killing the clubs scene for at least a month and was a logical next single. Da Internz beat provides the backdrop as Big Sean’s wordplay complements Minaj’s always zany delivery. Must hear music indeed.
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Kendrick Lamar is hands down my pick for dope new artist in 2011. The Compton MC took the rap game by storm getting accolades from some of music’s most legendary acts, including Compton’s own Dr. Dre. What makes Lamar so incredible is his willingness to step out of the normal mold of West Coast hip-hop and blaze his own trail.
This week, yet another Kendrick track surfaced with Electro-producer Nosaj Thing titled “Cloud 10.” It’s a great record to listen to both lyrically and musically. But what’s truly remarkable is the fact that this record is a promo for the new Windows Phone brought to you by Microsoft Zune. Looks like corporate America is a believer of Lamar’s work as well.
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The Jonas Brothers are icons in modern pop culture. Though they’re not an official group anymore, as they are all doing individual projects, it’s Joe who is truly pushing his creative bar. After crashing NBC’s The Today show this week Joe Jonas released a new record with Lil Wayne called “Just In Love.”
If you’re a Jonas Brother fan, you will definitely appreciate this collaboration. Weezy is no stranger to pop music ‘mash ups’ but Joe definitely bridged the gap with his followers on this one. The song itself is ‘fiyah’ and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the traditional outlets for urban music taking a chance on this. Hell Weezy makes everything cool these days … right?
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Lloyd Banks is the most consistent artist on G Unit. That’s definitely not a swipe at 50. Shit, 50 is busy working on his energy drink, several movies, running a successful company, a hugely popular website and he still hunts down artists and their credibility (or lack of) for fun. But Lloyd Banks is just focused on music.
His tracks still reminds us of those early G Unit days when their crew took out every rapper standing in the way of their success both verbally and realistically. His latest offering “Shock The World” is no different. It’s taylor made for those of us who ride out in big cars and trucks. But if you ride the train, the bus or a Honda Accord, put the volume on 10 and you’ll get the same effect. Until we read again…
Producer, A&R, Promoter
Holla at him @tnt718
