Good to see Jennifer Hudson back to making great music. It’s been a tough, tough road for one of the Windy City’s brightest superstars these past five years. Rest assured though that her career will continue to blossom because when Jennifer turns into J Hud, not too many can rival her powerful yet graceful voice. With that being said, her latest offering, “Think Like A Man,” is another level of fresh.
It features Ne-Yo and an overused, over saturated Rick Ross. Seriously, this guy is on half the records spinning at your local radio station. But Jennifer gets the attention on this great record. Her voice almost literally overpowers Ne-Yo’s but that’s fine because that’s J Hud style. Don’t get me wrong, Ne-Yo’s presence is all over this track but just like the film Dream Girls, Jennifer steals the show with a memorable performance.
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So you’ve never heard of the Airplane Boys? This is a great time to get familiar with one of the interesting new forces in hip-hop music. This week they leaked a banger, “New Blood.” Toronto has been a hotbed of talent, teaming with dope MC’s for what seems like forever.
Names like Saukretes, Kardinal Offishall, of course Drake and now the Airplane Boys have given Canada credibility in the world of hip-hop. Think the music community don’t ‘respe-cognize’ dope sh*t? Well you can peep this fly duo at this year’s Coachella festival.
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Big K.R.I.T. is the true essence of southern hip-hop. He’s the southern version of Kanye West; no, not with the attitude but with beats and flow. My homie DJ Wally Sparks put me onto this phenomenon they call K.R.I.T. as early as 2004. A respectable musician, K.R.I.T. has dropped beats and penned records with some of music’s heavyweights like Luda, T.I., Bun B and now with Tennessee’s all-time legends 8 Ball & MJG. This new song “We Buy Gold” is a funky, southern laid back, bass heavy track guaranteed to set off car alarms in a hood near you. The hook is worth platinum itself.
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All hail to the King of Ignorance, Gucci Mane. The trap is back on this new record “Trap Back.” Gucci is talking more drug talk then Avon Barksdale — the real Avon Barksdale. Seriously though, after numerous arrests and extended stays The Brick Squad’s franchise rhymesayer is back on the streets flicking the ashes from his presidential at the authorities. “Trap Back” lyrically is impressive. Gucci is definitely “flying kites” at his competitors with creative metaphors and punchlines. You will probably feel like you just watched an episode of Cocaine Cowboys by the time you finish listening, but it’s must hear music indeedy.
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Once, when I was on the road with a very popular rap artist (at that moment) we bumped into Bay Area Legend E-40 backstage at a show in Bakersfield, Ca. I had on, let’s just say, a nice watch. 40 peeped it and blurted out “That’s a nice shiny chandelier on your wrist lil homie.” It was a priceless moment in music. One of the greatest hip hop wordsmiths of all time just called my watch a “shiny chandelier.” Awesome. But this new record “Function” is a problem, and it features YG, IamSu and Problem. This is Bay-Area-go-dumb music at its finest. Though this is not as universal as “Tell Me When To Go,” this still will mash with all parties in and around the Bay. Lil Jon on the beat!
Until We Read again.
Brandon ‘TNT’ West
Music Exec / Industry Insider/ The Andy Rooney of Hip Hop Culture
Holla at him @tnt718
