Anderson .Paak: Come Down

“And you talking all that shit, now come on

You gonna have to back it up”

If you are a writer...every line, every word, syllable and flow matters to you.  You want them to hear it all.  To quote one of the greats:

“INHAAALE, my rhyme is kinda fat reminiscent of a whale” –Q Tip

Enter Anderson .Paak…yes, the “new ” R&B artist.  Have you listened to his songs?!?!?! His words!?!?! This brother got bars!!! What’s amazing is that everything...from the sound to the lyrics have purpose…cause it is.  He has a catalogue to prove it.  This brother is gifted.

Now, if you’re a casual listener…you’ll still love him.  Beats are fiyah.  1st and last bars of every verse are iron clad…but just hear me when I say “sit with the songs for a while”

It does something to you. The Production/Musicianship is so thorough.  Lyrics are shady…yes, oh yes! He meant to do you dirty like that!

“Can't see her with this pitch black Gucci frames on

Let me take these bitches off

Let me get the full scope, hold up

Huh, full screen, HD, let me take another picture”

Just…listen.  But if you listen, sit.  Cause this shit will hit you hard.  I prefer his album “Venice” but “Malibu” is a great follow up.  You can’t really be disappointed with an artist that takes his sound this seriously.  He’s authentically fresh.  It’s surreal.  Do me a favor though.  Don't say he sounds like anyone.  When you realize how long he’s been doing this on stage it can make you wonder if he's influenced others but...I digress.  C'mon sun.  He’s not new.  He’s just new to you.  N’ that’s cool.  Just stay a while.  Inhale.

“Whoa, cool beans, cool beans

That's a whole lot of reefer

Let me help you with the pre-roll”

From the album "Malibu". Out Now! iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/malibu/id1065681363&app=itunes Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/4VFG1DOuTeDMBjBLZT7hCK Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=Malibu Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Anderson_Paak_Malibu?id=B562fkkr2nawzqrty3v5vr2x7fe OBE / Steel Wool / Art Club / EMPIRE

PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake: Work

We know this song.  We know/I know and can admit that Rihanna killed this song. Right? Right.  Still,it's always nice to step back and enjoy the way the originator sings it.  Enter PARTYNEXTDOOR.

He's been blowing up and steadily on the rise...he could have easily done the song but went with Rhianna and it's been a hit ever since.  The rest is history.  Or Work.

Enjoy the song.  Enjoy his version.  Hell, play them back to back (pun intended).  It's worth the listen.

BTW: Drakes feature is still on it if you like the song for a certain MC with bars. -Salute

PartyNextDoor's Reference Track For Rihanna's "Work" Surfaces Online!!!! The original reference track for "Work," later performed by Rihanna and Drake, is co-written by and features vocals from PartyNextDoor. PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake "Work" Reference Track For Rihanna PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake "Work" Reference Track For Rihanna PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake "Work" Reference Track For Rihanna PARTYNEXTDOOR ft.

A Tribe Called Quest: We got the jazz/Buggin out

Raised in a single parent household, I've proudly said for years that A Tribe Called Quest raised me.  No hyperbole.  I was blessed with an older brother that liked the Native Tongue sound more than Gangster Rap and the rest is history or...me.  I listened to that A Low End Theory album like they were the gospel - psychics or prophets who gave me the blueprint on how to navigate Jamaica Queens.  So I listened ...figuratively and literally. Songs like "Excursions" and "Everything is fair" to "The Infamous Date Rape", I went to that album when I didn't think I had someone to talk to or learn from...

"Competition dem try fe come side way

But competition they must come straight way

Competition dem try fe come side way

But competition they must come straight way" -Phife "We got the Jazz"

I learned more from this album than any class in middle school, high school, or college.  So hearing Phife's passing was like hearing a family member die.  I've no intention to belittle his actual family members.  My condolences and I will forever keep you in my prayers.  Please know that your blood gave life all across the world.  In this case, a lil black boy that grew up in Queens.

"Me sweat another? I do my own thing

Strictly hardcore tracks, not a new jack swing" -Phife "We got the jazz"

I used to argue with my brothers all the time with who was better....Tip or Phife.  We flip flopped all the time.  Older I realize...it never mattered. They were perfect together.  N' Phife...well Phife IS Queens...Phife IS Knicks...Phife is...Phife is...sigh.  Phife is raw man...always will be.

"No shame in my game cause I'll always be the same

Styles upon styles upon styles is what I have

You wanna diss the Phifer but you still don't know the half

I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path" -Phife "Buggin Out"

I stare at this post..hoping I say the right words...but...there are no words. A great man is resting in power.  N' it's felt all across the world.  We love you Phife.  It's not in the songs post but I'd like to share one of Hip Hop's best bars that was written by Phife from the song entitled "The Infamous Date Rape". 

“All of a sudden, her sugarwalls tumble down like Jericho

She's hotter than Meshach, Shadrach and Abendego” -Phife "The infamous date rape"

Rest in Power brother.

A Tribe Called Quest's official music video for 'Jazz (We've Got) Buggin' Out'. Click to listen to A Tribe Called Quest on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/TCQSpot?IQid=TCQBO As featured on The Anthology.

Logic: Fade Away

This song gets me...get it?  I feel like the beat, the verse, the energy came looking for me.   God bless the second love of my life I call IPOD classic -classic for short:-)-

That burst of inspiration, creative second wind or life's daily reminder comes in different ways, shapes and forms...this song just happened to be mine.  But I digress...

"I know, I'mma get it like this, living that life while they all reminisce"

So Logic can spit...really well.  Bars? Check.  Flow? Check?  Stays on topic? Big Check.  The latter is, in my opinion, uncommon in today's class of MC's that may go for an easy punch line because driving a point home isn't as easy as some expected going into a verse or two.

"So I might just, might just, I don't know

Reinvention, that's my intention

Want so much more than this third-dimension

That's not to mention my true ascension is a bigger picture

No metaphor, I’m being real with ya"

Productions consistently tight and his flow keeps getting better with time.  Still, I won't lie I'm partial to his "Under Pressure" album.  Check him out and if you know his work...show him a lil love today.

"Fade away, fade away

They gon' know my name until it fade away"

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International Fade Away · Logic The Incredible True Story ℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Released on: 2015-11-13 Author, Composer: Sir Robert Bryson Hall II Composer, Author: Gene Puerling Auto-generated by YouTube.

King Los: Confidence

“I see the eyes of the peephole

Cries from a deep soul

Overcome the lies of the evil

I realize that your real eyes done came in contact with real lies

Like contacts over real eyes is a real lie

Realize where the real lie”

…King Los.  Every song I hear from this brother brings me as much pain as joy.  Joy because he’s one of the best rappers alive.  Pain because being the best is no...longer...good enough?  Hashtag oxymoron

He’s versatile, so don’t go listening to his music expecting to hear one thing.  However, his last album “God, Money, War” was…IS…a five mic album to me. 

I’ve been listening to this song a lot lately.  Every now and then you need a reminder to believe in yourself.  As I gear up for an important juncture in my life…this song has been a blessing if you need something to help you get over.  I hope it has the same impact for you as it does for me.  

“We don't need too much of one thing what we need is balance

And we don't want nothing they handing out, we need a challenge”

Buy King Los's New Album "God,Money,War" ‪#‎GodMoneyWar‬ Now On Itunes: http://smarturl.it/GodMoneyWar King Los - Confidence (feat. Chrishan The Prince)