Bobby Ray's sophomore album "Strange Clouds" leaked late last week, I have had a couple opportunities to listen from start to finish and I must say I'm a little sceptical on the numbers it will produce.
The album is tad more commercial than The Adventures Of Bobby Ray which is evident towards the end, it just lacks originality and substance by around the track 10 mark. Bear in mind, there are an extra 7+ bonus tracks to be released on Tues/Wed with Target and iTunes so we may see some good ones there.
Most songs are radio friendly and easy to listen to, you'll just find yourself having difficulty figuring out when a song ends and starts because they all sound very similar... except for Nicki Minaj's feature song that is complete mayhem. Dr Luke, Ryan Tedder (from One Republic), B.o.B, Alex Da Kid and plenty more share the production.
Here were my favourites:
Bombs Away (feat. Morgan Freeman) (prod. by B.o.B.)
Ray Bands (prod. by B.o.B, Lil' C) (easily the best.)
So Hard To Breathe (prod. by Alex da Kid, Bei Maejor)
Play For Keeps (prod. by B.o.B, Valentino Khan)
Out Of My Mind (feat. Nick Minaj) (prod. by iSHi) (may take a few listens.)
Arena (feat. Chris Brown & T.I.) (prod. by Dr. Luke, AD, Cirkut)
Friday has arrived, along with some big name song releases...
Big K.R.I.T releases the artwork for his upcoming album Lords Of The Underground, due out June 5. Keep your eyes peeled for updates... that's one album not to miss.
So, first up, the biggest of them all.... NASTY NAS. No I.D. on production with that adult-contemporary hiphop sound we heard on Common's The Dreamer, The Believer. Top shelf stuff.
Next, Slaughterhouse's latest single off Welcome To: OUR HOUSE, out June 12. Cee-Lo Green on the hook, Streetrunner & SAROM on the boards.
Cudder is back to rapping with his self-produced cut "Dennis, Hook Me Up With Some More of This Whiskey!" Promising, sounds very much like pre-MOTM stuff, loving the production. I'm still frothing his WZRD collab album with Dot Da Genius though, so not jumping out my skin with this one. Regardless, it's a must listen, it's KiD CuDi.
QuESt has stepped things up, after his DnB/Dubsteb/Hiphop infused mixtape he's jumped on Kendrick Lamar's The Recipe, and my god does he rip it up. Up and coming rapper right here!
B.o.B's latest album Strange Clouds arrives next Tuesday, and another cut has been released. I lost sleep waiting for his debut album back in 2010, but not so much this time. I won't write the album off before it's even released but I have a feeling we've lost the rapper/singer to the commercial world. Fingers crossed for some great tracks though.
Usher released a new song, it's called Scream. Produced by Max Martin, the Sweedish pop music machine. I'm not posting it because it's nowhere near good as the Diplo-produced Climax. Note to aspiring singer/recording artists: if you want the easy route to make it big, go find Max Martin. The man has had 10 top 10 songs in 2 years.
AND FINALLY.............. Even if you aren't a fan of MGK (Machine Gun Kelly) this is well worth your viewing pleasure. A Stevo from Jackass pubic hair dooby is always a treat. "Wild Boy" remix f. 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Steve-O, Mystikal, French Montana & Yo Gotti.
P.S: Ethnic Republic. Keep that in the back of your head
Couple releases today.... Wiz dropped the first single off O.N.I.F.C, dropping in August, not at all impressed with the lyrics... Meek Mill at the start?? What is he thinking.
Next up, AbSoul with a new video- "Pineal Gland", off Control System dropping May 11th.
Don't know alot about the next crew, heard them today, they're from Chicago and they've each done a bit of solo stuff, but this group cut is top shelf. Calez, Julian Malone, Fonz-E Mak, Legit, Johnny St. Cloud and UG make BRKF$T CLUB (2008ighties). Enjoy.
Next, Nate Dogg back from the dead with what he does best!! Warren G, Game and a hard dose of West Coast.
Warren G - Party We Will Throw Now (feat. Nate Dogg and Game)
Hit-Boy, the man behind Eminem's Drop The World, Kanye's Christmas In Harlem, N**** In Paris and Theraflu, comes through with A$AP for his talked about lead single.
UPDATE: As you know songs get taken off quite readily due to copyright etc. Found another link all good now.
My favourite song off Do You Not Us: Vol I (Mixtape), after Wednesday's double release thought I'd take it easy for this Sunday. Puts together two incredible songs, Tyga's cover "Reminded" and the Frank Ocean original "We All Try". UPDATE: Video link should now work!!
UPDATE 2: Mixtape can now be downloaded by clicking the album cover to the right ------------------------->
I probably would have overlooked this if it wasn't for Bernard haha... so thank you. Jet Life affiliate lays down some promising rhymes off a wide range of instrumentals: goes over Drake's "Lord Knows", Kendrick Lamar's "HiiiPower", Biggie's "Crack Commandments" to name a couple. Shame I downloaded a rubbish quality version... always sucks. Check out these tracks:
"Trapologist (feat. Nesby Phips)", "Uncle Bull", "Landing Strip (feat. Trademark The Skydiver)", "Russian Roulette (feat. Smoke DZA)", and of course, just for the Curren$y feature... "What That Is (feat. Curren$y)"
This is a must have mixtape. QuESt channels a Kanye/Lupe sound and delivery in his latest release, my god he is on point at the moment. This unique DnB sound is becoming quite popular. Holy shit he is like Lupe!! Check out:
"Fuck You Think This Is?", "Something to Prove (feat. Mickey Factz)", "Nowhere To Go (feat. Logic)", "Alone Tonight"
Bringing back some great memories with this track. Dre and Eminem lose it over some Pretty Lights instrumentals. I've taken quite a liking to the American's glitch hop/electro sound.
I was going to put this in with the monster post but it deserves its own. Drake always mentioned he rushed his previous album Thank Me Later, in particular the music video for Miss Me. This time round he has learnt from his mistakes and currently is grinding his way through a very successful album release. Sold out shows, a second tour, and now two more-than-impressive videos.
Drake - HYFR (feat. Lil Wayne)
...cameos from Birdman, Khaled, Trigga Trey Songz. A party to end all parties.
It's been an incredible few days out at Bluesfest, had the opportunity between shifts to check some incredible acts, some of which may have to do with some DYNU mixes in the near future... Nothing like a little bit of inspiration. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue- 10/10. Last week we heard some monstrosity from a number of artists.
First up, K-Dot and Dre teaming up withThe Recipe. Been waiting for this collab for fucking months. Now, I wonder if we can get Dre/Jay-Z's 'Under Pressure' anytime soon? Or Detox? Not holding my breath.
Kanye blessed us with not one, but TWO singles. Shot called at Kris Humphries in Theraflu. Better yet, the whole song dedicated to him. His reaction:
"Good luck dude... you'll need it."
Kanye West - Theraflu (prod. by HitBoy)
If Theraflu wasn't enough Ye, Good Friday brought those memories back of G.O.O.D. FRIDAYS. Filthy dirty southern hop infused with dancehall...? speechless. 2 Chainz fucking killed it!
G.O.O.D. Music: Kanye West – Mercy f. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz (prod. by Lifted)
New T.I., guaranteed hit.
T.I. - Love This Life (prod. by Mars of 1500 or Nothin')
Alright, big hits out the way, here's some stuff you may not have caught. Dave Free, one of TDE's major producers (Kendrick, Scholboy Q, Ab Soul, Jay Rock) lays a crazy beat for Ab SOULO!
Ab-Soul – Terrorist Threats (feat. Danny Brown & Jhené Aiko) (prod. Dave Free of Digi+Phonics)
Lute - 80 Proof (prod. by Pete Rock)
Just came across this track tonight... great sample of Daft Punk's 'One More Time'. This will be popular.)
Yonas - One More Time (samples Daft Punk)
Again, heard this tonight, not bad.
Joe Cool – NewLA (prod. Pe$o Piddy)
2 Chainz drops a new video, song production courtesy of Lex Luger.
Jay Electronica drops one of the weirdest songs I've heard in a while... lyrics are next level though, so much talent. I am very excited to hear his debut album Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn). There's something about him that gives me the feeling we are in for a very eclectic LP.
Jay Electronica – Dear Moleskine (prod. Just Blaze)
Phil Ade lets looooose over Tyga's bopper Faded. Borderline...
Phil Ade - Hatin (Freestyle)
Now this track released a month back but I sorta looked over it. Chucked Eminem and Royce 5'9's album back into my car last week and lost my shit... so get ready for May 15th when their LP welcome to... OUR HOUSE! drops! SHADY 2.0
Slaughterhouse – Hammer Dance (prod. araabMUZIK)
Taylor Gang affiliate Neako trys his hand at Usher/Diplo's latest bedroom track 'Climax'.
Neako - LVLCLMX (prod. by Diplo)
A few mixtape reviews later on this week. (Casey Veggies, Young Roddy, Sir Michael Rocks, QuESt) And of course, I owe you all a DYNU mix from Sunday... stay tuned.
