The Audacity of Dope

I’ve been meaning to make this post ever since Euro 2008 started and I watched my Swedish brethren (I was this close to having a Swedish first name, apparently “Torsten”…whew) play like bitches and fail to advance past the 1st round.  A little bit before that, The Fader featured a great article on indie-pop’s next big thing, Swedish singer Lykke Li (pronounced “lickee lee”).  I’d heard bits and pieces of her music before (shout to The Exactly for being one of the first hip-hop sites to feature her), but that article inspired me to check her out in full.  She released her debut album earlier this year, Youth Novels, and as expected, she’s dope as hell. Y’all need to get familiar.

Sweden’s been a surprising hot spot for quality pop music over the years (this was my jam back in middle school, I ain’t ashamed), thanks in part to a refreshing respect the Swedes have for the genre.  In essence, it’s a lot less disposable over there than we treat it here, and Lykke displays that in her music.  While the on the surface, it embodies that traditional playful pop vibe, there’s also a deeper emotional level in the way she sings about heartbreak and disappointment.  She’s not outwardly sexy like our stars aim to be, but there’s something sultry about her style and her voice when she sings lines like “…and for you I keep my legs apart/and forget about my tainted heart.”  Damn…and that’s just on the single, “Little Bit.”  Perhaps it’s the Scandinavian blond thing, but I feel like her stuff sounds like what Scarlett Johansson wishes she could make (when she’s not covering Tom Waits).  Anyway, peep her first two videos and download the mp3’s:

Lykke Li – “Little Bit”

Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone”

You have to love Swedish people…I mean, really.

Hit the jump to watch some other ridiculously cool performances and download a ton of bonus tracks/remixes.  I’ll toss in a few of my favorite cuts off Youth Novels too.  I don’t want to post the whole thing, but if you want to check it out, shoot me an email and you might get a present back in return.  DJHyphen@gmail.com.

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The new issue of Complex Magazine features 4 covers, 2 with Cassie and then the other split between N.E.R.D. and Lupe.  Marcus Troy has the pics, including some of Cassie’s photoshoot.  Look at them.  Now.

Ha, ironic that I mention I don’t really like a capella verses like this and I end up posting 2 back to back.  Had to do it though.  The homies Skyzoo and Donny Goines spit a little something for y’all in Manhattan for part 9 of Donny’s “Bars” series.  I can’t wait to peep those projects Sky’s working on…

Kanye’s protege, Big Sean, spits a nice little verse a capella in the Def Jam offices.  Normally I hate these little a capella ‘freestyles,’ but I like the rhyme scheme on this one.  Props on using “al dente” in a rap too…might be the first time I’ve heard that.  Hopefully this is a sign of things to come from Sean’s style, because all the past lyrics I’ve heard from him sound waaaaaay too Kanye-ish.  He’s young so I hope he develops his own thing, rather than trying to rhyme just like ‘Ye.

Shout to Best of Both Offices for the clip.

When I was grabbing a pic of my dude Inigo, I saw this in the Google image search.  Classic.

[inside joke] “Beats, Rhymes, and Life…foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr“[/inside joke]

(did I see John Legend making 2 quick cameos in there?)

Now this is the kind of single we need on the airwaves.  Saw this on OnSmash and was gonna hold off on posting because it’s got an awful hiss in the audio, but I figured I’d forget if I waited a few days.  Besides, it’s dope as hell to see this kind of message coming from top tier artists.  See Luda, that’s how you do it.  Although, I did have to chuckle at Mary as the community organizer, but it’s still cool.  You know she couldn’t wait to rhyme “drama” with “Obama” too…that’s right in her wheelhouse.

Here’s the mp3, without Drama’s completely unnecessary intro, for y’all if you need it:

Big Boi ft. Mary J. Blige – “Sumthin’ Gotta Give”

Some nice live footage of Dwele performing at the Temple Bar in LA about a month ago courtesy of my favorite titled blog, NerdWithSwag.  Although, as a fellow nerd, and one with ample swag, I’m afraid I gotta call an Inigo Montoya on their usage of “complacent” in the description: “I do not think it means what you think it means.” Definitely has negative connotations.

Um, but yeah, *ends nerd rant*.  Andwele Gardner runs through “Flapjacks” and “I Think I Love You” in apparently stifling heat.  Of all the people in the industry, Dwele might be the only artist I haven’t seen live yet that I really want to.

Another hilarious video from Baron Davis, and this time Steve Nash tags along for some fun. Apparently this was done for a movie trailer contest on IBeatYou and this is their take on Stepbrothers (which I still have no real desire to see…sad to say, but Ferrell’s shtick is getting old). I think Steve should break out that robot sometime next season.

Extensive interview with Canada’s illest MC of all time coming this weekend.  Don’t change your finger positioning.

Damn, I thought Shawn Jackson had a surprising number of videos off of one project when he dropped his 4th last week, but this is like the 7th from Cons’ last album.  Apparently his grind has paid off nicely cause the sales numbers for Don’t Quit Your Day Job are pretty impressive for a project of that size.  The song features his G.O.O.D. Music cohorts, GLC and Really Doe, along with cameos from all sorts of dope artists.

Sidenote: I wonder if the Pomona that GLC mentions is supposed to be the one in Cali.  If so, that brings back classic college memories…like the time in 2004 when Tunji told GLC his haircut sucked, almost leading to a physical altercation.  His most famous verse up to that point was on Kanye’s “Heavy Hitters” joint and included a line saying “mmhmm, mmhmm, NAW, your hair sucks!” (classic delivery btw).  Luckily he remembered and figured out the reference, but not before giving Tunj the ultimate screwface.  Good times.

Swiped from Consequence’s blog.