The Audacity of Dope

Not sure why the official YouTube clip got pulled down with a notice saying “UMG Filed A Copyright Claim” on it, but hopefully UMG isn’t standing in the way of Kendrick and TDE running things the way they want. I’m pretty sure the success and classic music they’re releasing proves they know what they’re doing without major label meddling.

Anyway, enjoy this one until it gets taken down too…

The 2nd video from Toro Y Moi’s Anything In Return album isn’t as baller as the first, but makes up for it with subtle hilarity (1:14 is epic).  Go head Chaz.

Lost in all the (well deserved) mania about Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ recent success is the fact that Allen Stone has taken the world by storm as well.  The Northwest native has been touring and performing non-stop for months, much of which is documented in his new video for “Sleep.”  This is the number one reason I could never do tour life.  I am NOT about that sleepless life.

New visuals from Kweli and Ryan Leslie, directed by the latter.  I’m not sure how I feel about this new trend of R&B singers deciding to rap, but I’m not mad at Ryan’s skills on the mic.  Lord knows he can do pretty much everything else musically (go check all the YouTube videos of him in the studio if you’re not familiar), so he might as well rap a bit.  Shoot, everyone else is these days.

The Kid Daytona links up with German production duo JR & PH7 for “Humid Nights” off The Good Life.  Check out the project right here if you’ve been sleeping.  Along with Daytona, the guests featured include Sean Price, Skyzoo, Guilty Simpson, Chuuwee, King Mez, Fly.Union, Phonte, Median, Torae, Freeway, Saigon, Ras Kass, and more.  Very solid lineup.

One of the realest records of the year. I’m not sure Live From The Underground lived up to the immense expectations everyone had for it, but K.R.I.T. still delivered a good project and he’s clearly one of the best artists we have in hip-hop right now.

Can’t. Stop. Listening to chillwave.

Yeah, I know music snobs enjoy debating the validity of that “genre” classification but call it whatever you want, I dig this stuff a lot these days.  Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, Rhye, etc..  Good vibes and a welcome respite from all these LOUD records in the marketplace.

This video is clean AF by the way.  Anything In Return comes out January 22nd.

Yesterday I posted Rhye’s “The Fall” but I was put up on “Open” today as well and it’s an amazing record.  The video above is fairly NSFW, but it’s not trashy or anything.  According to the singer in the group, Milosh (a guy…don’t be fooled by the voice), “I hate that music is so debaucherous these days. It’s all overly sexualized in a perverse way. Love is beautiful, and sex is beautiful, and I don’t think those things should be shown in a grotesque way. I’m just attempting to express love and sensuality in a very honest way.”

The video below, where Milosh sings “Open” to his wife in their living room (which appears to be the first time she’s heard the song), speaks directly to that sentiment:

And finally, here’s the Victoria’s Secret ad using this record with Miranda Kerr. Just cause.

Yes please.

Me likey. The debut album from Rhye, Woman, is set to be released in March.

The visuals are a bit dark for my tastes (there’s a reason I never saw Black Swan, despite Natalie and Mila), but this song is dope.  Produced by Key Wane, directed by Topshelf Junior.