The Audacity of Dope

I don’t usually post single songs, nor electro/dance joints, but I’m making an exception for this.  I already stated that I’m digging the original, and this mix takes it to a crazy new level.  Club banger.

Kanye West – “Love Lockdown (Hatchmatik Remix)”

Spotted over at WDIR.  Canada stand up.

Wow, it’s been a minute since I did a Throwback post.  I’ve been meaning to toss up this gem from the homey K. Slack for weeks and I finally got a free minute so here goes.

You may remember Slack from his work alongside J. Gunn and Killa K as part of TheThyrDay, a really dope group from North Carolina.  While they did release one (classic) album, Perfection Xperiment 2, unfortunately they broke up shortly afterwards and moved on to solo projects.  Slack and Gunn have actually linked up recently for a few tracks, so I’m hoping we’ll get to see some sort of 3D reunion, at least between those two.

Before their album came out, Slack posted up a few of his solo tracks on Okayplayer and I remember stumbling upon that post and being blown away.  I think this was fall of 2002 and I was in my first semester of junior year at college.  This track, “broKen AnJel,” was produced by 9th Wonder and Khrysis (the beat is split in two) and it has that vintage Justus League sound.  The market has been flooded with those kind of beats since Little Brother blew up, but I’ll always look back fondly on 9th and Khrysis’ early work.  They definitely inspired a million copycats.

If I remember correctly, Slack wrote this track to his girl at the time and all the lyrics were heartfelt and truthful to the situation he was in.  Part of the reason why I fell in love with the track is that I could apply almost the entire thing to the relationship I was in as well.  “Seasons change, mad things rearrange,” and my girl and I broke up after a few years but I think we always hold on to certain songs because of the memories we attach to ’em.  This is definitely one of those joints for me.

K. Slack – “broKen AnJel”

You know that old saying, “when you’re not busy, that’s when you need to worry?”  Well, thankfully, it doesn’t seem like I’ll be worrying anytime soon.  The downside of being [Zoolander] ridiculously good looking [/Zoolander] busy is that I end up getting way behind on all the dopeness that’s sent to me.

My man M.O.S. from Crew54 hit me with this new EP from his partner in rhyme G-Christ, and I was finally able to peep it today.  If you’re sleeping on the Crew, they’re some really dope artists from Texas making earnest, boom bap, soulful ish.  I really recommend you check them out.  You can start here, then make sure you peep their group work as well:

1. Intro – prod. by Kingverse
2. Living Big – prod. by Reeplay
3. Forsake His Love ft. Alpha 20/20 – prod. by Alpha 20/20
4. Kcuf G-Christ (Skit)
5. Put It Down ft. DDC prod. by The Fiyamen
6. Losing Control – prod. by Zaire of the Sole Vibe
7. Going – prod. by G-Christ
8. Damage Is Done

Download here.  (right click, save as)

With White Van Music scheduled to drop on October 7th but already circulating (in clean form) on the net, Jake has decided to post the demo version of one of the standout tracks, “Glow.”  This edition is slightly different than the final track, plus it includes a 3rd verse from Elzhi and no appearance from Royce The 5’9”.  Whichever way you slice it, this joint is classic.

Jake One ft. Elzhi – “Glow (Demo Version)”

Stay up to date with the man himself on Jake’s new blog and be sure to tune in to Sound Session on October 5th to hear more behind the scenes stories about the album.

(I told y’all FE’s artwork is always incredible.)

Tay and Nic blasted out the sampler for their upcoming Leave It All Behind project, so you can finally hear a little of what all the fuss is about.  Believe me though, these teasers don’t do the album justice.  Check out the sampler for now and cop the entire thing on October 7th (digitally) or the 14th (physical copies…with instrumentals!).

Foreign Exchange – Leave It All Behind (sampler)

a. Take Off The Blues
b. All or Nothing
c. Something To Behold (this is my jaaaaam)
d. If This Is Love
e. If She Breaks Your Heart

Remember to peep the official FE blog to stay up to date on everything they’re doing.

Alright, I lied…one more post before bed.

Between performing at the VMA’s and being arrested, Kanye’s found time to officially release the first offering from his upcoming 808’s and Heartbreak album.  This song has had more buzz on the net this week than anything else, so I’m sure you’ve all formed your opinions on it.  If not, here’s the final, mastered version of the track to enjoy:

Kanye West – “Love Lockdown”

My thoughts:

• Kanye’s my favorite overall artist in music right now, so I’m clearly a bit biased.  So are the people who automatically trash this song since they love to hate ‘Ye though.
• The beat is dope.  The bass (or is that a bassline + 808’s?) bangs, the melody is cool, and the drums are ill.
• The singing doesn’t do much for me, but I think it will grow on me.  Unlike a lot of people, I generally enjoy when dope rappers do some singing, even if it doesn’t sound perfect sonically.  Andre does it.  Nas does it.  Monch does it.  ‘Ye does it.  This isn’t as good on the first few listens, but I think I’ll end up liking it.
• The lyrics are GREAT.  I love when artists, especially those as big as Kanye, actually use sincere, heartfelt lyrics in their songs.  Dude was cleary affected by breaking off his engagement with Alexis Phifer and I’m glad he decided to talk about openly.  ‘Ye always does this and it’s part of what makes him so ill.
• In the end, since I already like dude, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt, subconciously or not.  Kinda like how Jordan got all the calls, ‘Ye gets my approval on a toss up.  Especially since his songs always grow on me, so I’m gonna go ahead and say I’m feeling this joint.  Sue me.

(that 3rd verse is real.)

As I mentioned a while back, Butta is an honorary member of our Seattle hip-hop community plus he’s dope as hell, so you know I’m posting the video for his lead single from Reality BV.  The album drops digitally Tuesday, cop that!

Butta Verses ft. Lucian – “If I DIe”

Video courtesy of OnSmash.

(wtffff @ that “host’s” wack ass voice and inflections.  yeesh, even Cita was embarrassed)

Rev speaks about what being a DJ means to him, the purpose of his upcoming King of Decks album, and the story behind “The DJ” with KRS-One.  Plus, he talks about his DJ’ing hero, and my own G.D.J.O.A.T., the magnificent, Jazzy Jeff.  King of the Decks drops Tuesday!  Here’s the jawn we ran on Sound Session last week:

DJ Revolution ft. KRS-One – “The DJ”

If for some reason you didn’t download the 2 Dope Boyz mixtape last week, slap yourself and grab the no-DJ version of one of the best tracks on there, Tunji‘s “Still Risin’.”  Sound Session listeners will recognize him from his Inverse material we’ve played over the last year, plus he’s the dude ripping our show intro every week.  Astute heads will also remember this beat originally being used for Kno’s “Get Buck” remix, but he shot it to Tunj to do it justice.

Tunj on the mic and Kno on the beat?  It’s a wrap…

Tunji (of Inverse) – “Still Risin'”

Here’s another dope new joint that we ran on Sound Session last night.  It’s off Madlib‘s upcoming album, WLIB AM: King of the Wigflip, and features Defari on the mic.  Another b-side, since “Go!” with Guilty Simpson has already been floating around the net.  Enjoy:

Madlib ft. Defari – “Gamble On Ya Boy”

Madlib ft. Guilty Simpson – “Go!”

“hollahollaholla like that dude on Chappelle.”