The Audacity of Dope

Another year is in the books and here on Sound Session, you already know what that means: it’s time for our annual wrap up show.  As we’ve said in years past (2009 & 2010), this playlist isn’t a definitive, comprehensive list by any means, nor is it compiled in any sort of numerical ranking marking which songs are “better” than the others.  Instead, we simply picked records and artists that played a large part on our show this past year and the songs we couldn’t stop listening to.

As I usually do, I’ve listed some notes on why each song made the cut, along with a few honorable mentions from artists not otherwise represented (i.e., I could have listed a plethora of tracks from Drake, The Weeknd, Kendrick, Kanye/Jay, etc., but we’ll keep it simple…).

Enjoy the show and make 2012 your best year yet.

Show #342 (1-1-12)
**Best of 2011**

1. Drake ft. Rick Ross – “Lord Knows”
2. Nas – “Nasty”
3. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Gotta Have It”
4. Kendrick Lamar – “HiiiPower”
5. Tyler, The Creator – “Yonkers”
6. Frank Ocean – “Novacane”
7. TiRon & Ayomari – “If I Had You”
8. The Physics – “These Moments” (Local Music)
9. Dom Kennedy – “On My Way”
10. Curren$y – “She Don’t Want A Man”
11. Big K.R.I.T. – “The Vent”
12. Rocki Evans – “Funeral Song”
13. Purple HeArts – “Know Go”
14. Shabazz Palaces ft. Thee Satisfaction – “Swerve…the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)” (Local Music)
15. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton – “Can’t Hold Us” (Local Music)
16. Little Dragon – “Ritual Union”
17. Common ft. Makeba – “Blue Sky”
18. Childish Gambino – “Freaks and Geeks”
19. Maffew Ragazino – “Black Sheep”
20. Ghostface Killah ft. Black Thought – “In Tha Park”
21. Thurz – “Dope”
22. Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey – “Words I Never Said”
23. Charlie Smarts – “Torture”
24. J. Cole ft. Drake – “In The Morning”
25. The Weeknd – “The Party & The After Party”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?vdi2nrygmyfjrsf
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/6d7zxtd90fjk)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/981872599a085813/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Notes:

1. Drizzy was everywhere this year and while most records were slow and brooding (“Marvin’s Room” is an instant classic), he reminded his deriders he can rhyme too.  Just Blaze’s incredible beat and Rick Ross coining the #YOLO term didn’t hurt either.
2. Anyone who thought Nas slipped with the Distant Relatives project was crazy to begin with.  Nas punctuated that with “Nasty.”
3. Did Watch The Throne live up to the hype?  Probably not, but it’s still one of the best albums of the year and while “Otis” and “Murder To Excellence” were also great, the standout is this short but sweet record…despite Jay’s “planking on a million” line.
4. After a few good years, Kendrick broke out in a major way with Section.80 in 2011.  This J. Cole produced single was the first track released off the project and set the tone for the whole album.  Kendrick will drop a 5 mic classic before it’s all said and done.
5. Tyler and the Odd Future crew had an amazing year in 2011 and while many tracks were a bit too heavy on the shock value, “Yonkers” didn’t go overboard (though the video might have, for some).  Instead, Tyler cooked up one of the best beats of the year that would have sounded at home on a classic Wu-Tang album.
6. My personal song of the year.  Nuff said.
7. They just don’t make music like this anymore.  TiRon & Ayomari’s uptempo record becomes a classic the second the horns come in for the first time.
8. Three straight appearances on our year end wrap up show for The Physics, who consistently make my favorite music from the Northwest.  No need for drums on this record when everything else is that dope.
9. Dom dropped two great projects in 2011 and had numerous records that we could have picked, but this one represents his trademark new west sound perfectly.
10. The ongoing joke is that Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y are ALWAYS rapping about smoking weed with your girl, but hey, when it comes out like this, you can’t really be mad at it.  Unless that’s your girl.
11. Along with Don Trip’s “Letter 2 My Son,” Big K.R.I.T.’s “The Vent” was the most heartfelt record of the year.  That’s what music should be all about.
12. Rocki may not be on everyone’s radar (yet), but if he keeps making songs like this, he will be in 2012.
13. While Drake, The Weeknd, and even our good friend Shad have been making headlines in the US all year, be on the lookout for another crew from Canada in 2012.
14. International acclaim from fans and press alike marked a great year for Seattle’s own Shabazz Palaces.  Thee Satisfaction come along for the ride on this one, closing out the record in a way only they can.
15. Speaking of international success for local musicians, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis blew up in 2011.  Seriously.  Did you see them rock almost 10k at Bumbershoot?
16. Yukimi is incredible and gets most of the headlines, but the rest of the band is amazing as well.  You need to see Erik drum live to truly experience Little Dragon.
17. Com just barely dropped his album in time for most people to include it in their year end wrap ups, but the minute “Blue Sky” was released, it instantly reserved its spot on our list.
18. I was tempted to pick “Be Alone” or “Hold You Down,” which show a slightly more serious side of Gambino, but this record was Donald’s break out song for 2011.
19. In a year where most newcomers came from other cities, Maffew and Action Bronson showed there’s still a bright future in NYC.
20. Most forgot that Ghostface’s album was released right before the new year so this Frank Dukes produced banger was too late for everyone’s 2010 lists, and sadly forgotten on most 2011 wrap ups.  Except ours.
21. Fans were disappointed to see U-N-I go their separate ways but both Thuz and Y-O dropped good projects in 2011, highlighted by this appropriately titled record from the former.
22. While the beat and hook left much to be desired, Lupe spit some of the realest bars of the year on this track.  If Lu ever releases acapellas, it might destroy the internet.
23. One of our favorite crews, Kooley High, saw one member, Rapsody, achieve a lot of notoriety in 2011 but our favorite track from the North Carolina collective was Charlie Smarts’ “Torture.”  Just listen to those keys…
24. Always a good question…
25. Anytime someone literally goes from unknown to the most sought after independent artist in the game, he has to be the rookie of the year.  Nobody came out of nowhere like The Weeknd in recent memory, thanks in large part to Drake’s co-sign and the strictly grown & sexy music.

Honorable mentions from artists not otherwise represented:

• Amy Winehouse ft. Nas – “Like Smoke”
• Asher Roth & Nottz – “Break Bread”
• Fly.Union – “Hard Sell”
• Goapele – “Play”
• Gods’illa ft. Maimouna Youssef – “You Don’t Have To Be A Star”
• Jhene Aiko – “Stranger”
• Killer Mike – “Ric Flair”
• Mayer Hawthorne – “A Long Time”
• Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun ft. Styles P & Sean Price – “That’s Hard”
• Phonte ft. Jeanne Jolly – “Everything Is Falling Down”
• Pusha T – “Blow”
• Raekwon ft. Nas – “Rich and Black”
• Random Axe ft. Roc Marciano – “Chewbacca”
• Raphael Saadiq – “Good Man”
• Rapsody ft. Raekwon – “Black Diamonds”
• Rick Ross – “I Love My B*tches”
• Royce Da 5’9” – “Second Place”
• Saigon – “The Greatest Story Never Told”
• Schoolboy Q ft. Jhene Aiko – “Fantasy”
• Stephen Marley ft. Damian Marley & Buju Banton – “Jah Army (Revelation, Pt. 1)”
• Travis Barker ft. Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell – “If You Want To”
• Young Jeezy ft. Jay-Z & Andre 3000 – “I Do”

2012.  Let’s go.

Another insanely hectic week in the books, but Sound Session is back like we never left…cause we haven’t.  Episode #341 marks our final show of 2011 since next Sunday is Christmas (oh yeah…I should probably get on that whole “shopping” thing…), so after this, we’ll see y’all in 2012 with our best of ’11 wrap up edition.  Don’t miss it!

I tossed a few videos from Jay-Z & Kanye’s Watch The Throne tour up on Twitter for those unlucky folks who haven’t seen it live (you’re slippin’), so you can peep them right here.  After that, enjoy SNSS #341 with new music from Snoop & Wiz (produced by Jake One), Lupe Fiasco, Tunji, Murs, Asher Roth, Action Bronson, Brothers From Another, Summer Leather Vest, John West, The Kid Daytona, Drizzy, Black Star, and more.  See y’all next year…it’s a new day.

Show #341 (12-18-11)

1. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa – “Let’s Go Study”
2. Freddie Gibbs ft. Dom Kennedy & Polyester – “Menace II Society”
3. Lupe Fiasco – “Double Burger With Cheese”
4. The Sleepwalkers ft. Tunji, Murs, & Noah King – “One”
5. Asher Roth ft. Action Bronson – “Choices”
6. City Hall – “Out For A Rep” (Local Music)
7. 50 Cent – “Wait Until Tonight”
8. John West ft. Pusha T – “Lovely”
9. Childish Gambino – “L.E.S.”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, PT. 1**
11. Brothers From Another – “Mr. Dynamite” (Local Music)
12. Choklate – “Christmas Time Again” (Local Music)
13. **INTERVIEW WITH BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, PT. 2**
14. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “New Day”
15. Common – “Lovin’ I Lost”
16. Drake – “Hate Sleeping Alone”
17. Lauryn Hill – “Ex-Factor” (Throwback of the Week)
18. Amy Winehouse – “Best Friends, Right?”
19. Summer Leather Vest – “Unison”
20. Black Star – “You Already Knew”
21. The Kid Daytona ft. Melanie Fiona – “Love Is Love”
22. DTMD ft. Oddisee – “Untitled”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?290862il6npn6jl
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/rv7qwvn7sivf)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/9760744397cf08b6/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

I was sold when Optimus Prime showed up and knew I was going to post by the time they dropped Lion King. This is the Barry we all know and love, and the one whose personality won us over years ago.

As Barack says in the speech, “the honeymoon is over” in regards to his presidency, but I’m not too disappointed in what many consider to be a lack of progress towards the tasks he laid out during his campaign. I’ve never been a fan of any portion of the political process and I really think you just have to make the best decisions when they come up. Barack was the best choice we had at the time and he continues to be just that. Hopefully he gets back in office and swags out in his 2nd term when there’s no concern over being reelected.

We shall see. But in the interim, enjoy the jokes!

Yes, it’s trite to say, but I really can’t believe that it’s 2011 already.  The older you get, the quicker time passes and for us motivated (but perhaps partial to routines) folk, it’s a continual reminder to “get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’.”  Personally, when presented with the “make it or break it” scenario, I have only one option.  With that in mind, 2011 will be a big year for myself, J. Moore, SNSS, and all our associated fam.  I’m sure it will be for you too…if you want it.  Don’t be that person who drops out of the gym by February.  Get busy living.

Show #292 (1-2-11)

1. Skillz – “2010 Rap Up”
2. Rick Ross ft. KC – “Ashes To Ashes”
3. Asher Roth & Nottz – “Break Bread”
4. B.o.B – “Shoot Up The Station”
5. Self Scientific ft. Freddie Gibbs & Krondon – “Peaceful (Justice For Oscar)”
6. 1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology) ft. Action Bronson – “The Money Is Reality”
7. CurT@!n$ a – “Rolling In The Deep”
8. David Dallas ft. Che Fu – “Sideline”
9. Consequence ft. Diggy Simmons & Mac Miller – “I’m V.I.P.”
10. ChillxWill – “Systems” (Local Music)
11. Fortilive – “Mic and Me”
12. Kanye West ft. Talib Kweli and Consequence – “Chain Heavy”
13. Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon, Redman, & Method Man – “Troublemakers”
14. Wu-Tang Clan ft. Ms. Roxy – “Reunited” (Throwback of the Week)
15. Pac Div – “Let Loose”
16. Johnny Polygon – “Everyday’s A Holiday”
17. Brothers From Another ft. Sol & JusMoni – “New Easy Lift” (Local Music)
18. **INTERVIEW WITH JON AUGUSTAVO**
19. The Good Sin & TH (of SOTA) – “No Diss (Hands Up)” (Local Music)
20. Lloyd Banks ft. Jeremih – “I Don’t Deserve You”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?b542g26bcm9mo9y
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/8473753846ce4b18/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/f6l46xyjp3vx)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.