The Audacity of Dope

The long awaited video for Frank’s “Swim Good” finally dropped and, as expected with all Nabil directed visuals, it’s clean, dope, and a little twisted. This is actually one of my least favorite tracks on Nostalgia…Ultra, but that’s not really an indictment because the project as a whole is incredible.  If any of the records could potentially catch on to radio after “Novacane” finishes its run (still my song of the year), it’s this one.  Here’s hoping the mass public continues to take notice of Frank.

Oh, and you always win points with me for any panda or samurai references.  Well done guys.

There are few things more rewarding for those of us who really live and breathe this music and culture than seeing talented artists, who are also good people with good teams, break through and get the success they deserve. I couldn’t be happier to see someone like Big K.R.I.T. get shine on a major label and have a hit record on his hands with the “Country Sh*t” remix. Kudos to his whole team and to Def Jam for getting this one right.

Seattle folks: come see K.R.I.T. at our Summer Jam on July 16th at the White River Amphitheater!

As soon as I saw the still for this video, I noticed Frank and director Dave Wilson didn’t actually use an Integra, but as Mr. Ocean mentioned on his blog, the visuals were a “decent excuse to drive a NSX through mountains.”  I’m not mad one bit.  The song itself is simply constructed, with Frank riffing over an Adele-esque piano loop, so the video is a fitting accompaniment.

However, I am a little salty that I can’t see a NSX without thinking of one of my exes, who was obsessed with them hahaha.  What up girrrrrrrrrl?

If you think Ghost is hilarious in his songs and on TV, just multiply that by about 25x for the “in person” effect.  Definition of a legend.

Despite the special effects looking like cut scenes from an early 2000’s computer game (Starcraft FTW), I kinda dig this video.  Well, upon further review, I think I just like he song and the clip itself is adequate.  Kanye kind of bodies his verse (for a guest 16 on a R&B track) and The-Dream is actally one of the few pop/R&B singers I like these days.  Though I don’t like that there’s a hyphen in his name…not one bit.  Why does The-Dream have a hyphen and Flo Rida doesn’t?  These are the things that keep me up at night.

Sidenote, Seattle folks: The-Dream (and perhaps Ms. Milian?) will be coming to Summer Jam this year, July 25th at White River Amphitheater.  For more info and the complete lineup, click here.  And since it is a recession, if you want to cop lawn seats for $9.33, we’re having a special promotion this Saturday from 10am  – 1pm at White River.  Plus, if you find me there and mention The Audacity of Dope, you win a special prize*.

*special prize is dap lasting no longer than 2.3 seconds.

I love studio footage, especially when it involves Kanye To The.  Paparazzi squabbles aside, ‘Ye’s life must be great.  He literally flies all around the world with his best friends, making dope music in amazing studios.  Sounds pretty good to me.  In related news, if you haven’t heard yet, 808’s and Heartbreak has been unofficially pushed up to November by Kanye himself.  We’ll see if Def Jam acquiesces.

Swiped from 2DopeBoyz, who also have the individual musical elements of Kanye’s “Love Lockdown” if you’re interested in remixing the track…