The Audacity of Dope

(you like that 3rd person blog title, don’t ya?)

The homies Doc and Armond do one of the best hip-hop podcasts around with their Clock Radio Speakers show and I was honored to be a guest on a recent episode of theirs.  Toss this on and listen to us nerd out about all sorts of topics, including rap’s fascination with radio play and how radio really works, Wale’s issues with Complex, “event” releases in 2013 from artists like Jay-Z and Beyonce, my #InboxMadness Twitter series, industry tastemakers, and a whole bunch more.  Just a fun discussion with some folks that truly love music.  Good times.

It’s the last Sound Session of the year, which means only one thing: time for our annual “best of” wrap up show!  You can peep previous year end episodes here (2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009), but for this year’s list, see below and check our notes too.  As always, we pick what we feel represented the best artists and music that we highlighted on SNSS all year.  Normally, we avoid picking more than one track from an artist, but we couldn’t resist this year.  Kanye and Drake dominated 2013, in every sense (“HOW, Sway?), and they had too many records to only pick one.  Those guys were the MVP’s, but there were lots of great records this year:

Show #446 (12-29-13)
**Best of 2013**

1. Action Bronson – “Strictly 4 My Jeeps”
2. THURZ ft. Cali Martyr – “Got Damn, Got Damn”
3. A$AP Rocky ft. Skrillex & Birdy Nam Nam – “Wild For The Night”
4. Kris Kasanova ft. Skeme & Jarv Dee – “Shut Em Down”
5. Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean – “Bimmer”
6. Kanye West ft. Charlie Wilson – “Bound 2”
7. Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
8. Pusha T ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Nosetalgia”
9. Step Brothers (Evidence & Alchemist) – “Step Masters”
10. Nacho Picasso – “Crime Waves” (Local Music)
11. Jay-Z ft. Rick Ross – “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt”
12. Romaro Franceswa ft. Fearce – “Bounce” (Local Music)
13. Shad ft. Saukrates – “Stylin’”
14. Smash Brovaz – “Whatever”
15. Drake ft. Sampha – “Too Much”
16. Sampha – “Too Much”
17. Drake ft. Jhene Aiko – “From Time”
18. The Physics – “Play It Off” (Local Music)
19. J. Cole ft. Nas – “Let Nas Down (Remix)”
20. Isaiah Rashad – “Shot U Down”
21. Porter Ray – “5 Mics” (Local Music)
22. Chance The Rapper – “Acid Rain”
23. Big K.R.I.T. – “Serve This Royalty”
24. The Internet – “Dontcha”
25. denitia and sene – “trip. fall.”
26. Raleigh Ritchie – “In Too Deep”
27. ForteBowie – “Gucci Mayne”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/8f31e46420/
(back up – http://www35.zippyshare.com/v/99509846/file.html)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/hq2mac07719g)

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.  Action released lots of quality music in 2013, but this collab with Harry Fraud was his best.
2. Finally! A twerk record with lyrics. Club goers and backpackers unite!
3. ASAP’s collab with Skrillex didn’t quite fit with the rest of his album, but that’s not a bad thing when a track is this hype.
4. Kris, Jarv, and Skeme delivered a banger. Sadly, most folks are still sleeping. Not SNSS doe.
5. Tyler’s maturation resulted in one of the best albums of the year and this outro featured a beat that Pharrell wishes he made.
6. Yes, the video is absurd. Yes, the lyrics aren’t super dope. But this is my favorite record of the year. Just insanely enjoyable and a classic ‘Ye sample. You can’t front.
7. Another crazy beat, but the lyrics shine here. Kanye’s crazy but a genius. He was spitting truth all year in these songs and interviews.
8. Pusha had another great year (hanging with ‘Ye helps). This and “Numbers On The Board” were classics.
9. Speaking of classics, Ev & Al nailed this old school inspired slapper.
10. Seattle’s hip-hop scene is on fire and Nacho is the most intriguing MC we have. 2014 will be huge for him.
11. Jay dropped an average album (by his standards) but it still had a few gems, including this anthem.
12. Shout to BeanOne with possibly my favorite local beat ever. I could listen to that loop all day!
13. One Canadian legend linked with another soon to be Canadian legend. SK’s having fun on this one, but those lyrics are still rewind worthy.
14. Good ol’ fashioned boom-bap for the cold weather. T-Dot to SEA, connect.
15. We could have picked numerous records from Drizzy, but this one was a no-brainer. That hook. That beat. Those lyrics. Lock.
16. We had to give props to Sampha’s original that Drake sampled as well.
17. Still think Jhene had the hook of the year on “From Time.”
18. Last year, I mentioned that if the Physics release music in a year, they’re guaranteed to be on our year end list. Well, they released music. And it didn’t disappoint.
19. There were lots of dope “moments” (see Kendrick’s “Control” verse) but one of our favorites was Nas responding to Jermaine.
20. Kendrick was everywhere in 2013 and Q kept anticipation bubbling for his upcoming album, but TDE’s newcomer introduced himself to the world with one of the best tracks of the year.
21. The best part of Seattle’s hip-hop scene is that the future is looking STRONG. Cats like Porter, Romaro, and Dave B are leading the way for the youngsters.
22. Chicago’s up and comer linked with Seattle’s production OG, Jake One, and the resulting song was the highlight of Chance’s album.
23. A lot of folks are taking K.R.I.T. for granted and waiting for him to drop that undeniable classic, which will certainly come, but in the meantime, he continues to release great music. Another year, another great mixtape.
24. The Internet might have had the sleeper record of the year. J still points out that if they sold this track to Janet Jackson, it’s a guaranteed #1 hit. What a record…
25. Denitia Odigie and Sene collaborated for one of the surprise albums of the year and this was the first offering we heard off it. Still knocks.
26. Raleigh Ritchie’s an artist that might be off most people’s radars, but it’ll come in time. This is just a taste of what’s in store from this UK singer.
27. Forte simply does it all: raps, sings, produces. He’s good. He’s gucci.

Honorable mentions from artists not otherwise represented:

• 2 Player Co-Op (Trackademicks & 1-O.A.K.) – “Someone Great”
• 50 Cent ft. Kendrick Lamar – “We Up”
• AB – “You Used To Love Me”
• Amp Live ft. James Melo – “D.H.E.A.”
• A$AP Mob ft. A$AP Nast & Method Man – “Trillmatic”
• Bas ft. J. Cole & KQuick – “Lit”
• Big Sean ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica – “Control”
• Bondax – “Gold (Snakehips Bootleg)”
• Busta Rhymes ft. Q-Tip – “Thank You”
• Childish Gambino – “3005”
• Dag Savage (Exile & Johaz) ft. Aloe Blacc – “When It Rains”
• Dave B – “Illectric”
• De La Soul – “Get Away”
• Disclosure, Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes, & Nile Rodgers – “Together”
• Eminem ft. Buckshot – “Don’t Front”
• Halo & Masta Killa ft. Rocki Evans – “No Matter”
• IamSu! – “Hipster Girls”
• Jadakiss ft. The-Dream – “Big Boy Dialogue”
• Janelle Monae ft. Miguel – “Primetime”
• Jhene Aiko – “The Worst”
• Joey Badass – “Unorthodox”
• John Crown – “Ben Franklin”
• John Legend ft. Rick Ross – “Who Do We Think We Are”
• Logic – “Nasty”
• Mack Wilds – “Magic”
• Mayer Hawthorne ft. Jessie Ware – “Her Favorite Song”
• MeLo-X – “God Magic”
• Mystikal – “Hit Me”
• Nickelus F ft. Drake – “Number 15”
• Quelle Chris ft. Tanya Morgan, Cavalier, & Fresh Daily – “Greene Eyes”
• Raz Simone – “Cold”
• Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z – “The Devil Is A Lie”
• Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P) ft. Big Boi – “Banana Clipper”
• Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
• Scribes – “Backseat (New Ride)”
• Sol – “Jump In”
• ST 2 Lettaz – “Trillmatic”
• Tanya Morgan – “For Real”
• The Black Opera ft. Mayer Hawthorne – “Queen Of Hearts”
• T.I. ft. B.o.B, Kendrick Lamar, & Kris Stephens – “Memories Back Then”
• Yo Gotti ft. J. Cole – “Cold Blood”
• Young Roddy – “This One”

2014: let’s gooooooooooooo

Apologies for another late archive of SNSS, but I was running around crazy last week in NYC for the day job and didn’t get a chance to toss this up.  Shout to everyone I ran into in the Big Apple, especially Lee (Warner), JJ (Foundation), and Jess (CoSign), who have been supporting me from waaaaay back in the college radio days and continue to be some of my favorite folks in the whole biz.  Appreciate y’all!

LA folks, headed your way this week so holler at me if you want to catch up!

For this week’s episode, we played new cuts from artists like Action Bronson, Sean Price, A$AP Mob, Kanin, YG Hootie, Nipsey Hussle, Alina Baraz, 21, Wiley, Joey Bada$$, Tinashe, 7 Days Of Funk, and more.  Lots of good music here.  We were also joined in studio by yet another talented up and coming MC from Seattle (we’re producing those for fun these days), Donte Peace.  Watch out for this kid and enjoy the show!

Show #443 (12-8-13)

1. Action Bronson & Party Supplies – “Rolling Thunder”
2. Sean Price & M-Phazes – “Dump In The Gut”
3. A$AP Mob ft. A$AP Nast & Method Man – “Trillmatic”
4. Drake – “Wu-Tang Forever”
5. Wu-Tang Clan – “It’s Yourz” (Throwback of the Week)
6. Kanin ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Winner Circle”
7. YG Hootie ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Two Presidents”
8. Nipsey Hussle ft. J. Stone – “All Get Right”
9. Leezy Soprano ft. Kokane – “Just That Type” (Local Music)
10. 7 Days of Funk (Dam-Funk & Snoop Dogg) – “I’ll Be There 4U”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH DONTE PEACE, PT. 1**
12. Donte Peace – “Remember ‘97” (Local Music)
13. **INTERVIEW WITH DONTE PEACE, PT. 2**
14. Jhene Aiko ft. Childish Gambino – “Bed Peace”
15. Childish Gambino ft. Jhene Aiko – “Pink Toes”
16. Tinashe ft. Travis Scott – “Vulnerable”
17. Alina Baraz & Galimatias – “Make You Feel”
18. Made In Heights – “Death” (Local Music)
19. 21 – “Smoker’s Redemption”
20. MeLo-X – “Break From Flatbush”
21. Wiley ft. Andreena Mill – “Born In The Cold”
22. Justin Timberlake ft. J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, & Pusha T – “TKO (Black Friday Remix)”
23. Joey Bada$$ – “Two Lips”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/b27f4f1e84/
(back up – http://www6.zippyshare.com/v/14516984/file.html)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/o5vhq370ao7o)

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.

It’s been a busy week here, so apologies for the delay on the latest episode of SNSS.  Lots of good music on this episode from artists like Action Bronson, J. Cole, ASAP Rocky, Lloyd Banks, Yo Gotti, Tinashe, Childish Gambino, Made In Heights, The Game, Cormega, OnCue, Aloe Blacc, and more, but I must admit, the most enjoyable part of my week was checking out the Drake tour.

It’s pretty clear to me that as big as some of these other artists are, it’s Kanye and Drake at the top…and then everyone else.  Nobody else has the popularity, artistry, and quality like those two.  Drake’s a great live performer, with better breath control and enunciation than most of the backpack rappity rap rappers that try to criticize him (or at least their fans do).  He also has hits…an astonishing number of hits…for someone’s who’s only been releasing music for a little over 5 years now.  He shut down the arena and didn’t even do about 30 records he could have.  Impressive.

Anyway, in more important and serious news, our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of a longtime fixture in the Seattle hip-hop community, Byrdie.  While he passed away last week, his music will live on and it’s clear that everyone in the scene here cherishes the memories they have with him.  I only knew him a little bit, since he was most active while I was at college in California, but I remember him being one of the first artists from the town that I played on my college radio show.  I was always excited to hear new music from him and it’s unfortunate his illness didn’t allow him to release more material.  RIP Byrdie.

Show #442 (12-1-13)

1. Byrdie – “B.Y.R.D.I.E.” (Local Music) (Throwback of the Week)
2. Step Brothers (Evidence & Alchemist) – “Step Masters”
3. Action Bronson & Party Supplies – “The Don’s Cheek”
4. Justin Timberlake ft. J. Cole, ASAP Rocky, & Pusha T – “TKO (Black Friday Remix)”
5. Schoolboy Q – “Man Of The Year”
6. Yo Gotti ft. T.I. – “King Sh*t”
7. Lloyd Banks – “Lead The Blind”
8. Tinashe ft. Travis Scott – “Vulnerable”
9. Jhene Aiko – “The Worst”
10. Drake – “Come Thru”
11. Childish Gambino – “Telegraph Ave”
12. MeLo-X – “A Tree Must Be A Tree”
13. Made In Heights – “Death” (Local Music)
14. Gabriel Teodros ft. Sarah MK – “Black Love” (Local Music)
15. Kenautis Smith & Black Spade – “Lay It Down”
16. Aloe Blacc – “Love Is The Answer”
17. Black Milk ft. Mel – “Interpret Sabotage”
18. Owuor Arunga ft. DadaBass & Felicia Loud – “Black As They Come” (Local Music)
19. The Game – “Breakfast With Al Pacino”
20. Pusha T ft. Pharrell – “S.N.I.T.C.H.”
21. Cormega ft. Raekwon – “Honorable”
22. OnCue ft. Sonny Shotz – “Anything’s Real, Pt. 2”
23. Shad – “Thank You”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www7.zippyshare.com/v/40432572/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/23ac17eead/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/ay2cfn93wwmx)

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.

The song that everyone knows now that Drake sampled it gets its own video, though there aren’t any shots of Sampha himself, other than playing the keys.  Fantastic song though.  Feel free to put this on loop.  Forever.

First track I’ve really enjoyed from Drake’s OVO signing, PARTYNEXTDOOR. Definitely prefer when he rhymes in a more normal voice than that Future influenced warble, but I dig it. Visuals didn’t hurt either…

LOOOOOOL…Drizzy’s been playing too much Call of Duty lately.  This song is still my ish though.

Happy #NWTS day!  Go cop that.

While by definition, I always enjoy the music we play on SNSS, this week’s episode featured a ton of really great records, including two that are currently fighting out an epic “favorite song of the moment” battle in my head:  The Internet’s “Dontcha” (Pharrell is somewhere seething that he didn’t make this) vs. Drake ft. Jhene Aiko’s “From Time” (I challenge you to find a better hook this year).  Truthfully, we could have played those 2 songs on loop for the whole show and it would have been great, but we went ahead and hit you with other new gems from Pusha T, Danny Brown, Flatbush Zombies, Freddie Gibbs, Tanya Morgan, Sampha, BANKS, The Weeknd, Devin The Dude, Majid Jordan, Janelle, Monae, Chance The Rapper, Psychic Mirrors, and more.

Check this one out y’all, hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Show #432 (9-22-13)

1. Chase & Status ft. Pusha T – “Machine Gun”
2. Pusha T ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Nosetalgia”
3. Danny Brown – “Side A”
4. Flatbush Zombies ft. Action Bronson – “Club Soda”
5. A-Rawlo – “Bro Dat” (Local Music)
6. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Deeper”
7. Action Bronson & Harry Fraud ft. Wiz Khalifa – “The Rockers”
8. Bishop Nehru – “Mobb Dizzle”
9. Astro – “Afro”
10. Tanya Morgan ft. Tiara Wiles, Mike Maven, Spree Wilson, & Rocki Evans – “The Only One”
11. Scribes ft. Leezy Soprano – “The Ceiling” (Local Music)
12. Sol – “The Key” (Local Music)
13. Drake ft. Jhene Aiko – “From Time”
14. Sampha – “Can’t Get Close”
15. BANKS – “This Is What It Feels Like”
16. The Weeknd – “Wanderlust”
17. Devin The Dude – “Probably Should Have”
18. Young Roddy – “Certified”
19. 2Pac – “Pour Out A Little Liquor” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Lil Wayne ft. Chance The Rapper – “You Song”
21. The Internet – “Dontcha”
22. The Foreign Exchange – “Call It Home”
23. Janelle Monae – “I Want You Back”
24. Psychic Mirrors – “Charlene”
25. Majid Jordan – “Give Me A Reason (For Lovin’ You)”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www7.zippyshare.com/v/98739193/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/fbe3de2f63/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/tekqe2o5sd65)

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.

Not sure I’ll ever really need to watch this video again, but the song is mean. Drizzy!

*books ticket to Beach Blast*

Kendrick’s album was initially hailed as a potential classic and it continues to get better with age. I speculated that he had it in him back in this post for the “Tammy’s Song” video, and I think he’s pulled it off.  good kid, m.a.a.d. city.  5 mics for me.