The Audacity of Dope

I’m sure most of you have seen the “Otis” video by now, but I’m guessing there are a few folks like myself that spend the work week focused on the day job and getting to that Watch The Throne level.  I’ve seen the song and video analyzed ad nauseum, but I did enjoy Toure’s breakdown of the swag off between Hov & Yeezy.  Check it out here.

And while I’m a huge Jermaine fan, this is hilarious:

#ColeWorld.

When “Otis” dropped this past week, I couldn’t help but chuckle at all the praise filled tweets and blogs, as if the track’s quality somehow caught folks off guard. It’s Hov and Yeezy! What do you expect?

This mini documentary really just teases us with what it might be like to live the uber-baller, can’t tell me nothin’ kind of life that Jay and Kanye exist in.  When you live in this plane, whatever you want to do, you just will it and it’s done. Want to record a masterpiece with your friends in Hawaii? No problem, MBDTF is your result.  Want to switch locales to Australia, rent castles, hang out with Russell Crowe, and immortalize him in music history?  You got it.

Despite a few folks trying to get their attention, there isn’t any competition in hip-hop for these two.  They live on the throne, we watch it.

New visuals for the No I.D./Legendary Traxter assisted track you probably heard during Derrick Rose’s Adidas commercials throughout the playoffs. Sean’s official debut, Finally Famous: The Album, drops on June 28th.  Boiiiiiiii.

We shall overcome.  One day.

Mitch: Here it is folks, the debut solo project from the recent G.O.O.D. Music addition, Pusha T, featuring appearances from Rick Ross, Kanye, 50 Cent & more. Now we just need that new Clipse album and we’re set. Download link below…

1. Intro
2. My God
3. I Still Wanna f. Rick Ross & Ab-Liva
4. Money On My Mind Freestyle
5. Feeling Myself f. Kevin Cossom
6. Blow (Funk Flex Freestyle)
7. Cook It Down Freestyle
8. Open Your Eyes
9. Can I Live Freestyle
10. Raid f. 50 Cent & Pharrell
11. Touch It f. Kanye West
12. Speakers Going Hammer Freestyle
13. Alone in Vegas (Outro)

Pusha T – Fear Of God (Mixtape)

As I’ve mentioned numerous times, I’m a sucker for flashing lights.  It’s a good thing I’m not prone to epileptic seizures, since this video is clearly going to cause a few of those.  This is an epic anthem and ‘Ye’s partnership with the NBA for All-Star Weekend is working flawlessly.

Best artist alive.

On Graduation, Kanye’s goal was to create stadium anthems (remember the line, “stadium status”?) and it seems with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, he’s crossed over to the orchestral world.  Opera house status doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but the music sure sounds perfect.

Interesting story from Million $ Mano about how his work ended up forming the backbone for Kanye’s “Lost In The World.”  Apparently he wasn’t credited on initial copies of the album but he’ll get his due in newer pressings.  Either way, it’s always cool to hear stories about how Kanye is down to work with lesser known, but always dope, artists and keep the cycle going.  It’s rather refreshing to see cats just excited about making dope music…

That said, producers: make sure you get your publishing in order.  Otherwise, when they ask “who will survive in America?”  It won’t be you.

Full interview over at Ruby Hornet.

Greatness.

Kanye’s records are so dope, people make completely unofficial visuals for them just cause.  Not bad at all, though really, just film any attractive female in slow motion and pair it with this song.  In the end, you’ll have a nice project.