First off, woops. Forget to pre-write this post today so now it’s 10PM. I was away this weekend and as I drove home my 3+ hours, I heard Jason Derulo’s “Whatcha Say.” For the most part, I do enjoy the song but I realized how much I miss hearing Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek” on its own. Hence, today’s post. Of course, there is some pop culture comedy to this song now too since The OC used it and SNL made fun of it.

Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek

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Let’s start out with I have not seen Crazy Heart yet but I’ve heard good things. Jeff Bridges is an excellent actor and they say this is one of his strongest performances. Regardless of the film, this song really drew me in. I’m not sure what it was but I liked the sound and truth in Bingham’s voice. In a way, it reminds me of Bob Dylan. Take a listen. Don’t know if you’ll enjoy it as much as me but it’s something different for sure.

Ryan Bingham – The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)

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Lupe is the man!

It took a long time for me to get into hip hop because there was (is) so much crap out there. But it’s the intelligence of some artists that truly astounds me. Lupe is the smartest rapper I have ever listened to. On Thanksgiving this year, he released his mixtape, Enemy of the State: A Love Story,and it was fantastic. He was supposed to release a second mixtape on Christmas Day but canceled that one as he was preparing for the charity event Summit on the Summit. His newest album, Lasers, will be released early this year with two singles having already been released. The track below is my favorite freestyle from the Enemy of the State mixtape which is over the top of Radiohead’s “The National Anthem.”

Lupe Fiasco – The National Anthem

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My freestyle shout out!

Last week, Ludacris fully released his Conjure Mixtape and I love it. I love Ludaman for all different reasons than Lupe. He dumbs it down but is so self aware of his style and is smart. My least favorite part of the mixtape is how much he is pushing his new cognac, Conjure.

Check it: Ludacris – Conjure Mixtape
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One more freestyle shout out this week: Wale (yes, Wale again)

Instead of going and choosing someone’s track to freestyle over, he asked for internet users to send in a sick beats and he would choose his favorite. I like the concept of what he did here more than the actual freestyle.

Wale – CJ The Genesis freestyle

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I’ve always enjoyed the Stones (at least their singles, anyway). “Sympathy For The Devil” has always been one of those songs that has stuck with me, as many good songs do. However, back in 2003, it was rejuvenated even more me when a remix album was released that included the original SFTD as well as three remixes. My favorite remix was by The Neptunes (you know the N.E.R.D guys, Pharrell and Chad Hugo). I think the best part was that there was also a video released for the remix, and a really cool, well-made video at that.

The other two remixes on the album (EP) were by Fatboy Slim (kinda cool video that uses original Stones footage) and Full Phatt.

Rolling Stones – Sympathy For The Devil

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Rolling Stones – Sympathy For The Devil (Neptunes Remix)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL_RbCGxqsc

I actually had not known about this upcoming release but now that I’ve heard this song, I cannot wait for the album. Nas is not a rapper I’ve regularly followed but now that I started looking into him, he’s pretty amazing. True, hit or miss with some songs but he’s got something going on. Watch for this collab album to drop this year with Damian Marley and Nas. Distant Relatives should have quite an interesting sound to it with these two working together.

Damian Marley & Nas – As We Enter

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Remember about 10 years about when pop stations were playing all that, well…shit on the radio. From 1997-2002, there was a reemergence of bubblegum pop on the radio. Originally it started in the the late 60s and early 70s as a form of music that appealed to pre-teens and teenagers. Well, its reemergence in the late 90s wasn’t quite as successful in the US as it was in the UK but we did end up with a few hits. (It pains me that there were actually hits). Eiffel 65 and Aqua would be the two bands I’m talking about today… Their singles topping the US Billboard chart at 6 and 7, respectively. Each, however, peaked at 1 in at least 12 other countries.



Eiffel 65 – Blue (Da Ba Dee)

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Aqua – Barbie Girl

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Here’s the first of many posts about Muse. They are my favorite band by far but I don’t want to overdo them too early so here’s a song they released online with Mike Skinner from The Streets. They’ve not recorded anything with him since but some critics considered this pairing to be England’s response to Rage Against The Machine. If anything, it’s certainly interesting to hear this Birmingham, UK native’s street poetry paired with Muse’s traditionally warped guitar sound.

Muse and The Streets – Who Knows Who

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This song is about 2.5 years old but it definitely still has not lost any meaning for me. LCD Soundsystem peaked the UK charts at only #41 with this song but other critics have ranked it much higher.

For me, it’s more about the personal touch of it. One of the trailers before “Up In The Air” this past week used the song and it stuck with me through the film. By the end, it’s all I could think about. Side note: See “Up In The Air.” It was fantastic. The writing was amazing. A bit sad but so very real. Anyway, back to the song. After seeing the film and hanging out with friends this weekend I don’t see as regularly as I used to really did make me think and realize how much I miss them on a regular basis.

So LCD, you got me thinking…”Where are my friends tonight?”

LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends

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“I know everything that shine ain’t always gonna be gold.” – Kid Cudi, Pursuit of Happiness

Cudi may have been wrong with this line. It seems like everything he touches is blowing up! Today’s song featuring Cudi was favorited well over 3000 times in 3 days on Hype Machine. In the past few weeks, he’s been charting like crazy online having been featured with Dan Black and David Guetta. And having been remixed by Steve Aoki and Leo Lotsaless. And, of course, his freestyles over tracks such as Ottoman by Vampire Weekend.

I’m really looking forward to Cudder’s next album which already has verbal commitments from Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker, and Pharrell. And he says he’s looking to work with other artists as well including Drake, Green Day, and the Killers.

Dan Black Feat. Kid Cudi – Symphonies (Remix)

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In November 2009, a album was recorded by the newly formed rap supergroup Young Money Entertainment. It’s been Lil Wayne’s label name since 2005 but now the other artists on the label have banded together to make an album. The song BedRock was leaked in September 2009 featuring  Lloyd and has had a number of freestyles over it since.

Wale is really making a name in the rap game. Having heard his mixtapes, singles, and seeing him perform live, he is definitely in stride with some of the top names in the industry. I think he’s got the charisma to appeal to hiphop audiences and the fresh ideas to reach some new widespread appeal. I’m thinking Wale is gonna be in the same category as Lupe Fiasco and the up-and-coming Kid Cudi.

O yeah, the bonus is Twista’s freestyle over BedRock too. I just really enjoy listening to the speed that Twista can flow.

Wale – BedRock (Freestyle)

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Twista – BedRock (Freestyle)

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