Just Gimme A Reason| The Jamiroquai Edition
Only my closest, CLOSEST, friends understand my undying love for the Hatted-One and his funky Acid Jazz band…Jamiroquai. Not because I’m ashamed to indulge others, but because I usually don’t feel that I can justifiably convey what Jamiroquai has given me during the past 5 or so years.
In Media Criticism my freshman spring, I wrote perhaps THE coolest piece (aside from my college entrance essay on five-year old KP seeing “It Aint Hard to Tell” on The Box for the first time) on ATCQ, The Roots and Jamiroquai & spirituality or transcendentalism or something…idk. I probably figured that it would be a good idea in a course where the professor had dredlocks and featured Mos’ “Rock N’ Roll” in one of her lessons.
I stuck a 4.5 minute video in the middle of my Media Crit final presentation, because it does a better job than I ever could of conveying…whatever it was I was trying to at the time. But seriously, what I learned from my charmingly crass, fellow tree-hugging Ferrari-fiend is that speaking politics from a white leather bucket chair and not a soapbox does wonders when it comes to winning people over–no matter how glaring your hypocrisies may be.
Just Gimme A Reason| The Blu Edition
For the past few months, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the perspective that working without the music industry has given me… I can be a super girly-girl and recite Rihanna lyrics verbatim with no shame and read Pitchfork reviews and value them for what they are–fabulous exercises in diction and vocabulary recall. I’ve let go of much of my disdain for the Top 40, as well as many of the artists I’ve supported who will never find the courage to take their talents to those heights.
But don’t get it twisted–there’s a star in every cypher and I still depend on my Old-Reliables to keep the heat coming. Namely Blu. Well, mainly Blu. There’s a reason for that. And I can’t wait for everyone to see why.
Blu – “Doinnothin (KeepItMoving)”
Nike One Love – Harlem (feat. Mz. Banks)
Love this.
Nike’s been throwing around some serious experiential marketing dollars these days, and while the One Love campaign (including video shorts, the 5 boro ball game and block party featuring Cory Gunz, Theophilus London and others) may not sell any kicks, it def gives Nike an edge over the seemingly sleeping competition.
Don’t know how many know of Mz. Banks, but I got my first taste in producer Machinedrum’s basement studio; after being warned that she’s way more “raw” than any rapper out now. She’s a cute little girl with a cute little voice, but that night in that studio, the award for most memorable lyric went to Mz. Banks: “I put boys with big d*cks at the top of my buddy list” …get the picture?
My Early Morning Pick Me Up | July
So, I won’t take the easy way out and blame my absence on graduating from college and the grad school prep, job hunt, and final appointments before insurance runs out, because that’s only part of the reason. I’ve actually been partying a lot and quite a bit with family–which means coconut parties galore (I use the term affectionately, really).
Here’s a little taste of the backyard boatride “Bottlefest” bashments that have taken over my weekends as of recently.
“Clarks” – Vybz Kartel
“Party Hard” – Donaeo
“Palance” – JW & Blaze
“Beg You A F***” – Vybz Kartel (who else..)
Eric Roberson – “Still”
As if the lyrics weren’t visual enough, the video comes and takes you somewhere else.
Theophilius London | I Want You Mixtape
This dude has evolved at an alarming rate. From 2008′s JAM! to this… Hop on board before he takes off.
click to download at Hypebeast.com
“Accept The New” – Theo over Dam-Funk production. Too smooth.
On Loop | Avery Storm – “Not Like My Girl”
Avery Storm definitely gets the 2009 Pearl Pinky Ring “Hook Of The Year” Award for his collab with Rick Ross on “Rich off Cocaine,” but you probably also know him from Ross’ “Here I Am,” Jadakiss’s “I Tried” or Biggie’s “Nasty Girl Remix”.
After raving about this guy for so long, I’m relieved to see some new material. Crossing my fingers that this is the first of many more to come..
“Not Like My Girl” ft. Rick Ross
Rick Ross – “Rich off Cocaine”
On Loop | Pac Div – “Rollin”
And I was just thinking about how much I miss these dudes…
Just like the “She” snippet that I’ve been murdering for months (which coincidentally loops perfectly…), this feels so good.
“Rollin” feat. Ty$
So proud. And ANOTHER stellar leak from Bob…
“Don’t Let Me Fall”
Miguel – “All I Want Is You” feat. J. Cole
These boys good…
I was introduced to Miguel via Blu’s 2007 Below The Heavens, and have been on the lookout for new stuff ever since. It seems that features on projects with Johnson & Jonson, Asher Roth and his own The Mischief mixtape have been leading up to this moment. If it’s a single? Who knows.. but it’s definitely gearing up for something bigger.
“All I Want Is You”
“Cold Hearted” feat. Miguel – Blu (off of Below The Heavens)
