Good news recent and soon-to-be college grads. Even if you get stuck with a shitty job at Google, you can still “make it.” Hoodie Allen‘s living proof. If you’re just tuning in, recap: U Penn grad Steven “Hoodie Allen” Markowitz ditched his gig at Google to further pursue his rap career after sleep deprivation started to become a serious issue and he couldn’t silence the passion. Good for us! Bad for Google I guess.
Continuing his ascent along his alternate life path, Hoodie’s back at it with his latest mixtape, “Leap Year.” His style can be filed under the nerd-rap genre that Childish Gambino has made me a fan of. If you enjoy the endless and calculated wit that obviously reflects a prestigious college degree, you’re in for a treat. But beyond the bars, the man has shown an aptitude for songwriting. His last tape, “Pep Rally,” also showcased his diverse musical taste, with samples all over the place from The Black Keys to Death Cab. His flow’s surprisingly sharp and he’s got a knack for making hooks that are catchy as hell. The buzz is rapidly growing. Hop on the Hoodie train!
Tracklist
1. Song for an Actress
2. Can’t Hold Me Down (ft. Tayyib Ali)
3. The Chase is On
4. James Franco
5. You’re Welcome
6. Soul On Fire
7. Every Time You Go
8. Push You Away
9. Sticks and Stones
10. Flipping Out
11. #WhiteGirlProblems
12. Dreams Up
13. Moon Bounce
Good news recent and soon-to-be college grads. Even if you get stuck with a shitty job at Google, you can still “make it.” Hoodie Allen‘s living proof. If you’re just tuning in, recap: U Penn grad Steven “Hoodie Allen” Markowitz ditched his gig at Google to further pursue his rap career after sleep deprivation started to become a serious issue and he couldn’t silence the passion. Good for us! Bad for Google I guess.
Continuing his ascent along his alternate life path, Hoodie’s back at it with his latest mixtape, “Leap Year.” His style can be filed under the nerd-rap genre that Childish Gambino has made me a fan of. If you enjoy the endless and calculated wit that obviously reflects a prestigious college degree, you’re in for a treat. But beyond the bars, the man has shown an aptitude for songwriting. His last tape, “Pep Rally,” also showcased his diverse musical taste, with samples all over the place from The Black Keys to Death Cab. His flow’s surprisingly sharp and he’s got a knack for making hooks that are catchy as hell. The buzz is rapidly growing. Hop on the Hoodie train!
Tracklist
1. Song for an Actress
2. Can’t Hold Me Down (ft. Tayyib Ali)
3. The Chase is On
4. James Franco
5. You’re Welcome
6. Soul On Fire
7. Every Time You Go
8. Push You Away
9. Sticks and Stones
10. Flipping Out
11. #WhiteGirlProblems
12. Dreams Up
13. Moon Bounce
It’s no longer a secret that Dom Kennedy‘s been killin it the past few years. His tracks are starting to wear out my iTunes. From the Westside with Love received critical acclaim, and for good reason; it was a great project. A ballad of reflection, inspiration, and coming of age through the eyes of a young man in Leimert Park, CA. There’s a few tracks on there that are on another level. (‘Locals Only’ still adjusts my mindstate everytime). So, naturally, when Dom announced that he’d be releasing a sequel to FWWL, expectations went nuts like some mexican jumping beans. To amplify things, he stated in interviews that the project would be a true sequel — that the first didn’t say all he wanted to say, and that the second would be a completion of the full project. At this point, I’m thinking how the notion of expectations really is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it creates an excitement and optimism that stems from the imagination. But, on that dreaded other hand, it creates the great potential for disappointment. This is especially the case when it comes to hyped and anticipated new projects from artists.
But FWWLII is not the same as the first. And that’s a good thing. Dom Kennedy in 2011 is in a completely different place than Dom Kennedy in 2010. A year presents itself with many experiences and things to express, and that shows in this release. The vibe is different, and any artist who doesn’t change from release to release is simply stagnant.
The tone is set with “Dom’s Prayer,” the intro track that turns out to be the best on the album. Dom starts out powerfully, proclaiming ‘with love on my mind and fire in my heart, they can never take us a part. Never.’ He picks up right where he left off on the outro from the Bonus Track on FWWL, “Me Again,” sharing honest knowledge that can only come from experience. This track showcases Dom at his best, what we saw throughout I — passionate, honest, reflective. Lord forgive me for this watch I bought/I know that shit had cost a lot/And I don’t really like to floss a lot/But I just really feel the time is right. This track serves as an intro into how things have changed since ‘I’. From here he goes into “Grind’n,” a song that’s a lot of fun. Be careful, that shit will have you sayin “grind’n” for up to 24 hrs after listening. Dom delivers repeated lines in his usual rhymescheme over a beat that utilizes some scratching. I love anytime a producer throws this in there (part of why A-Trak’s live performances are so entertaining) .
Females is a common theme/topic of the album, with “Come Over,” “She Ain’t In Love,” “I Love Dom,” “The Ways,” and “Dream to Me.” This makes up the heart of the album so it takes over the vibe of it. Come Over and She Ain’t In Love have a 90s feel to em, with the latter mixing in a very cool synth. “O.P.M.” has a sexy chorus that gives it anthem potential.
The album’s also got its share of bangers. “Platinum Chanel” is one of the standouts, reminds me of “Designer Sh*t” from OGDK, aside from the obvious title similarity. “New Jeeps” was destined for greatness with production from Chuck Inglish and verses from Asher Roth and Mikey Rocks. Dom follows up with another feature, bringing Big K.R.I.T. along on “2mph,” and then again with “Beats, Hoes, and Rhymes,” which features Casey Veggies and Schoolboy Q. The last track, “Graduate,” ends the project in typical Dom fashion, although without as much as emphasis as his previous projects.
The feel of this album is definitely a lot different from Dom’s previous releases. Some babies are gonna be made to this shit. But it shows a little range of what he can do as an artist which is cool, and is definitely worth your money. Go grab it on iTunes if you haven’t already!
+jangbar
Tracklist
1. Dom’s Prayer
2. Grind’n
3. When I Come Around
4. Come Over
5. She Ain’t In Love
6. Money Don’t Stop
7. O.P.M.
8. Platinum Chanel
9. I Love Dom
10. The Ways
11. Mr Champagne Intermission (ft. Polyester)
12. Ice Cream Truck
13. New Jeeps ft. Asher Roth x Mikey Rocks
14. 2MPH ft. Big K.R.I.T
15. Beats, Hoes & Rhymes ft. Casey Veggies x Schoolboy Q
16. Dream To Me
17. Graduate
FULL POST
It’s no longer a secret that Dom Kennedy‘s been killin it the past few years. His tracks are starting to wear out my iTunes. From the Westside with Love received critical acclaim, and for good reason; it was a great project. A ballad of reflection, inspiration, and coming of age through the eyes of a young man in Leimert Park, CA. There’s a few tracks on there that are on another level. (‘Locals Only’ still adjusts my mindstate everytime). So, naturally, when Dom announced that he’d be releasing a sequel to FWWL, expectations went nuts like some mexican jumping beans. To amplify things, he stated in interviews that the project would be a true sequel — that the first didn’t say all he wanted to say, and that the second would be a completion of the full project. At this point, I’m thinking how the notion of expectations really is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it creates an excitement and optimism that stems from the imagination. But, on that dreaded other hand, it creates the great potential for disappointment. This is especially the case when it comes to hyped and anticipated new projects from artists.
But FWWLII is not the same as the first. And that’s a good thing. Dom Kennedy in 2011 is in a completely different place than Dom Kennedy in 2010. A year presents itself with many experiences and things to express, and that shows in this release. The vibe is different, and any artist who doesn’t change from release to release is simply stagnant.
The tone is set with “Dom’s Prayer,” the intro track that turns out to be the best on the album. Dom starts out powerfully, proclaiming ‘with love on my mind and fire in my heart, they can never take us a part. Never.’ He picks up right where he left off on the outro from the Bonus Track on FWWL, “Me Again,” sharing honest knowledge that can only come from experience. This track showcases Dom at his best, what we saw throughout I — passionate, honest, reflective. Lord forgive me for this watch I bought/I know that shit had cost a lot/And I don’t really like to floss a lot/But I just really feel the time is right. This track serves as an intro into how things have changed since ‘I’. From here he goes into “Grind’n,” a song that’s a lot of fun. Be careful, that shit will have you sayin “grind’n” for up to 24 hrs after listening. Dom delivers repeated lines in his usual rhymescheme over a beat that utilizes some scratching. I love anytime a producer throws this in there (part of why A-Trak’s live performances are so entertaining) .
Females is a common theme/topic of the album, with “Come Over,” “She Ain’t In Love,” “I Love Dom,” “The Ways,” and “Dream to Me.” This makes up the heart of the album so it takes over the vibe of it. Come Over and She Ain’t In Love have a 90s feel to em, with the latter mixing in a very cool synth. “O.P.M.” has a sexy chorus that gives it anthem potential.
The album’s also got its share of bangers. “Platinum Chanel” is one of the standouts, reminds me of “Designer Sh*t” from OGDK, aside from the obvious title similarity. “New Jeeps” was destined for greatness with production from Chuck Inglish and verses from Asher Roth and Mikey Rocks. Dom follows up with another feature, bringing Big K.R.I.T. along on “2mph,” and then again with “Beats, Hoes, and Rhymes,” which features Casey Veggies and Schoolboy Q. The last track, “Graduate,” ends the project in typical Dom fashion, although without as much as emphasis as his previous projects.
The feel of this album is definitely a lot different from Dom’s previous releases. Some babies are gonna be made to this shit. But it shows a little range of what he can do as an artist which is cool, and is definitely worth your money. Go grab it on iTunes if you haven’t already!
+jangbar
Tracklist
1. Dom’s Prayer
2. Grind’n
3. When I Come Around
4. Come Over
5. She Ain’t In Love
6. Money Don’t Stop
7. O.P.M.
8. Platinum Chanel
9. I Love Dom
10. The Ways
11. Mr Champagne Intermission (ft. Polyester)
12. Ice Cream Truck
13. New Jeeps ft. Asher Roth x Mikey Rocks
14. 2MPH ft. Big K.R.I.T
15. Beats, Hoes & Rhymes ft. Casey Veggies x Schoolboy Q
16. Dream To Me
17. Graduate
Rusko continues his pioneer work, attempting to make dubstep appealing to the masses. This one leaked last week to Rusko’s dismay and features Mike Posner. Posner’s vocals work nicely over Rusko’s production, and as always, he keeps his straight-forward lyrical style here. Is it a stretch to say Rusko is doing for dubstep what Guetta did with One Love? This sounds a lot like his previous collab with Gucci Mane as well as “My Mouth.” Although Rusko faithful will consider this one a little cheesed up, the bass is still pretty beefy. I think I just turned this into a Taco Bell ad. Check it out below!
Getting you guys ready for the release of his new project “Leap Year” coming on Tuesday, check Hoodie Allen‘s video for “Chase is On.”
FULL POST
Rusko continues his pioneer work, attempting to make dubstep appealing to the masses. This one leaked last week to Rusko’s dismay and features Mike Posner. Posner’s vocals work nicely over Rusko’s production, and as always, he keeps his straight-forward lyrical style here. Is it a stretch to say Rusko is doing for dubstep what Guetta did with One Love? This sounds a lot like his previous collab with Gucci Mane as well as “My Mouth.” Although Rusko faithful will consider this one a little cheesed up, the bass is still pretty beefy. I think I just turned this into a Taco Bell ad. Check it out below!
Today we received the first drop (not counting H.A.M.) from Jay-Z & Kanye’s “Watch the Throne.” I thought the whole album leaked and freaked out for a second, but it’s just this track. Still, this one, which features a sample from the “King of Soul” Otis Redding, is enough to wet your appetite. I have faith they won’t let us down come August 1st.
Today we received the first drop (not counting H.A.M.) from Jay-Z & Kanye’s “Watch the Throne.” I thought the whole album leaked and freaked out for a second, but it’s just this track. Still, this one, which features a sample from the “King of Soul” Otis Redding, is enough to wet your appetite. I have faith they won’t let us down come August 1st.
Roll somethin’ up and rejoice. Two new collabs from Wiz, Curren$y, and Big Sean have surfaced today and yesterday. Not as bonkers as the last couple songs Wiz and Big Sean did together, but both joints are solid. How crazy would it be if these three made a tape together? #taylorjetlifeovereverything
Roll somethin’ up and rejoice. Two new collabs from Wiz, Curren$y, and Big Sean have surfaced today and yesterday. Not as bonkers as the last couple songs Wiz and Big Sean did together, but both joints are solid. How crazy would it be if these three made a tape together? #taylorjetlifeovereverything
We’re a little over halfway through what’s been the best year for music since Pitbull entered the scene and I’m lovin’ it. It’s like Christmas is multiplying. People are opening their minds to new genres, and artists are blending together styles thereby creating new genres. Plus, they’re all working harder than ever putting out projects to stay relevant and atop the game. We’ve been gifted with more bangers than I know what to do with this year; been doing my best to throw it all up here, but I thought it’d be best if I neatly packaged the best of what’s come out this year into a playlist. I tried to stay away from the tracks that are on albums but a few were too good to leave out. Enjoy!
+jangbar
We’re a little over halfway through what’s been the best year for music since Pitbull entered the scene and I’m lovin’ it. It’s like Christmas is multiplying. People are opening their minds to new genres, and artists are blending together styles thereby creating new genres. Plus, they’re all working harder than ever putting out projects to stay relevant and atop the game. We’ve been gifted with more bangers than I know what to do with this year; been doing my best to throw it all up here, but I thought it’d be best if I neatly packaged the best of what’s come out this year into a playlist. I tried to stay away from the tracks that are on albums but a few were too good to leave out. Enjoy!
+jangbar
New song from Dom Kennedy and Curren$y? Why the fuck not. Glad to see Dom continue to make tracks, and we’ve come to expect new shit from Curren$y every other day – he’s lookin’ like the hardest working rapper of 2011. Check it below! I wanna go to Hennessy Beach…
New song from Dom Kennedy and Curren$y? Why the fuck not. Glad to see Dom continue to make tracks, and we’ve come to expect new shit from Curren$y every other day – he’s lookin’ like the hardest working rapper of 2011. Check it below! I wanna go to Hennessy Beach…
