66. Hitboy – Jay Z Interview
Posted: March 7, 2013 Filed under: hip hop | Tags: a song a day, a$ap rocky, california, drop the world, eminem, goldie, good music, hip hop, hit boy, jay z, justin bieber, kanye, lil wayne, nicki minaj, niggas in paris, producer, surf club Leave a comment
Producer turned rapper, Hit Boy is one of the hottest new talents in US hip hop. Aside from producing for the likes of everyone from Nicki Minaj to Lil Wayne to A$AP Rocky (“Goldie” one of his finest works), he is also signed to Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music imprint, showing how highly he is regarded. His production on “N*ggas in Paris” says it all, one of last year’s biggest tracks.
His burgeoning rap career is interesting – his style isn’t necessarily the most cut through but he has an ear for beats and artistic endeavours. I’m a sucker for a beat over a rapper and this is the case with this, but if he can further refine his writing style there lies potential for the California native to shine.
Roll with the hits
65. Common – Be
Posted: March 6, 2013 Filed under: hip hop classics | Tags: a song a day, be, chicago, common, good music, hip hop, Kanye west, no i.d, rap Leave a comment
An album intro is always one of the hardest things to execute. It sets the tone for everything you’re set to say afterwards; the imagery, prose, pomposity…all of it has to be considered. And then Common created Be, blowing out the water what most had done before him.
A staple of concious hip hop since his debut in ’92, Chicago rapper Common has managed to stay current, fresh and unemcumbered by film and TV success in the same way that perhaps Ice-Cube and Ice-T have (must be an ice thing). Now signed to Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music album and featuring heavily across the latest Cruel Summer release, this cut is from his most famous album of the same name. It also features one of my favourite closing lines
“Never looking back, or too far in front of me, the present is a gift, and I just wanna be”
Common over
46. Kanye West feat Pusha T – New God Flow
Posted: February 15, 2013 Filed under: hip hop | Tags: 2013, a song a day, clique, common, good music, hammersmith apollo, Kanye west, kim kardashian, live, mercy, new god flow, pusha t Leave a comment
In honour of Kanye’s abruptly announced shows next weekend at the Hammersmith Apollo, here’s my favourite track from the Cruel Summer G.O.O.D Music album. Show me a better opening line than “I believe there’s a God above me, I’m just the God of everything else” #ego
26. Kanye West – I Wonder
Posted: January 26, 2013 Filed under: hip hop | Tags: a song a day, a song a day 2013, cruel summer, good music, graduation, I wonder, Kanye west, Labi siffre, late registration, my song, rocafella Leave a comment
You’ll be seeing a lot of Kanye on this blog, as despite his detractors and his eccentric behaviour, he remains the most talented hip hop act we have in the world today (note – not the best rapper, that mantle can be duked put amongst the others)
The care and craft Yeezy puts into his albums is quite outstanding, treading the line between artistic and bombastic and his ear for sampling records both connects him and makes him stand out from hip hop history.
I Wonder samples Labi Siffre’s “My Song” and with a mix of original pianos and euphoric synths, Kanye demonstrates why he is the complete rapper/producer combo.
A Song A Day 2013 