Video: Gucci Mane f. Usher, “Spotlight”
- story Peter Macia
People (us and everyone else) have been wondering why anyone in his or her right mind would assemble this song, let alone make it the lead single for Gucci’s new album. BUT, having now watched this video twice through, it is clearly just a means to this hilarious visual end. It’s like, look how not bummed Gucci is when Eddie Murphy’s daughter busts him in the club partying with Nicki Minaj. Look how not bummed Gucci is when he’s dancing with Usher. Look how extremely not bummed Gucci is wearing a chain that is a claw from one of those stupid toy vending machines that are impossible. Gucci is so not bummed with all of it that we’re just going to call him Doctor Not Bummed from now on. Paging Doctor Not Bummed, there is a record label hemorrhaging money, please report to the ATM stat.
Pill, “Hear Somebody Comin” MP3
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Toward the end of “Hear Somebody Comin,” Pill stops his Kool G Rap-esque flow to breathe heavily before launching right back in, and the whole time it sounds like he’s having fun. All we can ask is: is anyone out there still complaining that hip-hop is dead? Any dinosaur rap backpackers lamenting a dearth of lyricism? What’s up with that? What are you listening to?
Download: Pill, “Hear Somebody Comin”
Theophilus London & Dam-Funk on BBC Radio
- story Peter Macia
- photo Jason Nocito (F64)
Our dudes Theophilus and Dam shared the spotlight last night on Gilles Peterson’s show. TL was in studio after finishing up a jaunt through the UK with Jack Penate and Dam beamed his section in from Planet Funkazoid (his house in LA). Before and after, Gilles plays his regular mellow jams. Light some “incense” and get your day going.
Stream: Theophilus London & Dam-Funk on BBC Radio
Bonus Dam with cat photo from FADER Issue 64 by Jason Nocito.
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posted on Nov 4, 2009 in MP3 / STREAMS tags Dam-Funk, electronic/dance, Four Tet, Gilles Peterson, hip hop, Theophilus London
Video: Freddie Gibbs f. Pill, “Womb 2 the Tomb”
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
There have been some excellent arguments for a full-on collab album between two of our favorite working rappers Freddie Gibbs and Pill, and this video for “Womb 2 the Tomb” (which comes from Gibbs’ most recent mixtape), is just another reason to lock them in a studio together. They could be rapping about the phone book, and as long as it was delivered with Gibbs’ ominous control and Pill’s completely off the rails rasp, we’d be into it.
Video: Young Dro f. Yung LA, “I Don’t Know Y’all”
- story Peter Macia
Sadly, it still says on Young Dro’s MySpace that his P.O.L.O. album, which we wrote about in our Summer Music Issue a few months ago, is coming in August 2009. It’s November 2009. But they’re still giving him and Yung LA money to make videos so that has to be a good sign right? Even if the videos have a crazy filter on the camera and a weird Black Sheep interlude in which an old man steals a dollar from a child? That might actually be a sign of great confidence from a label at this point, who can tell? We’re definitely rooting for Dro either way.
Video: Jay-Z f. Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind” (FADER Version)
- story Peter Macia
Apparently the snitches we rely on to pass our ideas to rich and powerful weren’t listening when we pitched our treatment of this video, so here goes. Hype, feel free to redo, so long as we get a cut.
FADER IN: VERSE ONE:
As the first notes of “Empire” ring through the speakers, the camera focuses on the front door of Jay’s old building in Marcy. A few current young residents stand near. As Jay’s verse begins, he emerges from the door and the camera dollies with him. He walks east through Marcy, gathering followers behind him with every step until the first chorus.
Premiere: Ryan Leslie, Transition Album Stream
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
- photo Annie Tritt (F55 outtake)
It seems like just yesterday that Ryan Leslie was sitting on a massive pile of breezy hits, trying to get them out to the world. Honestly, it was not actually that long ago, but even so, we’re totally okay with Leslie dropping a whole other record, and even more okay with imeem providing an album stream for us. First listen through has Leslie taking an even more grown and sexy route this time around. There is a song called—get ready—”SUNDAY NIGHT” about hanging out with your significant other at home and listening to records. And how he could probably do that forever. And how that’s all he wants to do. Sounds relaxing. Mainly though, this is an album of light jams that are pretty much telling us that, even when times are bad, at least we have this kinda dorky dude writing music to make us feel pretty good.
The Game f. Gucci Mane & Timbaland, “Krazy” MP3
- story Peter Macia
Never judge a street single by its title because what looks like a misguided and mistimed attempt by The Game to both hit radio (Tim) and the zeitgeist (Radric) in advance of his new album might actually work out. Tim’s beat is about as far from the trance-pop he (or Danja) has been riding since “My Love,” Tim actually spits a decent verse and the whole thing kind of just sounds like a Gucci song since Game does his best impression over the course of his three verses. BURRR.
Download: The Game f. Gucci Mane & Timbaland, “Krazy”
Video: Freddie Gibbs, “Boxframe Cadillac”
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Watching this video is just further proof that Freddie Gibbs can do alright without the major label record machine. He’s already got an outlet for his music, and between these Yourstru.ly videos and the one we shot in a hotel room, Gibbs has plenty to look at as well. They’re all pretty simple performance-based pieces, but that’s kind of what Gibbs is all about. Dude likes to rap—on stage, on record, in hotel rooms, in really dark studios, wherever. Up above watch as Gibbs performs “Boxframe Cadillac,” a song that both celebrates and makes us feel kind of sad about weed.
Lil Wayne, No Ceilings Mixtape
- story Peter Macia
The New Yorker laid a wreath on rap last week and got an instant and thorough undressing via Das Racist, but an even better defense is No Ceilings, which is so ridiculous, awesome and vital that you’d be really hard-pressed convincing us that Wayne (and rap, by association) isn’t just getting started. Like, has Sasha Frere-Jones not heard “Swag Surfin’“? Wayne sounds like Pearl from 227 on that shit. Is there another genre doing impressions of cranky old sitcom ladies and making it sound like the best idea since bottled beer? Don’t think so. To be fair, Frere-Jones probably wrote that story a while ago, but it’s not like Wayne didn’t help foist Drake and Nikki Minaj on pop this year, Cudi didn’t sell a ton of records with some help from Ratatat and “Empire State of Mind” isn’t just about the new official song of New York City. Blueprint 3 may not have had “A Milli,” but nobody is really depending on Jay-Z to supply #1 jams anymore anyway. We’re just glad new Wayne tapes still feel like a big deal, even if some people don’t care anymore.
Lil Wayne, No Ceilings Mixtape (via 2dopeboyz)
UPDATE: Download the official mixtape with new songs at Dat Piff
