Month: May 2015

[Origins Hip-Hop / Rap:] Lupe Fiasco – Hip Hop Saved My Life (feat. Nikki Jean) & The Die


One you never heard of, I
push it hard to further the —
grind, I feel like murder but,
hip-hop, you saved me…

Our origins post today is some more real hip-hop, this time from the intellectual and controversial Lupe Fiasco. “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” featuring Nikki Jean is one of the standout tracks from Lupe’s legendary album The Cool. This was Fiasco’s last EP before his disappointing release of Lasers where many fans felt Lupe sacrificed his original rapping style and authentic beats for a more mainstream sound. “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” is a great example of true hip-hop music with meaning and significance.

Also notable from The Cool is Lupe’s “The Die”, check it out below:

[Hip-Hop/Rap:] D.R.A.M. – Cha Cha // [Hip-Hop/Rap] Ty Dolla $ign – Never Back Down


D.R.A.M. has recently exploded onto the mainstream music scene after Beyonce featured their single “Cha Cha” on her Instagram. The Super Mario inspired hip-hop/cha cha song was released in March and is already gaining prominent airplay (I heard the song played on ATL’s Streets 94.5 FM yesterday). I’m sure we can expect to see more from this group in the coming weeks.

If you haven’t heard Ty Dolla $ign’s last prominent offering “Never Back Down” check it out above. With a slower, deep and dark beat Ty raps over a trappy instrumental with spacey synths. Quality remixes are bound to be aplenty soon if not already.

[EDM Origins] [House from France] Stromae – Te Quiero


Paul Van Haver, better known to the world as Stromae is a Belgian rapper, singer and producer who helped accelerate EDM’s rise to the main stage as well as advancing French music on the international market. Best known for his infectiously catchy house single “Alors on Danse” (“So We Dance”) which received special remix treatment from Kanye West got major airplay in the US.

Perhaps one of Stromae’s most powerful and moving songs is his 2010 single, “Te Quiero”. Mixing a powerful Spanish phrase with even more powerful lyrics in French, Te Quiero has less of a dance party feel then Alors On Danse but maintains much of Stromae’s signature house feel. Check out the song and music video above…

[Notable Lyrics:]

Je voudrais être son ombre [I want to be her shadow]
mais je le déteste… [but I detest her]
Te quiero [I love you]
Même au bout du monde [even at the end of the world]
et bien, qu’elle y reste [and well, let her stay there / there she’ll stay]
Te quiero [I love you]
Oui, je l’aimais tellement [yes, I love her a lot]
et je l’aime encore [and I still love her]
Je n’aurai pas le choix, non [I won’t have the choice, no]
Jusqu’à la mort [until I die…]

Stromae’s “Tous les memes” “All the Same”

[Throwbacks][Rap:] Riff Raff – Judo Chop (Freestyle) // [Ambient / Chill EDM:] Little Jinder – Keep On Dreamin’ – Mat the Alien Remix


Got two throwbacks for you today. Our first comes from the wildly popular rapper, RiFF RaFF, the Diplo label mate who got his start on MTV’s “From G’s to Gents” thug-makeover TV reality show. RiFF RaFF has since been all over the music scene, especially as he has evolved in his sound. This single, “Judo Chop” is one of his more popular songs. If you haven’t heard it, check it out above.

Keep On Dreamin’ (Mat the Alien Remix) – Little Jinder

Keep on dreaming… (you gotta)
keep on dreaming…

Keep on dreaming… (you gotta)
keep on dreaming… (it could all fall apart)

Next up is a great remix from accomplished and established Swedish electronic-dance pop singer, Little Jinder. This special remix from Mat the Alien puts a whole new chill-ambient spin on the original song and has a much more vibe-able beat and bassline. Check it out and download it for free on Mat’s Soundcloud.

[Trap / Festival Trap:] Migos & Rich The Kid – Jumpin’ Like Jordan (Kickraux, Riot Ten & Jack Bass Official Trap Remix) // [Trap] O.G. Maco – U Guessed It (Riot Ten’s NOT SO OFFICIAL Remix)


California based electronic producer KickRaux and El Paso-native hip-hop/trap producer Riot Ten and Jack Bass released a massive trap remix of Jumpin’ Like Jordan several months back. If you haven’t heard it be sure to check it out. This remix adds several layers of bass, trappiness and an even nastier twerk-inducing 4×4 rhythm than the original song, sure to tear up clubs and festivals, alike. The artists offer the song as a free download on Soundcloud.

Riot Ten also has a sick remix of O.G. Maco’s smash-hit “U Guessed It” and is one of the best remixes I have heard of the song. You can also download it for free on his Soundcloud.

[Throwback] [Alternative / Rock:] Taking Back Sunday – Liar (It Takes One to Know One)


Today’s throwback:

Alternative, pop-punk, post-hardcore emo band Taking Back Sunday was a band I heard a lot about in my high school days but didn’t particularly check out, or like too much. However, “Liar (It Takes One to Know One)” was one of several songs from the genre I particularly enjoyed, along the same time I was listening to early Fall Out Boy, Killswitch Engage, Silverstein (whose first CD I bought), Breaking Benjamin, Incubus, The Killers and Modest Mouse. Journey back to 2006 with this single from the album, MakeDamnSure.

All our secrets they are tailored trouble
draped loose now around your hip —
your spotless instincts are valid
We co-exist…

—

If you tell me that you don’t bend…
Liar, Liar
if we’re keeping score,
we’re all choir boys at best (interested and arrogant)

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