Month: May 2016

[Rap & Trap Music] 21 Savage – Lord Forgive & Mind Yo Business


21 Savage’s “Slaughter King” is a steady progression of hard, dark trap beats and street lyrics that goes above and beyond its genre cliches.

[Rap & Hip-Hop] [RTS: Real Trap Sh*t]
21 Savage – Lord Forgive (prod. by Fukk 12)

21 Savage – Mind Yo Business

More from 21 Savage

If you’re not familiar with current Atlanta trap music “slaughter king,” 21 Savage shame on you…and me. I was not either until a few months ago back in early Spring. As an old head (or maybe slowly becoming an old fart), I had stopped following this generation of “trap” hip-hop after Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like” and similar songs dominated airwaves in the past year or two. Of course, here and there I’d hear a song I liked, mostly off of the radio, but I’ve always identified more with “trap” music of the early to mid 2000s (think Gucci Mane, T.I., Lil’ Boosie, Cam’Ron and a host of long fizzled out local ATL groups, like Crime Mob or D4L.

While recently chillin’ with some young bucks in the ATL streets, they did not hesitate to introduce me to the budding rapper. Just as I was with dubstep, trap EDM and IDM music, I did not immediately embrace this new type of music shown to be by friends. Especially as it seemed so braggadocious and over-laden with swag flexing, I initially could not take it seriously. Over time however, I began to hear of Savage more and decided to give his mixtape a listen. What could it hurt, right? Turns out I was glad I did.

I may not fully identify with Slaughter Gang, Chiraq Boys, or this young people’s generation of trapping, drug-dealing, “runnin’ up in them bandos”, pulling heists or other actions that might declare one as hard, but I can identify when music is bumpin’ as fuck (excuse my language, it is necessary here).

Slaughter King: Rating (4.5 out of 5 stars)

21 Savage’s “Slaughter King” is a solid tape full of hard, trap beats and lyrics that actually go above and beyond what I would expect from another trap rapper from ATL’s hoods to come up with. Not to say these rappers or this type of music isn’t ever witty or creative, but as is the problem in many genres (my god, like dubstep) after some time you realize a LOT of it sounds the same.

Thankfully, Savage switches it up with clever lyrics, original if not downright catchy ad-libs (21, 21, 21!!) and hooks. Two of my favorites so far off his December mixtape include “Lord Forgive”: the reflective, but very deep opening trap banger with Savage reminiscing on his come up in the rap game and in urban street life in general. For whatever reason, the instrumental ( masterfully produced by Fukk 12) makes me feel very nostalgic, but also very contemplative. The song definitely immediately feels heavy and while listening to it, as one YouTube commenter put it, “[you] can feel Savage’s pain on the track,” which comes across as sincere and certifiably street.

“MInd Yo Business” is probably one of the catchiest on the tape with a repeating hook (“Mind yo bidness b*tch”) over a similarly hard beat. The track is far more active compared to “Lord Forgive” and is already a favorite among many. There are many other standouts on the mixtape, “Deserve,” “No Peace” and very few boring or even similar sounding songs, save for one or two. Even on those tracks Savage still manages to make them entertaining.

Do yourself a favor (if you’re not an original/true fan of this genre of rap): suspend your judgement and how much you identify with gangsters and hood stars, or even the killers (as Desiigner’s “Panda” would like you to do) and simply enjoy and appreciate the power and feeling behind these trap-heavy numbers. You might be glad you did! Also in similar style of rap, also from Atlanta was Bankoll Fresh who has many now classic releases, following his tragic death in a shooting in March 2016.

 

[R&B EDM Remixes] Mario Winans – I Don’t Wanna Know (Zoo#Clique Edit) // Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (Synthetic Epiphany Remix)

Check out these two exceptional remixes of these iconic R&B singers: Destiny’s Child & Mario Winans


[R&B EDM Remixes] [Deep House/R&B]
Mario Winans – I Don’t Wanna Know (Zoo#Clique Edit)

Today, we’ve got two great EDM remixes of two very classic R&B tunes that are a throwback to early ’00s rhythm and blues music.

First up, a chill down-tempo, but still massive remix of Mario Winans “I Don’t Wanna Know” coming to us from CDeep Music’s Youtube Channel. The Zoo#Clique Remix expounds on the original adding layers of atmospheric deep ambient house, clublike basslines and rhythms and slowed vocals. This remix certainly does the original justice retaining most of the elements from the original, save for the stupidly sick sample of The Fugees “Ready or Not,” but that’s forgivable. Nevertheless, don’t miss out on this awesome track and summer 2016 ambient-chill banger! Download it for free!

[Ambient Future R&B]
Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (Synthetic Epiphany Remix)

Next, from the legendary R&B trio Destiny’s Child comes an epic remix of one of their most well known and popular single’s “Say My Name.” Destiny’s Child and its individual members are no strangers to remixes (especially of the electronic variety; check out a few under this post). The Synthetic Epiphany Remix re-imagines the R&B bopping anthem as a chill house club single that’ll round off nights with its building layers of ambiance, future sounds and throwback nostalgia.

Other notable Destiny’s Child Electronic Remixes:

[Progressive House]
Michelle Williams – We Break the Dawn (Karmatronic Remix)

[Dance House]
Beyonce – Greenlight (Freemasons Remix)

[Hip-Hop/Rap] [Trap] Dougie F – On Right Now

Check out this chill trap track from New Jersey rapper Dougie F. A definite banger for 2016!


[Hip-Hop/Rap] [Real Trap]
Dougie F – On Right Now (Produced by Dez Wright)


I’m so faded man, my feet off the ground,
I swear, I’m the man in my town
Everywhere I go they stop and stare me down,
Everywhere I go they stop and stare me down!

Sorry for being a little late posting this as I’ve been busy. New Jersey rapper Dougie F’s “On Right Now,” is a shining example of why we shouldn’t give up on today’s generation of rap. With a heavy trap beat, catchy snares and hooks, and an overall dark, heavy feel, that still comes across as party rap. Impressive.

Also featured are semi-freestyled lyrics that…*gasp actually make sense. Okay, so they might not be Nas or Tech N9ne bars, but Dougie’s realness is certainly perceivable, and far above most current radio rap. If nothing else the song sounds great and you can tell Dougie had a good time recording it; all elements that make up good music.

Check out more from Dougie F on his social media sites:

Soundcloud

Facebook

Website

[Real Hip-Hop/Rap:] Erykah Badu – Trill Friends (Kanye West Real Friends Remix)

Erykah Badu’s take on Kanye West’s “Real Friends” is a classic banger that addresses today’s notions of friendships and relationships.


[Real Hip-Hop & Rap]
Erykah Badu – Trill Friends (Kanye West Real Friends Remix)

Homeboys, and some of them we wish we never knew at all…
Homegirls, and some of them we wish we never knew at all…

R&B goddess and hip-hop‘s ephemeral, ‘realest b*tch in the game’s’ take on Kanye West’s “Real Friends” puts a sweet, touching spin on the calming head-banger. With an instrumental beat characteristic of Kanye himself, as a producer; Badu raps and sings over a prominent 4-bar loop of the song to make a point about friends. The repeating hook (and even elements of the original song) have a very J Dilla or No I.D. feel in being different and unique, but still clearly hip-hop.

According to Badu, these days we use the word “friends” far too loosely and ambiguously which results in most of us having homeboys and homegirls that we wish we never knew at all. “Real Friends” are a problem that have plagued humans since existence. Who are our real friends? How do we feel when our so-called homeboys and homegirls turn out not to be our friends? In this Internet age, it’s common for us not to have any friends, except online or through social media, or to think we have friends then catch them slighting us on social media, or not having our back online.

Who do you consider your “friends”, your “real friends”, your “homeboys/girls”? A psychologist once told me that he thought we should do away with the word “friends” altogether. He claimed the increased rates of “falling out” with friends is due to our own high expectations we set for people who are our “friends”. When they don’t live up to these expectations we feel disappointed (if a friend doesn’t like and comment on ALL your posts, or is usually in tug with you everywhere but in one instance you can’t find them/count on them).

We have to remember that friends are simply that, friends. Of course some of us have certain friends we can count on more than others, but in general when we start placing them on pedestals or expect them to always have our back we being searching for and expecting someone who goes beyond a “friend”. Think about that as you go about your day.

Kanye West’s Original Song: