Category: Hip-Hop/Rap

[Throwback: Emotive Hip-Hop] Best of Joe Budden: Sidetracked // Other Deep, “Emo” Rappers – Cudi, Cinos, Charles Hamilton

Joe Budden’s “Sidetracked” is one of today’s throwback posts to emotive hip-hop, featuring a sick sample of Coldplay’s “Lost”


[Emotive Hip-Hop Throwback:] Joe Budden – Sidetracked // More deep-emotive hip-hop at end of this post:

[Coldplay “Lost” sample:]

Just because I’m losin’
Doesn’t mean I’m lost,
Doesn’t mean I’ll stop
Doesn’t mean I will cross…

From The Dope Chronicles (Feb 2015)

Song: Sidetracked |
Album: Halfway House |
Year: 2009

“I’ve lost so many relationships, is it, just because I don’t relate to shit?”

Source: Best of Joe Budden v.2: #28 Sidetracked

Joe battles with an inner issue in this song. Is there something deeper in this song that what’s on the surface? Maybe. To me, it seems like his old friend depression is the cause behind his lack of focus and flip-flop of things.

At times he’s pumped, he’s motivated, he’s ready to hit the studio but then there’s days where he doesn’t want to do that. He sees it as pointless. It’s a waste of time.

This throwback post recalls one of Joe Budden‘s “unreleased” tracks from his 2009 mixtape Halfway House, an EP many speculate, Budden wrote while depressed. As someone who has dealt with bouts of the ailment myself I can relate in parts of his “Sidetracked” song [Sometimes I wanna make music/sometimes I feel it’s just useless…] a deep recollection of the darker side to fame over hip-hop beats (and a sick Coldplay sample).

In general, I try to avoid depressing music but there are times when it feels right to me (especially during the colder months). Sometimes the raps can hit close to home and stir emotions, at other times (to me) these songs may be sonically great, or have a sick beat/sample but the depressing lyrics turn the would-be banger into a “pity-party” that I probably wouldn’t play around other people at least not for cranking round the city or getting ready to hit the club. I feel neutral as this music certainly has it’s place; some of Kid Cudi’s greatest tracks are fairly sad. But, Cudi balances it pretty well.

This mixtape of Budden’s, a lot of Charles Hamilton’s music, almost all of Cinos‘ songs I’ve heard (apart from Rain Zone) and even some from Lil B squarely fit this bill. How do you feel about songs that are sad?

Other Good Sad and Emotive Rap Highlights:

Kid Cudi – Going to the Ceremony


Charles Hamilton – Happy Ending
https://www.youtube.com/bP4yaxRVIjg

Cinos – Lighthouse Zone


Cinos – Rain Zone (not emotive, but just damn good)

Cage – Blood Boy

[Hip-Hop Origins:] [Throwback] Eminem – Seduction (Prod. by DJ Kahlil) // [Dance Origins:] [Deep Trance Throwback] Tom Clous – Secretly & 4 Clubbers – Secrets

Origins’ posts of the day include a hip-hop throwback from one of the game’s legends, Eminem. On the flipside, EDM Origins covers two deep-trance throwbacks, one, vocal chill the trance, the other a festival-ready trance-hit.


Today’s Hip-Hop Origins / Throwback Post:

[Hip-Hop/Rap] Eminem – Seduction (prod. by DJ Kahlil)

From his 2010 album “Recovery” which Eminem has rapped about in his semi-unreleased single “Syllabes” featuring Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Stat Quo & 50 Cent, claiming “Encore he [I] was on drugs, Recovery [I] was flushin’ em out” Eminem recognized this wasn’t his strongest album, but despite that a few bangers are still present. “Seduction” is a deeply-emotional track with a very solid beat and rhyme structure where Mathers compares the rap game to a woman he wants to seduce with lines like “One minute she loves you / the next she don’t / she’s been stolen from you / it’s like a (verbal) seduction when I tell ’em ‘Girls on the floor…”

Eminem is contanstly brought up on comment sections and internet forums as one of the “Greatest MCs of All Time,” whether true or not, no one can deny the “not afraid to take it there” rapper, “8-Mile” star-actor, and ever-controversial Marshall Mathers lacks longevity. Eminem’s music is a shining beacon of originality in a music scene, that, at times, completely lacks it. Ever since hearing “My Name Is (Slim Shady)” at summer camp probably around the age of 10, knowing “my parents would kill me if they knew I was listening to such profane music” (lol) I knew there was something special about Eminem. He had a very unique sound, that sounded authentic, not faked, and some killer back-up in production and features. Working with Dido, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and countless other artists Eminem certainly has a spot in the circle of “Greatest Rappers of All-TIme.”

Check out this classic throwback and leave comments below about what you think of Recovery and Eminem as a rapper.

Eminem on Twitter

[Deep Trance] Tom Klous – Secretly

[Eurodance / Festival Trance] 4 Clubbers – Secrets

Next we’re highlighting two classic trance tunes, Tom Klous’ “Secretly” and 4 Clubbers’ “Secrets (Club Mix),” two great EDM tracks showcasing the moving power of good trance music. The first “Secretly,” from EDM DJ-producer, Tom Klous, is a chill vocal trance track with heavy layers of instrumentation coupled with mesmerizing vocals (from Tiff Lacey). The second “Secrets,” by 4 Clubbers, is much more energetic and incorporates this energy into fist-pumping, festival-ready synths alongside a very European-style dance/bass structure.

[From AllHipHop:] Lupe Fiasco Hints “The Cool 2” on Twitter


NO WORD ON THE RELEASE DATE OR WHO’S ON THE ALBUM, BUT THIS IS A START.

Source: Lupe Fiasco Hints “The Cool 2” on Twitter

From AllHipHop.com

[Hip-Hop/Breakdance Origins] [B-Boy Rap Beats] KRS-One – Steady Bounce

Check out this classic KRS-One anthem dedicated to b-boys and b-girls across the world, “Steady Bounce”.


[Breakdance Hip-Hop:] Steady Bounce – KRS-One

Steady bouncin’ them jeeps on the New York streets
steady bouncin’ them jeeps on the New York streets
steady bounce-steady bounce-steady bounce….

For this Hip-Hop & Rap Origins post we’re featuring a classic, beat-heavy KRS-One track dedicated to b-boys and b-girls. From the album Strickly For Da Breakdancers & Emceez “Steady Bounce” is relatively simple in its structure and layers — and that works perfectly here. The result is a certifiably, windmill-ready mix of beats and repeating hooks harkening to the days of olde; sweats, fresh sneakers and bodies contorting over cardboard boxes on the sidewalks and them city streets.

Check out more from KRS-ONE here:

KRS One Website
KRS One Twitter

[Rap Game Japan Heavy:] KOHH’s Mixtape “Riverside” Embodies American Hip-Hop & Japanese Flavor // Check out 25 Japanese Rappers You Need to Know


Hiroi Sekai (Worldwide) – J $tash, KOHH & Young Sachi (Andy Milonakis)

“貧乏なんて気にしない” Official Video [Translation: I don’t mind if I’m poor]

Japanese rapper KOHH has been making waves in the international hip-hop scene for quite some time now. After joining up with rapper J $tash’s Relax Gang for the track and comedian, former TV star and social media star Andy Milonakis. KOHH’s Riverside mixtape goes beyond the highly catchy, viral song as he dives into American street rap and trap music on tracks like “NBA” with his semi-frequent use of the “N” word, and a club-ready “definitely goes hard” remix of his “Hello Kitty” by Watapachi.

The second track has KOHH reminiscing on his upbringing in the streets of Japan. Kohh explains this is where he saw plenty of drug use, violence, killings and other aspects of growing up in rough neighborhoods that most Japanese people are never even exposed to. KOHH said in an article in Public Radio International he “lamented the fact hip-hop culture is seen as strange in Japan. But he hopes to change that…” His breakout-single “Hiroi Sekai” is making waves on Youtube, WorldStarHipHop, Vimeo and many more sites as are his mixtapes on illMixtapes and HotNewHipHop.

[Original Article from UK Complex: 25 Japanese Artists You Should Know]

Chill Instrumental Beats from Japan / Evisbeats

Ambient Hip-Hop / Electronic – 水曜日のカンパネラ『ミツコ』

Want to know about more Japanese rap acts, like a Japanese woman who raps about Finaru Fantaji (Final Fantasy), the Edan-reminscent Issugi from Monju, or hip-hop and ambient instrumental producer Evisbeats (reminscent of Pharcyde, Flying Lotus, or even Nujabes. Check out this blog post from the UK version of Complex for more great Japanese acts:

25 Japanese Artists You Need to Know About (UK Complex)

{New Rappers} [Chill Deep/Meaningful Rap:] SAFE – Feel (Prod. by Habib D.) // Roy Wood$ – Talk to Me // Devontée – Bare Tings


Feel (prod. Habib Defoundoux) – SAFE

For today’s rap/hip-hop post we have a dark, ambient-chill rap track coming from up-and-coming rapper, and suspected soon to be OVO member, SAFE. Word on the Internet is that Drake’s label and collective, OVO has been looking to add new members and SAFE is one rapper several sources claim may be next up. With two tracks released, “Now” and “Feel”, the two generated enough buzz to give SAFE some pre-release hype. This track “Feel” has a very atmospheric, almost foreboding feel and rhythm that is certainly along the lines of Drake, The Weeknd, and other singer-songwriter rap acts.

Talk to Me – Roy Wood$

Along a similar vein with the dark, ambient moody rap we have “Talk to Me” from Roy Wood$ which similarly channels Drake or Frank Ocean. The result is a very calm, relaxing groove with lyrics describing a lost love. Woods’ cadence and cycling between rapping and singing are a breath of fresh air in the hip-hop world.

Bare TIngs – Devontée

Devontée‘s “Bare Tings” is a catchy and manages to use the phrase “my woes” without coming across as annoying or lame. Devontée’s rapping style and the overall flow of the beat reminded me very much of Chip Tha Ripper or someone along those lines. Check out the song above and check out more from Devontée on his Soundcloud.

[[Fetty Wap Features]] [Rap & Hip-Hop:] Don Lu – One Night Only (feat. Fetty Wap) // Big Bankhead – Party Girl (feat. Fetty Wap)

Don Lu & Fetty Wap’s “One Night Only” is a smooth street trap cut, definitely worth checking out.


Ironically enough, this hip-hop/rap post features a song with the same title as my last post, but with a much different feel. For one, it’s not EDM! (lol) but an appreciable rap song with radio appeal from rapper Don Lu but with massive backup from hip-hop’s current shining star, Fetty Wap. Check out this very nice, smooth track you may have missed, released earlier this year in April.

Next, we have yet another low-key rap hit also featuring Fetty Wap coming from Big Bankhead. “Party Girl” continues the party rap, radio-ready sound that Fetty Wap and whoever else he is on the track with continue to find. Fetty delivers some top-notch catchy lyrics here, “You gon’ show me how you twerk? Or nahh, baby?!”

BONUS: Squad or Nah