Song of the week
Week March 13-19
Unconditional Love (Alternate Version) - Esperanza Spalding
If I ever had to choose a favourite song of the week thus far, it would have to be 'Unconditional Love'. The song features a prodigy Jazz artist utilizing soul melodies over an electric guitar led instrumental. This is far from ordinary, but the song makes perfect sense. An original version lies in the standard edition of the album, however, the alternative version is even greater, displaying a delightful jazz impromptu on the tail end of the track. The emotions are more raw, vocals more drawn out, so you can feel how important this love is to Spalding. The conditions are completely irreverent, and neither are the parameters of this song. Spanning over 9 minutes in length this feels like a stream of consciousness, and beautifully exerted at that. Spalding has found a unique lane in the jazz-pop world that only she can walk through, and championing that lane she is. If you are willing to give any one of these song of the week tracks a listen, please pick this one.
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Week March 6-12
Untitled 6 - Kendrick Lamar ft. Ceelo Green
'I'm bizarre, avant-garde' is the opening lines to Ceelo's chorus on the mysterious track 'untitled 6' off Kendrick's surprise album 'Untitled Unmastered'. The ironic part is that the song's avant-garde style is due to its old school and morning sun ambiance. The vibe of the the standout track is reminiscent of the Temptations, Isley Brothers, and Four Tops in its uplifting lyrical content towards a lover, something unusual in today's largely misogynistic surface based pop music. Kendrick repeatedly belts out 'I am yours' over the back end of the track, and is giving himself up to this love interest, withholding nothing, and empowering her as much as he can. Instead of commenting on her body or what type of sexual acts she performs Kendrick explores the mind of this woman, intrigued by it, 'I wanna know what you think, I wanna pick your brain when I see you'. This song additionally has a soothing flute melody layered by pleasant drums and an outstanding vocal performance by the southern legend, Ceelo Green. What makes this song even more spectacular and obscure is Kendrick's rapping in Zulu and Xhosa, two African languages, showing his roots in the truest way, well done King Kendrick.
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Week Feb 28 - Mar 5
Down in the DM (remix) - Yo Gotti ft. Nicki Minaj
The Memphis phenom Yo Gotti comes back into mainstream rap with one incredible smash for the year, 'Down in the DM'. As big as the original was with the hefty amount of tweets and Vines made in celebration of the accessible message the remix is about to be even bigger. That has a lot to do with the addition, Nicki Minaj. The queen of rap herself comes in with a dynamic verse addressing popular events like the Miley controversyI said, "Miley wuss good?"', and guys she's curved 'I just sit back and observe, all these niggas that I done curved' all while maintaining that tough voice and fun flow. We can't get a true Nicki verse without the split personalities, which undoubtedly come in her second barrage of lines, completely switching her focus from denying guys 'Cause 99.9% of these fuckboys can't fuck me' to letting them hit 'I told him I never front and then I threw that ass back'. It truly went down in the DM's. Enjoy this week song of the week guys.
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Week Feb 21-27
High Highs - London, After the Rain
Those somber guitar strokes coupled with that faint yet powerful drum pattern adds such a beautiful texture to this song. The Australian based indie rock band bring a very relaxed love song to the forefront of my musical playlist. It is not that the words are unintelligible, I can hear what Jack is saying, but its as if he's all the way in the back of my subconscious and I can understand exactly what he's saying without hearing the words. With a smooth transition to the chorus on here that bellows from the core of your soul the feeling of losing a love one is strongly imposed into the listener. Its like London, after the rain, very beautiful, but saddening because the moments over, never again will those same water droplet grace the the land in the exact manner it just did. A moments passed, that is aftermath feeling of this track, the lead guitar takes you on this brisk paced walk through the city only to leave you alone, reminiscent of the time gone. Again, this is a gorgeously arranged spectacle that is undoubtedly worth the listen.
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Week Feb 7 - Feb 13
No Pixar - RDGLDGRN
The Virginia based Rap band has such a cool and fresh sound that it’s no wonder that Pharrell helped produced their debut. The 2015 smash 'No Pixar' Exhibits the leader rapper lyrically destroying the drum heavy track over a quick 3 minutes. The sound encompasses his struggles with his label Universal, current outlook on the rappers that he’s better than and reminiscing on how rap used to be. The overall song is very refreshing and gets your blood flowing anticipating quotable after quotable. I loved the Production so much and was so inspired by the Lyrics I created a version myself titled 'No Hipster'. All of the rappers I used to listen to in HS are well established by now and on to their 3rd, 4rd, or 5th studio albums, so their sound is pretty much expected. This song brings me back to those early days when I used to be infused in ambitious flows and crazy audacious lines with fun up beat tempos. Keep making great music guys, I’m here for the ride.
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Week Jan. 31 - Feb 6
Work - Rihanna ft. Drake
First off let's just say Drizzy and Rih have one hell of a musical history between them. With the smash hit 'Whats My Name' to the synth heavy love tune 'Take Care' the two create a chemistry in the studio that really resonates with its listeners. Work is no different. This track is completely island driven, with the airy drums, carnival style rhythmic patterns, and that accent of Rihanna??? ugh, beautiful, so beautiful. The Barbados pop star never sounded so comfortable on a single since Rude Boy (Another island feel track) where her accent takes her vocals to an almost unintelligible yet compelling place ( I still don't know what she's saying on the chorus and once she tweeted the actual lyrics, It all made sense, it's complete slang, so dope). Rihanna carry's the song very well by herself and is having fun all over the track vocalizing her love for this individual telling them to make this all work. Right when you think the song can't get any better here comes Drake, Jamaican accent in all. He floats gorgeously over the drum filled production and catches his flow to create a very pleasant sounding verse. He even gets a chance to mention his current haters 'Sorry if I'm way less friendly, I got niggas trying to end me' smooth Drake. Only the 6 God can fit that line in their and still make the verse all about love with the urge to accommodate for a situation to work out. Kudos to the two, they've created another amazing song to soundtrack my life in 2016.
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Week Jan 24 - 30
King City -Majid Jordan
The Toronto based duo continues to bring excitement to their album release date with this beautiful love song. Where Majid is typically more towards the reserved end of the relinquishing his adoration for a lover he is outright shameless here. His vocals reach peaks unheard of from him before and the production rides along with him like a background singer. The reverb and synth heavy instrumentation sets a dark scene for the listener to enter into. With the opening lines 'Dressed up, red corvette, in the middle of the night, where as I, lay low, its just a matter of time' Majid sets the scene for the dark car ride through the city reminiscing aura the song presents. There are also some gorgeous female vocals sprinkled across the song, adding a very delicate but essential touch to the purely vulnerable feeling Majid is evoking. He can't stop thinking about this women, which admittedly is 'driving (him) wiiiiiiiiiiild'. This song is oh so addictive and mesmerizing and really takes you on an emotional joyride with the singer.
Week Jan 17-23
Kings of Summer - Ayokay ft. Quinn XCII
During the dark months of winter its natural to reminisce over a time when you didn't have the need to wear that heavy coat and the time your breath was visible was during smoke breaks. 'Kings of Summer' is the very soundtrack for that experience. The electronic/hip-hop fusion is a wonderful example of genre bending at its finest. The Michigan rapper Quinn floats over the breezy light production in a style similar to Wiz Khalifa in his carefree young wild and free delivery. The rhythmic pattern of the track is all consuming from the second the track starts, accompanied by the shrieking vulnerable sounding sample piece. I came across this song as I was perusing through Spotify's viral charts list. To my surprise this summer song was featured at #1, I guess I'm not the only one who's nostalgic/foreshadowing of summer blissful atmosphere.
Week Jan 10-16
Real Friends - Kanye West
Vintage Ye returns in full form. Over the past few years the Chicago rapper has hinted here and there about an upcoming project following the highly controversial/critically acclaimed Yeezus. Through push back and more push back the album almost seemed like a legend, a foreign tale given to ease followers woes of never hearing a Ye album again. That is until now, the first song to actually sound album ready and displaying Kanye at his most introspective. The worst Kanye gets treated, whether its from corporations (New Slaves) fans (Runaway) or a car (Through the wire, too soon?) the more spectacular and escapist his music sounds. He's almost conquering the defeat with a musical triumph. That's what Real Friends is, a depiction of Ye's current state of affairs with his so called 'friends' to the point where he's questioning whether he deserves it or not. The murky, dark, piano driven slow jam is beautifully produced and has an amazing feature in Ty Dolla Sign who complements Ye's lighter vocals wonderfully.
Week Jan. 3rd to Jan. 9th
Same Old Love - Selena Gomez
This track encompasses a wonky piano loop, jazz influenced atmosphere, and a 60's era verse and chorus combination. However what stands out amongst the Charlie XCX-written smash are the vocals. Selena has never sounded so revealed, raspy, and empowered. The catchiness of the chorus is undeniable as well, but not too obvious. Where Selena had once been known for her more quiet and reserved ballads including former singer from the album 'Good For You' she's now apologetically open and expressive. I'm loving this song right now, its in constant rotation for work, and I'm glad Selena has found this niche to be so effective for her musically.
Week Dec. 27 - Jan 2
Pass Dat - Jeremih
The upcoming hit song of 2016, Jeremih has created the new party anthem. 'Planez' was an immense success for the Chicago singer, with an uncharacteristically brash Cole verse and a soothing jazz influenced Chance remix. The track has loud DJ Mustard-esque drums and beat pattern with a catchy chorus by Starrah. Jeremih's light vocals swift gently through the bombastic production. A-listers The Weeknd and Young Thug are two of the most known artist to already remix the soon to be hit, with undoubtedly more to come. Remix's tend to make songs bigger and reflect the mutual respect between artist's work, Pass Dat is the next big thing, watch out.