Legacy Track of the Week: Black Thought - 9th vs Thought
“I mess around make the call and get the gat involved, I know people it's a small world after all” SMH 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Per usual it’s Black Thought on the mic and it’s a murder scene, this time with the body provided by none other than 9th Wonder whose own resume of course speaks for itself. Sure enough, this is arguably The Roots lead singer’s first solo project ever, and it comes in a 5 track EP that’s produced wholly by 9th Wonder and his Jamla collective (including Khrysis on the outro), and somewhere the Rap Gods are looking down and smiling on Hip Hop. Meanwhile, this record probably showcases Black Thought’s best two verses on the tape, accompanied by two interludes cut from novelist and intellectual Toni Morrison’s speech at Portland State University in ‘75, and that right there might be the cheat code that opens up Hip Hop's Heaven’s Gates.
Black Thought - Twofifteen
“I heard murder ran as vast as deserted land, since back when Burning Man was blacks in Birmingham, before the presidential election diversion scam, matter fact before they clapped Franz Ferdinand” SMH 🔥🔥🔥🔥this is Black Thought in Harvard University / Funk Flex Freestyle mode in that it’s straight bars no hooks and NOBODY does this better in the world. In this lane, Black Thought is the most talented emcee of all time.
Black Thought ft Kirby - Thank You
“The barbershop that used to be at 6th and Emily, for all the history and all you did for me, thank you” The last record produced by Khrysis is Thought in introspective mode expressing all his gratitude, and in terms of solo projects hopefully this is only the beginning.
Pusha T - The Story of Adidon
“Drug dealin aside, ghostwriting aside, let's have a heart-to-heart about your pride” 😳😳😳 "Since you name-dropped my fiancée, let em know who you chose as your Beyoncé, Sophie knows better as your baby mother, cleaned her up for IG but the stench is on her, a baby's involved it's deeper than rap, we talking character let me keep with the facts, you are hiding a child, let that boy come home, deadbeat mothafucka playin border patrol, ooh” 😧😧😧 "Adonis is your son, and he deserves more than an Adidas press run, that's real, love that baby, respect that girl, forget she's a pornstar, let her be your world, yuugh! How dare you put Ye in my verses? I'm selfish, I want all of the curses, I'm pre-booking the churches, me versus three hearses, if we all go to Hell it'll be worth it” 😱😱😱 "Still giving you classics, that's the only thing that dates me, OVO 40 hunched over like he 80—tick, tick, tick, how much time he got? That man is sick, sick, sick, I got the devil flow *****—six-six-six, surgical summer with it—snip, snip, snip, and you don't really want it with him 💀💀💀” I clearly gave Drake the first rd but this right here was a 2nd rd TKO, where honestly this might not only be Pusha’s greatest verse ever but it also might possibly be one of the best diss records in history. A 10-7 rd that for the first time in his career has left Drake in his corner both bloodied and bruised, we’ll see by the end of the month if there’s any coming back from this.
Kanye West ft TI - Ye vs the People
“I know Obama was heaven-sent, but ever since Trump won, it proved that I could be President” This is America… but to be fair Kanye (and his team’s) music is at least more respectable than the marketing plan, though if Trump is already President then Ye just might actually troll his way to the same result… and honestly our Government has been a complete joke for years. [Editor’s note - historically speaking - the Government has never been for the people or something to put your faith in - and for that reason today's circus act is almost poetic.]
Kanye West - Yikes
“Yeezy, Yeezy trollin' OD, huh, turn TMZ to Smack DVD, huh, Russell Simmons wanna pray for me too, I'ma pray for him cause he got #MeToo'd, thinking what if that happened to me too, then I'm on E! News” This is again the really clever material that Kanye is most recognized for, and when it’s undeniable quality there’s no way to knock it even if you hold no respect for who the man’s become. With that said this is one of those records and one of the few highlights off his 8th studio album Ye.
Kanye West ft Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, & PARTYNEXTDOOR - Wouldn’t Leave
“They say, ‘build your own"—I said, ‘how, Sway?’ I said, ‘slavery a choice’—they said, ‘how, 'Ye?’ just imagine if they caught me on a wild day” The other standout on Ye is this record that musically sounds like it could have easily been recorded during The Life of Pablo sessions (minus the TMZ lyrics), one that once again highlights Kanye’s clever lyricism and signature sound that’s undeniably created one of the biggest stars in the world.
Gorillaz ft George Benson - Humility
“Calling the world from isolation..." The Gorillaz are back with their fifth studio album The Now Now, and the first single features the world-renowned Jazz musician George Benson, whose 1976 album Breezin once went Triple Platinum.
Gorillaz - Lake Zurich
“Last chance to buy before you fly” For those of you who have always been familiar but somewhat unsure, the Gorillaz are a British ‘virtual band’ made up musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, the latter of who draws the four animated members known as 2-D (lead vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboards), and Russel Hobbs (drums, percussion). Over the years Albarn has collaborated with other musicians and collectively the band has been both critically and commercially acclaimed, once more perhaps demonstrating the worldwide appeal of Japanese aesthetics and anime.
Cardi B ft Bad Bunny & J Balvin - I Like It
“Oh he’s so handsome what’s his name (Oh yeah I like it that)” For some reason every time I hear Cardi say that line I laugh every time, nonetheless this was a decent remake of the Pete Rodriguez classic and was a good single choice off a rather impressive debut album.
J Balvin - Ahora
“Tantas son las horas, cuando estamo' a solas, que quiero tenerte ahora, me mata si te demoras (skrt, skrt)” I need to work on my Spanish but this is a rather catchy tune off J Balvin’s latest studio album Vibras, a breakthrough body of work that has made him a household name.
J Balvin ft Willy William - Mi Gente
“Mi música los tiene fuerte bailando, y se baila así” The Columbian superstar definitely has the people dancing but this is all about the instrumental provided by French producer and artist Willy William, and for it’s tempo this will be a staple in every nightclub indefinitely. Check out the always on time Beyonce remix here.
J Balvin ft Michael Bruvin - Positivo
“Fire, fire, vamo' a ganar otra ve' (fire, fire)” The official anthem and Telemundo song of the 2018 World Cup, J Balvin is definitely out here doing his numbers 🌎⚽💲💲💲
Jacquees ft Trey Songz - Inside
“Keep your legs up, girl, keep your legs up” I hesitated to support this record because in some ways it’s honestly beneath the talents of both artists involved, yet considering that at times they are really singing this turns out to be a decent record after all. The yoga concept and the eye candy doesn’t hurt either 👀
Mac Miller - Programs
“Something that's easing my mind, please do not fuck up my day, everybody want a headline, I don't got nothin' to say” For some reason I’ve cringed at Mac Miller’s artistry throughout the years but he’s maintained a highly respected career and continues to be relevant, and on that note this is a strong miscellaneous record following a myriad of TMZ stories that are cringeworthy to say the least.
G-Eazy ft Global Dan - Wasabi
“Rest in peace Mac Dre (yeah), rest in peace Mac Dre (yeah), shed a tear on November 1st, will always remember that day (yeah)” In many respects my sentiments for Mac Miller are the same for G Eazy, but honestly I’m too exhausted from the industry at this point to even care. Regardless I would say G Eazy reps the Bay area particularly well, and truthfully in his lane he’s better than most.
Dizzy Wright ft Kid Ink - Vibe
“You got a vibe I ain't never seen, woah, girl I'm tryna do the most with you (most with you)” I suppose when the hipster movement meets the underground scene you get Dizzy Wright, and if that’s a lazy or unfair characterization then I’ll apologize in advance. Nonetheless he’s just released his 5th EP (aside from his already released 5 studio albums), and this one featuring Kid Ink is one of the highlights off the tape.
Dizzy Wright ft Logic - Dope Talent
“I used to think I didn't have it, but I never give up on a challenge” Another highlight off Don’t Tell Me It Can’t Be Done, this time featuring Logic and I can’t help but wonder what he charged for the verse smh.
Desiigner - Hood
“I know ****** getting bodied in they own hood, ****** lost they life in that childhood, and I don't wanna lose my life, and I don't wanna lose, and I don't wanna lose” The first of the 7-track EP/Albums from GOOD Music already released this year, this is a different side of the Brooklyn native and certainly one of the best songs off L.O.D. (Life of Desiigner).