Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Common - Blue Sky (Official Video)

Girl Talk used 'Blue Sky' by Electric Light Orchestra as well. It's a fun beat.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Big Sean - Wait For Me (Ft. Lupe Fiasco)

Putting Lupe next to Big Sean is like an Audemar with a Timex. Lupe has flow and complexity closer to Jay-Z, but Big Sean still has a great sound. That piano beat is fantatsic, and most of it seems to come from the Otis Redding 'Too Late' sample.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Estelle - American Boy [Feat. Kanye West] [Video]


The beat is fantastic; It's mostly will.i.am's 'Impatient'. Estelle's got a great voice, and sounds like she can deal with the likes of Kanye.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Gang Starr - Jazz Music

The more I listen to it, the less I think it sounds like a Beatles sample with the 'ahhhhh ahhhhh ahhhhh ahhhhhh', but there's something oddly familiar about the melody.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Sunday, September 25, 2011

U.G.K - One Day


The only thing promised to a player is the penitentiary.

I swear, 2pac single-handedly made the word 'penitentiary' show up all over rap in the early 90's.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Living Legends - After Hours


It has been a long-ass night.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Junclassic: Bust Ya Melon [Music Video]

View #304. I don't think this will blow up that big, but it's too bad they don't show the views/time graph for all videos in youtube.

The beat is so oldschool, and has a sick piano loop. Sampling Busta on top of that for your hook is a crazy combination that really works and keeps the track surprisingly mellow. A really jazzy track for hip-hop.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Flight of the Conchords: Mother *uckers

ODP? Yeah, you know me.

Too many mother uckers alright. I'm 4 days behind mother ucker. This has a fun beat.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over (2010 Version)

I'm months ahead of the curve sometimes and years behind others... And Stephen Colbert having her as a musical guest was what caused me to know she existed. Well I'm a fan of big drums that drop in after the song has been going for a while, and she's got one hell of a voice.

Check out the wiki page on this track. It's funny how random things inspire great music, like a 'giant text installment' (billboard?) that Florence biked by every day.

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Girl Talk - Get It Get It

I'm a sucker for a song with Windowlicker in it. I'm just glad he kept the awesome part. Just like the last track... crazy before the awesome. Or well... In this case the awesome may also be crazy. Whatever. This track has great transitions and samples from a number of cool songs. It also samples some kinda nasty music, but hey, it's hip-hop and a whole bunch of other genres of music. It can't all be clean.

Daft Punk and Aphex Twin for beats in music just feels right. What a surprise, electronic music with a good beat works well with rap on top.

Friday, July 08, 2011

Girl Talk - On and On

As always, http://mashupbreakdown.com/ is an awesome place to see a breakdown of these tracks. Biggie says a lot of nasty stuff in a hurry, but I really dig this song for how it flows starting at 4:05. Twista raps at an insane pace and the growing driving beat is a perfect match. Even the Bono in the background works to help the crescendo.




Or if you want to start at the beginning... It does get a bit crazy here and there, but there's always crazy before awesome in music, right?

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Boog Brown "UPs" [prod. Apollo Brown]

I wasn't even paying attention and suddenly heard some 22-twos-sounding rap. She's got a nonstop flow and knows her hip-hop. Apollo Brown is the Producer and I think he's got a bunch of good beats.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Slum village - fall n love

Another one found with Mick Boogie and dj Jazzy Jeff's Summertime 2 mixtape. A chill classic beat. 2 minutes of googling later... it's a Dilla beat. Supplies!

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Apollo Brown "Tao Te Ching"

Always a fan of the horns. I also dig the I Ching, so that makes this doubly cool.

grand puba_ i like it

And ya say New York City

An oldschool track found on the new DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie Summertime 2 mixtape. That vibraphone sample is pervasive is great hip-hop. Subtle but a great clean sound.

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Mos Def- Sunshine

We on top-a top-a, shout-a shout-a
Check it out..

A little piano, a lot of Mos spitting Fire. Happy 4th.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Scissor Sisters - Return To Oz

A crazy band. A crazy song. It gets pretty epic. It has a Queen/Elton John feel while being very modern. Crazy.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Ghostface Killah - Back Like That ft. Ne-Yo

This is a great video to see the kind of crazy mobster/pimp outfits Ghost rocks. The beat is as always amazing, and Ne-Yo drops a good hook.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Ghostface Killah - Save Me Dear

The first 5 seconds told me this was a good track. That's a killer sample.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Kanye West - Good Morning

Kanye has an amazing talent for producing music, and when he gets to rap and produce a track, he makes some of his most unique work. I like down-tempo Kanye beats... He doesn't do those that much.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Monster - Kanye West

The transition from Kanye to Jay to Niki flows surprisingly well. I'm apparently on a multi-artist-common-topic-ish track kick, and this one's magic phrase is "i'm a motherfuckin' monster". As always, rapGenius helps.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Groove Chambers - For Me

Reminds me a bit of Big K.R.I.T. in his flow and voice, but the beat is much more mellow. It sounds like it's about to get more epic but always stays pretty quiet. I can dig it.

Popout

Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Park - Excuses

Almost reminds me of some Devin the Dude beats, but jazzier. Some Daft Punk-ish synth sound too. I dig the slow groove.

The Park - "Excuses" from John Coyne on Vimeo.

Make Her Say -Kid Cudi feat. (Kanye West and Common) ( Poker Face Remix )

Surprise, a simple piano and good beat... A little weird with Gaga droppin' the hook and having Cudi, Ye, and Common all getting a verse, but whatever. It's catchy.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Talib Kweli "Cold Rain" (Gutter Rainbows Album)

Another track with a simple piano loop that I could listen to all day.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

People Under The Stairs - San Francisco Knights

Slow chill beat. There's something kinda gritty but still laid back with these guys. A summertime song for sure.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Jay-z Ft J. Cole - A star is Born - The BluePrint 3 |HD| With Lyrics

I dig the clap in this beat. It's cool to hear Jay-Z mention so many rappers and their careers. As usual, Rap Genius helps make sense out of it all.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Orishas - Reina de la Calle

A good chill beat and smooth flows. The layering of tracks of people singing different things at the same time is especially noticeable to me since they're all speaking Spanish. It's a common thing to do in music, but sounds especially good in this song.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Das Racist - Who's That? Brooown! produced by Saba [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

The track name says it all. These guys are strange... NY Indian hipster hip-hop? Whatever. A fun use of the phrase "who's that? Brown" along with some funky middle-eastern beats 8-bitified.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

A Tribe called quest - Scenario

Who's that? Brown.

Busta looks like a little kid. A pink shirt and denim jacket? And that hair? Classic hip-hop.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Lost Boyz - Lifestyles Of The Rich And Shameless

Classic oldschool beat and thuggish rhymes. The sounds reminds me of M.O.P.

Buckwild! Freaky Tah!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Blue Man Group - TV Song

I couldn't find a higher-quality version of this on youtube that wasn't a live version... I like the guitar in the this one. It stands out more just because it's clear in this version, but it does go well with all the crazy whooshing and drumming.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Jay-Z "My First Song"

Treat everything like it's your first project... stay humble. BIG. There's something about the beat that is especially good. Maybe it's just the little guitar riff loop.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Digable Planets - Where I'm From (remix) video

I'm from where the phat beats stretch for mad blocks.

The remix has a little more interesting of a beat added, and doesn't really leave anything out. A great old-school track

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

K-os Rise Like The Sun Feat Laylow & POS (Dusk Part 2)

There's something about how these guys rap/sing that reminds me of Bone Thugs. A good mellow beat, and the flows go along well with it.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt track # 7.22 Two's

It's just nasty. 22 twos. Jay-Z is crazy nimble with his flow, and the shout to 'Can I Kick It?' is a great way to get things moving. I also like it because it's so concise and has some crazy wordplay to integrate the 22 twos.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Matisyahu: Time of Your Song.

'Swing low, sweet chariot of flames' - I like the delivery of the line. The chorus is crazy catchy.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Aceyalone - Here & Now

Where we at? Right here. What time is it? Now.

I love the way the beat drops in, and the harp is a cool touch. This is one of Aceyalone's best songs in my opinion.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Aesop Rock - Daylight (w/ Lyrics)

Don't waste your time going to the youtube page to get the lyrics, just go here. I've listened dozens of times and I didn't understand 75% of the stuff that he says in this track. I highly recommend the explanations rapgenius has to offer. It does take about 20 minutes to read them all... It's worth it. His lyrics read like a puzzle.

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Eminem featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit & Nate Dogg -Bitch Please II

Bang Bang!

Fun West coast beat. Seriously, from the list of people in this track alone you should know it's good. Snoop Dogg, Eminem impersonating Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg for the hook, Dre producing and rapping... Xzibit is like a commercial break in a great tv show. You deal with the annoyance because the show's awesome.

Damian Marley - All Night ft. Stephen Marley

I love the pace of the beat. Damian Marley is crazy, and what a surprise, so is Stephen. It's like they each started with different parts of their dad's voice and style.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Nas - Nas Is Like

Half man, half amazing.

I dig the little loop with the harp. It's surprisingly short with a simple beat behind it. Nas is well studied in the art of hyping himself in his music.

Monday, June 06, 2011

Gang Starr - Work

I swear sometimes I feel like I'm 13 years behind on this stuff... I really like the piano in this beat. Guru raps so smooth. He's like an East Coast LL.

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Talib Kweli - Get By

I can't say the beard is a good look for Talib... but the music is great. The Nina Simone sample helps out with a sick fast clap and great piano. Not to mention some soulful singing.

Saturday, June 04, 2011

Living Legends - Moving at the Speed Of Life

I like the fast beat and it sounds like a vibraphone keeping it moving.
When you've got Slug on the track, you know it's gonna be good. It's cool when a rapper changes his pace to work with someone else, like Slug rapping fast on this track to keep up with the others and the beat.

2PAC ALL EYEZ ON ME

Tupac's song came out about 8 months before Nas's Street Dreams, so I guess Nas had the same beat as Tupac.... This is one of Tupac's classic tracks.

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Eminem: Kill You (lyrics)

Seeing the lyrics makes Eminem seem even better to me. Practically everything he says rhymes, but there's something about seeing it all on a page to really make it stand out.
I'm reminded of a few terrible lines from 'Say Aah' by Trey Songz:
We don't buy no drinks at the bar
We pop champagne 'cause we got that dough


Every other pair of lines in the song has end rhyme, but this, the beginning of the chorus, doesn't quite rhyme...

Later on he rhymes Condo with Congo, but in the phrase 'beat your body like a Congo'.... I think he meant Bongo... and it still would have rhymed... Oh well. Still catchy as shit.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Talib Kweli - I Try ft. Mary J. Blige

Good strong piano throughout. I like the fast hat driving the beat along.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

C Rayz Walz - Buck 80

He's got a strange way about his rhymes, but it's generally funny. The beat on this song has a very distinct sound.

I'm fresh - like a new pair of White Airs.

Monday, May 30, 2011

nas street dreams

All Eyez On Me... oh wait no.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Trey Songz - Say Aah (Video)

Good to see from the video statistics that I'm over a full year behind on this one... It's got a bumpin' beat, and it cracks me up to see someone so self-satisfied like the main dude in this video. He thinks he's hilarious. Does have a nice sweater tho. I'm talking about the video linked above, not the one in the frame below. The real video doesn't seem to embed well... Damn I'm gettin' caught up in the pop hip-hop...

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Nas - The Message (HQ Music Video)

I like the simple guitar loop. Also has quite a few classic Nas quotes.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Fabolous - You Be Killin Em

Damn this beat and the hook. They're good. Must be the synth keys that I like so much. His choice of headphones is a bit weak - Skullcandy? Really? You just showed me an Aston Martin and now you're rockin' those? Give you that iPhone 4 face time...

Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Notorious B.I.G - Everyday Struggle

Today I said 'Another day, another dollar'. Tomorrow I'll be sayin' 'Another day, another struggle'. Plenty of classic BIG quotes in this track. You can hear an early-90's sound in the beat, but it's still damn good. I like the organ that comes and goes throughout.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Blueprint 2

Ennio Morricone makes crazy music, and this is a spectacular set of samples from The Ecstasy of Gold. I brought the flutes this time though.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Wyclef - If I was president

I've heard more produced versions of this song, but none have the feeling this one does.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Will.I.Am - Impatient

Definitely a dance-party song, since the majority of the song is either beat or someone saying "I can't wait". Kinda Daft Punk-ish. Funky.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Anthony Hamilton - Comin' From Where I'm From

The first single to blow up for Anthony Hamilton. It's a great beat.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Atmosphere - Puppets

Great piano loops. Always like a shout out to the Beastie Boys - Listen all of y'all it's a sabotage. When Slug's not too angry, he's got a great flow.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Atmosphere - The Waitress

Before the beat drops at 25 seconds, it's got a very 'American Beauty' creepy/sad feel to it. Crazy good flute loops, and a great beat.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Funky Fresh Few - Dimes Got

Great piano loop. I would not have guessed they were from England. They sound like they're from New York.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Outlines ft Beat Assaillant - Waiting in line

It feels like a combination of K-Os and Blue Scholars. I don't usually like the stilted sound of a chopped up guitar sample, but this flows pretty well... I think the simple and constant drums help keep it moving.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Talib Kweli - Ms. Hill

Great piano and a catchy hook. Recipe for success.

Monday, May 16, 2011

naughty by nature feel me flow

So many rhymes throughout the song. The flow's smooth and the beat's got a very summertime sound.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Cunninlynguists ft. Mr. SOS & Anetra - Ain't No Way

Kno makes great beats! Apparently I'm finding my violin groove this weekend.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Hilltop Hoods Chase That Feeling

Beat's got a Moby feel to it I like. Australian Hip-Hop at it's best.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Wale 45 King - Strings

This has a sick beat. It's tough to get strings like that in a hip-hop beat.

Aziz - Power In Attention

Another young local(ish) rapper. The beat's got a great bounce to it, and his flow is pretty good.


This was Thursday's song of the day, but it got wiped out by the scheduled maintenance tsunami of 2011.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Das Racist - You Oughta Know

These guys are the makers of such great track as Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell... They have a way of breaking down music is a strange way. He sings along with the chorus... sorta... You have to listen. Needless to say, they're strange and pretty funny.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Wale - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.

Super fun beat. Reminded me to go back and listen to my Wale Pandora station more.

Monday, May 09, 2011

Kevin Walker - Where I'm From (Official Music Video) [HL FILMS]

Just came across this local rapper. Recognize the beat?

Sunday, May 08, 2011

GO GREEN - Kaimbr & Kev Brown - Official Video by Redef Recs, Filmed LIV...

Blood the color of Barney? Hm. Sorta reminds me of MF Doom. I really like the violin samples in the beat along with the piano. Plus, any track that starts with a Vince Vaughn quote is gonna be great. I've been wracking my brain trying to remember what the other song is I know that uses this sample, but I've yet to remember.

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Gang Starr - Check The Technique

A great use of California Soul by Marlina Shaw.

Friday, May 06, 2011

The Roots-Star

I love how the beat builds at the beginning. The Roots have a real smooth flow and sound pretty different with their full-on band.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Gang Starr - Ex Girl to Next Girl

Another great beat with Guru's smooth flows.

Wherever my BMWer goes, you know that I'm driving...

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Gang Starr - Full Clip

A classic Gang Starr track. Some people can hype themselves really well in a track without making it sound like overkill. Guru has a magical voice.

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Rjd2 Smoke and Mirrors

A bit of a spooky track, but there's some very low bass throughout the song that is really crisp and sounds great in the car or with a big subwoofer at home. This is from early RJD2 and has a more electronic sound than some of his newer work. Here's hoping he gets back to his old ways.

Monday, May 02, 2011

M.O.P. - Ante Up

The Bert and Ernie version is hilarious, but the full track is awesome. The horns make this beat really stand out.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Citizen Cope - Let The Drummer Kick (AFX)

This song's had almost 5 million hits on youtube and the song barely has more than 5 words... It's a great beat, and I'm pretty sure the piano in this song has been stuck in my head for two years and I just now figured out this is where it came from.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Wu Tang Clan - Bells of War

Another pretty simple beat that gets stuck in my head for hours at a time. RZA is a master producer making sounds you don't hear anywhere else with a style that is distinctly Wu.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Dilated Peoples - Worst Comes to Worst

A nasty guitar sample, and Guru adds a touch of something great. I also like the rhyme that rhymes with whole phrase "worst comes to worst my people come first" - "From the birth to the hearse, the streets, the guns burst"

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Outkast - Roses

I love the energy of the piano at the beginning of this track. The beat drops nice too.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Atmosphere - Sunshine

Nice simple piano. Mellow beat. A great track to listen to as the weather takes a turn for the warm.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Da Grassroots - Eternal feat K-Os and Thrust (With LYRICS)

A really mellow beat, and a track not all K-Os fans know about. It's kinda creepy for a hip-hop beat, but it works well.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Aesop Rock vs Portishead - Babies With Guns / Roads

A sick mix of Portishead's beat and Aes' rap. His vocabulary is waaaaaay bigger than most rappers, and he tends to use about 1/3 of it on any given song... Has hints of Eminem in the occasional quick flow and assonance... One of my favorite Aesop Rock raps is in this song - "There's banana peels in your hamster wheels, hand cannons in your shoebox, please. Mine's got Adidas; rest in peace."

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On

First I think it's a Modest Mouse remix, then a Lil' Wayne track... if instead of 'Just remember when it come up' he said "A creepin' on ah come up" it coulda been so Bone Thug! Of course, it wouldn't have made much sense, but whatever... I love those horns, and that Modest Mouse guitar riff is pretty excellent.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

The hook of this song sounds like at least half a dozen Moby songs. The strong piano and clean beat keep it sounding like Moby throughout as well. She's got a great strong voice and the track is damn catchy.

Friday, April 22, 2011

ghostface killah - josephine - More Fish

Not exactly the happiest of topics for a track, but the beat is so damn good and I'm a sucker for a soulful hook. The guitar really adds a ton to the song.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Portishead - Glory Box (HD Version)

A great use of an already slow beat thanks to Isaac Hayes.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Isaac Hayes - Ike's Rap 2

I'll spare you the original that Isaac Hayes samples, but it sure has gotten a ton of mileage. I love how slow his beats are! The piano is spectacular in this track as well. The full version is a little over 7 minutes and has a song called Help Me Love that it builds into. It's got some great guitar and I'd suggest you find it on rdio or some other music service - it doesn't seem to be on youTube.

Monday, April 18, 2011

ISAAC HAYES LOOK OF LOVE

Can I live.

Couldn't find the Hayes song I was lookin' for, but this is still one hell of a great beat. Everything's so slow-motion with Isaac Hayes. Makes for amazing samples at any number of speeds.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Childish Gambino - Freaks And Geeks (Official Music Video)

Donald Glover does it all. A strange perspective as a rapper, but it's still damn good. He gets into it so much it's hard not to enjoy it.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Eddie Money - Baby Hold On

This song has popped up in my head dozens of times in the past few weeks. I could listen to a loop of the first 18 seconds of that song for hours. I'm surprised I don't know of any songs sampling this song.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Jimmy Smith - Root Down (Part1)

I love how this song creeps up quietly and gets funky. Hammond B3 for the win.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Black Panther - Sad Times (Feat. Archrival)

A NASTY beat! I love the hook sample too. The piano melody is so slow and simple but one of my favorites.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Awnaw - Nappy Roots

April is starting to be a month of good cruising music. Weather is finally nice enough to enjoy driving around. Awesome organ, and a hell of a beat. Oh right, and another southern rapper. Awnaw.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Big K.R.I.T. - Return Of 4eva - R4 Theme Song

Forever? Forever-ever? Forever-ever?

Hell yes.

A favorite quote from Outkast's Ms. Jackson, so the song got my attention immediately. He makes a mean beat too. Another great one to bump in the car. Hollywood is one of my favorite words to hear from southern rappers.

Monday, April 11, 2011

No Matter - Lyricist Lounge

A sick piano loop. His voice reminds me a bit of C-Rayz Walz.
Fuck flavor, I kick real life in your ear.

I've heard that sampled in at least one song. The piano loop I think I've heard in some other newer song. The bass beat reminds me of Walk On By a bit too... Or at least like a beat someone derived from Walk On By samples. Made me think of Wu Tang's Can Bt Be All So Simple

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Big K.R.I.T. - Dreamin | Returnof4eva.com

The beat is great. The low rumble makes it great for ridin' around or turning up the bass in the house.

Saturday, April 09, 2011

Big K.R.I.T. - Hometown Hero - Written and Produced by BIG K.R.I.T.

M-Town. Meridian, Mississippi. Cracks me up. 601! Seriously though, he's making the beats and rapping. He does it pretty damn well. Turned out to be a Big K.R.I.T. weekend for me. Rap with a southern drawl is fun to listen to, and his beats are pretty good.

Friday, April 08, 2011

Smif-N-Wessun - Bucktown

Oldschool with an amazing beat and I'd never heard of these guys before. Big up to Henck for pointing me to these guys. Got my weekend music now.

Thursday, April 07, 2011

The Pharcyde - Drop

It's a great beat and is most definitely a classic, but the video made it so far ahead of it's time. Spike Jonze produced a ridiculous video. And yet so simple.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Jay Electronica - Eternal Sunshine

The Eternal Sunshine loop caught my ear and I couldn't get it out of my head for hours. It's a phenomenal little loop, and Jay's fast southern style of spitting goes perfectly with it. Hit up the Youtube page if you want to check the lyrics. I like the assonance in 'fit in..... sit-ins....ed-end.....BidEnz....fredends

I took Eternal Sunshine and I looped it
No drums no hook just new shit

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Beastie Boys - Ricky's Theme

So chill. This is one of my favorite tracks from the Beastie Boys, and none of them say a word. I really appreciate a rap group that can throw some instrumentals into the mix. Ill Communication is a spectacular album that covers a surprising musical range.

Monday, April 04, 2011

Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)

This is how you make 'I Choose You' bounce. Plus, this video is hilarious. Andre 3000 has never worn anything reasonable to any occasion ever. Spectacular.

Sunday, April 03, 2011

MF Doom - Get Er Done

On a Jake One kick... Surprise, another great beat started on the keys to reel me in. MF Doom says some silly shit. I think he said 'pinching a loaf' at one point.

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Jake One - R.I.P. (Instrumental)

A chill beat. Willie Hutch's 'I choose you'. It's amazing what happens when you drop some real bass behind this melody, but that doesn't happen on this track.

Friday, April 01, 2011

(The Preface)Elzhi-Hands Up

I'd never really listened to any of Elzhi's music until today, and this song stood out as a fun beat with an interesting story. The chorus fits in nicely as the song progresses, and makes the track stand out to me as very tightly woven.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Rock co. Kane Flow

"Yeah I said it." I swear everyone who says that is referencing Pharoahe Monch's Simon Says... Besides that, I like the beat speeding up and slowing back down. I heard Mos Def describe De La as 'methodical' and 'precise', and this song really hammers that home. These guys pair up well with MF Doom on this track.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Isaac Hayes - Walk On By

Talk about a song that's been sampled a bunch... Everyone from the Jackson 5 to Pete Rock sampled this. This song has a spectacular beat and it's so loopable it's like he wanted people to sample it.


Update. No shit. It wasn't even his song in the first place. Way to pay attention to detail.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Sigur Ròs - Untitled 4 (Njosnavelin or The Spy Machine)

The pace and guitar remind me of a mix between Moby and Radiohead. Reading the wikipedia about the album apparently the lyrics are
sung in Vonlenska, also known as Hopelandic, a constructed language of nonsense syllables (technically glossolalia) which resembles the phonology of the Icelandic language.
Also good for the final scene in a movie... like in Vanilla Sky.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Mobb Deep- Shook ones part II

Oldschool hardcore hip hop. The beat is classic, and it's even cooler with a site like WhoSampled. You can hear all the different parts of the beat in their original songs. It makes me appreciate the music even more when I see what kind of obscure places the beat comes from.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Beta Band Its Not Too Beautiful

I heard this on an 'Another Late Night' album, and I've always liked it's slow pace. The Beta Band tends to do that. The song has a OHMSS by the Propellerheads feel to it a bit.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Booker T & The Roots Cover Lauryn Hill’s “Everything Is Everything”

It's awesome to watch these guys so absorbed in their music. Booker T looks like he's waiting for a bus half the time, but damn his fingers move. I could listen to him play the keys all day long.


Friday, March 25, 2011

Boards of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy (High Quality)

I'm a sucker for the video of the highest skydive ever... Reminds me of a mix between Moby, Deep Blue Something, and The Beta Band. So I guess mellow electronic with a bit of downtempo rock.



Thursday, March 24, 2011

Grip Grand - A Penny (feat. Richie Cunning)

Grip Grand has some cheesy-ass rhymes (I love a freebee because I'm cheep cheep like a bird house), but his flow is quality and he's got some great beats. Almost every other track on this Brokelore album is awesome.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Edo G feat. Masta Ace - Wishing

The guitar loop that starts the track is spectacular, and the piano doing the melody off and on throughout is great as well. The 'I have a dream' sample works so much better than most spoken-word samples do in hip-hop.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Mark Ronson - Rashi

Great outro music. Fitting this is the last track on the album. It just is begging for credits to be rolling by. It's a fun little beat.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Zion I & The Grouch - Rockit Man

The Grouch looks like he's gonna grow up to be the old guy in American Gothic. There's something about his voice that I really like too. The beat has a good thump and has some interesting samples that I haven't heard much in hip hop. Sounds more synth-y. I could do with the song only going to 2:41 though...

Sunday, March 20, 2011

AZ never change

That's one hell of a loop... (got the aaaaaaaaaaaaah idea from yesterday) her voice is piercing, but it really brings the track together, especially when the hook drops. You might have to use rapgenius to translate, but it's a solid little story he tells in this track.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Styles, Pharoahe Monch - The Life

I dig Pharoahe's soulful voice and I like the 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh............ please believe me' loop throughout the track. Somehow those sounds work well together, and I like how layered the loops are in the background.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Mr. Oizo Flat Beat

I think it's the nice weather that makes me think of the Levi's commercial and riding around in a car with the windows down. I like songs that add and subtract layers of the beat like this.


Thursday, March 17, 2011

Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg & Mark Ronson - Ooh Wee

Another great track with Nate Dogg. Mark Ronson is one hell of a DJ, and he's got some amazing stuff I'm gonna have to listen to again. The sample that is the majority of this track is great. I love the violins and the occasional keys.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Mos Def feat. Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg - Oh No

This song is crazy! Mos, Pharoah and Nate Dogg? Amazing lyricists with the greatest hook man in the business. RIP Nate Dogg.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Pete rock -The boss

This wasn't even the track I was expecting to post, but damn is it good. Reminds me of something that Pete Philly and Perquisite would make.

Monday, March 14, 2011

James Brown - The Boss (Black Caesar Soundtrack)

Uh oh. I'm heading down a funky path. I get hooked on that funk so easily. So many people have sampled this song. I'll see if I can find a good one for tomorrow.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Blues Brothers - Soul Man

I think John Belushi by himself gave Sam and Dave a run for their money. Belushi certainly put his soul into it. I think I like this version better because it's a little more funky. But it's the same band! That's really the best part. 'Play it Steve' is the same Steve as in the original version by Sam and Dave!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Sam and Dave live - Hold on I'm coming

To have gotten to see these guys live... The Roots have this kind of energy at their shows and it rules.

Friday, March 11, 2011

The Game - Dreams - The Documentary

That's why I like this song... It's Kanye produced back before he lost his mind and found it again. Oldschool Kanye now. Great samples always.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Diddy - Dirty Money - Coming Home ft. Skylar Grey

It's easy to be Puffy, but it's hard to be Sean...

I gotta hand it to him; especially the hook. I like the slow piano that reminds me of Moby, and the horns really fill out the beat.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Notorious B I G Ft Frank Sinatra Juicy,New York

And if you don't know... now you know.

A cool mashup of Sinatra and Biggie. There's a whole album of this and it's pretty good.
RIP Biggie Smalls.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Kid Cudi 50 Ways To Make A Record

A really mellow song with a cool Paul Simon sample. I like the drum that has that drummer-boy style.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Girl Talk - Let it Out

Spot the reference!
Every time I hear that Mr Blue Sky sample it makes me think of a Beatles song that sounds exactly like it... It may not be a song of the day, but I'll figure it out and post it.

Oh right, and if you want to see what Girl Talk music is actually composed of, check this out

Sunday, March 06, 2011

Electric Light Orchestra - Mr Blue Sky

This song is in the middle of a Girl Talk track, but it's quite a bit of fun all by itself. Makes me want to keep digging through new (and old) music so that I won't be surprised by the samples people choose.


Found it!

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Blackstar - Thieves In The Night

Some classic Talib Kweli and Mos Def. "Hiding like thieves in the night from like Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice". It's got a really nice piano melody, and both Talib and Mos flow so well on this one.

Friday, March 04, 2011

Lupe Fiasco - Till I Get There

I just can't get off this piano kick. I didn't even listen to 30 seconds of this song and I knew I liked it.

Thursday, March 03, 2011

Miike Snow - Silvia

This was the first Miike Snow song I heard, and it was at the end of a Wiz Khalifa playlist on Rdio. It came out of left field and then I listened to the whole album. I got hooked on the song before I saw the video... Haven't really gotten into the video yet. It seems that I like the piano in beats. The kick beat really emphasizes the keys at the beginning of the song, but when the piano comes back near the end the kick is gone.

Moby 'Shot In The Back Of The Head'

The backwards sound really makes this track cool.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Living Legends - Man Who Sold The World Pt II

What a twist! This song came about a year after the 2010 track. The piano loop has a Moby feel to it that sucks me in.

Living Legends - 2010

The main sample comes from what sounds like the Nirvana cover of "The Man who Sold the World", so that's cool. The fast flows are pretty awesome in my opinion; they really make the track move.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Souls of Mischief - Cab Fare

I could listen to this keyboard loop forever. The whole track has that California positivity. Sounds like something from the labcabincalifornia-era, but I can't find any info about when this song was made.

I've been reading a bit about Tyler the Creator and his crew OFWGKTA. A bunch of rapping tennagers from LA. Noticed that Hieroglyphics crew was founded by Del tha Funkee Homosapien in Oakland in 1991, and the guys from Souls of Mischief were part of that crew. Wonder what Tyler's crew's gonna make. Most of OFWGKTA wasn't even born when Hiero came together.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Kanye West - All Of The Lights ft. Rihanna, Kid Cudi

Watch this in 1080p if you can. Also check out the video statistics (right next to the view count for the video). This video is not popular in Libya, Chad, The Central African Republic, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Germany. Weird.

Oh and it's a great song too. Kid Cudi looks like he's wearin' a Michael Jackson jacket.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Pharoahe Monch feat. Common & Talib Kweli - The Truth

Three great rappers, all very distinct styles, and a great beat behind them. Pharoah and Talib both love talkin' about slavery and black history. This track came out in 1999, and sure enough, in 2000 Talib Kweli and Hi Tek (Reflection Eternal) came out with Train of Thought. Like that track I posted from a few days ago by Talib Kweli.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Blame One - Blessed Weapon (prod. DJ Day)

I found this on okayplayer today.
That 'oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo' loop is cool and lets the song feel like it's always building up. Blame One's flow just goes and goes.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Lupe Fiasco - All Black Everything

The latest single from Lupe's upcoming album. The violins have that I Love Lucy-era televised music sound. He paints some interesting pictures and it cracks me up how he says 50 Cent. Go-go positive hip-hop!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Lyrics Born - Do That There (The Young Einstein Hoo-Hoo Mix) (2005)

An upbeat track with so many syllables! I really dig the little keyboard loop that comes and goes throughout. The only hip-hop track I know where 'Okefenokee Swamp' is used; and that's not even the strangest thing he says. You might have to look up the lyrics to know what all he's saying, and even then it might not make that much sense.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Pete Philly & Perquisite - Believer

Pete Philly can make some chill beats. A cool combination of rapper (Perquisite) and cellist/producer (Pete Philly).

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Chiddy Bang - Rebel

A single of their upcoming album. This song has been kicking around the internet for the past month and a half and I can't get away from it. Chiddy is young but his flow is improving, and Xaphoon has been cranking out the beats and keeps getting better as well.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

talib kweli & hi tek - African Dream - Reflection Eternal

Some of the first hip hop I was exposed to. This album brings back fond memories of playing Syphon Filter 2 in Brookline. The kick and hat that drop in at 2:03 really get the beat moving.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Emancipator-Nevergreen

This beat sounds exactly like a Kno beat that I'm gonna have to find now... Super chill. HHH found it for me



along with the rest of the album



Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Asheru - Revolution

Still a smooth flow from Asheru, and a freakin great beat. Reminds me of the end of college and shooting pool 4+ hours a day.

Asheru- Smiley

A great beat. This is actually pretty early Asheru; I know most of his stuff from the Boondocks in 2005. I'll find one from Hip-Hop Docktrine: The Official Boondocks Mixtape tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Jurassic 5 - Quality Control

Jurassic 5 was great. They were a positive group bunch of rappers with some great dj work... then they ran out of stuff to rap about.

Some fine data visualization there Lou...

No seriously, this is pretty cool. The Egyptian Revolution on Twitter

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day - Outkast

Before this song came out, I had no idea when Valentine's day was. Now I can't forget. Well played Outkast.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sly & The Family Stone- If You Want Me To Stay

Sampled in at least one great hip hop song... now if I can only remember which one... I'll figure it out sometime this year no doubt. A funky sound, with a great bass that just cruises along.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Kruder & Dorfmeister - Heroes [Kruder's Long Loose Bossa]

The first track off the 2-disc album The K & D Sessions. I will always associate it with driving around late at night through Somerville and Cambridge in the winter. Even though the album is just a compilation of many of their remixes, it is well mixed and flows smoothly from one track to the next. If you've never heard the album, go find it and listen to it. That is if you like this track. It's all pretty electronic, but very low-key.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Gangstarr - You Know My Steez

A hip-hop music video that is in the style of THX-1138? what? It's some classic Guru flow and a great beat.


My inspiration for the song today was the video below. It's really cool to see how to take the sampled song and turn it into a beat

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Ibrahim Electric - Absinthe

I don't know that I can put it better than the guy who posted the song: "Danish Jazz/Afro/Funk/Surf/Beat group, with some excellent hammond, and very nice live performances."

These guys are just fun to listen to, and the chanting really ties the song together.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Nujabes (Modal Soul) 01 - Feather Feat. Cise Starr & Akin -CYNE-

I found this one on HHH, but now I've got all of Nujabes' albums and I'll be seeing if he made any other great beats. My money's on yes. He was big into sampling jazz and shared a birthday with the late J Dilla.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Nas & Damian Marley - Patience

This is one hell of a video. Talk about epic. Damian's got a crazy smooth flow, and that beat? I'm a sucker for a good bass drop.

DISTANT RELATIVES "Patience" from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Monday, February 07, 2011

Aesop Rock- Forest Crunk

Reminds me of driving around the midwest in college late at night... Good cruising music. It may say Aesop Rock, but it's all Blockhead's beat. Reminds me a bit of the K&D Sessions, especially right around 3:05.

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Lost In the World - Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy)

I like the slow buildup, I like the driving beat, and those extra-low drums that sound like a big Japanese Taiko drum. Kanye sure can produce the hell out of music.

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Aphex Twin: Window Licker [HD:AO]

If you've never heard Aphex Twin before, this is a decent example of his kind of music. For such an electronic artist, he uses lots of human sounds, just chopped and warped to the extent that sometimes it's hard to recognize. At 4:50 things really start to get interesting.

J. Cole ft. B.o.B - Pass Me By (New 2011)

His flow reminds me of 50 Cent and a hint of Kid Cudi... Fits right in with B.o.B, albeit with a bit more colorful language. Debut album coming sometime this year.

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Stalley "The Tune Up"

I could listen to those horn loops for hours. No hook, Stalley's got a lot to say and has a great flow. I've been seeing his songs pop up on OkayPlayer but this is the first one I've really liked.

"I'm just trying to balance everything I build and keep my legacy on stilts"

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Outkast - Rosa Parks (Uncensored - Dvd Rip)

I don't know what planet Andre 3000 gets his wardrobe ideas from...

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Cunninlynguists - The Light (Ft. Club Dub)(+ Lyrics)

The buildups and crashes are spectacular. Super chill beat.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Miike Snow - Animal

Heard this one by the skating rink today near work. It's got a catchy beat.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Miike Snow- song for no one

Found with my new music subscription thing: Rdio

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Common - The Light

Tryin' to go HD... Sound quality is so much better




Thursday, January 27, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Hugh Masekela - Coal Train Live

Very chill


Youngblood Brass Band - Acousticon Theme

I even had this one planned and I still didn't post it in my 24 hour window. First attempt at pointing to a time in a song. Gotta listen for a few minutes.

Monday, January 24, 2011

The Roots - What You Want

Questlove keepin' it simple. The first of many Roots ups this year.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Outasight - Losing My Mind ( Official Video )

Chill horns, sick beat, and a laid back flow

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Cold War Kids - Audience

J got this stuck in my head. Your turn!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Wu Tang Clan: The Heart Gently Weeps OFFICIAL VIDEO

Ghost and Meth blow up with some seriously explicit language, but it's got one hell of a good hook. Thanks George Harrison.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Fat Boy Slim - Weapon of Choice

A classic Spike Jonze production. If you couldn't guess, Walkin choreographed the whole thing.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Four Tet - Twenty Three

A little more out there than the NPR beat, but it's got some really good moments

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

four tet - everything is alright

Think 'Extended On-Point intro'...

Monday, January 17, 2011

Rubberbandits - Horse Outside

Like Weird Al, only Irish...

Sunday, January 16, 2011

One Be Lo feat. Ka Di - Cold World & Wake Up (Sleepwalking Original Vers...

Never deny, I'm better than Clyde... But seriously, the beat for the first 1.5 minutes is out of this world.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Blueprint - "Radio-Inactive"

The rapping half of Soul Position, off his upcoming solo album Adventures in Counter-Culture. He's he happiest rapper I've ever seen on-stage.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Mos Def - Travellin' Man (Video and Lyrics)

An amazing collaboration between Mos Def and dj Honda

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Tab-One (Kooley High) - Tell Us The Truth

Good beat, good flow, and a great use of the Christmas snowstorm.

Found at okayplayer

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Blockhead - Cent

One of Blockhead's best beats

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Monday, January 10, 2011

Binary Star - Reality Check


Who said it's all about the Benjamins?

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Omer Saar- A New World (Method Man & MF DOOM)

Mix of Al Green's "A New World" and Method Man's "Release Yo' Delf

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Jay-Z - Anything

From 1999 and sounds like it's a hard knock life.

Friday, January 07, 2011

Chiddy Bang - Opposite Of Adults

Guess what I just figured out I could do...

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon

Why's your shit sound so different?.... (like it's a bad thing)

And I'll be like.... why not?

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At

Sampled in GirlTalk's latest album All Day

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Jay Electronica - Jazzmatazz (Guru Tribute)

Sounds like Yesterday is the beat.

Monday, January 03, 2011

Soundamus - personalized feeds of new and upcoming music releases

I've spent all of an hour trying to get an RSS feed for new albums by artists I specify. Soundamus is the only one that could handle the number of artists I had in my last.fm account.

It takes input from last.fm, Pandora, iLike, or Soundamus itself. I picked last.fm because I just wanted a place I could track artists quickly.

OCD: Moosh & Twist - City Kids

J, I expect you to like this.

Sunday, January 02, 2011

B.o.B - Don't Let Me Fall

Good old camera tricks...