As one of the only girls I know who has a deep affection for rap, especially mean rap, I am really excited to have discovered Angel Haze. She’s a bad bitch from New York who might actually cut you just for no reason (just watch the video). The lyrics on this are sick, and this song is not about the beat which adds to how fucking low-key this whole track is. I am really down with Haze, and am excited to see what happens with her career in the future. Perhaps New York’s Azealia Banks will have to make some room at the top of the NYC Bad Bitches pyramid…but until then, check out Angel Haze’s “Werking Girls” below, and prepare to be blown away.
Diplo – “Set it Off” (feat. Lazerdisk Party Sex)
I mean…what else were we expecting from Diplo and an artists called ‘Lazerdisk Party Sex’ than strippers in space?
KAM Royal – “One Time” Video
KAM Royal is apparently the internet’s new favorite college rapper, and I can’t disagree. In fact, I am kind of in love with him. KAM goes to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, so although we are many states away, his music still relates to those on that college grind in southern California. However, his raps are not about college per say (so don’t expect the next “I Love College” track out of him), but his raps are care-free, summer jam party songs. What I love so much about the “One Time” video is mostly the screenshot above, but all of the visuals throughout the entire video evokes such a chill vibe that it is hard to resist bopping along to it. It doesn’t hurt that the song is catchy as hell (and Kam throws in a Marvin Gaye reference in the first 30 seconds, so he gains some instant cred from me) and has a bunch of sound byte call outs in between lines a la early Eminem. The verses are smart, quick and smooth so there is really nothing not to like about “One Time”.
Also, is the bucket hat making a comeback, or what?
You can download his mixtape, Still Waters, on Dat Piff, or you can just watch the “One Time” video below.
Kendrick Lamar and Best Coast Interview
If there are only two things you should know about me, they should be that I could eat a ton of ice cream in one setting and that I love rap. If there was a third thing, it would be that I love Best Coast. Listen to Kendrick Lamar and Bethany Cosentino, of Best Coast fame, talk to Miss Info (ummm yeah) about growing up in Los Angeles and about their exclusive joint performance of Lamar’s “No Make-Up Today”.
MURS – “Animal Style”
Oh my god, I have goosebumps. Y’all keep talking about Frank Ocean, but you should move onto this.
I mean, really, who samples political statements about gay marriage? Props MURS, hella props.
Lana del Rey – “National Anthem” Video
Lana attempts to be as awesome as Jackie O (and… Marilyn Monroe for a second?) but isn’t. A$AP awkwardly stands around and grabs Lana’s ass at some point. I understand that she was going for a cool, vintage, story-telling music video but…well, watch it for yourself. Also, after Terry Urban, I can no longer hear Lana beat without hearing Biggie rapping over it in my head.
Check out Lana del Rey’s video for “National Anthem” below.
EBRU feat. Durrty Goodz – “MAD”
Remember when I found out who Iggy Azeala was and had a minor break down about how hot she is and how great she was on that song? Well, step aside Iggy because another woman has taken your place. My new crush is EBRU, a soulful girl from the UK who caught my attention today when an interview with her popped up on my newsfeed. After some lurking around the internet, I found her cover of “Swim Good” (originally by Frank Ocean) which is just a more Motownish version of the orignal. Whereas the original is much more lowkey, EBRU’s version features more of a big band sound, which creates an interesting and much louder version of the song.
This then brought me to her newest (and seemingly first original) release, entitled “MAD”. Again, the Mowtown feel is very present throughout the entire song (and video) but EBRU is able to update the song and brings it to a place set in the 2010s. The lyrics are fantastic and extremely relatable, the video is very esthetically pleasing and the music is fantastic.
Give “MAD” a listen by watching the video below, or check out her SoundCloud account. Let me know what you think!
EBRU MAD from Stewart Dean on Vimeo.
Miike Snow – “Paddling Out” (Penguin Prison Remix)
Miike Snow’s “Paddling Out” got a Penguin Prison remix earlier this week, an honor only bestowed on a few. Penguin Prison adds a more electric feel to “Paddling Out” and does their best to make sure that Miike Snow sounds as far away as possible by added a bunch of compression to the vocal track. “Paddling Out” is a great introduction to summer, which can be great if your school is finished after this month, but also sort of horrible if you work full time or go to a school on the quarter system. Either way though, this song has a carefree feel which is typical of Penguin Prison remixes. Enjoy!
FKi + Iggy Azalea + Diplo – “I Think She Ready”
Before we get started, it is important to note that this song was created to sell things, not to be a fun song that everyone listens to. SSENCE, a clothing brand, collaborated with FKi, Iggy Azalea and Dilpo to create a song to go along with the first ever interactive shopping music video. As a huge fan of social media and all of the new ways to sell things through interactive ways, I am extremely excited about this idea so I would have watched this video regardless of the song underneath it. SSENSE paired up with wireWAX, and used their cool, new technology to make it possible for the viewer to click on an article of clothing and be taken to the online store and buy it. It is a fun thing to play with if you want to waste some time, or look at pretty clothes that I will never be able to wear because of my desire to go into the music industry where I will make little to no money (but at least I will be doing what I love…! Right guys? Right?)
But anyway, back to the track.
The Black Keys – Tighten Up
Below is the video for The Black Keys‘ single “Tighten Up”. Their album Brothers is out now, you can pick it up from iTunes or Amazon. “Tighten Up” has got some serious soul in it. And as for the video, ah, to be young and in love.