For the second episode of his behind the scenes webseries, XV gives us an inside look at his Midwest State Of Mind tour where he gained new fans every show. Watch below as he describes the rise of his Squarian movement and explains the value of small town shows. This dude better be a 2012 XXL Freshman!!
Ryshon Jones is more than consistent with the music so it's hard to picture him having a case of writer's block. Fortunately, his inner struggle to come up with the right subject matter for Rollin Mills' beat transformed into the inspiration to his new track "Fighting With My Conscious":
“this song was inspired by a talk i had with the producer of the song,I heard the beat and I was contemplating on what to say on it and i ended up bein to self conscious of what i should say,and the end i ended up making a song about whishing I lost the ability to not think at all video coming soon" -Ryshon
I guess this is why "Drake Is Canadian" was trending on Twitter...
Tonight, the Toronto representer traveled to Ottawa to perform his Take Care hit "Headlines" for the NHL All Star Game. Watch below as the players are just as excited as the fans to see Drake perform!
Right after ScHoolboy Q dropped the video to "Nightmare On Figg St.," Ryshon Jones couldn't help but rhyme over the dark A$AP Ty Beats production. Listen below as Ryshon brings the nightmare to Philly, and make sure you check out Brightest Nights Darkest Days if you haven't already!
Dutch producer Nubbz is dropping his first project, In A Minute, in February, which will consist of six blends incorporating his soulful beats with classic hip hop verses. Check out the first leak, "Get Em High," which highlights Common's verse on Kanye's College Dropout below, and hit the comments with your thoughts about the blend!
Yesterday, Christina Aguilera paid the highest honor to the late Etta James by belting out the legendary singer's most famous hit, "At Last." After an emotional and heartfelt intro, Christina sang a breathtaking rendition to Etta and everyone who attended the funeral.
“I have to first of all say what an amazing honor it is for me to have been welcomed here today, invited here, to pay tribute to the great Ms. Etta James,” said an emotional Christina. “I went around the world throughout all my career saying that Ms. Etta James was my favorite singer in the whole wide world."
R.I.P. Etta James. Through your music you'll live forever.
Busta Rhymes's Hype Williams-directed video for "Why Stop Now" featuring Chris Brown drops tomorrow at noon and Google Music did an extensive behind the scenes feature to let you know what it took to create the visuals. Watch below to view Busta's reaction to fan made covers of the track and to see Chris Brown busting out the acrobatics for the shoot!
Thankfully I was doing some twitter prowling and stumbled across this dope new video from R&B visionary Kalenna. I've been cranking "Go To Work" for a minute now, and I can't wait until her new mixtape Chamber of Diaries drops in February. For now enjoy "Matte Black Truck," the second viral video from the project, which shows the Philly bred singer animating her every lyric!
Pill continues his independent hustle with "Yeen Gon Believe," the second leak from his upcoming mixtape The Epidemic. Check out the dark, southern track below and let me know what you think about this new one from the ATLien by hitting up the comments!
Yelawolf dropped off this freestyle with the LA Leakers, and he's the first to really get original with the flow on "Rack City." Check it out below, and hit up the comments with your thoughts!
It's been a while since Chris Brown dropped something #Sertafied. Check out the full version of his duet "Touch Me (Like You Touch Urself)" with his frequent collaborator and Richgirl frontwoman, Se7en. Do you think this track deserves to make the album? Hit up the comments and let me know!
Chris Brown - Touch Me (Like You Touch Urself) ft. Se7en
Instead of finding times when Ke$ha, Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, T.I., AND Wiz Khalifa were all available to shoot the video to her "Sleazy" remix, the pop star went completely left field and called up...Pedro? And crossdressers. Watch below, and let me know what you think of the visuals in the comments below!
DMV spitter Lyriciss linked up with Virginia-based producer Soulful! and the world reknowned DJ I-Dee on "Get It & Go," the standout track from The Balance EP: Money. Watch below as Lyriciss takes you to his home of Washington, D.C. and demonstrates why his name is a perfect fit. Download The Balance EP: Money after the jump!
Harlem's own Rugz D. Bewler is going to make it in this game By Any Means Necessary, and his hunger and talent has been proven on his latest project. Check out the Anthony Sylvester-directe music video for the title track "By Any Means Necessary," below, and make sure you don't sleep on this emcee! He's got it!
D'Angelo will forever be one of my favorite R&B artists of all time. Despite his run ins with the law and his other personal issues, I'm pretty sure the world is glad that he's back to doing what he does best. Recently, the Richmond, VA born singer took to Stockholm, Sweden to make his debut as a performer for the first time in eleven years.
Watch below as a super-swole D'Angelo hops down from the keys and performs his brand new track "Sugar Daddy!" More clips after the jump!
Before his album The Day After Tomorrow finally drops on February 28th, Maino's giving us a pre-album of sorts to show us how hard he's been working. Check out the DJ Green Lantern & DJ Infamous-hosted mixtape I Am Who I Am below, and let me know what you think of the tape in the comments!
There's a "Nightmare On Figg St." in this new Jerome D-directed music video. ScHoolboy Q flips a few "Niggas In Paris" lines on this Habits & Contradictions as he and his team walk through Q's stomping grounds of Figueroa Street in L.A. Watch the music visual below, and make sure you go get #HnC!!
Jon Connor is a real emcee, but he's a musician first. On Season 2 he shows how versatile he can be while still bringing the heat lyrically. During a recent sit down with ThisIs50's Young Jack Thriller, he talked about his typecasting as a freestyle rapper and spoke on the inspiration behind his name and his music. Get to know the Flintstone Jon Connor, because he's definitely next up!
J. Cole continues to relive the making of Cole World: The Sideline Story with Muve Music on Episode 3 of his commentary. Watch below to hear the stories behind "Lights Please," "Sideline Story," "Never Told," and "Cole World!"
Which of these songs has the most significance to you? Hit up the comments and let me know!
If you're in the mood for something mello, check out the latest from Frank Ocean. He's letting his New Orleans upbringing show on his new track "Voodoo," another short track that he let loose on his Tumblr. Give us a full length song, Frank!!
Donnis was feeling generous again, and dropped off a music video and two new tracks for Vol. 2 of his Snack Pack series. Watch the short visuals to his Juicy J collab "Bout That Life," and hit the jump to hear the Atlanta rapper's new Gods Paparazzi-produced tracks, "Hoes" and "Benjamin Franklin!"
Lamborghini Lo Keys lets his lyrics take the front seat on "Spread My Wings," the second single from his upcoming mixtape American Greed (Scams, Schemes and Broken Dreams). In the meantime, check out his latest tape, The Green Hornet!
Here's some unexpected Mac Miller that Mr. Peter Parker and DJ Whoo Kid chose as the lead single from their upcoming tape #FRATRAP. Check out "Death Of An Emcee," a track that allows Mac Miller to address all of the naysayers who don't think he's a true emcee. I'm impressed by this one.
The Roots has changing the game with their concept album undun, which tells the story of fictional character Redford Stephens. Along with the album, there have been a series of visuals that turn the album into a soundtrack of sorts. There is also a free un(dun) iPhone app that serves as a comparison piece to the album. Check out one of the app's feaures below, an account of Redford Stephens's life through the eyes of his aunt, and make sure you go get the album if you haven't already!
Since I'm still in R&B mode, I couldn't leave out this new video from Carl Thomas and Snoop Dogg. Get your grown and sexy on to this Rico Love penned track, and be sure to put this one on your Valentine's Day playlists. Don't have a Valentine's? I'll two step with ya!
Kelly Rowland's Here I Am may not have blazed the Billboard charts last year, but it has proved to be an album that can spawn multiple hit singles. After dabbling in Dance music on "Down For Whatever," the singer took it back to her R&B roots for her current single "Keep It Between Us." Watch the music video below starring Kelly and Lance Gross. This video is so sweet, it makes a gangsta shed a :') tear.
Here's a new track from Detroit singer-songwriter Bei Maejor! I'm not sure if this song is part of his Upscale movement, but it's a nice pop ballad if you're into that kind of thing. Check out "Angel On Earth" below, and let me know what you think about the song by hitting me up in the comments below!
PenStation's Mike Tape, Volume II is out now exclusively on Gangstas Use Emoticons, but I had to single out their track "Destiny," which I think is one of the best tapes on the project. Check out the standout track below, and hit the jump to check out the full tape. Don't sleep on Mr. Write & Riddles!
Out of the thousand verses recorded over Tyga's "Rack City," he chose the biggest names for the remix. Check out the official remix, which features Wale, Fabolous, Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, and T.I.! Music video coming soon!
Tyga - Rack City (Remix) ft. Wale, Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, T.I. & Fabolous (Dirty)
Meek Mill gave us a sample of his "The Motto" freestyle last week, but now we have the full remix that he recorded with Wale. They've thrown around the idea of doing a joint mixtape together so I'm guessing this is a test run to see how the fans respond.
Who killed the beat better? My vote's for Wale on this one...
Emilio Rojas has been working effortlessly to make his new project Breaking Point one of the best mixtapes to drop so far in 2012. With Billionaire Boys Club and DJ Green Lantern placing their stamps on the album-quality project, how could you not try it? Stream or download the Breaking Point below, which boasts minimal features and production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Willpower, The Olympicks, and more!
It looks like Slaughterhouse is finally geared up and ready to drop their Shady debut album. I've been waiting on this ever since I played their first album to death in my car. Their sophomore project welcome to: OUR HOUSE has been announced for a May 15th release via Interscope. To top it all off, they will be embarking on a world tour beginning in March that spans about two months. Hit the jump to see if the slaughter is coming to your area!
Chris Brown is going for a similar sound to "Yeah 3x" and "Beautiful People" that gave him international success on this new single "Turn Up The Music." Check out Fortune's official second single below, and let me know if you think Breezy has a hit on his hands!
One session. 5 powerhouses. The end result of this collab sounds major. Check out pics from the recent studio sessions with Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, Busta Rhymes, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller below, and let me know what you think of this unlikely collab!
Odd Future has quite the year planned out. Along with their individual projects, they're dropping a the OF Tape, Vol. 2 in March and have now announced a 17-date world tour to capitalize on the release. Find out if OFWGKTA is coming through your city after the jump!
Los is one of the baddest emcees out right now, and this off the dome freestyle is hard, cold evidence of that. Check out the Baltimore wordsmith on Shade 45's Toca Tuesdays, and hit the jump to hear him explain the process behind his latest project, The Crown Ain't Safe.
Honors English is back with another dope set of visuals from his upcoming album State Of The Art, which drops February 22. This AUKS-animated video for "Second Chances," features the beautiful voice of Karina Pasian and begins as Honors English and Needlz explaining the entire concept behind the song, which involves the producer's surviving bout with cancer. Watch below as the G.U.E. favorite's lyrics get animated!
Every week leading up to his Valentine's Day concert at S.O.B.'s in New York, Bilal is going to release an acoustic cover of his favorite songs. Check out the acoustic version of his Airtight's Revenge standout "Think It Over" below, and sway with me. d(^_^)b
Here's "Tonight," the second single from the Think Like A Man soundtrack. This John Legend and Ludacris collab is a sensual R&B cut that I definitely prefer over the Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo and Rick Ross track that dropped last week. Think Like A Man hits theaters March 9th!
John Legend feat. Ludacris - Tonight (Best You Ever Had)
Estelle and Stacy Barthe are two of the R&B artists chosen for BET's Music Matters campaign, and I'm really happy that BET is giving real music the spotlight it deserves. Recently, the two singer-songwriters visited 106 & Park where Estelle promoted her upcoming album All Of Me and Stacy Barthe talked about the success of her Sincerely Yours mixtape. Watch the full interview below!
STS continues his internet takeover with visuals to his new song "Downhill," which shows STS rocking packed shows and making the crowd Demand More. Nice flip of XX's "Shelter." I wonder what's next?
Brothers Timothy and Teron Thomas who are the minds behind hits like Rihanna's "Man Down," Mario's "Music For Love," and The Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up," are renewing their position as artists under the new moniker Planet VI. Formerly known as Rock City, the duo finally cut ties with Akon's Konvict Records/Interscope after years of frustrations with the label.
To give Planet VI a proper introduction, the Virgin Islands representers just dropped the brand new mixtape The American Dream that includes production from Boi-1da and Tha Bizness, and features artists including Bei Maejor, 2 Chainz, Dom Kennedy, Chase N. Ca$he, and more. Stream/download the mixtape below, and get used to hearing Planet VI more often because they're not going anywhere!
For a rapper to have a DJ as famous as Don Cannon behind him, Tez McClain is bound to make some seismic waves in 2012. Download the Atlanta MC's new mixtape Wishful Thinking Vol. II: Respect My Grind below, which contains standout tracks "2 Minutes of Game" and "Luv Me," and features CyHi The Prynce, Mistah FAB, Focus & more!
Taylor Gang's Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, and Lola Monroe aren't waiting until BET Cypher time to show off their camp. Instead, they've morphed into modern day Fugees and recreated their classic single into "Oh-Gee-La." Nowhere near as good as the original, but at least they're not rapping over "The Motto"...
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