Dang. All right. I woke up to this. It’s the cover art for Nicki’s new single “Anaconda.” To be clear, we’d never see this on Beyonce’s Instagram and it’s not because Bey has more respect for herself than Nicki does. The Young Money Queen is feeling that pressure to stay in her Starship. Explore the issue after the jump.
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The rapper formerly known as Common Sense is no longer common. He’s on his dime album, recruits young upstarts like Vince Staples to keep him “real,” and gets burn on the late night circuit like he’s a Roots member. Check the video of his performance last night after the jump.
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Think of the Strip Club All Stars in rap music. Got some dollar-sign rap names in your head yet? Ok. Now put them all on the best booty tune of the summer. I present to you “She Twerkin” remix. Rock your fists in the air. Hit your nay nay. It’s whatever with this banger. Check the track after the jump.
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Put it on “Everything” that the MikeWillMadeIt sound ain’t going nowhere. This group from the A, Two-9, are the latest to be blessed with that golden touch. Their video of spooky factory scenes and barrel fires gives an outstanding accent to a clashing beat. Check the vid after the jump.
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I fux with this right here. It’s heavy and tingly like a smoker’s day dream. These Left Coasters and Sir Michael Rocks (of the Cool Kids) created something really distinct by joining up and it needs to continue. They were knocking at the door and someone let them in at the right time. Check the video after the jump.
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King Chip has this art-house video for your viewing pleasure. The title fits the concept perfectly too, a collage of slideshow images, some intense lazing around and a dark brooding protagonist. It also takes the focus off of Chip and puts it squarely on the Ohio sound and lifestyle he wants to celebrate. Watch the too-cool video after the jump. H/t NahRight.
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Never let it be said (again) that the musical-genius-vampire-ageless-low-key-Asian-man that is Pharrell doesn’t create ethnically diverse videos. After the humdrum about “Blurred Lines” not featuring enough women of multiple shades, he releases this. Miley Cyrus feature notwithstanding, this might be his most diverse display of beauties since his and Snoop’s “Beautiful” way back in the early 2000s. Check the rainbow colored visuals after the jump.
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Gangsta Gibbs on this AWAR track shows he never takes a verse off in a surprising guest spot. Get your steak grilled and eggs fried. Check the video after the jump.
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That uptown boogie over a majestic horn section. Bodega has that King swagger so refreshing in a capable newbie. Check this royalty after the jump.
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A couple years back, everyone thought Joey Bada$$ was the one to watch from Brooklyn. He did Golden Era husky rap like few in his bracket. But then the Underachievers bombarded the scene with Indigoism showing shades of another great rap duo in Outkast but with the gruffness of Black Moon and Boot Camp. This is a preview of their soon-to-debut album. Listen after the jump.
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Homeboy Sandman is a lyrical gymnast who doesn’t assault with messages or perfunctory turns into spoken word lecture style. “America the Beautiful” sounds like a Maya Angelou rendition or an Erica Alexander portrait of this great, flawed nation.
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More music from The Sparks Foundation mixtape, this time with a jazzy, sampled beat and the Polo-obsessed DZA weaving his relaxed confident flow into the beat scratches and boom baps. Check the track after the jump.
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What makes a summer song? It’s sweaty but never sad about it. The right summer smash makes you put the double-decker barbecue plate on your lawn chair, pour out something cool and get close to the speakers. It’s naked and unashamed, of course. The song’s gotta be loud. Not volume-wise either. You need to be able to open that sunroof, lower the windows on the highway and still annoy passersby with the bass drop. They’re great songs because they’re disposable songs. A summer jam is the wet wipe of music: refreshing as it is fleeting and oh so useful at the right time.
Load these songs into your playlist and be the DJ you always wanted for the weekend.
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This that light-hearted bout-to-go-tour-with-Taylor-Gang music. Check the Cali prince’s new joint after the jump.
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