Tag: US Music

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“New Music”…What I’ve been listening to…

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Hey everyone, it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these! There has been so much music released recently but I thought I’d give you a list of songs I’ve had on repeat, some old and many new Furthermore, I’ve compiled a “Winter Playlist” for everyone, so feel free to have a listen! The link is at the top of the blog.  

Darkoo Ft. One Acen – Gangsta

UK music has been on fire recently and this is one of the hottest records out right now! The song is by UK singer Darkoo featuring fellow UK artist One Acen who seems to do no wrong. This song is extremely catchy and the accompanying dance is very addictive! I have heard a song from Darkoo before (the song with Br3nya) and I really like the tone of her voice, so I hope this song is the start of something big for her. Have a listen below and make sure you check out the video!

Ari Lennox Ft. J Cole – Shea Butter

As I’ve already mentioned, I have recently compiled a playlist for this winter weather, songs that are representative of these cold, cold conditions! This song is one of the entries and a song I’ve been playing a lot recently. I like the tone of Ari’s voice in this title track of her debut album. J Cole has a great featured verse especially with the change of flow when he says “Coconut oil”. Have a listen below;

Tory Lanez Ft T-Pain – Jerry Sprunger

When I first heard the teaser to this song I thought it would 100% work. Of course the original 2005 classic “I’m Sprung” from T-Pain is already legendary but Tory has a habit of remixing songs and giving them his own twist. I even think that this could easily be a part 2 of the original rather than seeing it as a replacement. For me it feels like a teacher (Being T-Pain as he is one of the originators of autotune) and the student (Tory) at work together. This irony reminds me of the famous J Cole lyric whenhe says on “Let Nas Down”; “Long live the idols, may they never be your rival”. This song also serves as the first single from Tory’s latest project “Chixtape 5”. Having listened to the tape, this song is still the main song that stands out for me and has the most replay value. Have a listen below;

Russ – Best on Earth Ft. BIA

If you are a regular on my blog you’d probably know I’m a fan of US artist Russ. This song featuring BIA is his latest hit. I think Russ has a good formula going on, he has a nice singing voice but also has a talent for rapping too. Sometimes it feels as if there are two people on his verses. I am personally looking forward to his upcoming album has he has been going from strength to strength with his released singles. Another great thing about Russ is that he always seems to have the perfect person to feature with for that song. BIA’S flow compliments the beat of this song so perfectly its unreal! Russ is definitely someone I would love to see perform live. Have a listen to the song below;

Krept & Konan – Salaam

UK duo Krept and Konan are back with their second studio album “Revenge is Sweet”. This is the second song from the album and in comparison, to the energy in the first song, this is a more chilled back song. The song for me is quite deep and of course the duo do not disappoint with their wordplay. In one of Konan’s verse he says “All the times I made Abby cus cos she couldn’t count on me” which is of course a reference to the Abacus which is used to help people count. I also like how Krept and Konan use their religion and faith on this song with the chorus; “Assalamualaikum akhi, pray for a brudda cah they hating on me”. The “Assalamualaikum” is a greeting in Arabic that means “Peace be upon you”. Throughout the song they ask for prayer due to the fact people are not as genuine as we may think. They both also touch on the deaths of close ones in the song. I think this is one of my favourites from the album without a doubt.

Hitmaka Ft. Young Ma, Dreezy, Mualatto, DreamDoll & Chinese Kitty – Thot Box (Remix)

Wow! This all female remix is possibly one of the best remixes to a song to come out this year. I love the female unity in this song but the best thing is every single artist maintains the high level. I also liked the original with Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and Tyga. For this all female ensemble, my favourite verses were from Chinese Kitty and Dream Doll. Although the line from Dreezy; “Got ten-star credit, my pictures don’t need no editing” has been in my head ever since. Have a listen to the song below.

J Hus – Must Be

The instruments on this song are possibly the best arrangement I’ve heard on a UK rap song this year. UK rapper J Hus and the genius producer that is JAE5 team up for yet again another banger. I’ve said before that J Hus has the ability to provide a song that you will 100% be quoting for the next few weeks. This song will for sure be making you think about “opps”that you may not even have! I can’t get over the strings in this song too, I could easily listen to the instrumental version of this song on repeat.

Young T & Bugsey Ft. Headie One – Don’t Rush

I don’t think these two are capable of ever releasing a bad song! This is another hit from the UK duo, this time featuring UK rapper Headie One. I like the wordplay from the duo, their flow is also very unique and the two always play off each other so well. Whatever formula these two have, they should definitely keep at it because it sure is winning one.. Check out the song below;

Krept & Konan – Keep Talking Ft. Stormzy & Cadet

Another entry from Krept and Konan, this time with a song featuring two other UK rappers; South London’s finest Stormzy and the late great Cadet. When I saw the tracklist for this song I knew I would love it. I’m a fan of Stormzy but even I didn’t realise how crazy his verse would be. Stormzy sounded fed up which for me is the best version of Stormzy. Look at some of his freestyles where he has similar emotions or even when he’s on the rare occasion not as humble as usual. (Listen to “Scary” or even “One Take”). One of his lines in this song is “I’m from the dirty South, can’t clean the boy” and it is the way he delivers the bar that gets me. He also raps “Man can’t talk about whips or p’s, Got a S class sitting there covered in bird shit” just reminding us he is the guy! I wanted his verse to keep going! I read that the verse from Cadet was not originally recorded for this song but they managed to make it fit and I’m glad we get to hear a song with all of them on it as they were all family or friends. I feel each artist brought out the best in the other. The back to back between them was exciting to hear and I can only imagine what that would be like to listen to live. Once again R.I.P Cadet! Cadet!

Also; Check out:

Pattern Gang (including Octavian) – Pattern Chanel

Ari Lennox Ft. J.I.D – Broke –(Whew!! J.I.D smashed his verse!!!!!)

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Mid Week Update…New Music: What I’ve been listening to…

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Hello everyone! It’s that time of week where I bombard you all with a list of what I’ve been listening to the past week! It’s been a while since I have updated you, have a look below of all the music that’s been on rotation.!

Stormzy – Wiley Flow

There has been a lot of noise and controversy in the UK grime scene surrounding Wiley. If I’m going to be perfectly honest, I have no idea what started Wiley’s frustration. With this track Stormzy paves homage to one of the grime pioneers Wiley. The beginning of the song starts with a snippet of a clip where Wiley refers to the fact that everyone else in the scene are his “youngers”. Stormzy uses this to flip and relate to his song by referring to his own success. I feel that this is the Stormzy I prefer in comparison to his more commercial songs like “Vossi Bop”. Stormzy when he is raw for me is when he’s at his best, listen to his freestyles like “Standard” and “Scary” for examples.

Shaybo – Ya Dun Know

This song has blown up thanks to the power of the internet. I came across the song and video on twitter and have been playing the song ever since! I love the fact there are more female rappers coming up and even better them being British. There are a few really good British rappers in comparison to the men. Shaybo brings a uniqueness to her rapping as she spits in the Yoruba dialect too in this song. Yoruba is one of the many languages spoken in Nigeria and it is great she is able to incorporate both her British and Nigerian identity in the song. For those that aren’t aware, “Ya Dun Know” is a common slang used a lot in London and is a term usually used when someone is bigging something up. The accompanying video is good too, simple and fitting to the song. I also liked how she referenced her old video where she was much younger so we could see the growth in her music.

Mahalia Ft. Ella Mai – What You Did

I’m a big fan of this collaboration, women are really taking centre stage in all genres nowadays, rap and r&b are just examples. In this song we hear samples from Cam’ron and Juelz Santana’s hit song “Oh Boy” as well as Norman Whitfield’s “I’m Going Down”. The song exudes female solidarity in the face of a lover ho has wronged them. One of the lyrics that stand out for me are from Ella Mai’s verse where she sings “Oh, it’s funny how right when I let my guard down you play around”, I’m sure many women can relate to this line. I like in the chorus that they flip the scenario; ‘Cause I would not expect someone to stay around If I let them down, oh” insinuating that if they had wronged their lover they would expect them to be reacting in the exact same way. I hope this is the first of more collaborations between this two, their singing styles compliment each other very well.

Myers – Common Kid

I’m sure everyone is now aware of the Netflix series “Top Boy” that was released on the 13th of September. The original soundtrack has been released and while the album is great and filled with the finest UK talent, there was 1 song I feel should have been on there. While watching the series, this song in particular stood out to me. I had to shazam the song as I had no idea who was rapping. Since discovering, I have had this song on repeat. The song touches on the gritty street life which evidently was very relevant for the episode. Have a listen below; ( Also check out Bugzy Malone – Die By The Gun)

Normani – Motivation

“I’ma break you off, let me be your motivation” is what I’ve been singing since I heard this song. Normani who is famous for being a apart of the group ‘Fifth Harmony’ finally spreads her solo wings with this debut single. I have a feeling she is one to watch. The song is great and the video is absolutely mind blowing. Her talent spreads from vocals to dancing and it is clear she is finally showing the world her talents. I am here for any success she has in the future!!!

Dave – Professor X

This is one of the standout tracks on the Top Boy soundtrack for me. Dave outdoes himself with his witty wordplay in this song. I loved the Terminator “Not around no more” reference as that fir perfectly with the line he was spitting. I could be here all day picking out the talent behind some of the bars in this song. Have a listen below;

Gambimi – Picture

UK artist Gambimi caused a storm last week with a video on his Instagram that went viral showing him pleading a lover to forgive him for his wrongdoing. All of this was the lead up to the release of this single. The famous words “Can we fix, can we blend, can we contour” are possibly what stand out in the whole song. Personally I have been listening to Gambimi’s music for a while. He used to release songs regularly on SoundCloud. I feel his voice is a mixture of Trey Songz and UK singer Angel. A soothing R&B sound with the right kind of rifts and harmonies. Have a listen below;

Quality Control Ft. City Girls, Stefflon Don, Renni Rucci & Mustard – Like That

Quality Control have released a new album entitled; Quality Control: Control the Streets Volume 2. One of the things I like about QC as a label is their appreciation and support of female rappers. This song features their female Queens City Girls as well as new signee UK rapper Stefflon Don. We also are treated with an addition from Renni Rucci and Mustard.

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#ThrowbackThursday Old vibes….

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Another week nearly done! Stay tuned for more posts in the next few days but for now it’s time for #ThrowbackThursday. Here are 3 songs that will have you reminiscing about the past.

Mario – How Do I Breathe (2007)

I’m a big fan of Mario and his older music. I’ve previously talked about his hit album “Turning Point”. This particular song is the first single released from his third studio album “Go” (2007) Mario’s voice is sensational in this song as he hits the high notes throughout. The song gives us the impression he has just gone through a breakup and is struggling to adjust to his life without his woman in it. I liked the pre chorus where he sounds like he is playing two people. He also plays the role of main singer and backup singer in the same verse. Overall this song is reminiscent of old school R&B and honestly the high notes are so beautiful to hear. Have a listen below!

Tion Wayne Ft Afro B – Bae (2015)

“Throw away your man he’s dispersable” is how this song starts and what a line! UK rapper Tion Wayne uses his cheekiness and sauce to deliver a bar! At the time of this release Afro B was getting more recognition for songs as well as his mixes. Fast forward to now and he has one of the biggest songs and Tion Wayne is also flourishing and shining. For me the harmonies from Afro B mixed with Tion’s pronunciation of certain words make this song unforgettable. Have a listen below;

Plies Ft Ne-Yo – Bust it Baby Pt 2 (2008)

I used to love this song when it first came out. At the time, I remember at the time, the video debuted on the BET show 106 and Park and stayed on the countdown for over a month! As a fan of Ne-Yo, I think his contribution to the song made it a hit. His verse for me was the best part of the song as it slowed it down a bit in contrast to Plies’ active style of rapping. The song is definitely not for those under the age of 16, that is for sure! Have a listen below;

Jhene Aiko Ft Kurupt – Never Call Me (2017)

This is one of those songs that if you know, you know! The song is based on Jhene’s broken relationship with her ex-husband. I’m assuming due to the title, miscommunication was a major factor in the breakup. The song also contains a snippet from American rapper, actor and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records, Kurupt, who is also a close friend of Jhene and gave her advice while she was going through the breakup. In the song she addresses the fact that they both knew they had nothing in common “We never shared anything but the drugs, we were both numb, never had anything real between us” which is quite a sad revelation. Another fact is that Jhene actually has two video versions for this song. One is the Slauson version which explores her African American roots and upbringing. Slauson is the area in America she grew up in and the video features the late Nipsey Hussle who of course is the King of Slauson. The second video focuses more on her Asian side as she dresses up. Have a listen below;

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Mid-Week Vibes!!!

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Hello everyone! We’re halfway through the week and nearly at the end of March. I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone tuning into the site and reading my posts this month. I appreciate you all.
Today’s post is based a few songs I’ve been playing this week that you should check out!

Kiana Lede;

So I’ve recently stumbled on Kiana Lede and wow her voice is beautiful! Her style is very R&B and she has an EP that was released last year called ‘Selfless (2018)’ which is great! There’s a few songs from it that I’ve had on repeat;

Show Love; In this song, Kiana tells the man in question to show how much he wants to be with her rather than just by words. She sings; “Fight for me baby…if you want time with me baby, got to do more than enough”. This is another way of saying “Actions speak louder than words”.

EX; I think this is one of her more popular songs. The song is based on the idea that she wants to remain friends with her ex despite the break up. She sings in the chorus; “I don’t wanna be your ex, we way too good at being friends” emphasising the fact she didn’t wanna lose her friendship with him after the breakup. Have a listen;

Wicked Games; This is one of my favourite songs on the EP. The song plays on the idea that Kiana is in a relationship with someone who takes advantage of her and her nature; “It’s always later, later, later, later & I let you come back ’cause sticking ’round is in my nature”. She sings throughout the song how the man in question knows that he is her weakness and acts on that. I like the simple production on this song too. Have a listen;

Take It All; This song gives me acoustic vibes. In this song Kiana is singing about a lover that accepts every part of her. She sings; “You be so good to me, even when I don’t say sorry”. Check it out below;

Burna Boy & DJDS- Darko (2019)

Nigerian Prince Burna Boy has returned with a newly released EP with DJDS entitled ‘Steel & Copper’ with 4 songs. ‘Darko’ is my favourite on the project. The song is a chilled, relaxed Burna track and if you a fan of his previous song ‘ Don Gorgon’, you may hear a few references to it! Check out the song below;

Rich The Kid Ft Big Sean & Offset – Two Cups (2019)

Rich The Kid has just released his new album called ‘The World is Yours 2″ and this is one of the songs I like from the album. I’m glad for the return of Big Sean as he’s one of my favourite rappers. I liked his part of his verse where he raps “I go off, go in, go up, but never go back, I know we in a league of our own, bitch, I’m pro-black”. Hopefully we will hear more new music from Big Sean soon. Have a listen to the song below

The Rara – Elegance (2018)

A little bit of bashment for your ears. This song has actually been out a while but recently I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. Have a listen below;

Oritse Femi Ft. Burna Boy & Konshens – Play Am (2019

This is what happens when Afrobeats fuses with Bashment! A match made in heaven. All genres compliment eachother so well. Have a listen below;

DC – No Manners (2018)

I mentioned this song on the Instagram account, but I’ve had it on repeat this week. I like the use of wordplays in this song, DC is releasing a new EP this week, so I’ll be sure to check that out. This freestyle sounds like it is played over the Fat Joe “What’s Luv” song so provides a sense of nostalgia for me. Check out the video below.

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Vibes… #SundaySongs

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Hey all, Happy Sunday! I know Sundays for most are quite relaxing or religious and laid back. I have compiled a list of a few songs I’m playing at the moment that have that chilled back vibe. Remember to check out my Spotify playlist on the top of the page! Have a listen below and next week I will be back with more content for you.

Kehlani Ft. Ty Dolla $ign – Nights Like This (2019)

Fun fact: Kehlani was actually the reason I started writing about songs. Originally I started writing as a therapy for me to express my thoughts and problems and it was all due to hearing one of her songs. She has the ability to sing a song and get you invested to the point you start seeing the similarities in your own life. I’ve already talked about my love for Ty Dolla in features and this song is no different. The pair in this song are perfect. This song plays on the idea of deceit and dishonesty as she sings; “You gon’ say you want me, then go switch it up, just gon’ play with my emotions” implying that she’s been messed about. You can feel the pain she feels in this song; “Feel like it’s too hard to fall in love again”, the experience has even made her wary of trying again. Overall, this is one of my favourite Kehlani songs. Have a listen below.

Eric Bellinger Ft. Chris Brown & OG Parker – Type A Way (2019)

This song is taken from Eric’ new 32 song EP titled ‘The Rebirth 2′. I’ve been a fan of Eric Bellinger for a while, he’s a great songwriter and has some great songs. He has a unique catchphrase “This gon’ be your favorite song” which I love hearing at the beginning of a song. OG Parker is a producer and sometimes I feel like producers don’t get enough credit so shout out to him has the production for this song is on point. Chris Brown and Eric fuse so well in this song that sometimes it is hard to even know who was singing. They have similar talents where they can hit high notes and low notes in the same breath. I like the fact that the song is quite mixed in terms of both of them singing. A featured song is mostly just a little piece of the featured artist but this is more a collaborative effort. Have a listen below:

Hypo Ft. Yxng Bane & Asco – First Night (2019)

This is a UK feature and boy is it catchy! The song reminds me exactly of Usher’s song “I Don’t Mind” (2014) where he states that if a woman chooses to be a pole dancer it doesn’t mean she is “loose” which is the stereotype associated with that profession. Similarly to Usher’s song Hypo, Yxng Bane & Asco sing about the same premise and even argue that sleeping with a man on a first night does not mean the guy will not “wife” her. The UK guys make a good group and I’m sure you’ll be singing the chorus repeatedly after a few listens. Have a listen to the song below as well as Usher’s song that possible served as inspiration for them.

Usher’s original
Hypo version.

Pia Mia – Ocean Drive (2017)

Pia is most famous for her song “Do it Again” with Tyga and Chris Brown but I’m surprised this song from her wasn’t more of a hit. I like how the tone of the song changes and the sound gets more upbeat throughout the song especially during the chorus. This song will be best to listen to with a speaker that has a great Base or with both headphones in at the loudest volume. If you close your eyes, in pretty sure you can picture yourself on a beach somewhere, I certainly can!

Angel – Thug Juice (2018)

UK singer Angel has just signed with a major record label which is great. He is so talented and has such a distinctive voice so I’m glad he’s getting the recognition he deserves. This song fits in with the theme of this post. If you want a song to chill to and just bop your head slowly, this is the perfect song. Have a listen below.

2 important video reviews coming next…

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#ThrowbackThursday 31/01/19

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It’s that time of week where we reminisce on older but still classic songs. Here are a list of 3 throwback tracks. Have a read and listen below.

1. Usher Ft Alicia Keys – My Boo (US – 2004)

I was listening to this song on the way to work today and suddenly the song had a different meaning. The song taken from his HIT album Confessions I’ve always considered the song a love song and a song about two people singing about their love for one another; “You will always be my boo” especially sticks out. However, after listening to it today the penny dropped that the song demonstrates two people who still have feelings for each other despite no longer being together and both being in different relationships. The idea that “There’s always that one person that will always have your heart ” is common however the idea that that person may always be there even when you are with someone else is quite scary. How can you give your all to someone if someone is already occupying space? In my opinion there is a difference between a “first love” and someone “who always has your heart”. Despite the realisation of the meaning of the song, it is still one of my favourite Usher songs and the duet with Alicia is beautiful. They both hit harmonies angelically. Have a listen to the track below.


2. NSG – Referee (UK – 2016)

UK group NSG who are on fire at the moment with their smash hit ‘Options’ have been grinding for a while. This track which was featured in their EP “Grown Up” is still a banger today. The JAE5 produced track is also accompanied by cool visuals. NSG have been working hard for years but its great to see them shine and get the recognition they deserve. Have a listen and watch below.

3. Kendrick Lamar – LOVE – (US -2017)

The final entry for Throwback Thursday is from US rapper Kendrick Lamar. The song from his 2017 fourth studio album is one of my favourite songs from him. The song is quite soft in comparison to his usual work and focusses on the love and devotion he has with his fiancée. The vocals from Zacari blend very well with Kendrick’s rough but unique rapping style. Have a listen below;

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Drake: My personal Top 10 – Part 1 (Songs before 2013)

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Drake has recently announced his European tour dates & it got me reminiscing on his incredible discography. Here are my personal favourite top 10 Drake songs (in no particular order) released before 2013. I will be releasing a list for more favourites further down the years. A big shout out to some people that gave me their suggestions, it’s easy to forget some of the great songs Drake has released when there’s such a big library.

  1. Drake – Closer/ Closer To My Dreams (Comeback Season Mixtape) – 2007

This is one of his earliest tracks and boy isit good! The feature from Andrea is beautiful too. For me my favourite thing about this song is the rawness you get. There are no gimmicks on this song, just a lyrically great song. Drake before he became Drake.

2. Drake – Over My Dead Body (Take Care Album) – 2011

The first verse on this song is personally one of my favourite Drake verses. I’ve mentioned my love for this song before but everything about this song to me is spot on. The beat behind the track, Drake’s flow, the background vocals…everything! Despite the background vocals and amazing simple beat, there is a stripped back feel to this song. This is the kind of song you just close your eyes and feel.

3. Drake – Best I Ever Had – (So Far Gone) – 2009

This is a classic Drake song and one of his biggest hits. The reason I personally love this song is because it demonstrates his vocal range. Drake hits the high notes and lowest of notes in the same line. This song feels like Drake verses Drake. Throughout the song it genuinely feels like you hear every version of Drake and to me that proves his versatility.

4. Drake – The Real Her Ft. Andre 3000 (Take Care Album) – 2011

Even though Andre 3000 has possibly one of the best feature verses of all time…the song wouldn’t be what it was without Drake.

5. Drake – Shut It Down Ft. The Dream

Singing Drake will always be a pleasure to listen to. Drake has the ability to have different sounds depending on your mood. This song is best when you’re relaxing or chilling. Drake & The Dream’s voices blend so beautifully on this track too. “I feel like when she moves, the time doesn’t” is one of my favourite lines in the song.

6. Drake – Shot For Me (Take Care Album) – 2011

“I can see it in your eyes, you’re angry”…those lines are legendary. Another song from my favourite Drake album. The outro for this song is one of the best. “May your neighbours respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you & heaven accept you”. The instruments used in this are perfect for the mood especially as it leads into Headlines…..

7. Drake – Headlines (Take Care Album) – 2011

Pure rap. This song is just filled with bars. A hit every-time you listen. One of my favourite lines is “I guess it really is just me, myself and all my millions”, simply because it shows a different side of a Drake, a more confident side. Drake is known for being sensitive and making songs for women stereotypically. This song reminded everyone that he can do both; slow and sensual songs but also rap hits filled with bars.

8. Drake – The Motto – (Take Care Album) – 2011

I picked this song mostly for the impact it had. This song had everyone learning the lyrics word for word. His line “25 sitting on 25 mill” were iconic at the time as well as the term “YOLO” (you only live once). Listening to this song you can hear the growth in Drake over the years. His confidence has grown and it provided his raps with a different perspective.

9. Drake – Replacement Girl Ft. Trey Songz – (Comeback Season Mixtape) – 2007

For this song, Drake was the first unsigned Canadian rapper to have a video premiered on BET. This song despite being released over 10 years ago and from his second mixtape, is still a hit. Drake’s little freestyle he drops towards the end of the song is my favourite verse.

10. Drake – Uptown (So Far Gone Album) – 2009

I hear a lot of this song in Drake’s later song from his “We’ll be Fine” on his “Take Care” album. I like the slow pace in this song. Drake has the ability to slow a song down without ruining the flow. There is a line that sticks out for me which is “And when they call you the answer, you are hardly questioned”. The idea that no one is really questioning Drake because he is “the answer” to what is missing. This is so fitting because honestly I don’t think we have a better artist in terms of consistency and versatility about. I like the feature from Bun B & Lil Wayne too.

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Songs I’ve been playing into 2019;

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Happy New Year everyone! Hope you’ve all had a great break!

Thank you all again for your continued support last year and I promise to try and be more regular with my posts. 

Here are a list of songs I’ve had on replay this week.

1. Kaytranada Ft. Ty Dolla $ign -Nothin Like You;

You may have seen or heard this song in my Instagram stories (if you don’t, follow http://www.instagram.com/musiclifeblog18). Ty Dolla is infamous for his memorable features and this song does not disappoint. Kaytranada is Haitian-Canadian DJ and record producer meaning he produced the beat while Ty offers his vocals. The track provides me with a 80s/90s r&b nostalgic feel. In the song Ty sings about a woman who is unique; “They don’t make ’em like you”, he repeats throughout the song.

2. Memphis Depay – No Love;

Dutch International and Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) footballer Memphis Depay has released his first official single. Rapping over a strong beat and melody, Memphis spits in Dutch and English. I think he is a talent on and off the pitch to be honest and I’m sure we will hear more great music from him. Have a listen below!

3. Cadet X Tion Wayne X Ay Em;

UK artists collaborate here to create a catchy song that will have you singing that you are “Trendy” without a doubt. Clever wordplay from Cadet (as usual) with the addition of Ay Em singing the hook and Tion Wayne adding his distinctive feature verse. Have a listen below ;

4. Russ Splash – Gun Lean

Another fellow UK artist comes in the form of Drill Rapper Russ. This song and dance has been taking the UK by storm. The song will have you wanted to do the “Gun Lean” dance wherever you hear it. The song reminds me of the huge impact from US songs such as “Crank That” (Soulja Boy, 2007)  and “Teach me how to Dougie” (Cali Swag District, 2010) had on the comparison between dance moves and rap. Have a watch below. 

 

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Weekly Song Roundup

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Hey everyone! I know I’ve been gone a while and apologies for the lack of content recently. I am back with more reviews for you. I will be reviewing some new albums for you shortly but for now it’s all about the latest tracks! Here are a few songs I’ve had on repeat this week.

1. Reeko Squeeze Ft. Br3yna – Tracksuit Maf

UK music has been amazing this year and gets more and more versatile each time. This song is by UK rapper Reeko with the amazing feature from UK female rapper Br3yna. The song will have you singing “all white party, I came in black” after hearing it. My favourite part of the song is Br3yna’s feature verse. Have a listen below.

2. 6ix9ine Ft Tory Lanez – KIKA

By now we all have heard the news that 6ix9ine has been put in jail awaiting his trial next year. Unfortunately for him, it came at the time he was due to release his debut album. A leak meant that his team had to release the album a lot earlier than they would have liked to. Personally I have never really liked his music or his projects so granted I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I genuinely enjoyed the songs and the features on the album all made sense. This particular song is my favourite on it and features feature champion Tory Lanez. The beat on this song and steel pan sounds sold it to me from the first few seconds. The song is definitely a club banger and it’s good to see 6ix9ine prove some of his doubters (like me) a bit wrong.

3. NSG Ft. Tion Wayne – Options

This song is produced by JAE5 so you all already know it’s a hit and I’m going to love it!! In all seriousness, this song is great! NSG seem to have a habit of making such great songs & Tion Wayne always delivers with his bars. This was a match made in heaven. It seems every member in the group all give different styles and sounds. NSG have been working for a while now and they consistently bring out hits so I hope they get a lot more recognition.

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3 Tracks you should be listening to:

Posted on by Music & Life Blog

I’ve been slacking with my usual throwback reviews or new music reviews. Content will be back to normal very soon. In the meantime, I have a few songs on repeat on my Spotify atm and think you guys should check them out.

1. Professor Green Ft Rag’n’Bone Man – Photographs

I am a fan of Pro Green & love his deeper songs. Similarly to “Never be a right time”, this is another personal and relatable song with a beautiful message. I read somewhere that he said the track is “all about wishing for the photos we can no longer take”. The song is also a tribute to his dad who sadly commuted suicide. The lyrics are so touching and Pro Green is ultimately saying that photographs help when thinking of those we have lost, as he states “Just a memory of you is not enough”. The collaboration from Rag’n’Bone Man is perfect as the song has a great balance. One of the most memorable lines for me is when Pro Green raps “We all thought that the moments would last but the moments don’t last, the moments pass & the only thing that lasts is the photograph”. Hopefully this song inspires people to take more photos of and with their loved ones!

2. Ariana Grande – thank u, next

This song has gained so much attention for obvious reasons. I am beginning to really enjoy Ariana Grande songs. It may be due to the fact I feel she is maturing alot more in her song content and even her voice. The vocal ability in this song is overlooked. The great thing about this song is that it had the potential to become a very bitter song with a bad message but she has turned it in such a positive way. The message being sometimes in life we go through highs and lows, we fall in love and get hurt. The main thing to remember is each lesson you learn from each experience. Song content aside, the music production and Ariana’s angelic voice are amazing in this track. Only bad thing is that it’s so catchy that you will be saying “next” after every “thank you” now! Haha!

3. Mr Eazi – Yard & Chill

Mr Eazi has just released a new mixtaoe entitled “Lagos to London”. The EP contains a collection of great songs but this is one of the ones I’ve been playing since the release. The song is produced by one of my favourite producers Jae5. It’s a feel good song with incredible music production that would make you think you are listening to a live rendition in your earphones. “Give me love baby, don’t be wicked”, you will be screaming this line in a Nigerian accent after hearing this song. The song reminds me of an African themed Orchestra or Highlife music. I recommend you play this song on the loudest volume to appreciate the sound at its best!

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Songs I’ve been playing this week.

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Here are some songs I’ve been listening to over the past weekend, some new and some old. Have a listen below;

1. Normani & Calvin Harris Ft. WizKid – Checklist:

I’m beginning to enjoy a lot of the music Normani has been featuring in recently. I like her R&B tone of voice and this particular song is another catchy banger. Have a listen below.

2. Papoose Ft. Remy Ma & Angelica Villa – The Golden Child

Pap & Remy are soon due to have their first child together (they both have kids from different relationships). They have always been honest with the struggles they have faced trying to concieve so it is no surprise they are celebrating this pregnancy. I like the honesty in the song and you may notice the babys heartbeat in the song which is a very personal touch.

3. Big Tobz – Black Girls

UK rapper Big Tobz is back with another one of his songs. This time this song is about uplifting black women at a time that maybe being black can be challenging. It is refreshing to see a Black man uplifting his own and it is reminiscent of a song by Bashy called “Black Boys”. The beat is great and Tobz maintains a good flow throughout the song, even singing the chorus! Check it out below.

4. Young Greatness – Moolah

There was sad news that US rapper Young Greatness unfortunately was killed. ‘Moolah’ is probably considered one of his most popular songs and I just wanted to bring it to light again. Such a shame when such a talent is taken away like this, but may he rest in Peace. Have a listen below.

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Throwback Thursday!

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Hey everyone! So today is Thursday which means it’s the perfect day to reminisce on some older songs. Today’s feature contains three songs that are oldies but still goodies and all seem to have one thing in common…New York!

1. Jay- Z – Anything (2000)

I mentioned this song earlier in the week on my instagram story and I have been playing it repeatedly since. I love this song because it is living proof that music can be made from any sample. It also shows how and why Hov is considered one of the greatests with the ability to make a great rap song with a sample from the musical ‘Oliver‘. This was the second time Hov sampled a song featured in a musical after using “Hard Knock Life” from the musical Annie in his 1998 hit “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”. The song could be considered quite motivational as Hov regularly spits words of wisdom throughout the song. It seems as if Hov is reminiscing on the lessons he has learnt from people in his life; “Strive for what you believe in, set goals and you can achieve them”, this one from his mother. The standout lines for me in this song and the words that resonate are; “Don’t listen to your crew, do what works for you”…Standing back from situations gives you the perfect view”. The song feels like Hov is writing an open letter to young people teaching them all the things he has ekarnt from growing up. Have a listen below!

2. Lil Kim – No Matter What They Say (2000)

Following on the theme of life lessons, the second throwback song is by the Queen Lil Kim. The song is song expressing that in life you have to ignore what others may say “Who cares about what they think” and live your own life. The song alone has three different switches in the song. The beginning, the verses Kim provides us with her hard hitting taps while the chorus sounds more playful. The third switch up (my favourite bit) is after the second verse when the song changes tone and Diddy has a small interlude. Kim has a little freestyle where she states that she is “highest, your highest title, numero uno”. There is even a reference in the third verse to “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang. Another rap song using references in such an amazing way. Have a listen to the classic Kim below.

3. The Notorious B.I.G. – Would You Die For Me Ft. Lil Kim & Diddy (1999)

Following on the theme of Kim & Diddy features, this song by one of my favourite rappers is an old school vibe. The beat of this song, Biggies unique flow and wordplay, Kim’s signature voice, & Diddy’s calm but catchy hook all make a match in heaven. I don’t know many other pairings other than Biggie and Kim that can consistently make hits. Check out the song below and get that nostalgic feel!