Albums, Hip-Hop, Videos | The Dean’s List – Generation X [Album]
Posted by Grubeats on April 3, 2012
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Just over a year ago, The Dean’s List took the blogosphere by storm with the release of their highly successful and career defining mixtape, The Drive-In. Prior to that release, the Boston trio consisting of Sonny Shotz, DJ Mendoza, and Mik Beats had released a haphazard mixtape, Undeclared, on iTunes with hopes of collecting some coin for their 100% in-house work. If you ask them, they will likely all agree this wasn’t the right move, but luckily they recovered control of the wheel and drove-in to their self dubbed genre, “It’s The Dean’s List”. With infusions of hip-hop, pop, electro, classic sampling, an offering of unconventional bar and song lengths, placed them in a lane of their own.
While The Drive-In instilled the mentality of “F it I’m young” into the ears of its listeners, Generation X takes you on a journey through the come up The Dean’s List have experienced thus far. I have not listened to the project in full yet, but I did just contribute to its rise to the #1 spot on the iTunes charts. From what I have heard of the project, I will say Mik and Mendoza have taken their production to the next level once again, offering up an organic blend of all different genre’s while Sonny continues to deliver first string lyrics that are far deeper than the rap. For anyone who appreciates up and coming art, invest the $11.99 in this album and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. If you’re still skeptic, go ahead and download The Drive-In for free and listen from start to finish.
Above, is the video for “Youth” featuring Sid Sriram (ironically Mik’s roommate from freshman year), shot and directed by Elan Alexenberg of FTS Creative, one of the best at his craft. This video depicts the message behind the song to a T, stuck in between being a kid and fame.
Special shout out to the whole Dean’s List roster along with Dani Ummel (the bodacious vocals behind “No Sleep” off The Drive-In), who makes 5 appearances on this album.
Purchase Album on iTunes: The Dean’s List – Generation X
Hip-Hop | Azad Right – Old School
Posted by Grubeats on March 22, 2012
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There are rapper’s and then there are students of the game. Azad Right is an honor roll student. This new track is conceptual view of Azad’s musical influences that have shaped him into the artist he is today. As you’ll hear in the song, his idols and influencers range from all genre’s of music, but Az pulls aspects of each genre and generation which have become the building blocks of his personality as an artist. There’s no question Azad has an old school sound. Very aphoristic yet authentic in his delivery. In order to have success and be respected, it’s critical you recognize the ones that paved the way. Open up your mind to Azad Right (even if he is a Lakers fan).
DOWNLOAD: Azad Right – Old School
Hip-Hop, Rap, Videos | Game – The City ft. Kendrick Lamar [Video]
Posted by Grubeats on March 22, 2012
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It doesn’t get much better than a Kendrick Lamar feature these days. Yeah, Game can still make a solid track, but K. Dot slaughters this this hook and the acapella at the end is unparalleled. Personally, this is my favorite record off Game’s album, R.E.D., which shaped up to be a respectable project despite the years of continued delay it kept receiving. There is a quote at the end of the video by Game, describing in a nutshell what the video represents and how he has overcome hardships like no other to make it to where he is today.
“Los Angeles, CA – Though sometimes colorful, there are two colors that stand out the most…Those colors being red and blue. When mixed together, these two colors cast a dark shadow over everything under the sun. Most are still fighting to see the light.” – Game
Purchase on iTunes: Game – The City ft. Kendrick Lamar
Videos | Quincy Kwalae Beats Valentines Day
Posted by Grubeats on February 14, 2012
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I first saw Bei Maejor “make a beat out of Thanksgiving and Christmas”, but this time Quincy Kwalae beats up every girls favorite day, with some festive instruments. Happy Valentines day from the fine folk at FNT.
DOWNLOAD: Quincy Kwalae – Quincy Beats Valentines Day
Albums, Hip-Hop | Sol – Yours Truly [Album Review]
Posted by Grubeats on February 2, 2012
Feast your ears on Seattle’s newest hip-hop prodigy (well, new to my ears at least). What name comes to mind when you hear “Seattle Hip-Hop”? For an east coast native like myself, Macklemore was the easy answer. After opening my ears and mind to the 23 year old Sol (pronounced “Sawl”), I’ve learned Macklemore & the rest of the Seattle hip-hop scene is in very strong company.
Recently releasing a trio of EP’s titled “Dear Friends”, Sol dropped his first highly anticipated LP, Yours Truly, on January 20th. Quickly escalating up the iTunes charts, the indie album claimed the number one spot on the hip-hop charts and number four on the worldwide leader board. Although this was not the first time I had heard of Sol, it was the first time I really gave him a chance. His confident, yet reserved demeanor corresponds with his musical message and the music runs deeper than the recognition it may receive.
Yours Truly is an artistic representation reflecting Sol’s life, beliefs, experiences, and trials & tribulations of making it in the music industry. Listen through in full and you may find yourself painting scenes of to a movie (popcorn rap sold separately). Authentic bars, organic stories, and versatility, track after track. In addition, the project is presented as an album should be presented. Each song transitions into the next retaining a level of fluidity, there is balance, and a variety of sounds. Each song is a part of the bigger picture. The first time I listened, I found my ears increasingly fixating the deeper into the project I traveled. It’s one of those albums that is always better when you listen in full from beginning to end. Below is my personal reflection of each individual song (yes, I understand your thoughts and opinions may differ) along with a lyric or two that represent the song best.
—-CONTINUE AFTER THE BREAK—
Hip-Hop | Busta Rhymes ft. Chris Brown – Why Stop Now
Posted by Grubeats on November 17, 2011
Busa Buss, simmer down my man. While the big news of the week was the announcement that Busta Rhymes signed a brand new record deal with YMCMB aka Cash Money (Rapper Mystikal also signed a deal with the label), we couldn’t let this track fall under the radar. At the age of 39, the seasoned vet is still spurring off words faster than ever and this track proves he may be the fastest rapper ever. Teaming up once again with Chris Brown for the first track since they collaborated on Breezy’s single, “Look At Me Now”, the duo looks to set the bar high for Busta’s upcoming album, E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event) 2: End of the World. The album will be the first under his new label and he has also partnered with Google Music, which launched earlier this week, for an exclusive release.
“It’s just amazing to see that they understood what Busta Rhymes means to the music, what Busta Rhymes means to the culture, what Busta Rhymes means to the embodiment of authentic hip-hop,” he explained, after linking with Google to release the new single “Why Stop Now,” which features Chris Brown.”- Busta Rhymes
Hip-Hop, Videos | The Dean’s List – All My Troubles [Music Video]
Posted by Grubeats on November 4, 2011
A few months back, The Dean’s List teamed up with Red Bull to release an exclusive track. Representing their brand well, Sonny, Mik, and Mendoza delivered a high octane electro/hip-hop track. About a month ago, the two camps teamed up once again to shoot the visuals for the single. They made their way up to the coast of New Hampshire to capture most of the caffeinated visuals with the help of FTS Creative (who has been killing the game with videos lately). I’m not sure if this song will find its way to an official project, but for now you can grab the mp3 below if you don’t already have it.
DOWNLOAD: The Dean’s List – All My Troubles