Music Spotlight – Favorite Music of 2012: Part 1

Ab-Soul – ILLuminate

ILLuminate features Kendrick Lamar and is off Ab-Soul’s album Control System. Skhye Hutch’s beat grooves, while Ab-Soul and Kendrick lay down impressive verses. The hip hop track is infinitely listenable with a hypnotic quality to it. Three of Black Hippy’s four members are on this list – they are taking over the game. Available for download: here

Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire (Inferno Version)

Girl of Fire (Inferno Version) features Nicki Minaj and is off Alicia Keys’s album Girl on Fire. It may not be the kind of music that Keys’s more strictly R&B fans want, as it has a very modern poppy sound with Jeff Bhasker and Salaam Remi producing (in addition to Keys), but it is infectious and shows off her fantastic, powerful voice. Available for download: here

A$AP Rocky – Goldie

Goldie is off A$AP Rocky’s major label debut album LONG.LIVE.A$AP. What stands out immediately about this track is Hit-Boy’s brilliant beat (did any producer have a better 2012?). The hook is also addictive (I said it must be), subconsciously finding its way in and demanding the listener to sing along. Rocky’s verses announce him as one of hip hop’s great young talents, ready to rise. Available for download: here

Chairlift – Amanaemonesia

Amanaemonesia is off Chairlift’s album Something. While Chairlift’s other singles off Something are also great (Sidewalk Safari and Met Before), Amanaemonesia seems to perfectly capture the growing trend of dream pop groups making modern new wave music (a musical direction I am very much in favor of and enjoying). Producers Dan Carey and Alan Moulder give Chairlift a great sound. Available for download: here

Cold Cave – A Little Death to Laugh

A Little Death to Laugh is not off an album; rather it is just a standalone single. The track features Cold Cave’s (Wesley Eisold) brand of dark synth pop, but is much catchier than a lot of his more noise-art songs. One could even call it poppy – well if bleak can be poppy. It is the prevalent synthesizer that drives the song that just draws the listener in – it is wonderful (or again as wonderful as bleak can be). Available for download: here

Ab-Soul – Control System (2012) – Review

Review: Ab-Soul is probably the least known member of the Black Hippy crew (Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and Jay Rock), but like the other members is a very talented MC. His second album features an eclectic mix of musical styles, all of which Ab-Soul rhymes over very effectively. The record is peppered with supporting guests from his Black Hippy crew to Jhene Aiko, Danny Brown, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Alori Joh. Though, I would say that he is at his best when sharing a track with a member of his crew. TDE’s usual group of producers also feature heavily on the album, and provide excellent beats as usual. Control System is a good album, musically different than most things out right now and well worth hip hop fans’ time (the song ILLuminate is worth getting for sure if nothing else), but Ab-Soul is still not quite on the same level as Kendrick, Q and Rock (who have all put out better albums in the last year). 3/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      ILLuminate – Produced by Skhye Hutch, featuring Kendrick Lamar

2)      Black Lip Bastard (Remix) – Produced by Willie B, featuring Black Hippy

3)      SOPA – Produced by Nez & Rio, featuring ScHoolboy Q

Available on Digital Download