Music Spotlight – Favorite Music of 2012: Part 4

Kendrick Lamar – Cartoons & Cereal

Cartoons & Cereal features Gunplay, and is a song that Kendrick Lamar released for free online. While Lamar released maybe the best album of 2012 with good kid, m.A.A.d. city, Cartons & Cereal is even better. Producer THC provides the track with a bumping, sonically dark beat. Lamar and Gunplay seem like an odd pairing, but their sort of anti-social personas meld together exceptionally well (Gunplay’s verse is particularly wonderful). It is a wholly satisfying and utterly refreshing track (in a world of overly generic hip hop). Available for download: here

Purity Ring – Obedear

Obedear is off Purity Ring’s debut album Shrines. The Canadian duo of singer Megan James and producer Corin Roddick have created a haunting song with Obedear. James’s voice is manipulated to have a surreal and artificial sound, contrasting innocence and passion. Roddick’s electronic dream synth pop glimmers (and definitely has similarities to Crystal Castles and the Knife). Available for download: here

Pusha T – Exodus 23:1

Exodus 23: 1 features The-Dream, and is a song released by Pusha T for free online (as part of the G.O.O.D. Fridays ramp up to Cruel Summer). Rico Beats provides a dark, hypnotic track that samples Notorious B.I.G.’s What’s Beef (it is a phenomenal beat). Pusha T spits fire (and there is speculation that he is going after YMCMB). Regardless whether this is or is not a diss-track, it is a great rap song. Pusha T asserts himself as the best rapper signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music. Available for download: here

REKS – Straight, No Chaser

Straight, No Chaser features Slaine and is off REKS’s album Straight, No Chaser. Working again with producer Statik Selektah, the Boston MC delivers a classic hip hop track – that actually has real lyrics (and not just throwaway ego strutting). REKS goes line-for-line with Slaine resulting in two great verses. Available for download: here

Rick Ross – Ten Jesus Pieces

Ten Jesus Pieces features Stalley and is off Rick Ross’s album God Forgives, I Don’t. The reflective track finds a laidback/redemptive Ross rapping over a luscious beat from J.U.S.T.I.C.E.  Leauge. While Ross seems to mostly go in on street bangers these days, I like is more soulful tracks a lot – and this is a wonderful example of how well his voice works with a more impassioned beat (Kanye West’s Devil in a New Dress is another). Available for download: here

Maybach Music Group – Self Made Vol. 2 (2012) – Review

Review: MMG’s second group album is about as good as its first, if not a little better and more consistent. Though, it does not have any standout tracks like Tupac Back or 600 Benz. Black Magic is probably the standout cut from the album. While it has a fairly generic street-banger beat, Rick Ross’s hook and Meek Mill’s verses are great. Power Circle is the other memorable song. Coming in at just over eight minutes, it features a verse from the each member of the MMG posse (other than Omarion), and a great verse from Kendrick Lamar. As far as features go, Self Made Vol. 2 has a lot highlighted by Kendrick Lamar, NaS and Bun B. The MMG crew is a very complimentary group headed by Rick Ross, Wale and Meek Mill (who has some of the best stuff on the album). Gunplay and Stalley also have some good verses on the album (I wish Gunplay was on more of it), and definitely make their voices heard as the newer members of the group. Omarion, on the other hand, is the weak link, and French Montana continues to be forgettable. I called Self Made Vol. 1 a glorified mixtape, and I feel sort of the same way about this. The production is decent, but nothing special. Half of the tracks on this album would be filler on a Ross, Wale or Meek Mill solo album. That said, this is still well worth checking out for fans of MMG. 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Black Magic – Meek Mill & Rick Ross, produced by Young Shun

2)      Power Circle – Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill & Rick Ross featuring Kendrick Lamar, produced by Lee Major

3)      This Thing of Ours – Wale, Omarion & Rick Ross, featuring NaS, produced by Don Cannon

Available on CD and Digital Download

Essential Songs of 2012: Part 3 – Music Spotlight – May 2012

Artist: Beach House Song: The Hours Producer(s): Chris Coady Featuring: N/A Album: Bloom

Artist: Family Band Song: Night Song Producer(s): Family Band Featuring: N/A Album: Grace and Lies

Artist: Health Song: Tears Producer(s): Health Featuring: N/A Album: Max Payne 3 Soundtrack

Artist: Holograms Song: Chasing My Mind Producer(s): Holograms Featuring: N/A Album: Holograms

Artist: Kendrick Lamar Song: Cartoons & Cereal Producer(s): THC Featuring: Gunplay Album: N/A

Artist: Kendrick Lamar Song: The Recipe Producer(s): Scoop DeVille Featuring: Dr. Dre Album: Good Kid in a Mad City

Artist: Pusha T Song: Exodus 23:1 Producer(s): Rico Beats Featuring: The-Dream Album: Cruel Summer/G.O.O.D. Fridays

Artist: The Tallest Man On Earth Song: 1904 Producer(s): Kristian Matsson Featuring: N/A Album: There’s No Leaving Now

Artist: The Walkmen Song: Heaven Producer(s): Phil Ek Featuring: N/A Album: Heaven

Artist: Yeasayer Song: Henrietta Producer(s): Yeasayer Featuring: N/A Album: Fragrant World