No one should be surprised anymore when talking about Angel. The singer embodies Brandy melodic harmonies with a thugish persona. Did you get that?
Taken from In Between Time, the vocalist drops the visuals for #JustSaying.
Quick sing along gas.
Uh huuuuuuuuuuuuh, uh huuuuuuuuuuh (8)
NO WAY! MANS ON A BOAT! SWITCHING! TOO NANG (Should be a tad longer though but big up the reload button)
Showing posts with label #SoundsOfUtopia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #SoundsOfUtopia. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Thursday, 30 August 2012
#SoundsOfUtopia: Nas - Bye Baby
Saying bye byeeeeeeee (8)
Why this songs is so high in the Richter scale of melodiousness, other than it delves into the personal relationship of Nasir and Kelis in a respectable but enticing manor, it echos 'true' Hip Hop with the raspy bass and the singer belting out.
Nas further cements his smoothness in the visuals for Bye Baby, taken off of his Life is Good album, which got him his first UK top 10 album.
I think music in the 90s/ early 00s was better because humanity had more integrity. This screams 90s to me.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
#Nang: A$AP Rocky x Schoolboy Q - Back & Forth
These are the conversations I have with my peoples and they are just as funny, but hearing it come from these Brand New Guys just gives it that extra bit of nang that only the world can supply you with.
Noisey are too crispy with the videos. I have all these similar ideas but not the man power to implement them.
Noisey/ Vice better find me some way on one of those miraculous Twitter story tips or... It's peak cus once I get up on my feet.
"Man, I got so much shit up on my plate dawg. I was hangin' ... I know the world got more problems and it's much bigger. But I figured, I'd get some shit up off my chest." - 'Puffy'
#SoundsOfUtopia: Angel Haze - New York
Smoothness.
Angel Haze sounds so smooth it made me feel like a new lover of the art form. Simplistic nangness as she rides the riddim oh so sexy with beautiful 'cooovert' flows and lines.
Enticing
#WheelCameAt 46 seconds.
Download her Reservation EP
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Rick Ross Ft. Dr. Dre & Jay - Z - 3 Kings, Visual Piece
A lot try and do it but the way DRE Films and Jon J. of Maybach Films brought the past visuals tohether to put light on these 3 Kings... Nice.
I'm especially taking a liking to the Dr. Dre montage. It's just different.
Thursday, 19 July 2012
#SoundsOfUtopia: Frank Ocean - Channel Orange, Review.
After snatching our attention with such tracks as “Novacane” and “Swim Good” stemming from the critically acclaimed Nostalgia, Ultra
mixtape, Christopher Breaux has returned with easily one of the most
anticipated albums of 2012. Frank Ocean of the Def Jam roster and Odd Future member who
has worked with the likes of Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West, Pharrell
Williams and John Mayer to name a few, serves up a breath of fresh air
this quarter with ‘Channel ORANGE’.
Originally a leaked track penned for Bridget Kelly, the album opens with Fan favourite “Thinkin Bout You” that has been reworked to incorporate a solid string section. Frank's ability to paint an image with words comes through on the subtle production and fits perfectly without the song coming across as too cluttereddespite preferring the original version. "Fertilizer" which can be seen as one of
a couple album fillers, seems to be the perfect transition track that
leads us to "Sierra Leone", another track with subtle production and
perfectly fitted lyrics about a young lady who reminds him of the West
African nation known for its Diamonds... Or just having sex with said lady? Only Frank really knows.
Produced by Pharrell Williams, "Sweet Life" serves up a jazz tinged bassline heavy summer anthem, painting the perfect beach life image stemming from the sounds of the classic Clav, bass guitar and drum combination that seems to be missing in general, manufactured, regurgitated music today; no soul. The simplicity and the use of live instrumentation continues steadily throughout the album with tracks such as “Super Rich Kids”, “Crack Rock”, “Lost” and “Monks” all providing an amazing instrumental back drop for Frank to illustrate his story to us, the listener, without us getting lost in a bunch of synthesised sounds - "Why see the world..." Yeah, that.
However, in saying that, one of the stand out tracks on the album has to be 10 minute lead single “Pyramids” which offers a blue print on how to successfully use a synth without over powering the vocals on the track. The correlation from electro to a chopped & screwedesque R&B sound works amazingly well along with Franks controlled vocals which assists in drawing up a mental mirage of Cleopatra working at the Pyramid. Timberlake would be proud. Extra production points are given for “Pilot Jones” and the instrumental “White” featuring John Mayer on the electric guitar however that is not the only feature on the album. Mr Andre 3000 makes an appearance on “Pink Matter” and his choice of words and execution works perfectly well and gives the track exactly what it needs as it is quite difficult to make out what exactly Frank is singing about.
Towards the end of the album, we get a glimpse into Mr Ocean's personal life with “Bad Religion” where he sings about escaping from the heartbreak demons in the back seat of a cab. Word. After revealing to us in a personal letter that his first love was a man who could not reciprocate the feeling. The string filled ballad offers an excellent platform for us as the listener to get a small glimpse into the quite mysterious Mr Ocean. Delving deeper into his life with “Forrest Gump”, Ocean admits to how he still thinks about his past love. The first listen can be quite 'awkward' with the quite obvious male references, however the word play is quite intriguing depending on which perspective you choose to listen to it from. Referring to the Tom Hanks played character as a synonymy to describe his feelings really highlights how gifted and creative Frank Ocean is as a writer. Single handily breaking the glass ceiling within the black music industry, Frank has spoken his truth “I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore” something of great rarity in the music industry today and with his honesty one can only respect him even more as a creative as he has paved a way for many in similar situations to take heed from.
It is very easy to understand why he doesn't want to be bracketed as your average R&B singer, because he is not. The album touches on several different topics and has a consistency which keeps the listener intrigued throughout. It’s going to be difficult to see what songs are selected as actual singles in which I hope Frank and Def Jam come to a good agreement on. As an artist Frank is one of a small minority within the music industry that embodies talent of the highest degree, being able to paint crystal clear images through his writing ability, produce and take full credibility of his work whilst being truthful to the world in his simplistic style, something rarely seen today; solidified position within the music industry? A solid first album and follow up to Nostalgia, Ultra has left me feeling as if Frank Ocean is just getting started.
Originally a leaked track penned for Bridget Kelly, the album opens with Fan favourite “Thinkin Bout You” that has been reworked to incorporate a solid string section. Frank's ability to paint an image with words comes through on the subtle production and fits perfectly without the song coming across as too cluttered
Produced by Pharrell Williams, "Sweet Life" serves up a jazz tinged bassline heavy summer anthem, painting the perfect beach life image stemming from the sounds of the classic Clav, bass guitar and drum combination that seems to be missing in general, manufactured, regurgitated music today; no soul. The simplicity and the use of live instrumentation continues steadily throughout the album with tracks such as “Super Rich Kids”, “Crack Rock”, “Lost” and “Monks” all providing an amazing instrumental back drop for Frank to illustrate his story to us, the listener, without us getting lost in a bunch of synthesised sounds - "Why see the world..." Yeah, that.
However, in saying that, one of the stand out tracks on the album has to be 10 minute lead single “Pyramids” which offers a blue print on how to successfully use a synth without over powering the vocals on the track. The correlation from electro to a chopped & screwedesque R&B sound works amazingly well along with Franks controlled vocals which assists in drawing up a mental mirage of Cleopatra working at the Pyramid. Timberlake would be proud. Extra production points are given for “Pilot Jones” and the instrumental “White” featuring John Mayer on the electric guitar however that is not the only feature on the album. Mr Andre 3000 makes an appearance on “Pink Matter” and his choice of words and execution works perfectly well and gives the track exactly what it needs as it is quite difficult to make out what exactly Frank is singing about.
Towards the end of the album, we get a glimpse into Mr Ocean's personal life with “Bad Religion” where he sings about escaping from the heartbreak demons in the back seat of a cab. Word. After revealing to us in a personal letter that his first love was a man who could not reciprocate the feeling. The string filled ballad offers an excellent platform for us as the listener to get a small glimpse into the quite mysterious Mr Ocean. Delving deeper into his life with “Forrest Gump”, Ocean admits to how he still thinks about his past love. The first listen can be quite 'awkward' with the quite obvious male references, however the word play is quite intriguing depending on which perspective you choose to listen to it from. Referring to the Tom Hanks played character as a synonymy to describe his feelings really highlights how gifted and creative Frank Ocean is as a writer. Single handily breaking the glass ceiling within the black music industry, Frank has spoken his truth “I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore” something of great rarity in the music industry today and with his honesty one can only respect him even more as a creative as he has paved a way for many in similar situations to take heed from.
It is very easy to understand why he doesn't want to be bracketed as your average R&B singer, because he is not. The album touches on several different topics and has a consistency which keeps the listener intrigued throughout. It’s going to be difficult to see what songs are selected as actual singles in which I hope Frank and Def Jam come to a good agreement on. As an artist Frank is one of a small minority within the music industry that embodies talent of the highest degree, being able to paint crystal clear images through his writing ability, produce and take full credibility of his work whilst being truthful to the world in his simplistic style, something rarely seen today; solidified position within the music industry? A solid first album and follow up to Nostalgia, Ultra has left me feeling as if Frank Ocean is just getting started.
Edit: Ralph.
Sunday, 8 July 2012
About Time 29.6.12
Thank you to everyone that came to the first About Time. Whilst everyone awaits the next one, read up on the review in The Observer/ Guardian as one of it's recommendations for class night life in east London. Swerve.
(Click image)
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
#SoundsOfUtopia: A Yellow Man - 3000 Miles Of Youth
As I'm not ignorant, I listened and my gosh. I loved it amongst first play. BLAH Captivating moods from the elctro-soul/ Hip Hop group and what is even more gob smacking than the excellently executed video idea (5 nangs to Paul Akinrinlola) is that they are a gospel collective, or just more so religious and conscious.
Went to the other video My Lyrics Are Alive dropped the same day and yep... Still pleased to listen. It's been a minute since UK rappers appreciated every word in every line to the point they didn't waste one. Chioma's singing is cold too - I need to learn the hook and all of it really.
I feel so wrong for even to think to swear but fehk the video is so cold.
A Yellow Man - word to Sam's beard.
Saturday, 28 April 2012
#SoundsOfUtopia: Purple Ferdinand
Far as I'm aware, I'm the first dude to get Purple, better known as Vanessa to her friends and family, Ferdinand in to a print, featuring her in RWD Mag's January issue as one of the 12 for 1012. Pretty cool.
I can't even recall how I stumbled on the fact the Newham native was a 'bad gyal' with the vocals and the Ukelele but my guess is one random Facebook feed. Big up Zuckerberg (despite this new timeline bullshit you've implemented is... Bullshit).
Recently the 23 year old musician slash tattooist dropped an acoustic video shot by the good people at House of ALT for her song, Beautiful Anomaly.
She's pretty cool, nice personality, always smiling, attractive and most importantly, herself. There's also a cover she did with @NadiahGee of Adina Howard's Freak Like Me which is also pretty cool.
Her songwriting skills are #nang to say the least. Check her out:
@PurpleFerdinand
www.purpleferdinand.tumblr.com
www.youtube.com/user/vanoob
Monday, 16 April 2012
#SoundsOfUtopia: Friendly Fires - Hurting (Tensnake Remix)
Regardless of when this song came out (Reference: Gotye - Somebody I Use To Know), I've been bumping this tune HARD and near enough clocking the musical formula as to why I'm in like with it so much.
Music test: Play it in front of your (African) mother and see if she does one of those I'm-The-Coolest-Over-30-In-This-Room-Cool-Mode-Slow-Mo-Closed-Eye shuffle.
I hear the Dance/ Disco element in it and instantly fall for it as Tensnake properly took into consideration the lyrics for his remix - I heard this being in played in a retail store, told my friend to whip out Shazam... The rest is history.
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