Timberlake x Samberg Strikes Again [Video]

"We're so cool and thoughtful..." = *dead xOne Hundred Thousand Trillion*

Both of these videos are continuations of classic SNL skits Mr. Timberlake has done. See below for part 1's of each.

Oh, and in case you didn't know it already-- Justin Timberlake is more talented than you.

The Coolest

Information FAIL.

Lupe sat down with the legendary Cornel West for an interview, down the street in Grand Rapids last week. How am I not notified of gatherings on this order of magnitude?

Haven't listened to it yet, but I can recommend it simply off the strength of the participants involved.

You can stream or download here.

Music Briefs

No Calvin Klein. Just a couple of joints I felt warranted exclusion. Although, truth be told, I could do one of these damn near everyday. But alas, I stay on chill.

Consequence feat. Kid Cudi- "Buggin' Out '09"



Just Blaze Snippets featuring Mos Def, Jay Electronica. Yo, Mos has got some spit in these, and #4 sounds like part of verse 3 to "Exhibit A (Transformations)".

Jay Electronica= the evolution of Nas

Jacked from Nah Right and Rap Radar.

Ethereal Material V1.4

Ethereal Material V1.4

You know what time it is. That Ether was on a brief hiatus, however is back for your fiending pleasure.Enjoy.

*NOTE: No.8 takes a bit to build, but is probably my favorite joint on the list. Let that sh!t breathe right quick.

**NOTE: No. 9 is really called "Najee's Theme".

UPDATE: No.11 for some reason only comes up as a 30 clip.

Got That Making Of A Legend Feel

So over and above all, I'm tryna introduce the people to that good music. This is that: So Far Gone, the latest mixtape/album from Toronto MC/Vocalist Drake. An affiliate of Lil Wayne's Young Money records, he's got spit worthy of that co-sign and has composed/written R&B for the likes of Lloyd, Omarion and Trey Songz. (All three of which appear on So Far Gone). Drake himself sings on the tape and is certified by the taste makers that are the M-Theory staff.

While it's technically a mixtape as it contains a couple high profile beats off of other dudes' albums (Ignorant Sh!t, Say What's Real, November 18th)and it's available for free download, it's constructed, flows and is the quality of, an album. I recently commented to Zoop that this was my album of the year pick, an audacious claim considering it's February, and the fact that the potential lineup for the year includes Dr. Dre, Eminem, Raekwon the Chef, Jay-Z, and the Clipse. So in light of that fact, I might have to reserve judgment at most.

Deftly balancing between singing and rhyming over minimalist beats, yet always maintaining a melodic undercurrent, So Far Gone meets my admittedly unreasonable standard for a Classic album. Namely, that you can throw it on and not hit [>>] once. In this era of landfill rap and R&B (it's all filler), So Far Gone stands out as quality not to be ignored.

For more info on Drake, here's a couple interviews he did with Complex and Eighty81.

So here's a stream of the entire joint, if I get enough interest in it I'll post a download link. Enjoy.

NOTE: No.9 doesn't have Mickey Factz on it for those familiar with that remix. This has another Drake verse instead.

So Far Gone

See You In My Nightmares

This darkly entrancing pictorial deserves its own post. I feel like Wayne's tryna sneak up on M.I.A. and eat her fetus. [Sidebar:] Just writing that sentence made me feel 太 uncomfortable 了. [Insidebar:]The structure "太adjective了"(pronounced tai adjective le) in Chinese means "EXTREMELY adjective" [Close Insidebar] [Close Sidebar] Except he doesn't realize PEOPLE CAN SEE HIM. Or maybe he does. (Not sure which idea is more disturbing.)

I wonder if Wayne is really one of those monkeys (No Kipling) from the movie Princess Mononoke, who believe if you eat a human you can gain their strength and power. In which case if he ate a fetus, which we can all agree is a super condensed version of a human, it would be extra potent and grant him powers comparable to that of a medieval wizard. That's just logic.

(Uncomfortable yet?)

Best caption for this picture wins... my admiration. Which coincidentally enough is used as currency in Zimbabwe.

Ethereal Material V1.3

Inauguration Edition. Selections inspired by the momentous occasion. Only 10 in the cut, because the one below wasn't available on playlist.com:

Joy Denalane feat. Lupe Fiasco - Change

NOTE: 'Black Republican' is on there because the instrumental should be Obama's theme music, which plays anytime he enters a room/event/planet.

Hit the pop-out player if you can't get all the songs.

Ethereal Material V1.2

You already know. The Rainy Day Edition

Ethereal Material V1.1

十一歌。

NOTE: Due to technical difficulties involving Blogger, click on the Pop Out Player to view all of the songs.

Ethereal Material V1.0

Pardon me while I jump on my Kanye sh!t. I just feel I have great taste in music. Let's try this again.

While I would definitely place myself in the category of individuals who break new music to others, I'm really just tryna get the music I like out there. Often I prefer chill joints whilst contemplating the mysteries of the universe to kinda lay back and zone out to. Just a selection of what I'm listening to right now.

This'll be a weekly series, comprised of 11 choice cuts. Enjoy.

I'm a little bit jaded by alot of what I see.

At times it seems I hate everybody.
I'm at war with ignorance and I'm losing, why would I join that fight anyway? It's a losing battle, and ignorance is bliss!
The other day I was told I was a hater, hah, and while denying it, I was reminded by Ryan (a kid in two of my classes) of the first day in english class. When I said very loudly, and to everyone in class: "I dont want to hang out with none of ya'll, don't get confused. It's not gonna happen" I defend myself saying that I was just frustrated by the douchebag in the front of class who wears his hat sideways, sags, and was late to class. Or maybe it was the smelly kid next to me? No it was most likely the prissy chick wearing uggs with her pink sweatpants. I digress. This conversation took place approximately 2 days before this one:



After I said that Zak and I laughed, but it made me think of being called a hater and I was like, zomg!, they're right!

So.
I tell you all of that to tell you this:
I made a concious decision to start giving people the benefit of the doubt and start maybe... being more positive, I guess?
that was maybe a week ago, I'm already frustrated and have been let down. I have said it before: optimists are always disappointed, and pessimists are pleasantly suprised.
however, I will keep on keeping on, life's a garden. Ya dig it. (Joe Dirte. anybody? no? ok.)



I feel like this post is taking a turn i don't want, im not trying to be down, im just saying that it sucks when people meet your low expectations or they just fit right into a negative stereotype. Try not to be that person, that's all im saying.


I'm more coldplay than I am Ice-T

The Wrong Things, The Wrong Things

This song goes out to 112% of the women I've ever known.*

Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi- Anyway

Fall back ladies. Don't get caught up wasting your excess mental energy on baseless vague-ery.

Category A: If it's within your direct power to solve your problem, by all means do it. If not-- Keep It Movin' ma, don't stress it. You'll live longer, I promise.

Category B: Think for a hot minute about whether or not your issue is really an issue at all. You probably got bigger fish to fry.

"Things that I can change I should, things that I can't need to be understood..." -Common

*That was a gross over-generalization.

Oh, and this track is fire. I can't recommend it any more highly. I'm ghost.

Oh Kanye...

First I feel compelled to say, I am not trying to post that newness as soon as it comes out. I am providing commentary on that newness, after I have had time to process it.

That being said; I think the cover art looks like a deflated, heart shaped baloon, or perhaps a red scrotum?

Next item on the ticket: the song. It has a darker feel than anything else he's done. It, of course, has a solid beat and good lyrics. La Dispute is that he's singing. well I say that he is not doing anything exceptionally new, in fact he is simply taking it a step further. T-pain is notorious for his use of the vocoder, and I'm positive that if I asked you to name another artist who has used one, you could do so with ease. All he's doing is making a whole song instead of just the hook or a single verse. I applaud him in his efforts and as of now I like the song. We all know how abruptly that could change.

Wake up Neo, The Matrix has you...

Follow the white rabbit...

Beatsmithery

Yeah, that word was just spoken into existence. Remember where you heard it first*.

DJ Premier + Pharrell + Recording Device = Necessary 24/7

The best part tho? Premier producing the Roscoe P. Colchain album? What? It's at classic status. AND IT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST YET.

*And probably last.

I Wish Her Heart Still Was In Rhymin'...

Can you believe it's been 10 years since Miseducation dropped? Man, I can remember sittin' in the middle of the street blastin' Doo Wop out the boombox.

Check out the 10th Anniversary piece Rolling Stone put together for the occasion. It's all the behind the scenes ish that I could read about all day.

I need some more Lauryn Hill in my life.

My favorite joint off the album:

Common: Announcement [Video]

Feat. the services of Thelonious P

Lotta fresh videos comin' outta that G.O.O.D. Music camp...

Update: The powers that be continue to shoot themselves in the foot. However, you can catch the video here.

Statik Selektah: Take It To The Top [Video]

My favorite joint out right now. The people might be familiar with Cassidy, but Sai and Term are a couple of the ONLY reasons Hip-Hop hasn't died yet.

Be Clear: Cassidy mixtape verses > Cassidy album verses.

Kanye West: Good Morning [Video]

Man, i'm glad this video is so dope.

A.) This is just some fly Neo-80's sh!t. (Don't forget where you heard the term first.)

B.) I don't think I can take another video in a smoke filled club, with questionably aged hood rats willin' to be somebody's jump off for a Coach purse and some Cristal. Oh, and 24's. Can't forget the 24's... For a better description of said tom-foolery, listen to the 3rd verse of this.

Oh, and thats how my eyes look when I wake up too.

Warren G/Travis Barker/DJ AM: Regulators [Live] [Video]

We're Daaaaaaamn good too.