It’s Real // Real Estate
Get Free // Major Lazer
In Ruins // Fol Chen
Oblivion // Grimes
Genesis // Grimes
Ungirthed // Purity Ring
Crawlersout // Purity Ring
Family (Blended Babies Remix) [feat. Vic Mensa] // Chance the Rapper
The North // Stars
Half Asleep // School of Seven Bells
Emily
I’ve always been proud to say that my music taste is extremely eclectic. I love everything from Frank Sinatra to Tupac to The Fray (my favorite band!–>check out my earlier post about them!) and back to The Temptations. Listening to music is one of my favorite past times so, naturally, I was really excited to start college because I knew that I would be exposed to new genres of music and falling in love with new music is one of my favorite things to do! But lately, I’ve really been trying to delve back into my hip hop roots. I guess I have my older sisters to thank for my love of hip hop. They were the ones that kept the 80s and 90s hip hop blasting from the stereo in my home when I was a little girl. Since I’ve been trying to reconnect with good, genuine, traditional hip hop (not that tired, played-out, trashy music that Lil’ Wayne calls “hip hop”), I find myself listening to Kendrick Lamar more these days.
If you call yourself well-educated on hip hop, then you should recall the “West Coat-East Coast” fad that began in the late 80s and has been revitalized due to Black Hippy. Black Hippy is a group of upcoming West Coast rappers from California. Their music is reminiscent of that old-school, laid-back, gritty yet honest sound that was so relevant to the 80s and 90s. The group consists of four rappers: Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, and Ab-Soul (pictured below from left to right).
Kendrick Lamar is my favorite, but I really feel like this group could revolutionize hip hop in a new way and take it back to where it used to be. You know what I’m talking about. That kind of music that required you to sit and just delve into its lyrics. Or you could just be riding in the car, chilling with your friends, listening to the beat as you drive down the street. You know what I mean? It’s…relatable, it’s real, it’s conscious, and it provides something that is lacking in today’s definition of hip hop: substance.
Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Compton, California, is, as far as I’m concerned, the reason for why Black Hippy has gained recognition now, though Schoolboy Q is definitely up there, too. His musical style reminds me of a mix between Lupe Fiasco, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and 2Pac. The one thing that really did it for me was the fact that Kendrick and Ab Soul created this movement called “HiiiPoWeR (stylized by holding three fingers in the air – hence, the title of this post).” Originally a song from his independent digital album Section.80 (which is really awesome, by the way), “HiiiPoWeR” was intended to be released to further the HiiiPoWeR movement. A quote from Lamar in a HipHop DX interview gives a brief explanation of the movement:
“A lot of people don’t understand. They think it’s just a song. It’s really a big movement that we’ve got in L.A. that’s spreading like wildfire,” he said. “Hiiipower: the three i’s represent heart, honor and respect. That’s how we carry ourselves in the streets, and just in the world, period. Hiiipower, it basically is the simplest form of representing just being above all the madness, all the bullshit. No matter what the world is going through, you’re always going to keep your dignity and carry yourself with this manner that it don’t phase you. Whatever you think negative is in your life. Overcoming that and still having that self-respect.”
HiiiPoWeR has common roots with the movement, T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. (The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fucks Everyone) started by late West Coast rapper 2Pac. T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. tells us that neglecting our young children can lead to future problems, not only for the child, but also for the community. HiiiPoWeR and T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E. both seek to uplift a nearly broken generation that is being destroyed by society. And I think that’s something really special and incredible. And way overdue.
Because I love Kendrick Lamar so much and want other people to know about him and love him too, I had the idea to dedicate a whole post to him. You’re very welcome.
Stay Hiii,
Ayolah
P.S. Not that kind of high.
HiiiPoWeR – Kendrick Lamar (from Section.80)
Where it started.
Swimming Pools (Drank) – Kendrick Lamar (from good kid, m.A.A.d city)
No Make-Up (Her Vice) – Kendrick Lamar (from Section.80)
For you, ladies.
Keisha’s Song (Her Pain) – Kendrick Lamar (from Section.80)
This song does it. I still remember the first time I heard it. My sister and I were driving to Boston for the first time. It was August 13th, maybe three or four o’clock in the morning. Everything was quiet, including me. And I listened to the lyrics of this song while my eyes wandered through the darkness illuminated by the car’s headlights. And even after the song ended, the lyrics stayed with me, bouncing around in my head. The lyrical brilliance of this song is something special.
Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe – Kendrick Lamar (from good kid, m.A.A.d city)
“Threes in the air. I can see you are in sync.”
Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst – Kendrick Lamar (from good kid, m.A.A.d. city)
The deepest, most poignant song on the entire album, Lamar wrote from the perspective of siblings of Kendrick’s friends that he had written songs about on Section.80 and good kid, m.A.A.d city. Hence, the title, “Sing About Me.”
It’s that time again, people.
That is, it’s time for my next post in the Soundtrack Lovin’ series! And this post is being dedicated to another favorite movie of mine - Save the Last Dance (2001). It’s about a white girl whose mother dies suddenly so she is forced to move to a very urban, largely African-American populated part of Chicago with her estranged father. Having to, of course, switch schools to a predominantly black school, she meets a black guy and the two bond over their love of dance while facing interracial relationship challenges; he also helps her rediscover her forgotten love for ballet. It’s a lovely movie, really. It features Julia Styles and Sean Patrick Thomas, who provides major eye candy for the ladies. 
The soundtrack is really slammin’ (that’s some slang from the movie) and and I really hope you guys take a chance to listen to it or at least watch the movie.
Ayolah 
You Make Me Sick – P!nk
And most people don’t even know about P!nk’s R & B days.
Crazy – K-Ci & JoJo
Only You – 112 (feat The Notorious B.I.G. & Mase)
And my personal favorites…
You Can Do It – Ice Cube (feat. Mack 10 & Ms. Toi)
I really wish I could have found a video for this scene on YouTube because this is honestly one of the best parts of the movies. Sarah (Julia Styles) has been learning how to dance with a little bit of flavor from Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas) and she finally showcases a routine he taught her at the local club. The routine is widely loved, of course.
You – Raphael Saadiq (feat. Q-Tip & Snoop Dogg)
Murder She Wrote – Chaka Demus & Pliers
This is one of the BEST dance songs. EVER. And I’m still listening to it years later and it was first released in the 1990s. I think that’s saying something. This scene from the movie is also really awesome.
U Know What’s Up – Donell Jones
I’d say it was about five to ten years ago. The female hip hop game is seriously lagging. Back in the 80s and 90s, there was a plethora of female rappers to listen to: Yo-Yo, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Lauryn Hill, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Left Eye, and probably a ton of people I’m forgetting. And even during the years of 2000 to about 2005, I’d say we had a few female rappers: Missy Elliott, Eve, etc.
Sorry (but not really) to say it, but Nicki Minaj just isn’t cutting it these says. Being the woman I am, I feel it’s okay to have a strong foundation of male rappers, such as Eminem, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, etc, that are around, but I think it’s always been reassuring to have women as well.
That’s why I’ve decided to provide a list of songs by female rappers that I think are exemplary of good music. Some are old songs, and some are new. Anyway, enjoy the music!
Ayolah
Brandy – I Wanna Be Down (Remix) (feat. MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, & Yo-Yo)
Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
TLC – Waterfalls
Lil’ Kim – Hold On (feat. Mary J. Blidge)
Missy Elliott – Hot Boyz (feat. Lil’ Mo, Eve, & Nas)
Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.
AND if you’re looking for up-and-coming female rappers, here are two to interest you. I don’t really know much about current music. I indulge in the oldies, to be honest. But these two ladies have been listed on GlobalGrind’s 10 Favorite Up and Coming Female Rappers as of February 2012. Check ‘em out!
Iggy Azalea – My World
Azealia Banks – 212 (feat. Lazy Jay)
One of the biggest misconceptions that I’ve heard about Southerners regards the kinds of music that they listen to. If you ask anybody living below the Mason-Dixon line (yes, I suppose that you can also include Texas), they’ll present you with an array of artists and styles that reflects tastes not all that different from people living in the rest of the country. But if you ask anybody else (read: Yankees), the only kinds of music that we play down in the bayou are jazz, pickup-truck-and-beer country ballads, and banjo-pickin’ finger-lickin’ good ole’ bluegrass music.
Now, I’m not going to refute the fact that a lot of us think country and bluegrass are awesome (one of my favorite songs—”Callin’ Baton Rouge”—is by Garth Brooks, and I used to own a banjo. But that’s another story). However, many places in the South—especially where I’m from in New Orleans—produce bands that experiment with all styles of music, from indie to hip-hop, electronic, and rock. One of the most exciting musical trends that we’ve experienced in recent years has been New Orleans Bounce music, or just “Bounce” for short.
Bounce originated in New Orleans sometime between the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. For most of the time since then, it has been a phenomenon localized largely to New Orleans, but which eventually spread to other Southern urban centers such as Atlanta. Growing up during the early 2000’s, I remember DJ Jubilee’s “Get it Ready, Ready!” permeating virtually every school dance or Jewish Community Center sock hop (yes, we had those) that I attended. The song—still probably one of his biggest hits, and the song that everybody still requests when DJ Jubilee plays his monthly Bounce show at the popular La Maison music club—is a fast-paced, high-energy blend of repetitive beats and melodies. And like most Bounce songs, it is highly infectious.
One of the most important aspects of Bounce music is the call-and-response style that songs often use. In “Get it Ready, Ready!” Jubilee calls out dance-move directions to the audience the entire time (“Now walk it like a dog!”—trust me, you all want to see that one). The call-and-response separates Bounce from a lot of other music that I’ve heard because it is super interactive for the audience, and therefore super, super fun.
People in New Orleans eat this stuff up like it’s a Thanksgiving turkey. And, from what I can tell, people up here do, too. This past April I went to see Big Freedia—one of New Orleans’ most beloved Bounce artists—perform at Brighton Music Hall. I guarantee you that most of the people in that room had never been to a Bounce show before. But when Freedia got up there, people were so eager to shake their booties in front of everybody that they were running towards that stage like Ryan Gosling was waiting for them at the finish line.
Honestly, it’s kind of hard to fully describe the awesomeness of a Bounce show experience. It’s hip-hop on speed, it’s participation, it’s shaking your ass. But it’s also just kind of ridiculous. And that’s the best part. Even though Bounce knows this, it doesn’t give a crap, because Bounce just wants to have fun.
If you want to experience some Bounce goodness for yourself, make sure to head on down to Brighton Music Hall (again!) to see Nicky da B open for Tilly and the Wall on Friday, October 12 (you may purchase tickets by clicking here).
This post just barely scratches the surface of the Bounce phenomenon, and there were a lot of parts that I wasn’t able to get to in order to give you a better picture of how it all began in the first place. Stay tuned to the BU Central blog if you want to hear more about Bounce and it’s rise to fame (or infamy)!
Allison
“You’re the One,” the latest offering from British electronica goddess Charli XCX, is an irresistible crowd-pleaser. Throw this track on if you’re looking for something fresh to jam out to. Its chorus is an absolute killer and there’s no doubt this will be all over MTV just a couple months from now.
I’m still unsure of whether it’s become societally acceptable to appreciate 19-year-old rapper Kitty Pryde unironically, but I continue to do so regardless. “Orion’s Belt” comes from her rather hilarious haha im sorry EP and features a Bumblebee Tuna-referencing verse from rising rapper Riff Raff. I’m not one to argue the legitimacy of “Orion’s Belt” as a quality rap track, but that beat gets me going like no other.
And just when your estimation of my music taste is perhaps at an all-time low after posting Kitty Pryde…apparently Carly Rae Jepsen has more than one song! A friend randomly turned me onto “Curiosity” a couple weeks back and it wasn’t long before I started listening to the track at least ten times in a row. It may not have Instant Classic written all over it like “Call Me Maybe,” but it’s sure to also bring out some familiar addictive tendencies.
Remember, for those still in Boston for the summer, BU Central is open weekdays from 12-5 as a place to chill, eat lunch, or play pool. We’re also still hiring for the fall and applications can be found on YouDo by clicking under the “Forms” tab here!
Keep on keeping on, y’all.
-Josh
I’m a huge fan of the song and her music in general, but the purpose of this post is not to praise her obvious brilliance. It’s to show you CUTE BRITISH CHILDREN reviewing “212″ and dancing around to it and it is literally the cutest thing to ever exist in this world. Literally.
Videos like that make me want to go outside and impregnate the first person I see…or kidnap a child…or maybe just babysit for someone. Yeah, I’d say that’s much more likely.
Have a great week, y’all!
Josh
I’m not sure about all y’all, but the world of music was very kind to me over the weekend. THREE of my most anticipated albums of the year leaked, giving me a ton of new tracks to keep me patient for at least another week or so.
It’s been over a year since Drake released his last offering, Thank Me Later, and his follow-up album is certainly something to get excited about. I’ve only listened through it a couple times so far, and the major standout for me is the sexy title track with Rihanna, “Take Care.”
Childish Gambino is Community star Donald Glover‘s rap project and he’s finally releasing his debut album after a string of mixtapes and EPs. Camp has Glover constantly testing out new genres to accomodate his hilarious and poignant raps. “Heartbeat” goes hard with a legit electronic beat and is definitely worth a listen.
Birdy is a 15-year old British phenom that y’all clearly need to know about. She grabbed major attention last year with her cover of Bon Iver‘s “Skinny Love” and she continues that trend of fascinating covers on her debut album (all tracks except for one are covers). My favorite, a beautiful version of The National‘s “Terrible Love,” was nowhere on YouTube, but I was able to find her equally beautiful rendition of The xx‘s “Shelter.”
That’s it for this week, hope y’all enjoyed the tracks!
Josh
Midterms have been stressing me out lately, forcing me to procrastinate and find new music to make me all happy again. I’m not too optimistic about the grades I’ll be getting on my exams, but at least I have a few new tracks to repeatedly jam out to.
Prepare to get obsessed!
Azealia Banks, a 20-year old rapper straight outta Harlem, put out club-banger “212” a month or so ago and apparently it’s been earning her major cred in the indie community ever since. The track blends several innuendo-laden verses with a memorable hook and a sick beat. “212” definitely makes me think 2012 will be The Year of Azealia.
Florence and the Machine‘s second album Ceremonials isn’t set to be released until next week, but it did leak in its entirety last week and I’ve been listening to it on loop ever since. Overall, the album is incredible and a step up from her already-impressive debut. “No Light, No Light” is the initial standout, evoking the aethereal quality of Lungs and somehow kicking its epicness up a few notches.
One of my fondest summer memories is sitting on a small Bonnaroo stage as Aunt Martha played an acoustic set for an intimate crowd. I can’t say I’d heard of them before that day, but randomly stumbling upon their performance proved to be majorly rewarding and I was made an instant fan. “Fifteen Countries” comes right off their new album Norway, ME and listening to it breaks my heart every single time (the masochist in my very much enjoys this).
Have an awesome week, y’all!
- Josh
This song has been stuck in my head for over a week. It’s an Italian rap song called “La cassa spinge” by some chick named Dumbblonde, 2 guys named Dargen D’Amico and LuckyBeard. Anywhoozles, I found this thanks to a mix put out by Diplo, called Blow Your Head 3 (you can listen to the whole thing here).
I hope you guys enjoy it! Here is the music video via youtube:
Ciao,
- Tim
