The Best and Brightest of 2011: Day Six

Just in time, here’s some of the best that 2011 has to offer for an upbeat end of the year.

Can a song be played eight times in a row at a concert without starting a riot?  If the song is this good, it can.  Here’s a slight re-mix featuring a take from T.I. before he finds a way to end up back in jail.

Ni**as In Paris (Remix) (Feat. T.I.), Jay-Z and Kanye West

Hands down the best mash-up of the year, brought to you by Pretty Lights.

Empire State Of Mind Ft. Notorious B.I.G. (Pretty Lights Remix)

Whether on her own albums or others, pretty much everything Rihanna touched this past year turned to gold.  Here’s a Xaphoon Jones remix that gives a new touch of dancehall to one of her hits.

Hard (Xaphoon Jones Kaboom Edit), Rihanna

Despite a clever marketing campaign that seemed to become the stuff of case studies, nobody really seemed to care that The Beastie Boys were back.  But even if only for that genius video, this track deserves a place on the list.

Make Some Noise, Beastie Boys

Well, there you have it.  Thank you all for reading: this really was a break out year for the blog.  I hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s, and I look forward to typing your ear off about dozens of songs you simply must hear in the new year.

Waiting for Cole, not Godot

J. Cole has been on the rise for so long that you had to start to wonder if the climb would become a true take off.  I’ve written post after post about how he is re-writing the playbook on music marketing by becoming the hottest thing out there before he’s ever even released something you could buy other than a concert ticket (see also: Frank Ocean).  But, with year after year passing without the arrival of an actual album, you had to wonder whether he is re-writing the playbook or if he just didn’t read it.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for take off.  Here comes the second song that is single-worthy (listen to the as yet unfinished but still-infectious first here).  With a luxury rap lyrical vibe reminiscent of Watch the Throne, Cole storms the stage with an explosive verse from his boss leading the way.

Fire.

Cole world, out at last on September 27.

Mr._Nice_Watch_Clean, J. Cole

Beyonce’s Baby Bump Breaks Records

Beyonce’s baby bump on the VMA’s led to a record 8,868 Tweets per second.

Gives a bit more meaning to this track from Watch the Throne.

Sorry for the Tweet-like periodic posts as of late; heading off on vacation tomorrow and making my way through the pre-bliss blur.

New Day, Jay-Z and Kanye West

The Global Throne

The most anticipated album of the year has arrived.  Here’s one of the most striking tracks, with Frank Ocean joining Ye and Jay.

And here is the sales position of the album in the following countries, as of this morning… 

Kanye, Jay, and Otis

I’m embarrassingly late with this; jetlag will do that to you.

Watch the Throne finally arrives on August 1st; here’s a track on which Kanye and Jay spit about… well, life on the throne.

Otis, Kanye West and Jay-Z

BTW, the album will feature not one but two songs with Frank Ocean.  Told you he was going to be huge.

Brooklyn State of Mind

Rare is the mash-up that sounds like an original.

With a deft touch, Pretty Lights brings Biggie in on Empire State of Mind and, with a different verse from Jay-Z, turns this NYC anthem into a straight-up homage to Brooklyn.

Empire State Of Mind Ft. Notorious B.I.G. (Pretty Lights Remix), Jay-Z

While we’re in the remix, here’s a fresh take on another Biggie classic that brings out some crazy drum syncopation along with a fresh verse from J. Cole.

Can I Get Wit Ya, Notorious B.I.G. ft. J. Cole

Sorry about the long lapses in posts; yesterday marked month two of the new gig and I’m still trying to figure out where blogging is going to fit.

Lyrically, Talib Kweli

How nice is it to have a new track from Talib Kweli?

I think Jay-Z just about covers it…

“If skills sold
Truth be told
I’d probably be
Lyrically
Talib Kweli”    (from “Moment of Clarity)

Great to have one of the best writers in the game back in the frame.

Cold Rain (prod. Ski Beatz)

30 Words of Music, Day 24: New

If you’re looking for the mix of songs to kick off a new job or a new year, here are those that I’m going to use for both tomorrow.

As always, the first song link is to stream, the second is to download.

Let’s do this.

Fix Up, Look Sharp, Dizzee Rascal

The Day, The Roots

Railing, Roni Size

Run This Town, Lil’ Wayne Freestyle

Risk of Change, Holcombe Waller

Power [Remix] (Ft. Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

Walking Far From Home, Iron &  Wine

Grown Simba, J. Cole

30 Words of Music, Day 18: Reference

Back when it was still warm enough for people to do things like play baseball outside, P Diddy (his current name at last check) debuted a song called “I’m Coming Home.”  I found myself liking the song a bit more than I would have admitted in public, but thankfully an internet leak has exonerated my taste and liberated me to listen to it again.

Rumor has it that these verses were actually written by Jay-Z, and this reference track was laid down by J. Cole.  A reference vocal is when one artist performs a track to demonstrate how it should flow, how words should be formed… basically, how to lyrically color within the lines.  It’s a touch embarrassing for Diddy that this track has leaked, but it’s all upside for us: even though this version is unfinished, J. Cole just kills it.  Enjoy, and ignore the “finished” track by that other guy.

I’m Coming Home [Demo], J. Cole

30 Words of Music, Day 16: Perfect?

Following a decade or two where the radio and music business attempted to poll its way to pop pablum, Kanye West’s new album blazes an uncompromising trail into a new era where everything can be free and nothing can be predicted.  And with a 5 star album review from Rolling Stone and today’s 10.0 review from Pitchfork, I think it’s safe to say that Kanye has the biggest ideas and the biggest stage.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is, precisely, just that.  And, in it, a maximalist, uncompromising vision of the future of rap music that others will be scurrying behind for years to come.

To further whet your appetite, here are two more tracks for you.  I’m pretty sure neither are final mixes as I’ve had them for a while, but they’re both crazy and amazing at the same time.

The first is a sprawling tableau that also happens to be a perfect song for whatever Vegas casino that is brave enough to adopt it.

So_Appalled_(Feat_RZA_Jay-Z_Pusha_T_Swizz_Beatz_And_CyHi_Da_Prynce), Kanye West

The second is an ode to douche bags that is Kanye’s confessional rather than an attack.  Proof that as his vision sprawls, Kanye’s critiques move to himself more than bumbling former head of states and perfect country-pop diva-ettes.

Runaway (Feat. Pusha T), Kanye West