May
The Weeknd - Kiss Land
There was a time when rappers only wrote about selling drugs. Songs would describe their methods for ‘chopping up keys’ and their favourite colour baggies for denoting different product. The difference now is that rappers and R&B singers have become the customers not the suppliers. Popular rap music no longer boasts which corners are owned by who and instead have been replaced with stories of excessive substance consumption. Where the likes of Wiz, and Trinidad spit about never ending highs and the buzz of a good blunt or a pop of molly, The Weeknd lives in the come down. The perpetual descent into drug induced madness and loneliness. The chalky taste of the morning after ‘drips’ are far too real in The Weeknd’s Kiss Land as is the regret of last evenings sin. He may not be the artist you should be relating to, but he sure is the artist you should be listening to.
May
Party Next Door - Wus Good/Curious
Ohhhh lordy. What do you get when you combined everything woozy and great about Drizzy and everything sexy and luscious about The Weeknd? Apparently this dude! The latest OVO affiliate is bound to be blowing up your speakers this summer. And it’s self produced too! Drizzy tweeted it, we repeated it.
Thanks for the tip Hails.
May
Key Nyata - Blvck Jvzz (feat. Ethel Wulf) (prod. BSBD)
Another Klvn Bvngxr. Key Nyata and Ethel Wulf lay down some serious bars as BSBD brings back the good ol’ NY, L train production days. The Klvn keeps proving that they’re more than memphis-style throw-back rappers.
May
Todd Terje - Inspector Norse
It’s been well over a year since this track dropped and it is still a malicious ear worm. The video is also one of those rare instances where the visuals not only compliment the sounds spectacularly but it also resonates on a whole new level that the song alone couldn’t have. Fuck you Todd. I wish I made this.
May
Lauryn Hill - Neurotic Society
So Ms. Lauryn Hill is going to jail for tax evasion. Quite possibly the most un-gangster sentencing ever but gurl goes hard on this track. We shoulda locked her up years ago if it meant we were gonna get songs like this. Lauryn goes absolutely HAM as she destroys every bar and the whirling production only adds to the chaos as the tune teeters on the edge of destruction the whole time. Bring back the Fugees!
May
Harry Fraud - Yacht Lash (feat. Earl Sweatshirt + RiFF RaFF)
So our boy Harry Fraud is dropping a free mixtape on May 7th via Scion and it’s gonna be a banger. French Montana, Action Bronson and Smoke DZA are all due to make an appearance as well as Earl and RiFF RaFF on this sludgy stomper.
Apr
Blackstreet - No Diggity (Bondax Remix)
Okay, stop whatever it is you’re listening to right now, and cop the new Bondax mix for XLR8R. I guarantee it’s better than whatever it is you’re playing right now. Starry eyed fan boy over here.
Apr
Mount Kimbie - Made to Stray
Okay Mount Kimbie, if the rest of your album sounds like this then we’ll forgive the last two hiccups. Holding our breath…
Apr
Yung Lean Doer - Gatorade (Hitech Taste)
Check this young blood out. 16 and straight outta Sweden. Hard Future vibes and a sprinkle of Big Lurch beats…pre girlfriend-eating days. Keep it weird.
Apr
Daft Punk - Get Lucky
It’s here. It’s finally here. No more cell phone rips and horrible remixes from the SNL commercials. Pure, unadulterated, Daft Punk. If you’re not dancing around your bedroom in your underwear, you’re doing something wrong.
Apr
Rhye - Open (Bondax Remix)
Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Apr
Mount Kimbie - Blood and Form
Less texture, more vibe. Polarizing for Mount Kimbie fans I’m sure. Album drops May 27th.
Apr
Danny Brown - #Express Yourself (prod. Trampy)
Trust our boy Danny Brown to bring that new twerk anthem for your girl to bust dat ass to. Danny took to Twitter about the track: ”I just did that song for fun…Give the ladies something to turn up to…Heard the beat yesterday on soundcloud and said fuvk it,” Bruiser!
Apr
Citto On the Beat - Doobies x Netflix (feat. Rome Fortune & Jgarc Beair)
This tracks got so much going for it. Three talented young MC’s bouncing over a insatiably smooth beat. Check. Tightly produced cloud rap-esque sound. Check. Comic book and rare toy references. Check. Sign me up as a fan of these Jersey natives. Jgarc Beair’s last spit goes hard.
Apr
Drake - 5AM in Toronto
Every listen gets us even more hyped for the eventual drop of this album. Everyone else can go home now. Drake killed it.
Monthly Compilations
