bloody good music

Mixtape: SpaceGhostPurrp - TXX BXXXK GXX

2012-02-03T17:01:00.001-05:00

A$AP Rocky may be the most well known A$AP artist but SpaceGhostPurpp (@KLVNPVRRP) is certainly the most interesting. The Prince of Muthaphuckin Phonk just dropped TXX BXXXK GXX and it's full of Purpp's stripped-down trademark sound that could have made this the "trillest album in 1995" as its cover suggests. The 20-year-old Carol City native appeared on LiveLoveA$AP and produced A$AP Rocky's "Pretty Flacko." You can visit his YouTube channel for more.

Check out Black Scale's upcoming A$AP-inspired capsule collection as well as an interview with the brand's co-owners Mega and Alfred via Complex

Download TXX BXXXK GXX here

Pusha T Live in NYC 12/22

2011-12-21T02:18:00.003-05:00

I will be at Gramercy Theater in New York City tomorrow night with our friends at Carefree Nation (@Carefree_Nation) for Mr. Every-Day's-A-White-Christmas Pusha T (@Pusha_T) live in concert with Ninjasonik (@ninjasonik), Gilbere Forte (@GilbereForte), Emilio Rojas (@emiliorojas), Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Mike Classic (@MIKE_CLASSIC), the beautiful Jasmine Solano (@JasmineSolano) and DJ Zeke (@DjZeke). The big homies, 2DOPEBOYZ' Meka (@mekdot) and You Heard That New's Low Key (@lowkeyuhtn) will also be in attendance so look to throw back some holiday cocktails and feel G.O.O.D. before we all go home and do the family thing.

Hosted by Rap Radar (@rapradar3) and (it's dope, it's NYC, so you already know) Rocksmith

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE NOW

UPDATE: Psst.... Hey.... Come join us at Greenhouse (@GreenhouseNYC) and W.I.P. (@WIPNewYork) in SoHo on the corner of Varick & Vandam after the show

Download Pusha's freestyle over the No ID-produced "Sweet" off Common's new album, "The Dreamer/The Believer" here

And check out Fear of God II - Let us Pray on iTunes.

UPDATE: If you can't wait and you're a Play Cloths fan come visit Pusha and the PC team for their 3rd anniversary party tonight in TriBeCa with W.I.P.'s favorite DJ, Q-Tip, hosted by Vashtie (@vashtie).

Kendrick Lamar and the Quest for Hip-Hop Greatness

2011-12-08T11:52:00.007-05:00

With a microphone in hand and camouflage five-panel cap covering his eyes, the enigmatic Kendrick Lamar walks out from the shadows onto a stage at Gramercy Theater and examines the New York City capacity crowd. White stage lights shoot up and down hundreds of fans’ raised hands screaming in anticipation for the California rapper’s first words. A thumping drum line kicks in and finally, he raises his fist and answers their calls:

"Sitting in the studio thinking about which mood would go right now, freestyle or write down, whatever…”

The mood at E. 23rd St. is intimate and electric. The 24-year-old Compton MC’s opening song, “The Heart Pt. 2,” is one of many that the east coast crowd will recite word-for-word—something he stops to admit both impresses and surprises him several times during his set.

His wide-eyed humility is charming—especially for an artist that many think is on the brink of greatness. But the fans that pack the small New York concert hall know it hasn’t been easy for Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar).

“It’s just so cool to see him come here and get all this love,” said Tim Manning, 27, of St. James. “And you can tell that he really appreciates it. He’s come a long way in the past couple years—it’s his time now.”

And it may be. But in today’s music climate, all the buzz, expectations and proclamations of greatness can consume young new artists and even set them up for failure—which often comes in the form of their first album.

“Modern day mixtape success is a good buzz-builder for an artist, but it’s by no means the end-all-be-all criteria for having a successful career,” said Joe La Puma (@JLaPuma), a writer for Complex Magazine. “There are a lot of artists who have had repeat-worthy mixtapes and have had careers that failed to live up to their full potential.”

And Kendrick Lamar has a list of peers he can look to if he wants to avoid some of their missteps. Wale (@Wale) and Drake both hit it big with mixtapes that catapulted them from their local followings to national attention. That attention included countless television appearances, magazine covers, features on tracks by everyone from Jay-Z to Amy Winehouse, and multiple appearances on the Billboard Hot 100—all before even releasing an album. Both artists eventually had offers from every major music label looking to capitalize on that attention with debut albums.

Lamar’s career has seen a similar rise since dropping his stage name “K. Dot” and releasing his self-titled EP “The Kendrick Lamar EP” in late 2009. His critically-acclaimed follow up “O(verly) D(edicated)” in 2010, an appearance in XXL Magazine’s 2011 “Freshman Class,” and co-signs from Lil Wayne, J. Cole, and Dr. Dre helped build the West Coast rapper’s buzz and keep people curious. Then came “Section.80”—widely considered one of the best projects released in 2011. The relatively unknown Compton rapper’s third solo effort debuted on iTunes ahead of pop powerhouses Lady Gaga and Adele. Soon after, West Coast icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Game crowned him the new face of the west coast on stage in L.A. in a symbolic gesture that brought him to tears. The conversation quickly changed from curiosity to speculation, the main question being, “what’s next?”

When Wale released “Attention Deficit” many considered his debut album a disappointment for different reasons. For Wale, an artist that had come out of the hyper-localized D.C. go-go music scene and prided himself on Seinfeld references and abstract song formats, the corporate handprints on “Attention Deficit” that included a single with Lady Gaga disappointed many of his fans. His major label debut also failed to live up to commercial expectations, too, selling just 28,000 copies—a reflection perhaps of the disconnect between artist and label.

“To establish a career that has longevity you have to have songs that have a lot of radio spins,” says La Puma. And despite his label’s efforts with the Gaga-assisted “Chillin,” radio just wasn’t interested in “Attention Deficit.”

But spins don’t guarantee success, and even platinum record sales can leave room for failure. Drake’s “Thank Me Later” debuted at No. 1 with 447,000 units and charted four different singles—but none that reached No. 1 like his previous hit “Best I Ever Had” off the enormously popular “So Far Gone.” That’s about as far as “Thank Me Later” goes in terms of failure by commercial standards. But more than that, it disappointed fans that fell in love with the sound of “So Far Gone.” The mixtape’s success launched Drake to mythic proportions. The Toronto artist was singing and rapping—and it worked. There were whispers that Jay-Z wanted him on the upcoming Blueprint 3. There was a certain sexiness in the newcomer’s mystery that mirrored his ‘90s-R&B-inspired sound. But like Wale, the time in between an artist’s last buzz-building mixtape and their first album can be critical—the sort of limbo that Kendrick Lamar currently occupies. And although Drake put himself in a better situation than Wale signing with his friends and mentor, Lil Wayne, at Cash Money, “Thank Me Later” succumbed to expectations. Labeled a classic before it met a mixing board, “Thank Me Later” was a departure from the sound that Drake and his friend and producer Noah “40” Shebib created out of thin, cool Toronto air. Although tracks from Kanye West, No I.D. and Timbaland stood on their own, the final body of work lacked the organic and stripped-down appeal of “So Far Gone.” It just didn’t feel like Drake—something he would admit in several interviews afterwards.

Both Wale and Drake were fortunate to rebound from their first albums and find success with their most recent efforts by learning from their errors as young artists. And Kendrick Lamar is better for it. So far, the California MC has made all the right moves. He’s remained independent and avoided rushing into a deal with a major label, stuck with his own crew like "Black Hippy" while hopping on Drake's Club Paradise Tour, and done a good job of managing expectations while maintaining momentum headed for his first album.

For Carefree Nation (@Carefree_Nation), the production company that booked his Gramercy Theater performance, those decisions bring value.

“For us, it’s all about timing and momentum,” said Joseph Ienuso (@joeyienuso), a partner at Carefree. “Kendrick Lamar was a perfect fit at that time; his mixtape ‘Section.80’ was super successful and he’s been doing all the right things to keep that buzz going ever since.”

And since “Section.80,” Lamar has signed on to tour with Drake alongside East Coast up-and-comer A$AP Rocky. He was also featured on Drake’s recent No. 1 album “Take Care” on the weird “Buried Alive”—a solo effort showcasing his enigmatic style and other-worldly skills as an MC.

But even if he’s sidetracked, Kendrick Lamar may have a career in acting. The highlight of his New York City show is a bit in which he pulls a chair on stage and acts out an exchange between his mother and father from his childhood.

It’s a scene that’s more Eddie Murphy than it is 2pac—the Compton rapper’s idol—and it works. The high-energy crowd’s violent enthusiasm from the booming bass line of “Rigamortis” transforms into a strange quiet before a very different kind of performance as they hang on every word. The laughter and command of a small crowd 3,000 miles away from his hometown is something special—special because fans know they may never share as intimate a moment with the artist ever again. They are sure that Kendrick Lamar is destined for greatness, and tonight they’ll watch him walk off into a haze of stage lights.

Check out more footage from Kendrick Lamar's Gramercy Theater show below courtesty of Coodie & Chike from Creativecontrol.tv (@CreativeCntrl)

Mixtape: Lupe Fiasco - Friend of the People

2011-12-01T12:13:00.004-05:00

"Enemy of the State" and "Friend of the People" Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) gave fans his free mixtape on Thanksgiving via Twitter which many of them may see as a consolation (or apology) for his previous effort--"Lasers." The backdrop for "Friend of the People" may be a departure from his usual sound with the dubstep and electro influences of Skrillex (@Skrillex), Bassnector, Justice and M83, but its content is a make-up-sex type return to the days of "Food and Liquor" and "The Cool." Free from artistic constraints and free to download, in the spirit of the Occupy Wall Street movement "Friend of the People" is for the 99% of loyal Lupe Fiasco fans.

Download the mixtape here

UPDATE: Download the "DSuper Cold" Raak (@iamraak) Remix feat. Gilbere Forte (@GilbereForte), Ab Liva (@abliva) & Asaad (@_ASAAD) here

Watch Lupe performing "The Message" below with LL Cool J, Common, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and Scorpio at the Grammy Nominations Concert last night

Video: A$AP Rocky - Demons

2011-11-29T19:33:00.000-05:00

Today Harlem's golden boy A$AP Rocky gave us the hazy visuals for the Clams-Casino-produced "Demons" off his LiveLoveA$AP mixtape. The video is produced by Donjai and features all the familiar staples of "Purple Swag" and "Peso"--that means weed, gold grills, BLVCK SCVLE, forties, and designer sneakers that your average sneakerhead couldn't identify. LiveLopeA$AP is still undeniably one of the best mixtapes/albums of the year and Rocky might be the most exciting figure to come out of New York City's rap scene in the last ten years.

Download LiveLoveA$AP here RIGHT NOW if you have not already

Interview: Gerrick Kennedy of the LA Times

2011-11-22T00:03:00.000-05:00

When Gerrick Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) sits down for an interview he’s usually chopping it up with the hottest names in music. But last month Kennedy was the one fielding questions when he sat down with a group of aspiring journalists at Stony Brook University.

Kennedy covers entertainment news for The Los Angeles Times and shared some of his experiences with students via Skype from his west coast home. The morning was a rare opportunity to speak with a professional writer from a major newspaper for many students that seek careers in journalism after graduation.

The conversation included some valuable professional advice and discussions on the quirks of journalistic etiquette. But the highlights of the day came in the form of several encounters Kennedy recalled with big name artists like Lil Wayne and Bill Cosby.

“Lil Wayne is a quite dude. He’s going to give you one-word answers so you have to push him a little bit,” said Kennedy. He described some of his own techniques to a young audience that wondered how one “pushes” one of the biggest rockstars of their generation.

But Kennedy hasn’t always gotten what he wanted out of stars.

“I was supposed to interview Big Sean the same day the story came out about his alleged sexual assault of a fan,” he recalled.

“Obviously his camp said no.”

It was unfortunate for Kennedy, who takes special pride in breaking talented new artists. The Detroit rapper, one of the first artists Kanye West signed to his G.O.O.D. Music label, was one of the most buzzed about names in hip hop on the verge of his first major album.

And while students hung on every word about Sean, Wayne, and other A-list stars, it was Kennedy’s chance encounter with a less glamorous name that perhaps proved most memorable: Bill Cosby.

Kennedy described the restaurant scene where he first met Cosby with noticeable emotion. Cosby, who is often hesitant to speak with reporters, picked Kennedy out of a crowd and sat down for an interview.

“Here I was talking to Bill Cosby, and I could see the flashing lights from cameras outside the window, just watching us and taking pictures.”

The experience felt surreal for a kid from Ohio that spent most his career on the other side of the glass. Cosby then stood up, pulling Kennedy aside, and said something that would stay with him forever.

“He told me how much he truly appreciated seeing a black reporter doing what I was doing—what I loved to do,” said Kennedy.

Video: Action Bronson - Not Enough Words

2011-11-21T23:02:00.002-05:00

In preparation for his upcoming album "Well Done" Queen's very own Albanian Action Bronson (@ActionBronson) brings us the visuals for "Not Enough Words" with his producer pal Statik Selektah (@StatikSelekt). Brooklyn-based Mishka (@MishkaNYC) will also release a limited edition tee in collaboration with the orange-bearded MC in honor of "Movember"--the month unofficially dedicated to growing stellar 'staches. The Oakley-sporting food aficionado has been pushed by Dante Ross (@DanteRoss) and co-signed by Ghostface Killah and Termanology and "Well Done" should be a breath of fresh air in a month that saw mellower releases from Drake and Childish Gambino.

Album: Yelawolf - Radioactive

2011-11-21T21:14:00.002-05:00

To mark today's release of Yelawolf's (@Yelawolf) highly anticipated "Radioactive" Complex put Catfish Billy front and center this week with this kick-ass GIF and feature by Noah Johnson (@noahvjohnson). I also attended the Irving Plaza show in New York City that Johnson talks about in his article and it helped cement Yela as a bonafide star in my mind. Aside from his obvious talent as a rapper (see the Shady 2.0 Cypher at the 2011 BET Music Awards), the Alabama native has embraced a unique identity that has earned him the admiration and intrigue of a national audience. "Radioactive" is available in stores and for download on iTunes. See more from his Irving Plaza show below.

Download the bonus track "Whip It" here

Video: Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire - Lou Ferigno's Mad

2011-11-17T16:10:00.001-05:00

Eclectic up-and-comer Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire (@eXqomaniaRules) presented us with his video for "Lou Ferigno" today and it's everything we can expect from the porn-loving dude with the mouth full of golds. The Brooklyn MC has been compared to Ol Dirty Bastard and Biz Markie and can usually be seen rocking tons of chains (fuck 2chainz, right?) and some Mishka threads when he's not guzzling cheap vodka or watching porno. This is the second video from his "Lost in Translation" mixtape (download here) and the follow up to his underground summer anthem "Huzza." Mr. eXquire's style may not be for every Hip-Hop head out there but he's certainly adding to the growing feeling that, along with A$AP Rocky, there is something special happening in New York City's undergound rap scene right now.

Download "RIP Payso" - Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire's freestyle over A$AP's "Peso"

Album: Childish Gambino - Camp

2011-11-15T18:47:00.004-05:00

Donald Glover (@DonaldGlover) aka Childish Gambino dropped his highly anticipated major label debut "Camp" today. And in usual Childish style this is one LP that you will have to play over and over AND OVER if you want to catch every punchline and double entendre. But don't let Google searches and Wikipedia distract you from its simple elegance. The production, to "Community" composer Ludwig Göransson's credit, is bigger and more on point than any of Glover's previous projects--and that alone is worth the listen. The album, which premiered at #2 on iTunes behind Drake's "Take Care," establishes Childish Gambino as a serious rapper despite his many critics (which he often mentions). Perhaps even more so than Drake, Glover connects with an entire generation of Brooklyn transplants (who he addresses in "Les") and indie music heads that are less concerned about street credibility than characters and subjects with which they can relate. And therein lies Glover's antihero appeal. But don't compare the NYU alum with Drizzy, Glover is clearly in his own lane. And "Camp" is much more "College Dropout" than it is "Take Care."

Check out the video for "Bonfire" below. "Camp" is available for download today on iTunes; stream the full album here on NPR (no, really).

Curren$Y - Luxury Sport feat. Sir Michael Rocks

2011-11-15T16:00:00.004-05:00

Curren$Y released "Luxury Sport" featuring Sir Michael Rocks online last night. Spitta (@CurrenSy_Spitta) recently signed Rocks (@SirMichaelRocks), Chuck Inglish's (@Chuckisdope) Cool Kids counterpart, to his Jet Life label under Warner Bros. Records. The track borrows the instrumental from Ghostface Killah and Jadakiss's classic Run which sampled Les Baxter's "Hogin' Machine." Curren$Y and Mikey have been fucking with eachother for a while now but hopefully we can expect more material from the two now that they are working under the same family. Get familiar, from their styles to their flows, these are two of the dopest dudes doing it right now.

Download Curren$Y feat. Sir Michael Rocks - Luxury Sport

Drake in Complex Magazine

2011-11-15T00:59:00.004-05:00

With "Take Care" dropping today, Complex magazine will feature Drake in their upcoming December 2011/January 2012 issue. Writer Damien Scott (@thisisdscott) followed Drizzy and his OVO crew around his hometown Toronto stopping off at the Thompson Hotel and Goodnight Bar. The black and white photos were shot by Hyghly Alleyne and Lamar Taylor who also helped create the visuals for "Marvin's Room" and "Headlines." "Take Care" is now available in stores and for download on iTunes; look for a review later this week. See more photos and read the full story from Complex here.

UPDATE: Read a full-length interview where Drake talks about giving Hyghly Alleyne and Lamar Taylor their break, beef with Kanye and Jay-Z, studying 2pac, and why girls from his hometown aren't feeling him.

Welcome

2011-11-09T18:17:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Bloody Good Music. Enjoy the Grade A....