Choonage

Wiz Khalifa is Flying Solo

2011-06-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, signed to Rostrum Records. According to the Black and Yellow Songfacts, his stage name is derived from khalifa, an Arabic word meaning “successor”, and wisdom. His nickname growing up was “Wizard” which was shortened to Wiz when Khalifa was fifteen.

In 2005 he released his first official mixtape, Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, and later in 2006 he released his first full length street album entitled Show and Prove. Since then he has released a further six mixtapes and a collaboration mixtape titled How Fly with friend Curren$y. He released his debut album, Deal or No Deal, in November of 2009, it reached #1 on the iTunes hip hop chart, and then reached the top ten on iTunes’ overall album chart the week it was released. Previously signed to Warner Bros. Records, he left the label in July 2009 after numerous delays in releasing his planned debut album for the label, First Flight. Khalifa stated to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that, “I learned a lot during my time there and matured as an artist during the process. I’m happy to be moving on with all of my material and having the chance to be in control of my next moves”.He is also the founder of the rap crew Taylor Gang, which includes friends Kev Tha Hustler, Ekko, Smallz Money and Gene Stovall. They derived the name from the fact they always used to wear Chuck Taylor shoes.

Khalifa was born on September 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota to a mother and a father serving in the military. The family moved to Pittsburgh when Khalifa was the age of two. His parents’ military service caused the family to move on a regular basis.
Over the next thirteen years, he would move between Pittsburgh and South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Germany, Japan, and England as his parents were reassigned to different posts. In October of 1990 Wiz was separated from his mother,who left him in the hands of her sister while she served in Operation Desert Storm.

During his travels, Wiz was forced to mature quicker than his peers. He was constantly faced with new surroundings, new schools, and new sets of friends, and he found it difficult to become attached to anyone outside his family roots. This nomadic life gave Wiz an opportunity, though, to broaden his mind and offered him many experiences from which to draw inspiration. He began to perceive the world differently than most kids, and he would write his thoughts down every day.These thoughts would become the foundation for his future recordings.

By the age of 14, with a few songs under his belt, Wiz was already drawing comparisons with his commanding voice and witty wordplay. While he has been influenced by artists such as Jay-Z, Camron, and the Notorious B.I.G., Wiz was determined to create his own identity that would, one day, be loved and revered by fans.

Ready to take the next step, Wiz began his search for a recording studio to record new songs. He found one, ID LABS, where owner Eric Dan immediately recognized Wiz’s talents. Along with Chad Glick of ID Management, they began to network Wiz to another Pittsburgh native, Benjy Grinberg of Rostrum Records. Benjy realized the raw talent that Wiz possessed, and immediately brought him into the Rostrum family in 2002.

Soon after, Wiz Khalifa began his ascent into the music scene in the Pittsburgh area. He has been hailed by the award winning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette pop music critic, Ed Masley, as having “the skills, the looks, the confidence, the drive, and the charisma for the job.” The New Pittsburgh Courier says, “The combination of a young, charismatic M.C. with a slew of stop-and-rewind rhymes together with a local independent label with major industry connections has set the stage for a hip-hop artist representing Pittsburgh to reach superstar status for the first time ever.

In 2010, with the success of Kush and Orange Juice still present, Wiz Khalifa signed with Atlantic Records. Wiz’s style along with his production team, Johnny Juliano, Sledgren, and E. Dan make this a winning combination for success.

Most recently Wiz Khalifa was arrested on various marijuana charges after performing at one of his shows on his Waken Baken Tour. Wiz was allegedly found with over 2 ounces of marijuana. Wiz Khalifa recently spoke to MTV about what happened.

Wiz Khalifa’s song Black and Yellow, a known Steelers Anthem, which was also made into a Lakers Anthem Purp and Yellow, went viral a few weeks ago, with over 24 million views on Youtube. Currently Black and Yellow is #1 on the Billboard’s Hot 100.

His major label debut album is set to drop March 29th, entitled “Rolling Papers”

Here are some of his best releases:

Rolling Papers ALBUM
Fly Solo

Fenech-Soler are here.

2010-10-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

And with their debut album, in all its glory they seem to have added to their already impressive repertoire of songs by adding a few belters. And well, you can be the judge of that. The album has got all of the old favourites which include Lies and Stop and Stare, pity there isn't "The Fight" though.

Here is my favourite from their new release and I'm sure its set to be their new single.

You're able to purchase the album now from Amazon.

Music That Attacked My Endothelial Cells, This Week

2010-09-15T05:52:00.000-07:00

Nick Cave's Bad Sleaze..... and The Roots

Grinderman - Grinderman 2 (Album) (2010)

I didn't know they were making a new album.....

But I found it staring back at me from the New Release section.

Griderman 2 - imo - trumps the last 13 years worth of Bad Seed albums, and I love the Bad Seeds. This album, for me, is everything that was missing from Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! channelled through a Garage Rock Tannoy.

The Roots - How I Got Over (Album) (2010)

It's like they took a collection of Curtis Mayfields songs, stripped the vocals out, replaced them with well executed poignant-rhymes, some assorted indie rock and neo-soul guest vocalists and subsequently blew my mind....

Why was 1am, last Wednesday, in a friends house, the first time I heard this apparently quasi-successful band? I've was blind but now I'm much better.

The Return of the Kings?

2010-09-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

Following the commercial, if not critical, success of 2008's Only by the Night, the brothers Followill return with their latest offering in the guise of their latest single.

"Radioactive", which appears on their new album, Come Around Sundown, has been described by the band themselves as a reaffirmation of the "spirituality" of the group as they grew up in Tennessee. Brace yourself.

Radioactive heralds another, and perhaps the last, step towards the abyss that is the dreaded tag of 'stadium rock'. It is so hard to associate the band who brought us the gritty Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak with this current group who have 'progressed' to highly-polished pop music in order to secure success in their native United States.

The commercial success of the platinum selling Only by the Night looked to have encouraged the Followills to further diverge from their early career, which saw them attract fans and plaudits alike with energetic rock and roll.

As a long time fan of the pre Only by the Night Kings of Leon, I was wary of this new offering at first. Having spent a day with it, my opinion of Radioactive has flip-flopped several times.

It IS mainstream. It IS a highly produced and mixed single. Crucially, however, it is rather good. The chorus, which had sounded 'cheesy' (for want of a less oft-levelled critical term) on first listen is infectious, rabble-rousing enough for the Sex on Fire brigade but also sufficiently soulful for many fans of earlier releases.

Recent recruits to the Kings of Leon bandwagon will love this song. Older fans who may have wished the Kings of Leon into exile may want to give this one a try. They might find themselves surprised.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mfotbsujp12ubuu

N.A.S.A. are so "Gifted"

2010-09-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

Probably the most underrated song ever. Slick video, slick chorus, Lykke Li, Santogold, Kanye West and Nasa. Seriously, check out Nasa, check out the Spirit of Apollo and be free. One of the most original videos I've ever seen. Seriously. Enjoy.

MP3

Also Steve Aoki seems to be able to just dramatically change a song in a remix and make it his own! Check it out. HERE

Music That Stuck To My Shoe, This Week

2010-09-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

I’ve stumbled into the general direction of some great music this week.

Gaslamp Killer - When I'm In Awe (feat. Gonjasufi) 2010

I’ve been shouting various words of praise into the ears of many regarding Gonjasufi’s “A Sufi and a Killer”. The bulk of that album was produced the Gaslamp Killer who’s set to release an EP this October. Pitchfork are hosting a “teaser” from the EP which features vocals from Gonjasufi. Sidewinder-Charming, in the Mojave Desert. I’ll go with that description.

http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/14780-when-im-in-awe-ft-gonjasufi

Roots Manuva (Meets Wrong Tom) – Duppy Writer (Album) 2010

I’ve already got a Roots Manuva Dub album, but this one is better, I know little about producer “Wrong Tom” but he knows Dub.

Tony McDermott’s cover art alone is worth the price of admission.

Dudley Perkins – Expression (Album) 2007

I found this for €5 lying, collecting dust, in a record store Hip-Hop section this weekend, the Madlib production credit and Stones Throw label sticker formed a collective mouth that demanded I fork over my hard earned Ark, I’m glad I did. If I had a Soul, I’d feed it this.

Inspired Flight - We All Want to Fly (Album) 2010

Sounds, and probably smells a bit like something from anticon. I found this via aimless link-clicking. Trippy, electronic music littered with guest MC’s.

This particular track is approaching territory occupied by The Books and is a free download on the bands website http://www.inspiredflightmusic.com

Tinie and his Tempah

2010-09-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

Sooooo no big surprise that I'm tipping my hat in the way of suggesting Mr Tempah should be near if not at the heady heights of the chart with his next upcoming number "written in the stars" featuring the vovcals talants of Eric Turner (who? - if you know please enlighten me with a comment!) anyways Tinie's album is scheduled to drop in October and although is being kept heavily under wraps the very rare snippets released have been promosing, Swedish House Mafia featured "Miami 2 Ibiza" featureson the final track listing and having been put out by SHM is easily searchable on youtube ;)

Anyways standard video link below of Written in the Stars

Tinie Tempah - Written In The Stars

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool

2010-08-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

I know its been a while since the incident of Charles Haddon's death, but its one which stays with you, especially when you've had an interest in his music. Well as a tribute to him and to OELWP I will dance how I feel and well, I hope everyone else will too. Too young and too talented, RIP.

Such a contrast to how you can perceive a song after death, before the tragedy I'd always felt this song was one of happiness and it made me want to get up and dance, but ever since the event it's been one of loss and sadness for me.

RIP.

Monarchy - Monarchy

2010-08-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

So the Monarchy album has been leaked. How fucking awesome is that! Well, I mean as a fan. Obviously I'm disappointed for the band but this will possibly generate the much needed attention they warrant and well to be honest, need. So, I'll show you some of the funktastic rhythmic sexual pleasures which you're going to be hearing in the not too distant future. With the album being pushed back to an early 2011 date expect to hear a lot about the queen and the royal families musical prowess and how they'll take over the world. ~~I know I usually post an mp3 for your delight but this time its just going to be a few videos I'm afraid. Don't google monarchy album leak or anything though.~~ Scratch that, the videos were taken down, have some MP3's little fledglings!

Check it out here first. Let me know what you think too. Don't forget to follow!

Monarchy - You Don't Want To Dance With Me

Monarchy - Floating Cars

It meets my expectations!

Kid Cudi: The Sophomore.

2010-07-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

So, I feel as if I'm repeating myself with stating how awesome Kid Cudi is. He's awesome okay? Okay. So now here I am writing about the ever so interesting and hypetastic sophomore album from Cudi, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager.

"I am the Rager I am Forever."

This isn't even good enough for the album. Now onto the album and how its set out so far, Cudi's released a few leaks here and there through his own personal blog including the welcoming wonder "Revofev" or to be more precise the revolution of Evolution, revolution being Cudi, the evolution being rap. Cudi's changing the style and face of rap with his thoughtful lyrics infused with heart and soul, rather than the usual guns and bitches. So the prelude revofev was to the fantastic "Erase Me" which had been spread like a whore's legs on the net causing shit loads of hype and fantasy. With an ever so catchy hook and the helping hand of his mentor Kanye the song has it, and whatever it is, is good. Check them out for yourself. LEts just say I'm looking forward to more leaks and Mr. Rager's fury will be calmed by the appreciation of the masses. Don't forget to follow the blog!

Expect MOTM2 around September 28!

KiD CuDi feat. Kanye West - Erase Me
KiD CuDi - REVOFEV

Hiatus

2010-07-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

Reminiscing. Is a word. Blue. Is a colour. Light. Hurts.

Bloc Party - Blue Light

Milke, Oh I mean Monarchy

2010-07-13T17:39:00.000-07:00

So, the secrets out, Monarchy are the ever under appreciated Milke. But, the hype in which they produced from being ambiguous and mysterious has allowed the synth duo to milk(e) the attention in which they'd garnered and to re-release their previous single from Milke entitled "Love Get Out of My Way". [video below] But I'd rather not see this as recycling but as a new output for their previously unheard of gems.

While on the subject of unheard of gems, or less so heard of gems this leads me to think of some of Milke's songs which had gone unknown by the masses of the media and the public but now will achieve the attention in which they'd wanted and warranted in the first place. Notable the ever so catchy "Maybe I'm Crazy" and "Resignation".

Incase you ever wondered what the duo looked like here's a picture for you to gawk at.

Not quite the spacemen you were hoping for was it?

Milke/Monarchy - Maybe I'm Crazy

The Return

2010-07-13T17:13:00.000-07:00

So, Sorry about the lack of posts for the Month of May but, well, to be honest, its been eventful. Fruitful even. So let me fill you in, this months the month of May, and may it soon end, with my College exams half way done (3 out of 5) and missing 2 of them due to sickness, serious strep throat going on, I've found very little time to spend on the blog or living. But there's been good times as well as horrendously bad. So lets stick to the good ones.

Around the start of the MUNT I stumbledupon (yes I use that application) a great tune called "In It Together" by Human Life on some obscure blog, somewhat like this, just obviously less cool.

Oh so nintendo-y I love it.

After bopping my head to that a few times I reminisced of when I forayed into the lifestyle of a secondary school kid who tried to make his own songs and remix a few too under the pseudonym of PKG, surprisingly I have over 4,500 plays, and one even has over 2,500 plays itself, amusing to think thats more than what my mate who's signed to a label has on his Myspace. I soul crushingly listened to the terribleness of 17 year old me's aspirations, but then realised how much I missed Hadouken!'s old style at the same time, yes, I remixed Hadouken!, don't ask. But I really do like Hadouken!'s older stuff, especially Driving Nowhere, Spend Your Life and Wait For You.

Fuckin' Sexy!

Then onto the 2nd Friday, the Friday before my exams started, you'd probably expect me to sit in and well, as you should, STUDY, well, that's not how I roll, I went to the most awesome FREE gig of my life courtesy of Heineken Music, With Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club and some band with a fat lad in it. Not knowing the support bands I didn't really care about their performances rather just yelling the occasional "1 more tune" after 2 songs into their set or "You're not Foals!" until the aforementioned Foals had entered the stage, and later during the gig, the crowd. The little man Yannis sure does know how to throw a show!

OKEKELEEELEEEE

2010-04-28T16:34:00.001-07:00

Yes, its been anticipated and I've liked it. Kele from Bloc Party's solo effort is different and fantastic is not a bit same-ish at times, he's certainly jumped on the band-wagon of hip and disco related CHOOONS but I really do like it. Knocking back and forth while waiting for Total Life Forever to download has never been more exhilarating

Give it a Listen now!

.

Here's the customary download link! Enjoy?!?!?!

Kele - Tenderoni

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work

2010-04-24T16:23:00.001-07:00

I can smell a Summer Anthem with this choon. Hope you enjoy it!

NightBus

2010-04-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

Funky Electro Pop with a slice of disco. Thats how I'd describe the fantastic new band Nightbus, who've just released a video for their debut single "I Wanna Be You". Check out the video here! Its catchy and has a fast paced beat to it and well its very memorable. With it due to be released by the end of May expect a lot of hype and airplay in the coming weeks. Hopefully you'll enjoy it!

Marina And The Diamonds

2010-04-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a slick choon my Marina and the Diamonds remixed by Fenech-Soler who I'm lucky enough to be able to see this Friday at Crawdaddy in Dublin, which is going to be absolutely great. Now, onto the song at hand. "OH MY GOD", really does surmise this song, unpredictably awesome with a major bassline banging on throughout. This really makes me want to listen to her own stuff, which I will eventually do after listening tot this. You better too.

Marina and the Diamonds - Hollywood (Fenech-Soler remix)

Ellie Goulding

2010-04-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a singer(ette) thing, who I've known of for some time and I've just been listening to her album "Lights" and I'm just wondering something, WHY DID THEY MURDER WISH I STAYED?!?

compare the two.

Mistake. Fuck off Starsmith.

Ellie Goulding - Wish I Stayed (The Good Version)

Monarchy

2010-04-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

Not as in the queen, but as in the awesome band who nobody ahs a clue about other than the fact that they confuse thousands of people about who the hell they are. There's been rumours linking them with Daft Punk and well, they're awesome but they're still some way from it (a long way) but they're a superb band who I've already posted a song about in the past, being Penguin Prison's "A Funny Thing" which was remixed by them.

Enjoy the sheer classness of this and well, let me know what you think.

Here's the customary link.

Monarchy - The Phoenix Alive

Grizzly Bear

2010-04-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

So here’s a weird one, one which is creepishly odd and yet melodically awesome, with a tender hook and some neat piano added to it, you can see why Grizzly Bear are recieving some hype, and well, its deserved, with one of the oddest video’s I’ve ever seen added to the mix, you’re always going to be intrigued as to what they have in store, pity about the rest of the album then. But for this one song along, Two Weeks, they have a song which they could rely on for corporate success as well as some sort of success in the media.

Told ya it was odd didn’t I?

Anyway, I’ve known this song for some time now due to my boredom of just downloading bundles of random albums and Veckatimest was one of them, but the reason as to why I’ve chosen to post it now is because of a certain “Intuition” I’ve had, or well the artist has anyway, with his Intuition’s mixtape “I Ruined These Songs For You” the song Two Weeks appeared on it with Intuitions own style tossed onto it, and well, by tossed I mean added to the sheer quality of the song of which I already thoroughly enjoyed. Now, here comes the part you want, the customary downloads, well today you’re not getting them....

APRIL FOOLS
Sorry.

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks ft. Intuituon

Delorean

2010-03-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

This just makes me feel good. Just watch it, listen and hopefully you'll enjoy it too.

Delorean - Stay Close

Fenech-Soler

2010-03-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

Absolutely phenomenal and once again are on the up and coming and somewhat mighty Moda Music label. These will be big and have been in love with them ever since Tom Staar remixed Lies. Just listen and adore, this is porn for your ears, or ear if you're somewhat defected.

~~PORN~~

Fenech-Soler - Stop and Stare
Fenech-Soler - Stop And Stare (Reset Remix)
Fenech-Soler - Lies (Tom Staar Remix)

Penguin Prison

2010-03-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, reposting an Artist I've already recommended? I know, lazy and all, but its my Birthday, so I can do what I want to do today :D Where's Jessica Alba when you need her?

Anyway, now onto the new song by Penguin Prison. Its fantastic. Its actually painstakingly horrible how easy it is for him to make his music both eccentricly poppy and absolutely eccentric, not to forget extremely rememberable. With no word on an album release date as of yet, I'm starting to get really worried. I hope you enjoy the tracks as much as I have, and with that, I'm off to celebrate the date of which I was born. Toodles.

Penguin Prison - The Worse it Gets

Late Of The Pier - Best In The Class

2010-03-23T09:36:00.001-07:00

In Regards to an earlier post on the blog Late Of The Pier have released a video for Best In The Class, check it out here!

Go back a few posts for the mp3s ;)

Sup? Lets Focus.

2010-03-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Sub Focus - Could This Be Real