Great White DJ

Javier Colon Covers Adele's Someone Like You (Live)

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:02:00 +0000

For the first time in quite a while I attended a concert that wasn't marked by high energy craziness (i.e. deadmau5, volbeat, ratatat, LCD Soundsystem). Instead, it was an intimate, acoustic setting where three talented individuals took the stage with not much more than a guitar and a piano. I'm going to keep my commentary short today because a more long winded review of the concert is going to follow in the next week when I'm able to get all of the media posted. I rarely let the cat out of the bag before doing a thorough review, but when @javstwtr covers @officialadele on stage for the first time and does a solo acoutic rendition of her hit Someone Like You, I'm willing to break protocol.

I'd consider it one of the many highlights of the show and a welcome surprise as part of the three song encore. I don't need to dress it up at all, the only thing I'm really urging you to do is press play below and give it a listen. Absolutely amazing and something that I was fortunate to witness in person...#Speechless

Javier Colon Covers Adele's Someone Like You

Feel free to check out Javier's new album title Come Through For You on iTunes

Videos of the Week February 10th

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:48:00 +0000

Considering how many damn times they play the song in concert, it's about time @kanyewesta and @s_c_ made a video for N****s in Paris! Other artists should take note that all it takes is a little creative editing and some concert footage to make a decent video. Love how we've evolved as a culture to put disclaimers for epileptics too...

I would probably pay a lot of money to be able to see Drake anywhere within a two hundred mile radius of where I live, but unfortunately it's not in the cards this year. I'll settle for the teaser (literally) promo video I guess. Still digging Wilds Ones by the way and if you haven't caught on to Eric Turner yet, then shame on you. Oh yea, Avengers are coming soon too...#SuperheroMoviesWin

Jay-Z & Kanye - N****s in Paris (Video)

Flo Rida feat Sia - Wild Ones (Video)

Drake's Practice/Club Paradise Promo (Video)

Eric Turner feat Lupe Fiasco & Tinie Tempah - Angels & Stars (Video)

Super Bowl Commercial for The Avengers (Movie)

Childish Gambino - Heartbeat (Video)

Lights Down Low is So Upscale

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:34:00 +0000

With his lead single (Trouble) continuing to getting plenty of spins on top 40 radio, @BEIMAEJOR is keeping the momentum going with his follow up single Lights Down Low with @WakaFlockaBSM. For all you Wheel of Fortune fans who follow Bei on Twitter, I hope I didn't ruin it for you...

With his new Upscale EP scheduled to drop sometime in February, I'd say he's two for two in singles thus far. Would I appreciate a full length album rather than an extended EP? Probably, but hey, if he's going to stock it with tracks like the one below, all that talk about him being underrated may be coming to an end. That's not a bad thing though because from what I understand, he's a humble dude and as grounded as any other artist in the game. Makes it easier to root for artists like that ya know?

The single has yet to hit iTunes, but feel free and use this link whenever it does finally drop and feel free to support Bei on his way to the top...#OnlyAMatterOfTime

Bei Maejor feat Waka Flocka - Lights Down Low (prod by Bei Maejor)
|iTunes

Benjamin Franklin Donnis Keeps it 100

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:23:00 +0000

Last week, Volume 1 of @donnismusic's three part Snack Pack series was a breath of fresh air and set the bar high for the next two. While I don't think Volume 2 was as off the charts dope as the first one, I'm still finding myself adding his new track Hoes to all of my new iTunes playlists. He had released a snippet video of the track last week, followed by the real thing this week. Shout out to @godspaparazzi on the beat. All I can say is can I get a tomahawk chop y'all???? Braves or Seminoles...#YouPick

The second track is pretty solid in it's own right with cameos from up and comers @jayantmusic_TPK and @iamsu. The quirky synths and rolling clap beat are cool when combined together with a little tempo. Everybody could use another fun way to say they keep it 100, right? #KeepItBenjaminFranklin

I can only hope that Volume three follows suit with the first two Snack Packs and continues to provide me with quality music to share with y'all. All I know is Bout That Life with @therealjuicyj sounds like a heat rock and I can't wait for it to drop this week...

Either way, it's about time ya boy Donnis starts to get some love for the nice streak of new music he's been releasing. You'd think a studio album would be the chronological next step, but it took Wiz Khalifa a whole lotta mixtapes before finally making it big. I can only hope for the same ending for Donnis...#2012BreakthroughArtistWatch

"They Point They Point They Like Daaaammnn"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:38:00 +0000

Despite never really being a big fan of @E40 as a rapper, I respect the hell out of his ability to continually set trends and be that much different than your favorite rapper. He's always been at the forefront of Bay Area rap with the likes of Mac Dre and @tooshort. His goofy style isn't anything that could or should be repeated, but that's part of what makes him iconic.

The past two years 40 Fonzarelli has averaged two albums a year and this year he's going to break that streak all in one day. March 27 is when he's set to release three albums titled Welcome to the Soil : The Block Brochure 1, 2 and 3. You can expect the bangin' track below featuring @MrBangladesh himself on the beat with a few cameo verses from up and coming @2chainz and the always on point @therealjuicyj. Is anybody else reminded of Play with the quirky noises on the beat? No matter how you slice it, plenty of bass in this pond...(see what I did there??) #CornyAsHell

E-40 feat 2 Chainz & Juicy J - They Point (prod by Bangladesh)

|iTunes

Madonna and LMFAO Party Rock the Super Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:11:00 +0000

Going into last night's Super Bowl, I had very low expectations for the event and game as a whole. ~~So I did what any other American would do and gamble to make it interesting~~. I had posted a couple times this past week how much I really wished both teams could lose because Giants rank up there with world's most annoying fan base and The Pats...let's just say they're always favored so what's the point of cheering for them unless you're from Boston? Needless to say I was mostly paying attention to watch the entertaining, buzz-generating commercials while simultaneously following up on the mostly random single dollar wagers I had made on various *mostly random* events like who wins the coin toss, who gets the first sack, how many field goals total, how many beer commercials, etc. Despite not winning one random bet the whole night (hard to do) and witnessing an extremely boring game (serious lack of exciting plays), I'd say the halftime show was a big bright spot.

Put it this way, when you follow the Black Eyed Peas from last year, it can be nothing but better. Still, Madonna wasn't all that enticing of a draw to me and I figured it would be mostly oldies that would keep the 30 and older crowd happy and give women a decent reason to pay attention while all the men completely disregarded the show. Before I comment, if you haven't watched the twelve minute and change halftime show, please feel free to press play below. I waded through countless terrible quality videos to find the decent one below, so feel free to appreciate if you'd like...

Yep, I didn't see all those cameos coming out of left field and I sure as hell didn't think she'd mix in much more than the oldies. I couldn't have been more wrong as @nickyminaj, @_m_i_a_, @ceelogreen and @lmfao joined her on stage for what ended up being a really solid, high energy halftime show. I'm not one to give effusive praise to a performance that I didn't think was going to be good from the start, but this would be the exception to the rule.

Even better, a remix of Madonna's lead single off her new album MDNA (due out March 26th) seemed to have surfaced in the past day, piggy backing the hype surrounding their performance last night. Hey might as well get it while the gettin' is good right? To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the middle school cheerleader anthem sounding original version of Give Me All Your Lovin', but I won't hesitate to rock out to the remix. Don't be shy with it shake your junk to it like the naked M&M last night...#BestCommercial

Madonna feat LMFAO - Give Me All Your Lovin (Remix)
|iTunes

R&B Rewind: Mateo feat Alicia Keys - Say Its So

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:43:00 +0000

Having missed out on posting the track below back in September, I'm seeking redemption today. Back in early December @MATEOONLINE dropped his debut EP titled Love and Stadiums II and Say Its So just so happened to be the first single on the album.

You might be wondering (like I did) what the connection is between Mateo and @aliciakeys/@therealswizzz? Well, Alicia's co-writer/producer Kerry "@krucial" Brothers signed Mateo to his record label Krucial Noise back in September 2010. If you haven't heard the track, you hear the closeness in proximity sound wise to Alicia's music. The mid-tempo instrumental is smooth enough to provide a simple backdrop and get out of the way, letting Mateo shine vocally. Alicia and Swizz's contribution to the track is small, but noticeable as they do little more than inject a few ad-libs to make their presence felt. It's good marketing though, because it makes things easy on bloggers like me who like a little star power to go along with a good story.

On an unrelated note, the sole reason I am watching the Super Bowl tonight is to cheer for side wagers. I dislike both teams involved, but enjoy the city it is being hosted in and wish I could be there. Who says the Super Bowl can't be hosted in cold weather cities? #GotLuckyWithTheWeather

Mateo feat Alicia Keys & Swizz Beats - Say Its So (prod by Krucial)

|iTunes

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger...and Dance More

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:03:00 +0000

When doing a quick audit of my site today, I noticed on the right sidebar via the iTunes widget that @kelly_clarkson's new track Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) is sitting pretty at that number one spot for the week. As a quick aside, I like having that iTunes information available as sort of pop music temperature indicator. It's sorta like checking the weather for me every now and then before I post to get a feel for what the public as a whole is indulging in of late.

As far as the track itself, I can't say I'm surprised as all at the success of the original song given the inspirational feel it gives damn near every woman who listens. One thing you can never claim about Kelly is that she'd ever short change you on the vocals, girl has got some pipes! Since I'm more of the off the beaten path type music enthusiast, I'm more concerned about what a young Dutchman by the name of @nickyromero decided to do with the track. Evidently he was somewhat inspired by the track because he flipped it into a pretty sick house remix. It's not tough to make an energetic track when Kelly Clarkson pours her heart out vocally, but Nicky did an admirable job of infusing addictively repetitive electronic rhythms while blending his own subtle background touches throughout the track.

You're going to want a Redbull if someone puts this one on in the background and you're not already intoxicated. Y'all know what I mean, the track below is #SoberPersonProof...

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) (Nicky Romero Remix)
|iTunes

Videos of the Week Feb 3rd

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:41:00 +0000

Great mix of content on this week's version of videos of the week. Couple dunk of the year nominees, with three high profile videos, a sick @rickyrozay birthday bash and some Eastbound and Down to top it off. All you really need to remember is the date February 19th. That my friends is the day that @kfuckingp comes back for Season 3 of his circuitous and hilarious journey through life. Can't wait and as Kenny would say, "This gorgeous sunset is rockin' my nuts off!"...haha. Doesn't get much raunchier than that, but I love it. Have a good weekend y'all!

Lil Wayne feat Bruno Mars - Mirror (Video)

David Guetta feat Nicki Minaj - Turn Me On (Video)

B.O.B. feat T.I. & Young Jeezy - Strange Clouds (Remix)(Video)

Rick Ross Knows How to Throw a Birthday Party..Dr. Dre Gives him a 100K Hublot

Blake Griffin's Dunk Heard Round the World

Lebron Jumps Over John Lucas For Alley Oop

Eastbound and Down Season 3 Trailer

"I'm Leanin' Like a Kick Stand"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:38:00 +0000

I'm as guilty as the next man when it comes to falling for sugar coated, repeatable Hip Hop anthems. I've been wanting to post the track below for a while, maybe close to two months, but I kept thinking to myself, do I really like this song? I mean really, actually like it? The answer to that is probably yes and no 50% of the time, but today I heard @StueyRock on Sirius XM 44 (Hip Hop Hits XL) on my way home and thought to myself, ya know what...tonight it's gettin' posted.

At this point I feel comfortable categorizing Leanin' with the Rack on Racks of the world. The type of track that you hate to love and hate that every time it plays, you can't help but turn it up. Shouts out to @honorablecnote on the beat and sexy tag line at the beginning. Heads up for plenty more from Stuey Rock, who is rubbing shoulders with a lot of your favorite Southern Hip Hop artists and producers like @reallilscrappy, @roscoedash, @therealjuicyj, @YoGottiKOM and even one of my favorites who doesn't get enough love, @djmontay. If you like what you're hearing below and would like more of a main course rather than an appetizer, feel free to check out his latest mixtape Feature Presentation.

Either way, pour it up and slow it down...#PintOfLeanOnDeck

Stuey Rock - Leanin' (prod by Honorable C-Note)

|Mixtape

Afrojack is Unstoppable

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:03:00 +0000

Having been stricken with a sudden affliction for @avicii, it's been easy to lose sight of other great elctro house DJs like @djafrojack. Like any soon to be club hit, his new single Can't Stop Me is half electronic house, half pop with the vocals provided by @shermanology. If you haven't heard of Shermanology, I'd invite you to check out their own brand of crazy dance music on a track like Only Love Can Save Me.

I've argued before and will continue to claim that it doesn't really matter what woman you plug in on a great dance beat because as long as they have a decent vocal range, they can deliver the mail. That's not to take away from the effort put in by Shermanology because I'm now listening to their music as a result of the track below and their other song with Afrojack titled Grindin'. All I gotta say is put together a good four bar hook and hit a few high notes and you're golden.

A little tip...don't give up on the track at the 3:04 mark because it picks right back up seven seconds later. That one got me the first time and you're missing out on half the track if you get impatient like me. Simply put, this will make cardio go by quicker tomorrow, which is why you should get like me and drag it to your newest playlist. Oh you don't make playlists? #GetWithTheTimes

Afrojack feat Shermanology - Can't Stop Me (Club Mix)
|iTunes

Cudi and Dot Da Genius Are WZRDs of Sampling

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:07:00 +0000

Ahhh yes, about a week ago we witnessed @wizardcud debuting the track below in Australia and now today we get the real thing on iTunes today. If there's one thing Cudi and @DotDaGenius have the no other duo in the game possesses, it's the ability to find quality under the radar samples. Single-handedly they have put me on to bands like LCD Soundsystem, Ratatat, Crookers, Band of Horses and now Desire.

Serving as the lead single to their self titled debut album due out Feb 28th, Teleport 2 Me, Jamie is every bit as melancholy and dripped with emotion as you'd expect. What sets the track apart is the sample, which is executed brilliantly by the duo. The sample is taken from the @desireofficial Under Your Spell (below)...

Talk about taking a simple element of an unheard of track and molding it into something that fits your sound to a T. The presence of electronic samples and instrumentation is something I hope continues throughout WZRD's debut studio album. Put it this way, if another @ratatat feature finds a way to surface on the album, I'll be one happy customer. One month til it drops, keep it locked her for more WZRD tracks and they become readily available on the information super highway...#NoSpeedLimit

WZRD - Teleport to Me, Jamie (prod by Dot da Genius)

|iTunes

K'naan feat Nelly Furtado - Is Anybody Out There?

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:07:00 +0000

I'll be the first to admit, I missed the bus on @knaan and haven't really heard much of his stuff other than Wavin' Flag. Being a Somali Canadian, poet, artist, instrumentalist, all it takes is one listen to understand he is all about making inspirational music that can bring people together. I can respect that and when I see artists like @Nas and @nellyfurtado showing up on his new More Beautiful Than Silence (EP), I'm going to start taking notice.

The clear standout track to me on the five song EP is his uplifting collabo with the aforementioned Nelly Furtado. It's been a while since I've heard her on a track and I gotta admit, it's more than a little refreshing. Nelly if you're out there, feel free and hook back up with @Timbaland for a few tracks. It'd be the best for all parties involved...#Understatement

Feel free and check out the lyric video put together by K'naan. It's a decent touch because it manages to be artistic without being too costly. I can dig that and you should dig this song, it's delightfully pop and make just leave you in a good mood if you let it...

K'naan feat Nelly Furtado - Is Anybody Out There?

|iTunes

"Gimme Dat, Gimme Dat Bass Bitch!"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:08:00 +0000

If it seems like I've been posting a new @thecataracs track every other day of late then all I have to say is you're welcome. Considering how they've taken artists like @devishot and @fareastmovement from relative obscurity to pop stars, there's little doubt in their ability to create fun, upbeat, trendy dance music. Below is their newest solo effort called Synthesizer, which they made an unoffical video for all you visual learners...

Anybody else appreciate how the blended in the dog barking to the end of the hook. Pretty creative in my opinions. No word on whether the track below will be a single, but it will presumably surface on their new studio album due on in March titled 12. If you're in the mood to rage to loud music or need a new one to play at the party for Super Bowl weekend, feel free and left click and drag to your newest iTunes playlist. Oh and on the subject of the Super Bowl I hope the Giants and Patriots both lose this weekend...somehow...whether it be a tie or Tom Brady just being too good looking to win or lose, I hope it happens...#TerribleMatchup

The Cataracs - Synthesizer

|iTunes

"Angels and Stars, Hear Them on the Radio"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:28:00 +0000

It seems like the theme of the week so far has been multi-talented people who just happened to be Hip Hop artists too. First it was @donaldglover who damn near moves mountains with his acting, writing and rapping career. Then is was @bigkrit who makes just as much of a living producing as he does rapping. Now it's time to get to know @EricTurner who is primarily a math teacher in an English school in Sweden, but is also an accomplished visual artist who just happens to write and perform music too. How did he get his break you ask? Well for starters he impressed an engineer in Sweden while performing with his bang Street Fighting Man. That engineer went and told his producer friend named @iSHi_2Stripes, who happens to have his own record label (2Stripes Music). Ishi must have been impressed because they ended up teaming up to write @tinietempah's #1 single Written in the Stars. You may have even wondered who that guy was belting out the ever so addictive hook on that track?

That my friends is Eric Turner and he's about embark on his own solo gig this year. The first step in that process is the breakthrough single below featuring Tinie Tempah and @lupefiasco with production from his PIC Ishi. The song is called Angels and Stars and is every bit as radio worthy and catchy as Written in the Stars. The track will be released sometime in mid-February and as soon as that iTunes link becomes a reality, you can bet I'll add it to this post. No word yet on what the debut album will be called, but you can bet I'll be posting more than just one track of his if he continues to put in work like he's been doin'. Consider this a warning shot before you begin hearing the track below every fifth song on top 40 radio...#BetDat

Eric Turner feat. Lupe Fiasco & Tinie Tempah - Angels & Stars (prod by Ishi)

|iTunes

Videos of the Week Jan 27th

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:04:00 +0000

Sort of a slow week for videos, but that didn't stop me from venturing off the beaten path in search of a few gems to post. I've already posted about how re-cot-damn-diculously good @MikePosner's latest mixtape The Layover was and the video below for my favorite track off the mixtape only serves to solidify my feelings about the mixtape as a whole. Still, the Hip Hop game has it a little twisted when @rickyrozay's latest tape (for example) was downloaded over 849,000 times compared to Mike's latest tape's 66,000. I get that Ross is the bigger name (no pun intended...seriously), but c'mon y'all, you can't tell me it was anywhere close to as solid as Mikey's effort.

Anyways, I'm really looking forward to @wizardcud's new rock album from his group WZRD. Feel free to peruse the official tracklist below and check out his full performance of Teleport 2 Me in Australia (below). I'll admit too, I was more than a little mildly entertained by the Bon Joviver mashup by @wearemoms. I'll also concede that I did laugh at their twitter handle and especially appreciated their sarcastically real reason of "Miracles of Modern Science won't fit in Twitter's name box." Have a good weekend y'all!

Mike Posner - A Perfect Mess (Video)

Kid Cudi Performing Teleport to Me in Australia

Florence and the Machine - Lover to Lover (Video)

Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid (Video)

Nappy Roots feat Khujo Goodie - Pete Rose (Video)

Bon Iver vs Bon Jovi = Miracles of Modern Science

"You Say Isn’t It Hard? Paddling Out, Paddling Out"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:30:00 +0000

I'll be the first to admit, I did a poor job of giving enough credit to @MiikeSnow for his self titled debut album. Like everyone else, I was impressed with tracks like Animal and Black and Blue. I like upbeat music in general, so despite my inability to properly slot Miike's music into a genre, I am not missing out on an opportunity to get people who read my blog excited about his new album.

The new effort, titled Happy to You, is going to drop on March 26th. Paddling Out will serve as the lead single. For all of you closely paying attention, you may have thought his latest track Devil's Work was his first single, but that didn't end up coming to fruition. Despite being dope in it's own right, it will take a backseat to the one below.

Another cool thing to note is that a group led by Miike, @lykkeliofficial and @peterbjorn recently formed INGRID records back in July. I can see the closeness in proximity with musical style between the three and the fact that they're all Swedish probably helps. Either way, I'm liking the uniqueness that they keep coming with and am seriously considering seeing Miike in concert when he turns eastward on his Happy to You tour...#SeeYaThere

Miike Snow - Paddling Out
|iTunes

"Rise of the Black Kings, Lions and the Pharaohs"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:49:00 +0000

The internet does not know much about @sunnicolon, but that won't stop me from giving him a shout out and posting one of his tracks. The cool thing is, if you're wanting to get to know him feel free and ask him a question on his website. In fact, recently he was asked who his top five favorite rappers are. In no particular order, he listed "Andre 3000, Phonte, Nas, Method Man, and Jay Z." Can't say I could offer a compelling argument to disclude any of those five, but I probably would have an entirely different list...#ToEachTheirOwn

Anyways before I go any further, I feel like it'd be a good move on your part to press play below and check out the visual version of Sunni's track Lost Tribe...

The march worthy pace of the percussion is hard to ignore and it gives the track an inspirational feel. Stylistically you could probably cut and paste Kanye with Sunni and not notice a change, which is pretty cool. Who needs a hook when you can go bar after bar for a full three minutes spitting not so subtly about various race issues. If I were a betting man, I'd feel comfortable putting my money on someone with the propensity for lyrical depth like Sunni is capable of. The sheer fact that he lists the items below to describe himself, leads me to believe there's some serious potential bubbling below the horizon.

Keep the newness comin' Sunni, I like what I'm hearing so far...

Sunni Colon - Lost Tribe

"We Buy Gold, Grams and O's"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:37:00 +0000

Yep, I'd say it's safe to say in my eyes @bigkrit has taken over Southern Hip Hop. No disrespect to @tip, seeing he is the King of the South, but K.R.I.T. can do it all. He's consistently putting together retro, UGK quality type beats that make me think of Pimp C every single damn time I hear one of his beats. Add to that, he can chip in a hook or verse and you've got yourself a triple threat that maybe only @JColeNC can rival.

Below is a video of him at work in studio with @dareal_8ball and @pimptypemjg as they lay down verses over his head nod worthy, Southern funk masterpiece.

Pretty cool hearing 8ball reminisce back to 1994 when he made the same type of music with the late Pimp C. If you're wondering where this track will land, you're in luck. Word has it 8ball is releasing a new mixtape titled Premro, which will be hosted by @iamdrumma and is due out soon. I bet you didn't even know 8ball's real name is Premro Smith, did you? That makes two of us, but it explains the title of the mixtape.

On another note, keep an eye out for K.R.I.T.'s debut studio album titled Live From the Underground due early 2012. My expectations are high, but with efforts like the one below, I should have very little to worry about...#Hype

8Ball & MJG feat Big K.R.I.T. - We Buy Gold (prod by Big K.R.I.T.)

"Fly So Much Call Me Mrs. Jetlag"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:04:00 +0000

It seems like everything @DEVisHOT touches these days finds a way to the top of my iTunes workout playlist. Lucky for her, @thecataracs believe in her skills enough to keep a steady supply of dancefloor worthy beats coming her way.

It appears we weren't the only ones who noticed as @timbaland has sought her out for a few potential future efforts. I say potential because both tracks below sound like demos or unfinished versions. What surprises me about Don't Hurt It is that Timbaland scored a feature rather than a production credit. I can't say it's unheard of though because they were both featured on @davidguetta's album together on a track. Still, the second track below sounds more like home with Timbo sporting a throwback, Timbaland/Magoo sounding beat on Jet Setting. No word yet on who the Jet Setting track is a demo for, but it should make waves if sculpted into an eventual single.

Shock Value III is due out in 2012 and I believe congrats are in order for Dev who just welcomed in her first child on December 9th, 2011. Apologies for the snippet below, you can bet if Jet Setting gets finished, you'll find it here.

Dev ft. Timbaland - Don't Hurt It (prod by The Cataracs)

Dev - Jet Setting (prod by Timbaland) (Snip)

Quicker Than a Lana Del Rey of Light

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Ya know that old saying, "There's no such thing as bad publicity?" That seems to be a common theme I've noticed this month as I've managed to find two likable new artists because someone seemingly "important" very vocally denounced them as artists. First it was @donaldglover, who I discovered because one of my favorite blogs Pigeons and Planes did a long winded reactionary post on Pitchfork giving his album Camp a 1.6 out of 10. Nothing screams "your album is awesome and I have a personal grudge against you and don't want you to succeed" than a 1.6 out of 10.

Now it seems the public has turned it's eye to an interesting young woman named @lanadelrey. How did I get wind of her you ask? Simply put it was because @bwilliams's thought her performance on Saturday Night Live was "one of the worst outings in SNL history." In case you missed it, feel free to watch her performances of Blue Jeans and Video Games. And here's a good summation of the degree that everyone went HAM on Lana after the performance.

So what's all the buzz about then? Well for starters, Elizabeth Lizzy Grant transformed into Lana Del Rey overnight and released the video below, which is now up to 21 million views...

Video Games was the beginning of people becoming curious of her for a lot of reasons. For one, she's got a female Johnny Cash thing going on with her slow, drawn out diction. On top of that, it'd be fair to say she's sort of girl next door cute and her throwback style perfectly aligns with her "Gangster Nancy Sinatra" image.

So why is everyone attacking her? That's a good question and I have a few theories. First off, she's sooo incredibly different than anything else out that many people are skeptical of her authenticity. From the millionaire parents to the intricately recreated persona, the super botoxed lips...it's easy to see why people are skeptical. Add to that the @kanyewest comparisons because of her dark, haunting song lyrics and slightly inflated self-confidence and you've got a bullseye starting to form her back. When you describe your own music by saying, “Think Nina Simone singing a Cat Power song over Lil Wayne’s track. It’s Sick.", then it can rub writers (whose job is to come up with these creative descriptions) the wrong way. It's like giving yourself a nickname before anybody really knows you...#OhWaitSheAlreadyDidThat

If you're wondering how I feel about Lana, the jury is still deliberating. Do I think her reincarnation as a new artist is interesting as hell and she is worthy of respect for bringing something different to the table? I'd say so, but let's all keep in mind that her debut album hasn't even hit stores yet. My hope is that you take a similar stance and wait to judge after you hear Born to Die, which is due out next Monday, Jan 31st. From an underdog perspective, I hope she shakes the haters and becomes the rose that grew from concrete. That being said, I really hope she isn't being forced down our throats because she has a Rebecca Black type backing both financially and creatively...#FridayWillNeverBeTheSame

Lana Del Rey - Video Games

|iTunes

Skylar Grey Flys Solo and Soars

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:39:00 +0000

Here's a simple math equation that may require a little bit of abstract thought:

@SkylarGrey - @LupeFiasco - @iamdiddy - @Eminem = ?

One might think that the equation above would have resulted in a negative number because of all that was subtracted from the equation. Not so fast my friend! #CorsoStyle My answer to that equation is "= a stripped down display of vocal brilliance."

I say that because Skylar isn't just your average, run of the mill, pretty face that can sing a hook. She's proven on both Invisible and Dance Without You that her debut album (that is supposedly set to feature Marilyn Manson) Invinsible is going to be one of the more hyped releases this year. A year ago I would have probably attributed a lot of her blowing up to the closeness in proximity to super producer @alexdakid. Sure his presence helps, but her talent as a vocalist goes waaaay beyond that.

It was a tough decision which of the three songs off her new Buried Sessions EP I should post because they're all great in their own respect. Still, something about Home churns up a whole lot of nostalgic memories that take me back to a time when life was a lot simpler...#ThoseWereTheDays

Skylar Grey - Home (Buried Sessions)

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Videos of the Week Jan 20

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Definitely went wide on my scope for videos this week as I managed to encompass a few videos that may have fallen beneath the radar this past week. Pretty cool watching @Yelawolf's journey with his Tide to the National Championship, as well as the in studio video of some of the quickest lyricists on the mic with @RealDjKayslay. If you haven't gotten a formal introduction to @Drake's right hand producer, I found it interesting hearing @OVO40 talk about how the Buried Alive (Interlude) with @kendricklamar came about. Lastly, if you haven't caught wind of the firestorm that is @lanadelrey, feel free to give her SNL performance a quick watch and see if you disliked it as much as Brian Williams. I'm only beginning to listen to her and she isn't half bad...or at least half as bad as you made her seem. I know we all love sarcasm via email, but in the world we live in, it's never safe to admit that emails are private. To everybody else throwing darts at Lana...#StopHatin

Lana Del Rey Performs Video Games on SNL

Nicki Minaj - Stupid Hoe (Video)

Yelawolf LSU vs Alabama Webisode

DJ Kay Slay f. Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Twista & Jaz-O -- 60 Second Assassins (Video)

Bei Maejor - Mesmerized (Video)

B.O.B. feat Future & Trae Da Truth - How Bout Dat (Video)

Drake's Right Hand Man 40 Talks Kendrick Lamar's Buried Alive Interlude

Cthulhu is Back With a Vengeance

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

It's not everyday you get a haunting new beat from @deadmau5 via Twitter.

Beginning with the haunting synths, the track has takes on an eerie vibe. Like any respectable electo-dance track, the beat picks up and gets pretty loud, almost as if Cthulhu is emerging from his lair. Who doesn't like a scary demonic monster themed song ever now and again? #NerdySide

Oh you haven't heard of Cthulhu? Well then I'd suggest reading The Call of Cthulhu, which was written by H.P. Lovecraft and published pretty recently in 1928. If you're wondering just what in the hell Cthulhu actually is, he's "an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature....A pulpy, tentacled head surmounted a grotesque scaly body with rudimentary wings." How cool is that?

Feel free and add this to your weightlifting and road rage playlists...#LetsRage

Deadmau5 - Cthulhu Dreams

"Made the Beat Then Murdered it, Casey Anthony"

noreply@blogger.com (GWDJ) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:41:00 +0000

"I always wanted to get picked on the cool team

But alone is exactly how I should be"

First of all I want a show of hands if you have heard the name Donald Glover. Maybe you've seen him on Community as Troy Barnes? Or you may know him as a talented writer for 30 Rock? Not ringing a bell yet? What about as a writer for the Daily Show? Stop me if you're not impressed yet because I haven't even gotten to the music yet.

In an attempt to put a neat little bow on the intro paragraph, feel free and check out the five minute feature Forbes magazine did on @donaldglover as one of their 30 disrupters under 30...

Acting, writing and rapping...can anybody think of someone else who has done that? Alright, I'm not going THAT far to compare him to @drake, but between the two I'm learning what type of Hip Hop I value most. I like Hip Hop that is provocative, creative, funny, witty and well thought out. That's why I enjoy rappers like @crookedintriago, @joebudden and Notorious B.I.G. to name a few. Sure they say some messed up, crazy shit at times, but there's meaning behind what they say and their lyrics are consistently a step ahead of what your brain is able to process while listening. Lyrical depth is when you listen to a track ten times and on the 11th you finally understand a line that was previously nonsense.

Why did I just go off on a long tangent about Hip Hop with meaning? Because I'm getting a strong sense that Childish Gambino embodies just about every characteristic I covet in a Hip Hop artist. I'd describe him as a mix between Tyler, The Creator (says f'ed up things like "Or you can fuckin’ kiss my ass, Human Centipede"), Fredro Star of ONYX (delivery on Bonfire reminds me of Fredro on verse 1 of Slam) and a mix of Kanye West/Kid Cudi (has slightly dark, introspective thoughts like "Sometimes I feel like I ain't supposed to be here, Sometimes I wake up, I don't want to be here"). Give a listen to his high powered lead single off of his debut album, Camp and feel free to judge the comparisons...

Childish Gambino - Bonfire

No holds barred is a good way to describe Bonfire, but don't form your opinion without giving my favorite track of his a listen. I say that because there's a chance you listened to Bonfire and heard enough weird vulgar references to get turned off like I did when I first listened to @fucktyler.

Instead of a lyrical rampage, on All the Shine you can expect a full on display of styles, tempos and emotions that make the complicated Childish Gambino great. From the dramatic beat build that leads into a triumphant instrumental, you can feel a palpable energy snowball rolling downhill. Between the witty rhymes ("that's why i come first like my cell phone"), to the justification of saying stupid provocative sh** on the track, to the surprisingly melodic and catchy hook, the track has much to offer. Even better, he shows off a vulnerable side on the last verse as he wonders about his fate in Hip Hop aloud and even questions his existence in a very Cudi manor. I really don't know why I find depressing introspective diatribes so interesting, but I'm thinking that it comes from being amazed with a rapper's ability to switch gears and be two polar opposites all in one track (confident and vulnerable).

As I listen to his album more and more I'm a little angry at myself for being late to the party. Sure his album was released mid-November and is only two months old, but still, not one single listen from ya boy until this week. What's even crazier is the wide range of reviews Camp received by various music outlets. They ranged from really favorable (4 out of 5 cigs from the TSS Crew) to downright awful (Pitchfork...seriously @sexyresults?? a 1.6/10...smmfh #credibilityLoss). I'll side with @The_TSS_TC and the @TSSCrew's infinite wisdom because Donald Glover can do no wrong with anything he does of late and that most definitely INCLUDES music...#DebatablyClassicDebut

Childish Gambino - All the Shine

|iTunes