Category: Music

A$AP Rocky :: LiveLoveA$AP Mixtape

LIVE.LOVE.ASAP Mixtape Cover

Meet A$AP Rocky. Harlem kid with a Houston sound. New York’s identity crisis lives on… Me and the fellas had a healthy debate on twitter as to the state of NY rap given AR’s unabashed “foreign” influence. Its clear that NY’s transition from the traditional gritty, lyric-centric style of the boom-bap era to the swagged-out fashion driven focus of the new youth movement has been an uneasy one. But Hov said it best, “you can’t stop it, when it’s hot, it’s hot.” And as much it pains me to say it, as impressed as I am with the kid’s wordplay, its his “and what?!” Harlem SWAG that won me over *hic-throws up in mouth* Although his style most closely resembles the LA youth movement on the surface, he goes out of his way to let you know he’s a NYC kid out the gate on his breakout record Peso, “I be that pretty muthafcuka, Harlem’s what I’m reppin!…” And for the old heads that still question his allegiance, the visuals for the record features those old NY staples we know and love – Tims, alley way dice games, street sign chin-ups and corner store crew shots, the whole 9. Standing on his own two for most of the album besides a few appearances from lesser talented A$AP bredren and the criminally slept on Schoolboy Q, LiveLoveA$AP is a great listen if you simply let it do what it dew.

Download

Live.Love.A$AP Mixtape

The Stuyvesants :: The Finer Things

If you’ve seen me on the 2 train recently makin’ the mean yuck face that wasn’t me working on my Brooklyn bull stare…there’s a good chance I was listening to a beat by The Stuyvesants. The Brooklyn-based production/design duo – comprised of Allan Cole and Darien Victor Birks – just released their new instrumental LP The Finer Things and I’ll be damned if it don’t have more soul than mama’s finest pair of platform shoes. These brothas have been quietly releasing quality material for a minute. Be it collaborations with independent artists like Naturel or their debut production effort Brooklyn’s Finest. Their soul sampled sound is a welcome respite from the synthesized hip-pop sound we hear on the day to day. But don’t take my word for it, get a sample of that flava yourself. Here are a few of my faves…

via The Audacity of Color

Girl, He Ain’t Me
[audio:http://www.duepayer.com/thelife/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stuyvesants-girlheaintme.mp3|titles=The Stuyvesants – Girl, He Ain’t Me]

Tough Love
[audio:http://www.duepayer.com/thelife/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stuyvesants-toughlove.mp3|titles=The Stuyvesants – Tough Love]

Yearning (For Your Love)
[audio:http://www.duepayer.com/thelife/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stuyvesants-yearning.mp3|titles=The Stuyvesants – Yearning (For Your Love)]

Over (Now That She’s Leaving)
[audio:http://www.duepayer.com/thelife/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/stuyvesants-over.mp3|titles=The Stuyvesants – Over (Now That She’s Leaving)]

Downloads

The Finer Things, Vol. 1
The Finer Things, Vol. 2

Cocaine 80s :: Ghost Lady

Cocaine 80s - Ghost Lady EP cover

If I had to throw this record into a genre, I’d have to say its just “dope” music. That’s if you let them tell it, and well, with a name like Cocaine 80’s I’d say its a pretty apt description. The No I.D. helmed music collective recently dropped their new EP Ghost Lady, laced with moody alternative grooves, not quite emo and slightly reminiscent of the Weekend (save the rapping). For those of you allergic to guitars and in need of some bars, maybe this Common collabo will pique your interest enough to take another hit. Either way, you’d be a fool not to get yourself a taste of this ear candy. You can either tweet to pay or get your fix straight from the source here. Enjoy that high.

Tomorrow

[audio:http://www.duepayer.com/thelife/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cocaine80s-tomorrow.mp3|titles=Cocaine 80s – Tomorrow]

Not No More

[audio:http://www.duepayer.com/thelife/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cocaine80s-notnomore.mp3|titles=Cocaine 80s – Not No More]

via Okayplayer

Sintex Era :: Hands to the Aether

Lately I’ve been really getting back into music. I don’t know what it is. Maybe its the good vibes of summer or just that people are pumping out a log of quality music these days. Either way, I figured I’d share a couple of joints that I’ve been diggin in the hope that you’ll feel it too. This one is from the homie Sintex Era. We actually slave at the same plantation and I’ve been asking about his new project for a minute. Finally took the time to look him up and caught wind of this joint. Wasn’t mad at all. Some real underground, Raw94 type ish. Give it a listen…

I’ve never been a mad rapper;
I’m just a pissed off college educated brat bastard
…that’s a rapper.