My friday five posts back when I first started blogging were extremely popular (in fact my hosting was routintely shut down for exceeding bandwidth with my direct link mp3s) but it’s been a while since I’ve posted a five. I’ve decided to do my best to bring it back week after week (it’ll be much easier with all of the sharing services that have come into play over the past two years).
Granted, everyone has a blog these days, and when a new track hits the internet, it’s not a problem to find it. My purpose here isn’t to just hit you over the head with five new tracks, but rather five tracks that I’ve kept in rotation throughout the week (the cream of the crop if you will). After all, you don’t have time to sift through every song that drops, so why not just grab five quality joints and keep it movin?
On to the music…
[audio:glow.mp3]
Jake One – Glow (ft. Elzhi and Royce da 5’9″) – This is from White Van Music, Jake’s highly anticipated album which features A list emcees paired with your indy favorites, all over Jake’s bangin’ beats. Jake has become one of my favorite producers over the past few years, and I think it all started when I heard “Rock Co. Kane Flow” by De La Soul and “Hate My Face” by Supastition. Pair stellar production with the insane flows of Elzhi and Royce and you’ve got a winner with this track
[audio:pocketbook.mp3]
Jennifer Hudson – Pocketbook (ft. Ludacris) – I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of Jennifer Hudson, and it mostly has nothing to do with her, and everything to do with lackluster production. This, however, is an exception to the rule. Co-produced by Timbaland and Jim Beanz, this joint has a swing that could only come from someone who was born in, or has extensively lived in the south. Sometimes keeping things bare and uncluttered brings out the boom.
[audio:stayup_viagra.mp3]
88 Keys – Stay Up (Viagra!) – Producer 88 Keys has been making noise on the indy circuit for a few years now, and has a full length album dropping shortly, titled The Death Of Adam. According to a few interviews the entire album is a storyline. Definitely wanna check this joint out. Sidenote: some of you may remember this track from Kanye’s mixtape last year, but it has been redone since then. Stay up!
[audio:daykeeper.mp3]
Foreign Exchange – Daykeeper (ft. Musinah) – I can’t tell you how much I’m anticipating this album. “Connected” is one of my favorite albums of the past few years, and I must have kept that in my daily rotation for MONTHS after it’s release. Funny thing, even though Nicolay lives in NC now, these two still email all the studio files back and forth, ha!
[audio:thecomeup.mp3]
Fortilive – The Come Up – This is one of those joints that just hits you upside the head. Illmind surely put it down on production (this one BANGS) and Slo Mo and Mushmouf put their energy into the rhymes. This is some new age west coast stuff right here. Fortilive’s album is slated to be released soon, and you can actually catch the video for this joint HERE.
There you are, five quality tracks. Hope your ipod (or suitable alternative) is happy!
