It’s been quite some time since M.I.A. released any new tracks, and I’m glad to see she’s back to her old self. Not taking herself too seriously, “Bad Girls” showcases M.I.A.’s world music and hip hop influence and laid-back flow.
Regardless of a completely insane person (like taking a limousine to collect his welfare check while he still had an album in the Top-10), the ODB was unstoppable in the 90s. Even after numerous arrests that concluded in jail time, getting shot on multiple occasions, and (not really) taking care of his 13 children, Ol’ Dirty Bastard is still regarded as a legend of hip hop. “Got Your Money” was his highest-charting (solo) single, and featured Kelis (who would later do that stupid “Milkshake” song) and production by The Neptunes (who, as both producers and two-thirds of N.E.R.D., would continue to kick-ass for eternity).
The video for “Got Your Money” is basically 4-plus minutes of the 70s blaxploitation film, Dolemite, with a wigged ODB and Kelis mixed in. Dirt McGirt, you will be missed.
Our favorite Philly diva, Santigold, is back with a new single (and a ridiculously 90s-quality video). “Big Mouth” offers Santigold’s signature world music-meets-new wave sound, and she even takes a jab at Lady Gaga (in the video a Lady Gaga-like mermaid is eaten by a cartoon tiger… excellent!). It’s good to know after 2+ years without releases, Santigold is bringing back the flavor.
Look out for a new album this Spring.
We’re reaching pretty far back into the Outkast catalog with this one, but ATLiens (the album) was Outkast’s first true taste of chart-topping success. “ATLiens” (the song) is still considered one of their best tracks (and one of my personal favorites). It came out when Outkast was still putting out laid-back southern jams with slick flows.
Now, if only the rumors of an upcoming Outkast reunion (and album) ring true, we’ll all be sayin’ “Oh-yay-yerr”
Hot on the heels of At The Drive-In announcing a comeback after 11 years of silence, they are listed among the artists playing this year’s Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California.
I’m extremely pumped about this year’s line-up, not only because of my love for At The Drive-In, but Justice, Radiohead, Avicii, Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys, a Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg collab set, and Santigold will all be there. Not to mention Madness and Jimmy Cliff (some favorites from my rude-boy days).
And I wouldn’t put it passed Coachella to announce some huge surprise headliner the closer we get to the festival in April (i.e. Prince a few years ago). My predictions? Daft Punk, My Morning Jacket, Kanye West/Jay-Z collab.
EDIT: This is a TWO-WEEKEND event. I have no idea what the schedule of bands will look like, or if each band will perform each weekend. This does complicate things for those who won’t be able to stay in California at the end of April for a full week.
Tim Berg (aka Avicii) blew up in 2011 with his hit “Levels.” He’s been busy running the festival circuit this past summer with his insane live sets, creating a ridiculous music video for “Levels,” and being sampled by Flo Rida for his song “Good Feeling” (which would become a club hit in its own right).
Chicago duo Flosstradamus seem to have left behind their mash-ups and pop tracks to move into some more electronic/house flair, and it’s sounding pretty good, thus far. “Total Recall” is supposed to be a showcase of the new direction they’re heading in. At 3 and 1/2 minutes, the song hits hard and pulsates with a grinding beat and infinite hand claps. The song has already hit #1 on the Hype Machine lists. RAGE.
We have no shame in letting you know just how much we love Wallpaper. They’re songs are ridiculously silly, but insanely infectious. Let’s take their latest release, “Blake Griffinin.” It’s about Clippers forward and ESPN highlight poster-boy Blake Griffin, and how awesome he is. I’m pretty sure “Blake Griffinin” is just another way of saying you are kicking ass, or going hard, or something. It doesn’t really matter because the track is dope (it already hit #1 on the Hype Machine “Popular” list) and Wallpaper never fails.
For anyone that knows me, you know I never pass up anything MJ, and The Weeknd’s cover of “Dirty Diana” is just fantastic. It’s darker and heavier than the original, and that’s really saying something. The Canadian producer reworks the tone to sound more like the track was recorded in an industrial steel mill. Hammers are banging, things are crashing into each other; it’s what you’d imagine if Michael Jackson had teamed up with Trent Reznor.
I was racking my brain trying to decide on what song to use for this week’s Throwback Thursday. At first, I thought I should do a Christmas song since it’s the holiday season, but then I thought, nope, I gotta keep the cold season hot with some R&B. (Also, we put out an entire Christmas mixtape last year)
For some reason, Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” has been stuck in my head. Maybe it’s the completely ludicrous premise of this guy getting caught cheating on his girlfriend FRIGGIN’ EVERYWHERE IN THE HOUSE. I mean, seriously, after getting caught so many times, eventually you would think, “Maybe we should get a hotel room or something.” And his only defense against her catching him? “It wasn’t me.” Problem. Solved.
At least RikRok’s vocals are audible. Shaggy just spouts out some incoherent babble with a Jamaican accent.
The video is even more insane. RikRok is trying to escape his girlfriend and her assassin lady-friends, just so he can keep banging his neighbor. And apparently Shaggy is a James Bond villain, decked out in a silk purple smoking jacket.
But no matter how silly this song is, guys and girls alike would (and still do) get down and dirty when this track comes on. There’s nothing like some adultery and a Jamaican accent to get the ladies riled up!
