.
Maybe y’all learn suttin.
[cues Cassidy]

I could sell Raid to a bug. I’m a hustla. I could sell salt to a slug.
Big ups 2 Sarah St. Lifer for the interview!

Sweden has always been a hotspot for bubbly, melodic fun: from Robyn and producer Max Martin to ABBA,

The video, which features the singer in tribal makeup and what appears to be Charles Manson’s beard around her neck, is the stuff of late-night art school experimentation, like Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is In The Heart” under a Wiccan spell. With its wolf calls and slapping drum echoes, and elements of R&B and dance, the song itself is the perfect backdrop for a go-go dancing rave witch like Zhala to enter the pop sphere with. I speak to the Swedish-born startup on Interview here.

WORLD PREMIERE: “It’s On” - R.Kelly
(Feat. DJ Khaled & Ace Hood)

Hide ya kids. Kells is home.

View the tracklist after the jump…

1. Bei Maejor – Iced Tee (Intro) / Don’t Stop
2. Kalenna (Feat. Chizzy) – Feeling Good
3. Ja Rule (Feat. Anita Louise & Queen) – Real Life Fantasy
4. Aaron Camper – Water Runs Dry
5. Mann (Feat. Trev Case & Clyde Carson) – Freak Bitch
6. Fat Joe (Feat. Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Fabolous & Kirko Bangz) – Another Round (Remix)
7. Mann (Feat. Ty$, Buddy & Bobby Brackins) – Cheeks On My Meat
8. Sir Michael Rocks (Feat. Like) – Chill
9. Dorrough Music (Feat. Lil’ Duval & Yung Nation) – Maury Show
10. Teyana Taylor (Feat. Honey Cocaine) – Bad Boy
11. Dawn Richard – Faith
12. Kalenna – 6,000 Sistas
13. N.O.R.E. (Feat. Raekwon & Styles P) – Google That
14. French Montana (Feat. Jadakiss, Styles P, Red Cafe, Fat Joe & Uncle Murda) – Shot Caller (Fraud Remix)
15. Lloyd Banks – Wake Up (Outro)

Download link 

Cover image by Jackson Moad

SONG OF THE SUMMER
considerations start now…


WORLD PREMIERE, Pt. I: “Goldie” – A$AP Rocky

WORLD PREMIERE, Pt. II: “Big Hoops (Bigger The Better)” -
Nelly Furtado

WORLD PREMIERE, Pt. III: “Bent Up” -
Verse Simmonds (Feat. Natasha Morgan)

WORLD PREMIERE: “Baby Girl” – N.O.R.E. (Feat. Cassie)

As Cassie‘s finishing up work on her sophomore album,
she sets some slither-y springtime flames to Superthug‘s latest mixtape track.
Smoove would be an understatment…

“When people aren’t used to something, they’re afraid of it—and naturally you hate something before you love it,” muses Kalenna Harper on the intro to her first solo mixtape released last month, Chamber of Diaries. That’s exactly the reception her major-label, electro-infused debut, Last Train To Paris, by hip-hop/R&B trio Diddy-Dirty Money, got when it was finally released after name-changes and numerous pushbacks at the end of 2010.

“I was never signed to Bad Boy [Records],” the singer (who goes by simply Kalenna) explains. “My contract was [solely] to work with Diddy-Dirty Money. Since then, I’ve just been in the studio writing and working on my next moves.” If her Diaries hint at what’s to come from the Altanta native, the next steps are bold ones. The 17-track free download released online, much like her efforts with Diddy-Dirty Money—and later with DDM bandmate and former Danity Kane member, Dawn Richard—is genre-defying yet tightly produced with elements of chromatic hip-hop, sleek, refined R&B, and infectious electro-pop. Unlike the catchy confections of current American chart-topping pop stars led by hitmakers Dr. Luke, RedOne and David Guetta (Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj), Kalenna’s music is darker. She worked with Timbaland-collaborator Ryan Tedder, Rodney Jerkins, D’Mile, Firstborne and Shakespeare. The result is much less Jersey Shore fist-pump and more ambient house.

The heavily introspective record provides Kalenna with the perfect platform to let those weary of Diddy-Dirty Money’s futuristic eclecticism come correct and learn exactly who the singer is. “The concept is raw, truthful emotion…I tell the truth in my music. I don’t sugarcoat anything documenting my life.” Just hear fervent Danjahandz-like stunners, “Poison” or “Pain & Alcohol”, and you’ll witness this raw, reflective R&B paired with scratching, at times, violent techno backdrops for yourself. Chamber of Diaries also gives space to explore Kalenna’s clever songwriting. On one of the mixtape’s few, fully rapped tracks, “6,000 Sistas,” she even coins her own term for cash. “’Sistas,’ in simple terms, is money. The phrase came from an inside joke with my friends and I. If you look at the Presidents on money, they’re all dressed in wigs and makeup, so, we just started calling them ‘sistas,” she dishes.

“Grace Jones is a big influence for me,” Kalenna says of her visual aesthetic. “Her style is very intriguing and speaks to who I am in many ways.”

Sonically, she has been compared to Brandy and Grace Jones herself (with whom she worked with on a Diddy-Dirty Money track). By refusing to be pigeonholed by genre, she explores territory many artists only begin to face in their late careers. “If I need to sing to get my point across or if I need to rap to do it, I will,” she asserts, holding true to the sound she’s developed over her still young career. And that’s what makes her independently-released mix such a hit. But Kalenna is no indie artist, which is perhaps why she’s relatively unknown to many ears. While Pitchfork readers are busy debating the latest Diplo leak, Kalenna’s putting out wildly appealing music that many times ends up only being heard by late-night hip-hop blog sifters. The mixtape’s stalled at only 6,200 downloads on DatPiff.com—a true crime, since her music could, much like Missy Elliott’s before her, find a home between the ears of a much broader, more discerning audience.

Download the free mix HERE.

View more photos of the singer
by Shikeith Cathey on V here.

2012

find Monica’s own upd8 here

“Upside Down” – Diana Ross

find more track anatomy‘s here. 

Celebrating my girl Cassie‘s “King Of Hearts”
single and video release at SL…
If you haven’t already viewed the video: be ashamed…
and watch below.

 Buy the single on iTunes now!

[anyone spot me in the back lookin' mad oogly?]


GOIN’ DUMB IN DA CLUB

A Lesson in FlyteTyme…

1. “Control” – Janet Jackson

2. “Tell Me If You Still Care” – S.O.S. Band

3. “If The Kid Can’t Make You Come” – The Time

4. “Human” – Human League

5. “Diamonds” – Herb Alpert (Feat. Janet Jackson)

Finally…excited to give you the full new single from my girl, Cassie.
More Cassie on S&M here. Full video premieres on VDay.

Damn. That bass could kill a man.
Miguel is back and serving up some serious Gaye-ness.
New LP drops February 27th.

photos courtesy of b. akerlund

2012 

Find more G-Side on the mixtape here. 

With unreleased and under-the-radar productions by Jake One, TeeCee8400, Sam Frank, Block Beattaz, & Big K.R.I.T., and appearances by Cassie, Young L, Jadakiss, G-SIDE, Kush Kloud Klan, Azealia Banks, GLC, Frank Ocean, Monica, and Mya (YES! Mya), it’ll be hard to sit still. Setting the stage with newcomer Emeli Sande’s “Heaven” and ending things off on a less bombastic note with Rich Kidz’s hilariously flat “Why Us”, the palette’s broad yet distinctly S&M. Intended to induce road rage, cause 9 car pileups and hydroplane bitches – there’s a track for every mood. Grimey, gutter, galactic, pulsating, percolating, symphonic, and streetwise - Last Cab To Midtown plays on Dirty Money‘s Last Train To Paris eclecticism… without all the release date delays. ‘Cause we wanna get there already, MF! The meter ain’t stoppin’ anytime soon.

Sample the intro below via the soundcloud widget… 

…click the link below to download the .zip file…

Smoke & Mirrors presents…
The Blog Made Me Do It, Vol. 5: Last Cab To Midtown
 An MH Mixtape

…view tracklist after the jump…

1 Um.azing (Intro) / Heaven – Emeli Sande
2  Where You From? – Phil Ade (Feat. Fat Trel)
3 Same Reason – Young L
4 Rain Dance – Freeway
5 Atmosphere – G-SIDE (Feat. PH)
6 Fuck You Too – Planet VI (Feat. 2 Chainz & Jarren Benson)
7 Pixelated People – Jess Mills
8 Almost There – Kush Kloud Klan (Feat. Rihanna)
9 Jacuzzi (Lost In The Vapors) – Chiddy Bang
10 Liquorice – Azealia Banks
11 24 Eight – G-SIDE
12 Fone Sex (Interlude)
13 Ain’t My Business – Ty$ (Feat. Problem & TeeCee8400)
14 I Ain’t Trying 2 Hear It – Dirtbag (Feat. Monica)
15 Give Me Your Love – Square Off
16 Sweet Love – Juvenile (Feat. Mannie Fresh)
17 Yoko (Remix) – Big K.R.I.T. (Feat. Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, & Berner)
18 I Ball – GLC
19 Oh Me – Young L (Feat. Imogen Heap)
20 Thirsty – Cassie
21 Louis V Bag – Vado (Feat. The Weeknd)
22 Reppin’ Ma City (Interlude) – Bobby Brackins (Feat. Mann)
23 Mess Up My Hair – Mya
24 Always Come Back – Square Off (Feat. The-Dream)
25 Hooked On You – Square Off (Feat. Remo)
26 Best Seller – Frank Ocean
27 Gone Away – Joe (Feat. Pharrell)
28 In The Streets – Jadakiss
29 Make Your Move – Teyana Taylor (Feat. Wale)
30 Get Me Down (Interlude) – Blawan
31 Bedroom Swag – Ron Browz (Feat. Maino)
32 Fast Car – PRGz
33 Devilish Things – Crishan
34 Sing A Lil’ Song, Pt. 2 – Bei Maejor
35 We Wrong – Marcus Manchild (Feat. Slim Thug)
36 All Over The Place (Interlude) – DJ Sober
37 Satellites – A.Dd+
38 Back Der – Brianna
39 Fuck It, I’m Gone… – Tinie Tempah (Feat. J.Warner)
40 Why Us (Outro) – Rich Kidz (Feat. Rich Lady)
41 Lighters Up (Finale) – Sterling Simms

I do not work for anyone featured. These tracks were not recorded for this compilation. I do not claim ownership for any track, only the collection. For promotional use only, support the artists. Cover design courtesy of Jackson Moad. 

…..

View last year’s track list here and this past year’s best albums here.
50 to 1 – GO!

50 “Lovely” – John West (Feat. Pusha T)
49 “Only Wanna Give It To You” – Elle Varner (Feat. J.Cole)
48  ”Rumour Has It” – Adele
47 “Motivation” – Kelly Rowland
46 “Nasty” – Nas
45 “Rolex” – Terius Nash
44 “Dust” – Frank Ocean
43 “Trouble” – Bei Maejor (Feat. J.Cole)
42 “Be The One” – Lloyd (Feat. Trey Songz & Young Jeezy)
41 “Why I Love You” – Kanye West & Jay-Z (Feat. Mr. Hudson)
40 ”End of Time” – Beyonce
39 “That’s My Bitch” – Kanye West & Jay-Z
38 “Lay It On Me” – Kelly Rowland (Feat. Big Sean)
37 ”High” – Big Sean (Feat. Wiz Khalifa & Chiddy)
36 “212″ – Azaelia Banks
35 “Tony Montana” — Future (Feat. Drake)
34 “Best Luv Song” – T-Pain (Feat. Chris Brown)
33 “Blue Sky” – Common
32 “1977 (Miss You Still)” – Terius Nash
31 “Big Girl Big City” – Bei Maejor
30 “Lift Off” – Kanye West & Jay-Z (Feat. Beyonce)
29 “Practice” – Drake
28 “Otis” – Kanye West & Jay-Z
27 “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay” – Big Sean (Feat. Kanye West)
26 “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj (Feat. Ester Dean)
25 “Rotation” – Big K.R.I.T.
24 “Gas” – Kush Kloud Klan
23 “Songs For Women” – Frank Ocean
22 “Lighters Up” – Sterling Simms
21 “I’m On One” – DJ Khaled (Feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil’ Wayne)
20 “The Party and The After Party” – The Weeknd
19 “Earthquake” – Labrinth (Feat. Tinie Tempah)
18 “Freaks and Geeks” – Childish Gambino
17 ”Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
16 “No Church In The Wind” – Kanye West & Jay-Z
(Feat. Frank Ocean & The-Dream)
15 “Ghetto” – Terius Nash (Feat. Big Sean)
14 “Headlines” – Drake
13 “ADHD” – Kendrick Lamar
12 “Dedication to My Ex (Miss That)” – Lloyd (Feat. Andre 3000 & Lil’ Wayne)
11 “Celebration” – Black Rob
10 “Who You Are” – Jessie J
09 “Look At Me Now” – Chris Brown (Feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil’ Wayne)
08 “Love Crimes” – Frank Ocean
07 “Long Gone” – Terius Nash
06 “Marvin’s Room” – Drake
05 “Sutphin Boulevard” – Blood Orange
04 “Call Your Girlfriend” – Robyn
03 “Atmosphere” – G-SIDE (Feat. PH)
02 “Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed & Encouraging Racism” – Big K.R.I.T.
01 “Swim Good” – Frank Ocean

Find more Miss Jackson on the blog here.

In today’s #Occupy landscape, independent Huntsville, Alabama rap duo G-Side might make the most relevant hip-hop music out there. Have a listen to iSLAND, their latest LP 

While Clova still cuts hair for cash on the side (while listening to himself on NPR, naturally), he admits, he’d still like to go “major” someday. And that day may come sooner than later, if iSLAND is any indication. Hit up Interview Magazine to read my full chat with the working half of underground hip-hop’s best-kept secret…