Truthfully, somewhat of a forgettable update for me cuz I’m not really diggin’ a lot of the NEW trax; however, Royce Da 5′9″ comes thru with a very respectable hip hop track over a real nice DJ Premier beat! His rhymes are clear and fast, yet you’re still able 2 follow them on 1st listen. Down below, Beyoncé comes thru with her first 2 official singles off her next album, I Am… (I’ve also seen that the album will be called Virtuoso, but idk which it is for sure..?). They are actually really great songs for the ladies, especially the slow jam “If I Were A Boy”, but as the titles of the songs suggest, guys like me can’t really relate and put the song on repeat, haha. I know that Mrs. Carter’s female fans will LOVE those singles tho as it also warrants mentioning that the “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” track is her club banger single. Finally, peep the various trax and videos below and u’ll prolly find somethin’ u like. Enjoy!
Here’s an update primarily with a lot of HOT R&B for ya ears, starting off with a couple trax from Mario. “Inside Of You” is a real nice slow jam where Mario’s voice shines over the beat. It keeps with the theme in many of these R&B tracks that the strongest part of the song is the lyrics. I’m definitely feelin’ the lyrics from the 2 Mario trax above and the other *Tibs Favs.™ below, but it may not last because whether it is an uptempo or slow beat, I was not completely wowed by any of them. That said tho, a lot of lyrics here that just sum up the feelings of any type of situation that you may be able 2 relate 2 and that is perhaps the biggest appeal of the R&B genre 2 me. There’s also some hip hop below with another Empire-laden T.I. track, Cassidy, & a 50 Cent snippet! Be sure 2 scroll down for the “Love Lockdown” video premiere that Max G. beat me 2 and some Jeff Pak artwork and the return of The Five One! Enjoy!
***2:00PM - Just added this Kanye West feature below…***
FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming album, Stick 2 The Script *Tibs Fav.
Consequence Freestyle & Interview
A lot of Consequence for ya eyes and ears 2day, with a real nice feature from him as the feature track! He’s one of the most underrated lyricists in the game and he brings it on not only the track, but also the freestyle in the video above (after the interview). The Ben Franklin / Kite (Kyte) line is great. Don’t sleep on Cons and check out his OFFICIAL blog HERE! Below, a couple solid R&B trax from established singers, Mario & Johnta Austin, with super producers Scott Storch and Bryan-Michael Cox. There’s also a couple Young Jeezy and LL Cool J videos below as well as one of the sexiest covers I’ve seen in a while as Ciara poses naked (can’t see her goodies.. yes, pun intended) for Vibe. Wow. Enjoy!
FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming album, The Mitchell Report*Tibs Fav.™
Here we are again with some more NEW trax for ya ears, with the latest from Chi-Town’s Twista (shouts 2 Andrew) and he is back with the same ridiculously fast, twisted Chicago flow we are all accustomed 2. Idk if it really shouts “1st single” but it’s certainly a solid track with a nice message dealing w/ relationships, basically summarized by the sample in the chorus. Down below, more sickness from Joe Budden thx 2 J.D. and another track that I’m really feelin’ on 1st listen by R&B singer, Mario! It’s got a fast, yet not annoying Jazze Pha beat (sometimes his productions get repetitive) and the lyrics are a good one and Mario’s got one of the more pleasing voices in the game. Finally, a couple video premieres for ya eyes n ears w/ “Don’t Turn Back” by Colby O’Donis, which coincidentally is a track that’s finally growing on me. While the video is nothin special, it is a cool one featuring some dancing and a very sexy brunette that Colby steals from a dude with a rough goatee, haha. The other video premiere - young up and coming R&B singer Karina Pasian w/ “Can’t Find The Words”, more proof that she could be something very special for years 2 come. Enjoy!
Producer: Scott Storch (unconfirmed) - FULL, CDQ, Supposed track off upcoming album, Paper Trail *Tibs Fav.™
**BONUS**
T.I. Speaks
NEW T.I.!!! I’m always excited 2 hear a new track from the King of the South and he doesn’t disappoint with this supposed track off his upcoming album, Paper Trail. It again explores the recent, developing legal troubles in his life, not in detail, but his experiences are certainly illustrated in his lyrics. The cliche that ‘tomorrow will be a better day’ echos throughout a catchy chorus, over a nice Scott Storch beat (unconfirmed since I’ve seen it credited 2 Storch on the Paper Trail wikipedia page, but sometimes it’s right.) Regardless, this song might not appeal 2 ur ear on first listen as a whole, but take a few listens because, likewise with “No Matter What”, “A Better Day” will prove 2 grow on me even more and maybe u as well! It’s not first single material (and won’t be the first single), but rather a meaningful track with some depth that could prove 2 be a standout track on the album without a ton of mainstream appeal, a la “My Type” on T.I. Vs. T.I.P.. Also above, check out a lil’ video of T.I. speaking out about his personal experiences and recent events, which is an interesting watch. And below, another NEW track - this one a solid one by Killa Cam! Enjoy!
Oh yeh, I wanted 2 re-use that lounging pic of T.I. from earlier in the week on the top of a post. Didn’t kno I would be using it so soon, but that is 1 fly pic, haha!
Another HUGE update for ya (sry, going 2 be inconsistent w/ timely updates the next few days…) with the feature track being the HOT, Swizz Beatz-produced?, RMX of Alicia Keys’ latest single “Teenage Love Affair” featuring LL Cool J! LL’s male perspective definitely adds 2 this song that was lyrically brilliant in the first place. Another big RMX below is from Usher for his latest single “Moving Mountains” featuring Hood Fella. Not sure if that’s official, but Hood Fella adds 2 the original beat pretty well also. More songs 2 add 2 ur collection include the latest GemStones track “Never Give Up”, which features the new and improved GemStones - meaningful, conscious lyrics and a beautiful, passionate chorus that brings the cliche some depth. The mixtape should be hitting the web within the next couple days as it’s finally done (unfortunately we couldn’t hit up the mixtape release party last nite). It’s just a matter of time and once it pops up in our e-mail or around the other blogs, u’ll see it on GWHH. Be sure 2 scroll below for the boatload of new hip hop and R&B trax, requests, and videos as the Keyshia Cole Letterman performance is especially worth ur time! Enjoy! (Big ups 2 FSD & NMC)
The above video is an interesting one featuring Lupe Fiasco - an interesting, well done piece on black skateboarders in NYC, featuring a lil’ cameo by Lupe Fiasco describing his skateboarding anthem, “Kick, Push”. The skaters discuss its impact and relevance on skateboarding since the release and the video also includes footage of some neat tricks, of course!
Mikkey Halsted Freestyle
Ben One “Never Leave My Girl” f/ Shawnna
VIDEO PREMIERE!
Blu & Exile LIVE @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
Above are a few videos of some up and coming artists - CHI-Town’s own Mikkey Halsted ripping a sick freestyle, fellow Chicago artist - Ben One with his first video premiere featuring Shawnna, and a Blu & Exile LIVE performance! Below u can check out a few NEW trax with the highlight including the fly T.I. pictured below on the remix of the next Mariah Carey single, “I’ll Be Loving U Long Time”. I’ve never been thaaat high on Mariah, but I love everything T.I. and this track is definitely a nice one as T.I. (not T.I.P.) rips his verse with his usual lady-friendly swag and fits in over the laid-back DJ Toomp beat nicely. Sry for such a short blurb, but I’ma call it 1 soon. Big ups 2 KG, The Truth, Ray Allen & the Boston Celtics for winning the franchise’s 17th NBA Championship in dominant fashion (hence the Celtic green for 2day’s links.. haha!) Enjoy!
FULL, CDQ, 1999 (NEW) Track from lost album, World Record Holders*Tibs Fav.
Above is the latest from Go Getters, exclusively dropped from FSD. Go Getters, if u recall from last week, is the group consisting of Kanye West, GLC, Really Doe, & Arrowstar - a Chi-Town clique when they were all fresh in the game around 1999 and 2000. It is interesting 2 hear these trax, especially Kanye pre-accident, who sounds noticeably different. It’s some raw Chicago Hip Hop above so be sure to DL it!
The third (and final?) version of the “Flashing Lights” video has also hit the web and u can view it below! Admittedly, it goes over my head a lil’ bit on first viewing, but Kanye brings it with a deep and artistic perspective that his fans should respect. It is important to note that this “Version 3″ is the last 2 leak and hit the web, but it was in fact the first video Kanye & Co. shot for the song. They scrapped it and filmed the 2nd version that leaked last week, scrapped that, and released the one with Rita G. back awhile ago.
Scroll a lil’ more for a large batch of NEW trax featuring some big names like Usher, Lil’ Wayne, & Mario, but the one below that I’m feelin’ above the rest is the song by Danny Fernandes - an uptempo new-age R&B track with a sick beat, similar 2 Fernandes’ earlier hit “Curious”. Enjoy!
Producer: The Neptunes - FULL, CDQ, 1st Single from upcoming album, Invincible Summer*Tibs Fav.
Back from Minny w/ Max G. with a bunch of NEW trax! Above is the long anticipated (at least for me) CDQ version of Common’s “Universal Mind Control” f/ Pharrell. The Neptunes’ beat creates such a different sound than we are used 2 for Common, one that will definitely take getting used 2 with this song, and perhaps on his upcoming album, Invincible Summer. Either way, definitely a MUST-DL for ur collection! For all our Chicago readers, Common will be one act at DePaul University this Friday for only $10. That’s all the details I know, but I’m sure there is more info 2 be found and u mite run into Max G. & I there, haha. The rest of the NEW trax below are pretty solid featuring some big names like Trey Songz, R. Kelly, Ciara, & MUCH MORE! Scroll, Peep, DL, Enjoy!
Here’s a unique edition of Old School Sundays for ya! Above and below are my EXCLUSIVE pics and vids from the Trey Songz concert I went 2 last week! His voice is straight up ridiculous - like when he belts out the notes, it’s just so powerful and just wow. You guys should go out and see Songz perform live - the sky’s only the limit for him. The videos are pretty cool - the “Missin’ You” video showcases his voice more. Below that, you can DL some of my favorite non-singles from his debut album, I Gotta Make It! He performed “Cheat On You” and “In The Middle” last week and both were sweet. His “Can’t Help But Wait” a capella (sry no vid for that one) ended the set and was a great finale that the crowd was really loving. Anyway, enjoy!
Royce Da 5′9″ “Shake This” - MORE
