I'm always curious about the creative process, and that goes double when details are revealed about my favorite album of 2013 (yup, that's right), Indicud. In a new interview with MTV, Kid Cudi discusses producing collabs with two of the game's hottest emcees right now: Kendrick Lamar & A$AP Rocky.
“Aside from the fact that they’re dope, I was really inspired to work with [Kendrick and A$AP] because I love their sound, and when you hear something new, you [think], ‘I wonder what my sound would be like with that.’ That’s how I think about features. Fusing two artists’ sound in a way where it makes sense and brings out this ‘super song’; that’s what I was trying to accomplish.”
On "Solo Dolo Pt. II":
Cudi also recalled that when Kendrick showed up at the studio — “he came in there f—ing ready to go. He came in there so ready to go, he was excited. I was so humbled by the fact that [Kendrick] was such a big fan of mine because sometimes I just feel out of touch with the new generation,” the 29-year old admitted. “I’m not even that old, but I was away for a while and it’s just really exciting for me to see the love from somebody like Kendrick who’s in a space where he’s just beasting and killing it.”The focus was on producing the record for Kendrick,” Cudi added. “I wanted to shine as a producer first. I wanted to show that side off more than anything else and that’s why I had my one verse then let Kendrick go ape-sh– crazy all over the rest of it.”
On "Brothers":
“I felt like that was a perfect beat for A$AP to get on there and speak some truths and talk to the younger generation, because he’s in a place where a lot of kids are up to him and Kendrick,” the Indicud MC said. “I just wanted to hear him say something a little bit more thoughtful, and he did that — he showed up. I was blown away by his craftsmanship, his professionalism and his overall mojo.”
Awesome. Love that last intention of wanting A$AP to push that boundary lyrically, and the more I listen to his verse on "Brothers", the more I dig it. This interview inspires yet another late night rotation of Indicud. A dope album to cop — get with it!
Doesn't this look like an SNL promo shot?! Well, spoiler alert: it's from Google images. But thought it was appropriate to associate with the announcement that Kendrick Lamar is going to be an SNL musical guest for the first time on January 26th. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 will be hosting that night, leaving a slimmer of hope that they strike a friendship and want to collab in the studio. (That really would be a crossover smash). Hopeful wishes aside, it'll be great to see K. Dot on the SNL stage later this month.
Welp, that was fast. Kendrick Lamar reaches 500,000 copies of his debut album, Good Kid, m.a.a.d. city, as the album is now officially certified gold. K. Dot had the highest first-week debut sales this year from any male hip hop artist. Capping off quite the year for Kendrick Lamar, no?
When you look at the names on this track you can't help but get excited about the potential of the song, and I have to say that it lived up to the expectations. All the verses were solid, the production was dope and Kris Stephens sounded great. Make sure to go grab Trouble Man Heavy Is The Head today.
I wasn't the biggest fan of Soul when I first heard him, now every time I hear a new track from him it seems like he's getting colder. TDE has to have the strongest camp right now and Soul is furthering that belief for me right now.
The reason this song made the list this week had nothing to do with song and I want to make sure I put that out there first. The reason I put this song on the list was soley because my name was spelled out in the hook, and I imagined me leaving a club one night and the hook playing as I walked out the door. Call me what you want but everybody wishes they had some sort of theme music or exit music now I do.
I feel like this was probably the most overlooked but cold as hell song from last week. Gemstones take on December 21st and what's to come for the world period I feel like musically came across great. Regardless of what you believe something is happening in the world and shout to Gemstones for speaking on it.
Dido has great taste when it comes to the rappers that she works with, going from the amazing voice that was on Stan with Eminem now featuring Kendrick on her newest single. The song is dope as hell and K-Dot compliment the track perfectly.
That's this week list, as always let me know what you think in the comments or hit me up on Twitter.
