WTF

[via NYTimes]

So Snoop is being featured on a Bollywood track from the upcoming film, "Singh is Kinng." Couldn't find the actual music video from the film as its release is a couple of months off, but here is a live performance where Snoop is absent but Akshay Kumar breaks it down thoroughly.

I don't know what is going on over there, but now they are also trying to buy Steven Spielberg's shine.

Carmensita

Recently released video from Devendra Banhart. First official video for album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, which was released several months ago. Features gf Natalie Portman and some very liberal satire of Bollywood b-movies. Makes me want to revisit both the Mahabharata and Ramayan serieseses. es.

Maximus

Common - Gladiator (feat. Pharrell) (Having some trouble finding a way to embed this track on the page, but the link will have to do for now. Credit to AllHipHop.com.)

So I pretty much slept on Common's last album. I listened to a couple of the tracks - mostly the singles - and didn't get past that. That's really a shame, because I generally like his work.

The new track (above) is going to be on his new album, Invincible Summer. Pardon the low quality, it's recorded from a pre-release listening session. The album is supposed to be released this coming September, but we'll see what happens. The initial release date was set for June.

Anyway, I really like this song. Great lyricism from Common and great production by The Neptunes.

Common and The Neptunes also teamed up for a couple of more tracks on the new album.

Common - Universal Mind Control (feat. Pharrell) (Registration required. But hey, it's a free service.)



The song reminds me a lot (probably intentionally) of this jam.

Afrika Bambaataa - Looking for the Perfect Beat

Sneakerheads

This track dropped a couple of weeks ago.

Pharrell, Julian Casablancas, and Santogold - My Drive Thru



I really like this song. Could potentially be my song of the summer. The song was created as part of Converse's "Three Artists, One Song" campaign. Pharrell produced the track (as you can probably tell). And this video is great. You can download the track for free (w00t!) from the Converse website.

Favorite line on this track: "I may look young but your game is prepubescent." Pure gold. Santogold. (pwnd)

Making Sure They See His Face

I usually hate all things Malcolm Gladwell, but he was onto something when he talked about Kenna in a chapter of Blink (called "Kenna's Dilemma: The Right - and Wrong - Way to Ask People What They Want").

Both his albums were co-produced by Chad Hugo (Neptunes, baby), the title ("Make Sure They See My Face") and content of the latter record inspired by a Kilimanjaro climb in '07.

Take a listen to a bonus track on the UK version of his 2nd album - background vocals provided by JT.

Newish

A couple of albums I'm anxious to hear from some new acts and collaborations:

1) Brighton Port Authority



Fatboy Slim and David Byrne team up to create some acousmatic/tape music/psychobilly/power pop as it is classified on their MySpace. The video for the single "Toe Jam (feat. Dizzee Rascal)" gets creative with censorship.

2) One Day As A Lion



Collaboration between Zach de la Rocha and former Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore. The name draws from a famous 1970 photo of a piece of graffiti which reads, "it’s better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb." Their EP releases Tuesday.

3) Chester French

Harvard-educated duo signed to Star Trak and referred to by Pharrell as "geniuses." Don't know when they are dropping anything more substantial, but they are touring right now. The embedded song was featured on an episode of “Entourage” (of course).

4) Fonzworth Bentley

Everybody feat. Andre 3000, Kanye West, Sa-Ra

From his much-delayed album "C.O.L.O.U.R.S." Here Andre 3000 is razor sharp as usual; was really hoping for a Kanye verse, but will settle for his bizarre performance alone. Also, I could have swore that was Danger Mouse working the keys, but apparently it's Shafiq Husayn of trio Sa-Ra, who produced the track. Not super feeling Fonzworth as an emcee, but if the album features additional dope production, it will fly.

Can you tell me how to get...

Just saw this video (via Slate).

Feist - 1 2 3 4



This is great. I won't say too much about this video, but it makes me feel rather nostalgic.

O DJ Screw, where art thou?

Lupe Fiasco - Hip Hop Saved My Life (feat. Nikki Jean)



I've been meaning to post about this song for a long time. It's got a great beat, great lyrics, good vocals from Nikki Jean (of Nouveau Riche), etc. But the reason I really like this song (as you may have already guessed) is because it's about a kid from Houston making it big in hip hop. It really should just be titled "The Puneet Verma Biography." Jokes.

But seriously, there are so many Houston references in that song and video. H-Town celebs shown include: Willie D, Bun B, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall.

Chunk a deuce.

Mashup Madness

Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy Of Gold / Nas - One Mic



I first heard of dj erb a few months ago when trying to find out what that song was. Came across his website and discovered a few more tracks that I enjoyed. See below. (Free downloads. w00t!)

Magnet & Gemma Hayes - Lay Lady Lay / Pharrell - That Girl (feat. Snoop Dogg)
Toto - Africa / Yung Berg - Sexy Lady

Of course the "Lay Lady Lay" above is a cover of Bob Dylan's actual original.

Irony

Lily Allen - Smile



I was thinking about this song all day today, but for much different reasons than the lyrics of the song would suggest. It's more of the title and Lily Allen's general cheeriness in the song.

Other songs which I enjoy from Lily Allen below.

Lily Allen - Alfie



Lily Allen - LDN



Mark Ronson - Oh My God (Kaiser Chiefs Cover feat. Lily Allen) (Check out the video here)



Common - Drivin' Me Wild (feat. Lily Allen)

Stronger-er

A-TRAK - Mastered (feat. Lupe Fiasco)


You may have heard that A-TRAK, the Canadian superstar DJ, just recently released a new mix, Running Man, in conjunction with Nike. The track above is not actually on that mix, as proper releases could not be obtained. Instead, the version on the mix features Kid Cudi (?).

I first heard of A-Trak when he did this remix.

Kanye West - Stronger (A-TRAK Remix)


I didn't like that remix too much, but I recently found this song, which I thought was great.

Kanye West - Get 'Em High (A-TRAK remix feat. Common)

New Wave Master

So, I just read a little bit about Vince Clarke. Clarke was successful in forming three bands that were seminal to the New Wave music scene in the 80s. Check out some of his handiwork. Reminds me of a simpler time in life.

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough



Erasure - A Little Respect



Yazoo - Only You



Why the sudden interest in New Wave? Well, I was listening to Mika the other day, and I remembered how much I like this music. And here's some more Mika to keep you all satisfied. That falsetto is very impressive.

Mika - Relax, Take It Easy



Mika - Love Today



Mika - Grace Kelly

Rage Against The Machine

Flobots - Handlebars


Cool, new-ish song. Check out the video here. Somehow this phenomenon of a popular uprising has taken root in the culture over the past couple of years. For example, recall this video from last year by Linkin Park.

Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day

And this is not even the first time Linkin Park has made a video about a riot.

Linkin Park - From the Inside

Where did all this anger towards the system come from? Why is this all of a sudden so cool? I suppose a video about being a conformist or "being a cog in the machine" would be a lot less cool.

Readers, let me know of other recent videos where there are large scale riots.

P.S. I can actually ride my bike with no handlebars. Look Ma, no hands!

Krazee-Eyez Killa

Not just the name of a hilarious Curb Your Enthusiasm episode. It is also the theme of a recently released video from Lloyd.

Lloyd - Girls Around The World

This video (directed by Hype Williams as you may have already surmised) freaks me out a little. I like this song, and the video is visually arresting, but those eyes are Krazee. The video also further explores rappers and their obsession with space. (See this recent article from Slate about Afronauts for background.) Some of you may also recognize the beat and Lil Wayne's lyrics from Eric B. and Rakim's "Paid In Full."

You may remember Lloyd from last year's "You (featuring Lil Wayne)" or "Get It Shawty." Personally, I wasn't a big fan of either song, but "You" featured some interesting lyricism from Lil Wayne. Regardless, Lloyd is back with Lil Wayne to try to recapture the magic from last year.

Interesting (maybe) side note: Chris Williams (Krazee-Eyez Killa in aforementioned show) was recently on the Discovery Channel show Verminators. He had rats in the attic. It was disgusting.