Believe it or not, I am still alive. Between the end of a semester, recording music with my own band, holidays, and travel I've been slacking heavily on the blogging side. But the other day I got into a conversation about how the good 'ol "four on the floor" beat - you know, that dance beat that every pop song has now - has been around strong for a few years now. And it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. SO I'm here to talk pop, rather hip-hop, for a second. If you think about it, "radio music" has definitely taken a turn for the dance in the "Lady Gaga Era", if you will. It's and easy beat, and it's super popular, but here's two nice examples of people diverging from that beat. Maybe we've found an out.
The first comes from our beloved T-Pain. His new song, aptly titles Rap Song, throws out this dance beat for some more classic In Love With A Stripper feel. The song actually shows some strong writing too. And a ton of layered vocals. I'm enjoying it currently, but I'm sure this one will blow up soon. It is T-Pain, after all. Here's the video:
I've always had a thing for Keri Hilson. She's gorgeous and talented and, well, that's all my check boxes. I was a bit skeptical of Pretty Girl Rock when I first heard it, but I'm into it for sure. The song has some lyricism, an interesting beat, and a very well done video. I should mention that with both these songs there are strong videos, which is great. It's awesome to see someone thought outside the box for what was becoming pretty monotonous hip-hop video. Check it out:
As a bonus, here's DJ Earworm's new mashup of the year of 2010 in pop. Not too bad.
Showing posts with label hip-hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hip-hop. Show all posts
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, September 21, 2009
Grynch: Not such a mean one...
As I wander (neither weak nor weary) through Seattle, I keep coming across hip-hop music with which I'm unfamiliar, but which strikes me as being, for lack of a better descriptor, very cool.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about hip-hop, rap, or whatever other nomenclature you choose to append to the rapid-fire pronouncing of rhymes over (preferably) dope beats... but I know quality when I hear it.
One hip-hop artist whose name keeps coming up when I approach DJs with questions on the level of, 'pardon, sir, but might you enlighten me as to the name of this artist? I find his work to be fly' is (once I get past the glares and the occasional smackings upside of haids) is Grynch. Having run into his music on no less than three occasions - including one at a Korean barbecue restaurant - I decided to search him out on the internet.
After suffering fruitlessly through literally four Seuss-related pages due to my lack of knowledge as to the unconventional spelling of his artistic pseudonym, I chanced upon a page which broke down a number of local hip-hop artists, Grynch among them - and I from there found his MySpace. Cradled in the venerable arms of that most scorned of social networking sites, I found a link to his actual website... upon which was and is (and is to come?) available for free download a veritable plethora of his music - including the tracks which I'm sharing with y'all this beautiful evening.
On this first track, "My Volvo," which was the first of Grynch's songs that I heard, he waxes lyrical about the virtues, not of b*tches and bling, but of the sort of beater we've all driven at some point in the past: "I've laughed in that car / I've cried in that car / knock on wood, I'll probably die in that car," he says, between listing the eccentric charms of his whip's shortcomings - and I kind of believe him.
Grynch - My Volvo
This second track, "Time," is perhaps a little bit more conventional in terms of hip-hop tropes, focusing on the changes Grynch sees as he moves through Seattle; but if the trope is a bit famiiar, the self-assuredness of the MC's flow, complete with some truly slick multisyllabic rhymes and a laudable willingness to deviate fom a predictable lyrical rhythm when necessary, make the track a more than enjoyable listen.
Grynch - Time
If you like what you hear from these two tracks, I'd urge you to check out Grynch's other work - it's good, it's fun, and it's free, and, really, who could ask for more than that?
Have a great Monday night, everyone!
Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about hip-hop, rap, or whatever other nomenclature you choose to append to the rapid-fire pronouncing of rhymes over (preferably) dope beats... but I know quality when I hear it.
One hip-hop artist whose name keeps coming up when I approach DJs with questions on the level of, 'pardon, sir, but might you enlighten me as to the name of this artist? I find his work to be fly' is (once I get past the glares and the occasional smackings upside of haids) is Grynch. Having run into his music on no less than three occasions - including one at a Korean barbecue restaurant - I decided to search him out on the internet.
After suffering fruitlessly through literally four Seuss-related pages due to my lack of knowledge as to the unconventional spelling of his artistic pseudonym, I chanced upon a page which broke down a number of local hip-hop artists, Grynch among them - and I from there found his MySpace. Cradled in the venerable arms of that most scorned of social networking sites, I found a link to his actual website... upon which was and is (and is to come?) available for free download a veritable plethora of his music - including the tracks which I'm sharing with y'all this beautiful evening.
On this first track, "My Volvo," which was the first of Grynch's songs that I heard, he waxes lyrical about the virtues, not of b*tches and bling, but of the sort of beater we've all driven at some point in the past: "I've laughed in that car / I've cried in that car / knock on wood, I'll probably die in that car," he says, between listing the eccentric charms of his whip's shortcomings - and I kind of believe him.
Grynch - My Volvo
This second track, "Time," is perhaps a little bit more conventional in terms of hip-hop tropes, focusing on the changes Grynch sees as he moves through Seattle; but if the trope is a bit famiiar, the self-assuredness of the MC's flow, complete with some truly slick multisyllabic rhymes and a laudable willingness to deviate fom a predictable lyrical rhythm when necessary, make the track a more than enjoyable listen.
Grynch - Time
If you like what you hear from these two tracks, I'd urge you to check out Grynch's other work - it's good, it's fun, and it's free, and, really, who could ask for more than that?
Have a great Monday night, everyone!
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