Everything for Nothing - The Slakadeliqs feat. Tanika Charles

          This is may be the perfect soundtrack for one of those sunny drives. While I have developed a nice playlist for that mood, this one captures every essence of it. A sweet acoustic rhythm. It carries that bounce and sweetness that makes the song addicting. Obviously it is for those with a softer side, you can't exactly say, "I bump this". While I suppose you still can, however you enjoy it is the important part. There are so many beautiful elements that go into this song.
           The vocal exchange between Slakah and Tanika is absolutely perfect. The words they sing captured images in my head so perfectly. Filling my head with the easy days of summer, which to anyone should be enjoyable. And that simple hook of humming, just feeds the soul right. Those little breaks whether between other instruments, or oh my goodness that whistling!! It is so light and relaxing. When Slakah sings about the kids having fun, it fits for everyone. A lot of times as younger children we don't understand the stress we put our parents through, and those words put everyone at ease. So this song can certainly fit more a more mature crowd, not every kid is gonna love this song. Tanika sings of darker days, yet still reminding the listener that these happenings are natural. When we learn some of those bumps in the road are natural, they don't shake us up as much.

These two made a wonderful composition, and be sure to check out Slakah's BandCamp page! This is part of his, "The Other Side of Tomorrow" album! A definite download if you enjoyed this song.

http://theslakadeliqs.bandcamp.com/album/the-other-side-of-tomorrow

Jet Lag - Flow Patrol & Dirty Def

           The Jet Lag EP was released not long ago, just on the 20th. I finally hit up Flow Patrol's page on SC, and finally saw the project out for myself and the world to enjoy. This track was one of my favorites. When Flow Patrol is paired with a dark classy beat much like "Realism", or "VB Rasb3rry", you get this magical vibe, I'll get into that in a second however. Flow Patrol and Dirty Def made a small masterpiece right here. Painting a black-and-white image of society's wealth, evils, class, and elegance, these two men do work to bring you a real movie through sound.
           Flow Patrol always has a lot of words to absorb so often times it may be hard to discover a topic or theme. However, he always picks some beautiful words to fit the vibe of the music. When he picks the words, "I be on air France", it just sounds classy. One of my favorite qualities of Flow Patrol, if he talks about wealth or success he does it: with skill, behind a good beat, and with class. And as always, he has no trouble staying on beat with the drums. A smooth ride that I would gladly enjoy, "on air France".
           Dirty Def made a beat perfect for this MC. Giving the general vibe sound old and grim. That sweet sincere loop of strings that carries very well. And those vocals that murmur creepily in the background, are a wonderful touch to the mood of the music. Something about this instrumental sounds elegant, and serious. It sounds very much like something you would hear in the James Bond Films. A year back I reviewed Ye's "Diamonds", and that sample and "Jet Lag" would go hand in hand through a 007 film. A very nice touch to the EP, and that is just a sixth of it.

With all this said, hope you find this song suited somewhere on a nighttime playlist. I know I have!
As for the EP, check it out here: http://dirtydef.bandcamp.com/album/flow-patrol-dirtydef-jet-lag-ep
           

Only Sixteen - Sam Cooke

            I have recently become fascinated with Sam Cooke's work. The guy just amazes me, with such lovely rhythms, and sweet old time melodies. Thanks to Rob Fel, who samples him in several of his beat videos and who helped me to find this guy. Sam Cooke is just incredible. He really brings you back in time with those themes of young love and classic grooves. You simply gotta love the feel of those background singers, you don't hear them to often these days. Those "Oooohhhss" are just sweet butter on the track. "Then why did you give your heart so fast?", it just sounds beautiful.
             A typical topic of young love and affairs that under the circumstances, just wouldn't work out. It is bittersweet. Without the music you could interpret the lyrics as a tragic tale, and while that may be true. The soul brought to this piece makes things optimistic, and just lovely. Those backup singers make all the difference in this piece. The guitar and drums got your hands dancing, your head swaying, and your neck bobbing. This piece is just an undeniable masterpiece and there are so many other works from this wonderful man.

So by now much of his music is on YouTube!

Also Rob Fel's channel: If you like beat videos this man has got you covered! Samples a few of Cooke's work as I mentioned.
Here watch him flip Cooke's, "I Love You (For Sentimental Reasons)"

Machine Gun Funk - The Notorious B.I.G.

           Well hello again, thought I'd return with some good classics, and go back to some official stuff, taking a break from the underground, or at least for a few minutes. We already know the deal with Mr. Smalls. He was a legend. A raw creative MC that you don't see everyday. And you certainly don't see anything like him today. I listen to him when I wanna hear some sick flows and bob my head to some classic beats. This is one of those tracks.
            He reaches you with words on multiple levels, certainly not everyone can relate to this kinda style. With certainly a more gangster appeal, you can't always say you live every word he spits. Which is why you come for that head bobbing sound. Not that I don't love reciting some parts of this song. Me and one friend will always go out on that, "what's love got to do!" that piece is pure classic. And I always get goose bumps when he spits that helicopter lawn. You came to hear an MC tear up the mic and just glide on his superb flows. And that is exactly what this song is about. The beat makes that even easier.
            Boom bip, boom-boom bip. That is all my head tells me. Another neck snapping beat. And the song is appropriately titled. You got many images of gun violence and other forms of conflict. But that bass line is the perfect amount of funk. And that loop through the chorus is just fun to lip-sync and full out yell. Ha man, just a fun song. This is just one of Easy Mo Bee's works that helps make Ready to Die a classic. I'd say check out that album, but who hasn't?