Dru B Shinin - Dirty Money Painting

The concept of the complete album experience is a dying art in hip-hop. In today’s singles-driven market, music sales are determined by who has the hottest song or a collection of hot songs that often seem like mere duplicates of themselves-most artists seem to be looking for that guaranteed formula for success rather than just focusing on their personal artistry. With that being said, Dru B Shinin’ has once again proven that he exceeds the status quo of today’s music market with his newest release, Dirty Money Painting. As the album title indicates, Dru B Shinin’ paints colorful portraits through rhymes containing vivid imagery and clever metaphors.  Dirty Money Painting is a canvas displaying Dru B Shinin's values and struggles, his journey personally and artistically, and quite simply, his life. Beginning with the “Lid Opener Overture,” Dru B Shinin’ narrates through fourteen tracks as the listener goes on an excursion of emotions and experiences with Andrew the man. Don’t sleep on Dru’s skills as an MC, for he is no rookie at rap-to use his own rhymes, “Knew I’d make it in the game, ‘cuz my cadence is insane, my lyricism sharp…” and that’s him being modest. On songs like “Range,” he shows you just that, warning other rappers that he has earned his stripes and is not to be slept on. Songs such as “Live It Up” and “Let It Shine” show Dru expressing the joys of being alive, free and able to celebrate life with loved ones, while “Burnt Out” and “Let It Pour” reflect the unwelcome pain and turmoil that sometimes creeps up in life. The lead single, “The Promise” is Dru’s ode to being dedicated to your dream, and not letting anyone stop you from being yourself and accomplishing your goals. Dru showcases an incredible talent for storytelling as well on the songs “Heaven in the Sky” and “D.M.P. Theme (The World Is a Canvas).”

Dirty Money Painting is an astounding album from a serious artist with talent oozing from his soul. With unbelievable music production from Eye Jay the Boy, and excellent contributions from Greg Shark, Sean Martin, Andrew Skates from Telegraph Canyon, and Sandi McQuinton, Dru B Shinin’ and his team continue to set the bar high for D/FW hip-hop talent, and for hip-hop musicians worldwide. Cop Dirty Money Painting today on iTunes or Bandcamp-you won’t be disappointed. You heard it here first!

http://itunes.apple.com/album/dirty-money-painting/id405735946?v0=9988&ign-mpt=uo%3D1

http://spheremusicgroup.bandcamp.com/

Photography by Richard Georges

J.Cole - Friday Night Lights

Hip-hop is becoming competitive again.  The newest generation of rappers is bringing artistic integrity back to the music, and none with a higher level of skill and quality than J. Cole.  He released his latest mixtape, Friday Night Lights, last Friday via his website and Twitter account to an incredible amount of anticipation.  When I heard it was coming out, I wondered if FNL would be a low point in Cole’s catalogue.  I feared that he might have sunk into the trap of over-saturating the web with freestyles while restless fans are waiting for the official album, like many artists today fall victim to.  But every one of J. Cole’s projects is impressive, including FNL.  He continues with his personal formula for success: he keeps his features to a limit, enlisting only Wale, Drake and Omen (plus a bonus track with Kanye West and the G.O.O.D. Music crew), he minimizes freestyles and opts for complete songs instead, and he raps to mostly his own original beats.  There are a few songs on FNL that have been previously released on other mixtapes, but besides this minor discrepancy, trust me when I say this set of music from J. Cole is strong enough to pay money for (as if any of y’all pay for ANY of your music anymore).  With that being said, I hope that Cole’s rhymes motivate you to go get his debut album, Cole World, when it comes out: “An album’s $10, you act like it’s 10 Gs/This food for thought cost the same as two #3s,” and I would add, you’re a fool if you don’t go on and download Friday Night Lights for free.

http://www.jcolemusic.com/music/friday-night-lights-mixtape

(it says "BUY IT" but if you click the link it downloads the zip file for free)          

Music and Me Podcast, Episode 1

In my debut episode, I am introducing myself and my podcast, and presenting a sample of my eclectic taste in hip-hop music through a playlist containing a wide variety of jams.  Also I am discussing Kanye West and his new album My Dark Twisted Fantasy, as well as up and coming superstar, J. Cole.

Tangerine-Big Boi ft. T.I. & Khujo Goodie

Aston Martin Music-Rick Ross ft. Drake & Chrisette Michele

Shake This-Royce da 5’9”

Temperature’s Rising-Mobb Deep ft. Crystal Johnson

Pour Out a Little Liquor-2Pac

Ol’ English-Game ft. Dion

This Can’t Be Life-Jay-Z ft. Beanie Sigel & Scarface

Summertime Rain-Dru B Shinin’ ft. Eye Jay the Boy

Runnin’-The Pharcyde

Let’s Ride-Q-Tip

Verbal Intercourse-Raekwon ft. Nas & Ghostface Killah

1997-Dom Kennedy

Doggy Dogg World-Snoop Dogg

Looking for Trouble-Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean, CyHi Da Prince & J. Cole





(Click arrow to listen or title for link to a download)

N.E.R.D. - Nothing

I must admit, I was not expecting this one…  It’s a rare occasion that I latch on to music that is as deliberately unconventional as N.E.R.D. releases tend to be.  I appreciate efforts at creativity and stretching the limits of musical artistry, but I don’t enjoy it when the beauty of the sound is lost.  However, with Nothing, N.E.R.D. created a sonically pleasant blend of the weird and the wonderful.  I didn’t consider myself a fan of theirs before, but with this release I have really begun to feel their musical vibe and technique.  Nothing is the kind of album that many musicians today who are trying to push boundaries and be more creative probably wish they could make, but it’s not that easy to do.  Pharrell, Chad and Shae make it seem effortless.  Not because the quality of the music is lacking – quite the opposite actually, because this project is incredibly focused and detailed.  It sounds like a carefree college party soundtrack colliding with hippie, socially conscious smooth grooves.  There is a sixties rock n’ roll spirit that drops in at different points throughout the album, like maybe Pharrell or Chad was listening to The Beatles and The Doors while recording, but the hard-hitting beats, robust horns, and ample bass that keep the party going are all present as well.  One of Pharrell’s musical gifts is naturally incorporating unique and unanticipated chords and chord progressions, and he continues that this time around with songs like “God Bless Us All” and “I’ve Seen the Light” (my two favorites).  Pharrell also seems to take his singing a little more seriously, showing greater range and fluidity.  But you won’t be listening to these songs to enjoy his singing voice, a) because the quality of the musical production is the real gem, and b) his singing won’t matter after a while because you will be singing loudly right along with him. Intriguing, eclectic lyrics consisting of topics ranging from “Victory” to “Life as a Fish” are that final fly accessory to this fresh outfit, making Nothing my personal non-hip-hop sleeper album of 2010.