"Don't Let it Go, When You Feel This"

If you were wondering whether Young Money's EDM darlings were going to keep dipping their toes in Hip Hop, the answer is not going to shock you. Following up on singles that featured Lil Wayne and T.I., the Stafford Brothers are back with a new one with Jay Sean and Rick Ross. My reaction on first listen was excitement when Jay Sean came in over the building synths. As much as I wanted to continue liking the track, the beat came in a bit too strong, overpowering his stellar vocals. Make no bones about it, the beat goes hard with a heavy clap, but Rick Ross wasn't meant for electronic music. It's one of those "I love peanut butter" and "I love ketchup", let's try them together sort of things. Lesson learned, some things are tastier when not mixed together and not all Hip Hop/EDM collaborations are going to succeed...#WhenYouFeelThis

Stafford Brothers feat Jay Sean & Rick Ross - When You Feel This

"Copper Tried to Knock Us Off, We Still Movin' Bass"

I remember the days when gigantic Hip Hop collaborations between artists and producers were as common as bread on a sandwich. Nowadays, unless your name is Mike Will, you'd be lucky to get a big time collaboration more than a handful of times each year. Enter Timbaland, who decided to come out of hibernation to craft the new heat rock Movin' Bass (below). The track features living legends Ricky Rozay and Sean Carter.

Off top, the beat sets a quick pace. I could have done without the Phone Tap style 40 second interlude to start the track, but sadly, it's an upgrade over the Funk Flex tags. It's beats like this that allow me to appreciate Rick Ross. 90% of the verses he drops are yawn worthy, but when he gets on a great beat, he can elevate his game with the best of them. Through this track I got back the piece of Rick Ross that I first started liking back in the day when he was telling us all where he was from. Please Timbo...continue making music with other talented artists, Hip Hop has missed you...#MovinBass

Rick Ross feat Jay Z - Movin' Bass (prod by Timbaland)

"Bravado Like Mavado, Boy I'm that Gully"

Ok ok Hip Hop, point taken. It's as if I woke a sleeping giant, I honestly couldn't have planned it more ironically. Literally the day after I declare the current state of Hip Hop boring, here comes Cudi left hook and Rick Ross/Jay Z haymaker. In the past I've been real critical of Rozay because I value lyrical depth, which isn't his forte. I'm not saying his newest heat rock with the Jiggaman bucks that trend, but I will say that he brought his A game. He did what he does in a slow, charismatic way that got me excited to listen to the track. It's a compliment to say that he built up anticipation for Jay Z's verse. It's like when you start a #3 receiver in the fantasy football playoffs and he goes off for three touchdowns before your studs play. Your excitement grows and it takes the pressure off your studs from producing. That's what I felt like listening to The Devil is a Lie.

I feel like the foundation for the track's success was the heavy, horn filled beat by K.E. In the video below he speaks on the tracks creation...

Make no mistake, Jay Z played his part as Mariano Rivera, but the track as a whole was impressive. Although it's release has been pushed back til 2014, don't forget about Rick Ross's upcoming album Mastermind...#DevilIsALie

Rick Ross feat Jay-Z - The Devil is a Lie (prod by K.E. On The Track)

"Let Me See Ya Hands Up One Time"

As much as I dislike the token Hip Hop tracks that feature everyone, their friend and their friends' momma's friend, I'll make an exception if there's some high quality production. Case in point Swizzy's recently released lead single off his upcoming Haute Living album. The reverberating percussion throughout the track is what kept my interest, but I gotta admit, other than Weezy's verse, I wasn't really impressed. Still, with all the high powered name recognition and hook that finds it's way into your brain, it's only a matter of time before this one gets eaten up by the masses. Feel free to beat them to the punch and pull a snobby music critic by letting them know the song is already too overplayed...#HandsUp

Swizz Beatz feat Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne - Hands Up (prod by Swizz Beatz)

Videos of the Week August 2nd

Tough call on top video this week, but if I had a vote it would be between Krewella, JT and Avicii. I'm glad that the world is finally catching on to Avicii's Newgrass to the tune of a top 5 iTunes showing. If you haven't caught on to Krewella yet, you should probably hop on that bandwagon before it's full. They make fun music. Period. If you'r in need of a Hip Hop video fix, worry not Jay Sean and Nelly have you covered...assist to Nicki for the twerking...#Twerk
Krewella - Live For the Night (Video)

Justin Timberlake - Take Back the Night (Video)

Avicii feat Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up (Video)

Jay Sean feat Rick Ross - Mars (Video)

Nelly feat Nicki Minaj - Get Like Me (Video)

Photo credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week July 5th

Great mix of interesting and funny on this week's version of VOTW. Pretty cool to see Wale throw out the first pitch at the Nats game recently, then learn that his album debuted #1. We're now less than a week away from Magna Carta Holy Grail being released to the non-Samsung, common-folk crowd. I have little doubt that the album will be anything less than classic.

Funny or Die came through with a nice David Spade Catfish spoof, but the most entertaining video of the week has to be the Lumineers vs Will Ferrell playing Harry Caray Ho Hey mix. What a great mashup, really made me miss the old Cubs broadcaster. Speaking of which, if you're in Chi-town this weekend holler atcha boy, I'll be in the bleachers on Friday...#GoCubsGo
Wale Throws Out First Pitch at Nationals Game

Jay-Z Previews His New Track Oceans

Lumineers vs Will Farrell Playing Harry Caray (Hey Ho Mashup)

David Spade Gets Catfished...by Selita Ebanks

The Game feat 2 Chainz & Rick Ross - Ali Bomaye (Video)

"She Can Get the Lay Up...All Night"

First off, shame on me for missing the original version of the track below by @MeekMill. I really don't have a good answer for why the @KaneBeatz produced track slipped through the cracks. For those of you that missed it like me, the original version of Lay Up was on Meek's debut album Dreams and Nightmares.

This one reeks of an unofficial remix because Meek Mill isn't even on the track. Still I keep finding myself singing the @TreySongz hook and vibing out to the pristine Kane beat. No joke, if water hitting crystals needed an instrumental, I'd suggest this one because it's so damn clean. I'm just saddened that it took @s_c_'s cameo verse to get my attention...#MyBad

Rick Ross feat Jay-Z & Trey Songz - Lay Up (Remix) (prod by Kane Beatz)
|iTunes

Videos of the Week October 12th

Really random set of videos this week ranging from the newest, biggest Hip Hop video from @wale to a well constructed new EDM video to yet another rapper working the ESPN circuit. The two most unique videos have to be @MiguelUnlimited's acoustic rendition of Adorn and the new trailer to Anthony Hopkins new soon to be blockbuster movie about Alfred Hitchcock's life. Two facts make them unique and worth watching: 1) Miguel has a great voice and 2) Anthony Hopkins is a great actor. Really only one word can rightfully describe the range of videos this week...#Random

Wale feat Drake & Rick Ross - Diced Pineapples (Video)

Alesso feat Matthew Koma - Years (Video)

South Park Sessions Miguel Performing Adorn (Acoustic)

Bun-B on ESPN First Take

Hitchcock Movie Trailer

Videos of the Week August 17th

What name do you think of when you hear Hip Hop videos? For me, I think of @HypeWilliams, who has almost single-handedly been steering the visuals for Hip Hop art for the past 20 years. I find it pretty nuts that the first video he directed was back in 1991 and two decades later, he's still churning out awe-inspiring new videos. His newest in the form of @djkhaled's new hot with @rickyrozay and @kanyewest. Sure, you may feel like you're in an earthquake when you watch it, but it's flashy as hell, which has always been his style. Did I catch a Kim K cameo around the 5:14 mark too?

Is anyone as entertained by @nardwuar as I am? Dude is beyond quirky and rappers as a whole don't know what the hell to think of him and his antics. Speaking of antics, I don't know what the hell to think of @charleshamilton's latest MTV interview. You want to talk about a cryptic, otherwordly interview. I'm starting to worry that Charles is one of those special white hot flames the burn so bright and flamboyant that they have a hard time staying lit. I'll let you take that last statement for what it's worth, but I really miss the potential we saw back on the day with tracks like this. I guess if Charlie Sheen can do it anybody can? #DudeIsStillNuts

DJ Khaled feat Kanye & Rick Ross - I Wish You Would (Video)

T.I. - Go Get It (Video)

Narduwar Interviews 2 Chainz

Twista - I Ain't Wired Right (Video)

Charles Hamilton Talks Relationship With J Cole

Videos of the Week August 3rd

Whole lotta Hip Hop and a lil R&B is on the menu for this week's video catch up. You'd be a damn fool not to respect the type of music @bigkrit is putting out of late. @tip better step up his game because K.R.I.T. is taking over the South as the most highly sought after artist.

You're in for a double shot of @ludacris this week too with his Jingalin' video hitting the interwebs. Interesting how MMG peiced together the video for 3 Kings. Is there any chance Jersey Shore won't adopt @wakaflockabsm's new track with @bobatl as it's new theme song?...#NoBrainer

Big K.R.I.T. feat Ludacris - What U Mean (Video)

Ludacris - Jingalin' (Video)

Waka Flocka feat B.O.B. - Fist Pump (Video)

Justin Bieber feat Big Sean - As Long As You Love Me (Video)

Rick Ross feat Dr Dre & Jay-Z - 3 Kings (Video)

Videos of the Week July 27th

If you haven't seen the video for Korea's Ace Power horse riding apparatus, then complexly ignore what I'm writing right now and just press play below. If you thought the Shake Weight was good, then you'll probably appreciate the way we were just one upped by the Koreans. All I'm waiting for is the porn industry to start a summer camp that trains all the "sex muscles" using the aforementioned training devices.

Not a big week on actual videos, but it was cool hearing Swizzy talk about the whole Megaupload case and seeing @bobatl take over Atlanta. Oh and this just in, Chelsea Lately loves black men. Anybody else have tickets to see the Budweiser Made in America tour? Should be a show Philly hasn't seen in years...#Epic

Horse Riding Fitness Ace Power (*Funny*)

Swizz Beats Speaks on Megaupload Case & Reebok

Jay-Z's Made in America Budweiser Commercial

B.O.B. Takes Over Atlanta Braves Game

Rick Ross Interviewed by Chelsea Lately

"Let Me Redefine Foreplay So You Need Five"

Now that the vicious scavengers have gotten to @rickyrozay's new album God Forgives, I Don't six days early, I might as well chime in on one of the more talked about tracks circulating the interwebs. It's the most talked about because it's not everyday you get @wale and @drake on the same track together. On the track Wale does his "Ambitious Girl" routine where he waxes poetic Def poetry jam style in attempt to subtly spit game with an err of reverence to his delivery. I really like it when he does that because it's a lost art that Hip Hop has somewhat lost with it's newest generation, so when he brings it back in his own way, it allows him to show off what makes him better than the next artist.

It's been a while since we've been privy to an all R&B hook from Drizzy too, which was a welcome change up. Kudos to @Cardiakflatline for the quiet piano instrumental that played well with all the pillow talk throughout the track. In case you missed it, God Forgives, I Don't lands on iTunes next Tuesday, July 31st. My bet is it takes less than three weeks to go platinum and that's probably underselling it's potential by A LOT...#GFID

Rick Ross feat Wale & Drake - Diced Pineapple (prod by Cardiak)
|iTunes

"You Should Listen to This Beat Through My Headphones"

The phrase highly anticipated seems like cliche hyperbole when @rickyrozay, @drdre and @S_C_ get together on a track. With God Forgives, I Don't about a week away from landing, the Funk Flex release of the new single is timed just right for getting some momentum going. Despite the high profile cast it still smells like a "street single" rather than typical hook driven promo/radio single. The lack of hook and continual head nod beat cooked up by @jakeuno are the streetworthy elements I'm basing my opinion on.

So does the high powered lyricism live up to the hype? Well..let's take a quick inventory on the verses. Dre got to shout out his headphones, Jigga got speak creatively about how embarrassingly rich he is and Ricky Rozay got to uh...you know...do his thing by rapping about the usual money, cash, cars. You could say it's all around par for the course given the cast and simple, get the job done beat. As I write this the track has gone from tagged to untagged too, so you could say it's getting some attention on the interwebs tonight.

If you like Rick Ross, you'll like this track. Post Port of Miami, I wouldn't call myself the biggest Raaaawwws fan, so I can respect the collabo, but it won't have a high replay value on my revolving daily iPod playlists, no matter how much I really try to like it. Still, all signs are pointing toward platinum for #GFID.

Rick Ross feat Dr. Dre & Jay-Z - 3 Kings (prod by Jake One)

|iTunes

"1, 2 Them Boys Coming For You, 3, 4, Better Lock Your Door"

In an attempt to keep up with @Pitbull's album a year pace, @DJKHALED is back at it with a new album in the oven. The first single, Take it to the Head, has gotten some decent traction on Top 40, but single #2 below is going to blow it out of the water. Most of that is because most people will hear @kanyewest and @rickyrozay on the same track and probably buy it based solely on that. Sure the hook is catchy too, but the bass heavy, trap anthem beat cooked up by @Hit_Boy deserved a large slice of that credit pie.

Khaled's new album Kiss the Ring is set to drop August 21st. Like every other album he's released it will be chalked full of high powered cameos from the likes of Ace Hood, T-Pain, Plies, Future, Wiz Khalifa, T.I., Ludacris, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Trae Tha Truth, Mystikal, Big Sean, Vanessa Hudgens, Kid Ink, Birdman, Ice Cube, Fat Joe, Game, Twista, Rick Ross & Maybach Music Group artists (Meek Mill, Wale, & More), R. Kelly, Ghostface Killah, Young Jeezy, Jill Scott, Flo Rida, Drake, French Montana, Young Money & Cash Money. My only question is, who isn't going to be on the album? Word has it @eminem or @drdre might drop a verse on the album too, which would be a whole hell of a lot more noteworthy than the usual suspects above. We'll see if that comes to fruition, but even if it doesn't you can bet there will be at least three more Top 40 singles on the disc, which should make it a solid modern day compilation...#CantHateOnThat

DJ Khaled feat Kanye West & Rick Ross - I Wish You Would (prod by Hit-Boy)
|iTunes

"Been Ballin' All My Life, Lamborghinis Fast Whips"

Like I said earlier this week, you might as well call it @usherraymondiv week with all the new music he let loose this week. On single #2 for the week, Usher enlisted the help of industry heavyweights @iamjimjonsin and @rickyrozay. Unlike Scream, Lemme See is more of a laid back, falsetto based seduction anthem. Raaawwss's verse brings an added firmness to the give it a little bit more thug appeal.

Now a full three singles deep on his upcoming album Looking For Myself, he's got a slow jam, a mid-tempo radio track and a dance anthem. Suffice to say when the album actually drops in about a month and a half on June 12th, there will be plenty more incentive to cop it like his pending collabo with @swedishousemfia...#EDMOnTop

Usher feat Rick Ross - Lemme See (prod Jim Jonsin)
|iTunes

"Don't Be Scared Just Take it to the Head"

I was just thinking today, when was the last notable Hip Hop soundtrack? I'm talking like The Nutty Professor, The Players Club or Friday type of compilations that had a hot new song from just about anybody and everybody in Hip Hop. Other than a few exceptions, they went by the wayside like Surge and Crystal Pepsi.

Like any window of opportunity that closes, another one opens. The extinction created opportunities for DJ's like @djkhaled and @djdrama, who have filled that void with similar All-Star collaborations. Below is the newest collabo featuring @liltunchi, @chrisbrown, @nickiminaj and @rickyrozay off Khaled's upcoming album Kiss the Ring. If you don't pay attention closely, you might miss @therealrunners on the production credits. It's not their typical show stealing beat, but it does the trick for the new mid-tempo single that should find it's way into the top 40 soon enough.

DJ Khaled feat Chris Brown Nicki Minaj Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - Take it to the Head (prod by The Runners)
|iTunes

Videos of the Week March 16th

Slightly Hip Hop heavy on my weekly video report this Friday. I found myself wondering more than once today why in the hell I wasn't at SXSW with all the other sane minded individuals who enjoy music for a living and don't have an 8 to 5. With the music portion about half way through, there have been videos sprinkling in like @BIGKRIT's performance of The Vent. Surely there will be more to come, but until then there's plenty of other commercial videos to tide you over...#HappyStPattysDay

Wale feat Rick Ross & Meek Mill - Ambition (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. - The Vent (Live at SXSW)

B.O.B - So Good (Trailer)

J Cole feat Missy Elliot - Nobody's Perfect (Video)

Classic Reebok Campaign With Tyga & Mike Posner

Videos of the Week March 2nd

For one, I've evidently been riding the short bus because I totally missed that @JASONDERULO and @jordinsparks were dating. Put it this way, anyone who didn't realize they were dating, definitely does after watching their new remix duet video for It Girl. Other than that little tidbit of knowledge I gained this week, you may have missed @wizardcud's rant vs his record label as a result of the lack of promotion his new album WZRD received. It sounds like his label undersold the potential of his newest record and the estimated 80K sales that it's projected to get first week may even be a little low as a result. As per the usual, I mixed in the obligatory Drizzy concert video and even snuck in a #kendrick_lamar performance. It only their tour looped around to Philly somehow before going overseas...#Fail

Jason Derulo feat Jordin Sparks - It Girl (Remix)

Drake Performs Crew Love in New Orleans

WZRD Listening Sessions in NYC at W.i.P. Feb 23rd

Kendrick Lamar Performs Hii Power in New Orleans

Young Jeezy feat Ne-Yo - Leave You Alone (Trailer)

Jennifer Hudson feat Rick Ross & Ne-Yo - Think Like a Man (Video)

Videos of the Week Feb 3rd

Great mix of content on this week's version of videos of the week. Couple dunk of the year nominees, with three high profile videos, a sick @rickyrozay birthday bash and some Eastbound and Down to top it off. All you really need to remember is the date February 19th. That my friends is the day that @kfuckingp comes back for Season 3 of his circuitous and hilarious journey through life. Can't wait and as Kenny would say, "This gorgeous sunset is rockin' my nuts off!"...haha. Doesn't get much raunchier than that, but I love it. Have a good weekend y'all!

Lil Wayne feat Bruno Mars - Mirror (Video)

David Guetta feat Nicki Minaj - Turn Me On (Video)

B.O.B. feat T.I. & Young Jeezy - Strange Clouds (Remix)(Video)

Rick Ross Knows How to Throw a Birthday Party..Dr. Dre Gives him a 100K Hublot

Blake Griffin's Dunk Heard Round the World

Lebron Jumps Over John Lucas For Alley Oop

Eastbound and Down Season 3 Trailer

"Bitch You Wasn’t With Me Shooting in the Gym"

Just when @tip was starting to get all the love with his newest mixtape, here comes the Don of Dade county with his own high profile mixtape. Yesterday at 3:05 @rickyrozay's Rich Forever mixtape dropped on LiveMixtapes.com. Naturally, I gravitated toward the @drake track, but what I found weird is that the mixtape was simultaneously released with the video of Stay Scemin'. That means not only did the track not leak before the mixtape dropped (rare), but the video came along with it (even rarer).

To begin with, shouts out to @THEBEATBULLY for putting together the instrumental on the track. I mention that first because it was the basis for why this track is dope. Even though it's on Ross's tape, it still comes off as more of a Drake track because Rick's verse is so short and his role is primarily to come in with the hook. With all the buzz surrounding the potential of @FrencHMonTanA, his verse to me was as forgettable as they come. It's an unenviable task following Drake's verse on a track, but when you go from a well thought out, coherent verse (Drake) to random nonsense about the feds and people in jail, it's noticeable.

Still a solid effort on the track all around, so be sure and cop Rich Forever, which is again, free for all because Hip Hop is badass and Hip Hop artists fully understand what can be gained from releasing free music...#GetWithTheProgramEveryoneElse

Rick Ross feat Drake & French Montana - Stay Schemin' (prod by The Beat Bully)
|Mixtape