YouTube users also hate this sh*t!

Nicki Minaj’s “Stupid Hoe” video sucks. Not only does the video suck, the song is terrible as well. Overall, the video has gotten negative reviews. Before I get into this post, understand that I’m far from a hater, and I actually support this new generation of music despite what “real hip hop lovers” think about new school music.

HOWEVER, there’s definitely a thin line between innovative and ridiculous, and I think Nicki Minaj just crossed it. She makes money because of the fact that she’s profound. Fine. I get that. I know that the song was a response to that Lil’ Kim “beef”. Fine. I get that. But what is the purpose of this video? What’s the purpose of any of the lyrics not directed at Lil’ Kim? What is she even saying? This sh*t has no substance. And when I say that, I don’t mean, like, Gucci Mane-esque no substance–which still has some type of comedic factor to it–I’m talking NO FVCKING SUBSTANCE AT ALL.

I tried to like this video/song. I really did. I watched and kept telling myself, “yo, it’s about to get better.” Then the video ended, and it didn’t get better. I asked myself why I just spent 3 min and 30 seconds of my life watching this garbage. I want my time back. I NEED IT BACK!

I don’t really want to promote this video at all, but I need you people to see how bad this thing is, so check out Nicki Minaj’s music video for “Stupid Hoe”:

*Sigh* If this is really what the generation below me thinks good music is then I might have to join that cynical cult of “real hip hop lovers” and start fighting against this kind of crap.

Don’t know about Travi$ Scott? Check out my other post about his single, THAT B!TCH CRAZY. Learn something? Good. Again, he’s released a music video that I think is just as awesome as THAT B!TCH CRAZY. Lights (Love Sick) is an interesting track that samples something nostalgic that I can’t put my finger on. Travi$ Scott’s delivery is so reminiscent of Kanye West yet so different at the same time. Again, I’m very excited for Travi$ Scott’s upcoming EP, Owl Pharaoh, if more tracks like THAT B!TCH CRAZY and Lights (Love Sick) are going to be on there.

Check out the video for Lights (Love Sick):

THAT B!TCH CRAZY!

The Houston community is oddly well connected on Twitter and–having lived in Houston for a year–I guess I follow a few of those well-connected Twitter users. Not important. What is important, though, is this upcoming artist Travi$ Scott (who’s other alias is apparently “Owl Pharaoh”) and his track entitled, “THAT B!TCH CRAZY”. I think he’s from Houston but recently found some success in California. This guy’s sound is ironically refreshing despite the fact that he sounds a bit like a mixture of a bunch of popular mainstream artists out right now.

I’m super impressed with the fact that he’s actually able to pull off the one-man-band thing very well by writing his songs, producing his songs, and shooting the videos (which are all VERY well done, btw). I think with a bit more refining, Travi$ Scott might be included in those fresh new sounds we’re all awaiting in 2012!

Check out this seriously awesome music video for THAT B!TCH CRAZY:

Even if he doesn’t ever make it big, he just got a spot on my favorite artist list. I’m looking forward to his upcoming EP entitled Owl Pharaoh!

WOW! When’s the last time you’ve heard Common go at someone like this? Common responds to Drake’s diss on “Stay Schemin’” and really lets Drake know what’s up! I’m a fan of both, so I’m staying impartial. However, I would love to see how this plays out; I’m all for music “beef” as long as it stays non-voilent, you know? And I’m sure it’ll definitely stay non-voilent between Drake and Common–or maybe Common will live up to those allegations that Fox News made about Common being a gangster rapper, lmao!

I love the lack of subliminal messaging by Common in saying, “Make no mistake I’m talking to Drake”

Take a listen here:
Common “Stay Schemin’” Diss to Drake

Lyrics:

My motto is: Chicago, bitch
Everybody know you sweet, what the problem is
Don’t play dumb, I’m the one that acknowledged it
Son of a bitch, I imagine what your father is
She said, “How you make your opponent, the rapper of the moment?”
His style, he don’t own it
Acting all hard when he hardly like that
You gon’ mess around and make me catch a body like that, ooooh
Don’t do it
‘Cause every song you make Joe is really hoe music
I heard you said you wasn’t a bitch because you sing
You a bitch because you cling like a bitch that’s eighteen
Can’t say my name but rap about a nigga’s wife
You so black and white, tryna to live a nigga’s life
I’m taking too long with this amateur guy
You ain’t wet nobody, nigga, you Canada dry

Rihanna from the You Da One video in a thong!

Maaan, I don’t even like Rihanna! Lol, no, seriously, I think she’s okay, but as of late, I’m starting to change my mind (for the better). Okay, fine, she may not be the best singer. She also may be a product of other people’s ideas, and, if that’s true, it doesn’t matter because she sure does execute them flawlessly! If there was ever a blank slate/canvas to have fun with, Rihanna is just that.

This brings me to the video for her single “You Da One”. It’s absolutely stunning and nothing like I’ve ever seen before. She’s been really hitting the nail on the head with these visuals lately, and if this keeps up I might actually turn into a solid fan! I mean, you won’t see me at any Rihanna concerts but I’m sure I’d bootleg her music. I’m kidding, bootlegging music is considered piracy and is 100% justifiably illegal! LMAO. Yeah.

Check out the video:

Maaan, it’s good to see Wiz Khalifa back in this awesome form that garnered him mainstream success! Don’t get me wrong–I loved the studio album, Rolling Papers, but something about that sound from the critically acclaimed mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice, just resonated with me. That sound was missing on the studio album, but here it is again on this track ironically entitled, “California,” despite it being recorded in Hawaii. Ah, who cares. It’s dope! Wiz Khalifa’s “California” is apparently going to be on his upcoming mixtape, Taylor Allderdice, so I’m hoping that means he has even more awesome tracks for the next album!

Want the song in your iTunes, like, right now? Then Download Wiz Khalifa – California via Hulkshare!

In the meantime, watch this really chilled & relaxed video for Wiz Khalifa’s California:

Something about this song just sends the listeners–including me–into a frenzy! This is evident by the amount of times Jay-Z and Kanye West have performed the song per show during their “Watch The Throne” tour. A record breaking (they set their own record initially) 10 times! 10 times! 10 times! The audience at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, rocked out to this song 10 times at one showing! That’s so amazing to me.

This brings me to this video of a guy on an NYC subway train just going H.A.M (excuse my album reference) over this song! This video never gets old, and I watched it go viral after Kanye got word of it and tweeted it. I don’t blame this guy, though, because whenever I play “Niggas in Paris,” I’m pretty much doing the same thing–minus the leg movements, lol.

Check it out:

“WOOOOOOOO!!!!! LET’S GO, JAY!!!!!”

Many thanks to Kanye West, Jay-Z, Hit-Boy, Mike Dean, Anthony Kilhoffer, & Noah Goldstein for making one hell of a song in 2011, and I hope there’s more to come for 2012!

What have I been listening to lately? Well, amongst other things, it’s been The Weeknd’s new mixtape entitled “Echoes of Silence” (clever). It’s amazing–just like his first real mainstream release, which was “House of Balloons”. The Weeknd definitely keeps bringing that melancholy yet addictive sound straight from Toronto. Co-signed by Drake, he’s been gathering lots of attention lately!

Want to give it a listen? Download it here!

My favorite track on there is “Montreal”.

Here’s the video for Terrace Martin ft Kendrick Lamar & Wiz Khalifa “Do It Again”. In my opinion, the song is dope but the video isn’t so great. It looks like it was made in less than an hour but I guess that’s the nature of that business these days, huh? Nonetheless, it’s still on repeat right now, lol. Kendrick Lamar is actually one amazing lyricist, and Wiz Khalifa is–well–he’s the same ‘ol [consistent & high] Wiz!

For the past two months, I’ve been playing both Kanye’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” which has been critically acclaimed as one of the best albums of 2010, and Kid Cudi’s “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager,” which I also believe is one of the best albums of 2010. Between these two, I have been in musical bliss. I love it when Kanye and Cudi team up (e.g. Gorgeous, Welcome to Heartbreak, Erase Me, Make Her Say, etc.), and “All Of The Lights” is no different.

Jordans, Cop Cars, Diamond Teeth…All Of The Lights!

There have been mixed reviews on this video. I wouldn’t call it video of the year, but I don’t think it’s horrible. Despite the brief moments of epileptic shock inducing flashing lights, Hype Williams did a great job with “All Of The Lights”! I’m not sure why people expect a Transformers II-esque production out of every Hype Williams/Kanye music video, but, hey, we live in a time of high expectations, I guess. Hype definitely got some great shots of Kanye in the video. Kanye is wearing the black/cement Air Jordan III’s, which are one of my FAVORITE sneakers in my collection. Kanye is no stranger to a pair of Jordans, Air Maxes, Dunks, etc.

You all know Kanye went rockstar on us, and this past October (2010) he revealed that he got his bottom teeth replaced with diamonds. Why? Because that’s rockstar sh*t, I guess. As the “All Of The Lights” video opens up, we see a little girl walking the streets, lots of flashing lights, and then awesome closeups of Kanye’s gold, goatee, and glasses (how’s that for alliteration?), and most importantly: his diamond teeth! Like Drake once said, “the visuals are stunning.” I admire Kanye because he is sincere, fashionable, and most of all he’s a musical genius. Many may think otherwise, but album sales and chart rankings don’t lie.

Let’s Not Forget About Rihanna’s Boobs!

Along with Kid Cudi, Rihanna also contributed boobs–I mean vocals–to the track. In fact, she sings the whole chorus. Everyone has their opinion about Rihanna. I personally don’t think she’s the greatest singer, but the music she puts out is dope. Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, musical talent seems to encompass more than just one’s ability to sing these days. Rihanna is what you’d call the total package, I guess, since she’s marketable as a Caribbean-pop singer/model type thing. I think it’s safe to say, though, that Rihanna’s breasts upstaged her presence in the “All Of The Lights” video. Nice directing, Hype!

The biggest question I have about the “All Of The Lights” video, though, is where is Fergie’s verse? That’s the dopest part! “Unemployment line, Credit card declined…”