For nine glorious hours this morning, there was a new Kendrick Lamar album legally, surprisingly available for your purchase and consumption via iTunes and Spotify a week before the previously confirmed release date. Until Interscope took the shit down, goddammit. For those of you who are therefore missing out on Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly this morning, allow me to recommend a few slappers and slow jams that dominated my weekend, shouts out to Brodinski, T-Pain, Lil Bibby, T.I., and Shura—indeed, one of these recommendations is not like the others.
Brodinski f/ Bloody Jay "Us"
Released: March 6, 2015
While my overall favorite cut off the Brodinski album is "Bury Me," featuring Bricc Baby Shitro, who's lately on the come-up, "Us" is the Brava deep-cut that stuck to my ribs this weekend. There's nothing quite like that stampede of drums amplified by Bloody Jay's singing to treetops, sounding like the Jumanji soundtrack. Come for "Us" and "Bury Me," and stay for the abundance of gems and Limit Breaks from SD, Chill Will, Young Scooter, and Peewee Longway. Brodinski, you un zouave for this one!
Shura "2Shy"
Released: March 9, 2015
Here's cupid, hitting me with the steamy Janet Jackson falsetto and rollicking bass kicks and fluttering synth kisses, as if this past Saturday were 1989! (Granted, I was only two years old then, but still.) This is what I'm talkin' bout! See, while y'all were indulging Sam Smith's whimpering three-legged puppy routine for six too many months, Shura was properly in her feelings, churning out limerence jams for introverts who secretly prefer to cuddle. "We could be more than friends/Baby, you're just too shy." I blush every time.
Lil Bibby f/ Lil Herb "Ain't Heard Bout You (Kill Shit Pt.2)"
Released: March 10, 2015
Much as saxophones infected rap and pop production throughout all of last year, heady piano loops are finna kill shit in 2015. See Future and Zaytoven's "Just Like Bruddas" on the high-end, and now, on the low-end, Herb and Bibby's "Kill Shit" sequel, "Ain't Heard Bout You," which is chamber music for the 21st century. Shouts out to the 4-year-old daughter smiling like a cute lil' goofball featured in this here video treatment for a song in which Lil Herb extensively advises against trying to rob his rocks and jewels. We see you, boo-boo!
T-Pain f/ Kardinal Offishall "Disa My Thing"
Released: March 12, 2015
How is it that T-Pain is only just now getting a Gangsta Grillz tizzape? And now that we're on the subject, isn't it rather sad that Nate Dogg never did a solo Gangsta Grillz tape before his untimely passing in 2011? Will Barack Obama do a Gangsta Grillz tape to promote the opening of his presidential library in 2019 or whenever? I have so many questions. T-Pain has so many flows. Waka Flocka Nas better watch his back!
T.I. "Project Steps"
Released: March 12, 2015
Since 2010, T.I. has gradually lost the plot; for every "Ready Set Go," "Sorry," or "About the Money," there's a "No Mediocre" tucked around the corner, just waiting to pop out and ruin your day and your regard of Tip's legacy. Thankfully, "Project Steps" is Tip's stronger suit, cowboy menace set to twinkling, crystallized trap from the veteran who nationally popularized the term. God help us if Iggy hops on the remix, however.
