Tagged with lil wayne

Listen: Drake – “Started From The Bottom”

_STR8556
Since releasing his Take Care near the end of 2011, Drake has been keeping his solo material close to the heart, only making occasional appearances with his blistering verses and hooks on other artists’ songs (see ASAP Rocky‘s “F**kin’ Problem”, Future‘s “Fo’ Real”, Lil Wayne‘s “Love Me” for examples). So there’s something inherently exciting about “Started From The Bottom,” the Mike Zombie and 40-assisted debut single from Drizzy’s next solo album. It’s a little bit repetitive — probably to help silence everyone who still claims that Drake’s career was gifted to him on a Degrassi-greased plate or that he just somehow stumbled haphazardly onto the world stage, but the bottom line here (no pun intended) is that he’s worked hard for everything he has now and that he’s here to stay.

Here’s what Drake had to say about it on the OVO blog:

My good friends,

It has truly been too long. I assume you’re all keeping well and making the most of this year that has been given to us. Today is the day to begin sharing my newest work with you. This is the first single off of my upcoming album. I feel sometimes that people don’t have enough information about my beginnings and therefore they make up a life story for me that isn’t consistent with actual events. My family and my second family (consisting of the best friends anybody could ever have) all struggled and worked extremely hard to make all this happen. I did not buy my way into this spot and it was the furthest thing from easy to achieve. I am proud of every part of my past and I’m excited for this song to find a place in your life as well. I didn’t feel I needed any interviews or radio or press to launch this song. It felt right to come back to the site that I started on and release it to the people that started here with me. Judging by this post, the tour that we’ve been planning, the conversations about new songs and album artwork…I think it’s safe to say we’re back together again. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

“You don’t have to ask me how I’m doing…just listen to the music” – K.Samir

Watch: New Drake Music Videos for “Take Care” and “HYFR”

Drake has just released two new music videos for his album, Take Care. The first video is “Take Care”, featuring Rihanna and samples Gil Scott-Heron And Jamie xx’s collab. Yoann Lemoine (“Blue Jeans”, “Born to Die”), the director for the video, told MTV that “it’s actually the most indie video I’ve done my whole life.” As if “Blue Jeans” wasn’t indie enough. The second video is for “HYFR”, which features Lil Wayne. The music video is an amazing recreation of Drake‘s Bar Mitzvah that occurred last year. The video also includes artists such as Trey Songz, Birdman, and DJ Khaled. This video was directed by Joseph Labisi, who has directed music videos for artists such as Chris Brown, Taylor Swift and Common. Watch the two videos below.

 

Clams Casino and the “Just For Now” Sample

It’s rarely the case that a hip-hop producer can single-handedly carry an emcee through a track. But such is the case with New Jersey’s Mike Volpe, better known by his stage name Clams Casino, who first turned heads after his collaborations with Soulja Boy and Lil B began making rounds on the Internet. With a keen sense for smooth vocal samples, Clams Casino creates dreamy, ethereal soundscapes that swallow you up and carry you away before the first crash or hi-hat even drops. And the best part of it all? His music works with or without an emcee over top.

That’s something you can’t find with new-age (pardon the pretentiousness) producers. Sure, T-Minus creates synth-laden beats with a similar loftiness, but the soundscape doesn’t even come close. Face it – a track like “She Will” needs Drake and Lil Wayne to fully function.

What may be more impressive is how all of his fantastic beats come together. “I’m God”, perhaps the defining song so far in both Clams Casino’s and Lil B’s careers, takes it roots in Imogen Heap‘s breathtaking “Just For Now”, a song that sounds nothing like “I’m God”.

MP3: Imogen Heap – “Just For Now”

MP3: Lil B – “I’m God” (Prod. by Clams Casino)

That same song, “Just For Now”, was even been sampled by Clams Casino more than once. ASAP Rocky‘s “Bass”, believe it or not, comes from the very same sample. Originally intended for Lil B, Clams Casino actually reworked the beat after the Based God decided that one part of the song was a bit too fast for him, ultimately resulting in yet another song from the same sample entitled “I’m The Devil”. That part was thus taken out, slowed down, and given to Rocky.

MP3: ASAP Rocky – “Bass” (Prod. by Clams Casino)

MP3: Lil B – “I’m The Devil” (Prod. by Clams Casino)

Simply put on your headphones and slip away into the music…

Stream Childish Gambino’s ‘Camp’

If you aren’t currently hooked on the Take Care leak or ASAP Rocky‘s new mixtape, there’s still plenty of new rap music to keep you busy. After premiering a new track, “Heartbeat”, on radio station Hot 97 earlier in the day, Gambino decided to team up with NPR and release his entire album for streaming online. Praised for his lyrical wit and his Internet-famous punchlines, Gambino has drawn numerous comparisons to Young Money ringleader Lil Wayne and seems poised to steal away some of the spotlight from Drake. Camp will be out November 15th.

STREAM: Childish Gambino – Camp

What do you think about the record? Let us know in the comments.