We conclude our playlist series of 2019 faves here. It should be clear by now that there was a lot of music to take in. Collectively, it was also a good way to get an idea of the major tides last year. Indeed, the songs we liked reflected the continuous shift towards a more (genre)...Continue reading
Tag: J. Cole
Flying Over 2019, Pt. III: The Darlings of Your Airwaves
It is our sincerest hope that you’ve enjoyed the two year-end playlists we’ve put out earlier in the week as we crossed into 2020. We look forward to delve further into the patterns we were able to discern and share our thoughts on what’s to come. As such, the playlists serve as a preview. So...Continue reading
Le magasin des envies, Vol. 8: A Night Out
I decided to give my spin on one of our more popular playlist series. (It’s also one of our more suggestive series; no coincidence there, right?) So I asked the series mastermind for the creative process behind it and quizzed a few dear lads and ladies and this is what we’ve come with. Picture this...Continue reading
Just Some Rap Kickin’ 2
It’s been a while since I made a playlist to put the spotlight on rapping mastery. Just like the previous time, I’ve made my pick at random from a large and growing pool of joints that I feel feature supreme displays of rapping. Take a listen, and smile. I bet you will concur!Continue reading
R&Cs: Down Bad
It bears repeating that Dreamville’s ROTD3 compilation is absolutely jam-packed! So, it shouldn’t surprise to expect and fete a long rollout of singles. “Down Bad” picks up where the DaBaby-assisted “Under The Sun” left off. There’s NO WAY I’d have been able to sustain the frenetic pace that J. Cole and crew start us off...Continue reading
R&Cs: Family and Loyalty
I can’t quite describe the delight that takes hold of me whenever I hear a DJ Premier trademark production. I’m talking about the buttery soul sample chops. I’m referring to that unrelenting boom bap. Oh lest I forget those timely scratches! That leads me to Primo’s Gang Starr mate, the dearly departed Guru. With his...Continue reading
R&Cs: Under the Sun
You gotta love it when circumstances conspire for good playlist material! And ain’t it always dope to kick off the week on a high!? Here, we lift off with J. Cole, his Dreamville acolyte Lute, his fellow North Carolinian DaBaby, and an uncredited Kendrick Lamar on the blazing “Under the Sun”, the latest single off...Continue reading
My Ten Best American Rappers of All Time
There are not enough words, in my humble opinoion, to describe my love for American Hip-Hop. The likes of Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G,. and Ma$e spurred me to start writing verses. And even if I don’t listen as much as I used, American Hip-Hop will always have a special place in my heart....Continue reading
Smoke x Mirrors ’19|07: I
While chopping up with Buck about the direction of the playlist and the site in general, he brought to my attention that I never made a straight up hip-hop playlist. He suggested one that would showcase the new wave of rappers that keep going about their business of showing off their dexterity and prowess on...Continue reading
Smoke x Mirrors ’19|05: III
And here comes my bow tie to May 2019. I had a great rush in compiling three playlists to present to you in a three-day span — though, I don’t look forward to repeating the experience so often 😅. As we get into the thick of summer, I will enthusiastically nudge you to listen to...