J. Cole Archives | The Buck Stop

Flying Over 2019, Pt. IV: Rap N****!!!

January 12, 2020September 23, 2020The SandboxLeave a comment

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...

Flying Over 2019, Pt. III: The Darlings of Your Airwaves

January 5, 2020September 23, 2020The SandboxLeave a comment

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....

Le magasin des envies, Vol. 8: A Night Out

November 5, 2019September 23, 2020Le magasin des enviesLeave a comment

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...

Just Some Rap Kickin’ 2

October 24, 2019October 17, 2020The SandboxLeave a comment

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!...

R&Cs: Down Bad

October 24, 2019February 13, 2020Roll and CoastersLeave a comment

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...

R&Cs: Family and Loyalty

October 2, 2019June 1, 2020Roll and CoastersLeave a comment

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...

R&Cs: Under the Sun

September 16, 2019May 26, 2020Roll and CoastersLeave a comment

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...

My Ten Best American Rappers of All Time

July 21, 2019July 22, 2019A Lion Among MenLeave a comment

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...

Smoke x Mirrors ’19|07: I

July 17, 2019July 17, 2019Smoke x MirrorsLeave a comment

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...

Smoke x Mirrors ’19|05: III

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019Smoke x MirrorsLeave a comment

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...