Dark Sister - Red Velvet (Owlhead Collective, 2011)

Dark Sister finally dropped the video for Red Velvet, on the most appropriate day of the year. Please watch this (and also check out my review of the project this came from, Swag Hag, as well as my interview with Dark Sister themselves).

There’s cake!

I did an interview with my girls Dark Sister over at No Jumper. There is interpretive dance and shout outs to goat cheese. 

Juicy J - Been Gettin’ Money (Mixtape, 2011)

Sonny Digital is the fucking man. He seriously re-created Phillip Glass’ “It Was Always You, Helen” (the end credits for Candyman), with 808s and hi-hats, then let Uncle Juicy rap over that shit about his cash flow. Thank you, thank you so very much. 

Yelawolf (feat. Gangsta Boo & Eminem) - Throw It Up (Shady/Interscope, 2011)

For those worried that Yelawolf maybe going down commercial pastures, he recruits the legendary Gangsta Boo to add her menacing snarl to what is already a ominous piano riff. Yela’s verse is certainly strong enough (chopping it himself in the process), and Gangsta Boo comes as a pleasant surprise, but unfortunately Marshall is still rapping like the insecure middle-aged washed-up ex drug-addict with way too much to prove. Like, seriously Em, is it that hard to rap like a human being again? Why must everything be so robotic?

Yela’s Radioactive will be out November 21st. More Boo, less Eminem, we can only hope. 

Big K.R.I.T. (feat. 8Ball & MJG & 2 Chainz) - Money On The Floor (Cinematic Music Group/Def Jam, 2011)

I’ve never met Big K.R.I.T. (and my interview with him never happened), but judging him based on interviews and his musical persona alone, dude has gotta be the most kind-hearted rapper I’ve ever seen. Which is why songs like this strip club joint just don’t work for him. I can’t believe Krit’s in the strip jawnt throwing out hundreds in the air; I’m half expecting him to take his jacket off and cover up some poor girl he presumes to be underage, while asking her what she’s doing out so late and where her parents are. I’m not trying to say Krit’s a lame, but look at that dude. Look how warm his smile is (pause). If I saw someone that looked like him in the strip club, I’d probably just fucking run. There’s no reason that man should ever be around some poor girls shaking their titties in public. Dude’s probably going to burn down the club in the name of the Lord. Not saying he’d do that, again, but that’s what would be going through my mind. I wouldn’t even finish my drink. That shit ain’t natural.

8Ball, MJG, and 2 Chainz more than likely live in the strip club though, and that’s why this song works so damn well. K.R.I.T., no matter how awkward his verse is, lays the groundworks for this song with a hypnotic beat, paying tribute to Screw classic, 25 Lighters (the original featuring Lil Keke and Fat Pat).  8Ball manages to be the rapper who picks up the ball (no pun intended?) and runs with it, his husky voice taking the beat to new lengths. MJG is the first to really mention the 25 Lighters theme though, and PIMP TIGHT follows up his big partner’s verse with an intricately laced ode to pole-dancing.

2 Chainz is the standout though, continuing what must be his best year ever with an entire verse built around the number 25. It’s pretty appropriate considering his original moniker probably came from all the nights he spent in the strip club. What the hell is that dude holding though? Everytime I see 2 Chainz, I just get more confused