After welcoming their first child in 2010, songstress Alicia Keys and rapper/producer husband Swizz Beatz have added another son to their growing family; announcing the birth of Genesis Ali via their Instagram account writing “The joy of is joy!! It’s a boy! We are so grateful!! #blessings.”
Born on December 27, also sharing in the joy was the couple’s first son (Egypt Daoud,) who according to Keys was ecstatic about becoming an older brother.
If you’ve been with us since the first post in October, you know that we supply you with artists that takes music to an entirely new level. It’s only been two months since that post, but 2015 will be a year that we will take you deeper. But to end 2014 with a bang, we will give you our best albums of the year. There were a lot of albums that have prospered in its own way during the year, but these projects stood out completely and captured the attention that they all deserved. Each album wins a certain award foLike a lot of the music that’s posted on this column, it shows you where music is going. Here are The Odd Side’s Best Albums of 2015.
Most Recognized Album
FKA Twigs – LP1
This London-based singer has lingered around listener’s ears prior to LP1, but the album is what grabbed the acclaim from several critics and national attention from the music lover’s. FKA Twigs has a sound that nearly no one can imitate. Her dark chorus vocals from LP1‘s single “Video Girl” provides a creepy element to the album, while “Two Weeks” has a slower beat with a more euphoric tone. Each song on this album shine’s in it’s own unique way. Twig’s voice is beautiful, and fits well with the unique vibe of the album. Keep this chick under your radar.
Most Underrated
Gordon Voidwell – Bad Etudes
This was an album that no one saw coming, but it definitely kicked the beginning of 2014 off with a start, and even earned critical acclaim upon its release. Gordon Voidwell definitely had put in work to make Bad Etudes such a unique album with a retro feel. The vibe of the album reincarnates the sound of 80’s R&B and pop, even sampling Barbara Moon Mason’s “Another man” for the track “Pure (Hollywood Colt). Bad Etudes is one of the reasons why Gordon Voidwell was one of the artists to look out for performing at this year’s Afropunk Fest as well. If you are looking for a new imagining of a near past, Gordon Voidwell’s new album is the definite album to check out.
Oddest Album from The South
Father – Young Hot Ebony
Although fellow ATL rapper Rome Fortune won over critics with Small VVorld, Young Hot Ebony was the album that proved how much ATL Rap can be. Father’s project is brief, but it has a unique style of music created by weird bass-driven instrumentals and nonchalant raps by Father. Young Hot Ebony is comprised of sex, girls, drugs, the normal stuff most rappers talk about, However, the way it’s presented is what makes it special. The album features the single “Look At Wrist” featuring iLoveMakonnen and Key!, a track that’s been lingering on the internet and has been also acknowledged as one of the hottest songs of 2014.
Best Production Project
SBTRKT – Wonder Where We Land
SBTRKT’s sophomore LP was a standout project that has definitely earned its critical acclaim in 2014. With the album being released the same day as Flying Lotus’ concept album You’re Dead, winning this award was no small feat. The UK producer’s instrumentals are similar to his self-titled debut project, but things are a bit darker this time around. They may have been upbeat songs like singles “Temporary View” and “NEW DORP,NEW YORK”, but “Higher” shows a more serious perspective that listeners didn’t see coming. SBTRKT brought in the several unique names to his roster for Wonder Where We Land including Raury, ASAP Ferg, Ezra Koening, and Sampha. With a diverse tracklist, awesome features, and an already unique sound that will keep you interested throughout, Wonder Where We Land will continue to be a favorite even through 2015.
Best LP To Come Out Of Nowhere
Before Raury performed at ATLast, linked up with acts like SBTRKT and The Neighbourhood, and even hung out with Kanye West, the Atlanta artist released a project that would soon put him on the forefront for modern music as a whole. Indigo Child is a project that combines hip hop, rock, R&B, and even a little folk together to create a mixtape that is as unique as it is astonishing. It’s hard to really determine what influenced Indigo Child musically. While a song like “Woodcrest Manor” can be very reminiscent of Outkast, there would be more rock oriented songs like “Chariots of Fire” to completely throw you off. The final product is a free LP that shows several talents of this young Atlanta-native, and with him recently working with Gucci Mane for a track, Raury’s several talents make him both unpredictable and brilliant all at the same damn time.
What do you think about these 5 albums? Do you like them or nah? Is there any album that you think should have made the list? You can leave a comment below. And I”ll see you in 2015.
Donnell Rawlings spoofs OT Genasis “CoCo” for his new song “Lotion”. Check out all the cameos through out the video.
Young Thug sends his condolences to Trayvon Martin in his latest freebie “Pelican Fly“. I also added another single from Thugga called Hold Us featuring Rich Homie Quan and PeeWee Longway.
https://soundcloud.com/drumslum205/young-thug-pelican-fly
https://soundcloud.com/05fuckem/hold-us-young-thug-x-rhq-x-peewee-longway
Rae Sremmurd is set to release their new album “SremmLife” on January 6th. Today, they bless us with an early stream of the entire project. The tape comes with 11 records and features from Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Big Sean and Jace Of Two-9. Check it out here.
Following the success of Shy Glizzy’s well received Law 3 project, DJ Drama keeps the momentum flowing and unloads the official artwork for his latest body of work entitled Street Gospel II with Virginia’s new rap sensation Young Money Yawn.
The sequel to the 757’s natives 2013 release Street Gospel tell’s the story of life after the wave of local popularity turned national notoriety that materialized after the release of his viral single “Gutta Gutta” which allowed the young entrepreneur to have the opportunity to sign a major record deal. Laced with appearances from the likes of Juicy J and Young Dolph as well as production by Grammy Award winning producer Dr. Luke, Knuckle, Cirkut, Mad Max, Zeeko VIP’s and Gabe Niles it’s safe to say the highly anticipated street album will meet and exceed expectations.
Check out the official artwork for the project above, listen to his new Young Dolph assisted leak below and be sure to download the upcoming effort when it’s released in it’s entirety January 19th via Hot New Hip Hop!
via RESPECT Magazine
Los Angeles rapper Eastwood hits us with the remix of “Side Ni**a 101” featuring producer/singer 7:46.
Fat Trel releases “My Bruvas” off his upcoming mixtape Georgetown.
In honor of the late Pimp C’s birthday (Dec. 29), Montreality caught up with some of the Houston emcee’s closest confidants in music to reflect on their good times with him before his untimely death.
Paul Wall spoke about how Pimp C, who died in 2007, helped him and Chamillionaire call a truce.
“Pimp C was a big part of me and Chamillionaire ending our feud,” says the Swishahouse rep. “Before he called us out on a song he spoke to me personally [and] spoke to Chamillionaire personally as well just encouraging us to put that behind us…if it wouldn’t have been for Pimp C I don’t know if would have ever happened or been as smooth as it was.”
Watch Bun B talk about how he and Pimp C were getting money before rap, Slim Thug praise him for his genuineness, Too Short dish about his wild side along with old footage showing how the underground king evolved through the years.
Broadway Dice’s latest release comes with a freestyle over “All About The Money.” Check out his solid verse on the track here.
After being forced to spend the holidays in jail, Bobby Shmurda’s right hand man Rowdy Rebel has some words for his supporters. His girlfriend uploaded a video to Instagram of him saluting her for standing by him through this tough time while also sending a few shoutouts.
[ALSO READ: Bobby Shmurda To Be Indicted On Gun Charges]
Rowdy Rebel, who is also signed to Epic Records, along with the other 13 members of the GS9 crew were hauled off to jail a week before Christmas (Dec. 17) after being investigated by the NYPD for two years. Rebel was charged with attempted murder, criminal posession of a weapon, conspiracy, attempted murder, attempted assault and reckless endangerment.
Many of Louisville kids, affected by violent crime, get a special Christmas surprise by Master P one day after the holiday. Master P played Santa and gifted each child with a bike or other toy. One of the kids included the younger brother of Ray Etheridge who was killed in Cherokee Park in September.
Megan Brown, whose fiance was shot to death two years ago on Christmas, helped arrange the holiday event and got an additional present from Master P on Friday.
The comedy flick that has sent North Korea into a frenzy has been deemed the no. 1 online movie ever released by Sony Pictures.
The Interview not only grossed $1 million at the box office on Christmas day, but has now generated $15 million within the first four days of its release with two million downloads online, Sony reports. The Seth Rogen-James Franco film is now the highest selling online movie of all time.
[ALSO READ: Eminem Is Gay In Comedy ‘The Interview’ (VIDEO)]
After Sony reversed their decision to not show the movie due to terrorist threats, The Interview was made available for online streaming through Google Play, YouTube and Microsoft Xbox on Christmas Eve and released to 331 select independent movie theaters on Christmas.
Solange got hit with a tax lien and she ain’t even know it.
Looks like when TMZ broke the news that Solange got a tax lien, it was not only news to us, but news to her as well.
The pap site reported that the tax lien for $55,000 was filed three days after Solange married her husband, Alan Ferguson, for unpaid taxes in 2010-12 in California. Bey’s little sis didn’t have a clue about the tax lien and found out about it while surfing the internet. She made light of the situation though when she took to Twitter after finding out she owed Uncle Sam money.
She even sent a shout out to the hip-hop site who unknowingly informed her of her tax woes.
Nipsey Hussle has announced that he is dropping “the album before the album” sooner than we think. The South Central spitter is dropping his new mixtape, Mailbox Money, on New Year’s Eve.
Nip is following the same blueprint he laid with his Crenshaw mixtape, but is upping the price and selling hard copies for $1,000 instead of $100 through his Proud 2 Pay program. Mailbox Money is set to feature Hit Boy, Rick Ross, Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug.
His debut album, Victory Lap, is due out at the top of 2015.
When a Staten Island grand jury decided not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner, Ali Shaheed Muhammad knew he needed to say something. The A Tribe Called Quest member decided to confront what he saw as blatant injustice in the Garner case by channeling his energy into a new record.
Ali partnered with fellow entertainers/activists Merna, JaPoet, and David Luke to construct the #BlackLivesMatter themed song “CPR.” The 25 year Hip Hop veteran refers to “CPR” as the first track he ever created without his ego being the motivation.
Beyond dropping “CPR” and marching in the streets, Ali is further bringing awareness to reforming America’s justice system by calling for new legislation on rules of police engagement. The Brooklyn-bred producer/emcee is also promoting cooperation with civil rights and community organizations to address the civic and social concerns underscored by the killing of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and other unarmed minorities at the hands of law enforcement.
AllHipHop.com recently spoke with Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Part one of the exclusive interview covers the making of “CPR” and another major collaborative effort on the near horizon.
“CPR” is a very powerful statement about what is taking place in the country right now. At what point did you decide you wanted to address those issues?
It was when the announcement was made that the grand jury in the case of Eric Garner against the police officer decided not to indict him. I think Ferguson was upsetting, and I instantly went out and protested then. The news of Eric Garner – it definitely was like somebody punched me in my gut and took all my wind out. Not only just the wind out of myself, but everything that my father, my mother, my grandparents, and all my ancestors fought for in this country.
To get to that kind of injustice, especially after there being clear proof that he was murder by law enforcement… I cried for maybe like 5 hours. At that point I stopped crying and it hit me – make a song. Make a song expressing how you’re feeling.
How did you pull together the different artists on the track?
I’d been working with Merna. While that ruling was read, she and I had been writing a song together. I had to tell her, “Let me call you back and figure something out.”
Later that morning, when I had the idea of me doing something, I reached out to David Luke, one of the producers in my camp. I don’t know why I wanted his voice on there. I know that David is an emcee, but our working relationship is more as a producer.
He’s an incredible songwriter and beat maker, but I just had it in me to ask him to listen to this song to see if he would be part of it. David is a young father. He has a three-year-old son. I felt like he would understand. Just to get that young father’s voice – What’s the world going to be like for your child?
After that, I sent it to Merna. I didn’t instantly hear a singing part, but I just knew that Merna’s music is in a sense of calling out a certain type of oppression. I felt like her spirit in what she and her people, the Palestinians, have gone through in being oppressed… I felt she would have something to say.
JaPoet is another artist that I work with, and someone that is slightly younger than I am. Knowing that he’s a prolific poet, I felt that he too would be able to add his emotion. I didn’t have anything specific I thought he could bring, but I just wanted him to put his Black male perspective on tape.
You’re also selling t-shirts to raise proceeds for the Eric Garner Family Fund?
I made the song strictly from the perspective of “I’m an artist,” and I didn’t know what else to do outside of marching and lifting my voice. I didn’t want to sell the song. I just wanted to put it out. Then I also thought of the word “equality” while I was making the song. It’s a basic word. It’s what we all want from this situation, just to be treated as equal.
So I came up with this idea of “equality” as a shirt, and I thought it could be cool if something was done with it. Merna also said, “What about donating the proceeds to the Eric Garner family?” I said, “Yeah, that would be dope.” So I did it.
In addition to that, I wanted to do more than just give to the Eric Garner Family Fund. I wanted to put a word out there for people if they also want to do that. I think there are other organizations that we need to support to fight those legal battles. There’s the National Urban League, the NAACP, and the ACLU. I feel people should donate to these organizations, and if not money, then time. Use those resources to help battle these injustices.
With the release of “CPR,” are you thinking about releasing a sophomore solo album?
I’ve been working on a solo record, so that’s something for my 2015. I’m doing a couple of things. There’s a record with Adrian Younge. He and I are working on an album together. That’s slated for early 2015. I’m working on my solo record for mid-2015.
It’s interesting. There’s nothing out there that sounds like what [Younge and I] are doing. It’s pretty exciting.
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To purchase Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s ≠quáḽįty apparel visit here.
Follow Ali Shaheed Muhammad on Twitter @alishaheed and Instagram @alishaheed.
Frequent Beyoncé collaborator Detail releases his own version of the superstar’s “7/11” featuring an appearance by French Montana. The Grammy-nominated producer previously crafted the tracks “Drunk in Love” by Bey & Jay Z, “We Dem Boyz” by Wiz Khalifa, and “Lookin Ass” by Nicki Minaj.
A couple days back a pic surfaced of YG and his boo Catelyn coupled up at a family function, but according to her Instgram things have gone all the way sour.
Word is YG held her down while she was locked up and now wants her to accept what he’s coming with. TheShadeRoom posted screenshots of a post made by homegirl and she’s saying YG is giving out gifts you can’t get rid of:
Photo:TheShadeRoom
Damn. Hopefully she was hacked…
Tahiry Jose was assaulted a few months back and her attacker gets to walk away scot-free.
TMZ reports:
“The guy — Charles Suggs — pled guilty to assault this week for his brutal attack that left the model in a neck brace and covered with cuts and bruises.
Suggs copped a plea and got off with no jail time. He has to complete an anger management program and he has to stay clear of Jose for 5 years … or else.
Jose was backstage at the Toure Designs show in September when Suggs started arguing with her. He snapped, charged her and began throwing punches, dragged her down and kept wailing on her until the crew broke it up.”
SMH. No penalty and homegirl is still going through therapy…?
(AllHipHop News) One of the most talked about revelations from the Sony hacker leaks was an email which included movie executive discussing Idris Elba playing James Bond in a future film. Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal wrote, “Idris should be the next bond.”
After days of both support and backlash on social media about the potential he could be the first Black 007, Elba addressed the issue in a comical way on Twitter.
The upcoming 24th movie in the iconic series will again star Daniel Craig in the lead role. Spectre will be directed by Sam Mendes, and the motion picture is scheduled for release November 6, 2015.
Meanwhile, Elba can be seen in the newly re-mastered HD version of the classic television series The Wire on HBO Go. The 42-year-old British actor also appears in Luther available for streaming on Netflix.
