Not since A$AP Rocky has a rapper created such a simultaneous buzz on and offline like Chance the Rapper is generating right now. Currently courted by every major label in the U.S and hot off the heels of his recently released Acid Rap mixtape, the Chicago born emcee teams up producer Nosaj Thing for the latest installement of YoursTruly’s ‘Songs from Scratch’ series. ‘Paranoia’, which features in-part on Chance’s aforementioned mixtape (see: ‘Pusha Man’) marries Nosaj Thing’s off-kilter beat wizardry with the rappers multi-layered, multi-personality wordplay.
A$AP Rocky returns to the clouds with fellow A$AP Mob cohort Ferg on ‘Max Julien’, a haze-driven new track produced by Ty Beats. Taken off Funkmaster Flex’s Who You Mad At Me Or Yourself? mixtape the song revisits the woozier end of the A$AP repertoire – it’s immersed in lofty synths, crisp hi-hats and airy chants. Both emcees deliver characteristically different verses; Rocky assumes his usual charm-offense, while Ferg tackles a slightly more technical flow.
I didn’t think I could love Jessie Ware’s album any more than I already do but with the arrival of ‘Imagine It Was Us’, apparently I can. The Julio Bashmore produced up-tempo will feature as a bonus track on the U.S version of Ware’s debut album Devotion and now has a shiny new video to accompany it. Set within a circus and featuring some interesting characters, the song has fast become one of my favourites from Jessie and this may possibly be one of her best videos to date.
The A$AP Rocky remix of ‘Wildest Dreams’ will also appear on Jessie’s U.S release.
The homies over at PMR sent us the new remix of Jessie Ware’s ‘Wildest Moments’ featuring A$AP Rocky a couple weeks back, sadly we were sworn to secrecy. But fear not because here it is, the second of two bonus tracks that will feature on the U.S release of Ware’s debut album Devotion. The remix will do exactly what it needs to do – excite the U.S market (not that they’re not already, Jessie’s already performed a string of sold-out shows in the States) and like the awesome ‘Imagine It Was Us’ produced by Julio Bashmore will work as a dope addition to the LP.
After a massively successful year in the UK and across Europe with her critically acclaimed debut album Devotion, Jessie Ware is now preparing it’s U.S release (April 16th). To launch the album stateside the LP will feature two additional bonus tracks – one is an upcoming remix of ‘Wildest Dreams’ featuring A$AP Rocky and the other is ‘Imagine It Was Us’ produced by frequent collaborator Julio Bashmore. By far the most uptempo record on the album ‘Imagine It Was Us’ is a fabulous disco number with an infectious bassline and seductive vocals from Miss Ware and plays as a great addition to an already excellent album.
Last week, a few days after what would have been Aaliyah’s 34th birthday, a new song from the late singer surfaced online, but it’s origins still remain a bit of a mystery. There’s no official word on whether ‘Quit Hatin’ (prod. by Knotch) was released by the Haughton estate or whether it’ll appear on the upcoming posthumous album currently being produced by Drake and Noah ’40′ Shebib. But according to Rapture Stewart (who has writing credits on the Aaliyah album) “those verses [from 'Quit Hatin'] are from a song we did called “He Keeps Me Shakin”. He goes on to add even more fuel to fire by also confirming “we’re not really involved in the new [Aaliyah] project. None of her original team is for that matter…”.
Parts of ‘Quit Hatin’ may also sound a little familiar to some too, as it would appear A$AP Rocky samples Babygirls ad-libs on his ‘F*cking Problems’ single which was produced by … Noah ’40′ Shebib and obviously features Drizzy. The sample (and ‘Quit Hatin’ ad-lib for that matter) could have also originated from here too though. Who knows.
Another song called ‘Girlfriends’ also seemed to get the blogopshere excited this week but despite it featuring a ‘new’ beat – the song isn’t new. It’s from Aaliyah’s 2001 collaboration with Yaushameen Michael.
A$AP Rocky enlists pretty much everyone for one the most anticipated tracks off his upcoming debut album LongLiveA$AP, due January 15th. Enlisting the help of some of most exciting emcees around including Kendrick Lamar, Danny Brown and Joey Bada$$ and produced by Hit Boy, Rocky assuredly delivers one of his strongest singles to date. Interesting to see how they’ll go about marketing this album when its released, as we’ve yet to really hear a ‘commercial’ single from this guy (not complaining mind you, just noting).
The real question though – who has the best verse?
A$AP Rocky takes a big leap into his inevitable superstardom by joining Rihanna on the official remix of her latest single ‘Cockiness (Love It)’. What’s more Rocky is also rumoured to bewill be joining Rih-Rih on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards this week – nice headway towards that debut album promo. It’s no ‘Birthday Cake’, but hey, A$AP’s verse makes up for that.
That dreaded album delay strikes again. First A$AP, now Kendrick. Originally slated for an October 2nd release, Lamar will now release his much anticipated debut album on October 22nd. Not the longest postponement but still one that will surely disappoint fans who have been eagerly waiting for what will (or should) hopefully be one of this years best Hip Hop releases.
A$AP Rocky has rather quietly announced a new release date for his debut album LongLiveA$AP in a video interview with Wild949. Originally scheduled for a July release, then a September 11th release, Rocky now reveals October 31st as the official date for his album drop… But turn that frown upside down – that new A$AP Mob tape goes haard.
