New Rules

Yo, im back. It has been a while since the last time I have released anything. But to the many people who have came to the spot and checked it out I sincerely appreciate it to the fullest. Not to worry I have been in the cut working on new things and talking to people about new ideas and works for the blog. As the work materializes. Cant wait to show yall the new stuff.

Magna Carta Holy Grail Commercial 

As you can already tell by the title of this blog post it is about the new Jay-Z album Magna Carta Holy Grail. Im sure many of you saw the commercial for the album during game five of the NBA Finals. But generally its the entirety of the topic of doing something unprecedented. If your unaware of the details, here it is. Samsung met with Jay-Z during his recording process and offered him a 20 million dollar contract to promote their product and with a tool such a massive fan base what else but provide interest in a new album to be released by app and specific phone only. Its ingenious. With production handled by heavy hitters such as Timbaland, Pharrell, Swizz Beats. Theres isnt much room for failure between the group. Before I further express anything else take a few minutes and watch these videos/ promos for the album.

Timbaland on MCHG and Kanye

Dream On MCHG

Alright so my whole thought behind this blog post is two things. My undying love for hip-hop, and what Jay-Z is doing in Music and how much he's pushing the culture among others. Bringing in headlining names from the likes of Nas, Justin Timberlake, Rick Ross, and Frank Ocean. This album has dope features. After listening to the album it is a ILL piece of work. Goosebumps. Sonically its what you expect from Jay-Z to put you in a mind space to do something GREAT. Lyrically there isn't a question about the quality of the rhymes. I cant even front to yall I don't even want to say anything else. This is an experience. A piece of history. Digitally Hov has put out an album is platinum before its release. Thats just unprecedented. We hope to see things happen and how fortunate we are to witness this in our time. 

Tracks to check out:

1. Holy Grail
2. Crown
3. Jay-Z Blue
4. BBC
5. Oceans
6. La Familia

Oceans Promo

Tom Ford Promo

Jay-Z Blue Promo

Holy Grail Promo

Heaven Promo

New Rules. My mind just loves this concept to have the music industry revere your progression. To move a culture forward is what we've been taught to do and hunger for.  To fight for what you believe you can accomplish. The mind is a wonderful tool and a horrible weapon. In a song called "Vendetta" by Elijah Blake Ft. J. Cole, there is a line that J. Cole says " sometimes our dreams come true but sometimes our fears do too". That got me thinking about how much we fail to achieve because of fears we have about our lives, our work, our art. That idea of fear holds people back in all aspects. We've all had doubts when we were unprepared to do something, nervous to start something, fearful of the consequences of reality of actions. If this notion of new rules brings nothing else its to take risks. Whatever you got you have to be confident in your work enough to take that risk. Thats honestly thats where my work on these blogs stem from just believing that I'm doing something right even if it may not be perfect. I don't expect to be. Don't expect to be perfect but demand the best from yourself. Write the new rules for yourself. Create the reality you want for yourself. Time plays its role no matter what you do but your effort and persistence decides how much of that time plays factor. You could be the person who changes the world or does something of value for this generation. We all hope to be the next Ghandi, Jay-Z, Nelson Mendela, Ali, Obama what have you but are we willig to sacrifice what we have now and strong enough to put that vision out and stand behind it theough failure or sucess? We are losing our idols and leaders. Few are rising in their place. It may be that the world is becoming a more understanding place, a better world but we all know, mind my language; How fucked up this world truly is. Honestly it's an era where we'll fight for humanity and equality, but be humane to those who don't have decency in understanding. That's beyond words to me. Political I know but nonetheless important.  Tupac once said " I not saying I'm going to change the world but I guarantee I will spark the mind that will". Thats the mindset I've arrived at, to push myself to make something that hasnt been done or thought of. We facet ourselves to demonstrate what we want to see. But we seldom present that to how we hope to see it. In an era where everything is so fast paced and diluted how do we retain quality over quantity? Is that even important these days?  Too scared to do, too scared to say, too scared to try. To change the course of history in the slightest through anything I can possibly do. Create new dynamics, new concepts, new way of thinking, new art. New Rules.

On the tangent of music just my thoughts of the projects released of late. 

Kanye- Yeezus. Kanye being the person he is he's experimenting. Its one of those things that where you have to listen to with an open mind. Come on though you knew this wasn't the average album when his promotion was projections on buildings and with a New Slaves as his lead he is outside the box. He's just keeping us on the edge of our seats with the project. From what I've read and heard there is a another part to this project. In short its not the traditional Ye album.

1. Bound 2 
2. Blood On The Leaves
3. Hold My Liquor

J. Cole- Born Sinner. J. Cole stepped his game on this album genuinely this album felt comfortable. It didnt sound like he forced any part of it trying to put together a project. It sounds smooth. It all works together to fall into place for this album. With a feature from TLC and 50 Cent he put in the time to make it all sound amazing. Personally he's doing what hes supposed to as an artist and step outside of the comfort zone and challenge himself and other artist and I feel he did just that with this album. 

1. Trrouble
2. Forbidden Fruit (Would have preferred a Kendrick verse)
3. Let Nas Down
4. Let Nas Down Remix
5. Niggaz Know 
6. Sparks Will Fly (Its about time Jhené Aiko got her shine)

Justin Timberlake- The 20/20 Experience. After his hiatus he really brought the fire on this album. He put together a cohesive project I just enjoy listening to. Classic R&B at its heart. amazing melodies and Harmonies. If you havent heard it you must have been under a rock.

1. Spaceship Coupe
2. Tunnel Vision ( He released an explicit video recently, check it out)
3. Let The Groove In
4. Mirrors

The-Dream- IV Play. The fourth installment to his Love series, he does what he does best make R&B music that you want to listen to. He brings a few features on the album you wouldnt expect such as Big Sean, Pusha T. Also he put Beyonce and 2 Chainz on an song together. Last but not least The-Dream surely did get that verse from Jay-Z for that swap meet line at the Grammys

1. Self-Conscious
2. Too Early
3. Equestrian
4. High Art

Wale -The Gifted. Wale put together another album that is pleasant for the ears. It is a cohesive project. Minus some issues with Tiara Thomas regarding who she signed with. Which is why we see a Rihanna  feature on the album. This album is totally from a different realm than that of Ambition. He created a more commercial successful album with the integrity of older Wale. Apart from the outstanding single exposure this album has got there is more to this album. 

1. Vanity
2. Simple Man
3. '88
4. Golden Salvation

All in all this year has been amazing to Hip-Hop and theres more to come. Ill be sure to come back and hit yall with something good soon as soon as I come across it. Enjoy yalls summer. Do something with it. Hit me up if you have any ideas or want to do something on the blog.

Until Next Time I Wish You Peace, Love, Respect, & Happiness.