Music Video: "Ciroc Star" - Chester French

Two Harvard graduates have been partying in L.A., kicking it with nerd girls and swimming in pools of Ciroc. D.A. Wallach and Maxwell Drummey make up indie pop (also classified as alternative hip-hop) duo Chester French. The 20-something duo released their featured filled mixtape 'Jacques Jams, Vol. 1: Endurance' last Spring and their debut album 'Love the Future' released shortly thereafter. They are signed to Pharrell's Star Trak label and Interscope Records. The recently released their video for their buzz single "Ciroc Star" featuring Jadakiss and Diddy. Like it?

Yay or Nay: Leomande - Big Sean

After the release of "Million Dollars" video, Big Sean tweeted the song would be the last of the old things he was putting out. He's staying true to his word, the Detroit local released this video yesterday, it was directed by Dante Marshall (who is one of my favorite photographers). Finally Famous Vol. 3 is supposed to be released sometime in February and his album is supposed to be dropping sometime this year. Yay or Nay: "Supa Dupa Lemonade" - Big Sean.

Yay or Nay: Like a Zoo - Miz Korona

This song has been out for a minute—a looonnnnggg minute—and if you remember my last post about Miz Korona, then you know she shot the video for this song took place in December. "Like a Zoo" is the buzz single off her debut album "The Injection" (yeah, I didn't know she never did an album either). I wanted to try out the new .mp3 player I'll be using on here, and I figured what better way than with a song I heard (then lost and just got back today) but never posted. Yay or Nay: Like a Zoo - Miz Korona.







Photo credit: That photo of Miz Korona was shot by Michelle Merriweather; you should check her blog.

Another Dream - KR

I've been looking for another blogger for a while, but I knew it couldn't just be anyone (especially since I'm extremely picky about grammar and other things even though I slip up). I was looking for something different. I wasn't sure exactly what just different. When KR asked me if he could guest blog I took him up on the offer. He's currently in the studio working on Chain of Memories II which is releasing some time [very] soon. This series of blog posts are his thoughts in his own words. I'm calling it The Dream Series and you'll understand why.

It’s funny growing up with a head full of dreams and things you know you’ll do by the time you’re a specific age. When I was in 2^nd grade I wanted to be the first basketball playing astronaut.

At age 23 I’m 5’9 and I hate riding airplanes, fuck a spacecraft.

I look at being a kid and having all of these outlandish dreams, that no one my senior would sway me away from, and I begin to wonder, is it their fault for not telling me 99.9% of those dreams would never come to fruition or is it my fault for still not believing?

I begin to wonder, is the bitter bitch working the drive thru window at my local McDonald's bitter because she’s just a bitch or because this ain’t what she wants to do? It’s probably both, but I digress.

It’s cliché, but I think we all need dreams. Otherwise we get caught in these cycles and by the time we snap out of it we realize the mistakes we made by staying so dedicated to that cycle. Hindsight is 20/20 though; let’s see things for what they are.

I’m stuck in this cycle; I do the same things everyday in order to chase my dream.

What is the dream?

To use rap to support my family and tell my story to people. I wanted to be the biggest and most famous when I was a child. When I grew up, it was about family. When my daughter was born in 2008 and I held her in my arms for the first time, it was all about her and her well being. Fuck being famous. They’re calling Jay-Z the devil and Kanye’s being called a nigger because he interrupted some overrated white girl—TRUST ME, I don’t need fame. What I need is the mental security of knowing if I died tomorrow my daughter would be financially stable. I don’t have to be rich, but I have to be comfortable, so I deal with the uncomfortable to become comfortable—for a dream.

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Money Money - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Someone robbed Mike Posner's house at Duke University and stole his music equipment, now the kid that all the cool kids thought they were cooler than is offering $20,000 for anyone that can recover his stuff.

The Breakfast Song

You've seen the "Milk and Cereal" guys who became an instant hit after they went viral. Well my friend Arielle and two of her friends made their own spin to the most important meal of the day that's a little more...fulfilling. It was posted nearly one year ago, sure, but it's dope nonetheless. Peep: The Breakfast Song.



I think what makes this beyond dope, is the fact that they can actually sing.

Yay or Nay: I'm That N***a - K-Bunz

USR the clique. Every time I see or hear from USR, I always think of USDA (I'm random like that). Anyway, K-Bunz is releasing his mixtape '5 Miles to the City Limits' soon and tonight he leaked a track produced by Young Scolla from the upcoming project. Maybe you remember hearing K-Bunz on the track "Infatuation" with Scolla, maybe you've seen him before or maybe you know him from Twitter...all of that is null and void with this anthem of sorts "I'm That N***a." That being said: (ahem) Yay or Nay: I'm That N***a by K-Bunz produced by Young Scolla.

Tell Me - Slum Village

Fact: I love Slum Village. (Yes I am going to start every post I do on them with that phrase.) I'm all caught up on T3 and eLZhi's Da Villa Chronicles, just in time for their third installment. In this webisode, they speak on Baatin, why he left and why he came back.

Music Video: Million Dollars - Big Sean

Not too long ago Big Sean had an unfortunate incident with the leaking of a video for "Rollin" that he didn't like. Well, that's in the past and today the Detroit native premiered his video for "Million Dollars." I'm digging the concept of this one and the angle and shot variation is cool as well. What do you think?

Music Video: "Satellite" - Rio

So I posted the Yay or Nay for this song not too long ago only for the video to debut a day or two later. I must say I'm diggin' the video; the editing and video quality is good and the concept is simple. Check it out. "Satellite" - Rio

Yay or Nay: Set Me Free - Diggy

Who's house?

Apparently it's Diggy's. Yes, one of Rev Run's younger sons has taken on rapping as his latest venture, and he's a hit with the critics. Now you may have gotten his mixtape, 'The First Flight' when it released December 2, but the young Run is not sitting still. He is still working on his developing clothing line (which if you're a fan of the show you saw was approved in Season 6), he's blogging and just released another track yesterday. Yay or Nay: "Set Me Free" - Diggy [Simmons]

Flashback: 808 - Blaque

The early 00's saw a lot of groups, some worked out while others didn't. One of my favorite groups was Blaque, the protégés of the late Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. It did seem that they were going to be one to last with their self-titled debut album breaking into the top ten on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and being extras in the teen cult classic "Bring it On." Several rumors have come out about the group including the possibility of a reality TV show, but that never got off the ground. Two members didn't go quietly, Shamari (the lead singer) began doing background vocals and is credited on Nelly and Paul Wall's "Grillz" and Natina (the rapper) began to pursue a solo career of her own before getting engaged to Kurupt and (according to Wikipedia) going into ministry (IDK about that last part). Anyway, for today's Flashback I chose their song "808" probably their highest grossing record to date. Check for the Left Eye cameos.

Flashback : 808 - Blaque.


BLAQUE - 808

♥Priscilla a.k.a Pila♥ | MySpace Video

Yay or Nay: Satellite - Rio

One of those joints someone @ replied me on Twitter and I decided to post it. So the artists' name is Rio and he hails from Detroit. Couldn't find much besides that about him, but what do you think? Yay or Nay: Satellite - Rio

Promise Me - Monica Blaire

Fact: Monica Blaire has one of the most amazing voices I've ever heard.

Maybe you have her album "Portraits of Me," heard her updated cover of the 80's classic "Material Girl" or you probably recognize her as the voice on the "Renaissance State of Mind" hook. Last Friday, at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Monica Blaire held a free concert that featured her own talent and other locals including Marv Won (who released his album Wayne Fontes this night as well) and Ro Spit. One guest she had came as a surprise to some and a feeling of excitement for others who have seen him perform before. Aside from being the other half of Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique, Rick Williams is a trained tap dancer. I love that! I mean so many people stick to the traditional role of rapper, DJ, or producer very few venture out into other areas of the arts. If you missed it, you're in luck, peep the video below of Monica Blaire performing "Promise Me" with Rick tapping.

Yay or Nay: Playground - J. Cole

Maybe you know J. Cole as the first artist signed to Jay-Z's label Roc Nation. This guy's buzz has been brewing for quite some while. He was featured on Jay-Z's 'Blueprint 3' album and Wale's 'Attention Deficit' album and he's rumored to be going on tour with Jay-Z and Young Jeezy this year. Also, from the way I understand it, J. Cole's first album is to be released some time this year. I'm not sure how I feel about J. Cole yet, but I wanted to know what you all thought. Recently a song of his released called "Playground." No idea if it's for a mixtape or his upcoming album (?), but it's here. So Yay or Nay: "Playground" - J. Cole

What Its All About - Slum Village

This blog shows the development of my musical tastes (I suppose that's the best way to put it). I talk about Slum Village often, I have come to appreciate and be inspired by this group so much I don't even know if it's possible to explain how. Over the past few years the group has faced many changes and overcome many obstacles. T3 and eLZhi have been doing these sort-of video blogs called "Da Villa Chronicles." The mini-series talks everything SV, from how some of their hits happened to their relationship with Dilla and Baatin and how eLZhi ended up joining. Each video is rather short, but as we've learned from songs over the years a lot can happen in 3 minutes.

Time to get you caught up, below are the four videos that have released so far, watch and learn.

Flashback: You Owe Me - Nas

2000.

What is there possibly left to say about this year? This year was to the decade what spandex was to the 80's, hot at the moment but you later realize its faults. This song has been in my head for quite some time and today's flashback is "You Owe Me" by Nas and Ginuwine. Everything about this from the beat to the lyrics scream early 00's. The song was on Nas' 'Nastradamus album' and a pretty cool summer song (then). I know Ginuwine was recently in Detroit looking for backup singers (I believe it was backup singers) and we all know that Kelis is asking for an arm and three legs from Nas for child support, I wonder if she plays this song every first of the month?

Yay or Nay: Sex With My Ex - Jwan

First Yay or Nay of 2010 (be excited). Today's song comes from the Finally Famous camp by way of Jwan. Currently Jwan has been working on his upcoming mixtape 'Me & My Band' and from what I've been told that's getting ready to drop sometime soon. What's interesting (to me) about this track is that it's a R&B track, and I can honestly say I wasn't expecting it to be. Did I know he could sing? yes. Was I expecting an entire song of him singing? no. I am anxious to see what the mixtape is going to be like. Many artists can't pull off varying between singing and rapping, do you think Jwan can?

Yay or Nay: Sex With My Ex - Jwan

Music Video: Big Girls - Mike Epps

So I was watching Mike Epps comedy show that he did in Detroit earlier in 2009. There was one part in the show when he started to rap-sing this song about big girls. Well, I searched the internet for the download and stumbled across the music video he did for it. How did I not know this existed?

"The world's a big girl they do what it do, and some of you n----- are big girls too."