Perhaps known best for his hit track ‘Cha Cha’, which famously influenced Drake’s mega-single ‘Hotline Bling’, rapper Big Baby D.R.A.M. (or simply “D.R.A.M.”) has released his newest music video, for his recent single ‘Broccoli’. Also featured on the track, rapper Lil Yachty joins D.R.A.M. for the track’s Nathan R. Smith and Hidji Films directed visuals.
Speaking on the record, D.R.A.M. explains that the feeling of ‘Broccoli’ is “almost identical (to ‘Cha Cha’), being that the record came out of thin air, and the timing was what it was supposed to be, and it taps into the culture just like ‘Cha Cha’.” As “Cha Cha 2.0”, as D.R.A.M. calls it, continues to climb up the charts, expect it to only gain more momentum with the release of the fun music video.
Watch the official music video for ‘Broccoli’ below.
Very little is known about Sidney Royel Selby III, aka G.O.O.D. Music‘s newest signee, Desiigner. After being blessed by Kanye West with a feature on his recent LP, The Life of Pablo, the 19-year-old Brooklyn native was thrown into the rap scene with tremendous force. His debut single ‘Panda’, which was featured on Kanye’s ‘Father Stretch My Hands Pt 2’, went number 1 and stayed at the top for a number of weeks, making the record more successful than anyone could have ever imagined. Perhaps the only thing bad that came out of ‘Panda’ is Desiigner’s striking similarities in sound to Atlanta rapper, Future. And ever since, you can’t hear Desiigner’s names without accusations of him biting from Future. After catapulting to the top with just one single, many were waiting to see if he would be able to compose a complete project that would match his new found popularity. New English is Desiigner’s attempt at such an LP.
Desiigner starts off New English with a classical string intro, which is not something that you would expect from a new drill artist. The project’s Intro quickly transitions into a hard hitting song titled ‘Caliber’. This is the type of track that you hope Desiigner would make. It’s fast, lots of base, and inaudible, which is a common theme throughout the LP. Just by listening to this first track, one can tell that this album is going to be one that you play when you want to jump around and throw your body in every direction. Desiigner repeats the word “caliber” 41 times in this one song alone, so it’s purpose on the project is clearly not for its substance. If you are looking for music with intricate and witty lyrics like J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar, you are in the wrong place. If you are looking for music to make sure that you keep the aux cord for the rest of the car ride while you are with your friends, then you might want to stick around.
The next song, titled ‘Make It Out’, is especially confusing from the start. The transition between ‘Caliber’ and this record is very abrupt and sudden. The former track stops in the middle of a verse and then you are thrown into the latter. In fact, the majority of his songs were between 24 seconds and 2 minutes. The record is a confusing one, as it sounds like there are 3 different artists on this one track alone, however it’s all Desiigner. One verse sounds like G Herbo and then on another it sounds like DMX. Desiigner is a shapeshifter.
The song ‘Shooters’ consists of Desiigner saying “finna pull up with the shooters” about 24 times and the most aggressive tongue rolls you have ever heard in your life. One of the definite ways to tell if you are listening to a Desiigner song is to listen for his already classic ad-lib grunts or tongue rolls. They have become his signature sound. The next song ‘Monstas & Villains’ is only 37 seconds long and consists of one hook. Perhaps he wants to make his songs short enough so that people actually listen to the entire track. He then fills up time with an interlude in New English, three total throughout the project. When your mixtape has three instrumentals and it’s still incredibly short, you know you’re in trouble. ‘Talk Regardless’ is yet again another repetitive track. As many could expect, this mixtape lacks content and is not up to par lyrically. But with drill and trap music, perhaps that’s what you sign up for.
‘Da Day’ is the longest song on the album and features Milly.CTD. He has some good lyrics and it is refreshing to understand what he is saying. When Desiigner comes on you are sucked back into jumping around. This is not an album that you can listen to by yourself. You are only putting yourself in danger of breaking everything around you. Following up is the ‘Jet’, which features G.O.O.D. Music president, rapper Pusha T. The track speaks on all of the things worthy of spending money on; like cars, chains, women and more.
The final song on the mixtape is of course the song that made this Brooklyn kid the star he is today. The song that gets him invited to Kanye West premieres, add his name to the XXL Freshman Class, and the one that will be the driving force behind his millions of dollars in the near future. ‘Panda’ is one that we can all recognize and recite, well at least the bridge which consists of “Hey Panda, Panda,Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda.” I guess that’s all it takes to make it in the rap world in 2016. The public was livid when the XXL Freshman Class was released. With all these young artists that rap repetitive lyrics that no one can relate too it’s only a matter of time before it’s too late for hip hop. The silver lining is that there is definitely an audience for New English, and while Desiigner may not be the most conscious rapper today, he doesn’t have to be. He is still a kid in many ways who has a number of projects ahead of him to find his own sound and voice.
After appearing in headlines earlier this week, with the leak of his Chance The Rapper, Jeremih and Big Sean collaboration ‘Living Single’, emerging rapper Smino has dropped a track of his own, with his previously unreleased record ‘Kajun’. The song was recently performed acoustically by the St. Louis rapper, during his recent interview on Soulection Radio with Joe Kay, but you can check it out now. ‘Kajun’ is with Jean Deaux and Phoelix, and is produced by fellow Zero Fatigue artist, Monte Booker.
Joining Harry Styles and Zayn Malik, One Direction’s Liam Payne is now the third member/former member of the hit group to sign a solo record deal. Earlier this morning Liam took to his official Instagram account to announce to fans that he has signed a deal with Capitol Records. “Very happy to have signed to my new record label Capitol Records. They have such an amazing history of artists, I hope I can follow in the footsteps,” Payne wrote to fans. “One Direction will always be my home and family byt I’m very excited to see what this chapter brings.”
While many may be upset that this is another dagger, making One Direction’s current hiatus a potential indefinite breakup, it will certainly be interesting to see how Payne’s solo music will sound, as he was definitely one of the stand out singers from the ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ group.
Reportedly an extra and unreleased track from his recent LP, Coloring Book, Chicago’s Chance The Rapper has released an all-star collaboration with ‘Living Single’. Recruiting the talents of GOOD Music‘s Big Sean, St. Louis MC Smino and fellow Windy City native, Jeremih, ‘Living Single’ is stacked. Everyone holds their own on this one, from the record’s gospel influenced vocals throughout the track to Smino, Chance and Sean’s equally impressive verses. According to rumors, this track was originally supposed to feature J. Cole, which would have made the collaboration even bigger. Let’s only hope that Chance has even more collaborations in the vault.
Moments ago, Virginia pop-rock band Parachute brought “The Wide Awake Tour” to Milwaukee’s Turner Hall Ballroom. Performing in support of their new and similarly titled LP, Wide Awake, the Will Anderson-led group performed the majority of their new album, which released just last March, as well as a collection of fan favorites from their first three albums. Parachute didn’t travel alone either, as Atlanta singer/songwriter Brynn Elliott and ‘Runaway’ singer Jerad Finck supported Parachute in Wisconsin tonight.
To say that Parachute’s headlining set tonight was a collection of fan favorites is a bit of an understatement, as fans played a direct role in choosing the setlist for Parachute’s current tour. Earlier this year fans had the opportunity to vote on The Wide Awake Tour’s setlist, and the results showed tonight as fans sang along, word-for-word throughout the band’s entire set. Opening their performance tonight though, Parachute started off their set with Wide Awake‘s opening track, ‘Without You’, a catchy and upbeat record that certainly set the tone for the rest of the night.
Throughout the night, the band’s chemistry and Anderson’s relationship with the audience stole the show. Not one specific song stood out as a highlight of the night, as the energy from their performance stayed at consistently high levels and never began to decline. From start to finish, Parachute gave a memorable and intimate performance for their biggest Wisconsin fans. While Parachute’s July 19, 2016 performance at the Turner Hall Ballroom won’t necessarily go in the books as a historic Milwaukee performance, anyone in attendance can definitely assure you that Parachute put on one hell of a show tonight, that their fans will not soon forget.
Check out our photos from Parachute’s Milwaukee performance below and check out their remaining dates at Parachute’s official website.
Rapper Tory Lanez is just weeks away from the release of his highly anticipated debut album, I Told You, which is set to release on Benny Blanco’s “Mad Love” imprint on Interscope Records, on August 19th. But that isn’t the only big news for the Tornoto MC, as Lanez has just announced his huge North American tour that will kick off this fall. Lanez will make stops all over, in a headlining tour that is scheduled to kick off on September 4th in Philadelphia, so you will have no excuse to miss out.
Performing a total of 76 dates across North America this fall (with 21 remaining dates to be announced later this year) in support of his debut LP, this will likely be Lanez’s best tour yet. Ever since his massive and certified Platinum single ‘Say It’, Tory Lanez has been consistently releasing quality records, which makes fans especially excited for I Told You. Most recent is Tory Lanez’s new single, ‘LUV’, which will be heard on his forthcoming album.
Check out Tory Lanez’s upcoming tour dates below. Tickets go on sale for the general public on July 22nd, check out IToldYouTour.com for more information.
In support of his brand new LP, Blank Face, TDA rapper Schoolboy Q has announced his huge world tour. Similarly titled, “The Blank Face World Tour”, the ‘That Part’ rapper won’t be traveling solo, as Q will be joined by New York rapper, Joey Bada$$. The tour will kick off next month, on August 30th in Indianapolis, and will make stops in Toronto, Austin, Milwaukee, Los Angeles and many many more until the tour concludes in Europe this December. Check out Schoolboy Q’s official website for more ticket information.
Following a huge inaugural year in 2014, Chicago’s AAHH! Fest took a year hiatus and many wondered if the Common-led festival would return to the Windy City. With huge performances from big Chi-town names like Common, Lupe Fiasco, Twista, Jennifer Hudson, a superstar surprise headlining set from Kanye West, comedy from Dave Chappelle and other memorable performances from MC Lyte, De La Soul, Jay Electronica and more, AAHH! Fest had a monumental first year, which left many disappointed when news broke that the festival would not be returning in 2015.
But fear not! AAHH! Fest is returning this year, as Common will surely bring another great lineup to his hometown in 2016. Coming back to Union Park on September 24-25 (now a two day festival), we couldn’t be more excited to see what Common has in store. While the lineup has yet to be announced, you can now buy pre-sale tickets for the festival’s main stage, which will take place on Sunday, September 25th.
AAHH! Fest isn’t just a great music fest either, it’s also Common’s dedication to bringing education programs and jobs to Chicago, by raising funds to support the Common Ground Foundation and Donda’s House, the charitable organizations of Common, Kanye West and Rhymefest.
Get your presale tickets now and check out our photos from 2014’s AAHH! Fest below.
If you’re like us, and in need of some more Danny Brown in your life, then don’t you worry. Coming this fall, Danny Brown will be hitting the road on a huge North American tour, where the Detroit rapper will be making stops in over 40 different locations. Starting Sepetember 14th in Phili’s Theater of the Living Arts, Brown will bring “The Exhibition 2016” Tour to Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, Cali and pretty much everywhere under the sun until the tour concludes November 5th in Cleveland.
Expect the new and the old on the upcoming tour, as Danny Brown in just getting started with his long awaited comeback, which kicked off with his new single and music video for ‘When It Rain’. His new album, Atrocity Exhibition, is coming this fall, so with a brand new LP and a huge headlining tour, Danny Brown fans are eating for the second half of 2016.
Check out the dates for Danny Brown’s “The Exhibition 2016” Tour below.
The Early Registration 