ill-esha brings back this 90’s classic and puts some heavy glitch bass to the mix. Better yet, she keeps to the original beat, not trying to impress with massive, incoherent drops.
Now, if she could only find more contemporary vocals for her to drop her lovliness on… wait, doesn’t she sing too
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/24966275" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]I have a feeling that just about every everyone I know is gonna be praising The Weeknd’s second mixtape, Thursday, which just released. And as much as I’m not here to fight or agree with them, I do have one thing that I’ve always wondered about Abel (The Weeknd) and his rise to fame.
I remember thinking to myself a while back, why the hell hasn’t The Weeknd (Weekend at the time) blown up, yet Now that it’s happened, I’m wondering what the hell happened Abel is no longer working with the original producer of “What You Need,” Jeremy Rose. The track was their kickstart and it’s sad, for whatever reason, to hear they’re no longer working together. I’m not saying Doc Mckinney or Illangelo haven’t created their own hot mess with Abel, but “What You Need” just had so much fucking chemistry.
Be as it may, House of Balloons was pretty amazing as a whole. So far my favorite thing about Thursday is, actually, the production. So I guess I’ll just have to see where Abel takes his voice in this one and wherever his heads gone now.
[audio:Heaven-Las-Vegas.mp3|titles=Heaven or Las Vegas]This trio, hailing from southern Germany, takes the hip-hop game and funkifies it with “beautiful crunchy bass lines, coupled with pumping grooves.” Never would I thought such funky-ass remixes could come from Germany, but they are definitely one of the top players in this funksta game right now.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/16320515" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Our “SoundKlout” series is all about finding the best artists SoundCloud has to offer. Each article will spotlight a SoundClouder that’s got a handful of good music. If you know anyone that needs noticing, make sure to hit us up with a few of theirs tracks!
We’re also kicking it all off with a possible mixtape (depending on you). Check out the details here and make sure to participate!
I decided on Appo as my first pick because he has a handle on the downtempo remixes // re-edits. Even better, he takes ’em and brings back some soulful vocals from waayyy back in the day. There is, however, one thing that got me frustrated going over his fifty tracks on SoundCloud.
It didn’t bug me that his music averaged over 8 minutes long, downtempo // chill music is usually better on the longer side, but for the most part it didn’t get into […]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/18634120" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" width="70%"]I don’t know what’s going on in New Zealand, but I’ve been finding some of the best DJ’s & bands from the Kiwi coast. Especially in the funk arena, NZ seems to be tearin’ up SoundCloud with a few labels and many artists to follow.
FunkFerret being among my favorite, particularly has a craft for mashing up classic tracks to a funkified beat – the “Red Wine Rebelution” mash is a favorite. Hit up these two tracks below (free download at FunkFerret’s SoundCloud) and get into the funk.
[audio:Smash-Ya-Moustache.mp3|titles=Smash Ya Moustache]Another track released for the upcoming mixtape, Thursday, by The Weeknd. Gotta imagine this is gonna be on the mixtape, like “Rolling Stone“, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to move beyond House of Ballons quite yet.
I do like what Abel is puttin out – still bringin that powerful, high-pitched soul, yet still giving us something new by varying up his vocals. However, the beat doesn’t bring all that much for me. It ain’t all that bad, but it sure as hell doesn’t compare to most of the tracks on House of Ballons. It’s good to hear a more upbeat Weeknd, but I’m still stuck in the dark ‘n’ grimey one for now.
[audio:The-Birds.mp3|titles=The Birds (Part 1)]In 1994, one of the best debut albums of all time, Illmatic, was dropped by Nasir Jones, aka Nas. World renowned producers DJ Premier, Q-Tip and Pete Rock all took turns in the studio making beats that have become anthems for most hip-hop lovers across the world.
Jason Powers, better known as Elzhi from hip-hop group Slum Village, decided to pay tribute to the legendary rapper’s first studio recorded album by referencing all the same beats and even some of the same lines, but over the stories and struggles of an emerging 21st-century artist […]
[audio:Lifes-A-Bitch.mp3|titles=Lifes A Bitch]We’ve all seen, heard and felt the raw vibrations of ODD FUTURE and of course their main play, Tyler the Creator. Based out of LA, they have completely exploded via blogs & Twitter … beauty of it all now, eh Anyway, fellow LA friend, Frank Ocean, is bringing that old school Soul for Real kind of sound back that seems to have been drowned out ever since the dance scene blew up (not hating, just saying).
His beats are seductive – take a listen to another one of his, “Lovecrimes”, which totally vibe hand in hand with his lyrics. This track, “Swim Good”, had me by the balls since the first time I heard it […]
[audio:Swim-Good.mp3|titles=Swim Good]Ooooo! – just in time for the long weekend we get another Weeknd treat. It’s pretty damn safe to assume this is the first single off The Weeknd’s next mixtape, Thursday, which is suppose to be dropping sometime soon… Either way, it’s a fresh tune from the ever sexier Abel.
Also, wanted to point how much the beats make his music. Abel has one smooth voice with just the right grime, but I see too many talented vocalists paired up with the wrong beats. The Weeknd, however, gets it right over & over again. rare. Keep it up.
[audio:Rolling-Stone.mp3|titles=Rolling Stone]A crop of Weeknd remixes have been sproutin’ up since The Weeknd’s first mixtape, House of Balloons, dropped just under two months ago. However, none have done any real justice to their original’s, up until possibly now.
Downpour’s remix is an even grimier take on The Weeknd’s “High For This”, taking Abel’s sorrowed vocals into an even more hellish dubstep grind. ** if you don’t do dustep, you won’t like this.
In other Weeknd updates, a recent Twitter post indicated the second mixtape, Thursday, is right around the corner – which’ll be the second installment in The Weeknd’s, starwars trilogy of music, ‘balloon trilogy’ – thank you twitter, haha ;) Let’s hope it drops this Thursday… no more teasing us!
[audio:High-For-This-Remix.mp3|titles=High For This (Downpour Remix)]