Paper Diamond hops on as another Weeknd remixer and remakes “Same Old Song” with finely cut bass that rolls over those signature Weeknd vocals. Wasn’t all that much of a fan of the original, but Paper Diamond throws in that mind-numbing bass that gets me every.damn.time.
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Any Weeknd mixer/masher should be all over this. Combining an artist with potential that hasn’t been seen since MJ, as well as the legend himself, makes for one dirty mashup.
JAYBeatz is the first on deck with a “Dirty Diana” collision that carries the two well, but doesn’t live up to what I’d think combining these two would bring. At times, I can barely tell MJ from The Weeknd, JAYBeatz plays off the two nicely, but also doesn’t bring anything spine-tingling to the mix, like his Weeknd/Drake mash. Still like the direction and the ideas he’s bringing, can’t wait for more.
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Lou Rawls is one sexy beast and Disco Tech takes full advantage. Check out a fine edit of “Let Me Be Good to You” for the cozy season and hunker on down with your better half.
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I keep on thinking that Abel’s albums after House of Balloons will live up to their predecessor, they won’t. I’m not saying Abel will never top it, it’s just not gonna happen in this trilogy. The problem isn’t Abel’s vocals or lyrics, it’s the production. Doc Mckinney & Illangelo are fine producers, I just don’t think they stepped up Abel’s sound in the last two albums. There is a shitload of producers that could do something completely different, completely original with his voice and it’s gotta be Abel’s next step.
That said, it’s still a damn decent album with lyrics that are evolving through simple honesty. Abel has one interesting story, not just because of his quick rise to fame, but how he’s taking it all in. Make sure to check out his “Dirty Diana” cover, as well as the rest of the album (shit.is.poetry). I still can’t believe I never thought up Abel covering MJ, so obvious now.
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Anything with Earth, Wind & Fire stamped on it is an automatic listen for me. And, although One Love’s take on this doesn’t shy too far away from the original, it’s still got a healthy, new kick to it while still having that Earth, Wind & Fire pizzaz that we all love so much.
[audio:September-One-Love.mp3|titles=September (One Love Bootleg)]
First thing that hooked in my head were JMSN’s ghostly highs similar to The Weeknd. Dude’s got quite an angelic voice and with this supporting remix by Kno, it makes his vocals all the more elegant & neo-soulfulish.
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Drake’s sophomore album, Take Care, releases on November 15, but here’s a sneak peak from Flow 93.5. Unfortunately, this radio rip of “Crew Love” has those annoying ass watermarks all over it. Once I find a version without ’em, I’ll throw that up, but take a listen to this for now.
*Update: got a legit copy up now. Lovin The Weeknd viiibes. Actually like Drake in it too – usually I have to rely on remixes of Drake to appreciate his flow.
[audio:Crew-Love.mp3|titles=Crew Love (Take Care)]
“Like Smoke” was produced back in ’08 for Winehouse’s Back to Black album, but never made the cut. Now it’s being released with a bunch of her other Hidden Treasures, which is set to release December 5.
The track, as the whole album, will be a bittersweet dedication just in time for the cozy-time season. Can’t say this shows off Winehouse’s moving vocals to the utmost, but still brings the soul, as always. On the other hand, Nas speaks it well, blending in with Winehouse like only two with such talents could.
RIP Wino.
[audio:Like-Smoke.mp3|titles=Like Smoke]
R3hab’s electro bass buzzer takes Rihanna’s “We Found Love” and pushes it to a whole different dance level. Strangely, I get some Halloween vibes from it and even a few Matrix ones too, but I’ve always been attracted to the weirdness in music.
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In this installment, JAYBeatz mashes up Drake’s “The Real Her” & The Weeknd’s “Thursday,” and once again topples both originals. I hear so many Weeknd remixes, yet so many fail to capture where The Weeknd is pushing R&B – JAYBeatz is one in a handful that takes this vision and pulls off a spin of their own. He should really start considering a full-length mashup album featuring these two, it would get mad promoted.
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