KENDRICK WEEK: Song of the Day – March 31, 2017

As part of the build-up to Kendrick Lamar’s new project, the Underground Flux will present KENDRICK WEEK for the next 7 days (March 31 to April 7). A special focus will be put on K-Dot during that time span. We hope you enjoy.

A dream collab came to life in January 2016 when Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar’s sounds came together for “No More Parties in L.A.”

The track was released in the early hours of January 18, true to Kanye’s unpredictable style, as part of the promotion leading up to The Life of Pablo. Kanye and Kendrick fans first learned of the song’s existence after a snippet was included at the end of “Real Friends'” initial SoundCloud release which has since been deleted.

The production of “No More Parties in L.A.” is on point, as has become customary with Madlib. Kanye’s verses also represent a sort of rebirth for him. Although the focus of this article is not on him, this song marked his return as a rapper:

I know some fans thought I wouldn’t rap like this again
But the writer’s block is over, emcees cancel your plans

In his verse, Kendrick spotlessly drops a myriad of references, somehow connecting all of them to the ambience of the song. These include Erykah Badu, wrestling, Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō, and his Reebok shoe release.

Kendrick’s array of references becomes even more impressive when one realizes that he is weaving intricate rhyme schemes while mentioning them:

Um, well cutie, I like your bougie booty
Come Erykah Badu me, well, let’s make a movie
Hell, you know my repertoire is like a wrestler
I show you the ropes, connect the dots
A country girl that love Hollywood

Kendrick tells the story of how a relationship with a girl changed once they moved to the glitz of Los Angeles, more specifically Hollywood. This might not be a literal move, but instead, how Lamar’s life became different after his fame.

At first, she was a “country girl that love[d] Hollywood.” However, she began to be consumed by the glamour (Smoke in every direction, middle finger pedestrians / R&B singers and lesbians, rappers and managers / Music and iPhone cameras / This shit unanimous for you, it’s damaging for you, I think), which Kendrick does not like. He was the one who got her here in the first place (That pussy should only be holding exclusive rights to me, I mean / He flew you in this motherfucker on first class).

All of this animosity results in Kendrick and the girl seemingly breaking up. She demands to have the right to some of his money, but with all of his fame, the money she desires eventually becomes a small tip for K-Dot.

Now you wanna divide the yam like it equate the math?
That shit don’t add up, you’re making him mad as fuck
[…]
Then my shoe released, she was kicking in gratuity

For Kanye fans, “No More Parties in L.A.” was a sneak peek of the diversity included in The Life of Pablo, as well as a reminder of what West is able to do lyrically when inspired. For Kendrick fans, they were able to get a dream collaboration, and a spitfire verse.

Song of the Day: March 30, 2017

Joey Bada$$ raps about the dangers of consumerism, and how the wealth has negatively impacted him in “Paper Trail$.”

“They say money is the root of all evil/ I say money is the route of all people.” Joey takes the opportunity to convey an extremely important concept about the society we live in. With the amusing homophone of the words “root” and “route,” he emphasizes the pathway to money is the one most people end up taking instead of pursuing their true passions.

“Cause we all follow paper trails, paper trails
And everybody gotta pay their bills, pay their bills”
“Cause cash ruined everything around me”

Throughout the song, Joey Bada$$ alludes the 1993 Wu Tang Clan classic “C.R.E.A.M” in which rapper Method Man rhymes that cash rules everything around him. Raekwon’s verse “Get the money, dollar dollar bill, y’all” is also something Joey makes a reference to in “Paper Trail$,” where he raps “It’s the dollar dollar bill, it’s the dollar bill that kills, y’all.”

Produced by the legendary DJ Premier, the easygoing instrumentals made the listen very pleasant. The well-put together message was by itself amazing, but the way Joey delivered them with a strong and determined flow made it even better. He also used many multi-syllable rhyme schemes, and the most clever and memorable ones were:

“But they still planting plantations, we keep buying in
Closed-minded men”
“So cut the BS, and don’t worry where my jeans is
And PS: Your bitch a genius, learned from my penis”

For those seeking tracks with great concepts and spotless production, “Paper Trail$” by Joey Bada$$ is an essential addition to your playlist.

Stay on the lookout for his new All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ album coming out on April 7th.

Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s new single “HUMBLE.”

Kendrick Lamar dropped his latest single “HUMBLE” on Thursday night as part of the build-up to his new album that is expected to be released on April 7. Kendrick previously released “The Heart Part 4” earlier this month.

Update (April 6): It now appears as if Kendrick’s new album will be released on April 14.

Song of the Day: March 29, 2017

Eminem’s “Detroit vs. Everybody” featuring multiple other Detroit artists serves as a reminder to not forget where one comes from after reaching the top.

“Detroit vs. Everybody” was originally released as one of the singles on SHADYXV. The track was a highlight on an underwhelming album that left many Eminem fans wanting more.

The biggest theme in this song is overcoming. From Enimem to Big Sean to Trick Trick, all the artists featured in the song were raised in the Detroit area. They know firsthand the struggles of crime, poverty, and plummeting employment rates that plagued (and continue to plague) Detroit.

Welcome to Detroit, where if you get that promotion
Don’t worry, man, them bullets will still be at your ass firin’

It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Detroit. Many Detroiters are not able to survive and thrive like the MCs in “Detroit vs. Everybody” have. Those lines from Big Sean also feature a fun example of wordplay with “firin'” referring to both getting shot and getting laid off.

Honestly no honor roll, but honored up in them streets
‘Cause I’m a Linwood nigga, them young niggas hit ya
Put a stack on your head, you’ll bleed a lake on Grand River
If you think your hood harder, then I might beg to differ
Know some killers pull the trigger for a Swisher and Miller

In this verse, Danny Brown alludes to the gang warfare and crime that Detroit faces, particularly in his neighborhood of Linwood. The location of the song is also subtly kept at the forefront, with Brown referencing Grand River Avenue.

Eminem’s verse, which basically ends the track if one doesn’t count Trick Trick’s unremarkable outro, focuses on the “us vs. them” mentality that he obtained while growing up in Detroit. Although things were never easy before he became a star, there’s no place he’d rather be:

(DETROIT!) I can’t never leave this bitch
Sick of bein’ treated like we ain’t shit

For those who appreciate quality lyricism and flow, “Detroit vs. Everybody” is recommendable. It’s structured similarly to a rap battle and the MCs pulled no punches.

Featured image credit goes to Timo Albert on Behance.

Song of the Day: March 28, 2017

Coming off their debut album southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994, hip hop duo OutKast send an inspiring message to motivate those around them with “Git Up, Git Out.”

The track focuses on the importance of taking action. It begs the listener to do something with their lives. The rappers also talk about the difficulties of getting an education, a job, and just making a living as a whole.

“You need to git up, git out and git something
Don’t let the days of your life pass by”

“How will you make it if you never even try”

OutKast calls out those who waste their youths instead of working hard and getting something out of their lives. Smoking weed, not trying, and just sitting all day, he claims, are some of the most destructive and useless things one can do.

On the first verse, Cee-Lo recognizes his own flaws and raps about them. He claims he is a disappointment to his family and friends, being a “bum” and constantly asking his peers for money. He also goes on to detail the daily struggles of his life that came as result of him wasting his time before.

Always asking “gimme some”, living life like a bum

By talking about his own harsh experiences, he urges the youth to work hard so that they don’t turn out like him. He also contemplates on his life, and what have been some of his struggles.

“Cause every job I get is cruel and demeaning
Sick of taking trash out and toilet bowl cleaning
But I’m also sick and tired of struggling
I never ever thought I’d to have resort to drug smuggling”

The second verse by Big Boi is a message to those who waste their time being lazy just because others are, emphasizing how contagious this hopelessness can be. After rapping about how those decisions impacted him, he goes on to detail the difference “between a bitch and a lady.”

“but the devil, he made me smart
Told me to jack them weak ass niggas for they fucking Starters
In the middle school, I was a bigger fool
I wore with tank tops to show off my tattoo, thought I was cool”

Overall, the song and its motivational lyrics make the listen every intriguing, and it inspires the listener to take action and change their life. Even though the mellow, classic beat made the track nicer, the message was still the highlight of the song. For those looking for inspiration and an important concept to listen to, “Git Up, Git Out” is highly recommendable.

“You need to get up, get out and get something, how will you make it if you never even try?”

Song of the Day: March 27, 2017

Kev Brown reminisces over a lost lover in “Albany” on his 2005 album, I Do What I Do.

The Maryland-born artist starts the first verse by describing the relationship between him and his lover. The memory of their first date keeps replaying in his head, but despite their connection, they still grew apart. He can’t quite figure out why, but he’s trying not to dwell on it (even though the entire song ironically consists of him contemplating this short-lived relationship).

The last time Brown saw this girl was when he went back to his hometown “around April [or] May.” However, this left him with more questions than answers.

I’m thinking some time around April, May
I went back to my hometown for a minute
Ended up staying down here in-def-inite
Questions and no answers

In the end, the listener is also left with many unanswered questions. Towards the end of the second verse, Brown implies that what they had was a friendship that could’ve eventually led to more (“Sad I had to roll on a friendship brand new” / “It could of been a little romance too”), yet the end of the first verse (“I miss your goodnight kisses, for real”) indicates more intimacy.

Throughout “Albany,” Brown’s flow is decent, if not uninspiring. It’s solid, but not distinct. The beat generally fits the retrospective mood of the track, but the mixing after each verse is lackluster. The transition is far from seamless and is a lot louder than the other instrumentals in the song.

Song of the Day: March 26, 2017

In “Kno The Meaning,” Future takes a break from the electrifying beats of Dirty Sprite 2 to bring a conscious message about the hardships he went through after losing 2-years worth of recorded music.

Aside from the melancholic story of DJ Esco being arrested for cannabis possession, the Atlanta rapper addresses his breakup with singer Ciara, and the hustle he’s carrying on from his family traits.

“My uncle Ronnie used to wash cars
My uncle Wayne was a kingpin, you know what I’m saying
My uncle Don, that nigga used to rob banks and shit, rest in peace
My granddaddy was a boss, he was a king pin you hear me”

“Best thing I ever did was fall out of love”

When rapping about Esco’s time in prison, Future reveals he was extremely sad during the process, but somehow managed to overcome it and make another mixtape (Beast Mode).

“People didn’t even understand that my hard drives that I recorded all my music on for two years straight was on this… was on this one hard drive that Esco had and he was locked up with it so I had to record new music. That’s when I did Beast Mode”

Once Future mentions himself finding the inner strength to keep going, it seems as if the course of the track takes on a new path. The beat, which remained the same throughout, began to sound a different and more empowering. It was as if the subject matter and attitude Future was rapping with affected the vibrations the listener was getting from the song.

As a whole, “Kno The Meaning”  is a very nice and soothing track to listen to. The switch Future made from the uptempo beats to the slower and more melancholic tune also turned out solid. Because the beat wasn’t anything different from the usual, the lyrics became the spotlight of the song, and the intriguing message he delivered makes “Kno The Meaning” highly recommendable.

Song of the Day: March 25, 2017

6LACK and Jhené Aiko collaborate on a sultry track appropriately titled “First Fuck.”

In this single released in early 2017, both singers describe their experiences with their lovers. The entire gist of the song revolves around the idea of two partners craving each other even more following their first sexual encounter.

I bet you love me more after the first fuck
I bet I love you better than your first love
I bet I love you so much you forget the shit that had you worked up, yeah

The lyrics are fairly simple. 6LACK and Aiko croon over a slow, seductive beat. The passion is reflected through their lyrics:

I’ma make you mine, mine
Got me pulling on your hair
I’ma make it mine, mine for the night
Got me pulling on your hair

6LACK’s versatility is shown on “First Fuck,” with the Atlanta-based artist having no problem fitting into this single. Jhené Aiko’s signature magnetism also projects, making this an ideal track to add to a sexual playlist.

Song of the Day: March 24, 2017

https://www.audiomack.com/song/fahd-2/better-things

A$AP Rocky slams Rita Ora and discusses his relationship problems on “Better Things.”

The Harlem-based artist takes the opportunity to talk about his perspective on modern-day relationships and the types of situations he’s gone through.

Swear that life is, just a whole bunch of vices
Niggas biting off of my shit, my dick
Stay up in your chick ride stick without a license

Throughout his career, A$AP Rocky has proved to be a very versatile artist with quality lyricism and proper flow to match a wide array of instrumentals. He displays this ability on “Better Things.”

Frank Mernick, a producer and engineer who’s worked with A$AP Rocky numerous times, clarified on Genius Lyrics what the hook he wrote was all about. He explained that it was supposed to be a self-awareness movement against addictions and vices. Mernick also went on to say that during the time he was writing and producing the song, the late A$AP Yams, and himself were struggling with their own addictions. Furthermore, he was trying to get Rocky to confront his own vices so he could later strive for better things in life.

Towards the end of the song in the second verse, Rocky goes at Rita Ora by explicitly insulting her and her sexual conduct. She later responded with saying she doesn’t actually “give a shit.”

I swear that bitch Rita Ora got a big mouth
Next time I see her might curse the bitch out
Kicked the bitch out once cause she bitched out, spit my kids out
Jizzed up all in her mouth and made the bitch bounce

For those seeking superb instrumentals and intriguing lyrics, “Better Things” by A$AP Rocky is highly recommendable.

A$AP Rocky alongside Rita Ora at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards

Album Review: First impressions of Mike WiLL Made-it’s Ransom 2

Mike WiLL Made-it delivers a huge gem to the rap game with Ransom 2. Top artists like Migos, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Lil Wayne, and many others are featured in this project.

Mike WiLL produced a masterpiece filled with amazing instrumentals and high quality verses from artists like Gucci Mane, Chief Keef, and Big Sean in Ransom, his second studio album released in late 2014. The best and most popular songs from that project were “Buy the World” featuring Future, Kendrick Lamar, and Lil Wayne, and “Intro” featuring Big Sean.

On Ransom 2, Mike WiLL brought out more recent prospects of the rap game like Young Thug, Lil Yachty, YG, and Migos. The high-level of their performance makes it so that their verses were the highlights of the album.

Another aspect that stood out to were the instrumentals that Mike WiLL put together. With the exception of Lil Wayne (whose verses failed to match the vibe of the album), all the other features had superb bars that synced seamlessly with the upbeat tempo of the Ransom 2.

“Gucci on My,” featuring top notch artists like YG, 21 Savage, and Migos, was a banger. The production, noticeably made for clubs, was great. On the flipside, the lyrics were average.

Gucci on my shirt, Gucci on my hoes, nigga
Rollie bust down, drippin’ on my clothes, nigga
Gucci on my shirt, Gucci on my hoes, nigga
Rollie bust down, drippin’ on my clothes, nigga

“Perfect Pint” featuring Kendrick Lamar, Gucci Mane, Rae Sremmurd felt a bit out of place in the album in comparison to the other tracks. However, it was nice to see Mike WiLL tackle a different type of beat that resembled cloud rap as opposed to trap. The hook by Swae Lee failed to live up to expectations all his vocals were way too high-pitched and low-paced. Kendrick, or “Kung Fu Kenny” as he refers to himself on the track, did not disappoint the listeners with stunning bars.

Everybody a Crip ’til they black and blue
Everybody a Blood ’til they hemorrhaging

Ever wonder what A Gucci x Rae Sremmurd x Kendrick Lamar track would sound like make sure you get that Ransom 2

— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@SwaeLee) January 28, 2017

Ransom 2 also featured a great track called “Burnin'” with upcoming female rapper Andrea. She murdered her verses and displayed utmost talent in her rapping. It’d be fair to conclude we’ll see her again soon in other projects considering her amazing performance on that track.

Andrea got next, Dnt say I din warn u… She gon hold it down for female rap https://t.co/GB06N5FYlt

— MR. MADE-IT (@MikeWiLLMadeIt) May 5, 2015

On “Y’all Ain’t Ready,” Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz gave the listeners a scare with extremely wack verses and a weak flow. Even though his vocals matched the beat well, his presence on the track was lackluster since he failed to deliver good bars.

This is a different dimension
Whatever I want get attention
My partner stay with the pistols
Them pistols stay with extensions

Collaborating with Mike WiLL once again since Ransom, trap and drill rapper Chief Keef appeared with Rae Sremmurd in “Come Down.” The result was a disaster. Keef had a horrible hook to kick off the track with odd-sounding vocals that were very different from his usual style and uninteresting lyrics about his “Glock 40.”

I flaunt it, I bought it
I talk it, I walk it
Only thing I worship is the lord and this .40
Please, do not confront me if you ain’t talking money

The project was wrapped up with “Nothing is Promised,” a pre-released song featuring Rihanna, who had recorded her verse right after releasing her award-winning album Anti.

Overall, Ransom 2  was filled with exhilarating beats and superb features that displayed their rapping abilities very well. Kendrick Lamar specifically, an unexpected feature in the project, delivered stunning bars to the fans and fit very well within Mike WiLL’s instrumentals.

Ranging from bad verses by good features to crazy instrumentals with astonishing verses, Ransom 2  had many ups and downs, but Mike WiLL certainly delivered an amazing project for the listeners in the end.

He released some of the tracks on his YouTube channel and SoundCloud account  but you can listen to the full album on Spotify and Apple Music. You can stay updated with Mike WiLL Made-it’s work by following him on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s New Song “The Heart Part 4”

Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s new single, “The Heart Part 4.” The track is also available on Spotify.

“The Heart Part 4” is Lamar’s first release since untitled unmastered in March 2016. It also features budding 18-year old artist Khalid. Towards the end of the song, Kendrick teases that he will be releasing a new album on April 7, so mark your calendars for that date.

Song of the Day: March 23, 2017

Lil Uzi Vert raps about how fame has changed his life in “Do What I Want.” The song was released as a part of his 2016 mixtape, The Perfect Luv Tape.

The energetic intro sets the theme for the song. As one would expect from Lil Uzi Vert, “Do What I Want” is not a lyrical masterpiece. Instead, it’s a spirited proclamation of his success and freedom from other nefarious influences.

Everybody know I’m better, yeah
Yeah, I’m better, yeah
It don’t matter, aye
Pocket fatter, aye
Nowadays I’m on my haters they got sadder, aye
That’s money longer, yeah

Lil Uzi stays consistent to his trap-based style of music with short, catchy verses over a drilling beat. He doesn’t deviate from what has made him big. He’s flaunting his success to all his naysayers.

Boy I started on the bottom, made my way to the top
Boy I’m gon’ keep winning, no I cannot stop
‘Member I had a little, turned that shit to a lot

The main criticism of “Do What I Want” is how generic and unoriginal it is in terms of its message. Rappers from every tier of the game can rap about starting from the bottom and making it big. It’s not exactly a revolutionary message, but the fact that it’s still a constant in the hip-hop world shows just how effective it is.

And them boys back home be talking but I won’t get touched
Stay to myself how I survive, no one who I trust
No one who I trust
Who them niggas? No, they not with us
All these girls, yeah they ride with us
I don’t pay ’em no mind, because I just want the bucks

Now that he’s in the limelight, people want to mooch off Lil Uzi, but he’s not letting that happen. It’s gotten to the point where he’s not even able to trust his friends from back home because they just want to use him. The Philly-born trap artist then once again throws his success at their faces by showing them all that want to be with him.

If you are looking for an introspective song with tons of wordplay and double entendres, “Do What I Want” is not for you. Instead, it’s a fun song with an exciting beat and a catchy hook.