Jay Rock - King's Dead

Artist:  Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake
Song:  King's Dead
Album:  Black Panther: Music From And Inspired By
Genre:  Rap, Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

Got to catch opening night Black Panther and I've gotta say, I did enjoy that movie a lot.  It was so refreshing to see a movie on a backdrop that is really underutilized honestly.  I know a lot of people were holding this movie up as a chance to finally highlight that there's black actors with talent that are ignored, and I feel they did great with that.  The whole movie was so full of energy, I just loved it so much.

I feel like there was a better way to say that, but that's ok, it's too late to talk straight.  The performances of the actors and actresses were on point though, all across the board.  The story was pretty solid.  Not being familiar with the Black Panther comics I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was very enjoyable from start to finish.

Soundtracks was bomb too, all the music was a really solid fit, and the album that Kendrick helped put together that this song is from is great too.  Got some of my favorite names on there actually.

No spoilers though, so I won't say anything else.  It's worth watching, so make sure to catch it.

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Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle

Artist:  Kendrick Lamar
Song:  Backseat Freestyle
Album:  good kid, m.A.A.d. city (2012)
Genre:  Rap, Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

Now here's an artist that surprises me a lot less than the other two.  When DAMN. came out this year I was super stoked about it.  We listened to it at work, I listened to it whenever I was driving, it was an all around great time.  Kendrick solidly earned spot #3.

I also finally decided to hit up his other music outside of the hits I had decided I liked already.  All in all I feel like I haven't hit my stride when it comes to Kendrick yet.  I love his aggressive music and his "hood" songs, but he also has the mature side that I can't get into as much.  I'm sure once I manage to get past my absurd fascination with ghetto rap I'll enjoy him a lot more.

Till then though, here's one of his more ghetto songs, haha

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Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.

Artist:  Kendrick Lamar
Song:  HUMBLE.
Album:  DAMN. (2017)
Genre:  Rap, Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

I remember when I first saw this video I thought I would save it for some sort of theme week about fantastic music videos, but unless I come up with a great one for tomorrow I don't think we're gonna swing that.

For real though, the video is just a work of art and you can't deny that.  The whole thing is a mess of jokes and fantastic camera angles layered over one of the best Rap singles to be released this year.  Take a second to watch it the whole way through.  The tiny globe in the :40 area, the Last Supper in the 1:18 area, the flames at 1:31, the camera angles at 1:56, the Grey Poupon commercial joke at 2:10, it's all so great.  Just freaking watch it, ok?  Kendrick's the bomb.

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A to Z 2K17: K is for Kendrick Lamar

Artist:  Kendrick Lamar feat. MC Eiht
Song:  m.A.A.d. city
Album:  good kid, m.A.A.d. city
Genre:  Rap, Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

While my friend Jozy calls J. Cole the best living rapper (or at least his favorite), he gives a lot of props to Kendrick as well.  Now this guy is one I can get into a little bit more for sure, his beats are just, in my opinion, better.

I love the stories Kendrick tells through his albums, they're reasonably heavy.  I don't know if you caught his Grammy performance last year or when he shared the stage with Imagine Dragons in 2014 and he perfomed an exerpt from m.A.A.d. city with them, but the dude puts on a mad show.

I wasn't sure if I should share this song or his new single from the upcoming album titled HUMBLE.  If you have time I'd advise you check it out, it's a really fantastically pretty video, very well filmed.

I opted to go with this though just because I figured it'd be better to go with one of his classics that the newest single.  That's for featuring later down the line so I can have a well done music video theme or something.  I dunno, I changed enough songs last minute this time around, let's keep it contained.

m.A.A.d. city is a fantastic song, so I hope you enjoy it, it's got a really solid story in it.

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Imagine Dragons - Radioactive (remix)

Band:  Imagine Dragons feat. Kendrick Lamar
Genre:  Indie
Language:  Strong

You know what's better than a good original?  A remix that makes it that much better.  I really do love the original of this song, but there's something about the verse Kendrick adds that just makes it better.

Side note, have you heard of Imagine Dragon's new song Believer?  They have a music video for it and everything, but they are also running a contest for it.  If you have access to Adobe Premiere you get to have access to a pile of raw footage from Imagine Dragons to make your own version of the video.  It promises to be a really good time since there's cash prizes.  I'm gonna try for it, so we'll see how well I do.

Side note part 2, I have a Patreon account now!  It's a way for you to donate toward what I do here.  It's not like there's a lot I do here, but it'd be totally great to not have to worry about some things as much, ya feel?

For real though, even if you don't contribute to me you should look into contributing to other great creators, there's a lot of them there and they've got some clutch rewards and way better content than I have.

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ScHoolboy Q - Collard Greens

Artist:  ScHoolboy Q feat. Kendrick Lamar
Genre:  Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

So here's a dude I only heard because I had a friend make me listen to his music.  Honestly I was a little resentful at first but I'm now really glad they showed him to me.

Q does this really cool thing where his rap flow kinda goes all over the place.  Not all over the place in a bad way, it's just different from what I expected from the usual music I get sent from that person.  That being some hella hood music.  This is a much high quality thing than that stuff.

Also if you watch the the video you can see that Macklemore and Obama are both in it.  Kinda cool.

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Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)

Artist:  Kendrick Lamar
Genre:  Rap, Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

Yo, it's post 711!  I feel like I should be drinking a slushie right now, what is wrong with my life.  Sadness, no slushy...  Eh, whatever.  Music time.

You ever want to listen to a song about a dude who realizes he has a problem but also isn't doing anything about it?  Then this song is for you.

Check the lyrics though, it's worth reading while you listen, it's not just a song glorifying drinking or anything.

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Kendrick Lamar - i

Artist:  Kendrick Lamar
Genre:  Rap
Language:  Strong

The first time I had heard this song I thought I had accidentally shuffled to a live song and I was kinda ticked.  Nothing against live performances at all, but I'm not a fan of live Rap stuff unless I'm actually there to enjoy it, ya know?

Luckily though this wasn't a live thing, it was a recorded thing meant to sound live.  Yo, this song is really freaking catchy basically right from the get go.  The chorus just goes and you can't help but just kinda groove along.

I swear, sometimes I feel like all I do is throw different people's singles at you talking about how catchy they are.  I promise that I hear more than just how catchy things are.  Maybe I'll post some sort of intricate piece that is musically complicated and just pretentious in how technical it is.

Till I find that song, please enjoy the load of fun that this song is and the freestyle at the end of it.  Also if you don't like political stuff skip the end of the song, it's kinda about stuff like that, ya know?  No.  You don't know, you haven't heard it yet.  Or you have, not my job to judge.

Enjoy a fantastic rapper.

EDIT:  Crap, this video would be a different version then the album version.  Here's the song I was talking about.

Robin Thicke - Give It 2 U Remix

Artists:  Robin Thicke, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar
Genre:  R&B

Despite what your personal thoughts on Robin Thicke may be, this song is really catchy.

Yeah, he's a d-bag, yeah he's made a pile of terrible decisions, but he at least has made some decent music.

Honestly my favorite part of this song is all the other people on it, so I guess I can't really talk about how I feel about him.  Whatever.

A TO Z STARTS TOMORROW.  BE READY.

Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta

Artist:  Kendrick Lamar
Genre:  Rap, Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

A friend of mine turned me toward Kendrick a while ago and I really just didn't get into him.  Bad luck for you though, cause I just got into his stuff and hence, am posting.

Like I said though, I'll back away from the Rap and Metal for a few days at least after this post.  I tend to forget to post songs though and when I get back to things I'll think I posted stuff that I never got around to posting but am 100% convinced I did.  I'm reasonably good at that...

Hey though, solid song here, song you'll like tomorrow, and A to Z starting back up soon!  This'll be a great time.  There's a line in here where he just keeps going and going without a breath.  It's tight.

A$AP Rocky - F*ckin' Problems

Artist:  A$AP Rocky feat. 2 Chainz, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar
Genre:  Rap, Hip Hop
Language:  Strong

I've decided to continue the journey of songs that Mr Chainz is a part of for a few more days with an artist that I only became acquainted with recently.  A$AP is a really smooth rapper from what I've heard, but I really need to listen to more of his stuff to get a better opinion going.

This song is really catchy though, and all three rappers that take a verse straight knock it out.

It's during Drake's jewfro days though, so that's a bit of a downside.