Music | What I've Been Listening To

As you may or may not know, this past week my mother had a baby! On Mother's Day! Amazing. I didn't sleep for the whole night as I was gripped with excitement, even though I didn't get to witness the birth this time (I saw my two brothers being born and cut their umbilical cords etc etc... It's a great story, honest) I'm so proud of my mum, she truly is a superwoman and I love her to bits! These past couple of days have certainly been filled with joy, excitement, love and happiness and of course whatever music I played reflected my blissful mood. I did say that when she was born, I'd play my sister A Star Is Born so hopefully she'll be a hip-hop head from early that way I can pass down this blog to her... Sort of like a rites of passage. Ha! In other news, last week's Nas and Damian Marley concert was irie! (read the review here) My back and feet were completely destroyed afterwards but it was well worth it. As always, I hope your past week was as fabulous as mine and here's to a fulfilling week ahead!

Love.

Big K.R.I.T - Returnof4eva
Yo g. I start off this week's post with Big K.R.I.T's latest release Returnofeva (no my spacebar is not broken). The Mississippi wordsmith's twenty-one track album possesses a much more southern style than his prior releases although K.R.I.T's emotive and lyrical flair is ever present; definitely making him the one to beat this year. Entirely self-produced, the album features well known southern exports Ludacris, Bun B and Chamillionaire, David Banner as well as singer/song-writer Raheem DeVaughn. A complete piece of work, with soulful instrumentation and well though out lyrics. Dope.

The Vent

Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed and Racism

Lions and Lambs

Mos Def - The Ecstatic

I missed Mos Def this week and found myself playing his most recent album, The Ecstatic. While I'll always maintain that 1999's Black On Both Sides is my favourite Mos record, this album certainly matches up. Considered to be his most lyrically sound piece of work since then, The Ecstatic proves just how boundless and creative hip-hop can be. Laced with brilliant production credits, including the late J Dilla, Mr Flash and Madlib, this album is one all should own. Trust me man. Would I lie to you?

Casa Bey

Pretty Dancer

No Hay Nada Mas

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Pt. 1 (4th World War)

Erykah Badu's fourth studio album, New Amerykah Pt.1 (4th World War) is just perfect. Everything that Ms Badu is famed for, her quirkiness, soulful intricateness and flat out musical transcendence is on this album. Right from the off, we're presented with a multitude of concepts and themes, both social and cultural and  though this record may be less introspective than her previous work, it doesn't make it any less great. Loaded with jazz, funk and hip hop sounds (we can thank 9th Wonder, Karriem Riggins and Madlib for the diversity) New Amerykah Pt. 1 is another one of those classics that will still have me yakking about it in ten years time.

The Healer

Me

Honey