Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Volume Sixty-Six of Monday Blues & Beats and what has been a voluptuous week of music. Spent the weekend down in Portland, had a few donuts, caught a Trail Blazers game but now it’s back to work. New albums from James Blake, Kid Cudi, The National, Big Sean, Talib Kweli, Tyga, The-Dream on the way with singles to keep our ears perked until then.
Big Sean – Switch Up (feat. Common)
Here’s the second single from Sean’s upcoming album Hall Of Fame, which is due out this June. G.O.O.D.’s veteran steps into the booth for a solid verse – produced by Mano and No I.D. Check the single out on iTunes
The much anticipated first sound of The National’s sixth LP Trouble Will Find Me (May 20) which you can pre-order now on iTunes. 12 years in, and the same old beautiful deep melancholy sound.
Kid Cudi – Solo Dolo Pt. II (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Probably one of the most anticipated tracks from Cudder’s upcoming record. It will be his first album away from the G.O.O.D. Music label, after parting ways earlier this week. Pre-Order Indicud Now
James Blake – Take a Fall For Me (feat. RZA)
Mr. Blake’s second LP just hit iTunes tonight, and so far I like what I hear. Definitely a slower, more relaxed feel to the album. This collaboration right here is brilliant, RZA’s vocals sound like they were destined for a James Blake instrumental. Get Overgrown Now
Yasiin Bey – The Light Is Not Afraid Of The Dark
This unreleased gem came out of the vault, courtesy of Mos Def (most likely recorded under that name) and Kanye West on the beat. There’s also something special when an emcee of this stature has a raw, unreleased joint surface.
Talib Kweli – Come Here (feat. Miguel)
Speaking of conscious Hip Hop, a collaboration from Kweli’s upcoming album Prisoner of Conscious (a very fitting album title) surfaced this week. Miguel on a Talib hook is pure genius; super smooth.
London Grammar – Darling Are You Gonna Leave Me
Another dreamy number from this three-piece from London. Get their 4-track EP on iTunes
HS87 – Switch Up (HS87 Remix) [feat. Hit-Boy & Audio Push]
HS87 do it again with a far from boring remix of Big Sean’s brand new “Switch Up.” Hit-Boy and the duo Audio Push add verses over a redesigned beat.
Dream drops us the title track from his upcoming album, this sexy joint belongs in those ‘baby-makin’ playlists. IV Play is his fifth album, and it hits shelves May 28.
Trips N Slim – 24K (feat. A$AP Rocky)
Square Off presents Trips N Slim for their brand new mixtape The Preface, these boys have flow for days. This one features a verse from Rocky, over a MGMT sample (“Electric Feel”).
Majical Cloudz – Childhood’s End
Majical Cloudz is Devon Welsh with the strong, expressive vocals over Matthew Otto’s deep underlying production and performance.
Tyga – 500 Degrees (feat. Lil Wayne)
A straight up banger from these two YMCMB boys, produced by Ryan Hunt. Tyga’s Hotel California just dropped and features Rose, Jada, CB, Game, Wiz, Chainz, Future and more.
Joey Bada$$ – A Day In The Life
Produced by Harry Fraud
Action Bronson – Compliments 2 The Chef
Produced by Harry Fraud
Produced by Erick Arc Elliott – The last three tracks all come from Peter Rosenberg’s New York Renaissance mixtape which dropped five days ago. The tape, as you might of guessed has a solid NY feel to it, especially that Bronson track.
A real smooth one from Banks, as he prepares for his upcoming project Failure’s No Option – which is part of the All Or Nothing series. Produced by Hero Beats
