Damn, we thought we were done with 2017, we might have to rethink some of these year end lists with the awesome drops this week.
With N.E.R.D dropping their first album since 2010, you already know that took up most of our attention and they did not disappoint.
On the other hand, another legend of the game dropped a snoozefest of an album. I know he’s some of y’all’s favorite but sheesh is Eminem’s album boring. I’m sorry, we don’t need to talk about this anymore.
Jeezy dropped some fire. Charli XCX released Pop 2, Zaytoven has a whole tape, and so much more went down in music this week.
Essketit.
Check out our December playlist below and vibe out to the 10 waviest tracks of the week.
https://open.spotify.com/user/kulturehub/playlist/4E9Tj8xDSumUev8bsCfKry
N.E.R.D – “Deep Down Body Thurst”
N.E.R.D were probably the most influential band and production collective of the early 2000s and their new project, No_One Ever Really Dies, is another classic.
With production and instrumentation that truly sounds unlike anything else in the game, Pharrell and co. are just the best.
I mean, they made a post-punk rock song with Gucci Mane on “Voila”. “Deep Down Body Thurst” is a funky (kind of ska-y) jam that I can’t stop listening to.
Jeezy – “American Dream” (ft. J. Cole, Kendrick)
Jeezy’s new Pressure album is vintage Snowman.
The Trap or Die artist is one of the best, along with Rick Ross, at toeing the line between old school, soul-based production and more contemporary trap beats.
On “American Dream” he goes in alongside two of the best lyricists in the game *extremely dorm kid wearing flannel voice*.
Charli XCX – “Out Of My Head” (ft. Tove Lo, Alma)
Pop 2 is nominally a mixtape, but the pop power on this project is damn impressive.
Charli XCX is the British singer with the endlessly massive voice on hits like “Fancy“, “1 Night“, and “Boom Clap“.
“Out Of My Head,” which sees Charli joined by Tove Lo and Alma, is so fun. This project is a whole ass bop.
Zaytoven – “China White” (ft. OJ Da Juiceman)
By my count Zaytoven Presents: Trapping Made It Happen is Zaytoven’s billionth project released this year. So wild.
The former church organist is one of the most prolific and best producers in hip-hop history. On “China White”, he and longtime collaborator OJ Da Juiceman are back to their old tricks.
SZA, Calvin Harris – “The Weekend” (Funk Wav Remix)
SZA’s sidechick anthem gets the Calvin Harris remix treatment, bringing a lil funk to the TDE artist’s R&B spiciness.
This song strips away some of the soulfulness of the original cut, but makes it a lot more appropriate for the club.
Tay-K – “The Race” (Remix ft. 21 Savage & Young Nudy)
This year’s most viral artist dropped a remastered version of this summer’s #SantanaWorld with a remix of “The Race” with Atlanta cousins 21 Savage and Young Nudy jumping on the track.
Can’t think of more perfect artists to jump on this.
Jorja Smith – “Lost” (Remix)
One of the most exciting young artists in pop music (and my future wife) Jorja Smith spins Frank Ocean’s “Lost” into a downbeat post-dub ballad.
Jorja’s voice is an absolute godsend. She’s so damn good.
Creek Boyz – “My Team” (Remix ft. Lil Yachty)
One of this summer’s biggest anthems, The Creek Boyz’s “My Team”, gets a remix treatment, adding a verse from Lil Yachty.
The Baltimore group’s hit is such an uplifting and fun track with Yachty bringing a new wrinkle. It’s his best verse in a minute.
BROCKHAMPTON – “JOHNNY”
Texas art hip-hop collective BROCKHAMPTON’s third album this year dropped earlier today. This group is super interesting, pushing hip-hop to its radical musical limits.
“JOHNNY” is BROCKHAMPTON at their weird best. All you alternative hip-hop fans should peep game.
DeJ Loaf – “Big Ole Boss”
DeJ Loaf, most recently in the news for being the reason A Boogie and PnB Rock jumped Lil B, dropped off with “Big Ole Boss”, produced by the aforementioned Zaytoven.
It’s a bouncy lil jam as DeJ spits fire over Zay’s beat.
Links and other shit…
Lil Baby is nice
Quality Control signee Lil Baby only started rapping in February but he’s already got the hang for this shit.
“My Dawg” was one of the jams of the year and his mixtape Too Hard, which dropped in early December, is flames. Fuck with Lil Baby.
Wavves – “Christmas Time Is Here”
Wavves went back to their early days on this one, bringing some serious lo-fi vibes to “Christmas Time Is Here”. Pretty interesting re-work of a holiday classic.
Big Shaq – “Man’s Not Hot” (Christmas Edition)
Yo, I can’t stop laughing. Big Shaq remixed “Man’s Not Hot” with some sleigh bell sounds in the background. Shit IS HOT!
As always…
It's Friday. Avoid the bookings beloved.
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) December 15, 2017