This is my jam. If you watch “How to Make It in America” then you will recognize this track as the theme song. I’ve been waiting patiently until they released a music video to put up a post…and the day has come. The smooth-voiced singer, Aloe Blacc, is on the same record label (Stones Throw) as my boy Mayer Hawthorne who I introduced to you back HERE. If you dug Mayer’s vibe, then you will definitely like Mr. Blacc. Take a listen:

Now this is what I’m talking about! My last post on Erykah Badu (here) introduced her new song with Lil’ Wayne which was pretty disappointing and quite surprising coming from such an amazing talent like Badu. “Window Seat” which will be the official first single of her upcoming album “New Amerykah Part Two”, brings Erykah back to the soulful and melodic driven beats that I love about her. I really dig it. Below is her live performance on Jimmy Kimmel (backed by The Roots Band, of course):

Take a minute to check out my good friend Ayler Young’s music video for his first single “Dream Girl” off his upcoming album “Back in the City”. It’s fresh, fun, flirty and the perfect song to set off spring! To learn more about this up and coming artist and to check out future tour dates, click HERE!

Um. Wow. I guess this is pretty much par for the course with Gaga. I can’t help but draw comparisons to both Madonna and Michael Jackson throughout this video. Her look is Madonna circa her Blonde Ambition days and the storytelling side of the music video is reminiscent of MJ’s mini-movies he would create for every video he did.  I do like the overall look and feel, there are some points that are just too much, but then I guess it wouldn’t be a Lady Gaga venture if it wasn’t. Amazingly, I can even draw comparisons to Quentin Tarantino at points. Pussy-mobile much? Check it:

I am a HUGE Erykah Badu fan, but honestly, I’m a bit disappointed by this one. Maybe I have to give it a few more listens but….it’s pretty mediocre to me.

Rare video of Biggie freestyling where it all began…on the street corners of Bed-Stuy.

And of course….some classics.

I posted the new song “Stylo” by the Gorillaz back here, and today they dropped the music video for the song. I really love the Gorillaz and am really amped for the release of their upcoming album. This video is dope. Check it out (and yes, that is a cameo by Bruce Willis):

The video for Kanye’s “Coldest Winter”, off his album “808’s & Heartbreaks” has just been released. Check it:

Mayer Hawthorne, according to Wikipedia, is “singer, producer, songwriter, arranger, audio engineer, DJ, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist.” Basically stating that this man does it all. Originally hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, Hawthorne’s sound is so soulful that it’s hard to imagine this voice belongs to a 29 year-old white boy from the Mid-West. While “Maybe So, Maybe No” is a more youthful turn for Mayer, “When I said Goodbye” is a track that could have easily been recorded back in the 50’s. Consequently, he states his influences as Curtis Mayfield, Barry White, Isaac Hayes and Smokey Robinson just to name a few.

I am really digging this guy’s vibe. Take a listen for yourselves:

[For my Cali heads, the video below is an homage of sorts to Venice Beach. If you frequent it like I do, you will notice some familiar faces that are staples there.]