The Audacity of Dope

I was recently thinking about this Delorean “Dear Langston” record that I posted a few years ago and wondered what ever happened to the group.  Turns out, they’ve renamed themselves DLRN (perhaps because of these guys?) and they’re definitely still around.  Here’s their latest work featuring the homey Geo.

DLRN proudly presents the visual accompaniment for the track “Reset” off their second EP The Bridge.  The track features the Blue Scholars’ Prometheus Brown and Illecism of Fly High.  Filmed for several days underneath the sweltering Mojave Desert sun, the video was directed by Sami Abdou of Faux Real Productions and filmed by Tim Jenkins.  Conceptualized and written by Abdou, the music video gives a modern take on the old spaghetti Westerns of the 60’s.

DLRN is currently hard at work preparing the third installment of their EP trilogy to be released next year. Until then, The Bridge & No More Heroes is still available for download at http://dlrn.bandcamp.com.

Sound Session listeners will recognize this track from some of our recent episodes and it’s one of my favorite Pacific Northwest records of the year.  JayKin played this for me when I dropped by Alife Vancouver a few weeks ago and I was hooked right away.  Even with our fleeting summer weather, the vibe instantly puts you in a good mood.  Combine the audio with dope shots of Vancouver at night (Gastown!) and you can’t go wrong.

Off JayKin’s Sneakers and Video Games 2 (Bonus), which you should download right here…RIGHT NOW!

The yin to my last post’s yang, I LOVE this record, but the video is too creepy for me.  I almost feel like if they just put Nabil’s “Swim Good” visuals to this track, it might turn out real dope.  Eh well, I’ll cope.

Bridget Kelly, on the other hand, must feel a little sideways about this song getting visuals after Frank supposedly wrote it for her Roc Nation project…

The long awaited video for Frank’s “Swim Good” finally dropped and, as expected with all Nabil directed visuals, it’s clean, dope, and a little twisted. This is actually one of my least favorite tracks on Nostalgia…Ultra, but that’s not really an indictment because the project as a whole is incredible.  If any of the records could potentially catch on to radio after “Novacane” finishes its run (still my song of the year), it’s this one.  Here’s hoping the mass public continues to take notice of Frank.

Oh, and you always win points with me for any panda or samurai references.  Well done guys.

Talking with a director buddy of mine and we agreed that Hype Williams’ visuals here are not very impressive, but I must admit, this song has grown on me the past few months.  Kanye’s verses are poor for his standards (almost sounds like the corny cameos he’ll make on big pop records like Katy Perry’s “E.T.” remix), but overall, the song works.

Besides…”BLOOOOOOP BLOOOOOOP!“

Jermaine might have my favorite record out at the moment with this one. “THAT’S THE HOOK RIGHT THURR!!!!”

While I don’t think this single is necessarily one of Asher’s stronger lyrical performances recently, I wonder if there are people out there that still don’t realize he can really rhyme.  If so, you must not have peeped the EP with Notttz, nor some of the random leaks from the past year.  I’m looking forward to Asher’s sophomore album solidifying his place in the game and erasing any thoughts that it was solely about “I Love College.”

This collaboration between Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse marks the final track Amy recorded before passing away.  Today would have been her 28th birthday.  RIP Amy.

I feel like this Tony Bennett duets album might get a lot of spins around the loft during the cold weather this winter, but I’m a little worried to see folks like Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey on the tracklisting…

Robin Thicke kinda has this lane on lock, but I’m not mad at this track from John West and Pusha T.  If you want a fun game, pretend that all of Pusha’s verses towards a girl are actually dedicated towards coke.  Sometimes they fit a little too well…

ActuaLOL @ the Nuvo product placement though.

Why does summer have to end?!  Why can’t life always be this easy?!  And when am I gonna be invited to a pool party with Maxine Ashley?