The Audacity of Dope

Yuna’s latest visuals are for “Live Your Life,” the excellent Pharrell produced lead single for her upcoming album dropping in April.

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, Ali teams up with Jake One and Nikki Jean for an original story and accompanying visuals.

The newest visuals from Tay’s Charity Starts At Home album are for “The Good Fight,” a track that should resonate with many around the country right now.  On a personal level, it’s been interesting getting my career going the past few years while most of the US struggle with the recession and the aftermath of Bush’s disastrous reign.  Every time I watch the news (well, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report), it’s jarring to see and hear about all the problems facing our society and economy.

Meanwhile, I’ve managed to come up a bit, bought a condo, and have a job that I enjoy working for the best possible company I could imagine.  I’m not sure I could be any more blessed and I’m thankful that the issues Tay discusses on this record haven’t quite affected me like most folks.  Hopefully I can stay lucky and anyone reading this post can do the same.  Keep working hard and stay positive!  Good things happen to good people.

The last few bars are kinda classic.

This is amazing. I pine to get back on the slopes. Soon.

Ever since I was a kid, one of the first things I’ve done in every city I visit is find the nearest basketball court. Even if I don’t end up getting out on that court, just seeing it instantly gives you a little connection with your new surroundings. For those of us who have played ball our entire lives, I know y’all can relate.

In his new video, Omar Aura shows us a little glimpse of that life in his hometown of Fresno, CA. This track will be available on his upcoming project, Auradon Sessions, dropping March 6th.  Seattle people: Omar told me he just did a record with Grynch for the project, so be on the lookout for that.  Everything he’s released has been dope so far and with tracks like this one, I’m sure that will continue…

Omar Aura – “Balla”

I was pretty apprehensive when I heard this was a “live” video, but I actually like what they’ve done here. Mixing in live footage with what appears to be staged model shots (or I suppose that really could be the LA crowd…they’re winning with the females down there) and alternating between live and studio audio was a nice touch. Plus, as long as you aren’t prone to epileptic seizures (no, seriously…heed the warning at the beginning), the effects are great. Kanye even gets directorial credit on this one. Yeezy taught you.

New Jerome D visuals for one of the standout records off Q’s new Habits & Contradictions project.  Loving the sample.

Dirty AF!

If you aren’t up on Hanni, you’re missing out.  I tried to tell y’all in 2010. Here are a few other tracks off his Will The Guns Come Out album that I particularly enjoyed.

On what appears to be the most packed couch in recent memory, Thaddeus spits a quickie from his upcoming album, Maven.  Thad will be coming through SNSS this coming weekend to talk all about the project.  Coming off one of the best releases of last year with Taysean for Helluvastate, everyone should be anticipating Thad’s first solo project.