Fuck the solstice. Summer isn’t summer until the arrival of the Smells Gucci summer tape. Yesterday, the homie Nibot dropped Volume 2, and so begin the beach parties, park barbecues, street loitering, and overambitious road trips. 15 hand-selected tracks to keep your tape deck hot all summer and beyond. Peep Smells Gucci to catch up with last year’s tape and enjoy some of the finest design work Toronto has to offer.
DOWNLOAD: Smells Gucci Summer Tape Vol. 2
Click for Tracklist
frank ocean [novacane] from christopher francis ocean on Vimeo.
OFWGKTA’s Frankie O has certainly parlayed his free tape, Nostalgia, Ultra, into a blossoming career. Soon enough, Def Jam will be re-releasing the record in physical form, hoping to catch some of the heat that Francis has been generating. For now, a video for “Novacane,” the album cut which has gained the most radio play to date. Directed by Nabil. Impressive visuals.
CyHi’s buzz has quieted significantly since dropping Royal Flush mixtape last October, but with this sequel, the low man on the G.O.O.D. Music totem looks to get his name back in mouths. With Yeezy’s record of breaking new artists, seems Da Prynce of ATL might be fighting a losing battle. With help from Big Sean, Push-A-Ton and Pill on the mic, as well as J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League on the boards, CyHi at least makes a case to be the next of the growing list of Grammy Family artists to drop a studio LP.
DOWNLOAD: CyHi Da Prynce – Royal Flush 2 Mixtape
Now this… This is something I can ride to. As always, Westside Detroit’s finest has his snapback game on point for this here visual directed by Mike Waxx. Sean’s buzz has been building for a minute now, and he certainly has the right people behind him. Pause. Let’s see if it translates into decent numbers once Finally Famous drops June 28. G.O.O.D. Music. Boi.
Ugh. I’m a big fan of both of Mellowhype’s free LPs, YelloWhite and BlackenedWhite. But this? Can’t get with it. This is the first time I’ve been on the side of those who call out OFWGKTA for their dependence on shock value. At least Tyler’s videos for “Yonkers” and “SHE” were novel and seemed to have some sort of visual narrative. Nothing new here. Just some shit to creep you out. All hype, no mellow. Step your game up, Hodgy.
Nasir’s career moves certainly don’t generate the buzz they once did, but dude can still incinerate a microphone. Yes, this sounds dated. Yes, it does bear some resemblance to past singles. And yes, Esco continues to exist only as a shadow as his former self. More than anything, I wish for Nas to stay relevant. Illmatic remains the blueprint (pun fully intended) for what a hip-hop album should sound like when all essential forces combine: flawless production, thought-provoking lyrics, just the right amount of hype, and a, indescribable ferocity. But now, he seems to be fighting an uphill battle, or at the very least treading water.
The problem is, Nas’ name just doesn’t hold weight with the Youtube generation, and this effort isn’t going to do anything to help bridge the gap. Though an upcoming collabo with Frank Ocean and rumored production contributions from Yeezy lead me to believe he at least acknowledges his descent into obscurity, I’m not holding my breath.
DOWNLOAD: Nas – “Nasty” (prod. Salaam Remi)
Tyler gets back into the directors chair for the second effort from last month’s Goblin, this time for “She” with resident OF crooner Frank Ocean. Youngin has some serious directing chops, and both visuals from dude’s debut have been on another level in terms of replayability. Goblin available in record stores and on iTunes right now.
This is the Soundtrack 