Twista

Twista has always had one of the most unique flows in hip-hop. Once clocked in as the fastest rapper in the world (11.2 syllables per second), almost all of his rhymes come fast and hard. Unlike most other speed rappers though, he has the ability to make his quick-paced rhymes sound laid-back, and sometimes I might even call them mellow. This is due largely to his beat selection. Twista has an uncanny ability to find beats that go perfectly with his uncommon style of rapping and this, combined with the A-list producers (Kanye West, Jazze Pha, The Neptunes) he enlists, have made him one of the most interesting rappers to listen to in recent years. Lyrically, he's not all that amazing, but his flow combined with his beat selection have made him one of my favorite rappers to listen to, especially when I'm looking for somethin' to bump in my car. Enjoi.

Creep Fast (Feat. T-Pain) - Twista / Mediafire
Still Feels So Good (Feat. Jazze Pha) - Twista / Mediafire
So Lonely (Feat. Mariah Carey) - Twista / Mediafire

Mick Boogie - Re-Living Thing (Mixtape)

 Mick Boogie has long been well known in the blogosphere as a talented producer and mixtape guru, hosting tapes for everyone from Big Sean to Eminem. After Peter Bjorn & John released their 2009 album Living Thing, he took it upon himself to craft one of the best remix albums I've heard in awhile. The tape's production is pretty damn good, especially since I'm not a Peter Bjorn & John fan at all, but Boogie is able to use a lot of their original rhythms and melodies while making the songs sound fresh. The host of lyricists is also one of the albums strengths, made up of a number of rising stars including Donnis, Big Sean, Wale, and Fashawn. These two songs are my the best on the album in my opinion, especially "Stay This Way" which seamlessly incorporates the band's signature "oohs" and whistles into an awesome beat.

If you wanna get the whole mixtape, you can cop it HERE.

Stay This Way (Feat. Big Pooh, Phil Nash & Chaundon) - Mick Boogie / Mediafire

Just the Past (nVMe Remix) [Feat. Big Sean, Black Milk & T3] - Mick Boogie / Mediafire

The Aquabats

Ahhhh a throwback to the good old days (read: middle school). I'd have to say that the Aquabats, and specifically their album Charge, were instrumental in getting me into more melodic music. Back in middle school I was into punk and classic metal, like Zepplin and Metallica. The summer before my freshman year I picked this album up on the recommendation of a friend, and it was pretty much the only thing I listened to for the rest of the summer. The Aquabats unique brand of melodic ska-punk introuced me to an entirely new kind of sound, one that would influence the music I listen to even to this day. Originally, the group was a 9-piece band, complete with horns section and Travis Barker as their drummer (he's my boy). They are mainly known for their ridiculous outfits and nonsensical songs, as well as their even more ridiculous live shows. A few friends who have seen them have told me they're amazing, and they're certainly near the top of my list of bands I want to see live. They're down to only 5 members now, but they're ridiculous as ever, and although I haven't enjoyed as much of their more recent work, I'll always remember them as instrumental in changing my musical tastes (hopefully for the better).

Fashion Zombies! - The Aquabats / Mediafire

Tiger Rider Vs. The Time Sprinkler! - The Aquabats / Mediafire

The Newz - Totally Insane

I don't have much to say about Totally Insane. Actually, no one really has much to say about them; I doubt many people have even heard of them. Hailing from EPA (East Palo Alto), they've been reppin' the hood since way back in 1991. I may not know much about them, but this song is a CUT. For real. Get ready to hit the repeat button, this is one chilled out jam that will have you nodding your head in no time; this is with out a doubt one of my favorite songs I've found in the past year.

"I think the president is smokin' weed, bumpin' this beat, makin' a living off my misery"

The Newz - Totally Insane / Mediafire

Hello Tomorrow - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (+More)

I've never been a huge Yeah Yeah Yeahs fan or listened to much of their music. In fact, the only other song I have by them is "Gold Lion", which is a pretty good song. Other than the intro, "Hello Tomorrow" is instrumental, a nice change for the sometimes punk-ish group. The other two tracks are just a couple randoms I wanted to share that I thought went well with the song. Play the "Empires" Remix on headphones or some nice speakers if you can. It's worth it.


Hello Tomorrow - Yeah Yeah Yeahs / Mediafire
Empires (Nosaj Thing Remix) - Sound Tribe Sector 9 / Mediafire
Talamak - Toro Y Moi / Mediafire

Xaphoon Jones

 Xaphoon Jones (real name: Noah Beresin) is the production half of hip-hop group Chiddy Bang, and is one of my favorite new producers/mash-up artists to come out in the past few years. Unlike a lot of hip-hop, which focuses on sampling older soul or funk songs, or even other hip-hop songs, Jones is all about sampling new tracks from every genre imaginable. On Chiddy's new mixtape (more on that later), he samples from artists as diverse as Gorillaz, Ellie Goulding, and Kate Nash, to name a few. These three songs are off his first tape, the Xaphoon Jones Mixtape Vol. 1, which you can cop HERE. This guy is about to be big so listen now, before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon.


I Wanna Know Now (Bob Marley, MGMT) -Xaphoon Jones / Mediafire
Testify (Radiohead, Kanye West) - Xaphoon Jones / Mediafire
You Need (Clipse, Led Zepplin) - Xaphoon Jones / Mediafire

Gorillaz

Not much needs to be said about the Gorillaz, I'm sure most of you know who they are/have heard their music before. Just in case you haven't, basically they are a rotating collective of artists headed by Blur frontman Damon Alborn. He reperesents this collective through four different virtual band members who appear in all the group's music videos, and often on stage as holographical representations. These are three tracks I feel like a lot of people may not have heard as none of them were singles. Stylo is the first single off their new album Plastic Beach, and although the original is good, I think this Chiddy Bang remix is a lot better; it's much catchier and an easier listen for mainstream listeners. November Has Come has a dope feature from my man DOOM, and All Alone is officially my favorite Gorillaz song, hands down. Enjoy.

All Alone - Gorillaz / Mediafire
Stylo (Feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack) [Chiddy Bang Remix] - Gorillaz / Mediafire
November Has Come (Feat. MF Doom) - Gorillaz / Mediafire

Alice In Videoland

I first heard about Alice In Videoland through snowboarding company Isenseven's videos (on a side note, they are putting out some of the best snowboarding videos on the market right now, so check 'em out). The swedish group borders between punk and electro-clash, and while some of their songs will leave you scratching your head and wondering what the fuck just came out of your speakers, these two are way catchy and danceable, so have fun getting them out of your head once you listen. Radiosong is off of their album Outrageous!, and I found it in the first Isenseven video I ever saw, the trailer for their movie Prediculous (which can be seen below). The second song, Numb, is off their 2008 album She's A Machine!, and is featured in Isenseven's Teenage Love Graffiti trailer.

Radiosong - Alice In Videoland / Mediafire

Numb - Alice In Videoland / Mediafire

Prediculous Trailer

Nice & Smooth

Nice & Smooth are funky. Also hip-hop junkies. This pretty much sums up this golden era hip-hop duo from NY. They worked extensively with Gang Starr, and are best known for their song "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" which features a dope sample of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car". Their song "Hip Hop Junkies" is also one of my favorite's, with a very original sample of The Partridge Family. As much as a I love the new breed of rapper that is emerging today, you truly can't beat the good old '90s for quality  hip-hop.

Sometimes I Rhyme Slow - Nice & Smooth / Mediafire
Hip Hop Junkies - Nice & Smooth / Mediafire

The Hush Sound

An old favorite of mine, from back in my pop punk days, The Hush Sound are a piano-driven quartet out of Illinois and signed to Fueled By Ramen, the label made huge by (*cringes*) Fall Out Boy. Their first two albums are both full of great hooks and catchy piano, and once you listen to a song once, it'll definitely be on repeat for awhile. I've been listening to these guys since my freshman year in high school, and yet can still take almost any of their songs and throw it on repeat for a few plays. Currently the band is on hiatus, but in the meantime, your welcome to go out and pick all three of their albums. These next songs are my three favorites by them, and they're all insanely catchy, so get 'em while they're hot 'n' fresh.

We Intertwined - The Hush Sound / Mediafire

Crawling Towards The Sun - The Hush Sound / Mediafire

Momentum - The Hush Sound / Mediafire

The Kids Don't Stand A Chance (+Remixes) - Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend exploded onto the indie music scene in early 2008 with their self-titled debut album. They brought a fresh, new sound to indie music, and although I'm not a huge fan of all their music, one song in particular off their first album caught my ear. That song is "The Kid's Don't Stand A Chance". The first time I heard it, I didn't pay much attention to it, but after hearing the Miike Snow remix, I went back and gave it a few more listens and now I love it. This post has the original track, as well as two great remixes, one by Miike Snow, and the other by Chromeo. The Miike Snow mix is actually one of my favorite songs, and holds a spot in my most played songs on itunes so make sure to give that one a listen first.

The Kids Don't Stand A Chance - Vampire Weekend / Mediafire

The Kids Don't Stand A Chance (Remix) [Feat. Miike Snow] - Vampire Weekend / Mediafire

The Kids Don't Stand A Chance (Chromeo Remix) - Vampire Weekend / Mediafire

*Bonus*

As a bonus, B.o.B's new album The Adventures of Bobby Ray, which dropped on April 27th, features the track "The Kids", which bases it's melody around the Vampire Weekend song. It's fire, and if you don't already have the entire album (which you should), at least pick this track up.

The Kids (Feat. Janelle Monae) - B.o.B / Mediafire