"Wonderful Everyday" ('Arthur' Theme Song)- Chance the Rapper

(From: Freshness Mag)

Even when Chicago spitballer Chance the Rapper is at his most crushingly bleak, discussing the personal hell of a lonely night eating days-old pizza or the horrifying rise in shootings when summer hits, there's unmistakable beauty in his work. Chance's way of phrasing, "It just got warm out, this the s*** I've been warned about," combined with his inimitable squawk, tugs at your heartstrings. I'll freely admit when I was in Chicago in the middle of the month, I was tearing up as the aforementioned "Paranoia" drifted out of my car speakers. It wasn't just crushing sadness causing it; there was an odd element of joy. It's clear he had seen the worst in people, but still he managed to care for them. Hearing someone remain strong essentially made me weak.

The joy in Chance the Rapper's "Wonderful Everyday," a reworking of the Arthur theme song "Believe in Yourself," isn't hidden at all. From the stately piano keys that open the track to the initial cymbal washes and Chance whispering "it could be wonderful every day," joy abounds in this take on the Ziggy Marley original. Chance has been performing the familiar tune live for a few months now, but the release of the studio track renders prior versions obsolete. Now he's got a phalanx of vocalists from Wyclef Jean to Jessie Ware and Elle Varner to back him up. They closely follow him "walking down the street," and finish the messages that come from the heart. And then, as if climbing a rainbow, the entire group lifts their voices up in dazzling unison to "work and play." Drums pound and horns bellow without raining on the parade one bit. Nothing can hold something so heartfelt back.



Chance the Rapper is playing a hometown set at Lollapalooza on August 3, which you can see here.

"Share It All"- Jessie Ware

I'm not sure if I've ever had to turn down the volume on a song that could be pegged as "seductive R&B" because the bass was too loud. Ideally, the bass should be softly exhaling. Synthesizers need to ebb and flow without overflowing. Drums (programmed or otherwise) that faintly tick are best. Any guitars in the mix fit when they have a brittle feeling. The seduction element hinges on silence.

On "Share It All," Jessie Ware's second offering from her upcoming sophomore release Tough Love, the U.K. electronic R&B artist checks off the last three while leaving the first conspicuously blank. "Share It All"'s synth moves at a glacial pace under Ware's breathy request "could you it all with me, and I'll share it all with you?" When she's navigating in a dark room with a destination in mind, drums are quietly chattering under piles of ripped off bed sheets. The song's fragile reverberated guitars conjure the xx and sure enough the London trio's guitarist Romy Madley Croft co-wrote the effort with Ware. Though previous collaborator Julio Bashmore produced "Share It All," it’s the xx's work that informs the track. The idea of cavernous bass in an alluring number wouldn't be possible without the xx's "Intro" as a template. In "Share It All," each boom isn't meant to shake you, but echo the jittery beat of a heart.

It's more than the music though that makes the xx one of Ware's closest analogues; it's her uncertain romantic insistence. "Share it all with me," she calmly demands before backing down to "if you want to." Ware's asking someone else "tell me what you want me to do;" following instead of leading. Not unlike Croft in "Angels," she knows exactly what love is, but doesn't quite know how to pursue it.




Jessie Ware's Twitter page teases August 3 as a release date for Tough Love's title track. No news yet when the album will appear on Island/Cherrytree.

"Without"- Sampha

The soothing wobble of London-native Sampha Sisay's voice has become increasingly commonplace in the last few years, comfortably moving through tracks by SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, and most recently Drake in the unrequited cut "The Motion." The stereo-panning electronic pings and drum-machine pops blend with the more human drum work to create a crisp if somewhat jarring listen. The lyrics too are a study in contrast, Sampha's timorous voice searching for love one moment and patiently waiting the next. Work this engrossed in contrast isn't an easy sell, but when it's delivered with this much clarity and confidence, it's easier to buy into.

Dual, his forthcoming debut EP drops July 29 via Young Turks. 

Breathe In

Cover of dubstep-artist Joker's debut album.

Leading up to his debut full-length album release for 4AD, UK dubstep-king Joker released the title-track for the album, The Vision which is due out November 8th. The original song which featured arresting vocals from Jessie Ware, was labeled by some as "dubstep-pop," an insult of the highest order in the electronically-indebted dubstep community. Well if that was a minor offense, then the recent release of the remix is a cardinal sin. The remix adds a verse by rising Indiana gangsta rapper Freddie Gibbs. While dubstep is no stranger to rap verses, they tend to feature UK artists and then only sparingly. So in a year that has already seen one dubstep artist sing (James Blake) and Kanye West embrace the style on his most recent album (Watch the Throne) I can only imagine what people will say about this. So before the backlash inevitably kicks in from the most pretentious of dubsteppers, enjoy the cut.

"The Vision" ft. Jessie Ware & Freddie Gibbs- The Vision

Joker doing what he does best, manipulating beats beyond all-belief.
As of late, the once reclusive artist has now opened up a lot more to pictures.