What's New(s)?

Lil B takes on Kevin Durant again

For someone constantly preaching positivity, Lil B doesn't seem to have a lot of love for the Thunder's Kevin Durant. Back in 2011, the mighty Based God put a curse on the forward after Durant allegedly called him "wack." In 2012, B challenged Durant to a game of one-on-one that was accepted, but never occurred. 

The beef had essentially gone silent until this year's NBA All-Star Game when Lil B antagonistically tweeted out ""AND F*** KEVIN DURANT LIL B FOR LIFE - Lil B." That antagonism swelled to Wilt Chamberlain sized proportions over the weekend when B released the scorching "F*** KD." Assisted by booming horns, B suggests they "play a game of 21, it's really fun" and compares himself to Dirk Nowitzki and Latrell Sprewell. And in the chorus, he interpolates DJ Khaled's "Brown Paper Bag" to warble "f*** Kevin Durant." Considering the kind of year Kevin Durant has been having, that game of 21 the Based Go offers is ill-advised, no matter how great of a jump-shot he's got.

"F*** KD" is an upcoming cut from Lil B's Hoop Life mixtape. 

Future's Honest gets a release date

 

 

Future's Honest LP has been frustratingly delayed for months on end now, but today's announcement of a release date, album art (seen above), and tracklist made all that lost time worth it. 

Out April 22nd, the Atlanta rapper's sophomore album will feature past singles "Honest" and indelible posse-cut "Move That Dope" ft. Pusha T, Pharrell, and Casino. The A1/Freebandz/Epic release will also feature spots by: André 3000, Drake, Kanye, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Young Scooter, along with production efforts by Mike WiLL Made-It, 808 Mafia, and more. Last week, a well-received video game debuted for "Move That Dope", along with a video which you'll find below; accompanied by an official tracklist. 

Honest:
1. "Look Ahead"
2. "T-Shirt"
3. "Move That Dope" ft. Pharrell, Pusha T, & Casino
4. "My Momma ft. Wiz Khalifa
5. "Honest"
6. "I Won" ft. Kanye West
7. "Never Satisfied" ft. Drake
8. "I Be U"
9. "Covered N Money"
10. "Special" ft. Young Scooter
11. "Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)" ft. André 3000
12. "Blood, Sweat, Tears"

(Deluxe Edition)
13. "Big Rube Speaks"
14. "Side Effects"
15 I’ll Be Yours
16. "How Can I Not" ft. Young Scooter
17. "Sh!t"
18. "Karate Chop (Remix)" ft. Lil Wayne

"Move That Dope" ft. Pusha T, Pharrell, & Casino

Check back in tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s) and follow AllFreshSounds on Twitter for updates throughout the day.

"Move That Dope" ft. Pharrell, Pusha T & Casino- Future

Cue the longest, loudest, most obnoxious Ric Flair "WOOOOOOO" imaginable. Plain and simple "Move That Dope" from Future's forever delayed Honest is inspirational. Sitting through 6 minutes of Mike Will Made It's futuristic burbles, you're bound to chortle or nod your head to the track at least once.

More important than the hypnotic beat though is the effort of Future's collaborators, who're all hell-bent on offering up better dope-game advice than the dude who just wrapped up. A surprisingly lucid Future is seen bouncing from "beating that China like Kunta Kinte" to splashing scales with "baking soda water." Pusha T, never one to shy away from dope dealings, is stuck in a helpless dealer dichotomy "young enough to still sell dope, old enough to know better." As he admits near the end of his snarled verse, the only thing growing at the same rate as his age is his ego.

As ferocious as Pusha T appears, he's mere table-setting for the final two. Pharrell comes alive with the sort of rapping he's rarely delivered since In My Mind: Mixtape. He fields questions about his Grammy outfit and squeezes in a session of naked yoga. If this is any indication how his 2014 will go, the Neptunes producer will have another hyperbolic year. And hyperbole is all I can resort to when Casino comes through. Future's cousin is unrelenting in his approach, he bulldozes through "purp and zan" with Spartan intensity. And while "keep a 45 in my coat while I'm serving dope" scans as boilerplate gun-talk, when it comes in a weathered yowl it crosses from idle threat to guarantee. It's the one reality in a room full of vibrant fictions.

Future's second LP Honest still doesn't have a release date, but given the trove of material to appear Epic would be wise to set one soon.

"What's New(s)?"

Broken Bells release After the Disco title-track

Broken Bells, the electronic-leaning collaboration between Danger Mouse and the Shins James Mercer, are nearing the release of their new LP After the Disco and today they've debuted the album's title-track. "Holding On For Life", the thermin soaked first cut from the record languished on the dance-floor, while "After the Disco" seems to effortlessly glide. Here Mercer's voice is positively giddy as he struts across lockstep drumming and aqueous synths. Stereogum's Tom Breihan called it "not too far removed from Hall & Oates" and that signpost to feathery 80s pop doesn't seem far off.

After the Disco drops February 4th through Columbia.

Clipse working on a new album with Neptunes


After constantly dancing around reunion rumors, brothers Gene Thornton and Terrence Thornton, better known to the world as No Malice and Pusha T of Clipse are apparently back together working in the studio. And if that weren't enough to get fans of the Virgina Beach duo excited, production team the Neptunes will be manning the boards. Pusha and No Malice collaborated on last year's "Shame the Devil" for Malice's Hear Ye Him, but that seemed more one-off than full-blown reunion.

Today that reunion became reality when Karen Civil's website confirmed the rumors after Pusha T had been posting pics of himself in studio with the Neptunes. According to Civil's reporting, the as-of-yet untitled album will be an independent project. Expect more details on the release as they become available, and while you wait enjoy the eternal classic "We Got It For Cheap" from 2006's Hell Hath No Fury.

Check back in tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s) and follow @AllFreshSounds on Twitter for updates throughout the day.

What's New(s)?

Arcade Fire to perform Reflektor on NPR

As the long steady march to the release of the Arcade Fire's Reflektor continues, the group has announced they'll be performing live on NPR October 28, the day before the album drops. The Canadian septet will play in Hollywood's Capitol Studios and broadcast on NPR's "First Listen". The show is slated for a 10 pm East-coast start on NPR affiliates, and will also be streaming live here. 

Last night, under the guise of "The Reflektors" the band performed on the Colbert Report where they pitched a travel plan to Haiti for Colbert and donned their giant masks for Reflektor track "Normal Person". They saved new single "Afterlife" for a web exclusive, performing under the glow of disco lights. Check it out below and look for Reflektor October 29.

Rustie remixes "Trouble on My Mind"

At some point after the release of Pusha T's engaging solo endeavor Fear of God II in 2011, plans were made for a remix entitled Lucky T. The tracklist 've featured the likes of: Lunice, Machinedrum, Hudson Mohawke and others but never officially surfaced. Today British producer Rustie has given us a taste of his remix of the hedonistic "Trouble on My Mind". Rustie replaces the Neptunes original electronic scrawl with pattering handclaps, Sleigh Bells noise bursts, and tingling steel drum; sending the original song's confidence into overdrive.

The track is available for download here and Rustie is currently touring the U.S. with tour dates below:

10/22 Santa Barbara, CA - Velvet Jones
10/23 Boston, MA - Middle East
10/24 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
10/25 Asheville, NC - Mountain Oasis Festival
10/26 Miami, FL - Bardot

12/15 Los Angeles, CA - Lure
12/17 Seattle, WA - Neumos
12/18 Portland, OR - Rotture
12/19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Electric Owl
12/20 Chicago, IL - The MID

12/21 Toronto, Ontario - Wrongbar
12/22 Austin, TX - Empire Space 

 

Solange announces R&B compilation

If you've ever wished for a compendium of indie-leaning R&B, Solange will soon be granting your wish via her Saint Records imprint. The compilation Saint Heron promises 12 original songs by like-minded R&B artists including: Cassie, Sampha, Kelela, Jhené Aiko, and others. 

Solange herself will be issuing a new single for the LP, which drops November 12. The first single is Kelela's dreamy trap-influenced "Go All Night" found below.

What's New(s)?

A Tribe Called Quest joins Yeezus tour for final shows

As Drake's tour contracts, Kanye West's Yeezus tour is expanding. NY-natives A Tribe Called Quest will be joining West and co-star Kendrick Lamar for two November shows at the Barclay's Center and Madison Square Garden. And de-facto leader Q-Tip is saying the pair of concerts will be the last the Native-Tongues group ever performs. Taking to Twitter, Tip says "In August, ATCQ did our last show FOR Cali. It's only right we do our FINAL 2 joints where we started...NYC." However, it is worth pointing out that the group initially called it quits in '98 before reconvening in 2004 at Rock the Bells. 

G.O.O.D. Music partner Pusha T will also be joining the Yeezus tour, acting as the opener for the October 25 in Las Vegas. 

Speaking of "King" Kendrick Lamar, at the BET Hip Hop Awards last night, the Compton MC slayed with the TDE Cypher which you can see here.


Yeezus tour dates
10-19 Seattle, WA - KeyArena
10-20 Vancouver, British Columbia - Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
10-22 San Jose, CA - SAP Center
10-23 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
10-25 Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
10-26 Los Angeles, CA - STAPLES Center
11-1 Salt Lake City, UT - EnergySolutions Arena
11-3  Denver, CO -  Pepsi Center
11-5  Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
11-7  Chicago, IL - United Center
11-10  Detroit, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
11-12  Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
11-14  Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
11-16  Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
11-17  Boston, MA - TD Garden
11-19  Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
11-21  Washington, DC - Verizon Center
11-23  New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
11-29  Miami, FL - AmericanAirlines Arena 
11-30  Tampa, FL - Tampa Bay Times Forum
12-1 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
12-6 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
12-7 Houston, TX - Toyota Center 

"Scenario"- A Tribe Called Quest

Nirvana, N.W.A., The Replacements... nominated for Rock & Roll HOF

 

 

2014's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee list has been unveiled and the immediate headline is Nirvana is finally eligible for the honor. To be eligible for the entry into the Rock Hall, an artist has to have released their first single or album 25 years ago and their cover of Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz" hit the quarter-century mark this year. Joining Nirvana on the list this year are: N.W.A., The Replacements, Peter Gabriel, Kiss, Chic, LL Cool J, The Zombies, Cat Stevens, Hall and Oates, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Deep Purple, Linda Rondstadt, Yes, Link Wray, and the Meters. 

If you're handicapping the odds here, Nirvana becomes a first-ballot hall of famer. Anything past that is uncertain, but given the Hall's recent trend towards incorporating hip-hop acts its easy to imagine N.W.A making it in soon. Beleaguered 80s band The Replacements is currently riding a wave of good feelings with their recent one-off reunion and they have strong odds for inclusion. Gabriel's band Genesis joined the hallowed rock ranks in 2010 and his 80s solo output is unimpeachable. The much-maligned Chic has been on the nomination list for years, but Nile Rogers recent success on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories might be just the jolt the band needs. Almost every other artist from Rondstadt to Deep Purple is a toss-up, though some like prog-rock (a genre the Hall has long been dismissive of) band Yes and rock innovator Link Wray will surely have the door slammed shut on them.

Below you can check out video from Nirvana, The 'Mats, and N.W.A.

"Heart Shaped Box"- Nirvana

"Alex Chilton"- The Replacements

  


"Straight Outta Compton"- N.W.A.

Check back in tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s). 

"Nosetalgia" ft. Kendrick Lamar- Pusha T

"I started out as a baby faced monster," Pusha T pointedly snarls atop off-kilter guitar riffs and plodding percussion on new track "Nosetalgia". The image is ideal for Pusha, since day one he's been journalistically detailing his involvement in the drug game and rather than finger-wag we're only drawn in further. Here Pusha's as alluring as ever, his self-appointed moniker "Black Ferris Bueller" sizzles like the minute steak he compares his crack to. The attention to minute details "a million megapixels of the Pyrex, started on the scale my only Timex", ensure Pusha grandmaster status in the drug-dealing chess game. 

While Pusha sees Starter jackets in two-tone and "an arm full of watches", Kendrick Lamar can only envision "dead bodies". K.Dot carries us through scenes of his Sega Genesis getting sold for crack money and his father weighing out nine ounces in front of him at age 10. Showing us the other side of the coin, Kendrick's verse recalls the stomach-churning moments on Breaking Bad when the poisonous harvest that Walter White sows is shown. "Quantum physics could never show the world I was in," Kendrick barks. He and Pusha are at two places at once, and they couldn't be any further apart. 

Pusha T's My Name Is My Name is out 10/8 via G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam.  

In Revue: Pusha T- "Fear of God II: Let Us Pray"

 Pusha T spent more than a decade churning on critically adored coke-rap with his brother Malice as part of the Clipse, now he's on his own for the first time.

It's been a long road leading up to this, the first official release of a Pusha T solo album. In the past decade as one half of the Clipse, Pusha has racked up glowering reviews from critics left and right, all the while commercial success dodging him and brother Malice. Then, last year Pusha appeared on Kanye West's "Runaway," and hit critical mass in a way he never could with the Clipse. He'd later go on a tear of tracks West produced for his G.O.O.D. Friday Series, while skating around the coke-rap narratives that had made him so successful. Now on his major label debut, Pusha is back to his old ways, though he's grizzlier and wiser for having spent the last decade in musical purgatory.

One thing Pusha was always good at doing with the Clipse was tempering his coke raps with the knowledge he was engaging in self-destructive behavior. "Mama I'm so sorry, I'm so obnoxious, my only accomplice is my conscience," he rapped on the excellent "Mama I'm So Sorry." Tracks like that succeeded because Pusha and Malice actually made selling cocaine sound cool one moment, and the worst thing in the world the next. Though he still explores that dichotomy in Fear of God II, he's looking at things in a whole different light now that he's a "star," living comfortably on West's G.O.O.D. Music roster.

"Kinda Like a Big Deal"- The Clipse Til' the Casket Drops

First known link-up of 'Ye and Pusha, it was sparse on the well-received coke rap of prior albums. 

"I'm the only one left and the memories fading, so I write this alone in Vegas," goes the hook to album-closer "Alone in Vegas." And with that, Pusha humanizes himself in a way he rarely has before. This is no longer the same scrappy kid "Grindin" he's above that now, looking down at those cold streets from his warm penthouse suite. Listening to masterful takes like this off the album, you can't help but think that Pusha might regret his new-found comfortability more than any of the pain he felt on the ride to the top.

As reflective as Pusha gets at times, whether it be on "Vegas," or the twinkling-piano track "Everything That Glitters" featuring a well-placed guest hook from French Montana, Pusha still isn't above the hedonism that earned him so much cred in the first place. Look no further than first single "Trouble on My Mind," for proof of that. Over a classic wave of Neptunes electronic-scrawl, Pusha trades verses with Odd Future firebrand Tyler, the Creator. The balance is perfect, with the cocksure Tyler hearkening back to Pusha's halycon days when nothing outside of his own world mattered. The song is a sure album highlight and one of the best rap tracks of the entire year.

"Trouble on My Mind" ft. Tyler, The Creator- Fear of God II: Let Us Pray

Nowhere does Pusha better inhabit these two worlds than on "What Dreams Are Made Of," my personal pick for the album's best cut. Beginning with a WTF-inducing Ric Flair sample, the song backed by a spartan beat, explores Pusha's coke-slinging upbringing in the first verse. "I'm what dreams are made of, cocaine Ronald gave us. Then Nancy tried to save us, by then we had Motorola pagers," he recalls with slight trepidation. In the rest of the verse, he moves past that fear, joyously declaring "luxury is my lifestyle." The second verse acts as a balance, where Pusha mentions his need "for a way out, like Nas needed an ether."

Other than the verbal-game of hopscotch Pusha plays with his success, the album's biggest victory lies in it's brevity. Coming in at only 45 minutes, Fear of God II is short on filler with only the meandering "Feeling Myself," feeling out of place. The beats are all top-notch, fitting Pusha like a glove. To his credit, Pusha knew when to go big-budget and when to dial-down. Coupled with that is Pusha's wise guest selection. Everyone plays well, some (50 Cent) coming alive in invigorating ways we haven't seen in years. Of the guest spots, Rick Ross' in "I Still Wanna," works the best, his supreme snarl perfectly complimenting Pusha's calculated screeds. 

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown," notes Diddy adeptly in opener "Changing of the Guard." Though Cicero assuredly didn't have Pusha T in mind when he said that, the sentiment is perfect for Pusha. For years, he saw his talent feebly rewarded, with only a consortium of critical adoration and an ill-fitting crown to show for it. Now he's on the VMAs turning heads, living a dream he could imagine when he was the "neighborhood pusha." That "self-righteous drug dealer dichotomy," is paying off as he wearily reminisces about it all, "alone in Vegas."

"Alone in Vegas"