Kendrick Lamar Talks Grammys & More (News)

 

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K Dot sat down with The New York Times, about his 11 Grammy nominations, impact of “Alright”, Barack Obama, and hip-hop’s divide.

 

Eleven nominations is one fewer than Michael Jackson’s record.
I’m still soaking that all in. Michael will forever be the greatest. I’m glad it was at 11. I would never want to even think about putting myself on the same level as Michael, simply because I haven’t put in the work that he did. It couldn’t be a better number.

Is there one award you want to win above all?
Ultimately, for the hip-hop community, I would love for us to win them all. Because we deserve that. Period.

A hip-hop album winning those general interest categories would be a statement.
I want all of them. Because it’s not only a statement for myself, but it’s a statement for the culture. They’re all important, because of the foundation the forefathers laid before me. Nas didn’t get a chance to be in that position. Pac. So to be acknowledged and to actually win, it’s for all of them.

When did you realize that “Alright” was becoming an anthem for Black Lives Matter?
When I’d go in certain parts of the world, and they were singing it in the streets. When it’s outside of the concerts, then you know it’s a little bit more deep-rooted than just a song. It’s more than just a piece of a record. It’s something that people live by — your words.

Did you expect it to connect on that level?
Definitely. Simple phrase: We gon’ be alright. It’s a chant of hope and feeling. I credit that to Pharrell, for being able to present an arrangement and to inspire me to do a record like that. Immediately, I knew the potential.

Does this feel to you like an artistically vibrant moment for political and explicitly, radically black music?
Music moves with the times. It’s not something we have to consciously do. This is what’s happening in the world — not only to me but to my community. Whenever I make music, it reflects where I’m at mentally. And this is where we’re at. When you look at other artists doing the same thing, it’s of the times. And it’s much needed.

President Obama said “How Much a Dollar Cost” was his favorite song of the year. Did you know before everyone else, or did you find out from People magazine?
I found out when everyone else found out. It’s crazy. That’s one of my favorite records, too. A lot of times we forget that people in higher places are human. To hear that he liked the same kick drums and the same snares that I like, it just makes him that much more relatable as a person, rather than just a president.

Why the decision to play live only occasionally in intimate settings instead of going on the world tour that usually follows an album of this size?
The album just felt like an intimate process. It was all feeling. Maybe in another five, 10 years we’ll be able to take it on a world tour and give it its proper exposure. But present time, I just want to hold it dear. I didn’t want to overexpose it. It could be in arenas one day. I don’t feel like the time is right.

What was your favorite rap music of this year?
Of course Future killed it. He smashed. Drake smashed. Future’s work ethic was crazy, his energy. This is the thing about hip-hop music and where people get it most misconstrued: It’s all hip-hop. You can’t say that just what I do is hip-hop, because hip-hop is all energies. James Brown can get on the track and mumble all day. But guess what: You felt his soul on those records.

So you don’t buy this separation between “real hip-hop” and party records?
No, I don’t. If it makes you feel good, and it makes you move — I don’t know these guys personally. I don’t know what makes them move on a personal level. I can’t knock it. It feels good when I listen to it, when I’m in that vibe. You feel it. You can get the highest level of that — you can get Future — or you can get the watered-down version, somebody else trying to be that. That’s the bad [expletive].

Justin Credible Album Spotlight: Royalty – Chris Brown

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Arguably one of the greatest entertainers of our generation, Chris Brown, released his latest album last week. The album “Royalty” is a direct connection to his daughter’s name, filled with 18 new songs from Breezy.

Before the release of the “Royalty” album, he released a mixtape on Thanksgiving with 31 songs on it. That’s a crazy amount of songs just for a free mixtape but overall it shows how much Chris has been in the studio working leading up the release of the Royalty album. Last week he told me he has over 2000 unreleased songs in his computer!

You can tell Chris is in a different space mentally, and most of all musically. We’re getting a more mature and polished Chris Brown. The album cover is a picture of Chris holding the precious new addition to his life, his daughter Royalty. You can tell my guy is happy to be a father and is enjoying this new chapter.

As for the music, we got great singles to kick off the roll out. Liquor was one of the first singles we got and it didn’t disappoint. It had that right R&B feel to it which we were expecting from him. Right after, we got “Zero” which was a pop record to please the mainstream fans that he has around the world. I noticed the pattern and it definitely built some momentum for the album.

One song that caught my ear was “Picture Me Rollin’”. VERY west coast influenced to the point where he sampled a bit of Nate Dogg & Warren G. I’m not mad at it, I can definitely see myself playing it in my sets in the clubs.

Speaking of the clubs, WRIST is the song on the album that stood out to me the most. Chris Brown singing over a trappish R&B production but he delivered on it. Definitely another song I’ll be adding to my rotation.

We all know Chris can sound good on anything but he’s an R&B singer at heart. Back To Sleep is a vibeeee! So DOPE, great song!
Another R&B song on this album that I’m feeling is “Who’s Gonna”. He references the classic “Nobody” by Keith Sweat.
Other notable songs that deserve a listen are “Discover”, and “Proof”.

Chris has been through his situations but I think this album is the moment where we can all leave that behind as fans, and enjoy the music he provides as he moves forward. “Royalty” is an album that has many different emotions in it. He talks about the love for his daughter, heartbreak, being in the club, and everything in between. It has a little bit of everything and is worth a listen and a purchase. I’m sure he has way more in the vault and I can’t wait to hear more from my brother Chris in the near future. For now, go buy the album and let me know what your favorite songs are. If you’ve heard it already, let me know what your thoughts are. Let’s talk about it!

Royalty (Deluxe Edition) – Chris Brown

Justin Credible’s Album Spotlight: Darkest Before Dawn – Pusha T

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Darkest Before Dawn has been on repeat in my car everywhere I go. This is the latest album from my guy Pusha T. The title itself has many meanings to it. This is by far the “darkest” album Pusha has given us to date. This is the album where he held nothing back lyrically. Right out the gate, on the Intro, he raps “Leave your conscious at the door”. Insinuating that his album is gonna take you by storm.

That’s exactly this album feels like, a storm. This album is a must buy for the core rap fans that are fans of lyricism and rap culture. Pusha has never been one to shy away from speaking about the drug game, and this album is no different. Giving perspective from the dealer and the hustler, he brings raw raps to the table. Pusha is like America’s favorite dope boy/drug dealer superhero that turns ounces into flashy whips, chains, and cribs. Not only does he speak about the drug game, he also touches on the topic of how he’s still one of the best rappers in the game.

I had a chance to speak with Pusha last week before the album dropped. He made it very clear that this album was one were he felt he held nothing back. He wanted his core fans to be fed before he released his next album “King Push” which he said is a lot more “broader”.

Darkest Before Dawn comes with 10 new tracks including the Timbaland produced single “Untouchable”. Timbo’ also produced another joint on the album titled “Got Em’ Covered”. Pusha’s writing was paired with production from elites like Kanye, Diddy, Q-Tip, and newcomers like Metro Boomin’.

The album brings features from The Dream, A$AP Rocky, Beanie Sigel, Kehlani, Jill Scott, and of course the G.O.O.D. Music boss Kanye West.

One of my favorite joints from this album is “M.T.F.R.” featuring The Dream. It’s a perfect combination of Pusha’s raw bars and The Dream comes in smoothly lacing the track with the perfect tone. Sonically, it’s a really well together album. Another surprising combination is Pusha and Kehlani. Their collab on the song “Retribution” is another notable song off the album. Crutches, Crosses, Caskets, is undeniable on the album as well.

M.P.A. is a song on the album that speaks on people being focused on the wrong things in life and forgetting about the real perspective of life. Pusha speaks on his own perspective about chasing the wrong women in life and about the quote on quote “real dudes” in the club being in his ear telling him how “real” they are but not really being about that life. The song comes with Kanye and A$AP Rocky layered on the chorus together.

Overall, this is exactly what we all expected from Pusha T. Dark raps, production, and clever lyricism. Pusha keeps finding ways to creatively tell his stories about the dope game but still manages to make it all sound like great rap music. They both go hand in hand. This album is definitely aimed to please the rap fanatics that are all about real raps and culture. The core was definitely fed. Some are saying Pusha T might have the album of the year with this Darkest Before Dawn. I want to know what you think about it. The album is worth the buy in my opinion. 10 solid tracks from Pusha. Go grab the album if you haven’t done so yet. If you have, let me know what your favorite songs on the album are. If you’re a “core” Pusha T fan was this album well done? Let me know. Let’s talk about it.

Darkest Before Dawn – King Push (iTunes)