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A$AP Rocky - LongLiveA$AP

At this point, it’s no secret modern hip-hop records are often imperfect. One could assume their conception starts with an artist’s trademark style and approach, which is then exemplified in a handful of singles. Many rappers have great ideas within independent strands but they ultimately fall short of becoming the complete packages. They relish inventing a new formula, but aren’t always concerned with their success rate. A$AP Rocky could have easily been shelved as one of those many rappers. After the unusual ingenuity and attentiveness to current hip-hop, LongLiveA$AP as a whole, shows that his improvements are sharp and ever-present. But more importantly, it shows that A$AP is ready and able to break the mold of a modern rap artists achieving success. (7/10)

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Top 50 Songs of 2012 -

1. Purity Ring - Fineshrine
2. TNGHT - Higher Ground
3. Death Grips - Bitch Please
4. Tindersticks - Chocolate
5. Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle
6. Spiritualized - Hey Jane
7. The Weeknd - D.D.
8. Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built
9. Perfume Genius - Normal Song 
10. El-P - The Full Retard
11. Frank Ocean - Forrest Gump
12. Joey Bada$$ - Survival Tactics (feat. Capital Steez)
13. Bat for Lashes - Laura
14. Kitty Pryde - Okay Cupid 
15. AlunaGeorge - You Know You Like It
16. Theophilus London - Big Spender (feat. A$AP Rocky)*
17. The xx - Angels
18. Miguel - Use Me*
19. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love (feat. Mary Lambert)
20. Hop Along - No Good Al Joad
21. Jens Lekman - Become Someone Else’s 
22. Tame Impala - Mind Mischief
23. Baauer - Harlem Shake
24. Young Magic - Sparkly
25. The Tallest Man on Earth - There’s No Leaving Now
26. First Aid Kit - King of the World
27. Schoolboy Q - Hands on the Wheel
28. Cloud Nothings - Wasted Days
29. Usher - Climax*
30. Jack White - Sixteen Saltines
31. Darq E Freaker & Danny Brown - Blueberry (Pills & Cocaine)
32. Mac Demarco - Freaking Out the Neighborhood*
33. Odd Future - Rella
34. Alabama Shakes - Heartbreaker
35. Jessie Ware - Running
36. How to Dress Well - & It Was U
37. Fiona Apple - Every Single Night
38. The Men - Turn it Around
39. Alt-J - Matilda*
40. Title Fight - Head in the Ceiling Fan
41. Dum Dum Girls - Lord Knows*
42. Zammuto - Too Late to Topologize
43. Beach House - Wild
44. Lil B - I Own Swag*
45. Grimes - Oblivion
46. Father John Misty - Funtimes in Babylon
47. Ondatrópica - Descarga Tropica
48. Fun. - Some Nights (Intro.)
49. Passion Pit - Constant Conversations
50. XXYYXX - About You

* - Newly Added Tracks

(Source: Spotify)

Top 50 Songs of 2012: #7, The Weeknd - D.D. 

I’ll be the freak you can taunt.

Abel Tesfaye’s rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” was the most slept-on hit of 2012. Coming from his third act mix-tape “Echoes of Silence”, The Weeknd answers all calls by covering his most compared influence: the king of pop. Remarkably enough, Tesfaye delivers and then some. The classic single from “Bad” comes into a new sonic generation with the same high-intensity drama and larger-than-life production style from Jackson’s era topped with a modern, dark and twisted edge. “D.D” follows the rules of essential music covers with dignified grace, adding to what made Jackson’s version essential and blending Tesfaye’s own style in on a pitch-perfect ratio. As the vocal comparison, the resemblance is mystifying. 

(Source: Spotify)

Action Bronson & Party Supplies - Blue Chips

I can’t praise the collaborative mix-tape “Blue Chips” much, but this can be attested: Action Bronson is one of the coolest personalities in underground hip-hop lately. Think not about the limited subject matter or the lack of creative decision and variety, “Blue Chips” admittedly falls on the safety cushion of independent mix-tape territory. But it’s the boom-bap panache, top-notch lyrical wordplay and defining personality which redeems “Blue Chips” something to catch a listen or two of this year. (6/10)

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Top 50 Songs of 2012: #13, Joey Bada$$ - Survival Tactics (feat. Capital Steez)

I’m in Marty McFly mode, so tell em’ that the future’s back.

I guess old-school never really left the streets of Brooklyn and 17-year-old Joey Bada$$ is living proof. Making a prominent splash on the underground east coast rap scene this year, Bada$$’s mix-tape “1999” featured double digit servings of impressive tracks loaded with “golden age” influenced hip-hop and dynamic personality. The track of interest is “Survival Tactics”: a stand-out moment built on violent beats, ear-hook flows and detailed socially-conscious verses. Aspiring kids have something to sweat about with this, Joey’s set the new bar for hip-hop and it’s not coming down anytime soon. 

Top 50 Songs of 2012: #25, Schoolboy Q - Hands on the Wheel (feat. A$AP Rocky)

Life for me is just weed and brew. 

Black Hippy member Schoolboy Q made quite an entrance in underground hip-hop’s public eye with his slightly deranged swag-rap album “Habits & Contradictions” and earned much deserved attention for a handful of his singles. A choice favorite of Schoolboy’s is “Hands on the Wheel”: an irresistibly catchy and sultry party anthem  sincerely dedicated to the Lana Del Rey-generation of gorgeous and faded youngsters, minus the YOLO and more of a devious twist. 

Nas - Illmatic

Show us your pain and everything else will fall into place.

While it certainly shames me to admit that I’m listening to Nas for the first time now in my life, it being as old as I am, “Illmatic” undoubtedly stands up strong as one of the most innovative, defining records of all time for its unbeatable authenticity, progressive existentialist concern and gutsy focus of substance-over-style and less-is-more artistic virtues. (9/10) 

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Jessie Ware - Devotion

Sexy, dreamily mature and pure in sophistication, latest rise-to-fame contemporary R&B singer-songwriter Jessie Ware hits the underground UK pop scene with a satisfying slow-burner debut record, “Devotion”: an alluring work of love more enticing than Janet Jackson, smarter than Lana Del Ray and as emotionally effective as James Blake. (8/10)

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Schoolboy Q - Habits & Contradictions

Equally styled (or swagged) out, broodingly dark and particularly paranoid, Black Hippy member Schoolboy Q comes to his 2012 release, “Habits & Contradictions”, with the laundry list of swag-rap components fully checked off and delivered with a discerning dose of eccentricity; consisting of material that’d make folk like A$AP Rocky sound mundane, provides Schoolboy Q to be an unusually appealing listen. (7/10) 

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Aesop Rock - Skelethon

Coming to Aesop Rock’s “Skelethon” in hopes to find a traditional hip-hop album will quickly prove as a dire mistake leading to bouts of frustration. Instead, consume with the focus point of Aesop’s genre-challenging style in mind and embrace the mind-numbing wordiness; it might not be your cup of tea, but “Skelethon” offers a profuse level of detail and lyrical content for those looking for a challenging listen. (7/10)

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Joey Bada$$ - 1999

What can I say? I’m a sucker for old-school hip-hop. Going through the late ’80s-early ’90s in New York City always truly felt like the golden age for hip-hop because those artists developed the most immaculate style and format for urban expression; to me, at least. So when a 17 year-old kid from Brooklyn surfaces this year’s underground rap scene echoing some of the genre’s greatest years right down to the tee, how could it be missed? Introducing Joey Bada$$ on his debut mix-tape, “1999”: a true salute to the boom-bap heydays with more cohesive flair since Killer Mike’s “R.A.P. Music” this year. (9/10)

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TNGHT (Hudson Mohawke x Lunice) - TNGHT EP

An anecdote of how I feel when I put this on. 

You’re at a gorgeous party at the person of your dreams is next to the bar, looking more desirable than ever fathomable. Likewise, you make your way and without much effort, swoon the individual into a maddening and tantalizing session of fucking. The doors are slamming, the sheets are ruffling, the bed is running out of springs that work, the rug is ruined! Not only are you amazed at how unbelievably circumstantial the situation is, but also how dream-like everything is paced. And just when the metaphysical steam of the room is opening your pores and setting ablaze to all senses, the dream boy/girl eyes turn neon red and turn into a homicidal and menacing murdering robot. Tossing and turning, whilst still engaged in fucking, he/she begins shooting lethal lasers from its eyes and moving savagely for your death. Feathers from the pillows are flying, curtains are burning, furniture is being destroyed and, while dodging it all, you have never felt more turned on in your entire life. And, most likely, you will never feel that again. (9/10)

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Clams Casino - Instrumental Mixtape 2

In one of the most intoxicating collections of beats, remixes and original mixes of the year: electronic gone hip-hop producer Clams Casino puts out an update to his mesmerizing micro-manifesto of sexy, nightmarish and brooding sonic productions all while pushing his own boundaries, refusing to pull the same trick twice. (8/10) 

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A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

Stellar production value and beats from an all star team of producers isn’t enough to compensate on newcomer underground rapper A$AP Rocky’s mixtape: “LiveLoveA$AP,” a hit-or-miss pop/rap mix for stoners. (6/10)

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Kendrick Lemar’s Section.80 -

You hear about an up-and-coming underground rapper from Compton and the context around this release. You think here’s a guy probably bound to be the next rapper here to exploit and commentate over sex, violence, the “thug life”, etc. Kendrick Lamar is not that rapper, far from it actually. On Lamar’s debut mix-tape, Section.80, we find heaps of smooth, classy beats, surprisingly insightful lyrics (not by any hip-hop conventions) and a very likable, humble persona from Lamar. It’s a simplistic and intellectual blend of hip-hop uncommon to come across. What makes Section.80 a memorable and unconventional listen is how easy Lamar makes it seem to blend old-school with new-school rap with a certain artfulness; it’s pretty refreshing. Songs like Hol’ Up and Ronald Reagan Era serve as great and specific examples of Lamar’s style, talent and his mature take on society and politics. Section.80 is never afraid to be versatile too. There are some nifty pop elements wandering around this release, refer to the simple yet insightful track No Make Up. The biggest surprise Section.80 pulls is the track Rigamortus, a dauntingly challenging song where Lamar’s beats go head-to-head with his freestyle that create a cohesive and untamable jam. For a debut mix-tape, Section.80 is able to show off how bold this guy can really get if he wants to and then some. I look forward to where this guy goes in the future. (8/10)

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