Category Archives: Download link

Single: Kanye West – “Runaway” (Featuring Pusha T)

Audio, Download link, Music, Video, , , , ,

At the MTV Video Music Awards Kanye West debuted (what we can only assume is) the second single off his upcoming yet-to-be-titled album.  It’s called “Runaway”, it features Pusha T (of the Clipse), preview and download it below.  (FYI–this is CDQ, not the live televised version).

In related ‘Ye news.. During the VMA pre-show MTV aired a trailer for his “movie companion” to the album.  It’s a brief look into what he’s been up to in Prague; there’s deer, a feathered woman, and a title card that reads “Runaway.”  Things are still up in the air as to how it will tie into the LP, but I like what I see so far.  Look after the break to watch the trailer.

[Via YouHeardThatNew; MTV, here & here; thanks Corey] Continue reading Single: Kanye West — “Runaway” (Featuring Pusha T) →

G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West – “Good Friday” (Featuring Common, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson)

Audio, Download link, Music, , , , , , ,

You know the drill.  Another Friday comes along, ‘Ye publishes a new track.  The appropriately titled “Good Friday” features vocal stylings from fellow G.O.O.D. Music artists Common, Kid Cudi, and Big Sean.  Pusha T is expected to be inducted into Kanye’s music label any day now (update: it’s official), and famed soul artist Charlie Wilson is just coming for the ride.  (Uncle Charlie reprises his role from the terrific “See Me Now” track.)  Preview and download below.  Note: Kanye’s blog is currently “under construction.”  In its place is a new portal that provides you with cover art and download links for all G.O.O.D. Friday songs dropped to date.  And speaking of cover art, this week’s is too much NFSW to post on the homepage, so click after the break to see it in full.

Download: Kanye West – “Good Friday” (Featuring Common, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson)

[audio: Kanye West – Good Friday.mp3]

[Via KWBlog] Continue reading G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West — “Good Friday” (Featuring Common, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson) →

G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West – “Devil in a New Dress” (Update: he also addresses an apology to Taylor Swift)

Audio, Download link, Music, News, , , ,

Early this morning (right past midnight eastern time) Kanye West dropped a new track off his upcoming yet-to-be-titled album.  “Devil in a New Dress” features a background tune that is very reminicent of his old work (think The College Dropout and Late Registration).  Though ‘Ye’s blood pressure doesn’t spike here (the song takes a detour from “Power“, the “Power” remix, and last week’s G.O.O.D. Friday track “Monster“), the Bink production grows on you after multiple listenings so give it a preview (and then download it) below.  In a tweet Kanye described the track like this: “classic… instantly gave me a feel I’ve missed in music for so long.”  At only 2 minutes and 52 seconds in length (plus there’s that abrupt ending) I have a feeling this is not the final version of the song.

Predictions for next week: Kanye still has “All of the Lights” up his sleeve (but I’m hearing that he’s waiting to perform it at the VMAs on September 12) and then there’s the Jay-Z collab EP waiting in the wings.  Will the EP drop soon, or will we be handed individual tracks before it releases?  Time will tell.

Download: Kanye West – “Devil in a New Dress”

[audio: Kanye West – Devil in a New Dress.mp3]

Update: Kanye hinted at what’s to come next week.  My predictions were a bit off this time.  “We might drop 2 new Good joints next week!!!” he tweeted.  “I got new joint with Pusha T and Big Sean… The Summer has to have this one …. I might drop it Tuesday if I finish my verse.”

Update 2: After releasing “Devil in a New Dress” Kanye West jumped onto Twitter to express all these thoughts that have clearly been bottled upside him for some time.  Nearly one year after the Taylor Swift incident at the 2009 MTV VMAs, Kanye addresses a second apology to the country singer.  Here are some choice quotes (erm, tweets) from his “stream of consciousness”:

“How deep is the scar… I bled hard.. cancelled tour with the number one pop star in the world [Lady Gaga] … closed the doors of my clothing office.”  “Remember in Anchor Man when Ron Burgandy cursed on air and the entire city turned on him? But this wasn’t a joke. This was & is my real life.”  “I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that’s so beautiful and I want her to have it. If she won’t take it then I’ll perform it for her.”  (Possibly at the VMAs?)  “She had nothing to do with my issues with award shows. She had no idea what hit her. She’s justa lil girl with dreams like the rest of us.”  “She deserves the apology more than anyone. Thank you Biz Stone [Twitter creator] and Evan Williams [Twitter CEO] for creating a platform where we can communicate directly.”  “I’m ready to get out of my own way. The ego is overdone… it’s like hoodies.”  “With new found humility … who am I to run on stage? I would never ever again in a million years do that. Sorry to let you down.”  “It is distasteful to cut people off as a general rule. What’s the point of dressing tastefully if I’m going to act the complete opposite?”  “Yes I was that guy. A 32 year old child.”  “When I woke up from the crazy nightmare I looked in the mirror and said GROW UP KANYE … I take the responsibility for my actions.”  “Why was it made into such a race issue. Taylor loves rap music… I love country music.”

After all this Kanye speaks directly to his haters: “I’ve hurt, I’ve bled, I’ve learned. I only want to do good. I am passionate I am human I am real. I wish I could meet every hater.  I wish I could talk to every hater face to face and change there a opinion of me one conversation at a time.  I wish they all knew how much I really cared about music and pop culture and art and peoples feelings.  I wish they could accept that I’ve grown and only want to do good for the world. I want to help as many people as I can.  I want to help starting with the music and ending with the smile.  I want to win there hearts back so I can continue to bring my take on culture to the masses with a clean opinion.  It starts with this…  [Drumroll, please] I’m sorry Taylor.”

Take what you will from this apology of sorts, but it looks to me that ‘Ye is finally turning the corner here.  He’s not holding back the music and he’s publically expressing himself like never before.  I welcome the “new” Kanye with open arms.  And I am really looking forward to this year’s VMAs.

[Via KWBlog]

Kanye West announces Jay-Z collab EP, drops “Monster” (Featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj) & “Runaway Love” (Remix) (Featuring Justin Bieber & Raekwon)

Audio, Download link, Music, News, , , , , , , , , ,

Kanye West promised new music every “G.O.O.D. Friday” and so far he has not broken that promise.  On Friday August 27 Kanye released “Monster” and it features an all-star cast including Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Vernon of indie folk band Bon Iver.  All in all the track is tight, but you want to know who really kills it?  Nicki Minaj, that’s who.  She raps, “You could be the king, but watch the queen conquer.”  She’s quick and has tons of spunk.  Female rappers that go hard like this aren’t in abundance these days; I’m excited to see what she’s going to do next.  In fact, all of a sudden I’m anticipating her debut album to drop.  (Its expected release date is November 23, one week after Kanye’s yet-to-be-titled album hits stores.)  Kanye made sure to mention how much he appreciated Nicki’s contribution to the track.  He tweeted, “MONSTER… can we just talk about Nicki’s verse???????!!!!!!!!! I toooooooooooooooold yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallll!!!!!!!!!!!!”  Preview and download “Monster” below.

Download: Kanye West – “Monster” (Featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj)

[audio: Kanye West – Monster.mp3]

Speaking of Twitter… Nearly three hours before he posted the download link for “Monster” he shared this exciting news: “Me and jay bout to drop a 5 song album called ‘Watch the Throne'”.  I guess we can consider this upcoming 5 track EP a mini-prequel to his studio album.  Along with the download link he tweeted, “[This is] the second song off of me and Jay album!”  It would not be too drastic to think that the first song off the EP is the “Power” remix since that song does feature Jay-Z, but ‘Ye left this up in the air for now.

Fast forward to today and now there’s another new song from Camp Kanye.  Yeah I know, it’s not Friday just yet, so I guess we can consider this next song a special bonus.  About two weeks ago Kanye tweeted that he was listening to Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” song from My World 2.0.  The Bieb responded with gratitude.  Next Kanye blurted out this: “Maybe we can do something together. Me, You and Raekwon.”  Bieber’s reply?  “Me, u, and the chef 2gether on a song = EPIC. haha.”  Yeah, this collaboration actually happened.  Kanye West, Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, and teen sensation Justin Bieber (who happens to be signed to Def Jam Records with Kanye) are featured on a remix of “Runaway Love”.  After listening to the track it appears that The Bieb might not have had a hand in making the mix.  Basically Kanye laid Beiber’s vocals on top of the Wu-Tang Clan’s “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit” (1993) beat.  The remix includes one rather short verse from Kanye and two surprisingly explicative-free verses from Raekwon.  And you want to know what?  The song catchy, what with Bieber’s young Michael Jackson-esque sound, the Chef’s old school rhymes, and ‘Ye’s producing.  It’s a nice treat for fans of so many different generations.  Feel free to preview and download the track below.

Download: Kanye West – “Runaway Love” (Featuring Justin Bieber & Raekwon)

[audio: Kanye West – Runaway Love (Featuring Justin Bieber & Raekwon).mp3]

[Via KanyeBlog, here & here; Twitter]

Music video: Caspa & Mr Hudson – “Love Never Dies” (+ new Hudson track “Angel Eyes”)

Audio, Download link, Music, Video, , , , , ,

Look what we’ve got here.  Two new tracks from UK phenom Mr Hudson.  If you haven’t listened to his debut solo album go ahead and download Straight No Chaser right now.  Got it?  Good.  Moving on… Not too long ago Hudson was approached by Caspa, a well known Dubstep producer from London, who asked Hudson to invent lyrics for his electronic dance track “Back For The First Time”.  After listening to the instrumental beat Hudson immediately agreed to make a hook for the track and, well, take a listen to it in the video above.  After listening to both versions, Hudson’s easily takes the cake; his words perfectly match up with Caspa’s building tempo and make for a great song that can now receive ample radio time.  And apparently “the track has been lighting up dancefloors & airwaves globally”.  The music video was directed by Mo Ali; make sure to peek after the break to watch a making-of video that accompanies the music video.  You can download the track at iTunes; it’s available on a 5-track EP.

Next up is a brand spankin’ new track from Mr Hudson.  “Angel Eyes” carries a unique, dark, gritty sound that we are not used to hearing from Hudson’s repitoire.  The slow vocals and flow are very laid back and Hudson manages to maintain his edge quite effortlessly.  It really sounds like a song fellow G.O.O.D. Music artist Kid Cudi would come up with (it’s not as dark as “Solo Dolo” but that strange, eerie vibe remains).  There’s no word on whether or not this track comes from his next yet-to-be-titled album.  Preview and download it below.

Download: Mr Hudson – “Angel Eyes”

[audio: Mr Hudson – Angel Eyes.mp3]

[Via KanyeBlog, here & here] Continue reading Music video: Caspa & Mr Hudson — “Love Never Dies” (+ new Hudson track “Angel Eyes”) →

Single: Diggy – “Oh Yeah!” (Featuring Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell)

Audio, Download link, Music, , , , , , , ,

One mixtape (The First Flight, 2009), two freestyles (“Made You Look“, “Over“), and a prelude music video later, Diggy Simmons is readying his next mixtape Airborne by dropping the first track off it.  It’s called “Oh Yeah!” and features verses from Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams.  I’ve said it from the start–this kid is bringing a fresh sound to the rap community and his style of rap at such a young age (he’s only 15) is really impressive.  Enjoy this track as we anticipate the sequel to his first mixtape due out sometime this year.

Download: Diggy – “Oh Yeah!” (Featuring Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell)

[audio: Diggy – Oh Yeah! (Featuring Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell).mp3]

[Via KanyeBlog]

Single: Sara Bareilles – “Uncharted”

Audio, Download link, Music, ,

The second single off Sara Bareilles’ sophomore studio record Kaleidoscope Heart has leaked onto the ‘Net.  “Uncharted” shares a similar vibe to the first single “King of Anything” and her 2007 smash hit “Love Song”  with a piano-infused, pop-tastic rhythm.  Preview and download the new single below, and get ready for Kaleidoscope Heart; it hits physical and digital stores September 7.

Download: Sara Bareilles – “Uncharted”

[audio: Sara Bareilles – Uncharted.mp3]

Kanye West debuts “Power” remix, promises new songs every weekend until X-mas

Audio, Download link, Music, News, , , , ,

Kanye West dropped the official remix to his super single “Power” over the weekend.  The track features a verse from Kanye’s long-time collaborator Jay-Z and production by Swizz Beatz.  Jay-Z opens the remix strong; he raps about living in the 31st century, makes a Norman Mailer reference, and says this: “In search of the truth, even if it goes through Taylor Swift/Tell her this.”  Yes, this marks the first time a Kanye track alludes to the harsh “imma let you finish” Swift incident from last year’s VMAs.  After Jay-Z does his thing, Kanye hops onto the record with two brand new verses.  In them be brings up topics like social commentary (“Now we’re not all gonna be American idols/but you can at least grab a camera, shoot a viral”) and politics and war (Bring our troops back from Iraq, keep our troops out of Iran/So the next couple bars, I’ma drop them in Islam/They say as-salaam alaikum, say wa alaikum as-salaam/That’s no Oscar Mayer bacon, you should run and tell your mom/Now the question is, how we gon’ stop the next Vietnam/Keep Flex out of Korea, ’cause you know we drop bombs”).  With about 2 minutes left, a Swizz Beatz produced sample of “The Power” by Snap! consumes the track and Kanye goes in for one more verse.  He raps, “Don’t even think you can allude to the rumors/I’m immune to the booze, I’m a prude to you losers.”  When the five minute 15 second track is about to end, Swizzy pops on to kill it: “Chill, ‘Ye, chill/Sh-t’s burnt up already/It’s over.”

Overall the remix is really great.  It does away with the “21st Century Schizoid Man” sample and introduces a different but familiar flow for the chorus.  In many ways the remix is bigger than the original track (Kanye opens up about more topics in the former), but they both hold their own weight.  Be sure to preview the remix below; there’s also a download link for keeps.

Download: Kanye West – Power (Remix) (Featuring Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

[audio: Kanye West – Power (Remix) (Featuring Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz).mp3]

Late last night Kanye shared some very exciting news.  He promises to release new music every weekend until Christmas.  On G.O.O.D. Fridays (G.O.O.D. Music is the name of his record label) new songs will be released; he specifies that they may come from him, Jay-Z, and other rappers.  He released “See Me Now” (Featuring Beyonce & Charlie Wilson) last week for the fans, and he realized that the fans deserve new content on a regular basis.  He tweeted: “I know yall need the music so I’m dropping 1 new song every weekend until Xmas. It may be my song it may be a new Jay song etc… I’m calling it good Fridays. Yall know every Friday yall gone have a new joint from our family. We look at the game completely different now. It’s about the fans. No more holding back. That’s why I dropped see me now… It wasn’t about me it was about the Summer the BBQs etc…“  Though Kanye has not mentioned what’s on deck for next weekend, many speculate that “All of the Lights”, the planned second single off his upcoming album that he previewed during his UStream chat, might be it.  Kanye is also finalizing a remix to Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” with Raekwon, so that’s in the pipeline, too.

Currently Kanye is in Prague working Dark Twisted Fantasy, an artistic film that will accompany the untitled album when it releases November 16.

[Via KWBlog; Twitter; EW-MusicMix; WSJ; Rap-Up]

Kanye West pops into Hot 97 radio show, plays new song “See Me Now” (Featuring Beyoncé & Charlie Wilson), reveals November 16 album drop date

Audio, Download link, Music, News, , , , , , ,

The Kanye West headlines just won’t stop.  But I’m not complaining.  Today Mr. West stopped by Hot 97’s Angie Martinez Show to play a brand new track that may or may not be off his next yet-to-be-titled album.  It’s called “See Me Now” and features beautiful vocals from the talented Beyoncé and R&B/soul singer “Uncle” Charlie Wilson.  Unknowingly we had heard a preview of this track when Kanye paid a visit to Facebook HQ two weeks ago; he rapped “I’mma need you to kill all the hypocrisy / This is an aristocracy / I’m Socrates, but my skin more chocolatey.”  The track literally is brand new; it was completed this morning at 5am!  Though Wilson’s vocals were recorded about two weeks ago, Kanye met with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Consequence this morning and rushed to write Beyonce’s part so that it could be recorded and played for us today on the radio.  The final package is nothing short of excellent.  Big shout-out to Lex Lugar and No I.D. for helping Kanye produce the light-hearted track.  “See Me Now” falls on the other side of the spectrum when compared to “Power.”  It’s got the stylistic drums and synths banging in the background, but it is not nearly as dark and brooding.  It’s more uplifting, very reminiscent of “Through the Wire” and other The College Dropout tracks.  It’s good to see Kanye having some fun in the studio again.  Preview and download the song below.

During his four part interview with Angie Martinez, Kanye mistakingly let loose an expected album release date of November 16.  So mark your calendars and let the anticipation begin continue.  Click here to stream the entire interview.  Kanye is surprisingly candid at the mic.

Update: Kanye just used Twitter to point out that this version of “See Me Now” is not the final mix.  When the mastered version is available I’ll post it here.  Also, a “Power” remix is on the way.

Download: “See Me Now” (Featuring Beyoncé & Charlie Wilson)

[audio: Kanye West – See Me Now (Featuring Beyonce & Charlie Wilson).mp3]

[Via KWBlog; AngieMartinez]

Single: Lil Wayne – “Right Above It” (Featuring Drake)

Audio, Download link, Music, , , ,

Rapper Lil Wayne might be in jail but that’s not stopping him from releasing new music.  A track from his upcoming EP I’m Not A Human Being hit the ‘Net the other day and I’ve got it streaming down below along with a download link.  Wayne doesn’t pull any surprises in “Right Above It”, but it proves he’s ready to bring his music back into the spotlight.  The crazy cool beat and the feature by fellow Young Money pard’ner Drake really make the track shine.  The EP drops on Weezy’s birthday September 27 in digital form only.  He’s expected to leave jail in October, and you can anticipate production on Tha Carter IV to ramp up thereafter.

Download: “Right Above It” (Featuring Drake)

[audio: Lil Wayne – Right Above It (Featuring Drake).mp3]

[Via RapRadar]

Singles: Kid Cudi – “REVOFEV” & “Erase Me” (Featuring Kanye West)

Audio, Download link, Music, , ,

Ahh yes. Rapper Kid Cudi has brought the goods.  Check out the first two singles off his sophomore album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager.  The first is “REVOFEV” (pronounced Rev Of Ev, short for Revolution of Evolution) which is produced by Plain Pat with strings by Larry Gold.  Cudder officially released the mastered track on his blog.  The second is titled “Erase Me” and it features vocals by Kanye West.  The version that’s been let loose into the wild is only a radio rip, but it sounds great for a recording.

In “REVOFEV” Cudi asks, “Where will you be for the revolution?”  Yeah, because this album is going to be that good.  The track has a slow tempo and reminds me of many songs from MOTM, especially “Solo Dolo”.  It’s not nearly as dark but I definitely hear similarities in sound and style.  “Erase Me”, on the other hand, is starkly different from anything I’ve heard Cudi produce lately.  It’s a very cheery, upbeat song that uses drums, guitars, and echoing vocals that results in an extremely catchy pop-rock vibe.  And the fact that Mr. West makes an appearence is just icing on the cake.

MOTMII is expected to drop on G.O.O.D. Music Day, September 14 that is.  But for now, take a listen and download the tracks at the links below.

Kid Cudi – “REVOFEV”

[audio: Kid Cudi – REVOFEV.mp3]

Kid Cudi – “Erase Me” (Featuring Kanye West) (Radio Rip)

[audio: Kid Cudi – Erase Me (Featuring Kanye West) (Radio Rip).mp3]

Update: The dirty CDQ version of “Erase Me” is out now.  Download it here.

[Via KidCudiBlog; 5starhiphop]

New Kanye West song leaks — listen and download it here [Update]

Audio, Download link, Music, , ,

The wait is over.  Late last night a brand spankin’ new Kanye West track leaked on the Internet.  It’s called “Power” and it is phenomenal.  “Power”, featuring Dwele, tells a mean and gritty and dark tale of Kanye’s controversial life thus far, and he uses it to vent off the negativity that surrounded him previous to his much needed hiatus from the spotlight.  It’s a lengthy epic that incorporates heavy drums and guitars and a blasting, deep bass in unique style that Kanye has mastered over the years.  And for all you auto-tune/singing haters, Kanye the Rapper is back.

‘Ye starts it off with: “I’m living in the 21st Century, doing something mean to it/ Do it better than anybody you ever seen do it/ Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it/ I guess every superhero need his theme music.”  On the Taylor Swift incident: “F— ‘SNL’ and the whole cast/ Tell ’em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass/ More specifically they can kiss my a–hole/ I’m a a–hole?/ You n—as got jokes/ You short-minded n—as’ thoughts is Napoleon/ My furs is Mongolian/ My ice brought the goalies in.  On his hiatus: “I just needed time alone with my own thoughts/ Got treasures in my mind/ But couldn’t open up my own vault …/ Reality is catching up with me/ Taking my inner child/ I’m fighting for custody.”  To the haters: “They say I was the abomination of Obama’s nation/ Well, that’s a pretty bad way to start the conversation/ At the end of day, goddammit I’m killin’ this sh–/ I know damn well y’all feelin’ this sh–.”  Then there’s the chorus that features a sample from King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man”: “No one man should have all that power/ The clock’s tickin’, I just count the hours/ Stop trippin’, I’m trippin’ off the power/ (21st century schizoid man).”  The song closes with a verse from Dwele (who was featured on Graduation‘s “Flashing Lights”): “Now this would be a beautiful death/ Jumpin’ out the window/ Lettin’ everything go .. You got the power to let power go.”

So is this the first single off Kanye’s forthcoming album tentitively titled Good Ass Job?  No one knows for sure since this was in fact a leak.  ‘Ye’s A&R Plain Pat had this to say about the leak via Twitter: “So waaaack. Working on a record for all those months to see an unfinished leak hit the Net.”  OK, so what you’re listening to here is not the final version, but it sounds damn near close to completion.  Though Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam has not announced a release date for Good Ass Job, sources peg a late summer drop.  After listing to “Power” I pray this album does not get the delay treatment.

Update: Yesterday mid-afternoon Kanye West promised fans that a “mixed and mastered” version of “Power”, the confirmed lead single off his next album, would be released shortly.  And here it is.  I’ve updated the download link and audio clip below.  The mastered track is subtly superior to the original leak and should be replace it in your music library.  So what are you waiting for?  Have at it! Pasted above is a freaky “Power portait” created by artist George Condo.

Download: Kanye West – Power (Featuring Dwele)

[audio: Kanye West – Power (Featuring Dwele).mp3]

[Via Savagebeatz; MTVNews]