These guys have been dominating my iTunes lately and for good reason. Up in the Bay Area, the day’s have been almost too perfectly sunny here.
And on days like these, you just want to roll down the windows, slow to a cruise, and bump some feel good hip-hop that you can sing along to.
These 3 dudes from Berklee College of Music have this pop hip-hop sound on lock. They’ve got that mix of melodic choruses, electronic-tinged beats, and sick flows that I just love.
On this track, that breezy “ah la la la” is just perfect. First time I heard that, this song became an instant favorite. And christening a joint “Kardashian”? Genius.
The Dean’s List – Valley Girl (Breakeven Remix)
They sampled the chorus from that old Script song and ended up making it way tighter. I love how they took the last line (“When it a heart breaks no it don’t break even”) and turned into a full hook of its own with some vocal cutting and well-timed echos.
No singing on this one, but I dig the chorus on this – how the beat just drops away when he says, “Now I’m doing this for money…” and then epically comes back with those rolling drums. Sick.
XV is my new favorite rapper and you need to get to know him.
First of all, this beat is sick. Chill and energetic at the same time. And XV’s hook is perfect. This is the kind of hook that you have to sing when it comes on. But maybe that’s just me.
And let’s talk about XV’s flow for a second. Off the chain. Even if you don’t listen to the lyrics, his rhyme scheme is always interesting and bouncing all over the place – but never stilted. It always sounds good.
His lyrics are on point too. Every bar is full of great wordplay (“Never change for the streets, nah I don’t pay the meters”). And he references everything from Nicholas Cage to the Thundercats.
He’s nerdy backpack rap with swag. And that’s a dope combination.
This one’s more downbeat but he still brings his Vizzy energy to this. I feel like every song of his has at least one line that makes me think, “Did he really just drop that reference?”
On this track it was “Pinky, you know what I’m pondering”? Hahaha, a Pinky and the Brain Reference, no way.
Edit: My buddy Fred linked me to a video of XV, Seven, and Just Blaze making “When We’re Done” in the studio. Sick. This is a must watch. And the sample came from Kingdom Hearts!
A Full House reference (“How rude! Stephanie Tanner”) and Pusha T on the same track? Awesome.
A Tribe Called Quest – Can I Kick It?
This is a little random and out of nowhere, but while we’re on the feel good hip-hop tip, I gotta throw this in. This classic is a must on a chill Sunday afternoon. Can I kick it? Yes you can.
Alright, enough blogging. I need to go outside and soak up some of this sun. And I bet you can guess what I’ll be listening to.
Let me know if you dig any of these tracks and hit me up with some of your recent favorites too.
