For all the Barbs of the world Christmas has come early. Roman is back with the first single off her sophomore album. This reminds me of a milli, hard hitting beat, no bridge, and Nicki spazzing out (seriously, wtf was going on at the end). Pretty sure if you dug Pink Friday, then this song will have you jumping for joy.

Ludacris must be on a campaign of reinvention, almost like he’s trying to make up for his time away from music. His mixtape dropped a few weeks ago and he’s already flooding the internet with visuals. And this one features Atlanta’s favorite rockstar Waka Flocka Flame. Remember when Waka was the joke of the week? Now he’s working with some of the biggest stars. Not much too the video, you got Waka, Luda, women, alcohol, and cars which has been the basic formula for every hood anthem.

The Snowman & Slim Shady collaboration is one I would never expect to see. For once I think it was great that Eminem only handled the chorus, it fits him perfectly, while Jeezy and Gibbs flow amazingly over the drummer boy production. The track has a slower tempo, that assist the lyrics as both artist really spit from the heart. This & I Do have revived my faith that Jeezy will drop a possible great album!

Download: YOUNG JEEZY – TALK TO ME (FT. EMINEM & FREDDIE GIBBS)

A scantly clad Mariah Carey & Justin Bieber is the recipe for a popular video. This duet can be found on Justin’s recently released Christmas album which will make the perfect gift for child, spouse, or even musical inclined pets. Props too Justin for cooking it up #SWAG.

Hilarity… Not even gonna comment just watch and cry whale tears.

Atlanta rappers B.o.B and T.I. have decided to join forces on a new project. This doesn’t come as a surprise since collaborations seem to be in this year.  I guess Jay & Kanye have started a trend in hip-hop and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If the music is good then why not have a surplus of collaborative albums by the industries biggest names. We can add this along with Drake & Rick Ross project to be looking forward to.

In The Motto the West Coast comes together to jump on Drake’s latest single. Nothing mind blowing, but it’s good to see the veterans, the talented, and the rookies team up and represent for L.A.

Download: SNOOP DOGG – THE MOTTO [LA REMIX] (FT. YG & NIPSEY HUSSLE) 

Los has been making noise in the underground circuit by constantly supplying mixtape after mixtape. Judging from the title of his upcoming project “The Crown Ain’t Safe”, he must be ready to rise to the ranks of rap’s elite. Of course having a verse from XV, one of the most talked about underground artist can only assist in this takeover.

Download: Los Ft. XV – Get It (Prod. By Lifted)

Seems like the Odd Future vocalist will be ending the year off right by snagging the title of GQ’s Rookie Of The Year. In the interview the artist discusses topics that range from what he’s learned from Kayne to why his favorite color is orange. Hopefully we will be getting new music from Frank in the future.

Today’s pleasant surprise comes courtesy of Atlanta’s own Bobby Ray. The rapper dropped his EPIC mixtape today. And a even better surprise is all the features that he pulled out. Heavy hitters from Future to Mos Def, from T.I to Eminem make an appearance. B.O.B really wanted to blow people away with this one. You’ll find the tracklisting and download link below.

 EPIC tracklisting:

01. Epic (feat. Playboy Tre & Meek Mill) (Prod. by Lil C)
02. Wrong (feat. Spodee) (Prod. by Ryan Tedder)
03. Guest List (feat. Roscoe Dash) (Prod. by B.o.B & Kutta)
04. What Are We Doing (Prod. by B.o.B & Jim Jonsin)
05. Perfect Symetry (feat. 2 Chainz) (Prod. by 7 King)
06. New York New York (Prod. by Mike Caren)
07. Boom Bap (feat. T.I. & Mos Def)
08. Welcome To The Jungle (Prod. by Swizz Beatz)
09. 5 On The Kush (feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Bun B) (Prod. by 2 Much)
10. How Bout Dat (feat. Future & Trae Tha Truth)
11. Things Get Worse (feat. Eminem) (Prod. by Eminem)
12. Fucked Up (feat. Playboy Tre) (Prod. by Davaughn)
13. Strange Clouds (feat. Lil Wayne) (Prod. by Dr. Luke)
14. Friday Night Star (Prod. by Jim Jonsin)
15. High (Prod. by The Aristrocrats)

Download: B.o.B – EPIC (Every Play Is Crucial) [Mixtape]

Young Money is the castle that Birdman built, and it still surprises me that he “wants” to rap. With all the money he’s grossed by leeching on the talents of others as co-founder of Cash Money he should be somewhere sitting on a beach sipping Ciroc.

Anyways, below you’ll find the first single off Birdman’s upcoming album Bigga Than Life, with Nicki Minaj, and Lil Weezy on the assist. Neither the song or video aren’t anything special but I’m sure we’ve all seen and heard much worst.

Not many artist can release a mixtape on a holiday and have fans sitting in front of their computers waiting to download it. Lupe Fiasco is one such such artist, and Friend Of The People marks the second project he’s released on Thanksgiving.

Being a huge Lupe fan, but not of the fan of his latest album Lasers, I’m hoping this project is impressive.
Download: LUPE FIASCO – FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE [MIXTAPE]

Chelsea probably gave the best Drake interview I’ve ever seen. Not only did she imply  he might be a flaming homosexual, but also questioned if his and Nicki Minaj friendship was more friendly than perceived. She pulled no punches, and I think more interviews need to be this nonchalant.

Drake, the white wine sipping, Jewish kid from Toronto that got a call from Lil Wayne while a barber shaped him up. Who would have thought that one phone call would make him one of the biggest rap stars in 2011?  Hate him all you want, Aubrey is winning just look at the number one album on the billboard charts. #TakeCare.

While the singer is recovering from surgery on her vocal cords, the video for her single “Turning Tables” has hit the net. The video was shot during her live performance at Royal Albert Hall. A place Keri Hilson and Ciara couldn’t perform at even in their dreams. Check out the video below.

Lyrically, Rigamortus is one of the most incredible songs off 2011. So when I heard that Busta would be jumping on the remix I wasn’t excited, more so worried that he was going to hurt an already good track. But it turns out that the new Young Money signee didn’t ruin the track, only amplified it. Hopefully Busta will bring the same energy on his up coming  album.

Download: KENDRICK LAMAR FT BUSTA RHYMES-RIGAMORTUS (REMIX)

Autotune, mediocre rap, baller rap and gun sounds, overall this new T-Wayne track sounds like a train wreck running into a even bigger train wreck. “I go so hard, they call me go so hard”- Wayne actually rapped this line and no one stopped him and told him a 5 year old could’ve wrote it.

My slight excitement for T-Pain’s latest album “Revolver” died in the 3 minutes and 45 seconds it took this song to finish. I expect a lot more when two “superstar” artist come together. Instead of a blockbuster record, I got a lack luster, poor attempt at a rap song. If you are still compelled to check the song out, the download link is below. Go crazy.

Bang Bang Pow Pow (mp3 link)

Download: T-Pain (Ft. Lil Wayne) – Bang Bang Pow Pow

I remember when the Andre 3000 verse alone leaked to the internet.It was refreshing, it was incredible, it had many hopeful that he was back in the studio preparing potent music to get our ears hooked. Time passed and eventually the hype died, and the song just became another verse from a legend. Now we finally get the full version featuring Young Jeezy and Jigga. With an amazing line up and a amazing beat it’s basically the blue print for a instant hit.

Fame is getting plenty of radio play, but I Do is about to take over this winter and that’s exactly what Young Jeezy needs if he ever plans to give the streets TM 103. Listen and enjoy.

I Do (mp3 link)

Yelawolf wants again proves he’s a lyrical animal on the latest leak, Animal, from his upcoming album, Radioactive. With Canadian singer Fefe Dobson handling the hook, and Yelawolf rapping in a fashion that has gained him worldwide attention, it just reinforces my theory that he will be dropping an incredible album on November 21st.  One thing that I’d like to point out is the beats for the project have all had a mix of rock & roll, and southern hip-hop feel to them that really works in Yela’s favor.

Camp is the place your parents send you during the summer so they don’t have to see your face for a few weeks. Camp is also the place you create life long memories that later help you flourish into a model citizen or a disobedient rebellious adolescent, but we’re not referring to that type of camp. We’re talking about the debut album from actor/comedian and rapper Donlad Glover aka Childish Gambino.

The anticipation for this project has been high. And since dropping his 5-track EP entitled “EP”(so original), many wondered if his charm and whit could could translate into a full length album. So is Childish Gambino’s “Camp” a joyous memory or a trip that will have you yearning for summers end?

Vivid stories from his childhood, clever pop culture references, serenading hooks, and live instrumentals are all the elements you will find within the 13 track, 56 minute hip-hop album. Tales of being the outcast of all outcast, being discriminated against for not being “black enough”, and of course women are a reoccurring themes that Donald touches on. From the very second “Outside” starts Gambino dives in, reminiscing about his childhood.  It’s raw honesty, simple production and the choir adds to the brilliance and starts things off on the right foot. It’s odd how often he returns to his childhood, almost as if he’s rapping from the prospective of thirteen year old Donald Glover.  ”Hold You Down” is another song where he paints pictures of his early adolescence. He raps,  “listening to skys the limit on my walkman thinking if biggie can make i can” and the struggles of fitting in not being your “typical black kid”, but the song goes even deeper into racial stereotypes (“this one kid said something that was really bad, he said I wasn’t really black because I had a dad, I think thats kinda sad, mostly because a lot of black kids think they should agree with that“) which is well executed and a refreshing topic.

Even with the personal introspective rapping, it’s plenty of tracks that are strictly for the punchline rap fans. “Bonfire” is an relentless barrage of dope one liners that will turn first time listeners into quick fans. It’s the perfect first single, and if your familiar with “Freaks and Geeks” from the EP, “Bonfire” is it’s long lost brother. ”Backpacker” is another record that could be strictly for the lyrical listeners, with lines like “I got a girl on my arm dude, show respect Something crazy, an Asian, Virginia Tech, She too fine, I do dimes If not that, I’m walking out with 2 fives.” The aggression and superb delivery makes it an early favorite. Can’t leave out “You See Me.” Gambino’s flow and wittiness shines brightly over the heavy trumpet that has enough bass to wake your neighbors at 3am.

The past few years rappers singing their own hooks has become popular and Donald does indeed sing his heart out all over this album. “All The Shine” (another very personal record), “Heartbeat” (the electronic crossover that’s equivalent to a sober Marvin’s room), L.E.S (closest thing to an R&B love song), Hold Me Down, Kids (his conversation with a women about how different their current situation would be if they were kids) all show Glover stepping into the vocalist lane.  I purposely left out the very short “Letter Home”, in which some magnificent strings are played while he sings. It’s also the only song with absolutely no rapping. It’s very Drake’ish, but for those that love his voice this is just an added bonus.

The only low point of Camp would be the repetitiveness. He raps about being discriminated against, his love for Asian women, being called a homosexual, more than Lil B tweets. With that said he has mastered the art of making it sound refreshing, almost like watching reruns of your favorite shows on Nick @ Nite. The instrumentals of each songs work in his favor. No two songs sound the same, and even though this might hurt the flow of the overall project, it gives it a diverse feeling. Although I’m hoping on his sophomore album he expands his topic and concept range.

Childish Gambino released a solid debut album that stayed true to himself and will leave current fans satisfied. He basically took the blue print of his previously released “EP” and expanded it, all the while staying in his lane without compromising for mainstream success. I applaud him because not only did he produce the entire project but it doesn’t have a single guest feature. And it’s very rare that we get a debut like this in hip-hop. Many people say that Childish Gambino isn’t doing anything that hasn’t been done, and this is true he isn’t going to start a one man revolution but he might be the perfect rap android.  The suburban Lil Wayne, Tyler if he grew up in a two parent home, an ego-less Kanye, Drake if he wasn’t a love sick puppy.

I believe Donald Glover is a student of the game. He’s someone that studied hip-hop long before picking up a mic and his flow and delivery will only improve, making him one of the more interesting new comers in hip-hop. Just listen to the very end of Camp, the  monologue wraps the album up in the most brilliant fashion, one that will take you back to the days of bonfires, writing letters home, being outside catching fireflies and first love. It truly gives you the feeling of Camp.

 ★★★½☆ 

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Let’s not judge a man by how horrible his mixtape cover is but the music that comes with it. That should be the mindset when checking out Ludacris’ latest offering to the hip-hop world. The rapper/actor’s 12 track mixtape features artist like Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flamez, Big K.R.I.T, 2 Chainz, and more.

Download: LUDACRIS – 1.21 GIGAWATTS: BACK TO THE FIRST TIME [MIXTAPE]