Itch - Best Shot

Video released June 14th 2013

If you've read my blog in the past you'll know about my love and borderline obsession with both The King Blues and Itch as a solo artist, it's taken a while for me to write about this track and I honestly have no idea why because it's great. The song is about being knocked down in anything in life and just getting back up and saying go for it, give me your best shot, something you can see Itch has had a lot of in his life. He raps with passion, the lyrics are tight and he goes hard through the whole track. The video features Itch wandering through an American suburban neighbourhood and encountering people along the way, a highlight for me is the shirt being worn here, how he finds clothing covered in hot dogs is beyond me, it also makes my clothing feel ridiculously bland in comparison. Great track in what's already shaping up to be a fantastic solo career.

Jay Z - Holy Grail (Featuring Justin Timberlake)

Video released July 3rd 2013

Holy Grail is the first single release from Jay z’s (notice I remembered the all-important hyphen drop there) latest album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. The song, featuring an intro and hook from Jay Z’s current BFF Justin Timberlake has drummed up a considerable amount of press pre-release due to the inclusion of some Nirvana lyrics, this has got under a lot of peoples skin for reasons I really can’t fathom. My main problem with these lyrics being included isn’t because they’re from a completely different genre from one of the 90’s best loved bands, it’s because they’re really not needed in the song at all, even the way Jay Z has made them seem more relevant is confusing, rhyming blame with Kurt Cobain. Another problem I have is that Jay Z’s verses seem to have no connection to Justin Timberlake’s intro or hook, while Jay Z is rapping about the perils of being one of the wealthiest and most famous musicians in the world, Justin Timberlake is singing about a strained relationship with what sounds like a total bitch. That being said the song does sound good, Jay Z hasn’t lost his flow one bit while Justin Timberlake is on top form with his vocals, even the beat is good. While not one of his best tracks he’s ever released it’s still got a lot more going on than most artists in the charts at the moment.

Benin City - Faithless

Video released May 28th 2013

Taken from their debut album Fires In The Park released July 1st Benin City release Faithless. To say this song is fascinating is an understatement, the lead singer/rapper Josh Idehen's gentle lyrics over the top of beautifully intricate music works perfectly, giving the listener a sound unlike anything around at the moment. The video show's Josh and the rest of the band performing whilst flashes of the lyrics appear occasionally. To me the song show's a man fighting a battle with himself while still striving to keep faith in himself, the video perfectly accompanies this, as the music's tempo increases the video becomes far more lively. Based on this track alone you can tell these guys have a lot of passion for what they do and they are doing it very well. 

Earl Sweatshirt - WHOA

Video and iTunes release March 12th 2013.

Just under five months since the release of 'Chum', Earl Sweatshirt is back with new track 'WHOA', his second release since returning from Samoa early last year. It's clear from the beginning that as an artist he has matured considerably since his début, 'Earl' in 2010. The track begins with a intro from video director and long time collaborator Tyler, The Creator explaining that, just because he made Chum and got all personal, it doesn't mean he's going to go back to that 2010 shit. The beat bursts in followed by Earl's usual anti establishment, intricate word play, lyrics involving bank lifting, weed smoking and asking your mother to tag along with some beer and a bong all featuring in the first verse. Tyler's hook kicks featuring his usual golf wang phrase, exclaiming it's the G-O-L-F-dub-A-N-G. Earl's back in informing the listening that it's the misadventures of a shit talker, dropping in lyrics about about the blue pill making your stick longer and writing with a used syringe from behind the local loony clinic rather than a pen. The lyrics are pop culture heavy, featuring references to Quidditch, Padawans and Rick Ross, along with the Knicks and Sears. The song then comes to an end with Tyler's hook playing out.

This track shows there is a lot more to come from Earl, it shows age has worked well for him, his lyrics are tighter, he's going less for pure shock value and more for entertainment proving in years to come he could be one of the most popular artists within his genre as well as the potential for his upcoming album 'Doris' due for release August 20th.