Kanye West – “Bittersweet”
It feels like I’ve been waiting for this song for a few years now, because I have. Mostly because of some mp3 snippet from freshman year. Here’s the clip with John Mayer and Kanye in the studio. And here’s another clip from Def Jam Def Comedy Jam Def Poetry Jam (the Bittersweet verse comes after he does Brand New).
I got sort of obsessed for a little bit because I was so sure that the full version was out there, but it pretty much wasn’t. I considered just recording the verse myself using the lyrics from the Def Poetry Jam performance. Most likely that wouldn’t have turned out good. The new version is growing on me a little but I’m convinced that the beat from the snippet is far better. And for some reason the sample was taken out of the new one.
Outkast & UGK – “International Player’s Anthem”
I linked to this video earlier. I can’t get enough of Andre’s verse. Or any Andre verse: Hollywood Divorce, Mighty O, Walk it Out, What a Job. I’d try and comment on each guest appearance, but this MTV article takes care of that. It’s also got some commentary from Andre and he explains how his verse ended up with the drum-free treatment. Keep your heart, three stacks, keep your heart. Keep rapping, three stacks.
Lil Wayne – “Something you Forgot”
It’s taken me a few years to come around but I’m starting to understand why Lil Wayne is so damn popular. Here’s a Youtube link to the song. TSS has a lot to say about Weezy and this track in particular. I agree with what they say for the most part, he leaves his emotions on the track (but their use of the invented word ‘Tupacian’ is a little too far). Here’s a Youtube link (Google is your best friend if you want mp3s) to another song: “La La La”. This track uses the same sample as Rhymefest’s “Tell a Story”. I enjoy “La La La” about as much as “Tell a Story”, which is a good thing. If you don’t like Lil Wayne’s voice, that’s understandable, but it’s getting harder and harder to deny his lyrics. With all that said, you’re still crazy if you think he’s the best rapper out. Especially considering the other two in this post.