#iTunesSounds: “Black Friday” – J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar – December 31, 2015

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

As if the rumblings of these two teaming up for a collaboration album weren’t loud enough already, they each dropped separate tracks on the other’s beat. Lamar chose Cole’s “A Tale of 2 Citiez” while Cole jumped on Kendrick’s hit “Alright.” Neither spared the beat going all in with A Game verses to hold us over as we wait. Cole even alluded to a possible release date during the month of February. Stay Tuned. For now, enjoy both of these songs.

J. Cole

Cole lets the smooth beat ride for about 20 seconds before jumping in full throttle. The North Carolina-based rapper has seen his popularity rise since the release of Sideline Story in 2011. I watched him headline a sold-out Atlanta stop on his “2014 Forest Hills Drive Tour” in August. Cole has found a niche as the anti-rapper. His flow on this one was no different as he dropped the following:

FAVORITE LINE: “Flow hot, whip cold. I’m bipolar brotha. I don’t like to talk about a Rover brotha. Keep it 100, I just sold it brotha. Tired of police looking at me like I stole it brotha. Prolly just gonna cop a little Corolla brotha. Don’t need a Rolex on to know I’m gettin’ older brotha.”

Kendrick Lamar

Lamar establishes his voice right away referring to himself as “The People’s Champion.” Right now, he’s established himself as a mainstay of hip hop for the forseeable future. If we needed proof of his current status, the feature on Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” cemented Lamar’s emergence to the A-List of the game.

FAVORITE LINE: “I tell the chick don’t sweat me. I’ll kill this whole beat if Cole’ll let (please Cole). Eve should have never sent the instrumental. Every time I start writing I get sentimental.”

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

#iTunesSounds: Four To Know – December 6, 2015

“Four To Know” is a glimpse inside what’s current in the iTunes Music Libraries of our team members. We’ll provide four songs to grab and a breakdown of what appeals to us in each track.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

1) “Credit” by Ty Dolla $ign feat. Seyvn Streeter

BREAKDOWN: First of all, I owe an assist to our TheOrganizedGrind affiliate owner Donte Grant for his assist on this one. He told me that the new Dolla $ign album was a must listen. As usual, Grant was dead on. Placed in the middle of his “Free TC” CD, Ty delivered a crisp track as he teamed up with emering R&B artist Sevyn Streeter. It remains to be seen if this will make it to the airwaves as a single at some point during the life span of the release but it’s worth a listen ASAP.

2A/B) “Black Friday” by J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar

BREAKDOWN: As if the rumblings of these two teaming up for a collaboration album weren’t loud enough already, they each dropped separate tracks on the other’s beat. Lamar chose Cole’s “A Tale of 2 Citiez” while Cole jumped on Kendrick’s hit “Alright.” Neither spared the beat going all in with A Game verses to hold us over as we wait. Cole even alluded to a possible release date during the month of February. Stay Tuned. For now, enjoy both of these songs.

3) “For The Summer” by Fabolous

BREAKDOWN: Fab’s latest mixtape “Summertime Shootout” ironically dropped on Thanksgiving Day. This track was the opening track off of another quality output from the New York based rapper. In talking with PSBPopCulture.com Team Member, Keil Moore, the progression for Fab as a 38-year-old artist is impressive. Keep an eye out for the “Young OG Project II” album scheduled for a digital release on Christmas Day. If Fabolous keeps up his current pace of releases during the Fourth Quarter, his new nickname will be Mr. Winter Holiday.

FAVORITE LINE: “Girlfriend like really 2 Chainz for the summer? I’ve copped a few things that were dumber…With that said, I might cop two things for the summer. They both gonna be blacker than Lou’s thing for the summer.”

^^^ Fab with the witty reference to Los Angeles Laker Louis Williams (insert Drake – 6th Man reference) and his two girlfriends.

4) “Under the Stars” by John Legend

BREAKDOWN: This song takes me back to his “Once Again” album. “Under The Stars” is exactly the kind of ballad that Legend has perfected since my introduction to his music in 2003 on Slum Village’s “Selfish.” It was released in conjunction with Stella Artois“Give Beautifully” holiday campaign. Though Legend dropped the song for the holiday season, it has a year round feel to it.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.