4 Songs I've been playing this month: October 2017

The 4 songs I'm currently bumping in my vehicular automobile!

Okay, yes, I stole this idea from Youtuber Shawn Cee, but I am going to give him credit. I was "inspired" to do this by his series "5 songs I'm listening to". I doubt he'll see this post, but in the rare chance he does. 'Sup Shawn. Anyway, check out his Youtube channel here.

Basically, I wanted to talk about some songs that I'm currently feeling at the moment. Whether it'd be new or old, I feel like my tastes are wide and expansive enough that it'd be interesting to discuss them, plus, it's a short form way of writing about music, which I love to do.

Lately, I've been constantly playing these 4 songs in my car, or in my headphones. I notice I tend to have a small rotation of songs I consistently keep playing week to week.

Let's start with the newest song on here (which is Ski Mask's song) and work backwards to the oldest song on here...

• Ski Mask The Slump God - With Vengeance (feat. Offset)

"This is my revengeeeeeeeee! With Vengeance!" (Artwork censored by me, Joseph Sanker II)

God damn, I was never the biggest Ski Mask fan...until I heard this. I had heard Ski Mask's song "Catch Me Outside" and I thought his flow was really unique in a good way, like he can flow over a broken pick up truck engine and make it sound dope but as far as the fan of the music? Nah. You can say I only enjoyed a certain aspect of his music (that aspect being his 'flow' over the song), rather than the music as a whole.

Until TODAY!

A little bit of background on this song:

Ski Mask hopped on twitter one day and basically said

The man hit 10k tweets and lo and behold, he kept his word. What's funny about this song with Offset is that Offset was actually eating Mickey D's while recording his verse. And to be honest, if that's not legend status, I don't know what is. Give Offset and the rest of the Migos their roses while they are still here, they have given us so much in such a short span of time, it is truly unbelievable.

Song done in 20 minutes WHILE eating McDonald's. Legend.

Anyway, check out the song, the bass on the beat is INSANE. Loud, not too overbearing, but it kicks like a mule, especially in a car with really good speakers. Offset delivers a solid guest verse as well. 

My only gripe with the song is that it is too short. Ski Mask could've added another verse or at the very least, tacked on another chorus right after Offset's verse. That's really one annoying thing about the "Soundcloud" era of rappers from South Florida. Their songs are mad short, which can be looked at as a good thing, but this isn't Madvillainy, put out some complete and fully realized songs please. Everything doesn't have to sound like a demo.

But yeah, I wish it was longer, but as it is, "With Vengeance" is dope. This song honestly has me checking for Ski Mask, I will be peeping his new project whenever it drops. He's on my radar, and has my ears open for his music.

Check out the song below and bump it in your car or on some good speakers, TRUST ME, it can make a world of a difference.

This song is recommended to you if you prefer artists like: Denzel Curry, Smokepurpp, Lil Pump, $uicideBoy$, Wifisfuneral

• Brockhampton - TOKYO 

"What got you shook on this Saturdayyyyy!" (Artwork done by yours truly, Joseph Sanker II, I tried to make it as close to the official single artworks for the rest of the songs off "Saturation 2")

Saturation 2 is going to end up on my year-end list for 2017. Telling you this now because it's a great feeling to now repeat a song that I would originally skip over in my casual listening of Saturation 2. "TOKYO" much like "Cash" from Saturation, I feel, is very overlooked and should've received a music video, but I digress.

"TOKYO" sounds like a standard cross over rap-pop hit, with JOBA's singing along with Ameer and Dom's (Dope) rapping, it sounds like something that would come on the radio during a drive home from school or work.

This is also a great example of Kevin Abstract/Ian Simpson's excellent song writing. According to Abstract/Simpson himself. The chorus was inspired by Trick Daddy of all people, which is quite interesting as one would not associate a boy band that came together through an internet forum with a very prominent, street rapper from Miami, Florida.

I wonder what a Brockhampton x Trick Daddy collab would sound like...hmmm 🤔

No complaints or gripes from me about this song. I love it. You should listen to it too! Check it out down below:

Oh! I forgot about the trumpet that kicks in during the chorus! That small instrumental change, makes the song, the little things man, they ALWAYS have the potential to make a world of difference!

This song is recommended to you if you prefer artists like: Steve Lacy, Tyler, The Creator, Aminé, Injury Reserve

• Busdriver - Ego Death (feat. Aesop Rock & Danny Brown)

"We can make this betteRRRRRRRR" (Once again, custom artwork by me, Joseph Sanker II)

"Yeah, no, I understand what you're saying, but... is it sexier than torture?" is such an odd intro, like walking in on the middle of a conversation that YOU really need context for otherwise you will be as lost as a needle in a haystack.

Let me be the first to say that this song is definitely not for everyone. I, for one, wasn't really feeling this song until recently and this song was released in 2015, nearly 3 years ago.

This song is more on the experimental side and of all four songs on this list, this is the least accessible. It doesn't help that Busdriver has on off-kilter, off the wall flow that is equal parts rapper and college professor.

Then Aesop Rock comes in, spits a standard Aesop verse (which is like an insanely good verse, technically speaking, compared to the average, modern rapper).

And then Daniel Sewell, AKA Danny Brown comes in and has a very on-point verse. I feel like he rides the beat the best, and you can actually decipher what he is saying without having to have Rap Genius open for every line and bar.

Decent song that I personally enjoy, but I can truly see why someone wouldn't like this, but again, I listened to it in 2015, listened to a bunch more hip hop since then, came back to it, loved it. So, maybe that's what you need to do if you don't like this song.

Listen to it.

If you don't like it...come back 2 years later after listening to a bunch of hip hop albums that are more experimental (examples being: Madvillain's "Madvillainy", Mos Def's "The Ecstatic", Danny Brown's "Atrocity Exhibition" etc.)

Anyway, here's the song "Ego Death" by Busdriver with Aesop Rock and Danny Brown.

This song is recommended to you if you prefer artists like: Open Mike Eagle, clipping., Ab-Soul, El-P, Earl Sweatshirt, Atmosphere

• Lil Wayne - 6 Foot 7 Foot (feat. Corey Gunz)

"REAL G'S MOVE IN SILENCE LIKE LASAGNA" (Artwork isn't customized by me, by the way)

I specifically remember being in PE class on a soccer or football field next to a road and a car rolls past the field on a Monday at like 10 A.M. BLASTING THIS SONG. I recognize the instrumental to this song anywhere, from any distance and this car passing by was definitely a clear indication that this song was on hot in 2010 through 2011. Like scorching, burn-your-hand-when-you-touch-it hot.

There were a number of rappers who hopped on this song's instrumental, most notably Kendrick and ScHoolboy Q back in the days when they were on the come up.

You've mostly likely heard this song before, if you haven't, you probably don't even really listen to hip hop in the first place. This song is pretty well known, especially for that "Real G's move in silence like Lasagna" line.

If you were one of those people unfortunate enough to NOT understand that line, it's quite simple, the "G" in Lasagna, when pronounced in the English language, is a silent letter. Therefore the "G" in Lasagna is in silence, similar to real gangsters (real G's), who move in silence.

Wayne is VERY disappointed that you don't understand that Real G's move in Silence like Lasagna

Apparently Billboard ran a whole article on the line, which begs the question...were things really that boring in hip hop back then in 2010? Did we not have enough Soundcloudd artists beating their significant others?

I digress, listen to 6 foot 7 foot (featuring Corey Gunz, who, by the way, is still the only rapper I've heard brag about visiting "urinals abroad"...how is that even a flex? *Troy Ave Voice* "These rappers is weirdos, b.")

Re-listen to this banger of a song with conundrum inducing lyrics or, if this is your first time hearing this song, enjoy!

I forgot to mention that the music video is as legendary as the song itself

This song is recommended to you if you prefer artists like: 2 Chainz, T.I., Gucci Mane, Drake, Young Thug, Juicy J

I think for my next post I'll get a little bit more personal about my music tastes/biases  nah, doing something for Halloween, or I just won't post for another 2 months like I did last time, we'll see. 

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Until next time! Peace out! One.

Written by Joseph Sanker II on 10/21/17