Blog: The Passion of the Weiss

Video: Rich Homie Quan – “Type of Way”

Apr 29, 4:30pm The Passion of the Weiss

There are a lot of things that you can hate on about Atlanta's Rich Homie Quan. He might be the third-best auto-tune croak rapper to follow in the wake of Future. Gates and Young Thug are currently ahead. Quan is probably leading Ca$h Out. I know that there is nothing really very original about "Some Kind of Way." There is also the fact that Quan is affiliated with the rap game Mancurian Candidate, Trinidad James. But I think that we should throw out our preconceived prejudices and just embrace this song. It is catchy as fuck and even [...]

MORE »

Mala’s Essential Mix for the BBC

Apr 29, 2:59pm The Passion of the Weiss

You can't find a more essential musical figure of the last ten years than Mala. No need to reiterate the qualifications of the Deep Medi and Digital Mystikz founder who practically invented what we used to know as dubstep (i.e. before the Americans removed all sense of dub and step). If you're in the dark as to the history of the London native, read Son Raw's pieces on him here or here. Earlier this month, the BBC finally asked him to drop a long awaited Essential Mix that spans his influences and his massive impact. So [...]

• mala-essential-mix - 13-apr-2013

MORE »

Artist:	mala-essential-mix
Title:	13-apr-2013
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Dubstep

MF DOOM & Clams Casino: Bookfiends Forever

Apr 29, 2:21pm The Passion of the Weiss

On paper, the pairing of MF DOOM and Clams Casino should produce the proper blend of special herbs. The former is the Supervillain enigma supposedly stranded in Europe for the last several years. The latter makes music ostensibly designed to soundtrack peat bog ceremonies for the dead (conducted by the Based God). The knock on Clams is that he hasn't given his beats to the best rappity rappers, opting for B, Soulja Boy and the occasional sliver thrown to A$AP Rocky - who discovered that mild complaints about stardom and double-timed drug boasts work great over Clams' cloud rap. [...]

• clammyclams - Bookfiend ft. DOOM

MORE »

Artist:	clammyclams
Title:	Bookfiend ft. DOOM
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Rap

The Gangstarr Press Kit, Circa 1990

Apr 29, 11:00am The Passion of the Weiss

Will Hagle is fully clad and glad. In 1990, Chrysalis Records’s biggest hit was Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Although the label was based in England and had found most of its success with artists like Billy Idol and Blondie, it had recently acquired Gang Starr, the then-fledgling hip-hop duo from America’s East Coast. A press-kit video from that time, in which Guru and DJ Premier were slated to release their sophomore LP Step Into The Arena , has surfaced online in the form of a digitized VHS-rip. The clip is a rare [...]

MORE »

Rock the Body Party: Ciara, Future & The Art of Boodom

Apr 29, 9:00am The Passion of the Weiss

Slava P invented Krav Maga. What's the fastest way to become relevant after suffering through a popularity drought that's taken hold of your career since 2005? In Ciara's case, it's as easy as riding on the coattails of the most popular act of 2013. And since most of the GBE kids were still riding tricycles when Goodies came out, and her lead single with 2Chainz inexplicably failed to work, the next logical choice was Nayvadius Future Cash. In a mastermind chess move overseen by LA Reid, Ciara has traded in her high tempo [...]

MORE »

Nicolas Jaar – Live at Boiler Room NYC

Apr 27, 3:49pm The Passion of the Weiss

Nicolas Jaar: God's son. These sets are becoming the stuff of legend. The fanbase of Jaarheads is becoming a legion. Shouts to the esteemed Gorilla for the heads up.

MORE »

MobbDeen: Ludacris – “If I Ain’t Fucked Up…”

Apr 26, 2:08pm The Passion of the Weiss

Deen's been smoking all night. For the first time in a really long while, I'm listening to a Ludacris song that doesn't completely bore me. Of all the rapper turned mogul/actor/whatever the fuck else niggas have to do in order to plausibly claim that they don't need to rap anymore to make money, Ludacris' "fall" was most depressing of the lot - given how much fun his music was at his peak. I'm not going to get into whether he was this or THIS dope, but if you're older than 25 or thereabouts, you've certainly [...]

• Ludacris - Ludacris "If I Aint Fucked Up"

MORE »

Artist:	Ludacris
Title:	Ludacris "If I Aint Fucked Up"
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Hiphop

14 Choppa — Held by Joey Fatts, A$AP Rocky & Danny Brown

Apr 26, 1:15pm The Passion of the Weiss

There have been few if any truly great rap records this year. Kevin Gates' Luca Brasi Story is pretty much the front-runner for rap album of the year, but I imagine the next eight months will hold heavy competition. Every year since I've been doing this, I wonder when the transformative rap records of the year are going to leak, then a flurry usually hits starting around June. That said, there have been plenty of very good ones and even more very good singles. There are also a bunch that we have collectively missed. Rap has returned to [...]

• FerrariFatts - 14 Choppa [Feat A$AP Rocky & Danny Brown] (Prod By 808 Mafia)

MORE »

Artist:	FerrariFatts
Title:	14 Choppa [Feat A$AP Rocky & Danny Brown] (Prod By 808 Mafia)
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Rap

Kanye and K-Dot: G.O.O.D. Kids, m.A.A.d. Leaks

Apr 26, 11:11am The Passion of the Weiss

Max Bell  may have written positive words about a Drake album once. There are a number of early articles/blog posts/pieces of writing I'd like deleted, wiped from existence. Some of those pieces could've benefited from more time spent behind the keyboard, some might've needed more editing from whoever was kind enough to let me write for them, and others should've never seen the light of day. I might look back on this post the same way. That's how it goes. You can say similar things about  two leaks that have been circulating the net in [...]

MORE »

Son Raw: Kode 9 goes to Shanghai via Chicago

Apr 26, 9:00am The Passion of the Weiss

Son Raw wrote this while sipping a Singha. Bass music intellect Kode92s latest single, "Xinfu Lu," is ostensively named after a Shanghai clubbing street. Pardon my skepticism, but after spending the past few months in South-East Asia, I doubt any club on the continent is ready for this. In fact, it'd be a hard sell in Europe or America, let alone China. Choppy, abrasive, and sporting a melody fit for a Kubrick film about China's capitalist rise, "Xinfu Lu" evokes a Chinese street but not one dedicated to clubbing. Instead, I picture cybernetic hawkers chopping BBQ [...]

• Kode9 - Kan Taken from HYP011 Released 29/04/2013)
• Kode9 - Xingfu Lu (Taken From HYP011 Released 29/04/2013)

MORE »

Artist:	Kode9
Title:	Kan Taken from HYP011 Released 29/04/2013)
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Hyperdub

Artist:	Kode9
Title:	Xingfu Lu (Taken From HYP011 Released 29/04/2013)
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Hyperdub

Joy Orbison – “Donnell”

Apr 25, 3:47pm The Passion of the Weiss

London's Joy Orbison continuing the trend of late 90s and early 00s R&B revival. Re-working Donnell Jones' "U Know What's Up." Left Eye is nowhere to be found, inevitably because Joy is a wise man who wants to avoid blasphemy. I am fully in favor of this reappraisal of the R&B of that era. Anyone who wants to make me a mix of contemporary electronic producers remixing R&B songs made between New Jack Swing and Auto-Tune knows where to find me. I'm just hoping that this revival does not leave out poor Montell Jordan, who stood 6'8 and [...]

• Joy Orbison - Donell

MORE »

Artist:	Joy Orbison
Title:	Donell
File Name:	SoundCloud

Juicy J, Pimp C & T.I. Illustrate the Importance of Showing Out

Apr 25, 3:19pm The Passion of the Weiss

Juicy J: a simple man who just wants a Louis bag, some lean with mud in it and the finest of herbal vapors. Other verses contributed to the "Show Out" Remix" courtesy of T.I. and Pimp C's ghost. This might be one of the better posthumous verses of Chad Butler - a fitting tribute for a man who rocked chinchilla with the grace of Kelly and the mouth of Red Foxx. To preempt the line of questioning, I will stop posting Juicy J remixes when they stop making me do weird chicken cooking dances while smoking the vaporizer pen in [...]

MORE »

Shots Fired Episode 26: Lead Singer Syndrome ft. Open Mike Eagle & Taurus Scott

Apr 25, 2:57pm The Passion of the Weiss

Inspired by a last minute cancellation and the enduring reality that all rappers are lead singers (and most have lead singer syndrome), the latest episode of Shots Fired features myself, Nocando, and our guests Open Mike Eagle and Taurus Scott talking about rappers who live on their own time, how fame effects a rapper’s ego, and why conscious rappers sometimes have the worst case of lead singer syndrome. Plus, Taurus tells us about his time working with G-Unit, Open Mike Eagle shares lead singer syndrome stories from touring, and Nocando tells us about [...]

• Nocando - ALL OVER A BITCH (AOB) PRODUCED BY THAVIUS BECK
• Shots Fired Podcast - 26 Lead Singer Syndrome (w/ Taurus Scott, Open Mike Eagle)
• Taurus Scott aka T Scott - Flying Lotus-Do The Astral Plane (Taurus Scott Juke Flip)
• Taurus Scott aka T Scott - Tax Man featuring Nocando & D-Styles

MORE »

Artist:	Nocando
Title:	ALL OVER A BITCH (AOB) PRODUCED BY THAVIUS BECK
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	TITS & EXPLOSIONS

Artist:	Shots Fired Podcast
Title:	26 Lead Singer Syndrome (w/ Taurus Scott, Open Mike Eagle)
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Music
Year:	2013

Artist:	Taurus Scott aka T Scott
Title:	Flying Lotus-Do The Astral Plane (Taurus Scott Juke Flip)
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Juke/footwork

Artist:	Taurus Scott aka T Scott
Title:	Tax Man featuring Nocando & D-Styles
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Trap Music

Question in the Form of an Answer: Tony Royster Jr (Drummer for Jay-Z, et al.)

Apr 25, 11:00am The Passion of the Weiss

Tony Royster Jr reckons everyone has something to give. But then Tony Royster Jr himself has more than most to offer. That’s something I learned when interviewing the renowned drummer for a Scene feature story last month. Acknowledged as a master of his trade, Royster Jr regularly tours with a numerous high profile artists, including Joss Stone, Joe Jonas and En Vogue, but perhaps most prominently Jay-Z, where he shares the stage with another of Carter’s regular collaborators, producer Young Guru. In more recent years, Royster Jr and Guru have been sharing [...]

MORE »

A$AP Ferg Spills the Persian Wine

Apr 25, 9:00am The Passion of the Weiss

Will Hagle is extremely pro-Saffron Busta got Arab Money. The A$AP Mob sips Persian wine. One of A$AP Ferg’s solo tracks from last year's Lords Never Worry mixtape, Ferg takes a note from Pusha T’s new playbook. He believes there’s a Lord above him, he’s just the Lord of everything else. Or at least he’s the Lord of the Trap, per the title of his tape and the clothes that the Mob’s advertising in this video (everything is for sale on Ferg’s website). And despite the amount of scrawny Coachella bros that [...]

MORE »

Gunplay: Glass Cookware Enthusiast

Apr 24, 4:32pm The Passion of the Weiss

Gunplay continuing to be the calm-headed, sober-minded and chill bro that we're accustomed to. All I want for Earth Day is to discover the real back story about why Gunplay's business manager suddenly refused to testify against his former client who was shown flashing the iron at him on camera. Maybe MMG is truly teflon. Or maybe Rick Ross really had a Black Bar Mitzvah and met some savvy barristers at the limbo contest. Either way, free Gunplay is a victory for humanity and a strike against the DEA. Download his latest mixtape below [...]

MORE »

RN9 – “Rotunda” (Four Tet Remix)

Apr 24, 3:28pm The Passion of the Weiss

In what might be the greatest Soundcloud comment of all time or at least today, someone described this Four Tet refix of RN92s "Rotunda" as like being at Mardi Gras in a submarine. This is underwater party music, voodoo bells and veiled street shouts and the feeling of being submerged. Four Tet has always sought to pair seemingly contradictory sounds, so there's the street festival polyrhythm merging with thumping minimal techno. And it's available for free download, courtesy of Soundcloud and Marie Laveau.

• RocketNumberNine - RN9 - Rotunda (Four Tet Refix) WAV

MORE »

Artist:	RocketNumberNine
Title:	RN9 - Rotunda (Four Tet Refix) WAV
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Future

Camp Lo Decoded

Apr 24, 2:31pm The Passion of the Weiss

15 years later, Camp Lo still has yet to reunite with Ski and deliver the sequel to Uptown Saturday Night that will be only awaited by myself, Aesop Rock , Curren$y, Wale and Nate Jones. Is there any group in rap history with a better debut and a more anti-climactic decade and a half. That's not to say that the Lo haven't dropped good music in the last decade. I will still ride for Fort Apache . There just needs to be more. There is no good reason [...]

MORE »

The Lord Hath Return: Quasimoto’s “Planned Attack”

Apr 24, 1:56pm The Passion of the Weiss

With Captain Murphy stealing the mantle of top-tier producer turned cartoon alter-ego, the Lord hath returned. The madman born Otis Jackson Jr. assumes his hunchbacked mushroom-mangled identity to deliver a new collection of 12 tracks recorded over roughly as many years. About 2/3 these tracks were released on random vinyl, all out of print, and the other 1/3 are previously unreleased, just mastered for the first time. As Disco Vietnam pointed out: Madlib has reached Ornette Coleman status: he's still alive; he makes new music every day, but all we get is compilations of old unreleased shit. So [...]

• Quasimoto - Planned Attack

MORE »

Artist:	Quasimoto
Title:	Planned Attack
File Name:	SoundCloud

MobbDeen: Is Cassie a Diddy Concubine, R&B Cypher, Interesting Artist or a Combination of All Three?

Apr 24, 9:00am The Passion of the Weiss

Deen knows what you want. I don't recall the exact time when Cassie lucked into that one random hit that put her on the scene, but my interest in her only really started when her nudes leaked after she traded up from Ryan Leslie to Diddy. Proof positive that a Harvard degree is the most useless thing on the planet in the face of old money and hella lip gloss. Take that, take that. Even more hilarious is my sneaking suspicion that Diddy not only took that light skin nigga's woman, but he also kinda [...]

MORE »