TAO09- #6: Wale- Attention: Deficit

Top Albums of 2009- #6: Wale- Attention: Deficit

As you saw on my top mixtapes list, Wale reappears on my top albums list. The long awaited Attention: Deficit. Like the Back To The Feature, the album was pushed back, bumped up, and then pushed back. All I can say is the wait was worth it.

Everyone thinks Hip-Hop is dead. Wale woke it up and it's starting to hit the mainstream. With tracks such as Beautiful Bliss (Featuring J. Cole), Contemplate, and Shades (Feat. Chrisette Michelle); it's a breathe of fresh air. The album artwork/booklet is pretty sweet too. Attention: Deficit shouldn't be overlooked, it's a keeper.

Standout Tracks: Contemplate, Beautiful Bliss (Featuring J. Cole), 90210

[MP3]Wale- Beautiful Bliss (Featuring J. Cole) (Mediafire)
[MP3]Wale- Contemplate (Mediafire)

MP3: Wiz Khalifa- Cabin Fever

According to Wizzzzzzz, this leaked accidentally? No worries though. It's hot. Kush and Orange Juice will still come out before Cabin Fever.

[MP3]Wiz Khalifa- Cabin Fever (Usershare)

My apologies for the inactivity...

Recently, I visited SUNY-Plattsburgh for a recruiting visit. Pretty awesome time. Also, UConn basketball won today...pretty awesome. I'll be posting the rest of my top albums throughout the week along with a few other posts. Be on the lookout

Download: Donwill (of Tanya Morgan)- Laura's Tape (Mixtape)

Haven't listened to the tape yet, but I'm expecting it to be dope. Not because Donwill is dope, but 2DopeBoyz is behind this one. Donwill stars as Don Cusack and delivers us Laura's Tape.

download: bandcamp

TAO09- #7: Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest

Top Albums of 2009- #7: Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest

As I've said, I used to be one of those preps who didn't follow the crowd. When I say this, I mean I didn't listen to what was hot in my school. I listened to actual music. Being from Long Island, I've always realized I don't fit the music scene. I really need to be in Brooklyn. Why Brooklyn? You can find some of the more successful bands of today's music.
Grizzly Bear is a prime example. They released Veckatimest in 2009. I can't say a lot about this album. I'm still speechless.

Standout Tracks: Fine For Now, Ready, Able, Two Weeks

[MP3]Grizzly Bear- Fine For Now(Live From Boston) (Mediafire)
[MP3]Grizzly Bear- Ready, Able (Mediafire)

Download: Charles Hamilton- And Then They Played Dilla (Mixtape)

The month of February contains some important values to myself. My birthday lies within the month (February 18, 1992), it's Black History Month, the 2010 Olympics, and famed producer J. Dilla's birthday and death. J. Dilla is one of the more recognized producers in the game who died in 2006 after a cardiac arrest. His legacy and beats continue to be sampled throughout music today.

Back in 2008, up and coming rapper Charles Hamilton released a tribute mixtape called And Then They Play Dilla. The tribute mixtape contains beats that were released from Jay Dee with Charles going over them. It's been one of my hidden secrets for a while now. DJ Skee also works with Charles on this one, which gives the tape a very, vintage feel. For people who only know Charles Hamilton for the gimmicks, he has a heart.

Standout Tracks: Convincedindecision, Krispy Kreme Intentions, What's Going On

download: mediafire

Download: Currensy- Smokee Robinson (Mixtape)

Usually when the Super Bowl rolls around, I'm obsessed with watching the game and the commercials. But this year, why was I checking my friends MacBook more than the game? Oh I remember, New Orleans (WOO SAINTS!!!! WOO!!) Curren$y releases his much awaited mixtape Smokee Robinson. The mixtape was first supposed to come out at halftime..I'm waiting..no mixtape. Maybe if the Saints win? Wait they did..still no mixtape. Oh I remember! 11:50 PM on a Sunday night!!


Don Cannon teams up with Curren$y on this one. Artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Chip Tha Ripper, Big Sean, and others make appearances on the mixtape. There's not much I can say about the tape because I've only had it for about half a day and my headphones broke in school. However, the tape after a first listen was pretty impressive. Smokee Robinson showcases different moods demonstrated from WHO DAT??!?! (Curren$y). Make sure you listen to this one, I have a feeling it will be one of my favorites of 2010.

Standout Tracks: 17.5 Cannons, Lemon Kush, Audio Dope, Jordan 3's

download: mediafire

Top Mixtapes of 2009: Recap + Extras

As you all have seen, I posted my Top Mixtapes of 2009 list last week. So here's a recap with links to the top mixtapes, as well as other mixtapes that didn't make the cut but still ripped in 2009.

Top Mixtapes of 2009 brought to you by Things That Make You Learn

1. Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa- How Fly
2. Drake- So Far Gone
3. Wiz Khalifa- Burn After Rolling
4. Tyga- Black Thoughts
5. B.o.B- B.o.B. vs. Bobby Ray
6. Wale- Back To The Feature
7. Lil Wayne- No Ceilings
8. BOOGNIGHTS- The ARTiste
9. TiRon- Ketchup
10. Donnis- Diary of an ATL Brave

Those Who Didn't Make The Cut

Charles Hamilton- Normalcy (Mediafire)
Wiz Khalifa- Flight School (Mediafire)
Fashawn- The Antidote (Mediafire)
U-N-I- Before There Was Love (Megaupload)
Mike Posner & The Brain Trust- Matter of Time (Mediafire)
Theophilus London- This Charming Mixtape (Mediafire)
XV- Everybody's Nobody (Mediafire)
Shawn Chrystopher- I.W.G.2: I Told You So/A City With No Seasons (SC Website)
Joell Ortiz- Covers The Classics (Mediafire)
Freddie Gibbs- midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik (Mediafire)
J. Cole- The Warm Up (Mediafire)

Track by Track: Beach House- Teen Dream

The Track by Track series is back. For those who are new, this is where I listen to an album on it's first listen and record my thoughts on individual songs. Lets start the 2010 segment off with Baltimore, Maryland's Beach House, who just released their third impressive record Teen Dream.

Yeah, the album art is white. And it's different.

Tracklist:

1. Zebra: When bands/artists start tracks off with a 'sleeper', some of us might automatically put off the record right away. What happens when Beach House embeds 1980's era keys with crashing symbols and soft, pinching vocals? The first track Zebra.

2. Silver Soul: To be honest, I'm not much of a fan of Silver Soul. Vocalist Victoria Legrand does her best to give her rendition of a Smiths rip off. Has strong points again with the symbols and the little duet between Legrand and Alex Scally.

3. Norway: The single and so far my favorite track of 2010. What makes the duo that is Beach House so creative and distances itself from other indie bands is this song. Mixing again beautiful guitar riffs with calm and cool voices. The song in my opinion is a similar story to Disney's 'Snow White'.

Seven figures leap the hungry mouths The beast, he comes to you He's a hunter for a lonely heart In the season of the sun

4. Walk In The Park: A beautiful follow to such a powerful song. The song demonstrates the dreary side of Victoria Legrand. In the lyrics, there's various thoughts of giving up from whoever the song is about. "In and out of my life, you would slip from my mind". A lyric that can be used by anyone if the situation presents itself.

5. Used To Be: An upbeat number, one of the only songs that break the pattern of slow numbers. It's a decent tune in it's respect.

6. Lover Of Mine: If you could compare Beach House to anyone, I'd say proudly they remind me of Tears for Fears. A duo themselves, Tear for Fears play a similar mood that Beach House performs. This song ties back to 'Norway'. Let your ears have the pleasure, not my words.

7. Better Times: Jam

8. 10 Mile Stereo: Another Jam and a half. In competition for song of the year.

9. Real Love: A slow number. The name says it all. Interesting piece with interesting concepts.

10. Take Care: Fitting name for the final track, eh? A ballad that speaks about taking care of someone that means a whole lot to you. An uplifting track that really gives a genre a lot of hope.

Score: 9/10

Download: B.o.B- May 25th (Mixtape)

As you saw on my top mixtapes of 2009 list, B.o.B aka Bobby Ray was featured for his effort B.o.B. vs. Bobby Ray. In order to build some hype up for his new album The Great Adventures Of Bobby Ray, he has released May 25th, the mixtape to signify when his album will be released. The mixtape includes artists such as J.Cole, Charles Hamilton, and Asher Roth. It also includes production from Kanye West and the Alchemist.


download: mediafire