The New Classics Mixtape [March 2009]: Download

03.31.09

No artwork for this month’s tape, at least not yet. My time’s been real limited lately, but I managed to whip up a new Mixtape for whoever would like it. A few artists appear twice this go-round, but everything’s (2) legit + quality shit. This tape is also special because it features several tracks that haven’t even been reviewed yet here at The New Classics. Trust me when I say that this is the best mixtape so far from the site. Best 20 songs released in the month of March in the year of Two Thousand and Nine, in no particular order besides a transitional one:

Download> The.New.Classics.MiXTAPE_march.2009_

Music Video: UGK, Da Game Been Good to Me

03.31.09

Song: Da Game Been Good to Me
Artist: UGK
Album: UGK 4 Life
Label: Vibe Records
Producer: Pimp C
Notes: 1st single from LP
Analysis: Really cool video from UGK, composed mostly of motion graphics and still-images from the group’s past, as obviously Pimp C is no longer with us. Definitely respect Bun B for going this route to promote the final album by giving us an introspective on the group’s career.

New Music: Jadakiss, Cartel Gathering [ft. Ghostface Killah & Raekwon]

03.31.09

Song: Cartel Gathering [ft. Ghostface Killah & Raekwon]
Artist: Jadakiss
Album: The Last Kiss
Label: Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
Producer: Swiv B & DJ Eddie F
Notes: none
Analysis: This is a dream collaboration for many hip hop fans, and every bit as good as you would expect.

Music Video: Rapper Big Pooh, The Comeback

03.30.09

Song: The Comeback
Artist: Rapper Big Pooh
Album: The Delightful Bars
Label: Hall of Justus
Producer: Khrysis
Notes: 1st single from LP
Analysis: By now, the rap duo Little Brother should be pretty well-known, at least by anyone calling themselves a hip hop head. I shouldn’t have to go through the group history (including former producer 9th Wonder), so I won’t. What I will say, is that Rapper Big Pooh is good enough to carry his own LP, even without rhyming partner Phonte. He did it with Sleepers in 05, and is back again in 09 with The Delightful Bars. On this first single, Pooh borrows the famous “UH uh UH, all over the track, man / UH, pardon me, UH, as I come back” line from Busta Rhymes’ verse on A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Scenario’ from eighteen years ago, and turns it into a hook (which Busta himself did once also). I don’t think that Pooh means any disrespect to Busta or Quest when he rhymes (knowledge is a weapon so I’m packin my tools / these muhhfuckas actin like they so cool / homey, you the past, I embody what is new), but it’s an interesting lyric on a song like this. Rapper Big Pooh, as an individual, or as half of Little Brother, is to some hip hop fans today what ATCQ obviously was to him in the early 90s: a fresh alternative to the gangsta rap and ringtone club songs that saturate the radio. Maybe not in sound and style, but in spirit.

New Music: Fall Out Boy, America’s Suitehearts (Remix) [ft. Joe Budden, Murs & 88-Keys]

03.30.09

Song: America’s Suitehearts (Remix) [ft. Joe Budden, Murs & 88-Keys]
Artist: Fall Out Boy
Album: none
Label: Island Records
Producer: Patrick Stump
Notes: none
Analysis: Fall Out Boy gets a bad rap. Yes, they are the epitome of bubblegum rock these days, seemingly only one step above the Jonas Brothers on the edginess scale. But the snobbiest of music snobs brush off the fact that they are actually good at that niche. If we didn’t have pop rock, you wouldn’t be singing along to Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ with your friends. Actually, most of today’s best karaoke songs wouldn’t even exist. But Fall Out Boy isn’t JUST a future karaoke go-to band. Lead singer Patrick Stump, one of the best voices of modern pop, also has a low-key love for all things hip hop.

Music Video: GLC, Big Screen [ft. Kanye West]

03.29.09

Song: Big Screen [ft. Kanye West]
Artist: GLC
Album: Love, Life & Loyalty
Label: G.O.O.D. Music
Producer: Kanye West
Notes: 1st single from LP
Analysis: For all the shit that Kanye takes (sometimes deservingly) for his superstar tantrums, his autotune singing tangents, and sometimes life choices, everyone should give the man credit. This is a man who has created so much classic material for this generation to live with forever. He also doesn’t see himself as “above” up and coming artists, so he isn’t afraid to lend a few verses and beats here and there but still let the spotlight shine on the individual. West has helped several careers of these artists along his way to the top, including: Lupe Fiasco, John Legend, Rhymefest, Consequence, Estelle, 88-Keys & Kid Cudi, as well as help re-invent the career of Common. His latest pet project is GLC, an old friend of his from the early 90s when the two were struggling artists together. GLC has been featured before on Kanye’s records (‘Spaceship’, and ‘Drive Slow’), but he is just now officially prepping his first solo album, and ‘Big Screen’ is the first taste. With Kanye West behind him and creating music for him, there is no reason why GLC can’t be as successful as the artists I’ve mentioned above.

Music Video: N.A.S.A., Gifted [ft. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li]

03.29.09

Song: Gifted [ft. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li]
Artist: N.A.S.A.
Album: The Spirit of Apollo
Label: Anti Records
Producer: N.A.S.A.
Notes: 4th single from LP
Analysis: Interesting animated video from the production duo, featuring three of the hottest names in the industry right now. The video plays up the starry/spacey atmosphere of the song by making it the main theme of the narrative. The Spirit of Apollo has tons of eclectic guest artists starring in tracks that you’d never expect to hear. Some work better than others, and ‘Gifted’ is one of the better ones, although putting Kanye, Santo & Lykke on a track is less of a stretch than say, Tom Waits & Kool Keith. But anyway, watch the video, download the song, and dance you’re pants off.

New Music: Q-Tip, We Fight / We Love (Remix) [ft. Kanye West & Consequence]

03.29.09

Song: We Fight / We Love (Remix) [ft. Kanye West & Consequence]
Artist: Q-Tip
Album: none
Label: Universal Motown
Producer: Q-Tip
Notes: none
Analysis: In the second post-Renaisisance all-star remix of the year, Q-Tip recruits Kanye West and Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music artist Consequence to add some verses onto the already great song.

Music Video: Panda Bear, Take Pills

03.27.09

Song: Take Pills
Artist: Panda Bear
Album: Person Pitch
Label: Paw Tracks Records
Notes: none
Analysis: Odd that this video is just released now, as the album Person Pitch has been in stores since March of 2007. Don’t let all the critical & blog love for Panda Bear’s music fool you, it is an acquired taste just like his parent band, Animal Collective. This album is something that you have to be pretty patient about, and just let it overtake you after several listens because it’s worth it. ‘Take Pills’ takes about half the song to really kick into gear, spending the first half floating back and forth like a lost set of swim trunks in a wave pool. The watery backdrop flows through the rest of the song also, when it turns into a echoed jamboree. Avey Tare sings (i don’t want for us to take pills / because we’re stronger / and we don’t need them), but “take pills” is repeated over and over like a not-so-subtle subliminal message (which two years later, judging from this music video, is still suggested). I’d suggest the less tedious ‘Bro’s’ over ‘Take Pills’ for new listeners, but this song is still a pretty good representation of the rest of Panda Bear’s material. It’s good stuff, but you might have to work for it.

Click the jump below for more from Panda Bear via the ‘Bro’s’ music video:

Music Video: Black Lips, I’ll Be With You

03.27.09

Song: I’ll Be With You
Artist: Black Lips
Album: 200 Million Thousand
Label: Vice Records
Notes: 2nd single from LP
Analysis: I don’t know if there’s been a video yet this year that is more suited to its song than ‘I’ll Be With You’. Shot in the style of home movies from the 50’s in true Wonder Years opening credits fashion. The band opens presents on Christmas morning, blows out birthday candles with a clown, and plays their instruments for the camera all to the tune of the lo-fi twang of the song. It’s funny to see the band acting like children (having tears streaming while petting their new cat was genius), and the early rock ‘n roll feel of the song would have fit in great in the 50’s which is why the video is so perfect.