It is understandable if you have been engulfed by the swell Drake, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar have created over the past month. We are so deep into Yeezy Season and Drizzy Season we forgot it is still winter. For this reason, VibeRotation 12 is compiled of songs that may have seeped through the cracks in the midst of the hype surrounding big name projects, as well as songs the ITR crew has enjoyed. Notable new work comes from Atlanta group Two-9, "Miyagi's Prime" by Hodgy Beats and Don Cannon's Dena Tape 2, and a loosie from Cozz that appeared on LA Leakers' "2015 Draft Picks" mixtape. Kid Cudi's "Girls" is added because it had been a forgotten song in my iTunes library that was unearthed this past weekend... It happens. VibeRotation 12 is available for your enjoyment below, and be sure to give the VR collection a listen on InTheRough's SoundCloud.
music
Kanye West-Wolves f. Vic Mensa and Sia /
In a world where it means everything to be unique and different, people still criticize artists that push boundaries and use music as a mode of expression, regardless of what form that expression takes on. Kanye’s new drop, “Wolves” which features verses from both Chicago native and SaveMoney affiliate Vic Mensa as well as Sia was released yesterday in his adidas Originals Yeezy Season 1 promotional video. The song itself and its release are both examples of his artistic ability as an ode to his development and ambition to create something different. The stark contrast between the almost church-like accents of Sia’s melodic tone and verse, and the distorted auto-tune covering up both Kanye and Vic’s voices creates a sound that is directly representative of the lost and found nature of love that they are singing about. The composition of this lonely ballad is just as two-sided as it’s content: love is distorted and complicated and indecisive. Vic Mensa’s experimentation here shows that he understands the artistry behind the song, and it’s refreshing. Whether he was instructed by Kanye or not, his versatility and his obvious expansion of the spectrum of his own sound is a quality that doesn’t exist popularly in today’s commercialized music culture.
It’s easy for people to hear auto-tune and justify it as another 808s, or hear a grimy, overproduced drum line and think Yeezus. It’s harder for people to accept it for what it is. Kanye has no tenure here, he isn’t and won’t be perfect, but Kanye has earned our appreciation and respect for this song, along with the artists therein featured. Check it out featured below beginning at 8:30, and craft your own opinion.
'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' - Drake (Mixtape) /
Last night Drake took us all by surprise and released his mixtape, If You're Reading This It's Too Late via Twitter just before midnight. It's release came on the 6th anniversary of his iconic So Far Gone tape and hours after he released his short film "Jungle". It is clear the latest projects are significant to Drizzy as "Jungle" is very intimate and reflective, while the new mixtape comes with a handwritten note thanking a myriad of people from Madonna, Chief Keef, the Toronto Raptors organization, his OVO crew, and personal friends.
Whether If You're Reading This It's Too Late is an album or mixtape is still unconfirmed and not necessarily important other than logistically, but it's presence on iTunes suggests album and Drake's using of the word "tape" in his letter obviously suggests mixtape. Regardless, this project has us salivating for what is to come on his forthcoming album Views From The 6. IYRTITL features contributions from PARTYNEXTDOOR, Lil Wayne, Travi$ Scott, Boi-1da on production, and many more. You can purchase If You're Reading This It's Too Late in entirety here.
Watch Drake's Short Film "Jungle" /
This morning via OVO's website, Drake unleashed his short film, "Jungle". The 14 minute film features an introspective aspect as there is minimal talking, but shows Drizzy returning to his native Toronto, pondering his life to this point, and catching up with his friends. Home videos of Drake are also sprinkled throughout highlighting how far he has come creatively and personally. Snippets of new music provide an unfair tease around the six minute mark and in the credits. Enjoy "Jungle" below.
VibeRotation 11 /
Music has and will be subjective. It’s an art form that can’t be quantified and packaged perfectly as “good” or “bad”. Instead, this is something that we as fans can decide for our own consumption, and because of the diversity in music, we have such an opportunity to develop our musical tastes and styles. I’m not sure how I feel about the Grammy awards last night, and there are so many factors that go into my opinions about the swirling controversy around the winners and losers, that I become disillusioned with music and the industry as a whole. I enjoy music because I like the way it makes me feel. It is a simple and timeless formula that I am proud to follow, as I think it is a part of my identity as a person. With that, I am proud to list off some of my favorite, profound, and what I believe to be the most influential tracks of 2014, that deserve praise of any standard. Check out the playlist below and on our Soundcloud.