Disclaimer: This month is heavily populated with rap releases. Rappers like naughty words. Avoid playing the videos and songs linked later on if you don’t like naughty words.
October is going to be amazing, specifically if you are a hip-hop head. Acclaimed hip-hop producers Flying Lotus and Black Milk both have releases this month, alongside rappers T.I., Theophilus London and Lil Wayne. What’s even more is that rap duo Run the Jewels are releasing their follow-up album to their 2013 self-titled release. All aboard the hype train. Choo choo.
Lil Wayne is quite possibly the most prolific name in hip-hop. He is one of the most successful mixtape rappers, and his soon-to-be five-part album series, “Tha Carter,” contains some of the most recognizable rap albums. Though, at this stage in his career, any mention of his name is usually met with either, “OMG, Lil Wayne sux lol,” or “Praise Weezy, for he has graced us with another great track.” The first reaction stems from a slew of lackluster releases from the rapper, beginning specifically around the time Wayne’s mixtape “Dedication 3” was released, and extending all the way through Wayne’s most recent release, “Dedication 5.” This period in Wayne’s career marked the point when he got oodles of face tattoos, learned to skateboard and tried to play the guitar on a few of his own albums. Which wasn’t a good thing, if you were curious.
BUT.
That’s all about to change. The Weezy we know and love is back and ready to give us his final solo LP. Following a few promotional singles — “D’usse,” which is reminiscent of the immaculate and soulful Kanye West-produced “Carter III” track “Let the Beat Build,” the track featuring Drake, “Believe Me,” which also bore a resemblance to the recent Drake track “0-100/The Catch Up,” and the eclectic track “Krazy,” which features an institutionalized Wayne — Wayne is showing he still has the ability to put music before skateboarding and face tattoos to produce quality music. Mr. Carter, if you’re reading this, I would just like you to know my body is ready for “Tha Carter V.” “Tha Carter V” is slated for an Oct. 28 release.
And now in underground hip-hop news, rap’s most dangerous duo, Run the Jewels, have a new project coming at the end of October. The first thing you need to know about Run the Jewels is that it comprises veteran rapper/producer El-P and equally veteran rapper Killer Mike. Their first self-titled album was released to universal critical acclaim in June 2013 and can be downloaded for free from their record label’s website here. If the word “free” wasn’t enough to get your attention, let me try a little harder. The entire 10-track project was produced by El-P, who, in my humble opinion, is the best rapper of the caucasian persuasion. Further listening for this assertion can be found here:
El-P is known for his fantastic production, having multiple lauded albums in his discography, which puts him in the perfect position to produce songs for the thoroughly outspoken political rapper Killer Mike. Killer Mike is an Atlanta native and has worked with many big names, such as T.I., Big Boi of Outkast and Bun B of UGK. (Fun fact: Killer Mike owns and maintains his own barbershop in Atlanta.) But perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the duo is their recent announcement that they will honor the “Meow the Jewels” package offered through their website. To preface this, “Run the Jewels 2” is slated for an October 27 release, and as a promotion for the album, El-P and Killer Mike offered multiple different packages containing varying levels of merchandise, from the package with the free download of the album to the $10,000,000 “Run the Jewels Retirement Plan Package,” which forces Run the Jewels into retirement. One package in particular, the “Meow the Jewels” package, which called for El-P to reproduce the entirety of the new album with nothing but cat noises, has gained quite the following, to the point where a kickstarter to fund the purhcase has been started with more than 700 backers. El-P has said he will honor the promise if the money is raised and donate the 40K to a charity related to the recent events in Ferguson, Mo.
Other releases this month include Weezer with “Everything will be Alright in the End” on Oct. 7, Jessie J with “Sweet Talker” on Oct. 14, Florida Georgia Line with “Anything Goes” on Oct. 14, OK Go with “Hungry Ghosts” on Oct. 14, Taylor Swift with “1989” on Oct. 27, Flying Lotus with “You’re Dead!” on Oct. 7, T.I. with “Paperwork” on Oct. 21, Black Milk with “If There’s a Hell Below” on Oct. 28 and Theophilus London with “Vibes” on Oct. 28.
Have a fantastic Tuesday.
