Sad Leafs Fan

"I thought 2012 was a fantastic year for music, but I think every year is fantastic for music...."

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:18:58 -0500

“I thought 2012 was a fantastic year for music, but I think every year is fantastic for music....

I reviewed Nas’ Life is Good. It’s quite possibly his...

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:27:32 -0400

I reviewed Nas’ Life is Good. It’s quite possibly his...

On the vanillafication of K'naan

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:44:00 -0400

On the vanillafication of K'naan:

Frank Ocean brings Channel Orange, measured stardom to Toronto

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:24:02 -0400

July 31, Kool Haus - Toronto Machismo and spectacle might be the order of the day for many of his...

Amazing.

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:56:07 -0400

Amazing.

MadGibbs (Freddie Gibbs & Madlib) -...

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:07:00 -0400

MadGibbs (Freddie Gibbs & Madlib) - “Shame” (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid) [from Shame EP]

Dripping with soul.

Lushlife - “Gymnopedie 1.2” (feat. Shad)...

Wed, 30 May 2012 02:23:00 -0400

Lushlife - “Gymnopedie 1.2” (feat. Shad) [from Plateau Vision]

“This is rap for the Raps fans, DeRozan on the break over breaks, this is that jam”

I reviewed Lushlife’s Plateau Vision. Recommended for fans of dreamy, piano washed instrumentals and syllable heavy rappity raps.

Community - “Digital Estate Planning” [S03E20] Gus...

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:01:10 -0400

Community - “Digital Estate Planning” [S03E20]

Gus Fring x Community = win

King is much more than the weight of a crownAs good as it...

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:28:00 -0400

King is much more than the weight of a crown
As good as it feels, that ain’t the way that it sounds
Being single is cool ‘til ain’t nobody around
Then I’m chasing you down, cuz you was ready to fly
I can’t be what you want me to be
You’re shooting too high cuz you ain’t aiming at me
One minute you’re calling out for the D
Then the next minute you wanna be free
Then the next minute you hollering out peace
Although I know it’s a war and they’ll be blood in the street
If you call don’t be frustrated at me
Just leave you’re heart at the beep, ‘cause mine is harder to reach
‘Cause mine is harder to see
And that don’t make it harder to cheat
Being friends would make it harder to breathe
So if you’re ready to fly, just forget about me
But if you’re willing to try then I’m willing to leap
Out of the window of pain and fall in love at your feet
I ain’t the man you want me to be
I guess that’s what’s been bothering me

—Big K.R.I.T. - “Red Eye” [from 4Eva ‘N a Day]

A lot of K.R.I.T.’s introspective tracks up to this point have dealt with overcoming personal trials, dreaming for better days, and—after having achieved a certain level of success—reflecting back now that he’s starting to live those days.

But on the standout cut from 4Eva N a Day (a project that has been criticized in some corners for its rehashing of previous ideas and generically-written motivational raps), K.R.I.T. turns his thoughts inwards, particularizing his subject matter and filling in enough details to paint a complete picture. As he’s accustomed to do, K.R.I.T. approaches his topic with humanity; in this case, when rapping about the woman whose heart he holds in his hands, K.R.I.T. is more Wale (pre-MMG) than Drake: he’s painfully forthright, keenly observant, and makes an honest effort away from egotism.

In closing out a series of independent albums that some feel didn’t end up far enough away from 2010’s K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, Big K.R.I.T. at the very least shows that his mature, heartfelt writing style is adaptable to new content, a timeless skill that should serve an old soul like him well.

LMFAO indeed.

Sun, 06 May 2012 13:01:04 -0400

LMFAO indeed.

Add me on twitter so I can convince employers that I am “FLUENT IN SOCIAL...

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:32:00 -0400

Add me on twitter so I can convince employers that I am “FLUENT IN SOCIAL...

Miguel - “Candles in the Sun, Blowin’ in the...

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:30:00 -0400

Miguel - “Candles in the Sun, Blowin’ in the Wind” [from Art Dealer Chic Vol. 3]

I wrapped up my coverage of Miguel’s Art Dealer Chic series with a write-up on the third and final EP. Stream, download, and read about each of the mini releases:

Art Dealer Chic Vol. 1

Art Dealer Chic Vol. 2

Art Dealer Chic Vol. 3

Parks and Recreation - “Live Ammo” [S04E19] “I...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:45:00 -0400

Parks and Recreation - “Live Ammo” [S04E19]

“I hate people”

Community - “Virtual Systems...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:10:15 -0400

Community - “Virtual Systems Analysis” [S03E16]

Take that, blorgon scum!

Raptors record this season: 22-40 Raptors record this season...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:26:54 -0400

Raptors record this season: 22-40

Raptors record this season when I attend: 2-0

Jai Paul - “Jasmine” (Demo) I apologize in advance...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:57:00 -0400

Jai Paul - “Jasmine” (Demo)

I apologize in advance for the terrible metaphor, but this song is like a beautiful onion. You know, layers! Ugh, the track is great, seriously. More coherent words here.

Sorry Weezy, Frank Ocean’s panda ski mask game is vastly...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:08:27 -0400

Sorry Weezy, Frank Ocean’s panda ski mask game is vastly superior.

“That’s when the second thread appears. Purely thematic, this one drags the retro and...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:15:00 -0400

“That’s when the second thread appears. Purely thematic, this one drags the retro and...

Photo

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:01:09 -0400

Buddy - “Staircases” (feat. Kendrick Lamar) (Prod....

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:08:00 -0400

Buddy - “Staircases” (feat. Kendrick Lamar) (Prod. The Neptunes) [from Idle Time]

The Neptunes provide the N*E*R*D-style loungey production; childishly-named Compton MC Buddy does a decent mellowed-out Lupe impression; and Kendrick channels his inner Outkast and unsurprisingly steals the track. More words and download link here.