The Latest
Magna Carta Holy Grail - July 4th
Shawn “Jay-Z” Knowles-Carter announced the release date of his new album Magna Carta Holy Grail in a 3 minute long commercial for Samsung. Typical Hov, no single no promotion just a video sprung from no where.
The commercial featured masterminds such as Rick Rubin ( Famed Producer / Co-Founder of Def Jams ), Pharrell Williams and Timbaland. It shows them all conversing and creating this masterpiece in the making.
Besides already hitting more than 5 million views on Youtube, the album has already went platinum in pre-orders.
If that’s not Hip Hop history, I don’t know what is …
Born Sinner v Yeezus
Tomorrow, June 18,2013, two highly anticipated albums will be released to the public. Kanye West’s 6th solo album “Yeezus” and J.Cole’s second “Born Sinner”. Both talented yet different artist. West and Cole, contain an amazing amount of lyrical ability but their sound and metaphoric delivery are within two different calibers. This then presents the question and worldwide debate of, “Who will sell the most?” Will it be veteran Kanye West or Rookie J.Cole?
This type of musical battle does not startle West, in 2007 he and rapper 50 Cent released albums on the same day, West selling 957,000 copies of album Graduation while 50 sold 691,000. This is a friendly competition, Cole said, after deciding to move up the release date, “It felt like fate.” Cole has released singles “Power Trip ft. Miguel” and “Crooked Smile ft. TLC”. With “Power Trip” hitting No. 11 on the Hot 100, DJ Drama said, “J.Cole is very smart for what he did,” during a recent radio show on Shade 45. Meanwhile, Kanye West decided to release his album with no single prior to the announcement. Questioning if that was a smart move or not, some argue that West needs no single to outsell Born Sinner.
But a change has occurred, both albums have been leaked. Critics have gone wild and this may hinder an accurate count of albums sells due to the fact that it is online for free.
Since the leaks, Billboard Music did their “track-by-track” review on both albums. Billboard critics said for Yeezus, “those looking for vintage should sounds or even full-on raps from start to finish will be thrown several curves.” Billboard also said, “it seems inevitable that Kanye will win the sales showdown come June 18, but the excellence of “Born Sinner” makes the once unlikely-seeming possibility that Cole could win the more important contest —- over listeners’ ears.” ABC News critics said Yeezus, “lacks deep storytelling from the 36-year-old,” and “he may lose some fans because his new sound isn’t easy to digest, but he’ll likely gain others,too”
I’ll tell you my personal views tomorrow… .
DJ Drama ( Audio )
Shanice Moneé Live || Aggie Fest 2013
First Release May2013
