The Weeknd recently dropped a new track off of his upcoming mixtape Thursday, which is supposed to drop sometime soon, according to The Weeknd himself. The track is called “Rolling Stone” and features The Weeknd singing along to the melodic tone of an acoustic guitar. The song is not quite as dark and dreary as what’s featured on House of Balloons, but it gets a passing grade.
Click here to download “Rolling Stone”.
Want to know more about The Weeknd? Click here to read our artist spotlight.
Pharoahe Monch-W.A.R. (feat. Immortal Technique and Vernon Reid)
We Are Renegades (or W.A.R.) is the latest album released from the defiant MC, Pharoahe Monch. The album features a bunch of bangers, with Monch’s intricate and intelligent lyrics taking the front seat. You don’t see many people in today’s game with the complex lyrics and complex delivery (featuring Shakespearean like rhyme schemes that make you wonder why he didn’t become an english teacher) of Troy Jamerson. It’s refreshing listening to someone rap about resonant issues (such as the Cairo Protests and the misadventures many encounter in the less fortunate areas of the world).
The song, W.A.R., is one of my favorites on the CD. With features from underground legend Immortal Technique and number 66 on Rolling Stones all time greatest guitarists, Vernon Reid, the song gets you thinking about “limited freedom” towards certain groups of people and other ways the government is waging “a war against consciousness.” When Immortal Technique starts rapping I admit I get a little excited, after meeting him at Rock The Bells ’08 I could tell you he’s a real dude that’s not worried about pissing anybody off. Vernon Reid rips a solo towards the end of the song that will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
Listen to this song, and give the Queens MC some love, he’s been making quality music for almost 2 decades now.
Filed under michael bojda, music, SOTD
17 years ago today, Kurt Cobain allegedly committed suicide. I say allegedly because that’s what the police report says, but nobody knows for sure if girlfriend Courtney Love had anything to do with it. Cobain is remembered as one of the most iconic rock musicians in the history of alternative music. Ranked 12th by Rolling Stone on the Greatest Guitarist list, and 45th on their Greatest Singer list, he is viewed by many as the last “real rockstar.” He went out on top, claiming he lost his fire for making music and performing (“Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage”). His suicide note closed by quoting Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My,” and “It’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
Today’s song is dedicated to him, and to Nirvana, one of the greatest grunge bands in history. Cobain was the voice and the face of a generation, and should be remembered for the music and lyrics he made. I end this post with a quote from him, “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
Download the song here.
RIP Kurt Cobain
Filed under michael bojda, music, SOTD
Chi Side of Chambana 
