Talib Kweli jumped on the Novel wagon super quick. And I'm crazy disappointed this man hasn't blown up in the public conscious since releasing stuff all the way back in 2002. Just goes to show you that life ain't fair ... cuz this man has more talent and vocal ability than Omarion, Mario, Mario Winans, Marques Houston, Jeremih, Lloyd, and Day 26 rolled into one nasally pop&blues act. But, regardless, I just really like this song. And it's produced by Dilla back when he was still around to hear the final product.
Talib Kweli - Stand to the Side (feat. Novel & Vinia Mojica)
... but do take my word for it.
Showing posts with label Novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Novel. Show all posts
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Kwelity
Thursday, August 13, 2009
And Another One
Now me seeing the title on this first one while I was skimming through my music just blew my mind.
Ali & Gipp - No God but You (feat. Novel)
Rakim - Holy are You
I was freaking out so much when the Rakim single just dropped a little while back that this Ali & Gipp track from a few years back was completely obliterated from my memory. Now neither the ATLien or St. Louisite are dropping Ra schemes, but their track holds up crazy nice. While a bunch of tracks on their Kinfolk album were dedicated to busting down women and/or the paint on their whips, this one switches it up crazy nice and actually speaks on something with the eloquence demanded by this David Axelrod sample. I'm impressed and can't believe I saw no mention of this track when the new Rakim song popped off everywhere. Oh, and I have absolutely no confirmation that it's Novel on the hook, but it darn well sounds like him and mentally that adds a whole other dimension to the song for me. So I'm sticking with it.
... but do take my word for it.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Slaughtered
Just got through listening to the entire new Slaughterhouse tape and I gotta say ... I am not disappointed. The stuff that I've been reading has people complaining that they didn't come crazy hardbody for 15 straight tracks but ... if they did the exact same emotion every track then they'd be complaining the tape was redundant. I pretty much feel the entire album in its whole. It's hot. Trust me.
"Rain Drops" featuring Novel is an instant classic in my book. Just saying. Again. But I don't want to post any of the actual album cuts, so I put together an impromptu EP (read: copied into a random folder) of all the Slaughterhouse jams that were released prior to the real thing in random projects or just loose non-LP singles. So here ya go! You're welcome. Unless you're an avid hip hop head already. Cuz then you'd definitely already have each of these, easily. And as a side note: how sad is it to be Nino Bless in this equation? He was literally on the very song called "Slaughterhouse", with the first incarnation of the collective group, except at that point it was just a random super-collaboration track that read as featuring Joe Budden, Nino Bless, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, & Royce da 5'9". But then the other four went and had to build a supergroup without him? Man. That would suck. Anyone else looking out for the new Nino Bless record now? Hmm ...
Slaughterhouse -
1. Warriors
2. Slaughterhouse (feat. Nino Bless)
3. Onslaught
4. Flight Club
5. Wack MCs
6. Woodstock Hood Hop (feat. M.O.P.)
7. Money On the Floor (by Corte)
8. Move On (Slaughterhouse Remix)
Rockstar Posner
Well ish. I did it again.
Mike Posner -
Just mentioned him while bigging up Novel and realized I've never posted anything from him. If you downloaded the Wale Feature tape then you caught him anyways and prolly remember his voice. The first track I heard from him was his remake of Soulja Boy's stanky "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" which I really, really liked. But that's to be expected cuz I'm a definite sucker for singers with raspy voices. Macy Gray, anyone? Matter of fact ... Mike kinda sounds just like when my friend Steven does his Macy impression. Hmm. I'mma have to look into that.
So I then retroactively downloaded his recent mixtape that'd been floating around and absolutely loved it. The song that knocked me off my rocker was "Cooler Than Me" with his associate from G.O.O.D. Music, Big Sean. Darn near a perfect song in my book from the crazy catchy production, beautifully written hook, and overall delivery and connectivity through the lyrics. You can count on that being on my "Best Of 2009" list for sure. It's got that kinda staying power from the first spin you give it. And if the tracklisting is to be believed, Poser produced all but one track on the whole thing, so dude's multi-talented beyond his eerily distinctive voice and impressive songwriting. Whenever an R&B singer can distinguish himself from the rest of the industry pack of Mario/Marques Houston/Omarion/Usher clones, then they're definitely someone took look out for. Don't be late on recognizing this man.
Bonus Singles -
A Novel Mixtape (or Two)
Swear, I always feel like I gotta stamp "LATE" on my forehead when I post certain people's mixtapes. I've been having them on rotation in my iTunes and mentally marked as essential favorites, but I forget to speak out on them. The latest of these instances is the dude Novel. I was just bumping the fire newly leaked (which I will buy!!!) Slaughterhouse album and my favorite song happens to be a auditory sample of perfection called "Rain Drops" which features a monster chorus from ... you guessed it. I'd put Novel right up there with Mike Posner as my favorite newer R&B voices out there. You can pick either's vocal chords out from a mile away. And just because he's been putting in work, here's plenty of Novel fodder if this is your introduction to him.
Novel -
I Am (Future Black President) EP [iTunes link]
Just because he's so smooth and how he slides into crazy nice falsetto runs he brings up comparisons to Dwele and a tiny bit of D'Angelo, but the man finds just as perfect a home on more up tempo tracks and breaks free entirely because of his way better than par mic skills. I guess it's kinda that Trey Songz lane, too, except Novel can for real, for real rap. Or Drake if Drake could really sing. No knock on Trey or Drake, but Novel kills both of them. Badly. The 808s retake is a great nod to a couple Kanye works as well as other select popular tracks he goes over, while creating a much heavier atmosphere on each and every one. Probably my favorite track is his epic remix of "Amazing". It's simply ... well, you guess. Suspended Animation is unequivocally an album quality collection that fully enthralls you in everything Novel is going for as a fully recognized artist. His remixes of KiD CuDi's "Sky Might Fall" and Gary Jules' "Mad World" especially are beautiful renditions that fully stick with you in every sense. If you enjoy it enough, which you will, then cop the less-than-5-dollars EP. Come on ... you can do it. I promise that missing one McDonald's combo ain't gonna hurt you.
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