Embrace the Flux

Jay-Z and Kanye West: Watch the Throne

// August 13th, 2011 // No Comments » // Music

There’s something familiar about the latest co-album, “Watch the Throne,” by Kanye West and Jay-Z. It’s as though I’ve already heard this style of rap, this tone of voice, before; but never arranged in that sort of way. The first song off it comes out the gate running, though not bucking. It’s the combination of a heady bass riff with a trumpet-like synth which makes it original. Both retro and crisp, the song’s movement is like something you would hear in a movie – a car driving off into a sunset.

To be sure, most of those moments of ingenuity suspended over the album are captured in the lyrics of “No Church in the Wild.” Like a crystal shining under moonlight the song exhibits a kind of sympathy, a vibrant display, at first; its mechanization notwithstanding. And yet the rapper returns with a bleak reminder, a provocative blending of nostalgia with irony, that where desire rules, God is irrelevant; and the sympathy quickly flutters away. Hence, there is no church in the wild.

What’s a mob to a king?
What’s a king to a God?
What’s a God to a non-believer
Who don’t believe in anything?

Certainly the notion of being in the wild could relate to the way human beings are thought to desire. But can it explain the force of a desire of the non-believer? The answer becomes clear, I think, should we take that force to vary with the rungs of a ladder. To be a non-believer is, simply, to sit atop a ladder. Neither fighting dragons, defending Gods, nor enticing women; but protecting oneself, impiously, with an air of indifference – the anti-warrior à la Nasir Jones. Are Kanye West and Jay-Z ushering in a new style to the hip-hop scene? Check out the song “Who Gon Stop Me” and tell us what you think.

New Music on the… Racks?

// July 27th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music

The music industry is often described as “slowly dying.” Yes, Limewire and programs of the like harness its exploitable digital aspect. We, however, feel “slowly adapting” is a more suitable label. And this adapting has recently discovered its focal point on the World Wide Web. Consider the following
four artists: Drake, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, and Wale. Originally, these musicians found solace on the Internet. Now they have huge followings everywhere. They feature each other within their songs and two of the four (Kid Cudi and Big Sean) belong to the same record label: G.O.O.D. Music. A pretty innovative bunch, there’s no doubt about that.

Aubrey ”Drake” Graham is 22 years old. He recently signed with Young Money and Universal Distributing. He’s worked with Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, and Jamie Foxx—just to name a few. Along with the others, Drake has countless mouth-dropping hits. Despite these facts, none of the mentioned artists have found it essential to quickly release an album. A common tribulation for the more “seasoned” entertainers, these musicians have proven that success in the music world is no longer album-dependent.

The industry is indeed becoming more net-based. Drake, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, and Wale are testament to that. In the years to come this sleepless world will only do more for similar new talent. Keep an eye out for Wiz Khalifa and Mike Posner. With their unique sound and style, these two might be the next young guns to hit the scene. Music is a universal language. Let’s embrace it wherever it may come from.

Kid Cudi’s first album will hit the racks late in August; Wale is due to follow sometime in November. We’ll keep you updated.