February 2, 2011 –
There’s a lot of music online–more than most people have time to keep up with. That’s why you’ve got us. Every week, we’ll point you toward three excellent new downloads or videos from chart-topping stars, cult favorites and unknown geniuses.
1. The jam of the week is a novelty song, debuted on last weekend’s Saturday Night Live. Lonely Island–the people responsible for “Dick in a Box” and “I’m On a Boat,” among others–presented their new dance number, “The Creep.” And it wouldn’t be a current hip-hop track if it didn’t have a show-stealing guest verse from Nicki Minaj, would it? Extra points for the cameo appearance by John Waters. (Nicki’s also got a new video for her own “Moment 4 Life.”)
2. Mike Skinner of the Streets has been saying that Computers and Blues, which comes out next week in the U.K., is going to be the final Streets album, and that he’s retiring from rap. But it turns out he’s got a few last things to add: there’s a mixtape that’s just appeared, appropriately called Cyberspace and Reds, with a bunch of additional material featuring a whole bunch of British MCs. You can stream the whole thing, or download it song-by-song.
3. Das Racist delight in tweaking hip-hop culture from the inside, and over at The Fader, they’ve put together an hour-long mix for the L.A. party Check Yo Ponytail. Some of the stuff in it you’d figure they might be into: Cam’ron, Waka Flocka Flame, Beenie Man. On the other hand, it’s pretty unlikely that anybody has ever included a song by the legendarily inept ’60s rock group the Shaggs in a hip-hop mix before. And then there’s the “Kanye West mix” of Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” (hint: Kanye was probably not involved, but it’s hilarious).
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