I shared this about a year ago, maybe longer…but it’s worth a second share.

Solange mini music video for “Locked In Closets”

this bass = hell yeah

these colors = so pretty

Memories Back Then ft. T.I., B.o.B, Kendrick Lamar (by TIVEVO)

The interesting thing about this video (besides the skill of the artists and the different approaches they take to rhyme scheme and flow) is how two of the archetypical women of rap stories are told in a manner that seems counterproductive to what the men actually proclaim to want.

The stories of the first two are of the quintessential “ride or die chick”. She gives and gives up everything about herself to be there for him, to be whoever or whatever he wants. She steals for him, provides him with shoes, drugs, sneakers, money… whatever it is a dude of his stature would need to be considered enviable. She comes down to his level in whatever way she needs in order to meet him on his terms and make him comfortable with her. She travels with him. She’s there whenever he needs or wants her and quietly disappears whenever he doesn’t.

TIP tells the story of basically using her and never really caring for… not necessarily treating her poorly, but she’s married to someone else in the end of it and he’s talking about her like she was a sad case.  BoB tells us he cheated on her and  without using protection nonetheless!

And then we have Kendrick… he entertains us with a different archetype - what we’ve come to refer to as the golddigger. She’s the woman who won’t give you a chance unless you have money, cars, influence - the same things the ride or die chicks were helping them attain in the previous two verses.  She’s always portrayed as cold-hearted and referred to as a ‘ho’ (here is no different)…and often she’s written to come back and want the dude she turned down later on (typical hs “look at me now” type of pathetic i need to see you do poorly or at least be pining over me so i can feel vindicated foolery).  Again, here it is no different. But what i want to point out here is how Kendrick comes back to greet her at the end of the verse in the same way he introduces her (which i love by the way) just to poke fun at the circumstances in her life after rejecting him (she has three kids, a baby daddy, and her car note is late) while also rapping about his success affords him options that allow him to not want her anymore.

Does he not see the irony in this? He’s basically saying “my money gives me access to a higher caliber of woman” when the verse is about how she was a poor choice of a woman because she rejected him for not having money. He wanted a ride or die chick, but couldn’t find one. Now he’s looking for what will most likely be what they call a golddigger. So… in essence… it’s perfectly fine to be a golddigger as long as the guy  you end up with is a success and you two stay together.

What i take from the video is what i was taught a long time ago:

1) Don’t be a ride or die chick for some dude. they get left or wronged in the end anyway or they do some stupid, unlawful thing or they give up too much of themselves.

2) Golddigging is some crap broke dudes and assholes made up.

Jake&Papa - FREEDOM(Official Video) (by jakeandpapa)

long been a favorite song of mine. they released the video for it today

All Time Low “Somewhere In Neverland”

The studio version’s track doesn’t match the tone of the song to me. The way it drops for the verse here isn’t present in that version…so I posted this as it’s the best representation of the song to me.

Watch the entire set list for this here

wayblackwhen:

i don’t think anyone understands how great this video was

i didn’t even know this existed.

kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

the whole video looks like that backdrop at hood proms.

frankocean:

summer 2012 

Lost

J. Cole feat Miguel “Power Trip”

viewing discretion advised

Carrie Underwood - Two Black Cadillacs (by carrieunderwoodVEVO)

looks like i should be paying more attention to Carrie. s/o to crissle for the introduction to this song,

femalerappers:

Eve ft. Gabe Saporta - Make It Out This Town

eve always makes those encouraging songs sound good.

Chris Brown - Fine China (by ChrisBrownVEVO)

he went full on Michael Jackson and is doing it better than JT.

and you know how much i love dance. there’s some good sticking in this.

brokensilence137:

Delta Rae - Chain on Love

A man fell in love with a man
And it seemed it was something good they’d found
But the Mormons over in California they say that it’s just sin raining down
‘Cause love doesn’t know that it’s bound

A girl went and fell for a girl
And somewhere in the night where they lay curled up
There’s a threat to our family set, they’re termites boring holes in the wood
‘Cause love doesn’t know when it’s no good.

And I said someone put a chain on love
‘Cause right now there’s just far too much of it
And Jesus taught it, but now we’ve caught it and we won’t let it run wild again
‘Cause Love doesn’t know when it’s a sin

A white found her soul in a black
But can’t they see how that is an attack
‘Cause pretty colors can’t love each other, they’re crossing all our favorite lines
‘Cause love doesn’t know that it’s not blind

And I said someone put a chain on love
‘Cause right now there’s just far too much of it
And the former meek they won’t turn their cheek they’re aiming at the next to come along
‘Cause Love doesn’t know when it’s wrong

And I said someone put a chain on love
‘Cause right now there’s just far too much of it
And Jesus taught it, but now we’ve caught it and we won’t let it run wild again
‘Cause Love doesn’t know when it’s a sin

ZZ Ward - Charlie Ain’t Home ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad (by ZZWardVEVO)

Besides the song itself being awesome, this is wonderful for two other key reasons

1. she said this is based on / inspired by Etta James’ “Waiting for Charlie”. (When I get in, I shall concatenate these songs).
   
   
2. Ali Shaheed Muhammad is one of the members of A Tribe Called Quest.
   
   
3. Did you not hear those progressions?

afro-art-chick:

Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man [Official Video]

FINALLY Bruno! I was looking for this.

viberatings:

Big K.R.I.T - Rich Dad Poor Dad

The talented Big K.R.I.T brings us a powerful track, ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’. On the track Big K.R.I.T tells us about his father, who he obviously admires, and the lessons that he taught him as he was growing up. Big K.R.I.T has a talent for speaking on real topics, delivering it in a clear and considered style. The Vent by KRIT is still one of my favourite tracks.  

The beat is equally powerful, with a hard-hitting resonating drum beat, a simple piano riff, with strings coming in around the chorus. It has been released on Pitchfork TV with a simple video of KRIT as a teenager, with scenes that depict the lyrics. I feel like the title and chorus ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ reflects that although his father was not rich as far as money, he was rich in his soul and parenthood.