If “Look At Me Now” were by any other A-Level R&B artist (Usher, John Legend, etc), it’s totally a No. 1 record. But it’s not it’s by Chris Brown. How is Chris Breezy getting these beats? How much dough is being thrown around to continue to support him as a relevant artist? If I’m Diplo, why am I giving this beat to Chris Brown?. Duh-Da-Duh-Da. Waaaaahhhnn.
Chris Brown – Look At Me Now (Dillon Francis Remix)Dillon Francis: (Soundcloud) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Rating: 8.2
Most the b3sci crew grew up about 20 miles from The Rubber City (on a good day) a.k.a. Crackron (on a bad day). We go all the way back. We know people that know the Black Keys. We know people. Here The Keys take it all the way back to the Big Bang of Rock and Roll, Buddy Holly. Here, the boys put a vaguely dub shine on the Buddy classic, “Dearest”. Awesome. Look out for the Rave On: Buddy Holly tribute LP, out June 28. Paul McCartney! Lou Reed! & My Morning Jacket! are just a few of the artists that join The Keys on the LP.
The Black Keys – Dearest (Buddy Holly Cover)The Black Keys: (Official) (Myspace)
Rating: 9.0
THANK YOU BASED GOD./
Salem – Till the World Ends (Britney Spears Cover)Salem: (Myspace)
Rating: 8.5
Fresh off the cable. New Bullitts. Hottest Record in the World. Lets Go.
The Bullitts – LandspeederThe Bullitts: (Twitter) (Official)
Rating: 8.1
Here goes the CDQ for “First of the Year”, and like most everything minted by the Los Angeles native, this track is nasty in all of the right ways. Banger baby, banger!
Skrillex – First of the YearSkrillex: (Official) (Free EP)
Rating: 8.6
Three of L.A.’s finest hook up on this remix to K. Lamar’s “She Needs Me” track from last year. Ill.
Kendrick Lamar – She Needs Me (Remix) (Feat. Dom Kennedy & Murs)Kendrick Lamar: (Twitter) (Myspace)
Rating: 8.1
Nesby Phips links up with one of our fav producers (Ski Beatz) and two of our fav MCs (Spitta & Stalley) for one of our fav hip hop songs in a minute. These sort of cooled out jazzy ill as fuck beats are built for guys like $$$$ and Stalley and now Nesby Phips. p.s. That clap pattern that sits on top the beat is absolutely ace!
Nesby Phips – Magic (Feat. Currensy & Stalley) (Prod. Ski Beatz)Nesby Phips: (Official) (Twitter) (Myspace)
Rating: 8.1
T-minus 28 days, 4 weeks, 1 lunar cycle to Seapony’s new LP Go With Me‘s release on Hardly Art. We can hardly wait! “Blue Star” sounds a bit like what The Raveonettes might have sounded like had they broke in 2011 instead of 2003, loud hazy overdriven guitar layers, vapor-like male v. female vocals, a pulsing slomo 1-2 rhythm. Yeah, kinda like that!
Seapony – Blue StarSeapony: (Myspace) (Bandcamp) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.0
b3sci favorite Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s first proper single comes to us via the gorgeous “Box of Stones”. A simple acoustic guitar figure provides the frame for a stunning narrative about love and possession. We are into it.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Box of Stones
Benjamin Francis Leftwich: (Pre-order) (Myspace) (Official)
Rating: 8.2
Like we could resist a smoothed out beat like this. Rick Ross is a _______ rapper but Maybach beats are always top shelf, always rich. Nice on the Hustla’ to share the wealth.
Black Cobain – 4 AM (Feat. Wale)Black Cobain: (Twitter)
Rating: 8.3
UK singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s been on the b3sci radar for a minute now. He’s been blowing up as of late all over England; including frequent rotation on Radio 1. “Lately”, co-produced by Sheeran, is included as part of his “No. 5 Collaborations” EP, which finds the tunesmith on a more electro/beats-driven tip. Not that we’re complaining, “Lately” is excellent. 1) Check it out below, 2) love it, 3) ???, 4) then buy that shit!
Ed Sheeran – Lately (Feat. Devlin)Ed Sheeran: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)
Rating: 8.1
“Witches” finds the Minnesota-based band at one of its best moments. A a slow-driving, slow-burning base of guitar and rhythm form the the underbelly of a tune that really soars on its powerful, vaguely spiritual, sometimes almost Dylanesque melody. A great song from a great band.
Low – WitchesLow: (Myspace)
Rating: 8.2
