Slaps Of The Week (8/5/12 - 8/11/12)

Last week was an important week for Bay Area music. On the hip-hop end of things, Thizzler presented the Bay Area Freshmen Back To School Week 2012, which was chalk full of exclusive content. So before you do anything else, make sure to watch all 9 interviews (conducted by yours truly), 3 cyphers, and download the mixtape right here. On the other end of the musical spectrum Outside Lands was this weekend as well. I didn’t get to go Friday, but I was lucky enough to make it on Saturday and Sunday. Santigold was too dope, Jack White was surprisingly good, Big Boi tore shit down, Stevie Wonder lived up to all expectations, and despite the lack of local acts on the three day bill, Metallica reaffirmed that they are probably the greatest Bay Area band of all time. This was my first year at the festival, but I’ll mos def be back every year in the future. Now I’m just waiting for Rock The Bells.... Hit the jump to catch up on the releases you may have missed from last week.

E-40 ft. Cousin Fik - Wasted (Produced by C Ballin):

When 40 Water’s Block Brochures dropped, it seemed like everyone who heard the albums immediately gravitated towards “Wasted”. The beat, courtesy of C Ballin, slaps stupid hard, 40 spit that classic drunk talk, and Fik absolutely killed his feature. As a result, hella folks were talking about it non-stop on twitter, it got some legit local radio love, and you could hear it regularly at the bars and clubs as well as at the house parties. So i’m a little surprised that E-Feezy took so long to capitalize on it’s success and drop the video. Regardless, it’s here now and director Ben Griffin did a good job of capturing the theme. Watch the whole thing because I think everyone who’s slapped this song can unfortunately relate to the final scene. 

Buy
E-40 - The Block Brochures Volumes 1,2,3

Rey Resurreccion - Back In The Day Vol. 1 (Produced by The Bangerz):

 

This was a rare light week in regards to full projects being released (If 4 free mixtapes can be considered light). In addition to Thizzler’s Bay Area Freshmen 10 Class of 2012 Mixtape hosted by DJ Ghost, DJ Ambidekstres and DJ Rah2K dropped a tape featuring popular tracks from $hmoplife #Newbay artists, ShaneDogg and SilverNBlackOAK dropped a compilation entitled Make The World Burn, and Rey Resureccion dropped a brand new tape presented by Breezy Excursion and produced by The Bangerz. Now every once in a while I read some BS online or I hear that Thizzler has no love for San Jo, or the rest of the South Bay for that matter. Which in all honestly couldn’t be further from the truth. If we’re missing out on some great artists let us know in the comments section, but for now I’ll take this time to say that Rey Resurreccion is one of my personal favorites repping the 408 (or soon to be 669?). He’s a technically strong MC, who’s got a lot to say, and has a sound that pays homage to hip-hop’s history without losing sight of it’s future. He’s already put in a lot of work this year and dropped a couple of projects, but this week he let loose an ill EP to coincide with a new summer line of clothing from Breezy Excursion. It’s only 5 songs, so if you haven’t heard much from him yet, this is a great way to introduce yourself.

Download
Rey Resurreccion - Back In The Day Vol. 1  

Traxamillion ft. Clyde Carson and Ya Boy - Boy:

While we’re talking about the South Bay, this week Traxamillion also dropped the first video from his comeback album, My Radio.  As we’ve all come to expect from Trax, the beat is a certified knock that should earn the song some burn in the clubs. The lineup is dope as well, and it’s good to see Clyde Carson getting back into the lime light, but without question the video, directed by Suj, is the most impressive thing about this track.  It’s artful, aggressive, stimulating, clean, literal and abstract all at once. Even if you’re not a fan of club music, this is worth clicking on just for the visuals alone. 

Download
Traxamillion ft. Clyde Carson and Ya Boy - Boy

Priceless Da Roc ft. LoveRance - Go To Work:

2 weeks ago, I got to hang out with LoveRance for the first time at the inaugural Thizzler Bay Area Freshmen studio session (make sure to watch the 2nd one live on Ustream this Wednesday at 7!). He was the first artist to arrive, and after hours of talking about everything ranging from old school wrestling (Hulk Hogan impersonations and all), to touring, industry politicking, and women, it became clear to me why he’s done so well for himself thus far, and why people want to work with him. In addition to making music that makes the ladies lose their panties, he’s one of the more genuine, engaging and easy to get along with MC’s out there. Anyways, back to songs that’ll encourage girls to get nekkid, this week Rancey linked up with Priceless for a new twerk anthem. Musically, I think y’all already know what to expect, but visually, this is how artists should do videos for songs about women. There’s a lot to look at, and DJ Upgrade roasting girls with zero batting ability was pretty funny too.  

Download
Priceless Da Roc ft. LoveRance - Go To Work 

Nate ft. Fego - Them Days (Produced by KidRatedR):

Nationally, there’s a hip-hop revival going on. A revival of music that actually speaks on the realities that the majority of people deal with, as opposed to the lavish existence of the 1%, or the heartless lives of career criminals. Locally, there are a handful of artists taking part in this movement to shift the content of hip-hop’s lyrics to paint a picture that more closely resembles life for the regular man or women, and San Francisco’s Nate is most definitely one of those MC’s. On the first single from his upcoming album, Common Folk (dropping for free on Wednesday here on Thizzler), the Tim Lincecum doppelgänger spits about those days where it seems like everything goes wrong, and how despite the reassuring words we regularly get from our loved ones that lead us to believe that things will get better, life’s difficulties keep piling up. In addition to Nate flexing his story telling ability, and unique rhyme schemes, the beat by KidRatedR (who produced the entirety of Common Folk) perfectly blends the eeriness of the sample with the exuberance of the organs, ethereal voices and congas, while Fego delivers what might be one of the most focused and polished verses of his career.