Now I know summer's been done for a bit now. Sorry for this being a little late. But I think I've complied a great list of songs that I listened to the most and influenced me over this summer. From an unlikely pop song, to getting more into an artist I love, discovering a new group I adore and to the song that was playing when I finally met two of my best friends one Sunday night in August.
Story of the Year- "Just Close Your Eyes" from WWE The Music: A New Day, Vol. 10
You may not have heard me talk about this song much. But it's one of WWE's best right now, and for me all time to be honest. I love Christan. Also I love the style, pace and lyrics of this song. I managed to pop this on quite a bit over the summer.
"Never thought I would be here, so high in the air.
This was my unanswered prayer.
Defined by another, so much wasted time,
Out of the darkness, each breath that I take will be mine.
If you close your eyes, Your life, a naked truth revealed,
Dreams you never lived and scars never healed
(Scars never healed)
In the darkness life will take you to the other side,
And find me waiting there you'll see if you just close your eyes.
If you just close your eyes.
(If you just close your eyes)"
The Lonely Island feat Justin Timberlake- "Motherlover" from Turtleneck & Chain
Haha, I love The Lonely Island. Justin Timberlake has always been okay to me as well. Put them together for "Dick in a Box", "3 Way (The Golden Rule)" and this and you've got my sides laughing out of my body into orbit.
"[Andy Samberg:] Break it down
[Andy Samberg:] It would be my honor to be your new step-father
[Justin Timberlake:] It would be my honor to be your new step-father
[Andy Samberg:] While your in my mother make me another brother.
And while I'm in your mother I'll never use a rubber
[Justin Timberlake:] OH!
Cause every Mothers Day needs a Mothers Night
If doing it is wrong, I don't wanna be right
I'm callin on you cause I can't do it myself
To me you're like a brother, so be my mother lover
They blessed us both with the gift of life
She brought you in this world so Imma sex her right
This is the second best idea that we've ever had
The choice can be no other
Be my mother lover"
Hollywood Undead- "Everywhere I Go" from Swan Songs
We move from comedy. To comedy rap of sorts. Hollywood Undead was always a group, which well...I liked Swan Songs and I keep going back to it. The rapping is good, crazy, funny and sometimes heartfelt. But when I have to pick one HU song, it'll always be this one
"When I start drinking
My dick does all my thinking
Hoes want to be scene with me
And I like their big thick titties
D-Cups with extra filling
Take it out let me lick it quickly
Calm down it's just a hickie
I'll blame it on this whisky sipping gets me tipsy
Drink fast and enjoy your buzz
Take back streets to avoid the fuzz
I wanna take you home but your friends won't let ya'
I got a 40 in my Ford Fiesta
Buy beer
Or pay the rent
My signing bonus was quickly spent
So I'll beat my meat like I'm a fuckin' butcher
And I'll punk the pussy like I'm Ashton Kutcher!"
KiD CuDi- "Soundtrack 2 My Life" from Man on the Moon: The End of Day
We're at the part of this list with songs I'll always go back to. I've loved this album since I first laid ears on it. And over the past year this song has emerged as THE best off the album for me. Also I'd gander to say this is one of my favorite tracks of all time.
"The moon will illuminate my room and soon I'm consumed by my doom
Once upon a time nobody gave a fuck
It's all said and done and my cock's been sucked
So now I'm in the cut, alcohol in the wound
My hearts an open sore that I hope heals soon
I live in a cocoon opposite of Cancun
Where it is never sunny, the dark side of the moon
So it's more than life, I try to shed some light on a man
Not many people of this planet understand
I've got some issues that nobody can see
And all of these emotions are pouring out of me
I bring them to the light for you
It's only right
This is the soundtrack to my life, the soundtrack to my life
It's close to go and trying some coke
And a happy ending is slitting my throat
Ignorance the coke man
Ignorance is bliss
Ignorance is love, and I need that shit
If I never did shows, then I'd probably be a myth
If I cared about the blogs, then I'd probably be a jackass
Don't give a shit what people talkin' bout fam
Haters shake my hand but I keep the sanitizer on deck
Hope I really get to see 30
Wanna settle down, stop being so flirty
Most of the clean faces be the most dirty
I just need a thoroughbred, cook when I'm hungry
Ass all chunky, brain is insanity
Only things that calm me down, pussy and some Cali trees
And I get both, never truly satisfied
I am happy, that's just the saddest lie"
Childish Gambino- "Heartbeat" from Camp
I've been listening to Camp for close to a year now. But I don't think more than I have this summer. I bought my physical copy release day and never looked back. I love Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, in whatever he does. Whether it be comedy, acting or in this case rapping.
"So we're done? This the real shit?
We used to hold hands like field trips
I'm a jerk, but your dude is a real dick
I read his posts on your wall and I feel sick
He ain't cool, he ball and all that
But he just a fake nigga who blog in all caps
You couldn't wait to date
I'm going straight for your thighs like the cake you ate
I give a fuck about the niggas that you say you hate
You know that I’m the best when I’m a-ffection-ate
I'm the best that you had, face it
J and Keyshia are related, racist
I give you money, then you burn it, like you made off
She ain't a killer, but she'd fucking blow your head off
I know he wondering, "What the fuck you hiding?"
That we dated like raps about Bin Laden
Ayo, fuck this
Are we dating? Are we fucking?
Are we best friends? Are we something in between that?
I wish we never fucked, and I mean that"
Downstait- "I'm Here To Show The World"
The best WWE theme right now in my opinion and Ziggler is the third best wrestler and entertainer in the company. I got to see Ziggler live and hear this song when I went to Raw in August. Truly one of the best moments of the summer and a memory I'll always have.
"I hold your life here in my hands
Though you try hard to understand
Your little mind won't turn
Those little wheels will burn
You'll recognise just who I am
Bring it on
Do what I say "Better watch what I do"
Better heed the warning I'm here to give you
If you ever doubted me, you don't have a clue
I'm here to show the world
I'm here to show the world"
Childish Gambino- "Backpackers" from Camp
This is the other Gambino song I've grown to love. Much different than the emotional "Heartbeat", "Backpackers" shows off Gambino's rap and lyrical prowess. Plus it's beat is awesome. This album is amazing.
"Alright it's Childish baby
Mr. Talk-about-his-dick-again
Nerdy ass black kid
Yeah whatever man I'm sick of him
That well spoken token
Who ain't been heard
The only white rapper who's allowed to say the n-word
I buy a bunch of 'em and put it on my black card
Now I got some street cred
Use it 'til it's maxed out
I got a girl on my arm dude, show respect
Something crazy, an Asian, Virginia Tech
She too fine
I do dimes
If not that, I'm walking out with 2 fives
Change my ID for the cops, it's not enough yet
Black male in short shorts, I'm double suspect
Ballin' since '83
Half of 'em say gay
Maybe that's the reason I like Lady What-baby's-say
I'm a problem
I'm lame as fuck homie
But I rap like these niggas ain't got shit on me
Fuck the cool kids
Not Chuck Inglish, but people who think
That hatin on me makes them distinguished
Like, "What is this nigga doin rap is for real blacks
I hate that fucking faggot man he think that we feel that"
Or
"I wrote on rape culture my junior year at Brown
So I'm allowed
To say what all his raps are about"
You better shut your mouth
Before I fuck it
You really hate my lyrics?
Or Kid Cudi's? Nigga"
Carly Rae Jepsen- "Call Me Maybe" from Curiosity and Kiss
Carly is cute and this song is catchy as hell. Just ask...well anyone. For a solid month you could hear this song, or a joke about this song, or one of us singing the song in ANY Skype call I was a part of. At least, once you've grown to hate it's catchy-ness, you can realize it's a decent enough song.
"Your stare was holdin',
Ripped jeans, skin was showin'
Hot night, wind was blowin'
Where you think you're going, baby?
Hey, I just met you,
And this is crazy,
But here's my number,
So call me, maybe?
It's hard to look right,
At you baby,
But here's my number,
So call me, maybe?
Hey, I just met you,
And this is crazy,
But here's my number,
So call me, maybe?
And all the other boys,
Try to chase me,
But here's my number,
So call me, maybe?"
fun.- "Some Nights" from Some Nights
There's some songs and bands out there that just strike a chord with you. On every level. This is that song (and band) for me. The music, the singing, the lyrics and the message. Just all resound in me and makes me wanna listen to it like five times after I've listened to it once.
"But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know... (come on)
No. When I see stars, when I see, when I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like this one, so come on
Oh, come on. Oh, come on, OH COME ON!
Well, that is it guys, that is all - five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks at home; Sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
The other night, you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we'd both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... oh...
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... oh..."
Jay-Z & Kanye West- "Niggas In Paris" from Watch the Throne
I flew up to Chicago over the summer. For a few days. First time on a plane as well. I got to meet, hang out, and bond with two of the greatest people to enter my life over the past two years. This song was played for me and cookies were slung at me as I got into the car when I first met them as got to a brand new city. The epitome of memories happens when I hear this now.
"She said Ye can we get married at the mall?
I said look you need to crawl ‘fore you ball
Come and meet me in the bathroom stall
And show me why you deserve to have it all
Ball so hard
That shit cray (that shit cray), ain’t it Jay?
Ball so hard
What she order (what she order), fish filet
Ball so hard
Your whip so cold, this old thing
Ball so hard
Act like you’ll never be around muhfuckas like this again
Bougie girl, grab her hand
Fuck that bitch she don’t wanna dance
Excuse my French but I’m in France (I’m just sayin’)
Prince William’s ain’t do it right if you ask me
Cause I was him I would have married Kate & Ashley
This is a mixtape, not an album, but they're essentially the same thing. Usually an album is more complete. No producer intros and more cohesiveness with the tracks. Stuff like that. But it's title semantics at this point. This is the 4th of July, this is America day, this is Childish Gambino! Now if you know me you know I love Childish Gambino. From his stand-up, to Community and from Poindexter and Culdesac to Camp. I can't get enough of Mr. Donald Glover. So when I heard he was dropping a free mixtape, something he's never really done before, I knew I was gonna check it out immediately.
But as much as I love Gambino, this REALLY feels like a mixtape. I've divided the track-list up below into basically the good, the bad and the ugly. I don't think I've ever thought a Gambino song was only alright or meh till this mixtape. This saddens me a bit. When I looked at the track list, I picked out the songs featuring Bun B, RZA and Ghostface to be great tracks and they were. Also I really liked the three solo songs he did on here. Cause that's more what I'm used to. Him on the track alone tearing it up. Also two of the tracks, the ones featuring Josh Osho and Kilo Kish, were very good to my ear canals. Then we get to okay songs, with okay chorus' and verses or perhaps features who were lack luster or annoying. While these weren't bad per say, they aren't his best work. Good for a mixtape and good if you're new to listening to Gambino, but for a long time fan it came off as ehhh. There were only two songs that were duds for me as well. Couldn't get into them and the featured people just seemed non-essential and yuck to me.
That's not saying the production on this album wasn't good. Beats were crisp, some were sampled and some original. The bass hit hard and my head was bumpin' even during the not so good songs. Gambino got lazy on some part of his verses, I think, but overall he went hard with each verse. His features, aside from the two dud ones, all went hard as well. I will say that everyone featured sounded like they wanted to be apart of this mixtape. Which is certainly not a bad thing. The length wasn't too bad as well. For having 18 tracks the mixtape ran less than an hour. And all of the great tracks weren't overlong or felt sluggish.
The thing I love about good mixtapes is that once I'm done I can throw away the garbage so to speak. I tend not to do that with albums people put out. As I said before there's eighteen tracks here. To cut the fat I'm probably only going to keep the 'Great tracks' and perhaps throw in "Unnecessary" (as it was my only bubble track). I love Gambino, but this mixtape is like a lot of other peoples mixtape, good but bland. Ten tracks out of eighteen is a fantastic rate, but I expected more from this. Maybe I hyped myself up too much for this, or maybe I'm just disappointed cause I KNOW Donald Glover can do better. Either way this was really an hour of music I enjoyed and I'm glad I get an albums worth of music off of this.
Childish Gambino- Royalty: 7/10 or 3.5/5 Stars
Best Verse, From "Wonderful" feat. Josh Osho
"You can call the shots, I’m going to my aunt’s house
What’s it all about? Lookin’ like I’m Millhouse
What’s it all about? I ain’t get my bike back
I ain’t get my bike back, I know where he live at
I know what he look like, I know what I live like
Five to a bed, head to toe, that’s a good night
Five to a bed, head to toe, with the fan on
I don’t think these other niggas know what your man on
I used to have to sneak just to get my food
Free lunch made it feel like they don’t approve
Sell a car for a dollar used to be the mood
I wanna be Jabari man that nigga cool
I wanna lash out nigga keep your cool
All my friend did was draw something now he outta school
‘Cuz everything was always “Show me what you’re made of”
And everybody knew somebody who was “Later”
I didn’t need it, momma said it’s a lesson
Some people will never like you
Don’t let’em catch you stressin’
You know a code’s a code, the world can’t stop’em
Eating out rat holes and Cheerios boxes
This nigga think he hot shit, he think he good at everything
I just didn’t wanna get left out more
My little sis’ mom got shot, she in the newspaper
Prayers couldn’t save her, she died a day later
Like my cousin got the HIV
When she bust the leg open playing jump rope
Should I tell them kids what the fuck’s up?
They gone judge her and me
Man fuck them, we livin’, all is forgiven
I fucked up royally
But now that’s who we are man you gotta use the royal "we"
This is royalty, and this is all I ever wanted ‘cuz"
Great Tracks
"We Ain't Them"
"Shoulda Known"
"R.I.P." feat. Bun B
"American Royalty" feat. RZA and Hypnotic Brass Orchestra
"It May Be Glamour Life" feat Ghostface Killah
"Bronchitis"
"Wonderful" feat. Josh Osho
"Make It Go Right" feat. Kilo Kish
"Real Estate" feat. Alley Boy, Swank and Tina Fey**
Okay Tracks
"One Up" feat. Steve G. Lover
"Black Faces" from Nipsey Hussle
"Unnecessary " feat. Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul*
"Silk Pillow" feat. Beck
"Arrangement" feat. Gonage
"Won't Stop" feat. Danielle Haim from HAIM
Duds
"Toxic" feat. Danny Brown
"They Don't Like Me" feat. Chance the Ripper
*=A bubble track on the album. Not great, but nowhere near a dud
**=A bubble track on the album. Probably should be in the "Okay section" but I lost it at Tina Fey
"We Ain't Them"
"R.I.P." feat Bun B
"American Royalty" feat RZA and Hypnotic Brass Orchestra
Feeling bad and caring for people. It's that simple. Full on rant incoming. Lately I've been trying to get off of the "let's not give a shit" bandwagon and it's gotten me nowhere. Its gotten me anxietal feelings I haven't had in months over the past week. And holy God I've done nothing wrong. I cast (I beat BioShock 2 yesterday and it was AMAZING), I watch TV, I watch casts, I watch some movies, talk to friends on Skype and I play video games online with friends. Hell, Binding of Isaac and Mario Kart 7 are riots playing with friends. I love it. And that's literally all I do. I'm lazy, fat, ugly, I have no job, and I'm not going back to school till the fall. I have no girlfriend or any interest in any girls right now. My life is awful. YET SOMEHOW, when I try to be nice, hang out with people who are lonely/alone/bored, do the right thing, whatever, it's either shrugged off or I'm ignored. Well Jesus Christ I'm sick of it. TO TOP IT ALL OFF, my family that hardly ever comes around cause my uncle's wife practically hated us for years, comes by this week and tell me I'm depressed and I'm never going to amount to anything here in the US so I should move to China with them and work in a factory to "better myself." DHGfedgwedBVDShgb. I'm losing it. I'm a failure, all I do is disappoint people, all I do is ruin peoples lives and relationships, all the right things I do are wrong. AND FOR WHAT. Apart from posts like this, some emo Tweets/updates or watching wrestling and Twit spamming, I keep to myself. I hate it all, I'm sick of being nice, caring and understanding and being hated for it, scorned for it or ignored altogether. I'm done with it. Quit making me feel bad or just get out of my life. Cause God knows I don't have to balls to do anything about it.
Childish Gambino- "Fuck It All" from Culdesac
"[Hook:]
I ain't gonna be around for ever, so fuck it all
Seein' all this pussy, I'm a fuck it all
Fly around the world, eatin' good, drinkin' alcohol
You ain't nothing like me, nigga, not at all
I ain't gonna be around for ever, so fuck it all
Seein' all this pussy, I'm a fuck it all
Fly around the world, eatin' good, drinkin' alcohol
You ain't nothing like me, nigga, not at all
[Verse 1:]
Tell em what it is, I'm takin' great strides
Hood niggas, hipsters, I ain't trying to take sides
Ex-Girlfriend on my mind, she really fucked me up
Doing shots of whiskey 'till my friends are saying that's enough
I really really miss her, sometimes I wanna fuck it all
Mix some warm Guinness with 20 tablets of Tylenol
Call em while I'm drifting off, tell her that I love her so
Parents crying harder cause I didn't even leave a note
Saying that I'm selfish and I'm sorry that I left
But it hurts so much to wake up and I left you guys a check
Cause I ain't fucking happy, you don't know shit about me
I think it started when she said she happier without me
I really can't blame her cause I'm happier without me
I don't see what girls are seeing when they say their all about me
I'm scared they wanna trap me, these all hoes are all liars
I double bag my shit and never cum while I'm inside her
I used to be a sweet dude, now I'm so angry
Look at what these girls and these fake niggas made me
Cry when I'm writing, I don't really know why
I think it's cause I can't really see myself an old guy
And that scares me, I wanna be around a while
But I feel my purpose goes beyond having raised a child
Bright lights, they tend to burn out fast
So I shine bright, But I'm scared that it won't last
[Hook]
[Verse 2:]
I'm just about the pop, the industry just noticed it
People watching me, I feel like Amber Rose's tits
Friends of mine are over it, people say I changed
And I tell them that I'm glad, cause I don't wanna stay the same
Cause I used to be poor, I used to be unconfident
I used to hate these haters, now it's just the opposite
Not only have I changed, I'm becoming something better
And revenge is for the weak, so I have settled my vendettas
With all of the kids who made my early life a living hell
And I hope you're doing well and feeling better 'bout yourself
Don't know if you can tell, but change is usually for the better
I used to like these bitches but couldn't afford to get em
But now I'll take your girl, yeah player pay homage
That's why I fuck these bad mamas, Kate Gosselin
I'm trying to tell the world I'm nothing to be trifled with
Donald Glover staying hotter than some rifle spit
They only wanna fuck with you after you made your way
But when you started out you couldn't pay em to stay
But now I got em lined up in the lobby door
It makes me wonder what this rapping shits a hobby for
Oh that's right, because I'm gifted in another field, and another field, and another field
They say my public persona don't have enough appeal
I take a lesson from Kanye and give em something real
I'm getting all this attention I wanna do it right
That's why I'm performing for you like every single night
To all my fans who's saying Donald Glover about to blow
Just give me six months so you can say I told you so
