Jeremih - Love Hangover

Jeremih, despite previous retail releases, really made
a critical splash with his previous mixtape
Late Nights With Jeremih, hosted by DJ Drama.
On it, Jeremih displayed savvy pop instincts while
choosing beats that were a bit more left-field
than some of his other contemporaries.
A quality addition to the ever-growing pool
of solid R&B men. Plus the cosign from
Mr. Gangsta Grillz did not hurt.

Now we get to catch up with the Chicago crooner
as he preps the release of his next proper release
subtly titled 'Thumpy Johnson' via Def Jam.

Over a bed of
woozy synths that sound like warped guitars at
points in the song, he pulls off the difficult task
of making a hangover sound....dreamy.

The Dream - IV Play

The Dream wears his R.Kelly influence loud and proud on this one. That is
R. Kelly, before he became your favorite thugged out nursery rhyme spewing
perv uncle. More like old school something for the jeeps R&B R.Kelly.
Well it's about time someone gave us some shit that sounds like this.

This thing reeks of the 90s. The bassline is reminiscent of the West Coast
G-Funk Dr. Dre and tha Dogg Pound popularized. When the bridge soars just
before the hook, you're half expecting Dru Hill to pop out and
sing back up for him.

Another genius element of the song is its structure. After the verse, the
bridge soars building up the tension and anticipation, layering his voice
on itself till a drum fill cuts through it and it falls back into the calm and
composure of the chorus.
A great inversion of the traditional expectations of song structure.

When the guitar solo rears its head (in a nod to Prince),
it's time you started reaching for that cigarette.

While the Dream has no time for foreplay, you might want to make
time for his upcoming album 'IV Play' (this being the second single)
out May 28th via Def Jam.

Frank Ocean - Pyramids

Granted I was slow to catch up to Nostalgia Ultra but once I did I was hooked. Frank
Ocean quickly became my favorite Odd Future member.

As he gears up for his sophomore release Channel Orange out July 17th on Def Jam,
he was kind enough to drop this single. 'Pyramids' is by far one of the most epic
R& B singles (and songs) that I've heard recently. At a staggering 10 minutes,
the beat morphs from psychedelic ambience to electronic dance to spacey trap beat.

At every moment, Frank Ocean guides us with his silky wholesome croon, narrating
the loss of his Cleopatra. Of course by the time he finds her, she has become a
stripper, working at the Pyramid. Just like a Disney movie.

P.S. Even the artwork for the single is awesome and keeps the pyramid theme.