The Weeknd at The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, performing “High For This” off of House of Balloons
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]
The Weeknd at The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, performing “Rolling Stone” off of Thursday
Moonbahton version!!
Childish Gambino - We Ain't Them (prod. Childish Gambino & Ludwig)
Although there’s plenty of Childish tracks that can be viewed as “confessionals” that aim to identify his struggles, this is probably the realest track he’s ever released. There’s no over the top punchlines, no whining or singing, nothing you could attribute to a typical Childish Gambino track. It’s just three minutes of pure rapping, which really helps show that he’s not just a gimmick hoping to hang around for a little while longer.
To get full context of what this song really means though, you’ll have to see the Twitter rant that proceeded it:
Dear twitter people,
I don’t like talking…stand up’s different. More like I don’t like explaining. I never feel like I’m saying what I wanna say or how I feel. I’m sure even parts of this will be quoted and taken out of context and people will be mad or talk shit but won’t read the whole thing cause, honestly, we’re all busy. I get it tho.
I think a lot people think I’m just doing shit to do shit. In a way, that’s true. But I like making things. I wanna do things well.
I’m learning music theory, and taking lessons. Learning languages so I can write in other languages. I love making stuff. I really do.
My boy Kendrick gives me props which is a really cool thing to do. Doesn’t need to do that at all, but he does cause he’s a good person. He shouted me out at Coachella for making the beat for “Look out for Detox” and when I rapped over the beat at Coachella to bring him out, I saw people write “Childish, rips off Kendrick song”.
Not in comment sections where people say shit all the time, like in actual articles. Like journalists. Writers. It was weird.
I was in the studio with “B” and he was like “all the stuff on the internet about music, comedy, art, etc. is like parents watching children play on a playground and being like ‘look at Susie sliding on that slide…what an idiot’”
I can’t sit down and talk to everyone about my beliefs, views, and intentions. I honestly would if I could.
Also see a lot of white peeps coming to the “defense” of black peeps because they think I don’t like black people or myself, I guess? I really don’t get that. I don’t like that.
I’ve also seen people act like they know me. Talk about how I grew up and my shit is perfect. And it’s true. I’m lucky. My parents were always there and were supportive for the shit I wanted to do. It’s dope. but I’m from Decatur GA. Like, “The DEC”. In the projects. Moved to Stone Mountain later. My first recital was in South Dekalb Mall.
I lived on my grandma’s couch in the Bronx trying to pay her back for college. Me, my father, my mother, my two sisters, and (at the time) 3 brothers split one bedroom for a while. It feels like some sorta weird white overcompensation. Like when hipsters are like “Guess what…I hate Obama! That’s how unique I am”.
Like that Trayvon Martin line in EYV. I saw some white peeps get upset. Which was a little funny to me cause it felt like no one cared about Oscar Grant or Kenneth Chamberlain or any of the other black kids shot in ATL or anywhere else when that shit happened. I’m the one getting texts from my mom every time that shit happens. And that shit happens a lot.
Also, it wasn’t a joke. It was worldplay to highlight something that I thought was unfair. But, if it was a joke, I get to do that. Cause that could’ve been me. I’m a black dude. I’ve had bullets whiz by me cause I look like me.
I get to deal with it the way I wanna deal. Cause it’s my deal.
People will hate me/ my shit, but post my shit cause they want the web hits, cuz fans follow it. And I’m really lucky to have fans like that, Mattafact, I wanna say thank you to fans. You guys are really the reason I’m even here or able to do this stuff.
I’m not bullshitting around. I don’t think I’m the best. I don’t think being the best comes from having a lot of money or saying “I’m the best” all the time.
But I’m also not looking to be “some dude”. I don’t do anything hoping to end it with being “some dude”. I don’t think anyone person on earth should strive to be “just some dude”.
Childish Gambino started as an inside joke that grew way faster than I ever thought it could.
When people come up to me and are like “this got me through chemo” or “I came out to my parents” off of Childish, I almost feel guilty.
Shit started as a joke, fun between writing with family and friends.
But I kinda don’t have that scapegoat anymore…and I’m good with that. Word.
Here’s a start: http://www.iamdonald.com
Sourced From: http://www.soulculture.co.uk/music-blog/newmusic/childish-gambino-gets-a-few-things-off-his-chest-on-twitter-and-drops-untitled-new-music/#ixzz1v5Xfr0Zd
(Source: iamdonald)
# May 15, 2012 / 8:42PM
On the dream collaboration front…. http://www.soulculture.co.uk/blogs/j-cole-confirms-joint-album-with-kendrick-lamar-music-news/#axzz1uzMG7xZg. Here’s a preview.
# May 15, 2012 / 1:03AM
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]
The Weeknd at The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, performing “House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls” off of House of Balloons
Belated Set Review: The Weeknd at The Fonda Theatre
Last Sunday, I had the privilege of seeing The Weeknd at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. If you’ve followed this blog at all or if you’ve spoken with me for more than about 12 minutes, you know that my obsession with The Weeknd borders on psychotic. So to say I was excited would be an understatement.
Tickets to this show, and most of the others on Abel’s first tour, sold out in a matter of minutes. Over the past year, the Toronto native has developed a devoted cult following thanks to three acclaimed mixtapes and a little help from our boy Drizzy. The dedication of his fans was evident at The Fonda; every audience member, from swooning 18-year-old girls to guys with neck tattoos, seemed to be singing every lyric.
Even a Weeknd neophyte, however, would have appreciated the show. Abel was accompanied by a bassist, a guitarist, and a drummer, who perfectly recreated songs that were made (I think, at least in many cases) without any live instruments whatsoever. Some people (including me, I’ll admit) were worried about The Weeknd’s ability to craft an energetic live show out of a sound that is so ethereal, but he will definitely quell those doubts on this tour.
Abel alternated seductive crooning with jumping around like a lunatic on the biggest bass drops, and had the crowd going nuts the whole time. The highest-energy song was his opener, “High For This.” The set was short, arguably too short (less than an hour), but The Weeknd managed to work in the best songs from all three mixtapes, and even his opening verse from Drake’s “Crew Love.” Unfortunately he only did a snippet from the M.J. cover “D.D.,” but no one went home feeling jipped. “House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls” was a highlight for me, as was the vocally-impressive “Rolling Stone.”
I’ll throw up some videos in separate posts so we can all live/relive the magic.
# May 14, 2012 / 1:43AM
Hip hop rhetoric reappropriated to some Swedish dream pop. This has been one of my favorites for a while, thought I’d throw it up.
