Drake: Take Care + HYFR

Having not released much a visual accompaniment to his much acclaimed second album Take Care, Drake went and dropped two new videos in one day, lucky us. There are Take Care featuring Rihanna, and HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right) with Lil Wayne. Both very different videos as Drake shows his versatility as he did on the album. He's as serious and contemplative as he is fun and childish. Drake has never been afraid to open up and contradict himself, showing that despite being a hip-hop superstar, he's just as screwed up as the rest of us. Both well worth a watch in their own right:

Take Care ft Rihanna



One of the most popular tracks on Take Care as Drake and Rihanna rework Jamie XX's rework of Gil-Scott Heron. The filmography is stunning in this, some incredible shots of birds, fish and a bull in between Drake and Rihanna cuddling. The colour and editing reflects the mood of the track perfectly, really good work from director Yoanne Lemoine.

HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right) ft Lil Wayne



Completely different video here perhaps a bit more 'classic hip-hop', shall we say. Party, girls and champagne etc. However like most of Drake's songs, take a more careful (yep, intended) listen and you begin to appreciate his music a lot more. And let's hope that Lil Wayne's panda balaclava doesn't catch on. Or maybe it's already caught on from Frank Ocean. Plus, take note of mini-Drake's serious, yet super cute, dancing skills at the beginning.

Drake: Suitable Style

Boy got style.

Albums Of The Year: 2011

Most of this year’s top albums lists have already been release and whilst everyone is looking towards Pitchfork for the most comprehensive and critically acclaimed list, there will be a large percentage of the music loving community eagerly anticipated Village Boy’s top list. Possibly.

Putting this list together made me realise a couple of things. 1. What an incredible year of music it has been across all genres, the fact that almost all of these albums are debut albums makes you realise that music is in a healthy state no matter what LMFAO and Pitbull try to do to it. And secondly, how much my music taste has changed, I've got TWO R&B albums in there. There's hip-hop, indie, rock, dance, acoustic, it makes my iTunes a happy place to be.

So here's my 21 favourite albums of the year. Feel free to point out ones I've missed, which order they should be in or how completely right I am...


21. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter And Melancholy Jam

Favourite track - Cash And Carry Me Home


20. Twin Atlantic - Free

Favourite track - Free


19. Everything Everything - Man Alive

Favourite track - Come Alive Diana


18. James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning

Favourite track - We Don't Eat


17. The Weeknd - House Of Balloons

Favourite track - High For This


16. Frank Ocean - Nostaligia Ultra

Favourite track - Swim Good


15. Apollo Brown - Clouds

Favourite track - Never In A Million Years


14. Wild Beasts - Smother

Favourite track - Albatross


13. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Favourite track - Reunion


12. Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Favourite track - The Fear


11. The Black Keys - El Camino

Favourite track - Gold On The Ceiling


10. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

Favourite track - All In White


9. J Cole - Cole World: Sideline Story

Favourite track - Sideline Story


8. Foo Fighters  - Wasting Light

Favourite track - Bridge Burning


7. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Favourite track - Wildfire


6. Yuck - Yuck

Favourite track - Holing Out


5. Jamie XX & Gil Scott Heron - We're New Here

Favourite track - NY Is Killing Me


4. Drake - Take Care

Favourite track - Marvin's Room



3. Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix

Favourite track - Lights Out, Words Gone



2. Jay Z and Kanye West - Watch The Throne

Favourite track - Murder To Excellence

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Favourite track - Towers

The Playlist: Yuck / Kid Cudi / SKTRKT ft Drake

Yuck - Soothe Me



Kid Cudi - To Da Top



SBTRKT Ft Drake + Little Dragon - Wildfire

Music Monday Is Dead! All Hail The Playlist!

Recently I made a conscious decision to start writing more and as Seth Godin says, the more you write, the less rubbish you get. Some might even say, the better you get. I'm hoping to get out a bit of the nonsense that rattles around in my mind and hopefully put it in some form of entertaining and even informative discourse for the readers. For a while now, writing about things that interest, intrigue and inspire me is a pursuit that I really enjoy, and the fact that it keeps me searching for and discovering these "things", whatever they may be, is just as important.

But I digress. This post is an announcement. ANNOUNCEMENT. Music Mondays is no more. Though I loved the posting up whatever had been filling my ears that week, I fear that I won't be able to keep posting every single Monday. I still felt it was important to keep the music aspect of Village Boy as music is such a huge and important part of my life, I couldn't do without it. Plus I love nothing more than getting people interested in music I love, and when people do the same for myself. So make your peace with Music Mondays and welcome The Playlist in the world. The Playlist will be featured whenever I few it is necessary to share a track with you, new or old, genre irrelevant. As the posts grown it will create a series of songs for your listening pleasure. So with that, enough for your eyes, here's something for your EARS:

Drake - Headlines


Drake ft Nicki Minaj - Make Me Proud



Nas - Nasty



The Black Keys - Lonely Boy



Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf



Jay Electronica ft Mobb Deep - Call Of Duty: MW3




Now that seems like a pretty good way to start The Playlist.

Music Monday 63: BUMPER EDITION.

A big old update this week so just a few words on these little gems.

Lucy Rose - Middle Of The Bed



I spoke in last week's post of simplicist beauty of singer songwriters. Now we have another. Lucy Rose is best buds with Bombay Bicycle Club and has often been seen on stage with them and providing backing on several tracks. Now she's off on her own. Good decision.

Feist - How Come You Never Go There



Speaking of talented female songwriters, it's the sultry sounds of Feist. After 4 long years since the incredible The Reminder, she is back.

Canterbury - More Than You Know



A massive fan of Canterbury, their debut album Thank You, is one hell of a debut. But, at last new material. Everyone may not be liking the 'new sound', but this band have got what it takes to sit up alongside Kids In Glass Houses and You Me At Six.

You Me At Six - Loverboy



Speaking of YMA6, it's their new track Loverboy. It's sometimes difficult to like a band you used to love as a teenager, when their fanbase is now screaming 14 year olds, but YMA6 have always stuck to what they do best. British pop-rock at it's best.

Tom Vek - Aroused



Yeah I know this has been out a little while now, but for some reason I've had this on repeat all week. Love the absurdity and bizarreness of the whole thing.

Lil Wayne - She Will (ft Drake)



In a week when Watch The Throne was released it's probably expected that every other rapper in the world should just be quiet and not even try to compete. But if anyone should try, it has to be Lil Wayne and Drake. I love the eery atmosphere to this track, got some trademark Drake beats in there.

Asher Roth - In The Kitchen



It's just Asher Roth doing what he does best. End.

Music Monday 61.

A bit late in the day so let's get on with it.

Dangerous! - Movers N Shakers



I felt the need for this song to be in this week's post so much, I had to scougre the internet, download it and then quickly mash together a very poor Youtube video. This song makes no excuses. It just goes for it. It's a catchy, party rock song and I absolutely love it for that. It's only 2 minutes long, but that will more than do.

Drake - Headlines



So yeah this song has pretty much taken the internet by storm, and with good reason. It's Drake back to what he does best, putting some slick words over a simple beat, and he knows how to make that formula work better than most.

Frank Ocean - Thinking About You



Frank Ocean is certainly riding on the well deserved hype wave he's found himself on since Odd Future blew up all over everyones faces. The guy can seriously write a song, and he can then seriously sing those words. I'm from an R&B fan but this boy is putting some fresh talent into the genre.

Laura Marling - Sophia



Speaking of talented people, the English singer songwriter Laura Marling is here with yet another beautiful song to gently please our ears. The modest and hardworking Marling is gradually creeping into the nations hearts and rightfully so, and songs like this are going to do her no harm.

Music Monday 52.

Ok I have to admit the noise in my ears this week has predominatly been Bon Iver's album. It's incredible. But nevertheless I've still got a few musical gems for you.

Bon Iver - Calgary



I'll try and keep this brief(ish) as I could easily fill the rest of your day with Bon Iver superlatives. There's so many outstanding tracks on his latest album, however I shall stick to the first official single as to not spoil it for those waiting for the official release. This track is a great showcase for the album, Justin Vernon has clearly learnt some new tricks over the past few years since Blook Bank, working with Kanye West, Gayngs and Volcano Choir has no doubt helped. I'll stop now, but I simpyl can't recommend it highly enough.

Drake - Dreams Money Can Buy



Remember Jai Paul from last week? Well Drake has gone and got his mitts on the beat and laid down some lyrics over the top of it. And it works, just. I've got a lot of time for Drake, having listened to a couple of interviews he really appears to be (cliche alert) 'more than just a rapper'. He has real desire to push the music he produces, wanting to work with British talents Jamie XX and Florence Welch, this track is just another example of Drizzy trying new things.

Nero ft Sub Focus - Promises



It's safe to say when you get two of the biggest names of dance/electro/dubstep together, it's going to be something special. There's SO many examples of when dubstep remixes are clearly forced and done just to try and look cool, but the talent of these two pulls it off perfectly. This is definitely a track that will be filling every sort of club from now on.

Digitalism - Forrest Gump



With an album named "I Love You Dude" and the latest song from it called "Forrest Gump", this band is clearly good at naming things (most useless skill ever). They're also pretty tidy at producing a good dance song. Written with Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, which is never a bad thing.

Music Monday 44.

A bit late in the day but seeing as we lean into the night it seems appropriate that this week's post is very dance orientated.

Kanye West - All Of The Lights Remix (featuring Lil Wayne, Drake and Big Sean)



This should be huge, Lil Wayne, Drake and Big Sean (Kanye's new tip) giving their own account over Kanye's All Of The Lights. But it's just not. It's not terrible, it just feels a bit rushed and half-arsed which is a massive shame. Still, it's worth a listen and had to be included.

SBTRKT - Look at Stars ft Sampha



The latest offering from Sbtrkt is really cool, and I think cool is the right word to describe it. It's laid-back and intriguing and comes with a cool video, I can imagine this being amazing outside at the summer festivals. Can't wait.

Nero - Guilt



Another big dance song for the summer festivals. If this track, and past musical adventures, are anything to go by, Nero will be everywhere this summer much to everyone's pleasure.

Justice - Civilization



If you've seen the new Adidas advert, they you would have heard the much anticipated comeback single from French DJ's Justice. This is not the full version by any stretch but it'll do me for now, I'm excited.

SebastiAn - Embody



Yes another dance song, but why the hell not? Another highly anticipated track this time from SebastiAn. Love the song, love the video.

Music Monday 27.

Every week I make a list of songs I hear that have the possibility of going into a Music Monday update. This morning I had to shift through quite a few to get it down to the usual three or four. Those that missed the cut include N.E.R.D, Jessie J and Black Cards, so if you've had enough of this post at any point, go check them out if you haven't already heard them.

Michael Jackson - Breaking News



This is it. It's not his best. It's quite weird. But it is some new Michael Jackson and therefore demands to have a good deal of attention paid to it. It almost feels like this post-humanous song is literally coming from beyond the grave. He sings of his obituary, how the media wouldn't leave him alone and would destroy him, all in the third person. How much input MJ had in this before his death, how much is his family/friends and how much is simply his record label wanting some more dollar, who knows. But we all miss MJ, so give it a listen.

Dom Kennedy - Locals Only



Before you appreciate this gorgeous tune and the lyrics, just take a second to appreciate the quality of filming of this video. The next three songs are all about some of the new big names in hip-hop, you may have heard of them, you may not of, but listen up. (I'm not claiming to be on the forefront of underground hip-hop by the way, I'm a white guy living in Bath. End of.) From what I know Dom Kennedy has been on the underground and the underbelly of mainstream for a while, and with these gorgeous piano loops and clever lyrics, it's clear he deserves to be up there. And surely he will be.

J Cole Ft Drake - In The Morning



Drake is already making his way into hip-hop superstardom and J Cole is not far behind, now part of Roc Nation. This song is lazy, I don't think that Drake could 'rap' any slower, but it works, the way Cudi works.

Jay Electronica - The Announcement



This week Jay Z officially announced that Jay Electronica is the latest signee on Rac Nation. Rightly or wrongly for Jay Electronica, this decision can only make him huge. His huge mixtapes, Exhibits A, B and C have drawn him a huge fan base, both in terms of fans and fellow artists, so it seems that this signing was only a matter of him. Excited to see what his produces.