The Playlist: Jay-Z / Toro Y Moi / Disclosure / Kanye West

Jay-Z - December 4th (Sourface Remix)



Toro Y Moi - So Many Details (Remix Feat. Hodgy Beats)



Disclosure - Latch



Kanye West - White Dress

Obama 2012: Four More Years

Sometimes words just aren't enough.

G.O.O.D. Music “Cruel Summer” Commercial.

For what seems like an age, the G.O.O.D album is almost here. There's a huge amount of anticipation for Cruel Summer to be avaliable but personally I've got mixed reactions on what I've heard. Nevertheless, it will definitely be worth a listen, and I'm liking the look of this 'commercial'.

Feature: Jay-Z & Hip-Hop

Jay-Z. Hov. Jigga Man. Shaun Carter. Whatever you call him, he's the man. Regular readers of the blog will probably know my affections for Jay-Z and my respect for him as an artist, what he has done for hip hop but more importantly, what he has done for a generation. There's so much I can't relate to about hip hop and the culture that surrounds it, I'm a white guy who grew up in a middle class tiny village in the New Forest. Hardly hip hop. But the beats of hip hop have always appealed to me and although my music taste was always domiantd my guitar music, rock, indie, metal, hip-hop is slowly but surely starting to take over my iTunes.

One of the main reasons that I listen to so much these days is because I have developed a much greater understanding of the genre as a whole. So many people, especially my white friends I'm afraid to say, dismiss the entire genre. They don't even give it a chance and that pains me. Sure some is terrible, but name me a genre of music when there isn't someone dragging down the geniuses. Hip-hop contains such great cultural references, rytheming skills, clever and intelligent word-play and above all, great story telling. Jay-Z is kind of this. End of.

Sure maybe he can't make beats like Kanye, sound like Drake, or flow like J Cole, but without Jay-Z, these guys wouldn't exist. A culture wouldn't exist. It's difficult to over-exaggerate the effect that one man has had. He trail-blazed the way for kids who grew up in rough estates, who had nothing but drugs as their only option. He showed them a way out. It doesn't have to be hip-hop but he made a generation wake up and realise that their life doesn't have to be over before it's begun. Reading his book Decoded made me realise this. It is not a book about his life, but more about himself as part of a generation. It also taught me how important hip-hop is to tell a story, and how clever it can be in doing so. There's a lot of songs about money, hoes and rims, some of these really are part of a story - but some are just terrible. It's not a life that I can relate to, and I'm thankful to that, but it's something that I can appreciate.

The key to his success is that he has managed to stay relevant, honest and smarrt which is some feat for a man over the age of 40, has a business empire and married to of the most beautiful women ever. Jay-Z is timeless, a modern day icon.

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

Kanye West: Watch The Throne: Behind The Scenes.

It is no secret that Kanye West is not short of self-confidence and self-belief. Some brand him as arrogant and big-headed. Myself? I like to refer to him as a genius. Yeah sure he comes across as a bit of an asshole sometimes, but is that a bad thing? So many artists are forced into moulds these days - here to please and sell, but Kanye has refused this at every stage of his career. Everything thing he puts out, his music, the clothes he wears, the words he speaks, is exactly the way he wants it. The man works hard, he doesn't work towards perfection, perfection is just a step along the way. He is provocative, some people love him, some hate him, but isn't that how all the greats are seen? Think about Ali, he boasted, he provoked, screamed and shouted in your face, yet he is considered one of the greatest men to have ever lived. Now maybe it's a bit premature to compare Kanye to Ali, but he's definitely on his way. Definitely.

Kanye West has now started to release behind the scenes videos of the Watch The Throne tour with Jay Z, an exciting and rare chance to see two greats at work. I speak of icons and West's ascendency in that direction, but surely Jay Z has just about cemented himself there? He may not be considered the greatest rapper now, but he is so much bigger than his flow and lyrics, as tight as they may be. Jay Z almost single-handedly brought hip hop and it's culture to the front of society and pop-culture. He was a voice for millions of black youths who were caught in the circles of poverty and drugs, he stepped away from that world and made an empire. An empire that is not just measured in millions of dollars, but in influence and penetration through-out the world. Hip hop and the rest of the world has to acknowledge and appreciate that.

Music Monday 67: Bumper Edition.

Jay Electronica - Act 2 Blink 182 - After Midnight Florence And The Machine - Shake It Out J Cole (ft Jay-Z) - Mr Nice Watch Lana Del Ray - Blue Jeans Futures - Say My Name Bon Iver - Beth/Rest (Piano version)

Icons At Work: Jay-Z & Kanye West.

I have long held the belief that the term 'icon' is quickly becoming retired. For me, at icon has to have an awe about them, a certainly Godliness that can't be touched. It's easy to reel off icons that had this, Marilyn Monroe, Steve McQueen, Michael Jackson, I could go on. Those that become most iconic are often that those pass before their time, see the above list.

So with today's media intrusion, celebrity-obsessed culture and the likes of Twitter, are there still these untouchable icons?

It's difficult to think of any icons that are still with us. Nelson Mandela? Prince? David Beckham even? I think icons will now be made in their retirement, looking back on a life or body or work is the only real will to get an uninhibited view of the person. When the hype has died, the marketing teams have moved on, and you see what they did, how they changed the world, is when you can truly say you witnessed an icon.

Now to contradict myself and perhaps speak prematurely, I think that Jay Z and Kanye West will become icons, if they are not already. They have the talent, they have that certain Godly status about them (Kanye certainly believes he does anyways) and they have changed society and their industry, Jay-Z definitely so. So this collection of photos gives a rare insight into their world, into their process of creating their collaboration album, Watch The Throne. Who knows, it could be one of the most iconic albums of our time.

Kanye & GOOD Music Does SXSW.

There are some gigs in life that you would pay serious money to get into. Whether it's your favourite artist, the sheer quality of the live performance they offer, or even just the atmosphere. The best gigs combine all of this, my most recent was certainly Coldplay was Glastonbury.

When Kanye West and his GOOD Music family took to the stage at SXSQ festival, it was certainly something that was not to be missed. However if you are on the wrong side of the Atlantic, it had to be missed. But never fear, the good people at Vevo (yes, Vevo, the folks that everyone curses at for taking over Youtube) supported the event and have put together was quality iPhone-free highlights for all to enjoy.

From a pretty epic beginning, single handedly managed by Mos Def, through to the incredible Dark Fantasy with Bon Iver, to the still bizarre H.A.M with Jay Z, then to some wonderful sounds by John Legend with some solo performances by Big Sean, Kid Cudi and Pusha T, indulge yourself in an evening of GOOD Music.















G.O.O.D Music is Good Music.