MP3: Azealia Banks - "212"

When I first saw Azealia Banks, I'd written her off as a copy of a copy, Dominique Young Unique by way of Amanda Blank and Kid Sister. Like Unique, Banks is under 21 and armed with a hyper-kinetic, sexualized flow, but the similarities end there and I've been eating crow for not taking notice sooner.

Having attended New York's lauded LaGuardia High School (notable alums: Nicki Minaj, Kelis and Paul Stanley), Banks is more than a rapper--add "slash singer, slash actress" to her résumé--proudly displaying talent and range on "212." Accents, singing and smut come together in three and a half minutes of basement pop. Most importantly, it straight slays. Sure, the track is a few months old, but it's still a pitch-perfect coming out party. Weaving all of Banks' artistic proclivities results in a spastic anthem that would make Diplo proud.

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Azealia Banks - 212

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This Weekend in Pandering Party Music...

Sure, posting songs like these betray my affinity for genres like 90s indie rock, dubstep, 80s D.C. hardcore, IDM or chillwave, but I refuse to apologize for my adoration of a solid party tune. Whether or not you'll be playing any of these tracks depends on what kind of party you're throwing this weekend, but each should find a home on playlist near you...

There's the catchy-clubiness of Rihanna's "We Found Love," the southern growl of T.I.'s "I'm Flexin'," the seedy bass of Big Sean and Nicki Minaj's "Ass" and--in a startling turn--the pitch-shifting coolness of Jamie Woon's "Video Games" remix.

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Rihanna - We Found Love
Lana Del Rey - Video Games (Jamie Woon Remix)
Big Sean (feat. Nicki Minaj) - Dance (A$$) [Remix]
T.I. - I'm Flexin' (feat. Big K.R.I.T.)

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MP3s: Domo Genesis - "Boss' Life" + "Cashmere"

Domo Genesis has always been the fourth best act of Odd Future, leagues behind Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, and Mellowhype. As the group's resident stoner, it surprised no one that his contribution to OFWGKTA was the Rolling Papers mixtape. That ramshackle effort, despite being appropriately hazy, didn't quite match what Domo had done with guest spots and on Radical.

But it seems the spotlight on Tyler has forced his cohorts to elevate their own talents. And so, backed a Dr. Dre beat, Domo releases one of his best songs yet. Between "Boss' Life" and April's "Cashmere," I'm actually looking forward what he does next--which is apparently the Under the Influence mixtape, despite no official announcement or release date.

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Domo Genesis - Boss' Life
Domo Genesis - Cashmere

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Haiku Review - Goblin by Tyler, The Creator

Haiku Review of Tyler, The Creator's Goblin:

Shocking rhymes and words
Hide the wunderkind Tyler
Listen, potential
Notes: I wrote over 700 words on Tyler, and his helmed hip-hop collective, Odd Future, speaking at length about what it might take to appreciate his visceral brand of rap and what makes it so great. You can read that post by clicking here.

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Tyler, The Creator - Goblin

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Tyler, the Creator - Tron Cat

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The Citizen Insane's Hip-Hop Round-Up

So while I've been busy with this whole Ivy League thing (casually brushes off shoulders), I've neglected to mention some of the recentish hip-hop/rap I've been listening to. Here's a rundown of what I forget to mention since sometime in mid-July...

- Kanye West has been releasing tracks once a week for awhile now. Some are great ("Monster feat. Jay-Z, Bon Iver, Rick Ross & Nicki Minaj") and some are just okay ("Good Friday"), but you can grab 'em all by going here. The real homerun is "Runaway," the track that slayed the VMAs. Grab that at the bottom...

- Wale dropped a new mixtape in July and it's a return to good form after his awful, awful major-label debut. Grab it here.

- Despite being a few months old, I'm still playing the new Cool Kids mixtape nonstop. Pick it up here if you haven't yet.

- The ever-prolific Gucci Mane released a new mixtape a couple of weeks ago. It's predictably solid, so if your hard drive could use more Gucci, you can donwload it here. Mr. Burr also has an LP right around the corner, The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted - You can find the first track down below.

- I thought the latest Bun B album was decent enough. Full of lovable guests (Drake, Gucci, Jeezy...), the record doesn't bring anything new to the table, but it has its charms and could soundtrack a night or two of drinking. Get it here.

- The Game really, really surprised me with the quality of his latest mixtape, Brake Lights. The samples are all over the place in the best way (I'm looking at you, Sufjan Stevens sample) and his flow is so good, it actually sounds like he's trying. Snag it up by clicking here.

- Freddie Gibbs is slowly, surely working his way up to the top of my favourite rappers list. He dropped a mixtape and an EP at the end of July/Beginning of August and they're both must-hear efforts. Get the mixtape by clicking here. Get the EP by clicking here.

- What would a round-up of mine be without a Lil Wayne mention? In five days (Sept. 27), Mr. Carter is releasing an EP, on his birthday, from behind bars. Awesome. I've got the first two singles down below. Both feature Drake, one is awesome ("Right Above It"), and the other is called "Gonorrhea." The track's biggest takeaway? Weezy wants you to be STD-free: "Wish I never met ya / Wouldn't wanna be ya / Pussy ass nigga / I don't want your gonorrhea."

- And finally, let's just take a moment to recognize the ridiculous/catchy/entertaining "Teach Me How to Dougie." I'm sure my own horrible rendition is only a few weeks away from showing up on YouTube...

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Runaway (feat. Pusha T) - Kanye West

Lil Friend (Bun B) - Gucci Mane

Gonorrhea (feat. Drake) - Lil Wayne

Right Above It (feat. Drake) - Lil Wayne

Teach Me How to Dougie - Cali Swag District

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