Dwele is the man....

So I've already posted one Dwele song on the blog and if you want to get more info you can read it here . The reason why I chose to post about him twice is because there are just to many songs of his that are amazing. This one that I am choosing to show you is called "Obey"  and is off of the same album as the song before. I think the difference between the two tracks shows his versatility as an artist when it comes production. While "Takes 22tango" is more fun and dance-like, this one is a lot more serious and pretty sensual. Dwele uses the seductive powers of his voice to walk a women through the very sexual experience that they are having. I know you're still having trouble with that bedroom mix that you're working on. It's okay, just pretend like you found this yourself. Check it out.   

Tryna Read This Article?.....Or Nah

      Ty Dolla $ign is a rapper singer producer who hails from from the always talented West Coast of America. Although they are from different areas, Dolla $ign chose to sign Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records.  He has been active in the music industry for sometime, but his popularity has only really started to grow since this year has begun. I've noticed that he has been getting some radio spins recently, and his song "Paranoid" has started to become a hot topic in musical conversation. His EP "The Beach House" contains his most popular songs which was released earlier this year. In my opinion, it's a pretty solid project. The production on it great, and it features some big name artists for how new Ty Dolla $ign is to the game. Wiz Khailfa, Travi$ Scott, and Twista or only a few of the names that can be found on this project. The song "Or Nah" featuring Wiz Khalifa is one that stands out to me because it's got everything I look for in the track. With a great beat, sweet feature, and fun lyrics, this one is definitely one to bump to.

What Eli Phillips is listening to 1/24/14

1. Everything is Everything- Phoenix 2. New York- The Milk Carton Kids 3. Breezeblocks- alt-j 4. Two Step- Dave Matthews Band 5. I Would Do Anything For You- Foster the People 6. Make Love- Daft Punk 7. Bent Nails- Snarky Puppy 8. High and Rising- Big Gigantic 9. Leaves Fall- Mansions on the Moon 10. Read My Mind- The Killers This is a very broad mix of songs, but they are all on point. The songs that I would say to definitely check out are Leaves Fall (9) and Make Love (6). Both are soft electronic that are good for most quiet things, falling asleep, chillin, and I'd have to imagine that Make Love is a great song for love making. Also, I would do anything for you (5) is crazy good. OOOOh la la Im fallin in love and its better this time than ever before...(tasty piano line)

House With a Solid Foundation

                                  

     British brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence released probably the best electronic album of 2013 with the superb Settle. Their bouncy, synth-heavy house beats drive the album along at a rapid pace, and each song is bass heavy and perfect for the dance floor. These young guns (Guy's 22, Howard's 20) get assistance from fellow London up-and-comers with the vocal tracks, such as Sam Smith, and a momentous team-up with fellow British electronic duo AlunaGeorge. The two tracks I am including are "Latch" (feat. Sam Smith) and "White Noise" (Feat. AlunaGeorge). "Latch" is absolutely triumphant, Sam Smith's soulful howl feels just as comfortable with a synth backing as he would with a piano and some strings (their is also a quite fantastic acoustic version of this song). Aluna Francis' voice is pretty perfect for electronic music, with its seductive purr and a sly, under-the-radar power. She draws you in, and the songs infectious beat keeps you hooked. These guys are a force to be reckoned with, and they have started producing for rappers, watch out for Disclosure in 2014.

Finally the Herbs Come Around

         Collie Buddz is a New Orleans born Bermuda raised reggae artist who's been around for almost a decade despite only having released two albums. I haven't been listening to him for a awhile, but I was a Collie Buddz fan after only hearing a couple of songs, he's legit. The song titled "Come Around" off of his self titled album is by far my favorite by him because it bumps ridiculously hard. This song has all the elements, great bass, good drum, and it even has some horn in it too. Nothing individually really comes up in this, it's the combination of everything together creates that amazingly chill and relaxed vibe always found in great reggae music. This is one of those songs to cruise in the whip to, every time I listen, I can't help but bop my head. If you are trying to listen to something different, or just trying to expand your music library, this track would be a great addition.

Le$ is More

For my first post, I am doing New Orleans native/ Houston living rapper Le$.  He is a 27-year old that grew up in New Orleans and moved to Houston at 17. He is a underground rapper that is signed to Houston legend Slim Thug's label. Over the last two years he has received a huge buzz by bloggers and expanding audiences for his projects like Settle 4 Le$, Settle 4 Le$ 2, and E36. What I like about him most is that he stresses on being original in his music and creates a unique, versatile sound that you can chill/ride around to. His newest tape "Gran Turismo" (which I discovered on accident coming home from a track meet, crazy right?) is pure greatness.  It has very chill vibe to it, with great soul and boom bap type of beats, as Le$ is very calm, cool, and collected himself. I would like to point out two of his songs "Monaco Grand Prix" (Which is a track featured in Gran Tursimo 5) and "All Night". Monaco Grand Prix features a very nice boom bap drum sound and synthetics in the background, which a great song for just sitting back and chilling to. "All Night" features a much different sound, more of a slow jam (fellas, I would recommend this when you are with your lady to set the mood) but is still a song to ride around to or to just chill.  His tapes are available on Datpiff, Live Mixtapes, or Spinrilla (Iphone App). Give them a listen and tell me what you think

What Olufolajimi Olukorede Odekunle Akanbi (And like 4 or 5 other Names) is listening to 1/22/14

1. Favorite Song (feat. Childish Gambino) - Chance The Rapper
2. Pusha Man/Paranoia - Chance The Rapper
3. The Gambler - Fun.
4. Walking The Dog - Fun.
5. Lonely Star - The Weeknd
6. High For This - The Weeknd
7. Flight of the Navigator- Childish Gambino
8. Freaks and Geeks - Childish Gambino
9. Sparks - Coldplay
10. Over My Dead Body - Drake

Just some of my favorite songs that I listen to when I'm just doing Fudge.

Snow Day Special

Ever have one of those snow days where you don't know what to do? here is an easy stromboli recipe that will take some of the boredom out of your snow day.

Ingredients:

• 1 can Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust
• slices of pepperoni, ham and salami from local deli 
• 1 tube of sausage
• green and red peppers 
• Mozzarella cheese
• Marinara sauce

Directions: Start by frying the sausage in pan until fully cooked and cut up peppers. Preheat oven to 400*F and pull out non-stick pan. Roll out dough onto pan and spread marinara sauce around half of the dough. Now is where you get to experiment, put as much pepperoni, ham, salami, pepper, and cheese on the half where you put the marinara sauce and fold the dough over to cover the ingredients. pinch the sides of the dough to make sure it is closed all around. Right before I put it in I like to add a little more cheese on top of it. Cook for 15 minutes until crust is golden brown and then Devour.

This  recipe is like the previous grilled cheese one. You can do whatever you like to it, you can take out ingredients, you can add ingredients, however you want it to taste, personalize it and have it your way.

What John Thomas Dean is listening to 1/22/2014

Working as a dishwasher in a kitchen I have about an hour every time I go into work to wash dished and Bump, so I have created the work playlist with whatever songs I've been feelin' lately and whatever I really want to listen to that day. Below are 10 songs that I always have on the playlist no matter what and in some cases they come up more then once.

1. Let you go - Soja
2. Do you... - Miguel
3. Takes22Tango - Dwele
4. When you were young - The Killers
5. Babel - Mumford & Sons
6. 1901 - Phoenix
7. Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker
8. Got a New One - Juicey J
9. Telegraph Ave ("Oakland by Lloyd") - Childish Gambino
10. Bad Boy (Feat. Darwin Deez.) - Chiddy Bang

What Tyler Andrew Hart Is Listening To 1/21/14

1.Miguel - Do you....
2.Big K.R.I.T- King Without a Crown
3.Childish Gambino- The Worst Guys
4.Casey Veggies and Rockie Fresh- Fresh Veggies
5. Vic Mensa- Hollywood LA
6. Action Bronson- 9.24.13
7. James Blake- I Never Learnt to Share
8. Frank Ocean- Electric Feel
9. James Blake and Chance the Rapper- Life Round Here Remix (This ones going up soon)
10. Sleepy Head- Passion Pit

Love all of these tunes, check them out, you won't be disappointed.

What Alexander David Kofi Akuno Asifo Is Listening To

Ok, Imma take y'all Bumping&Cooking fans into the iPod of the young Alexanderman. A lot of these songs are mostly throwbacks because I've been feeling a little nostalgic lately.

1. Twista and Kanye West- Slow Jams


2. Gorillaz ft. De La Soul- Feel Good Inc.


3. Shaggy- It Wasn't Me


4. OutKast- Roses


5. Childish Gambino ft. Chance The Rapper- The Worst Guys


6. Kendrick Lamar ft. GLC- Poe Man's Dream


7. Kid Cudi ft. Too Short- Girls


8. Mick Jenkins ft. Chance The Rapper & Vic Mensa- Crossroads


9. Lil Sammie- I like it


10. OutKast- Spottieottiedopaliscious

What Joseph Henry Celtnieks is Listening to 1/21/14

1) Sunday- Earl Sweatshirt Feat. Frank Ocean

2) Surgeon- St. Vincent

3) Poor Rambler- Sturgill Simpson

4) Heaven and Hell- William Onyeabor

5) Liquid Swords- GZA

6) Suitcase- Vic Mensa Feat. Chance The Rapper

7) Club Soda- Flatbush Zombies Feat. Action Bronson

8) Tonight- TV On The Radio

9) Untitled- D'Angelo
10) Open- Rhye

This is in no particular order of preference or anything, these are all songs that have seen an increased presence in my musical rotation of late. I love each of these songs in their own little way. Hopefully you see a forgotten old favorite to bump to, or some new jams to add to the rotation.

Remix Alert: MGMT's - Electric Feel (Frank Ocean Remix)

              Did you know that Frank Ocean has a mixtape? If you didn't I'm happy to tell you that there are some great Frank Ocean songs that you've been missing out on. One of these beautiful compositions just so happens to be a remix of one of MGMT's most popular songs "Electric Feel", a personal favorite of mine. In the remix, Ocean uses the power of his exceptional singing voice to transform the groovy tune into a beautiful, and very sexual experience. Through the duration of the song, Frank describes what he's "been meaning to" with the help of some really amazing background vocals that really immerse you into the track. What I really like about this song is that Frank Ocean made it his own. Of course what is going on instrumentally is the same, but because of the amazing singing and musicality of Ocean, it feels completely different. There are very few artists that can make a remix sound fantastic while still keeping their authenticity and distinct style, and for that I respect him. This one should definitely be on the bedroom mix. Check it out. And download his mixtape  http://www.datpiff.com/Frank-Ocean-Nostalgia-Ultra-mixtape.210282.html

and here's the original....

    

5 Songs That WILL Put You In Your Feelings

             If a song has never put you in your feelings or made you feel some type of way, be sure to have an experience like Tom from The Boondocks.



1. Childish Gambino- Shadows

This song is on constant replay everytime it pops up on my playlist. I've been tryna work on my vocals to this song so I can put a female in the right mood, nah mean!? And if that doesn't work I'll be sure to make a music video like our friend Tom up there ^ Childish put us in a whole different mood with this one.This will have have you holding your showerhead recording track-3 to your fake album.

2. Drake- Hold On, We're Going Home

*Lightskin Mode Activated* Hold on, Hold on. We all know what Drake's music does to the human body. Imagine four dudes in a Toyota Camry singing their hearts out to this song......Okay, because that was me and my friends. I was dancing like a white girl with no rhythm, but it's not suspect because Drake is the exception to get in your feelings. So men, let your guard down and be prepared to morph into Captain Save-A-Hoe for three and a half minutes.

3. Jhene Aiko- The Worst

Jhene Aiko's whole Sail Out EP is just a masterpiece and I don't care what any of y'all have to say! (leave a comment in the comment box below). This is that music where you just broke up with your ex and your burning all the photos, deleting every message, and blocking them out of your contacts while saying "I dont need you- I don't need you!" Shit made me feel like I broke up with somebody and I'm single......but ready to mingle ;) Anywho, Jhene Aiko is Jhene Aiko so you already know what she's bringing to the table which is nothing but music from the heart.

4. Justin Bieber- All That Matters

Justin Bieber hit us with another interesting dub.... Like this joint made me feel some type of way. Now if he can keep on making music like this and not hanging out with coons like "Lil Za" and "Lil Twist", he can continue his prosperous career (Side note: if their name starts with "Lil" and they don't even have an album, DON'T HANG WITH THEM!)





5. Secondhand Serenade- Fall for you

Who said this list is only R&B/Hip-Hop!? This is a throwback for all the sensative men out there. I feel this song as the emotions he pours into the cup of lyrics ice-skates over a tundra of an instrumental as it makes the goddesses of the heavens feel more of higher beings (too far lol). If you don't feel it right now, then one day you will after you get curved by the ultimate lightskinned female, but for for now you can hold those tears back.

Just Some Good Ol' Fashioned Indie

The New Jersey based band Yo La Tengo has been making high quality indie rock music for decades. Their sound is defined by fuzzy, immersive guitars, sweet drum grooves and keyboard chords just beneath the surface, while either Georgia Hubley or Ira Kaplan (These two have been married since the band was formed) softly croon over the track. Their music does not really "go hard" in any sense of the phrase, but the down low groove and progression of the music makes it bump in its own special way. I love to listen them when I am trying to write a paper because i get less stressed and am able to focus more. The songs I am posting here are "You Can Have It All", and "Ohm". "You Can Have It All" is off their stellar 2000 album And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. I love this song because its easy to sing along with, with the main part of the beat being Kaplan singing, and Hubley's smooth, soft percussion lull you into the state of mind that you really do have it all. The song "Ohm" is from their 2013 album Fade, and it is just a good song to chill out to, its meditative and calming, but also with a clear forward propulsion of the music. The guitars are at their fuzziest, and the song is effortlessly sing-alongable. This band is fantastic, and if you like them I encourage you too look throughout all of their broad catalogue, especially the rest of the two albums above that I mentioned, and their 1997 album I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One.

Who still wears K-Swiss?

       Alex Wiley is an up and coming rapper from Chicago (V's Up) who has been quietly gaining more ground in the hip-hop community through his distinctive rapping style, and unique and surprisingly good singing ability.  On his one and only mixtape titled "Club Wiley" you will be happy to find features from the likes of Vic Mensa, Chance the Rapper and Kembe-X, who are long-time friends of Wiley ( Chance and Wiley went to the same Elementary School).What I like most about Wiley is his attitude and the persona he puts forward while rapping. You can tell by listening to him that he takes his music seriously, but still knows how to have fun with it and joke around. The first of the two tracks that I'm showing you is a perfect example of him having fun, as he literally just repeats one funny but slightly offensive phrase during the duration of the 3:15 song. If I had to describe "K-Swiss" by Alex Wiley, I would say that it is one of the best bad songs that I've listened to. I definitely wouldn't classify it as a great or profound song, but for some reason I find myself going ham to this track on the daily. The second track I'm showing you, called "Earfucked", is completely different from the first. This track starts with an awesome Arctic Monkeys sample and seamlessly transitions into a hard ass beat guaranteed to bump in the whip. Throughout the track, Wiley continuously hits you with a relentless array of bars and singing that when paired with the beat make for a hard hitting,  high energy great song. Check out both tracks, and download his mixtape here http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/alex-wiley-club-wiley  if you like what you hear.

Tim Time: *insert fangirl scream here*

The group many people only know by the song "Pumped Up Kicks" just dropped a new single and announced their summer tour dates, and there is good news and bad news; the good news,  the single "Coming of Age" kicks ass; the bad news, they are not coming to Maryland. After launching a summer tour and dropping a new single, they announced their new album "Supermodel" to come out in March.  In addition to being a bomb-ass single the video is amazing and the album art (which is a picture of the street art they produced at the end of the video) is fantastic.  Foster the People, Mark Foster's fairly new project gained mainstream fandom one or two years ago when the pop stations snatched up their first single and nearly "Get Lucky"ed it.  Subsequently, the band has been riding the wave as semi-mainstream-electronic-dance-rock-pop kingpins and not really been producing much save for a few acoustic performances of their last album "Torches."  In the past few months Mark Foster stated he wanted to "refine" his sound which concerned me at first because his eclectic mix of dance oriented rhythms, MGMT-esque synths, and pop influences create Foster's unique sound, but upon hearing the single I cannot overstate how excited I am for this album.  The band's last album could b soundtrack summers and their show at Merriweather was pure magic.  Foster the People is a 21st century classic and both their new single and their old album come with a high recommendation from yours truly.

-Tim Time.

Mama Dean's Dank Brownies

Like most great things, Silly Putty, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Ink Jet Printers, Mama Dean's Dank Brownies were made by accident. It is not just simply a brownie and peanut butter fudge, it is a match made in heaven for your mouth.

Ingredients for Brownies:

• 1 Cup shortening
• 3 - 1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate
• 4 eggs
• 2 Cups of sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 Cup sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt

Directions for brownies:  First preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt the shortening and chocolate together in a small pot over a very low heat, constantly stirring. Once mixed together let cool. In a separate dish mix together all of the ingredients. Pour batter in a 13x9 dish that has been greased and floured and cook for 30-35 minutes.

Ingredients for Fudge: 

• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 2 1/2 Cups of sugar
• 1/2 stick butter 
• 1 5 oz. can evaporated milk (2/3 c.)
• 1 Jar (7 1/2oz) Marshmallow Fluff
• 3/4 tsp. vanilla
• 1 12-oz. package peanut butter chips

Directions for Fudge: In large saucepan combine the first 5 ingredients. Stir over low heat until blended. Increase heat to Medium and bring to a full on boil. Boil slowly, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and peanut butter chips until they are all melted. 

Once the brownies are moderately cool, pour the fudge over them and let cool until fudge has set. Very simple yet delicious recipe so once it is set and cooled, or warm if you dare, cut and Devour.

A John Dean Favorite, Made by Mama Celtnieks

The recipe is called "Yankee Doodles" and it has been a family favorite since my grandfather was a kid in the 1930's. In the past year, fellow staff member John Dean has grown rather fond of this dish, and now I am posting the recipe to hopefully allow you to smile as radiantly as John Dean does when he eats this dish.

"Yankee Doodles"

Serves: One absolutely famished John Dean, or 4-6 people

You Will Need:

• A pan to boil the water
• A 4-quart casserole dish

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. sea shell pasta, medium size
• 1 lb. colby longhorn cheese
• 2,  8 oz cans of tomato sauce
• 1, 16 oz can of whole tomatoes
• 1/2 stick of butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
Bring a large pan of salted water to a rapid boil. Cook shells to almost, but not quite, done. While shells cook, medium chop the whole tomatoes. In a 4 quart casserole pan or dish, combine chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce with drained shells. Cut the cheese into half bite size chunks and the butter into slices, mix all ingredients spread well and evenly throughout the dish. Put in oven heated to 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour depending on how crispy you like the pasta crust. Enjoy!

Some Cool Dudes

The Cool Kids is rap duo consisting of members Chuck Inglish, and Sir Micheal rocks. Although the group formed in 2007, they only have released one official album do to a very long hiatus that just recently ended. If you're thirsty for more songs, you can find a ton of mixtapes and a couple of exceptionally excellent  EP's. What really sets this group apart from others is the production from Chuck Inglish. There is a really distinct style to the beats that he makes. Personally they remind me of early hip-hop with a little flavor from the present. Whatever it is, their recognizable sound paired with the with great rapping has made me a fan since i was in middle school. Along with getting back together, the group released two tracks that have me hyped for their upcoming album "Shark Week", which is expected to drop this year. The first of the two tracks I'm showing you is off of their most famous project "The Bake Sale". Titled "One Two",  this is my favorites because of the groovy hook, it can't get much better than an exact description of your morning routine coupled with a sick beat. The production on this one is golden and sure to cause the head to bob. The next song called "Computer School",  was released after their announcement that the group was getting back together. The kick in this one just has me waiting for the day I can play this while cruising. It starts out with a pretty funny Steve Harvey sample and then just hits you with those sick bars that The Cool Kids are known for. Two pretty dope tracks. Check them out.

A touch of West Coast

For those of us who aren't always hip to some up and coming artists on the West Coast, here is a short introduction to one of the newest rappers on the scene, Kyle Harvey. Known by his stage name Kyle he is influenced by artists Drake, and Kid Cudi but claims to make his own path and sound within that style of music. Previously he was known as K.i.D. or "Kyle is Determined". This year he released his first album, Beautiful Loser, although he can still be considered an underground rapper with most of his fan-base coming from social media sites like Youtube. Here's what he had to say about the album in an interview: "Hip-Hop needs something that feels good", "Beautiful Loser is what you play when you wanna laugh, what you play when you wanna smile, what you play when you wanna hear something real and honest, and what you play when you wanna feel good. On August 5th [(2013)Release Date], I'm gonna show the world how good it feels to smile again. Beautiful Loser." My personal opinion is that he lives up to this claim, but only if you choose to let it. Don't try to take him too seriously and good times await.

For specifics about Beautiful Loser go to: http://rapgenius.com/albums/Kyle/Beautiful-loser
To Stream or Download the Album go to: http://superduperkyle.com/

Hip-hop needs something that feels good," Kyle said. "Beautiful Loser is what you play when you wanna laugh, what you play when you wanna smile, what you play when you wanna hear something real and honest, and what you play when you wanna feel good. On August 5, I'm gonna show the world how good it feels to smile again. Beautiful Loser.
Read more at http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/kyle-to-release-beautiful-loser-on-august-5/10662676#v6qOZojDtShYXegm.99

Hip-hop needs something that feels good," Kyle said. "Beautiful Loser is what you play when you wanna laugh, what you play when you wanna smile, what you play when you wanna hear something real and honest, and what you play when you wanna feel good. On August 5, I'm gonna show the world how good it feels to smile again. Beautiful Loser.
Read more at http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/kyle-to-release-beautiful-loser-on-august-5/10662676#v6qOZojDtShYXegm.99

Hip-hop needs something that feels good," Kyle said. "Beautiful Loser is what you play when you wanna laugh, what you play when you wanna smile, what you play when you wanna hear something real and honest, and what you play when you wanna feel good. On August 5, I'm gonna show the world how good it feels to smile again. Beautiful Loser.
Read more at http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/kyle-to-release-beautiful-loser-on-august-5/10662676#v6qOZojDtShYXegm.99

Remix Alert: Major Lazer - Jah No Partial (Yellow Claw & Yung Felix Remix)

So the original song used to be one of my favorites by Major Lazer because of the energy of it.  It is a perfect song to get hyped to. It has a nice build up and it presents the club beat in a really cool way. But this remix just blows it out of the water. The toughness of this beat is just indescribable, the drums, bass, and the original sample for the song just work well together. This bumps in the whip, in headphones, at a party, everywhere all the time. If you need to liven the party up this song would be a definite candidate for the job. It's high energy from start to finish, and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Sorry I don't have much to say, but this one pretty much speaks for itself. Check it out.

 And the original is pretty good too.....

The Hybrid hard

Danny Brown is a wild-haired, missing-toothed, and squawky-voiced rapper from Detroit who is currently one of the best rappers in the industry. Equipped with immense rapping ability and the perspective of a man who has seen the worst sides of city life, Brown has two almost entirely different styles and personalities. Their is the fun party Danny Brown, who can rap tirelessly about smoking weed and popping mollies while giving in-depth analysis of his recent sexual exploits. On the other hand is reflective Danny, one who paints vivid portraits of what it was like to grow up in extreme poverty in Detroit in a low, gruff voice. Much of his album fodder is based around his rather advanced age for a newcomer to the upper echelons of rap (He is 32), and he often reflects on how he should mature, whether to continue using drugs or to mature, and what it really means to grow up. I am going to post two songs from his 2013 album Old to show the two sides of Danny Brown. The first is "Kush Coma", a song that shows his more party side, though in the lyrics you can see Danny struggling with his drug use. This song is pretty dope, with its gigantically awesome chorus and a frantic beat that really bumps. A$ap Rocky also has a great feature on the track. The other song is "Float On", where Danny raps about how he uses drugs as self medication sometimes. At a much more laid back pace than "Kush Coma", "Float On" has a really solid beat, with the intnermittent pop of a drum or high hat, but the beat is not nearly as elaborate as in "Kush Coma". Danny Brown is one of my favorite rappers and I really hope you like him. If you like this check out his fantastic 2013 album Old, his 2011 mixtape XXX, his single "Grown Up", and the multitude of guest spots that he has done.

Mudgy Fudgies

Prep Stuff: Before for preparing your delectable treats, freeze your mini marshmallows, preheat your oven to 350 degrees,  and grease a cookie sheet with what ever non-stick substance that you use while baking (Like Pam or something). Fill a bowl with sugar for the dough balls to be rolled in before they are put in the oven.

Sift Together:
2 1/2 Cups of Flour
2/3 Cup of Cocoa
1 tsp of Baking Soda
1 tsp of Salt

Mix together and add to dry ingredients:
1 Cup of sugar
1/2 Cup of brown sugar
1 Cup of shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Freeze mini marshmallows: Put one marshmallow in each ball of dough - roll in sugar and place on greased cookie sheet. Take out of oven when you see one cookie start to crack. It usually takes about 5-7 minutes to bake.

These Guys are much better teen dreamers than Katy Perry

         Baltimore indie pop band Beach House has spent their career crafting their own band of lush, melodious dream pop. Their music is likely best exemplified on the song "Zebra", the first track off their stellar 2010 album Teen Dream. It begins with the soft, melodic chords of Alex Scally on guitar, and the song continues to build and create a lush, dream-like atmosphere. The hazy keyboard chords help set the mood for the song, and Victoria LeGrand's surreal vocals glide effortlessly over the track. All this build-up is released triumphantly at each chorus, when the soft cymbal crash seems to lift the entire song into space, never to ever truly come down. This is one of my favorite songs, and I have posted the video, enjoy, and if you like Zebra, you should listen to the entirety of Teen Dream, its pretty excellent

I've Been Going Hard In the Kitchen All Night

            Doughboyz Cashout is a fairly new  rap group from Detroit, signed with Young Jeezy's label  Corporate Thugz Entertainment (CTE) . It's memberhip includes HBK, Payroll, Chaz  Bling, Roc, Crispy Quis, Clay, Bmo Maine, and Doughboy Dre. I couldn't find a lot about them because they're on the come up, so my main focus in this post is going to be the song. If I had to describe this track in one word it would be HARD. Everything is hard, from the beat to the the verses.   This song has one of the coolest instrumentals I've heard in awhile. The drums are tight, but when that trumpet loop starts I instantly feel like desperado decked out in Versace riding across the desert on the flyest horse in the world. The song is about coke dealing which is bad don't get me wrong, but this song makes it sound so good. Pusha T and Young Jeezy, spit some sick verses on this too. This goes in, check it out.

P.S I didn't include a lot of information about them but watch out for these guys, if this is the kind of product they put out, they are definitely going to be big soon

5 Songs That WILL Make You Do It For The Vine

1. Justin Bieber ft. Future- What's Hatnin'

Justin Bieber collabed with one of rap's best artist, Future, in "What's Hatnin'" on his new album Journals. Justin Bieber is known to have the same affect on white girls as Starbucks and Future has the same affect on "the ratchets" as WorldStar. Justin Bieber+Future= ASS ERRYWHUR!

2. Juvenile ft. 2 Chainz- Booty

WHERE DA BOOTY AT!!?



A year after former Hot Boy, Juvenile, was caught in a maelstrom of legal troubles and unpaid child support, he decided to make more of his forte of "ass shaking music" so he won't have face another type of "booty" If you know what I mean. With a feature from Tity 2-Chainz, the two "Durteh Souf" rappers are sure to make you throw t back for that 6 seconds....or more.

3. T-Pain ft. Rich Homie Quan, Waka Flocka. and Yung Cash- Fuck em

After Future allegedly took T-Pain's spot in the rap game as well as Rich Homie Quan's indecipherable flow, T-Pain and Rich Homie Quan team up along with Wocka Flocka and.........Yung Cash? (who isss hee?) Any who, if you want a 5-minute Twerkout, this will make you pull out your cracked iPhone screen and make you drop it low!




4. Trae The Truth ft. T.I.- What It Do

When reading the name of the song, I wondered...."What does it do?" T.I. has just come with more heat than an open oven! The two Hustle Gang rappers, T.I. and Trae the Truth show you what it do over a typical trap beat, which means a ton of  bass, but its enough bass to make you wanna look back at it!

5. Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z- Drunk In Love

I've tried my best to not queen out to Queen-B, but I found myself  hittin a dance routine wondering "How. Did. Dis. Shit. Happen!? Drunk In Love reminds us how the hell did Jay-Z capture the baddest chick in the world!? It doesn't matter where you are, if this song comes on and you're in the car, you better pull over to the side and try to get Vine famous!

Tim Time: An Ode to Summer

          I know many of my fellow students, in the depths of a winter weather and a depressing courseload, are reminiscing about how they, seemingly days ago, ran through the sunlite streets not paying any mind to an AP class or a midterm.  In light of such reminiscing, I present "Deadbeat Summer" by Neon Indian, a song that encapsulates the blissfully lethargic vibe of summer.  The track epitomizes the word chill and the listless euphoria of not having to care about anything. The fat bass, the bright treble synths, and the slow breathy lyrics blend perfectly to create the sensation that you are rolling down a suburban street on your longboard wearing a tank and tinted wayfarers. The more seasoned rap listeners among you may recognize this as the track that backed Childish Gambino's "I Love Clothes" off of his "I AM JUST A RAPPER" mixtape.  In addition to being a kick ass tune, you can throw the name "Neon Indian" out onto the table and finally wipe that hipster's condescending smirk off his/her face.  This little summer anecdote reminds us all as we are studying for midterms that the blissful days of summer are just around the corner.

-Tim time

Bo Don't Know Jack, Cause Bo Can't Rap

             A Tribe Called Quest was a rap group formed in the early 90's  from New York. The group consisted of members Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarbi White. When talking about classic hip-hop, this group is definitely one that would come up in the conversation. Over the coarse of the the Tribe's career they released five studio albums, most of which received critical acclaim including Grammy nominations, "Album of the Year" awards, as well as being on a lot of "Best Album of.." lists. The song I'm showing you, titled "Scenario", is off of their second album "The Low End Theory" which is considered to be one of the greatest albums of the 90's, and arguably of all time. This song has a personal connection to me because it was the first rap song to catch my attention. Before then I was mainly into indie and classic rock, but when I heard that classic boom-bap style coupled with some of the sickest rhymes to grace my ears, I was hooked. If you want to know what rap sounded like in its early stages, then this is the song for you. The track starts out with a cool laid back vibes part that almost sounds like elevator music (in a good way), then it just hits you hard with a classic boom-bap drum part that screams early hip-hop. Busta Rhymes also has a really good feature on this track where he compares himself to a dragon. This song is just classic, Check it out.

Mona Lisa Master Piece

        I'm not going to waste your time telling you who Justin Bieber is because you should already know. What I am going to say is you shouldn't let his name stop you from listening to this song. The production on this one is so solid and I can really see the growth in Bieber's sound. I like how everything works together from the base, to the drums, to the guitar thing (I have no clue what it is), to the spacial stuff going on in the background. I also respect that he worked with Chance the Rapper on this track who has a pretty great feature on it. Honestly, I was in the same boat as a lot of people, and anything that had Biebers's name on it I would steer clear from. But my friend who's a J Biebs fan was driving me home one day, so I decided to try to get through at least one song on the way home. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed what I heard. This song bumps, and if you don't agree, you still gotta respect the dude for changing up his style a bit. The song's called "Confident" of his new album "Journals". Check it out.

Pain Reliever + Don't Come Close

SZA (pronounced Sizza) is a singer/songwriter from New Jersey, who just so happens to be the first female artist to sign with T.D.E (Top Dawg Entertainment). T.D.E is the record label run by Kendrick Lamar and the other members of Black Hippy, who have already established themselves very strongly in music already. SZA however, is still in the very early stages in her career. She's only released two EP's so far, and has a couple of mixtapes. I honestly don't know how to describe the music that she makes, because it is so different. That is why her songs have a lot of variety, and is also why I chose to show you two tracks by her.

       1.The first song is called "Advil" of her mixtape "See SZA Run", and it is too smooth. She really showcases voice on this one. What I like about this track is the background vocals on it. They really work to create just a relaxed and soothing atmosphere. On top of that her voice is just butter, man. It just floats so effortlessly over everything.  I also like how the beat samples Kid Cudi to go with the subject matter of her song. It's a really cool track.

     2. The second one is called "Teen Spirit" of her EP titled "S" and has more of a eerie vibe. I really like the production by WondaGurl on this one and how the song goes to so many different places. It starts out kind of soft and foreboding, and then at 1:27 it just switches up to this hard trap-like drum pattern that just elevates the energy of the track a ton. I never realized how much I like beautiful singing over hard ass beats before I heard this song, but now I do. This track is too cool.  

Grilled Cheese?

Grilled Cheese? Really? Who doesn't know how to make grilled cheese? After being told today in lunch that one of my friends does not know how to make them, I decided to post it to make sure everyone has the chance to learn how to make the best grilled cheese. The thing about grilled cheese is that there is so much you can do with it. It's your kitchen, so "have it your way" as Burger King would say.

Ingredients:

• Any type of sliced bread
• Any kind of cheese (sliced preferred but not required)
• butter

Directions: You start by turning the stove onto medium high and setting a skillet on it. Once the skillet is nice and hot, grab two pieces of bread (any type of bread will work) and spread butter all over one side of each piece. Next, place one slice of bread on the skillet and quickly place what ever kind of cheese you decide to use on top of it, then finishing it with the other slice of bread on top of that, butter side up. Wait until the bread is golden brown and flip it to cook the other side. Once cooked, place on a plate (or napkin if you're in a hurry) cut into two triangles, and Devour.

This recipe is one in which you are encouraged to try all types of combinations, you don't have to just stick with white bread and american cheese, expand your taste buds, add some other toppings to it and try some other things. If you need help coming up with some different combos try bacon and tomato, ham and cheese, mac n cheese, spicy cheese, jalapenos, or a double decker. 

Long Night Remedy

Tooooo Easy French Toast

Ever have one of those nights where you stayed out to long and had a little too much fun with the boys? Well I have an easy recipe to help you start off your day right!

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cups of milk
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• butter or non-stick spray
• bread (the thicker the better)
• syrup (optional)

Directions: First, melt some butter (or use vegetable oil) over a large skillet on medium high heat. Next, Mix together the eggs, milk, and cinnamon in a shallow bowl (honestly I use a pie dish). Once the skillet is hot, place a slice of bread into the egg mixture, make sure it is completely soaked and then flip it over to soak the other side (using thinker bread is better because if you use thin store bought bread then it is more likely to be soggy, which will not help you feel better, thicker break will be more crisp). Place the bread in the skillet and cook until both sides are brown, once it is done, slap that baby on a plate, pour some syrup on it and Devour.

Show Me While You're Strong

         James Blake is a singer-songwriter/electronic producer from England. When it comes to his career, he's still in the very early stages. He has only released two studio albums, the most recent of which getting him a Grammy nomination. The track I am choosing to show you is called "Retrograde" which is off of his album "Overgrown", released in April of last year. Before I say anything about the track let me talk about James Blake as a musician. In my opinion he is a minimalist when it comes to producing and song-writing. By this I mean if you actually analyze the songs he does, you find there's very little going on. For example, in the song I'm showing you, it's him singing, a piano and a synth, and a drum track. His song writing is the same way, sometimes he will literally say a phrase over and over again the whole song. So why is this guy Grammy nominated? One word, Soul. I've said it once and I'll say it again James Blake is one of the most soulful musicians right now. I literally don't even know what he's saying sometimes, but it doesn't matter, because I feel the soul. This track is hands down one of my favorite songs of all time. I would be honored if you would listen.

P.S He's also Kanye's favorite artist

Even Better Than I Was The Last Time

  Chance the Rapper is a rapper (go figure) from Chicago who recently blew up due to his last project "Acid Rap" which was released in April of last year. Part of the reason why he got so popular is because of his unique cadence when he raps, as well as his delivery. This actually caused a lot of big name artists to work with him including Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne. The track I'm showing you is called "Good Ass Intro" and it definitely lives up to its name. This has to be one of my favorite intros to any album ever, let alone mix-tapes. It's got everything, soulful vocals, a jazzy piano, and live instruments. It's high energy, fun, and Chance drops some really great bars. I really have to commend him on put this much effort to just the intro of his album, it really elevated the project to another level. This without a doubt bumps. 

Breakfast Feast

Breakfast Feast

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of sausage (Jimmy Dean preferred)
• 10-12 slices of bread
• 8 oz. shredded cheese (trust me use cheddar)
• 6 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 

IMPORTANT! - you must let the Feast sit in the fridge for at least 12 hours!


Directions: Start by greasing a 9x12 inch casserole dish with a stick of butter. Cut off the crust on the bread and cut the bread into cubes. Then Layer 1/2 of the bread on the bottom of the dish. Brown the sausage and layer 1/2 of it on the bread then place 1/2 of the cheese on the sausage. Repeat layers. In a separate dish mix the eggs, milk, salt, and dry mustard together and pour over the Feast. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, then bake uncovered for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Let cool for 5 mins and Devour.

My Grandma Lyons makes this dish every Christmas and is by far one of her most delicious recipes. Just make sure that you know you have to wait 12 hours for it to sit in the fridge before you start making it, expecting it to only take 1 hour. Enjoy.

We End Up Tangled When We Tango

        Dwele is and R&B artist who you probably haven't heard of, but if you're a Kanye fan you've definitely listened to him in a song. Despite him not being widely known, he has had a pretty successful career. He's released a total of five albums the most recent of which being in 2012. This track is off the album "Greater Than One" and is called " Takes 22tango".  Let me start off by saying that this is the perfect song to start  a classy "bedroom" mix, it isn't cliche, it's pretty much all about foreplay, and he literally talks about how surprised and turned on the girl will be because of this song. Aside from that it's just a great song. The production is awesome on this track. The transitions are so smooth and seamless that I barely notice the switch from real instruments to synths, and Dwele's vocals just float effortlessly over top of the music. This one is a definite panty dropper.

Who The H*ll is Jai Paul?

 The fact that he is considered to have one of the best albums of last year is one reason to know who he is. The fact that this "album" was just a bunch of unfinished songs stolen from him and put on the internet, is an even bigger reason to check him out. Even if you don't who he is, you've probably come across some of Jai Paul's music. Some big name artists including Drake and Beyonce, have sampled his work, and his song "Jasmine" is on soundtrack for GTA V. The reason I chose the song "Crush" is because it was the first song that I heard by him, and I was immediately hooked. Everything from the beat in the  intro, to the synth part is just perfect. Its just to good not to get up in move to the beat, and to end it with a sick guitar solo, just pushed this track over the top. This is definitely one to check out.