[MP3 + Music Video] Goldlink – Meditation Feat. Jazmine Sullivan, KAYTRANADA

New Goldlink featuring Kitchen favorite, Jazmine Sullivan and produced by Kaytranda??! YES PLEASE!

[MP3] Remy Ma – ShETHER

Whoa! “And to be the ‘Queen of Rap’ you gotta actually rap!” So did she ether Nicki or nah?? I can’t wait until Remy starts going for the necks of any dudes that cross her. They really don’t want it with her!

[MP3 + Music Video] King Reign – Santa Romeo (prod. by Darp Malone)

This is a bittersweet post. I’m happy to have new music from long time Kitchen favorite, King Reign but still heartbroken by his way premature passing last summer. It’s often about those who pass at an early age but, in Reign’s case it’s really true, he still had his whole life ahead of him and so much potential to fulfill. This new song, the first of more promised unreleased new music from Reign’s catalog, only reveres to underscore the point. #RIPKingReign….

King Reign’s finesse as a storyteller is a common theme in his music. Sadly, we lost the Toronto native last year. He was a celebrated and driving force in the hip hop community, and his memory will be honoured through the release of unreleased tracks, including the brand new single, “Santa Romeo”. By continuing to celebrate and share his legacy, we wish to maintain the positive impact he had.

“Santa Romeo” is a humorous story on the romantic highs and lows of a casanova that highlights many aspects of his artistry with storytelling, humour and unequivocal charm. Produced by Darp Malone, with a DJ Skratch Bastid drum edit and featuring Ivana Santilli on the horn, this track takes the listener on an adventure laden series of events with action packed, visual lyrics with upbeat, horn filled music. It’s a light hearted commentary on the always prevalent narrative of a lothario finding himself caught in a sticky situation with the chorus highlighting his unmistakably soulful voice, questioning “she loves me, she loves me not”. The whimsical yet relatable nature of “Santa Romeo” will be accompanied with a stunning upcoming animated video, to be released soon. One can’t help but visualize Reign’s words, and this special talent of his is remarkably prevalent with Santa Romeo. This is the first single to be released with a lot more new music on the horizon!

Play / Buy King Reign – Santa Romeo online: iTunes | Apple Music | Spotify | Bandcamp | Soundcloud

Related reading: Why King Reign Mattered to Hip Hop

[MP3] Jazz Cartier – PREE

New Jazz Cartier! What y’all think of it?? Jazz is also playing a Hennessy-sponsored show next week here in ‘The 6.’ Sniff around and maybe you can find the details on how to get in gratis courtesy of 1 Love T.O.

[Podcast] Listen to me appearing on this week’s The Swift Chancellor Report radio show

Check me and the homie, Wes Jackson talking hip-hop on his York College radio show, The Swift Chancellor Report from this past Monday. Here are some of the more choice quotes from our exchange:

“Joey Badass is to me literally the epitome of what a middle-aged rap fan is looking for in a new artist…”

“Chance the Rapper can make music that a kid who is excited about the new Tribe record is gonna wanna listen to, but he’s also making records that are kind of art house takes on ratchet music…”

“Joey might be hampered by being a kid growing up in New York where they are so stuck on trying to revive this moment in time that’s like 20 years old now…”

“Lil Yatchy is not the SVP of hip-hop!”

“Learning your legacy [and] connecting to your elders is usually, almost universally, across cultures considered a good thing…”

“Rarely is ignorance a good jump-off point…”

Let me know what you think in the comments (note: I come on in the latter half of the show, around the 33:11 minute mark, but Wes sets up our chat in the first half and it’s a good listen, with some classic, vintage Jay-Z joints in the mix too as he talks on the occasion of Hov’s birthday about why he’s the GOAT, so play it in full if you can spare the time).

Listen to The Swift Chancellor Report on: YCRadio | SoundCloud