Dear Furby Living,
This is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen. Furbies on their own were creepy enough as it is with their large eyes watching you and their creepy little voices talking when no one has even said anything. They’re also just one step away from becoming gremlins, just add water.
So why in the world would you think it was a good idea to turn furbies into celebrities?
Furby as Taylor Swift? Creepy.
Furby as Nicki Minaj? She looks like she’s going to kill me.
Furby as Azealia Banks? This is the stuff nightmares are made of. Read more…
“Neptune” — Azealia Banks
Our favourite up and coming Princess of Hip Hop, Azealia Banks, is at it again, this time releasing a new track “Neptune,” off her underwater-themed mixtape Fantasea. “Neptune,” featuring English rapper/songwriter Shystie, is a charming track that mixes Banks’ Caribbean influences with R&B, her laidback, sultry vocals, with Shystie’s feisty rhymes. All accompanied by a whimsical beat and production that makes the whole jam sound like it was recorded underwater. Check out Fantasea for 19 new Banks tracks.
“It’s Only Life” — The Shins
The Shin’s second single off their newest album Port of Morrow comes in the form of a post-apocalyptic music video. “It’s Only Life” is a slower ballad about overcoming inner demons and troubled times, and The Shins knocked it out of the park with this unconventional video. We see a young boy and his dog being the last survivors in the area, taking advantage of their lonely surroundings, while Mercer slowly gets dragged away by a group of creatures that look like a way scarier version of the monster from M. Night Shymalan’s The Village. The song is sublime and the metaphoric video works perfectly.
“Runaways” — The Killers Read more…
“Oh Yeah” — Chris Brown ft. 2 Chainz and Snoop Dogg
Between getting into bar fights with Drake’s entourage and leaking a new song, Chris Brown has sure had a busy week. The young rap star just released a new single “Oh Yeah” as a promotional song for his upcoming album Fortune. And while fans might already recognize the single since Breezy released a solo version back in April, this new version enlists the help of his rap buddies 2 Chainz and Snoop Dogg. I listened to both versions and got sick of Brown’s autotuned rapping within the first 30 seconds, but this new version has some extra padding in the form of clear rhymes by the two big name rappers. I would advise you to check out both versions and make your judgments accordingly. Fortune hits shelves on July 3.
”Liquorice” — Azaelia Banks
Azaelia Banks is a “Wild West Liquorice Bitch” (her words, not mine) in the video for her new single “Liquorice.” As usual, her song mashes genres together, this time laying her feisty raps over a retro house/ dance track. The video itself plays out all the stereotypes of a typical western – leather chaps, riding horses alone through a valley, cowgirl on cowgirl showdown, hot dogs, …wait what? Okay, so I lied. The video is anything but typical, and with styling by Nicola Formichetti (of Lady Gaga fame) and direction by fashion photographer Rankin, the video is a must-see.
“The Only Place” — Best Coast Read more…
With mashups becoming increasingly easier for the average music lover to create at home, authentic collaborations between artists are becoming more exciting. But alas, some of my fave potential collaborations are but a distant dream. So, if anyone out there can hook up the following artists together and convince them to make sweet musical love, I (not to mention my my ears) will be forever grateful. Without further ado, here are the top five unlikely musical collaborations we’d love to hear.
1) Selena Gomez / Azealia Banks
I’m convinced Selena Gomez has a hip-hop freak hiding underneath her pretty persona. With boyfriend Jusin Beiber’s recent foray into the R&B/hip-hop scene, Gomez could learn a thing or two from up and coming female rapper Azealia Banks. Both women are chameleons, with Banks sampling pretty much every genre possible in her music and Gomez pulling off every look possible in her “Love You Like a Love Song” video. Banks and Gomez could have a sassy hit together.
2) Taylor Swift / Florence and the Machine
Okay, Florence Welch is on a level of her own, creatively and vocally, but if any pop star can come close to keeping up with Welch’s powerful pipes, it’s T-Swizzle. The girl has proved herself, winning six Grammies in her career, and actually has instrumental talent, unlike many of her counterparts in the pop and country scene. Swift could back Flo with a piano or guitar and lend her sweet voice. The two women could create something magical. No really.
3) One Direction / The Hives Read more…
The Hives – “Go Right Ahead”
In The Hives’ new video for their latest single “Go Right Ahead,” which we previously featured on Musical Prozac, the boys (men?) suit up, leave the garage behind and head to the studio. The video was filmed in Benny Andersson from ABBA’s brand new studio in Stockholm. The Hives were lucky enough to be the first band to record here. The whole video looks they shot it in one take, though with all their energy the rowdy song doesn’t need anything more to carry it. Oh, and top hats are included. The Hives’ new album Lex Hives will be released on June 1.
Nelly Furtado – “Big Hoops”
The bigger the better, the bigger the better, the bigger the better…. Hoops that is. As in, Nelly Furtado’s new single “Big Hoops” off her fifth album, The Spirit Indestructible (June 19.) Nelly’s first music video in three years delivers, with Native American hoop dancers, and Nelly herself wearing stilts, towering over LA. The song has some serious swag and is on par with her new hip-hop style. Also, as Nelly adamantly sings, she can move fast, she can move slow, she can go places nobody else goes! Wait, we’re still talking about hula hoops right?
Grimes – “Nightmusic” ft. Majical Cloudz Read more…
I know there’s a lot of talk about what our new summer anthem is going to be but I’m loving Azealia Banks’ “Jumanji,” which is a tropical, energetic track with a strong bass. The song, which was produced by Hudson Mohawke and Nick Hook, practically screams summer with dance worthy steel drums and timpani hits.
“Jumanji” is the first preview from her forthcoming mixtape, Fantastic, which will be released this summer. Plus, we’re all waiting for her 1991 EP that will be out within the month.
The song is incredibly playful and though the lyrics aren’t necessarily prolific (“Real bitch, all day/Uptown, Broadway”) you can tell the girl is having fun.
Listen to it here:
Metric – Youth Without Youth
I’ve been a Metric fan since I was 14 so I’ve been waiting anxiously these past three years for some new Metric music and FINALLY “Youth Without Youth” is here to cure my Metric withdrawal! The first single off their upcoming album Synthetica is a great guitar driven track. It’s faster and louder than most of Metric’s other music and it’s nice to hear lead singer Emily Haines using her voice to its full potential. I could see this being a serious song to jam out to during one of their upcoming concerts. You can pick up Synthetica on June 12.
Santigold – Proud Mary
I had the good fortune of seeing Santigold at Coachella and this woman has some serious talent. In her cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s famous “Proud Mary,” Santi White adds her own flavour to the jam. Instead of a straight up cover of the song, she adds some synth, African beats, and belts the song in her own robotic style. I’m loving this new take on a classic track.
Foster the People – Houdini Read more…
Coachella came to a close last night in California but (cheese alert) the performances live on… through YouTube at least. Coachella partnered with YouTube to offer much of the festival online through live streaming and few users were able to capture the broadcast and post it for us to watch over and over.
Santigold
Santigold brought a giant dancing horse onstage, who followed them from New York. The set-list included “Disparate Youth” and “Say Aha.”
Azealia Banks
Banks was booked for 45 minutes but apparently only performed for 25, with a set-list that included “Bambi,” “Firestarter” and “Valerie.”
Childish Gambino
Donald Glover invited Kenrick Lamar and Danny Brown to the stage with him to triple the awesomeness.
Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Azealia Banks, a rapper from Harlem, New York.
If the name Azealia Banks doesn’t ring a bell, then you’ve probably been living under a rock. Good thing I am here to enlighten you. This 20-year-old up and comer recently appeared in the GQ Style Bible, and on NYLON magazine’s website. And she’s worth the hype.
Her new EP 1991 is due out on April 17. She recently moved to London, England to work on her debut album with Paul Epworth, the producer behind Adele and Florence and the Machine. Watch for her album Broke with Expensive Taste next September.
Origins: Harlem, New York
Full name: Azealia Amanda Banks. Yes, Azealia is her real name. However, she was formerly known as Miss Bank$ and her Twitter name is ”<3 Yung Rapunxel <3.” So I’m guessing she likes braids and princesses.
Known for: She’s known for her no-nonsense, dirty, unapologetic, in your face rhymes.
Used in a sentence: “Azealia Banks brings street cred back to the female rap game. Nicki Minaj, take notes.”
File next to: Missy Elliott and Nicki Minaj
Download now: Listen to the viral hit “212” NOW if you haven’t. For shame, where have you been?
Listen to it here:
Could this be a glimpse into what’s to come when Harlem rap sensation Azealia Banks drops her first record?
As of today, Azealia can now be heard on Machinedrum’s album “SXLND”. Her sharp vocals and rhymes add more life to the song and many are calling it “her most accessible track to date”.
“‘NEEDSUMLUV’ is about being a guy’s other girl,” the newcomer tells Rap-Up of the Aaliyah-sampling song. “It’s about knowing that you’re number #2, but still sticking around in hopes of becoming #1.”
You can stream or download the song below.
