NEW VIDEO: ALPHABEAT "VACATION"

It's about time for warm weather in the states, and this adorable, fun, and cute video from the Denmark-repped Danish-bred Alphabeat entitled "Vacation" is just what the doctor ordered! The single precedes their third studio album, slated for this summer. Shake those maracas...

Propers-wearepopslags

Aesop Rock "Zero Dark Thirty"

Aesop Rock sounds like he's from BC, rapping from an archaic dungeon, spitting out copper with every word. And fans of the sharp wordsmith are in luck--he's releasing his first album in five years. It's called Skelethon, and it's on Rhymesayers Ent., for a slated release date of July 10. His first single? "Zero Dark Thirty," below.

NEW SONG: Luke James "Mo' Better Blues"

Luke James dropped a new song last night called "Mo' Better Blues." Luke wastes no time dropping bombs, as he does in the first lines, and the slow, syrupy beat draws in the listener. The bridge changes it up in dramatic fashion, and not to mention Luke knows how to product place! He has lines from the 1990 Spike Lee joint Mo' Better Blues in the song. If you need some background, here's the rundown of the scene in which the background lines came from. Listen above!

Clarke (Cynda Williams): Everything's on a schedule, a timetable. Loosen up, tight ass.

Bleek (Denzel Washington): Let me explain something to you. Life is short, OK? I need it like this to do all the things I gotta do. I like order.

Clarke: Order's fine, but you're ridiculous.

Bleek: And what do you want?

Clarke: I want a man who knows what he wants. Decisive. You don't know what you want. Make up your mind to be a man and don't be wishy-washy on me.

Bleek: Hmm. I know what I want. My music. Everything else is secondary.

Luke's now working on his debut, Made To Love.

NEW VIDEO: Key Swag 3000 "Tear It Up"

Introduction to the swagalicious, swagerrific, swagdacious, Key Swag 3000;  The12-year-old repping Milwaukee, Wisconsin, takes his humongous personality and slapstick charisma and spews it all on the table in “Tear It Up”, his second single off of his debut mixtape, Who The Dopest Vol. 1 [DOWNLOAD], off of Do Work Ent. The term "Dope" has lasted almost 2 decades. Is this yet another sign that the word swag is here to stay? Hmm…

NEW SONG: Outasight "Believe In Me"

Outasight raps about not being perfect, but not quitting on his new song, "Believe In Me." "From the bottom of the totem pole/Only way to go is up and I ain't ever growin old," the ever four-eyed rapper spits along a simple piano and drum melody. Catch it in the WWE's "Once In A Lifetime" special and on ESPN. Along with his "Tonight Is The Night" song being featured in Pepsi Commercials, it seems like everyday is a good day to be Outasight.

CR (Comic Relief): Chiddy Bang "Ray Charles"

Ray Charles to the bull!:)*

NEW SONG: Algebra Blessett: "I Ain't No Joke"

Eric Roberson



 Life is uncertain, right? It's only fitting to eat dessert first, and some ATL singer has caught on to the movement. If you don't know the name, her name is Algebra Blessett, and she's been around for a minute, but you'll be hearing a lot more from her in the coming months. While you await for her upcoming mixtape, Dessert Before Dinner, check out this LT-Moe produced song, "I Ain't No Joke," below, about how music for her is just that.

Propers: ABC News, Eric Roberson

Explained! The K-Pop Phenomenon

So a few months ago I stumbled across this cable station called M-NET. Originally based overseas in Asia, they had a time slot of a few hours a day on US national television. Just recently, they were given the go to become a 24 hour station, this one based  in LA, that showcases the best of J-Pop (Japanese Pop Music) and K-Pop (Korean Pop Music).

 The phenomenon has existed for a few years (like when BoA released an album that got some buzz in 2009), but is just now starting to blow up. MTV Iggy, MTV's world music site, who has been following the acts for some time, had an international contest called 'Best New Band," in which the winners would perform on stage in NYC. The winners last year were 2NE1, an all-girl group from Korea. They performed along with Venezuelan group La Vida Bohème; the Malaysian sensation, Yuna; and Jamaicas' beloved star, Gyptian; the festivities were held last December at Best Buy Theater.

Another K-Pop act had its time to shine soon after, as the spicy five girl clique the Wonder Girls scored a Nick Cannon produced debut on American TV; they were the stars of the TV special, The Wonder Girls, on Nickelodeon this past February.
 
SPIN recently took an in-depth look into the K-Pop phenomenon in their March/April 2012 issue. On the foretable was the strict training and disciplined practice of all of the K-Pop stars, studying music and dance together in Seoul. It's an amazing read on the come up of acts such as 2AM, and BoA, the demise then redemption of Jay Park, and more. Slowly infiltrating the market, there's probably much more to come from these talented young stars.

Take a look over there at SPIN to read the story!

VIDEO: Mamas Gun Performs "Get A High" Live

This is a live version of "Get A High" performed by Mamas Gun, off the album The Life And Soul. Aural placebo? Perhaps.

VIDEO: Esperanza Spalding "Radio Song"

Pissed? Stuck in traffic? Kid just threw a toy at ya? Feeling like you need a pick me up? Call upon Esperanza Spalding, whose visuals for "Radio Song" will bring a smile to even the infamous Ebenezer (Scrooge, that is).

Off the album Radio Music Society, out now!

Propers-Concrete Loop