mos def

Winter Marsh

Yet another assignment from school. This one is from Creative Writing, and it was an assignment that required me to use colors, a season, a question, transportation, and sheer creativity!

Hues of gray, white, black, and caramel brown,
Hints of mellow shades of blue cascading down the canvas.
Portrait defined.
Mos Def, the travelling man.

Rusty train tracks covered with snow.
On a cold winter night, does the A train run late?
Lyrics are roaring,
people’s voices fill the chilly air.

His lyrics keep the crowd warm,
And with every brush stroke, the artist paints the image.
Winter lyrics,
Waiting for the train to come.

by Jasmine McGee

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) Drops Visuals for “N****s in Poorest” Freestyle

I’ve heard quite a few rappers & even a few amateurs on YouTube attempting to freestyle over Kanye & Jay-Z’s “Niggas in Paris” track, but Yasiin Bey( formerly known as Mos Def) is the only rapper I’ve seen to attack the beat with some socioeconomically conscious rhymes.

Whenever there is call for a dosage of truth, hand Yasiin Bey a mic, let him drop some raw socially conscious rhymes, and then call it a day. Dropping some hardcore knowledge and using a Malcolm X sample is exactly what Yasiin does on his “Niggas In Poorest” freestyle.

Now some of you might have already hard Yasiin’s freestyle, but the video was just released yesterday. It’s nice to have some visuals to accompany some hard hitting rhymes that will inspire you begin thinking even more socioeconomically-minded.

Check out the video below. It’s a mixture of Yasiin Bey in the studio spitting bars, and edited footage of Saddam Hussein’s trial, a speech from the Malcolm X, the arrest of Bernie Madoff and a scene from Pootie Tang. Very interesting….

©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com

Abstract Hip-Hop: Union – “Time Leak” ft. Talib Kweli & Sly Johnson

I usually would sit here and write paragraphs in regards to my opinion, but I will honestly say that Union’s “Time Leak” featuring Talib Kweli and Sly Johnson is simply abstract dopeness. That’s not even grammatically correct, but who cares! Union is made up of these two Parisian producers that have this eclectic fusion of analog beats, hip-hop vibes, and an electro sound that isn’t electro overkill.

The song “Time Leak” features some solid rhymes from Talib Kweli and the soulful voice of Sly Johnson on the hook. The video itself is literally a creative piece of art. The video is paying homage to films such as the Matrix and Alien, while drawing influence from other sci-fi futuristic film concepts. As the song is playing, Union is controlling the futuristic girl with the music. Ah! I can’t even explain the full essence and abstract quality of this song, so watch the video!

©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com

Childish Gambino Drops New Video for “Bonfire”

My favorite Black Nerd, Donald Glover, has finally released a creative new video for his hot track “Bonfire.” When he’s acting on Community and writing on 30 Rock, he’s known as Donald Glover. But when he steps up to the mic and drops some insane surreal rhymes, then you know that Childish Gambino has made an appearance.

Childish Gambino is quickly becoming one of my favorite rappers. Yeah, he’s vulgar, raw, witty, and raps with such a funny big ego, but I love it! As much trash that is out there in the hip-hop scene nowadays, at least Childish Gambino has an hilarious and original way of rapping about the usual sex, girls, music, money, and swag. He totally capitalizes on the fact that he is a Black nerd who talks “White” and still loves hanging out with his n-words. Hahaha. I can’t help but crack up every time he says his n-words instead of just saying the word.

Childish Gambino proved to us that he was a lyrical beast with his song “Freaks & Geeks,” but his new video for “Bonfire” just adds more fire the fuel; without a doubt, Childish Gambino is an amazing rapper that can seriously make it big in the hip-hop scene. He’s already got a track produced by J. Cole on his soundcloud, and he’s even did a live freestyle with Mos Def and Kanye West (check it out: http://soundcloud.com/childish-gambino). Since he got his start in comedy and has a regular role in Community, then it’s no surprise at all that a lot of his lyrics are hilariously dope.

On his track “Bonfire” Childish Gambino doesn’t hold back and drops some verses that in genius. One of my favorite verses in this track is when he says, Played this for my cousin, now he can’t even think straight/Black and white music? Now, nigga, that’s a mixtape! I mean it’s so hard to pick a favorite verse, but I must say that one did stand out, as well as the last verses: Made the beat then murdered it, Casey Anthony/These rappers don’t know what to do/Cause all I did was act me like a Looney Tune/I’ll give you all of me until there’s nothing left/I swear this summer will be summer Camp, bitch. Seriously, his lyrics are priceless! And those aren’t even the vulgar ones that are so raw, but so dope!

All I can say is eh, you either love Childish Gambino or hate him. I personally love his music and I especially have a crush on Donald Glover when he’s acting, doing standup, and just being that Black Nerd. But his rap persona is pretty awesome as well. Unlike the video for “Freaks and Geeks,” Childish Gambino isn’t jumping around this time and dropping hardcore verses. Instead, he wakes up in the middle of the woods with a noose around his neck. The video is sort of telling the story of him as a ghost, but then he doesn’t know he is dead. He’s warning the people about this killer walking towards there campfire, but then it seems that the killer actually is the one who might have hung Gambino. I don’t know! There’s an interesting plot going on and it could be up for interpretation, so peep the visuals for yourself.

Bonfire.

Childish Gambino’s album Camp will be released November 15th.

©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com

Related articles

• Freaks and Geeks (thinksoul25.com)