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Who are you Tokin’ Black Guy?
So last night “Kanye West” emailed me [via his goodmusicinfo@gmail.com email address -- you'd think GOOD Music would have its own email server, no?] at around 2am linking me to a YouTube video for Tokin’ Black Guy’s (who?) new song “Turn My Music High.” Since I don’t do YouTube videos, I asked for an MP3, and “Kanye West” obliged and sent the track over. But who is this Tokin’ Black Guy? We get nothing about him from his myspace account, or even the GOOD Music page — I assume he’s signed to it.
So the next thing to pop up in my mind is the possibility of Tokin’ Black Guy being to Kanye what Japanese Cartoon is to Lupe Fiasco. Or is that a stretch? It definitely doesn’t sound like Kanye West — well maybe a little.
After that, I start thinking that this was all a big joke. “Tokin’ Black Guy,” really? I don’t even know how to feel about that name. It’s a pretty shit name, no? If this is some elaborate joke, or trick to get the song posted on the blog, then it’s obviously working. But you know what? If you record a song as danceable and fun as “Turn My Music High” and pretend to be Kanye West, you deserve some recognition. Â I give in. Take a listen, “Turn My Music High” reminds me of Outkast’s “B.O.B.” a little, or what Lil Wayne’s Rebirth should sound like.

Martina Topley Bird Seduces My Ears
**Unrelated** If the awkward anonymity of Tokin’ Black Guy is just a little too viral for you, I suggest you take a listen to the beautiful “Lying” by Martina Topley Bird. As I write this, nothing sounds more perfect that the soothing handclap-percussion-to-horns transition made throughout the four plus minutes of this lazy, sexy track. The first line says it all: I walked out of the house in your girlfriend’s clothes / They fit me better than I would have supposed.
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by on February 6, 2009 ‡ 0 reactions
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Haha, that’s weird! But that Tokin Black Guy track is AWESOME! Even if it is a hoax, they hooked you up with a killer track.
ps: that martina topley bird track is reeeeally smooth.
Nah, Tokin’ can’t be Kanye… he doesnt even sound like Kanye that much. Its weird that ZERO information can be found about him though. Hmmm.
well, if some person was pretending to be Kanye and emailing bloggers under his name, i think he would correct them via his blog..
so, that’s why I’m thinking this IS legit.
oh, and “turn my music high” is unbelievable! totally reminds me of outkast’s “B.O.B.” niiiice.
So excited that MTB is on PMA! that’s AMAZING!
Martina Topley Bird is shit! She’s been overlooked for way too long,we all remember those great Tricky records, well.
Definitely has an Outkast/Andre 3000 kind of vibe.
As to the ID of the rapper, it doesn’t sound like Kanye. I started to think it was Jay-Z towards the end of the song but then I played it again and decided that the accent was off. Maybe Kid Cudi? But why would he be releasing songs under an assumed name? Maybe one of the guys from Sa-Ra, Taz in particular.
Good picks.
Speaking of smooth, lazy, sexy tracks, you should listen to “Go Home” by Syleena Johnson (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NCBNQ6SG) and “Pretty Little Thing” by Freddie Cruger ft. Linn (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=F6KO57H5). =D
It is very good, tho’ scarcely new, is tbg having another round of ‘mystery’ promos?
Sounds like Hollyweird. In fact, I think it is them.
really skeptical that this is anything by kanye west.
as for what his future work will sound like though, it’s hard to predict him until you hear a leak or a single from his next project. after graduation, nobody would have expected the sound that came from him for 808s. he’s always experimented with different moods and sounds; with the dropout, he was still embracing more of his chicago roots and classic production, and on late registration he was a little deeper and more serious with his lyrics. by graduation, you could hear his success come out in every song. he was happy and on top of the world. after 808s tracks started leaking, you could see the effect the year after graduation had on him. he also experimented (auto-tune) and, through the whole album, kicked it a little old school and tribal with the roland drum machine.
for his next work, i’m thinking he might almost restart the cycle and go back to some chicago sounds with more sped up samples from songs older than he is, and rap about how great he is again. he’s done his experimenting with a new sound, and i think it’s done. he had to get it out of his system, and express himself over the things going on in his life, but he’ll move on from that. the only thing you can count on from kanye for his next work is that it will be creative, and it will sell a ton of records and have people copying his style until he comes out with something new. for now i’ll just have to settle for his existing work until pma gets some leaks for me!
Well, I think it *could* be kanye, but honestly have no idea. It isnt Jay-z, and prpbably isnt CuDi either. Definetly reminds me of B.O.B., and For the moment I dont care, it sounds amazing.
BOB the soung by outcast, not the rapper
im sorry i dont know what everyone else is saying, that sounds EXACTLY like kanye
This is not Kanye West; lol it actually sounds nothing like him. It does sound like JD Era though, he’s a canadian rapper. check him out on youtube. it sounds exactly like him
Listening to it again, it sounds like the lead singer of disbanded rap rock group El Pus. Check it: http://www.youtube.com/user/HoodlumRock
why wouldnt you post it if it was just some guy!!!? lol
I’m with Chris. If it was someone pretending to be Kanye, he’d've posted a capslock rant in his blog by now.
Whoever it is, I LOVE IT.
HI LUIS IM JUST COMMENTING ON THIS POST BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME OKAY SEE YOU
XOXOXOXOXO
lol it’s not KANYE WEST it’s BIG FAKE
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