Posts Tagged: Jay-Z


18
Aug 09

Best Album of 2001

Previously: Best album of 2000 (Readers’ Choice & PMA’s Choice)

We’ve set out to find the 10 best albums of the decade, according to our readers as well as our own personal favorite. So this gives us a maximum of listing the 20 best albums of the 2000s. Though I haven’t ruled out the possibility that the Readers’ and PMA’s choices might be the same album. So we’ll play this by ear.

Like last time, I’ll list ten candidates for best album of 2001. These candidates are determined by their inclusion in various year-end lists from publications we trust, including, the Village Voice 2001 Pazz & Jop Poll, NME, The Onion, Mojo, Los Angeles Times, Spin, and Uncut. Please vote for the album you think was the best in 2001. If your choice isn’t on here, we’d love to see it in the comments section (though, we’d appreciate if you’d vote for your favorite on the list anyway).

A. Love And Theft by Bob Dylan
B. Is This It? by The Strokes
C. Amnesiac by Radiohead
D. White Blood Cells by The White Stripes
E. Vespertine by Bjork
F. Discovery by Daft Punk
G. Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós
H. The Blueprint by Jay-Z
I. Things We Lost In the Fire by Low
J. Rooty by Basement Jaxx


27
Jul 09

Jay-Z – Run This Town (ft. Kanye West, Rihanna)

Jay Z   Run This Town (ft. Kanye West, Rihanna) listen
Jay-Z has been hitting the news rounds quite a lot lately. First came the “Death of Autotune,” then an All Points West headlining spot (Jay-Z replaced the Beastie Boys because one of their members has been diagnosed with cancer. Get well soon!). Also, an interview will Billboard shed light on an upcoming collaboration with MGMT.

And now, the official second single off Jay’s The Blueprint 3, has hit iTunes and select radio stations. “Run This Town” features Rihanna on a live-giving hook and Kanye West assisting his big brother, doing what he does best. With a roster like this one, did I have high expectations? Yes. Does the song live up to the hype? Probably not. But it’s a nice track, nonetheless. Continue reading →


15
Jul 09

Max Tannone: Jaydiohead (Jay-Z x Radiohead) – The Encore

Max Tannone: Jaydiohead (Jay Z x Radiohead)   The Encore listen
Talented producer Max Tannone (formerly known as Minty Fresh Beats), who was responsible for the critically acclaimed Jay-Z/Radiohead mash-up album Jaydiohead, has returned with an encore. This five-song encore, once again, finds two of the most prolific artists of our time clashing note by note, in utterly beautiful symmetry.

Is it just me, or does Jaydiohead + The Encore need mass market exposure, a la Collision Course? Hopefully not.

1. Jaydiohead – Air Roc
2. Jaydiohead – Life There
3. Jaydiohead – Reckoner’s Encore
4. Jaydiohead – Song and Cry
5. Jaydiohead – December Backdrifts


27
Jun 09

pmaCAST #15: Funk In Your Trunk

DOWNLOAD: MP3 / iTUNES

pmaCAST #15 The “Funk In Your Trunk” Episode Tracklist
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12
Jun 09

PMA’s Top Songs of the Week #2

PMA’s Top Songs of the Week #2 feature
epic illustration by masa.

You know how this works, these are the top 7 most downloaded mp3s on PMA over the last 7 days. Check out last week’s Top 7, there a couple of re-entries this week. Continue reading →


8
Jun 09

Jay-Z – D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)

Jay Z   D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) listen
‘I know we facing a recession, but the music y’all making going make it the great depression’

It has been announced that Jay-Z will unleash The Blueprint 3 on September 11th; and just days after this exciting announcement, Jigga leaked “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune).” The new track, for an odd reason, makes me think of “Lucifer,” a memorable cut on The Black Album. However, I wasn’t particularly impressed with this track.

Let me just say this: on “D.O.A.”, Hova talks about things worth doing, but he’s not doing anything worth talking about. Jay-Z needs to take it all with Blueprint 3, right? He has to put some more effort into this, it will be a shame if we get another American Gangster or Kingdom Come — he’s better than that.

Listen to D.O.A. here Continue reading →


22
May 09

Friday Links

I was going to do a Sunday Links thing every Sunday, but why should I discriminate against the other perfectly capable days of the week? Oh yes, I went there.

So to the question of when these will happen will be subject to my personal discretion, or sometimes based on impulse or caprice (or in other words, whenever I want to). Here are your Friday Links, I expect you to click them all, because they’re all pretty much amazing.

Listen to, Preview, and HEART all of the music posted on PMA.

Frank(ie) Ramz posted this fantastic video on Pigeons & Planes. If you sort of like Asher Roth, or even sort of hate him, you might enjoy this. “I Hate High School.”

MGMT cover Nine Inch Nail’s “Closer.” Not sure how old this is, but I like it. Saw it at Rollo & Grady via Bleakey. I wanna fuck you like a DINOSAUR!

Download_MGMT - Closer (Nine Inch Nails Cover)

Stereogum told us that Radiohead are fast at work on an In Rainbows follow-up. Mass hysteria ensues.

Soulwax & Au Revoir Simone involved in the making of the Aeroplane album! – via Ohh Crapp

Jay-Z confirms split with Def Jam.

I <3 Green Day’s “21 Guns”
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The Sounds, Wilco and Sunset Rubdown albums leaked.


21
May 09

Lil Wayne, Kanye West, T.I., Jay-Z – U Ain’t Neva Gottz Ask

Lil Wayne, Kanye West, T.I., Jay Z   U Aint Neva Gottz Ask listen

No it doesn’t entirely match the energy of “Swagga Like Us,” in fact, its more reminiscent of Mr. Carter off of Wayne’s Tha Carter III but “U Ain’t Neva Gottz Ask” is still an incredible collaboration regardless.

There’s so much going on in this song – the crazy sped up piano, the thuming hand clap like beat, the booming echoes in the background, and of course the re-interpolation of George Michael’s schmaltzy “Careless Whisper.” In the hands of less capable and assured producers all of these elements could have ended up sounding like a mess, but on “U Ain’t Neva Gottz Ask” it all comes together perfectly.

Bonus points for the use of my favorite Jay-Z rhymes, Justify My Thug. Take note Flo Rida and BEP, this is how you build a song around samples. Listen to “U Ain’t Neva Gottz Ask” after the jump Continue reading →


1
Mar 09

pmaCAST #8 The “Gimme That Hot, Hot Love” Episode

pmaCAST #8 The Gimme That Hot, Hot Love Episode mp3

Radiohead opens up this week’s podcast with a double introduction. Three Leaves and a Head’s remix of “Reckoner” is a marvelous set of lulling, dramatic pianos and snaps. It leads in stealthily to In Rainbows‘ crackling and GRAMMY-famous “15 Step.” Regina Spektor follows Radiohead with an early demo of the beautiful “Samson.” This song is easily my favorite song off her album, Begin To Hope. From an established pop elite to a poppy act that has plenty of potential, I proudly play Asteroid Galaxy Tour’s “Around The Bend.”

If you listen closely, you’ll notice that this episode’s title is derived from “Around The Bend.” It’s just a great song. From here on, things get a bit heavier, you’ll notice I continue/close the pmaCAST with a handful of remixes. This podcast couldn’t be possible without RCRD LBL and Notes From A Different Kitchen who so graciously provided us with tracks that were vital to this podcast.

pmaCAST #8 Tracklisting
Radiohead – Reckoner (Three Leaves and a Head Remix)
Radiohead – 15 Steps
Regina Spektor – Samson (2002 Version)
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Around The Bend
Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance (Miike Snow Remix)
Peaches – Search and Destroy (Iggy Pop Cover)
The Bird and The Bee – Fucking Boyfriend (Peaches Remix)
Phoenix – 1901
Jay-Z & Santogold – Brooklyn Go Hard ft. Beastie Boys (DJ Rob Dinero Remix)
Don Diablo – Get On The Floor (Don Diablo’s Just Begun Edit)

Download pmaCAST #8 – 37MB | Subscribe via iTunes or RSS

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9
Feb 09

5 Best GRAMMY Performances 2009

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the GRAMMYs were last night. It was a great show, one of the best GRAMMY Ceremonies in years. This year we enjoyed great performances from Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, U2, M.I.A., Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder… the list goes on and on. The performances were so good that I just had to list my 5 favorite performances of the night! Don’t forget to tell me about your favorite performances of the night in the comments.

HM: Adele & Sugarland – What I’d Give / Chasing Pavements

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I may not be the biggest country fan around, but I think Jennifer Nettles’ vocal delivery was fantastic, and you know what, the song isn’t so bad either. It’s great to hear beautifully sung music, regardless of genre. And Adele’s followup performance was amazing too. Highlight: Sugarland joining Adele on stage towards the end of “Chasing Pavements.”

5 Best GRAMMY Performances 2009

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