What’s On My Dopi ATM: Xmas Shoppin’ Trek Moozik

As the summer heats up and Xmas is looming, the first and only thing on my mind other than music is what the heck I am gonna get MOH for his Xmas present. Oh, and when I will actually find the time to buy said present…

Most stores are running Xmas carols around this time (some before Halloween even) and I ain’t havin’ that. So my dopi is doin’ major rounds with me as I trek back and forth to work.

Here’s a sampling of what is helpin’ me kick on in this overly festive season of retail nervous breakdowns disguised as retail therapy (more like psychotherapy the way some peops carry on during this time of year, hehe…)

Wait- Chris Brown feat The Game & Trey Songz= second time round for Breezy and Game- I can hardly believe Game doesn’t swear on this track! And OMG, how much does Trey sound like R Kelly and TQ in the same line? I never really liked dude before but this might be the head turner…
Girlfriend- Chris Brown feat Lupe Fiasco= What a fun song! I thought this song might work well on a compilation of pop n’ B songs which could include Timbaland and Miley Cyrus’ effort “We Belong To The Music”. Certainly not the type of song I would have thought I’d ever hear from Chris, given his dramas and quick growing up he’s had to do this year.
Morning After Dark- Timbaland feat SoShy & Nelly Furtado= What a wonderful follow-up single to 2007′s original Shock Value release from Timbaland. SoShy’s sassy deep vocal works well in contrast with Nelly’s nasal tones while Timbaland does his thing. The vid is pretty interesting too, capitalising on Timbaland’s confessed obsession with Twilight.
I’m In The House- Steve Aoki feat Zuper Blahq= If you haven’t already heard it, this track is FIRE!!! It gets me pumped and amped for the day, a great walking exercise song or one for the ravers with their cool glow sticks. If you couldn’t tell from the video or from the voice, Zuper Blahq is the alter ego of one Mr Will.I.Am of the Blackeyed Peas, who are currently undergoing a re-invention of their cool funk and hip hop genre into some fantastical dance music. Steve Aoki is a funky ass DJ, who also happens to be the half brother of actress/model, Devon Aoki, of Sin City and 2 Fast 2 Furious fame.
If We Ever Meet Again- Timbaland feat Katy Perry= An odd pairing but another fantastic outing for a Katy Perry feature. I am excited to see what kid of video clip the two can come up with. I actually thought it would have been made the second single but for some reason, the Drake duet, Say Something, ended up in that slot. Wrong move as Katy Perry’s pop culture status would’ve moved more units in the newly adopted genre by Timbaland.
Nostalgia- Marco Polo feat Masta Ace= man, I just love this song. The beat is infectious and reminds me of a time where auto tune was a thing called the voice box and only really used by the group, Zapp. Where rappers rapped about reality and not what they expected to have. When the beats were simple pieces of music and a drum beat that matched perfectly with the artist. As a producer, I think Marco Polo is one of the finest and him being from Canada (where beats are still fresh and simplistic but real), showcases a sound that many producers today want to leave behind. The song is older but I love it. I hope to dig many more gems out of the crate.
Positively Inclined- Wax Tailor= Holy Shi-OMG, this track is friggin’ awesome. First heard on Rage when Hilltop Hoods were hosting and totally loved the video clip. It is definitely one of those deep hip hop songs that makes me smile at it’s positive message.
Somebody to Love- Leighton Meester feat Robin Thicke= I really loved Leighton’s last song with Cobra Starship but this one took a little while to warm up to. Leighton sounds very lazy to sing/speak on the verses which kinda bored me but when Robin hits the next verse with “baby girl, there you at, lookin’ at me like putty cat..” Melt in your mouth kinda delivery, you know what I mean? I’m surprised his wife, Paula Patton, hadn’t been knocked up earlier with lyrics like those and an album on the way called Sex Therapy, hehe…
Sleep With That- Vanessa Amorosi= Damn. Whoever f*&ked around behind Vanessa’s back gets it good on this track. Chick is pissed and you can certainly hear the vocal bitch slap she gives to her ex significant other and his one night conquest. The album, Hazardous, a well put together piece, more honest than any others and true to Vanessa’s fiery persona.
Dimestore Diamond- Gossip= A perfect introduction to the album that is Music For Men. It showcases Beth Ditto’s deeper tones and the ability of the band to slow it down a bit, compared to their more uptempo hits like Love Long Distance, Heavy Cross and Men In Love. Plus the fact that a full figured woman can front a Top 40 band without backlash is unforgettably awesome! She’s not fat, she’s real!
Slow Motion- Ke$ha= Ke$ha’s take on Juvenile’s earlier cut is a bit hit and miss for some listeners. Personally, I think the song fits in very well with the ego that Ke$ha and her label have put out there for her: raw, sexy without trying, gritty and hip and completely unhygienic!
The Flowers- Amerie= As much as most of Amerie’s songs on the new album, In Love And War, sound pretty much all the same, this one is just a bit different. Well different enough for me to point out that is one of the better written tracks on what was presented in Amerie’s 4th studio album. All the photo shoots done for the album were off the chain. I think Amerie might want to evaluate where her money really comes from because it should be first and foremost, modelling.
Dirty Picture- Taio Cruz feat Ke$ha= The 2nd album from the Nigerian-Brazillian Brit features this tune that should bring more exposure to not only Taio but to Ke$ha as well in the UK. Taio’s sound is crisply R&B and dance and he has a great voice to cover both genres.