1. Bear Cub “Pulling Me Apart” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
2. Admiral Fallow “Subbuteo” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
3. Peter Bradley Adams “Full Moon” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
4. Alexis Marceaux’s “Fox” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
5. Gabe Dixon “Running On Fumes” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
6. The Head & The Heart “Down In The Valley” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
7. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors “Chasing Someday” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
8. Ben Rector “When A Heart Breaks” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
9. Andrew Ripp “You Will Find Me” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
10. Jake Ousley “Wait On Love” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Honorable Mentions (Artists I could not leave off the list)

1. Thad Cockrell “Great Rejoicing” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
2. Parachute Musical “One More Song” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
3. Amy Stroup “Love You Strongly” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
4. The Vespers “Tell Your Mama” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Lastly, we have created a youtube playlist with all of our “Free Music Friday” songs for you to listen all the time!

Check it out and enjoy. If you are digging what we are doign here, make sure you share this!

What do you think?

Family:

“Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.

In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.”

Board of Directors:

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

If it’s anything like the first Blakroc album – which featured Mos Def, RZA, and Raekwon – Blakroc 2 will demonstrate the diversity of these artists’ creativity, which never disappoints. There’s no release date yet, as the video simply says “coming soon.” The bluesy tune in the video indicates that it’s something to look forward to, and is destined to sound better than other rap-rock collaborations to emerge from Nashville recently. Watch the video below (warning, you may experience a contact high).

But beyond pop sensibilities and radio spins, lest we forget that Game is a hardcore rapper from Compton, California,  and, taken as a whole, that is what most of the album is about.  It was a very pleasant surprise to hear Dr. Dre narrate the album.  And after an album introduction where Dre says, “And if you know anything about Killer King [referring to Martin Luther King Hospital], you know this- being born there is just like dying there,” Game, with assistance from Kendrick Lamar, raps with an intensity on “The City” that has not been heard from him in years. It sets the tone for the remaining nineteen tracks.

It is interesting that Pharrell Williams, who also serves as the album’s executive producer, only  contributes one beat.  However, Game’s ability to work with a diverse group of artists and producers is one of the things that have helped him endure over the years and generate a fan base that reaches beyond Left Coast hip-hop purists. Collaborators on R.E.D. include, but are not limited to, DJ Premier, E-40, Cool and Dre, Big Boi, Nelly Furtado and Rick Ross.

Despite its fair share of filler (“Paramedics”, “All the Way Gone”), The R.E.D. album still succeeds at being a solid addition to an already impressive catalogue.  Whether paying homage to Boyz N the Hood (“Ricky”) or sharing a track with Tyler, The Creator and Lil Wayne (“Martians Vs. Goblins”), Game holds his own with great lyrics and flow.  Not since Death Row’s heyday has a rapper done for the West what Game has in the past six years.

On the aforementioned “The City”, Game raps, “ [I’m] the best the West ever seen, no disrespect to Calvin*.”  He’s still about a decade away from that claim holding merit, but The R.E.D. album won’t be held against Game when it might be in the 2020s.

* Snoop Dogg’s real name is Calvin Broadus

1-02 The City (feat. Kendrick Lamar)