Week of 5/29: SoundClick.com Hip-Hop Top 5

[5/29] NT's SoundClick Top 5

Hats off to everyone who successfully submitted a song to the top 5 this week. Every song offered something enjoyable and I can honestly say that it was very tough hashing out which songs would be in the top 5, let alone the order. A variety of tracks were submitted, from very heartfelt and touching to club bangers, hood style, alternative, and all in between.

With such stiff competition, this weeks competition came down to two things -- execution and replay value. Did you song do what it was set out to do? Did you perform well? Does the mix sound proper? And, more importantly, would I want to hear this song again? Again, the bar was set pretty high this week, which makes this week's top 5 selection that much more impressive:

Chayse Maclair - Always on the Outside
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10689237

picKOne - Dope
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10682378

Mr Showtime - When I Wake Up (W/ Yung Tek)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10687408

Moose - Fall in the Cracks
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10668795

Boss Game - I Be Goin' Off
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10677133

Chayse Maclair continues his stranglehold on the top spot this week with a creative and interesting track, "Always on the Outside." It's both the topic and the metaphorical foundation for this song, and a proper delivery over and exciting and dynamic beat give this song the lift it needs to earn it's spot. The storytelling lyrics here are not only on-point in the sense that they are well-written, but they also fit the beat, a tough task when a beat changes continually throughout. It begins from the perspective of a hard-working man facing a homeless beggar, then flips to the homeless man's perspective to tell an interesting tale, leaving the listener to side either way, both with compelling sides. The one misstep here I found -- I wish there was no hook in the middle, I would rather have the story continue and finish with a hook at the end. I understand why it was composed the way it was, and it works as-is, but that is an improvement I think would have made this that much better.

A close second, Jane G33 and Ackurate represent their group picKOne well with a lyrical banger, aptly named "Dope." Jane particularly bodies this track with some sharp, witty lyrics and wordplay. Ackurate complements well with great rhymes and grimy lyrics and they trade half-verses on a soulful head-bobbing beat that both takes you back and grabs you by the eardrum the second the track hits. The quality is great, though maybe the verses could have been a hair louder, but the one thing I think keeps this out the #1 spot this week is replay value. It's a fantastic listen (or three), but it's not the storytelling track that strums at your mind and conscious like the #1 track does. Overall, though, this was well put together and gives you a feel like this is what hip-hop should sound like.

So, how the hell do you follow those acts? A tough task indeed, but Mr. Showtime makes a great effort with "When I Wake Up." It's a rap about rapping (imagine that!), but it's actually well-done, with some witty lyrics and a touch of wordplay here and there. Like the #2 song, Mr. Showtime and his featured guest, Yung Tek, trade half-verses, particularly shining on the second verse (which sold me on it's top 5 spot). The quality here is good but the beat here puts a stamp on this one for me, awesome selection. The hook sounds great over it and it's got that "it" factor. It's certainly a love it or hate it or song, and you see which side I'm taking. It doesn't have the lyrical dexterity of the songs above, but it's definitely a fun listen.

A number of very personal tracks were submitted this week, and it's very hard for me to not select all of those as my top 5 because I have a personal bias toward tracks like that (though, of course, my top 5 is my top 5). That said, the one that shined the most for me this week was Moose's "Fall in the Cracks." It's got a solid hook that engages the listener and makes me somehow feel involved. The delivery needs a breath of life, but the lyrics are both solid and relate-able. I did not like how the song ended, a song like this needs a second hook to finish and a fade-out, not just a stop. Polish and presentation is key and these things can make a difference to the listener. Polish is one of those things no one really pays attention to when it's there, but when it's missing, you notice. So, while it may take more time that you care to put in at the time, it's worth it. It's the difference between great and good. Still, this song is good and earns a top 5 selection.

Probably the second-toughest pick this week (second only to choosing the #1 spot) was the #5 spot. There were a number of great songs that could have made it, but Boss Game's "I Be Goin' Off" showed the completeness, quality, and replay value necessary to make the top 5 this week. A quality, catchy hook interludes three verse with high energy and fun wordplay. It's an easy-going track, so don't expect your mind blown here, but it's quality and a good listen, and you'll be hard-pressed not to sing along. I do feel that the final verse needs a bridge before it to truly sew this song up; the beat makes it a bit difficult to get through that last one, but a solid hook eases that burden. Overall, a high-energy effort with just enough lyrical dexterity to keep me interested at a pace to match the fast-moving instrumental.

And that's my five for the week. Overall, an awesome selection to choose from and I felt the cream rose here. I was certainly impressed by every one's submissions and this was definitely one of the toughest weeks for me in terms of track selection. It's a good problem to have and I'm looking forward to more next week. Everyone upped their game this week, the quality is improving and the hard work is paying off. Once more, hats off to everyone who submitted this week.

N. Talekt

Week of 5/22: SoundClick.com Hip-Hop Top 5

[5/22] NT's SoundClick Top 5

Some talented artists presented a full selection of music for me to choose the top 5 tracks for the week, and while I'm confident with my choices, there were a few close calls with the order. While I will preface by saying that there could be a bit of quality improvement in most of the tracks in terms of mixing, I thoroughly enjoyed the product after looking past these issues.

However, I hope that the mix quality continues to improve in the coming weeks. Half of delivering a solid track is in the performance, the other half is in the presentation - the mix. While I understand the struggles of the Soundclick.com artist in the department, hence I see past it, keep in mind that this will throw off some listeners and hurt you when it comes to reaching out to a broader audience.

That said, here's a very solid top 5 for the week.

Chayse MacLair - Just Breathe (f/ Boss Game)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10660166

Jonny B - Thank God I'm Me (f/ Jay Tres AKA Infinite Styles)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10661196

Jo-Kane - Up In The Club
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9790449

Valo - Honorable Mention
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=8513429

Aztek - Can You Feel Me?
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10639145

The #1 and #2 spots really came down to quality, and the W in this department goes to Chayse Maclair's "Just Breathe." While it's not a track that will wow you with lyricism, for me, it has that all-elusive "it" factor. Chayse & his guest, Boss Game, deliver a very effective collaborate hook over a gritty, string-happy backdrop. Really, the beat is the grabber here and both Chayse and Boss deliver nicely, riding the beat both flawlessly and effortlessly. Chayse starts with a nice verse to get the song going and Boss Game finishes off nicely. A solid track that's enjoyable but, most importantly, has good enough quality to make my playlist.

Following that is an introspective effort from the ever-improving Jonny B, enlisting Infinite Styles to deliver a fire middle verse. This track has a very interesting beat and nice hook, something that I'm sure anyone can relate to and can be seen as somewhat of an anthem. It works well. Jonny delivers a couple of open and honest verses here that really let you into the man behind the mic. The main flaw in this track, though, comes apparent when the second verse drops. Hearing the clean, crisp quality of the second verse & hook highlight the poor mix of Jonny's verses. I'm not sure where the extra echo is coming from, but it seems like it was intended, as opposed to a poor mic. Lose that effect to make this more bearable. Or, maybe the backup vocals are off? Either way, get rid of it and this song get even better. Storytelling lyrics here are damn solid on all verse and are worth a few listens.

The #3 song is a very surprising song by Jo-Kane, "Up In The Club." From the onset of the song, I was a bit inclined to skip it, but I let it ride and was not disappointed. The beat is interesting, laid back, and very fitting for the overall track. Once the hook drops, though, I'm a bit disappointed. I thought it was just going to be a track talking about fine chicks in the club, which I've heard too many times to count. However, it's actually a quite complete story of a man visiting a strip club for the night, detailing what happens and, most focally, how it affects his relationship with his girlfriend. It concludes with an internal debate that shows all sides of the narrator, which I won't spoil here. What I'm getting at is that it's an interesting story that makes you want to continue to listen and find out where it goes. So, two spots to improve here. First, I was hoping for a third verse to really wrap the story. While I can guess what happens by the way the second verse ends, a third would have really cleaned it up and put a bow on this track. Second, of course, is mix quality. I have heard more recent work from Jo-Kane so I know this can improve. Regardless, a surprisingly tight track.

Valo slips a spot this week to #4 with the eerie yet ugly truth presented in "Honorable Mention." While I'm not really sure what the hook was talking about (sorry, didn't get it), the verses were solid lyrically. The stories were well-written and true to life, which I can appreciate. Listening to some other Valo tracks, you can tell he's certainly a good storyteller. The quality here wasn't bad, just turn up the vocals a tad. The actually delivery of the verses, though, was a bit muffled and hard to understand. I think it was speech clarity failing here more than the mix. It took a bit of effort to hear each word and decipher what was being said. Was great when I heard the words, but I shouldn't have to work to do so. It's hard to have both emotion and good delivery on a song like this, but it has to be done.

Wrapping up the top 5 this week is "Can You Feel Me?" by Aztek. What saved this track from slipping out of the top 5 was the beat and the hook. The verse were well-written and worked well with each other. It was definitely a track that had replay value, and whomever sung the hook did a great job with this. However, I can certainly tell this was done in two different studios. The auto-tune effect on the verse is overdone and does not match the artist. Actually, I think the song would sound just fine without any auto-tune because the artist has a deep voice. Typically, higher-pitched voices sound a bit better with those effects. Getting past the mix yields an interesting story of a borderline-psycho man who refuses to let go of his woman -- at any costs. The vibe from this track is also head-nodding and the smooth delivery of the verse works. Overall, a solid track worth the listens.

And there's your top 5 for the week. Certainly some songs here for your playlists despite some missteps with the mix quality in some tracks. I think the storytelling in a few of the songs was very well done and I'm digging the thought behind the words. I'm hoping for more of the same next week.

N. Talekt

Week of 5/15: SoundClick.com Hip-Hop Top 5

Have I mentioned I love hip hop lately? I think artists, myself included, spend a lot of time complaining about the state of hip hop, but what I like an appreciate about the music is that it has a lot of different aspect and sub-genres, styles and messages, all which offer something different while at the same time being enjoyable. With that, I present a very interesting top 5 for the week.

Boss Game - It's All G
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10606189

Mike Game Music - Get Down
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10649603

Valo the Inovata - Storyteller
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=8330651

Mod D - Still Ridin' Clean
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10593425

He Man Huff - Watch What U Say (f/ Thuggy Fresh)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10643355

This week, Boss Game "SLAP!"s you in the face (play the track, you'll get it) with a banging track titled "It's All G." Frankly, it's not different than anything I've heard before, but I think that the beat, lyrics, and flow actually present a *feeling* that represents what the song is talking about. The "it" factor plays a role in here garnering the #1 spot. It really reminds me of something I'd hear Paul Wall (big Paul, not skinny Paul) rapping about, and if you've listened to him, you know he's really hit or miss. This track is on the good side of that. Finally, the actual composure of the track is well done, in terms of the mixing of both the hook and the verses. This attention to details makes for not just a good track, but a complete song, which you don't always find on Soundclick, so you have to appreciate the time put into the work.

Follow that up with "Get Down," presented by Mike Game Music. This track has a nice bounce to it with some aggressive lyrics to complement. The third verse shines for me with some nice rhymes and is an overall thumbs up track. I think the hook should have had actual words over the sample, though, but it's not bad as-is. Wordplay here was also interesting, but the filler lacked a bit of substance which sort of gave off a "why am I listening to this" feel. That's where the third verse comes in and brings back some much-needed focus to the song and probably the best verse lyrically. Overall, this assault with a barrage of lyrics that stands tall in the top 5, but a slight lull in the middle & a craving for a hook has me asking for a bit more.

"StoryTeller" by Valo the Inovata is a strong track that, as the name suggests, tells a story -- or two. My first gripe here is the mix quality. This track would be a lot stronger with better quality, and I feel that attention to detail is necessary for a track like this. The second verse sounded (quality-wise) better than the first, so if you could sync that up, this would be even better. Despite that, the stories are strong and clear. One thing I noticed was the lyrics were a bit overly simple for me. I understand that with stories, clarity trumps being lyrical, but at the same time, it was a bit too "club to the head" for me. I think some details could have been fleshed out more. One thing people tend to do when telling stories when they are inexperienced with it is skip out on details that they themselves are fully aware of. Your audience at least needs some backdrop and information about these personal stories in order to become invested and relate to the track. That said, it's still a powerful track, if nothing else, for a magnificent backdrop provided by the beat, and even with the flaws, it still shines.

Mod D's "Still Ridin' Clean" was originally slated to round out the top 5 this week, but after another listen, I bumped it up to #4. For me, this was the most disappointing track in the list, but not for the obvious reasons. The song itself is pretty much (mercifully) 32 bars and a hook about getting head, not obvious from the song title. If you thought Royce da 5'9" talked about his manhood a lot, well ... you haven't heard anything yet. The disappointing thing for me here is that the lyrics and especially the flow are actually on-point, interesting rhymes and some wordplay here and there actually keep the song interesting throughout, despite the subject matter. It makes me want to hear this rapper actually rap about something. I feel like he has a talent and a chance to break out and shine based on his work here, and I challenge him to take on a broader range of topics that do more than scratch the surface and review topics we've heard a thousand times. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like he has a lot more to offer than we were shown with this outing. That said, the song, though something I've heard before, works well and has a smooth feel to it; I feel like the artist accomplished what he set out to do with the track, so that earns points. Again, this track just gives me a "tip of the iceburg" feeling that makes me demand more.

He Man Huff & Thuggy Fresh present a T.I.-esque warning with "Watch What You Say" to round out the top 5. A laconic, but fitting, hook does the warning, interluding verses going into further discussion of specifics. The first verse stands out at the best of this track but the second Thuggy Fresh hops on the mic, I kind of lose patience. Keep in mind, the mix here was distracting already, so the ice was already thin. The reason, for me, is because the lyrics were exact lines I've heard time and time again, and the mix make him sound a bit goofy; it's too offsetting against the other verse & hook for me. Regardless, while this song is not my particular cup of tea, I think that the target audience will feel it after a bit of attention to the mixing. As-is, it lacks the replay value and originality to make it bang.

Overall, as I said at the beginning, hip hop has always been about expression and diversity, and I think the top 5 delivers on that, from tracks based on lyrical assault to riding anthems, from stories to hood rap, I think there is room for it all when it is done well. The goal is really to represent and relate to your audience, and despite the flaws in some of the tracks, I think everyone does a good job in that aspect. Of course, there is room for improvement everywhere, but as a listener, I can appreciate the work and applaud the entrants.

Look forward to next week!

N. Talekt

Week of 5/8: SoundClick.com Hip-Hop Top 5

This week gave some tough decisions as to the top five ordering, but for me, the final verdicts came down to replay value. What song would I play again? Here's the rather enjoyable list for the week:

He Man Huff - It's All On Me
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10608381

Boss Game - The Way I Be
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10598697

Chayse MacLair - I Aint Tossin In the Towel Remix
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10606870

Stat Boi - No Lie (f/ Jamar and Deshawanna)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10597267

Mic S. - I Am Just a Monster (f/ Boss Game & N. Talekt)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10610473

This week, He Man Huff snatches the top spot with "It's All On Me." Why? Simple: replay value. A simple track with three verses with storytelling lyrics cover personal topics for the artist in a way the listener can relate to. The hook ties the stories together well, just as a good hook should. The quality could be better mix-wise, put getting past that, the track is great. A big part of having a successful track is being able to have your audience not just enjoy your music, but feel you music. The more they can personalize their experiences with your music, the more they crave your work.

A close second this week comes with a rawkus Boss Game track, "The Way I Be." The beat drops and you can't help but nod your head. Boss rides the beat well here and the rest really takes care of itself. It's a track that sounds official, I could hear it in the car, the radio, the club. The quality is great, even the introductory ad-libs, which is typically where Boss Game's tracks falter. The single issue I had with this song was length and variation. I felt like there should have been a bridge and a third verse. That would have made this song out the park, giving it the variation it needs to be dynamic and repeat-able. As is, it's pretty cool, just missing the edge.

Right up there with the previous two is Chayse MacLair's effort. This track discusses Chayse's refusal to, well, toss in the towel. Chayse carries himself on the mic in a confident, consistent way that makes all of his tracks have potential for breakout success. This is no different. AllRounda supplies a nice backdrop and Chayse keeps the witty, interesting lyrics coming. The quality is pretty good, better than He Man Huffs but not quite as good as Boss Game. I think the bridge here, a missing link in Boss Game's track, was a swing and a miss -- good idea, wasn't feeling the execution.

Between these three tracks, it's hard to say which one shines the most. I would say pick a day, and I may give you a different answer. Today, at this moment, this order is how it shakes out. But frankly, it's a toss up. Chayse did an excellent job with his song this week, Boss Game's song had me rockin, and I was feelin' He Man's topics of discussion. Great job to the top 3 this week.

Now, the four spot is more clearly the four this week; don't get me wrong, I think it may have ranked higher on a less competitive week, but not on this occasion. Overall, the quality is ok, not bad, not perfect, from Stat Boi & company. The song is something to smoke to (which I don't, so maybe that's why I don't relate), with a well-delivered, but nonsensical hook. The verses were a bit pedestrian here, but I'm not sure if that wasn't on purpose. I was expecting a bit more from the girl, but she seemed to put her delivery on cruise control (could also be a mixing fail). Overall, the song comes out solid & I think the target audience would enjoy it, but not my cup of tea here.

For the final spot, a bias choice here rounds out the list with Mic S.'s psychotic track "I Am Just a Monster." Everyone goes in and delivers some nasty verses over a pounding, eerie beat. A fresh sound and a good outing overall.

As always, nice work this week by everyone, especially to the top three this week. Again, a tough decision that could have shaken out in a number of different variations, and I went back and forth with it for some time, but again, after listening to the track multiple times, the one that wore off the least was the one I left atop for today. I expect more of the same next week.

N. Talekt

Week of 5/1: SoundClick.com Hip-Hop Top 5

A pretty low-activity week this week, but still managed to carve out five songs that you should give a spin this week on SoundClick.com:

Jonny B - Set Me Free (f/ Chayse MacLair)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10573021

The True Bonanza - Love Knocked Me Down
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10583118

Rah Scrilla - Can't Miss This Show (On In Five)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10371640

Boss Game - On Top
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10541680

Established Dons - Killing Spree (f/ G-Lotto)
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10544565

This week, Jonny B moves up from #5 to #1 with "Set Me Free," a heart-felt tale about love, family, and personal demons. Piercing lyrics and a commanding beat make this song really stick out, and Chayse does what he does providing a smooth hook to bridge Jonny's tale. It's a story we all can relate to, and Jonny provides witty yet well-written lyrics with interesting rhymes to tell the story. Very nice work here; while the selection was small this week, I think regardless, this track would have been top 3 easily amongst a number of competitors.

A gem found amidst the beat promotions, open collabs, and peep my track threads was The True Bonanza's "Love Knocked Me Down." It's well-deserving of some attention, but as of this writing, hasn't gotten any. The song is very well put together, the mixing is decent, and the lyrics are nice. I think the hook is a bit cheesy and some of the rhymes are forced, and words unnatural, but the verses are pretty good, especially the second verse. A confident performance here with a well-delivered hook and great beat make this a great listen, deserving of a spot on the list.

The rest of the tracks are also good listens. Rah Scrilla's "Can't Miss This Show" is aptly named. Witty lyrics woven into a nice anthem for his fanbase make this a standout track for me. Boss Game's "On Top" kinda falls short on the hook, but the verses are smooth and the beat works. Rounding out the list is "Killing Spree", basically one of my tracks to fill the list but a good listen nonetheless and brings something different to the table in relation to the rest of this week's selection.

As always, nice work this week by everyone, happy to see the good work coming out, and I'll be back next week with more...

N. Talekt