Kanye West presents GOOD Music: Cruel Summer

Good Music Cruel Summer

R. Kelly, Big Sean, John Legend, Kid Cudi and, of course, BFF Jay-Z are just some of the big wigs that emerge, with this album, from the dirty depths of old-school rap with a stank like it’s fresh from the ghetto. 

You’re immediately hooked when Big Sean starts throwing creamy rhymes your way in Clique – a clique you definitely want to be a part of: Ye, Rih, B and LeBron are mentioned by Jay-Z. And Kanye? Well he goes on with lyrics to inspire jealousy about the outrageous success of Niggas in Paris, his Maybach and being neighbours with TC. A bit OTT but classic Kanye nonetheless.

Mercy spits thick, nose-wrinkling beats at you with fiery force. They glare at you sideways. It’s undoubtedly the best song on the album. It is truly filthy. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and Kanye himself fill the beats with the dirtiness they deserve. Wind the windows down and sink low in your seat, one hand on the wheel. Sure enough, you’ll start believing you’re the baddest kid in town.

Kid Cudi and Kanye West

Take it down a notch and get yourself some romancing tips, hustler style, from Bliss. John Legend and Teyana Taylor tell the typical love story of girl meets boy, boy takes girl to London in his private jet while showering her in gifts from Tiffany. Okay, not so typical. But this song is as smooth as silk and John Legend’s voice is unbelievably cool. The track is complementary yet stands alone within the album, which manages to maintain its street cred even without one mention of the ‘n’ word.

This entire album is seriously cool. It takes it back to the streets, with subtleties of rap beginnings. It’s stripped to basics, the songs riddled with clever rhymes and a brilliant beat, all performed by some insanely successful artists – hand-picked by Ye, it’s his custom-made album. Best played loud.

By Natalie Brunoli

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2013 - A Somewhat Big Day Out?

Festival heads around Australia would have received a little somethin' somethin' in their inboxes last week telling them to save the date - the Big Day Out 2013 Line Up is coming!!

But close your eyes and remember January 2012, and you may recall the widely discussed changes that the "Not such a Big Day Out" saw.  For a festival that has once had headliners such as Marilyn Manson, The Prodigy, Rage Against the Machine, The Ramones, The White Stripes and Nirvana gracing their stages, the more recent line ups have seemed lacklustre in comparison. Whilst there has been an explosion of festivals, from various genres, across Australia it seems the Big Day Out coordinators have been happy to take a step back from the limelight and let the other festivals have their time to shine. A strategic step? Maybe - but replacing your headlining acts with a water slide? To some - not such a rock and roll move.

A sight often witnessed at Big Day Out festivals
across Australia.

Yes, last year we did see international superstar Kanye West take to the stage, but the festival's headliner pulled out of 3 of the 6 festival spots he was lined up for, and for the most part of the others was lying on his back talking about his feelings through auto tune.

Kimbra amazed during her
2012 Big Day Out sets

2012 saw some of the best acts not on the main stage, with discovery of the amazing Kimbra for many, the always entertaining boys from Bluejuice doing what they do best and Foster the People drawing crowds away from Noel Gallagher. And then there are your festival regulars - the bands whose names are synonymous with "Big Day Out" - but are these acts getting tired? or alternatively are these acts the reasons the same people keep coming back?

This time next week we will have the first announcement of the line up for the 2013 Big Day Out. This time next week we may be able to tell if Big Day Out really is losing it's edge or if it will be redeeming itself for this year's disappointments.

But at the end of the day a festival is always going to be what you make it, and nothing beats the feeling of seeing your favourite band live, losing your shit with your friends and confusing bass-lines with your heart beat. There's a reason we keep going back after all.

This year tickets will be $165.00 - no catches!...
(apparently - carbon tax levy anyone?)

Big Day Out regulars Hilltop Hoods - Circa 2010

The line up will be announcced 12:01 Monday 16th July - $165.00 per ticket, On sale July 19th.

For more information on tickets or on how you can win a trip to Lollapalooza head to the

 Big Day Out Official Website.

Pop Fix: Rita Ora

When I first saw Rita Ora on my television screen it scared me a little that someone had created a Ke$ha-Rihanna hybrid, - little did I know the man behind that was musical genius Jay-Z.  After learning a bit more about the "How We Do (Party)" songstress, it became apparent there is a lot more to Rita Ora than first meets the eye.

Rita Ora - the next big thing?

Rita Ora's name has been known by some for a number of years, appearing on various music competition shows in the UK - more notably Eurovision in 2009.  It was last year that Rita really made a splash when she leant her vocal's to DJ Fresh for the song "Hot Right Now," which went on to become the fastest selling single in the UK of 2012, and the first drum and bass song to reach number 1 on the UK charts.

Taken under Jay-Z's wing and record label Roc Nation, Rita says she has learnt the importance of patience, discovering her sound and what music she would like to create; "I feel like my fans wanna hear [me] a real girl, saying something real."

Her first single "How We Do (Party)" has become a hit on commercial radio across Australia and is currently sitting at number 20 on the ARIA Charts.  The song features the refrain "Party and Bullshit" from the Notorious B.I.G, - and we can expect more hip hop/rnb influences on her debut album with cameos from Kanye West, The Dream and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas.

With the hard work put into her music so far, and influences from the above, - as well as her own idols Gwen Stefani, Aretha Franklin and Beyonce, - it is apparent that Rita Ora has big plans and a lot to say.

“I don’t really care about that [fame] stuff, man. I don’t think it’s important. If it happens, it happens. But it’s something you shouldn’t care about or want to control, because you can’t. You can only control what you put out. What happens after that is not in your hands.”

- Rita speaks to Vibe.Com

Rita Ora's debut single "How We Do (Party)" Features the catchy Notorious B.I.G
phrase "Party and Bullshit, and Party and Bullshit and Party and Bullshit..."

See Rita's full interview with Vibe Online