I didn’t hate “Rebirth.” I just didn’t like it. This is tolerable and looks like a lot of fun.

B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore – “Airplanes” (mobile users: click/touch link then click/touch “DOWNLOAD” to play)

B.o.B. definitely found his lane and he’s really in control of it right now, don’t you agree? He has that crossover appeal but still respected among unforgiving hip-hop scene. This is the second single off his Atlantic debut, “The Adventures of Bobby Ray.” Look for it to hit iTunes tomorrow and check the album for a part-two of this joint which features Eminem. Yes, as in Marshall Mathers. As for the third single? That’s a joint called “Magic” featuring Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.

This is dope! She channels the late James Brown with the dance moves but she’s so unique. You don’t see many girls dance like she does. She doesn’t dance sexy or anything but it’s still dope to see a girl move the way she does.

Apparently, this song was on “Gossip Girl” a few months back but, I can’t say that I watch that show. This was #nowplaying on Twitter so I decided to give it a try. At 3:00 a.m., I’m willing to give almost anything a try if it’ll entertain my insomnia.

I actually think this is kind of smooth. Marina sings the lyrics to T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” over some original pop beats. The fact that the lyrics are exactly the same is hilarious being that it’s coming from someone that looks like she fell off the Lady Gaga assembly line.

Dan Black featuring Kid Cudi – “Symphonies” Remix

Dan Black – “Hypnotize” Cover

I heard something that sounds similar to “Symphonies” a while back. I thought it was creatively absurd for a guy from the U.K. to sing Biggie’s lyrics over a Rihanna beat. That beat morphed into “Sypmhonies” and now Cudi found it.

Diddy – Dirty Money featuring Lil Wayne – ‘Strobe Lights’

FYI: Diddy says that this is unfinished.
Diddy & co., joined with Lil Wayne, provide some more Auto-tuney sounds to a very awkward sounding song. It’s very electronic, and believe it or not, it gets worse when Lil Wayne gets on it.

I don’t have an issue with anyone stepping outside of the box and bringing forth a new sound but do it right. Diddy comes of as a poser on some of these Dirty Money songs. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t write any of your own material. You don’t know who you are as an artist.

Lil Wayne’s verse sounds very off-beat. I understand what he was going for but it seems like he hit his mark. He also suffers from poser-itis. Some of the tracks on “Rebirth” sound like a joke. A lot of them aren’t even live instruments. That seems like a rock and roll carnal sin. The subject matter is also up and down with all kinds of things that Wayne probably doesn’t relate to.

I say all of that to say this… Be yourself, folks.

Kevin Rudolf x Birdman x Jay Sean x Lil Wayne – “I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)”

Something new from the Cash/Young Mooligans. Kevin Rudolf, who looks like Benjamin Button (You know? Young and old.) was kind of a disappointment. I though he would be bigger.

Vampire Weekend – “California English”

Boukman Eksperyans – Ke’m Pa Soté

I just familiarized myself with Vampire Weekend. I know, I’m late. I’ve heard a lot about them in the last year but never got around to checking them out. I think I had what’s commonly referred to as ‘n*gga-ears.’

Now that I’ve overcome this syndrome that didn’t allow me to listen to anything from a non-prodominantly-black genre, I can now give Vampire Weekend my full, undivided attention.

But is seems like my n*gga-ears picked up on something while listening to their forthcoming sophomore LP, “Contra.” The song “California English” sounds a lot like Haitian kompa music.

Kompa is a kind of folksy, but soulful, sound out of Haiti and some African countries have similar sounding music. VW are speaking in a very indecipherable way that might as well be Haitian Creole. They might want to try their luck in Haiti with this record.

Above, are the songs “California English” by Vampire Weekend and “Ke’m Pa Soté by Boukman Eksperyans, a Haitian band. I’m not saying they’re the same song but the similarities are undeniable. Anyway, open your mind and enjoy.

BONUS by request of iGoon: Vampire Weekend – “Diplomat’s Son”
This one has an irie feel to it.
Shout out to all my Zoes out there.

This is a leaked photo of Wasalu Jaco’s (know to hip-hop as Lupe Fiasco) action figure for a collection that features the rest of his punk group, Japanese Cartoons. How dope is it to be a rapper with an action figure and not having to be in a C-list movie to get it?

via slamXhype

Lil Wayne x Eminem – ‘Drop The World’

Em and Wayne get together for a joint off “Rebirth.” The only rock element this song really has is the live drums on the hook. All in all… The track… Meh…

Here’s another joint where the members of Young Money are looking for Lil Wayne.

Young Money – “Where’s Wayne” via the Goon.