NYC-based Mel D. Cole a.k.a.Village Slumshoots mostly black and white, but whatever he shoots, it’s in-your-face and awesome. His work got attention from shooting Erykah Badu and Common in 2001, and since then he’s become known as the “house photographer” for the legendary Roots Crew and has been pinpointed by Questlove as his favorite contemporary photographer.
Kid Cudi Ft King Chip – Just What I Am
Album: Indicud
Kid Cudi made his name as a stoner rapperbefore ditching Mary Jane for cocaine and a stream of problems. Just What I Am is Cudi’s chill anthem about his return to cannabis. Sometimes people blame cannabis for personal issues and take a break from it. When they get their life back in balance and realize that it wasn’t the herb causing the problems, reuniting with the medicine becomes a celebration.
For his directorial debut, Kid Cudi said he wanted to make a music video designed to be watched on shrooms and herb.
Neighbors knockin’ on the door, asking can we turn it down
I say, “Ain’t no music on” she said, “Naw, that weed is loud”
I need smoke
I need to smoke
Who gon’ hold me down now
I wanna get high y’all
I wanna get high y’all
Kid Cudi Ft King Chip – Just What I Am Instrumental
Technodrome1 (Joshua Williams), takes pictures of your favorite icons and adds a hit of acid to them. The neon bright color pallet instantly draws you as you admire his images covered in graffiti-like technicolor strokes.
Some of his favorite artists include people from the past and present, pop and not such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basqiat, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Picasso and Mr. Brainwash. He likes to try to illustrate what being a kid was like and hopes those fun aspects are shown in his art.
Some people don’t even know what the fuck it is and that shit blows my mind. Like, “What’s a Technodrome? I’ve never even seen Ninja Turtles.” I don’t even know how that went over your head, for real [Laughs]. That shit is like a staple. Especially for our generation, they had to have seen Ninja Turtles. I don’t know why I fell in love with that cartoon; it’s so weird. What the fuck? Them niggas was all potheads eating pizza and talking about surfing. That shit goes hard and they beat niggas’ asses, b.
Wu Tang Clan – Technodrome1
Beavis – Technodrome1
Daft Punk – Technodrome1
Kendrick Lamar – Technodrome1
Mario Shroom – Technodrome1
The RZA – Technodrome1
Magneto – Technodrome1
I’ve always liked Frank Miller and Jim Lee comics and I always tried to copy their style. Some people are like, “Yo, you can’t do that, that’s cheating, that’s biting.” But now as an adult I realize that I do that unconsciously with stuff I like and it comes out in my work and I’m not even trying to copy somebody. I see something that I think is fly, it stays in my mind and it comes out.
Kid Cudi – Technodrome1
Batman Vs Joker – Technodrome1
American Psycho (Christian Bale)- Technodrome1
The color schemes I use can only be explained in one word: Acid [Laughs]. You could put that in there because I don’t know why I use these colors. Sometimes the colors vibrate and I wasn’t even trying to do that. Like the pieces that look 3-D or with the pieces that have tiles in the background.
Lana Del Rey – Technodrome1
Taxi Driver (Robert De Niro) – Technodrome1
Snoop Dogg- Technodrome1
Griffith (Berserk)- Technodrome1
Rocko’s Modern Life – Technodrome1
ASAP Rocky – Technodrome1
Wednesday, The Addams Family (Christina Ricci) – Technodrome1
Featuring a neck-breaking beat from Black Milk, the track finds A.Dd+’s Slim Gravy and Paris Pershun detailing the topics that keep them up at night. The whole venting/getting-shit-off-my-chest approach obviously isn’t new to hip-hop, but it’s rare that it’s executed this well. If you’re still sleeping on these guys, you better wake up.
17. Wale ft. Miguel – Lotus Flower Bomb
This mellow track from Wale finds him spitting verses about his lady love while Miguel provides the hook. Lotus flower is named “padma” or “kamala,” which also means vagina.
16. Vic The NorthStar – How I’m Doing
Ottawa-based emcee Vic the Northstar spits about his grind and hard work, a testament to his youth and ambition.
15. J. Cole ft. Trey Songz – Can’t Get Enough
J. Cole and Trey Songz hang with a beach full of babes in their video for Can’t Get Enough. Eventually they’re joined by Cole’s label mate Rihanna, who waves a flag, puffs on a cigar, and plays in the sand in her home country of Barbados.
Rockie Fresh and Casey Veggies were two of the nominees for the XXL Freshmen List, the two bring their summertime, cruise friendly Hip-Hop duet to the forefront with the visual at somebody’s country club.
13. The Black Keys – Lonely Boy
The Black Keys are still hot from the breakout success of their previous album Brothers, and “Lonely Boy” from their latest El Camino proves that the band’s still got a handle on crafting amazing hooks.
12. Miguel – Sure Thing
Every once in a while something comes out of those speakers and catches you off guard. Miguel’s got the same recipe as everybody else, but he’s tweaked it just enough to make his songs distinctive. The bass on Sure Thing sighs in the most soothing way just before the beat drops.
11. The Cool Kids Ft. Bun B – Gas Station
The simple hook, the patient kick drum and snaps, and Mikey’s smooth-talk laziness “Throw it in reverse for a shorty with the works/Write my number on some paper then throw it in her purse/As I ride by, first things first/nine times out of ten that cool shit usually works” all recall vintage Cool Kids.
Click on Page 2 to continue the countdown with Clams Casino, Das Racist and J Cole
