Legacy Track of the Week: Miguel - Banana Clip
“(Girl) M16 on my lap (on my lap), Korean missiles in the sky, no matter where I go on the map (on the map), you got my protection (oh my love)” All you really need to know is that Miguel really does have a signature sound and this song is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 The melody is tight and the metaphors are as clever as they need to be, I’m looking forward to the cinematic video hopefully to be released real soon.
Miguel - Told You So
“Oh, I don't wanna say I told you so, oh, but I told you so, no, I don't wanna say I told you so, but I told you so” Sure enough a resemblance of that cinematic video in mind is right here, tightly laced within the production and songwriting provided by famed musicians Happy Perez and Jeff Bhasker, who by their own credits are two of the most talented behind-the-scenes artists in all of music. This one in all it’s simplicity is a certified banger, and I can’t recall the last time I labeled a record as such. press play and enjoy.
Miguel ft J Cole & Salaam Remi - Come Through and Chill
“Yeah, I don't wanna put no pressure on ya, I just wanna put a blessing on ya, since our last undressing session I'm not really sure if you've been checkin', I'm progressin', I just heard my songs is poppin out in Macedonia, and even Serbia, I don't mean to burden ya, if you got a man since then, I understand, last thing I wanna do is get you jammed, specially if he's a fan, he'll prolly never wanna hear my shit again” J Cole laces the remix and album version of a previously released Soundcloud record last year, and produced by Salaam Remi this one was all copacetic. It was apparently produced in Remi’s full studio home outside of South Beach in Miami, and Cole not only spits a memorable verse but even plays the guitar on the track’s mastering as well.
Miguel - Pineapple Skies
“backslide, backslide, gimme your bass line, bass line, oh, I wanna know, wanna know…” Another Salaam Remi produced track in addition to Detail and Sidney Swift, this is another one of the highlights off Miguel’s fourth studio album War & Leisure.
Miguel ft Travis Scott - Skywalker
“Cap and a stem, catch a wave on us (splish), take a shot, make a friend, just enjoy the moment, I'm Luke Skywalkin' on these haters (splish), celebrate every day like a birthday, good things come to those that wait up (splish), but don't wait to jump in too long, don't sleep, you gotta stay up (splish), don't, don't sleep, you gotta stay up” Another one produced by Happy Perez (who’s been collaborating with Miguel since his first album, and produced one of it’s more memorable cuts) this is arguably one of the singles of the year in all it’s simplicity and Star Wars references… this one is a vibe.
Miguel ft Rick Ross - Criminal
“Got a mind full of TNT, I need a lunatic just like me, paint the sky with a brush fire, yeah, like la, la, la, la, la” Miguel looks for the Bonnie to his Clyde in the intro to War & Leisure, which along with Ross appropriately sets the tone for what’s to come on the album. Ultimately it’s not a heater but it’s worth a listen.
JR Writer - Can’t Stay Away
“Wait, better tell them all, I was 5’8” but I kept it tall, Manute Bol when I’m lettin off, I would school holmes, LaMelo Ball, dawg, y’all on some amateur shit, why would you claim to spit? Super Sweet Sixteen, which one of your parents are rich? Huh?” Writer coasts on this 🔥🔥🔥 and that’s one of my favorite verses to close out the year.
JR Writer ft Dave East - I Really Rap
“In Harlem I’m goody, I’m mobbin was hoody, you play me just a lil B, I’ma stomp you and boogie, I’m far from a rookie, don't disrespect it, and just expect it, your girl gon throw the mouth piece until she get rejected” BARS from Writer here and the title record for the project doesn’t disappoint, although through 12 records I ultimately expected more.
JR Writer - Prey
“It’s a slum, we don’t fumble we go bundle after bundle I’m from Harlem son, you ain’t gotta wonder where I’m from” Writer coasts on this yet unfortunately this is one of the rare highlights off the tape.
JR Writer - Losin’ It
“Not to mention I’m crack and so much of a Rap God, you ***** is wack I should mumble my last bars” Zeus closes out his latest mixtape strong, yet ultimately in consideration of his talent I’m forever awaiting another appropriate studio album, and yes History in the Making had more than just a few good moments on it. [On a side note I don’t respect any Dipset reunion without Writer involved, and both Jimmy and Cam need to explain why one of their greatest generals doesn’t get the respect he deserves].
U2 - Love Is All We Have Left
“Nothing to stop this being the best day ever, nothing to keep us from where we should be, I wanted the world but you knew better, and that all we have is immortality” The introduction to U2’s fourteenth studio album Songs of Experience is as far as I can tell one of their most iconic records in many years, as essentially when I think of the essence of U2 it’s a record just like this one, and if I was them I would put Bono under the lights of Time Square and have him perform this record like only he could.
U2 - You’re The Best Thing About Me
“You're the best thing about me, I'm the kind of trouble that you enjoy, you're the best thing about me, the best things are easy to destroy” A decent single and I’m not mad at this
U2 - Red Flag Day
“Baby it's a Red Flag Day, baby let's get in the water, taken out by a wave, where we've never been before” Track 7 is one of the standouts on Songs of Experience, and is thought to be symbolic of the Syrian Refugee Crisis that has been largely ignored by mainstream news. This is certainly not the first time Bono and company have made a political record with a purpose, and this one is right in line with all of their classics before.