Lyrics Of The Week: September 13-19

There's quite a bit of repetition in the game these days, and specific bars are often overlooked (with the exception of Drake's poesy). This is an opportunity to take a closer listen and really consider what these artists have to say. We encourage your opinions.

Keep in mind, these are the most noteworthy lyrics of the week, not necessarily the best. Also, it's hard to get everything right - if you notice any errors, don't hesitate to let us know in the comments section. Lines we're not quite sure about will be bolded.

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One of the more notable cuts from Pusha T's upcoming album My Name Is My Name. Both emcees reflect on their early experiences with cocaine and crack, flowing viscerally over a sparse instrumental from Nottz with a KRS-One sample on the hook. 

Pusha comes from a drug dealing background, having become involved in that world at a fairly early age. Kendrick grew up watching those closest to him fall victim to the 80's crack epidemic. Although very different as emcees, Kendrick matches Pusha T's aggressiveness on the track, and the juxtaposition works. This is raw hip-hop, without a doubt. 

[Excerpt: Pusha T]

Couldn't do wrong with a chest full of chains and a arm full of watches
What I sell for pain in the 'hood, I'm a doctor
Zhivago, tried to fight the urge like Ivan Drago
If he dies he dies, like Doughboy to Tre
If he rides he rides, throwin' punches in his room
If he cries he cries, we don't drink away the pain
When a nigga die we add a link to the chain
Inscribe a nigga name in your flesh
We playin' on a higher game of chess
Once you delegate his bills who's gon' fuck his bitch the best?

[Excerpt: Kendrick Lamar]

Quantum physics could never show you the world I was in
When I was ten...
Back when nine ounces had got you ten
And nine times out of ten, niggas don't pay attention
And when it's tension in the air, 9s come with extensions
My daddy dumped a quarter piece to a four and a half
Took a L, started sellin' soap, fiends bubble bath
Broke his nails misusin' his pinky to treat his nose
Shirt buttoned open, taco meat land on his gold
I said "daddy, one day I'mma get you right with 36 zips
1000 grams of cocaine then your name will be rich

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The latest leak from Danny Brown's upcoming album OLD is the introduction to the project, and finds him responding to those who "want that old Danny Brown back". With a gruffer, more baritone flow, Brown vividly describes the struggles of poverty during the winter months in Detroit. Surrounded by addicts and selling drugs to make ends meet, he did whatever was necessary to keep the lights on.

Although the Michigan emcee has since become quite successful in the music industry, his past still haunts him, and he has no problem bringing it up. 

OLD drops on September 30th.

[Verse 1]
In the kitchen, oven open for the heat
Got my young, light-skinned hoe rollin' up the tree
Wearin' jackets in the house, it's the Michigan way 
Boiling water on the stove, Ramen noodles for dinner
Dope fiends out the halfway house and they still sniffin' 
Homie mommy's 50, smokin' and still trippin' 
Still talkin' shit with this Lucio mask lickin' 
See my breath when I talk, but nigga, I ain't trippin'
But the landlord is, the nigga tryna put us out 
Sellin' all the samples, can't afford to give 'em out 
Just copped a half tre, see my nigga tryna get it
Standin' on the baseline, Scottie Pippen pivot 
Needles in they arms just to keep the lights on 
Shit, fuck around, be on Hardcore Pawn 
Tryna get this shit off, the winter, we snuck in
Won't live for anything, but might die for nothin' 

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Drake's Nothing Was The Same leaked five days ago now, and many of you have probably already heard it.* "Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2" was one of the more anticipated tracks from the album, with a feature from Jay Z and the continuation of the "Paris Morton Music" concept.

The words to this track were by far the most popular of the week. Drake reflects on his come-up, accomplishments and relationships, and Hov takes that champion, throne flow approach, amplified by a sample from the Wu-Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M." on the hook. 

This is the third time Drake and Jay Z have collaborated. How's their chemistry? 

[Excerpt: Drake]

I hear you talking, say it twice so I know you meant it
Fuck it, I don't even tint it, they should know who's in it
I'm authentic, real name, no gimmicks
No game, no scrimmage, I ain't playing with you niggas at all
My classmates, they went on to be chartered accountants
Or work with their parents, but thinking back on how they treated me
My high school reunion might be worth an appearance
Make everybody have to go through security clearance
Tables turn, bridges burn, you live and learn
With the ink I could murder, word to my nigga Irv
Yeah, I swear shit just started clicking, dawg
You know it's real when you are who you think you are

[Excerpt: Jay Z]

I had Benzes 'fore you had braces
The all black Maybach but I'm not a racist
Inside's whiter than Katy Perry's face is
Yellow diamonds in my Jesús
I just might learn to speak Mandarin
Japanese for the yen that I'm handling
International Hov, that's my handle
My saint's Sean Don, light a candle
El Gran Santo on the mantle
'Case y'all didn't know, I speak Spanish too

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*Nothing Was The Same officially drops on September 24th.  

"I'm in that cumulonimbus, call it the earth's roof." -Hodgy Beats

An early leak from MellowHigh's debut self-titled album, which is slated to drop on Halloween. Both Hodgy and Domo deliver dense and surprisingly profound verses over an ethereal instrumental from Thelonius Martin, expounding on their respective outlooks with unconventional rhyme schemes. 

We're definitely looking forward to a full length from these guys. 

[Excerpt: Domo Genesis]

Don't care for your band members and none of your bland lyrics
Fuck your fans spirit, too damn high and we can't hear it
I'm fearless, shit I been on this earth for a while
And ain't no church in the wild, ain't been to church in a while
Fuck these rap niggas they just wanna purchase your style
You live a fake nigga life so it should hurt when you smile
Fuck all the fame and the shine it brings hate to the mind
And I only do so I'm considered great when I die
And even though niggas tend to envy blatant, I rise
Patience is fine, tell the world I'm taking my time...

[Excerpt: Hodgy Beats]
I live for whatever inspires me or expires me
Entirely as a whole I require some prior things
Ambition is a blessing, patience is a virtue
Put both of 'em in a bowl, begin to stir, and it come full circle
No trust for none of you women
You want love, I'mma probably hurt you
No love for none of you niggas
Front on me and my words will murk you
I'm hurtful, weapons'll curse, I'll disperse you, my world is black and white
Fuck the color purple my niggas bangin' that smurf blue
Put you in the dirt's roots... I'm in that cumulonimbus, call it the earth's roof

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This week, Logic connected with King Chip for this new C-Sick-produced cut. As usual, the Maryland emcee spits rapid-fire, multisyllabic verses, and Chip balances things out with a briefer, more subdued approach. 

Logic admittedly outshines Chip on the track, but the chemistry definitely isn't bad here.  

[Excerpt: Logic]

Just imagine like Lennon
That we livin' like long division, my vision is risen
Shout out my homie in prison, shit is deeper than an incision
On a lower level word to the devil
I could feel the trouble inside
Tellin' me what to do, I never abide
Feel the vibe...
The second we arrive, you know we know just how to do it
My style they can never renew it, I bet they know it!

[Excerpt: Logic]

Now they all up on the scrotum
The second I told 'em these lyrics I wrote 'em
Actin' like I owe'd em...
Not a lot of people understand my words 'cause I encode 'em
Now these bitches give me the top of the totem
Allow me to break it down, I feel like I'm breakin' down
'Til I hit the mic and cook up the shit that I'm making now
Kinda like Quentin Tarantino, me's Only Built 4 Cuban LinX
Wu Gambinos at the casino, blowin' my nose with a C-note

[Excerpt: King Chip]

She came with a couple of friends told them come on in
I was wonderin', do you need someone to fill you in?
On the reg, a nigga not givin' a fuck 'bout why you mad at me
I'm hittin' that pussy standin' up on the wall like ain't no gravity

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Chance The Rapper added his unique touch to James Blake's "Life 'Round Here" this week, a track from the acclaimed English musician's recent album "Overgrown". It's safe to say not many emcees could've handled the job as Chance has, complementing Blake's instrumental and vocals with his quirky, melodic flow. 

Apparently these two have more collaborative material on the way, and we're definitely looking forward to it.  

[Verse 2: Chance the Rapper]
Why every time I land in London, land of Lincoln all on my mind?
I plan to plane it back after playin' a packed show in due time
I'm 'round about I bought a round of English ale for my pals
A bouncer sold a ounce of rubbish weed to me for like 200 pounds
I think my english's getting real real bad
Cause this dumb bitch said I'm real real bad
No sprechen sie Dumb but I'm real, real good
Dark skinned Mike but I still feel bad
I'm a chill pill addict
I wonder if God's still magic
I wonder if Nas' Stillmatic
Down under the north it's still havoc
Run around wonderin', wanderin', ponderin' life
Life 'round here, when
Life ain't really been 'round here in some times
Sometimes it's no one 'round here

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"The alternative to violence is to stay in bed, vape weed and make love."

Jhene Aiko and Childish Gambino channelled John Lennon and Yoko Ono this week, with 'Bino adding a verse to a remix of Aiko's "Bed Peace". Hardcore hip-hop heads may be pissed off by the inclusion of this song, but in a game rife with misogyny, greed and violence, something lighter and more positive can't hurt. 

The track may be sentimental, but its focusses on getting high, having sex and relaxing.

Who can argue with that?  

[Verse 2: Jhene Aiko]

Wake up, wake up, bake up
Gotta heat the vape up
Lets get faded
Gotta call your job tell em' you won't make it
Ain't nobody here baby lets get wasted
We should just get naked
Cause I be working hard and I know you be on that same shit
Every other day's a different game that you just can't win
I just want to ease your mind and make everything all right
So go head tell your baby mama you gon be with me tonight
Right...

[Verse 3: Childish Gambino]

It's not love, but it's pretty close
Hot fudge and a little smoke
I didn't mean it means nothing to you
Hands locked on my black couch with nothing to do
Can't stop on cloud 20
Married to the drugs, but the feels keeps coming
Finally stop crying, but your nose is still running
Wipe it on my shirt, haha I need sleep
You tell me that you wanna do it big
I love when you say "guess what?" (What? What?)
Giving me stories of another nigga kid
And I wonder why I'm all messed up (up up up up)
Cause we gotta be responsible sometimes
Being a class act nevermind my alumni
I don't wanna be a round a baby so dumb high
I don't see the beauty of a momma on insides
Curled up with my head on your chest
It's the best remedy for the pain and the stress
If the world doesn't change then we'll never get dressed
It will be like this to the kiss of the death
Of my soul, bowl of the blue dream, no
Not a good team, once sold two halfs
No joke, who laughs?
Just us (just us, just us)

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"I'm cruisin' in my 'Rari with my Louis loafers."

The latest track/visual from Chief Keef, presumably from his upcoming mixtape "Almighty So". We'll leave the commentary on this one up to all of you.

Stay tuned for next Friday's Lyrics of the Week, folks. Thanks for joining the discussion.

[Excerpt]

Baby, 'cause I like you 
Only reason why I text you or why I Skype you 
I just wanna fuck you, I don't wanna wife you
But you gotta brush your teeth and do what I say, do 

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