7/5/11

Hip-Hop|Club Banger Reviews (22) [July 2011 Edition]

What a crazy month for June. There are so many tracks to review, it's gonna be a big list. We are actually getting into the summer months and the clubs/parties are heating up. The music is non-stop flowing and the nights continue to get longer. Some of my favorite months. July, August, September. Well let's get the list flowing and enjoy your summer while it lasts.

(Click on the pics for the tracks on iTunes)

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat ~ 127 bpm
Release Date: Feb. 2011

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Club/Party - 4/5
The Ladies - 4/5
Lastability - 3.5/5

Although this song was actually released last year iTunes didn't pick this one up until a few months ago. It's a really good summer hit. Very enjoyable and great to mix it in when the crowd is feeling something a bit different than the regular club bangers. Definitely recommend this download.

Recommended for most playlists.

Alexandra Stan - Lollipop ~ 126 bpm
Release Date: May 2011

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Club/Party - 3.5/5
The Ladies - 4/5
Lastability - 3/5

Another summer hit from Alexandra Stan. It has the saxophones in this track as well. But this one has more bass and more of a club feel. Great for using as a mash up or a mix up.

Recommended for most playlists.

David Guetta feat. Taio Cruz & Ludacris ~ 127 bpm
Release Date: June 2011

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Club/Party - 4.5/5
The Ladies - 2.5/5
Lastability - 4/5

David Guetta does not surprise me anymore. Almost all of his tracks are playable at the clubs. This is one of my recent favorite track from him. It has a Swedish House Mafia feel to it. Taio Cruz and Ludacris both tear this track up. Highly Recommended.

Recommended for all playlists.

DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - I'm On One ~ 150 bpm*
Release Date: May 2011

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Club/Party - 3/5
The Ladies - 1/5
Lastability - 3/5

I really enjoy this track. It's a very laid back chillin' at the club scene. This is definitely a track you would spin when the crowd needs to take a break. Drake tears this track up and Rick Ross and Lil Wayne do their thing on this one.

Recommended for casual playlists.

J. Cole - Work Out ~ 93 bpm*
Release Date: June 2011

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Club/Party - 3.5/5
The Ladies - 1/5
Lastability - 3/5

This track is definitely a slow grinder. Heavy bass and smooth flows. J. Cole is hedging up to my tier 1 list. Great as a mix up or a mash up. This is a track I can play over and over again. Recommended.

Recommended for casual playlists.

Jay Sean feat. Birdman - Like This Like Like That ~ 95 bpm
Release Date: June 2011

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Club/Party - 3.5/5
The Ladies - 3/5
Lastability - 3/5

Again Jay Sean makes another hit. This one is great as a mash up. This song has a very smooth feel to it and has a great grinding speed to it. This song will definitely put a swag to your step. Recommended.

Recommended for most playlists.

Mann feat. Snoop Dogg & Iyaz - The Mack ~ 99 bpm
Release Date: July 2011

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Club/Party - 3.5/5
The Ladies - 1/5
Lastability - 3/5
 
Return of the Mack was one of my favorite songs back in the day. It was just so smooth and it definitely gives you an energy boost. Imagine waking up and getting ready with this song on. That was me. Mann goes and remakes one of my favorite songs. And I have to say its pretty good. Iyaz sings the hook and Snoop Dogg does his thing like he always does. A download for sure.

Recommended for casual playlists.

DJ Nick Cannon feat. Akon - Famous ~ 125 bpm*
Release Date: June 2011

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Club/Party - 3/5
The Ladies - 1/5
Lastability - 3/5

I say enjoy this track for what it is. Lots of people are hating on this song without realizing what they are trying to do. As a club banger it ain't half bad. It has the heavy bass, Akon, and a hook. If you watch the music video to this you'll understand what they were trying to get at. Mix it, Mash it, Cut it, Splice it. People will dance to this. 

Recommended for casual playlists.

Pac Div - Let Loose ~ 86 bpm*
Release Date: May 2011

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Club/Party - 3.5/5
The Ladies - 1/5
Lastability - 3/5
 
This track is such a good slow banger. It really makes you want to let loose. Pun intended. Pac Div even though they are relatively unknown will continue to make tracks that are just as good. I would recommend this.

Recommended for specific playlists.

The Cool Kids feat. Mayer Hawthorne - Swimsuits ~ 114 bpm*
Release Date: June 2011

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Club/Party - 3.5/5
The Ladies - 1/5
Lastability - 3/5
 
Remember The Cool Kids. Well their back. And they cooked up a hot summer hit. This is a perfect summer jam especially with the hot weather and everyone with their swimsuits at the beach. Check out this hit. It's sizzilin'.

Recommended for casual playlists.

Benny Benassi - Electroman (Album)
Release Date: June 7, 2011

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Album Review

4/5

Whether you like it or not trance/techno is merging with hip hop artists. Not only hip hop artists, but artists from every music genre. Benny Benassi is one of the DJs that has successfully crossed over and merging with other artists. His album is full of appearances from T-Pain to Kelis, Chris Brown to Dhany. I think you will find a few tracks you will enjoy no matter what if you love to dance. I really recommend this album as a whole.

Some recommended tracks:

My House
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Leave This Club Alone
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Cinema (Skrillex Remix)
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Rather Be
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Spaceship
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Highly Recommended.

Big Sean - Finally Famous (Album)*
Release Date: June 28, 2011

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Album Review

4.5/5

Wow. I'm just gonna leave it at that. Okay I think I gotta speak a few words about this album. It is very very good. Other than a few mediocre tracks the rest of his songs is just spot on. He has a lot of talent and it shows through this album. Big Sean is gonna be the next big thing. I'm gonna put money on this one. He already has a lot of features from other big name artists. Smooth flows and great produced tracks for his rhymes to flow on.  I highly highly recommend this album.

Some recommended tracks:

My Last
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Don't Tell Me You Love Me
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Marvin & Chardonnay
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Dance (A*$)
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Live This Life
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Highly Recommended.

Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis (Album)*
Release Date: June 14, 2011

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Album Review

4/5

Now there are no club bangers on this album, but I'm not recommending this album because of that. I'm recommending this album, because I think Blue Scholars spit things that you can relate too. They are mostly underground, but they are definitely up and coming. Watch in the next year or two and you'll see. In this album they mix political aspects with incredible beats. The crew consists of an MC Geologic and a DJ Sabzi. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Some recommended tracks:

Cinemetropolis
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Lalo Schifrin
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Seijun Suzuki
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Slick Watts
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Tommy Chong
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Highly Recommended.

Gorilla Zoe - King Kong (Album)*
Release Date: June 14, 2011

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Album Review

3/5

Gorilla Zoe. Gorilla Zoe. Why so much autotune? I know you can do without it. A lot of his tracks he uses some form of it and it gets over used. Other than that he does have some good club bangers on this album. They are just a few and far between. A good amount of his tracks are very forgettable. But there are some diamonds in the rough here. Still recommended.

Some recommended tracks:

I Do It
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Your B****
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My Shawty
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Twisted
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Main Thing
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Recommended.

Lloyd - King of Hearts (Album)*
Release Date: July 5, 2011

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Album Review

4.5/5

Oh shoot. Lloyd is back with his new album. And what timing for a release. Right smack in the middle of summer. One of the more anticipated R&B albums for this year. Can he raise the bar from his previous album? I think so. No, I know so. His album is flowing with tracks to bump to, to club to, to serenade to. There are so many wonderful songs on this album. The songs oozes with sexiness. Highly recommended.

Some recommended tracks:

Cupid
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Luv Me Girl
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Jigsaw
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Be the One
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World Cry
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Highly Recommended.

Jagged Edge - The Remedy (Album)
Release Date: June 21, 2011

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Album Review

4.5/5

I'm very very glad that Jagged Edge is back. Bringing back the good 'ol R&B days. Their new album is filled with plenty of songs you would want to listen to over and over again. There are even some good songs for the chilling at the club and having a more relaxed atmosphere. There are late night after the club type of songs too. Overall I highly recommend this album. Welcome back Jagged Edge.

Some recommended tracks:

Love On You
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Baby
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My Girl
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Lay You Down
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When the Bed Shakes
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Highly Recommended.

LMFAO - Sorry for Party Rocking (Album)*
Release Date: June 21, 2011

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Album Review

3/5

I have to say I am personally a bit disappointed in this album. As I am a fan of LMFAO for their party songs, their new album is kind of a drag. I was expecting a bit more out of this album, but a lot of the songs kind of sound the same. That's not saying that there aren't any good club/party songs. But there isn't enough of them. At most maybe they can be mash up or mix up songs. But some of them are not great as a stand alone. If their two best songs on the album is the original and a Benny Benassi Remix, then that isn't saying much. Overall an above average album, but that's it.

Some recommended tracks:

Party Rock Anthem
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Take It to the Hole
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Best Night
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Put That A*$ to Work
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Party Rock Anthem (Benny Benassi Remix)
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Recommended.

Pitbull - Planet Pit (Album)*
Release Date: June 17, 2011

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Album Review

4/5

Now if you want a party/club album it would be this one. There is enough variety that will satisfy everyone that wants a club vibe. Pitbull has been doing this for awhile now and he delivers again for this latest album.
But I know some of you are already getting tired of him, but what can you say. He makes hits people want to listen to. Just the radio overplays every song. That's why I don't listen to the radio anymore and just make up my own list. Highly recommend this album.

Some recommended tracks:

Rain Over Me
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Come n Go
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Castle Made of Sand
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Where Do We Go
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Shake Senora
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Highly Recommended.

Tech N9ne - All 6's and 7's (Album)*
Release Date: June 7, 2011

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Album Review

4/5

Tech N9ne has always been one of my favorite hip hop artists. He's always made crazy catchy tracks. And this album continues to deliver that. He has always been one of those artists that never went fully mainstream, especially with his type of music. Which is why I like him so much. There isn't really any club bangers here to speak of, but that's okay. It's made more for chillin' laid back and having bbq in the backyard.

Some recommended tracks:

Am I Psycho
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He's a Mental Giant
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Worldwide Choppers
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Technicians
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F**k Food
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Highly Recommended.

September - Love CPR (Album)
Release Date: July 5, 2011

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Album Review

4/5

September has been a hit overseas. I hope she acquires a following here in the US. If you love to dance and you love dance music you have to get this album. Many people say that some of the pop artists in the US should have made an album like this one. And I wholeheartedly agree. This album has great production and she is a talented singer.

Some recommended tracks:

Party in My Head
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Resuscitate Me
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Heat Rising
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Ricochet
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White Flag
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Highly Recommended.

* = Explicit