17 Tracks Summer 2010 Mix

     The 17 Tracks Summer Mix is an annual tradition, and this, it's third installment, is the best yet.  You won't find any gag-worthy trash like "California Gurls" [sic] on it, but you'll find some rocking jams to blast with the windows rolled down and the wind in your hair.  Long live summer.  If you want a copy, you know who to ask.  If you like the artists, support them and buy their album.

See the tracklisting after the jump.

Album Review: Drake "Thank Me Later"

"Point the biggest skeptic out, I'll make him a believer.  It wouldn't be the first time I done it, throwin' hundreds when I should be be throwin' ones." - Drake, "Over"

     It's rare that an artist can rap about the trappings of fame, the pressures of hip-hop, and being played by Rihanna on their debut album, but it makes sense for Drake.  He's a rare artist.  Drake took his own path to a Lil Wayne approved record contract after starring on the Nogin show Degrassi and releasing his own mixtape.  For a genre that demands credibility, Drake seemed to be lacking, yet he now releases one of the year's most highly anticipated rap records.  Welcome to the future of hip-hop.

     Not only is Drake's path to the top unlikely, he's doing it with what amounts to an emo-rap record.  On Thank Me Later, he raps about being a "pawn" to Rihanna on "Fireworks" and about feeling alone and alienated in a crowd on "Over".  It's 808s & Heartbreak sans ice-cold auto-tune.

     Kanye's foray into emo-rap didn't work quite how he envisioned.  It was partly the auto-tune overkill, partly his outburts; but Drake is proving it isn't dead.  The bravado and ego of so many rap tracks is fine sometimes, but humility and honesty is appealing.  "Don't be fooled by the money, I'm still just young and unlucky," he raps on "Karaoke".  Still, Drake has plenty of confidence.  "My 15 minutes began an hour ago," he raps on "Fireworks".  Can't argue with that.

Rating: 8/10
Must download: "Fireworks", "Over", "Find Your Love"

Drake Is Far From "Over", He's Only Just Begun

      Kanye is on a Taylor Swift-induced exile, Lil Wayne is in prison,  Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 is finally running out of steam, and although Eminem has shown some promise with "Not Afraid", his recent track record is spotty.  Thank heavens for Drake.  He is the most exciting thing in hip-hop right now.  His newest single, "Over" is hot, his debut album, Thank Me Later, is set to drop June 15.  

 

     Drake, a Canadian actor turned rapper, starred in Degrassi.  You remember, that one show where every overly dramatic thing that could possibly happen in a high school happened in each episode?  His breakthrough single "Best I Ever Had" reached No. 2 last year, but Drake has yet to release a full length album.  Give "Over" a listen below.  This guy is the man.

Introducing: The Stars of the Young Money Galaxy

In the 1996 film That Thing You Do written and directed by Tom Hanks, the fictitious band the Wonders sets off on a tour with other members of their new record label.  I remember the tour, which played mostly at state fairs, being described as a tour with the "stars of the Play Tone galaxy".  There was something romantic about a record label being that tight-knit.  It was the kind of atmosphere that existed in the Motown era, but was missing from the modern musical landscape.  I'm not sure if Lil Wayne has ever seen That Thing You Do, but the prolific rapper is fulfilling my boyhood dreams with his Young Money imprint.  Well, sort of

Founded by Lil Wayne in 1995, the Young Money imprint was responsible for releasing Tha Carter III and has counts among its ranks Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga.  To promote the label, Young Money collectivley released We Are Young Money which has spun off two top ten singles.  Its current single "BedRock" has reached No. 8 on the Hot 100.

Chart Watch: Black Eyed Peas & Jason Mraz On Track To Break Records

The Black Eyed Peas' "I've Gotta Feelin'" spends a lucky seventh week at No. 1, giving the Peas an incredible 18 week streak at the top spot, just one week shy of Usher's 19 week domination in 2004.

.

Jason Mraz is a week away from breaking a chart longevity record of his own. "I'm Yours" has spent 68 weeks on the Hot 100 (currently at No. 23), the second highest time spent on the chart since LeAnn Rimes' "How Do I Live" lasted 69 weeks during 1997-98.

.

"I'm Yours" peaked at No. 6 back in September of last year and yo-yoed in and out of the top ten for six months. The song has yet to dip below No. 35 since then and can thank its success to adult contemporary radio for picking it up after fickle pop radio moved onto something different.

.

Elsewhere on the chart, Taylor Swift swaps Drake places as "You Belong With Me" moves to No. 2, Mariah Carey stalls once again as "Obsessed" remains at No. 14, and Jay-Z sees his "Run This Town" jump 88-66. Also, for the third time in chart history, both Madonna and Whitney Houston debut the same week with a new song. Madonna's "Celebration" materializes at No. 71 while Houston's "I Look To You" debuts a few spots down at No. 74.

.

1. "I've Gotta Feelin'" - The Black Eyed Peas

2. "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift

3. "The Best I Ever Had" - Drake

4. "Knock Me Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo

5. "Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon

6. "Down" - Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne

7. "Good Girls Go Bad" - Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester

8. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston

9. "Hotel Room Service" - Pitbull

10. "Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas

Chart Watch: Kings of Leon Go Top Five

This week's digital sales gainer, the Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" jumps 11-5 and I'm still trying to figure out where this is all coming from. In April the band graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and on May 31st they performed the song at the MTV Movie Awards but, it wasn't until June 20th the song made a big move from No. 52 to No. 19 and the song has been bopping around in the twenties until last week. Although this is nowhere near my favorite song from the band, I'm happy to see them get the success they deserve and, as a chart watcher, it's kind of refreshing to see a song make a gradual climb as opposed to the massive leaps of songs by major pop acts that dominate the charts.

Drake's "The Best I Ever Had" sits at No. 2 for its second week. I'm really rooting for this song to dethrone the Black Eyed Peas. Perhaps the Kanye West directed video and its big breasted basketball players will do the trick.

In our continuing coverage of the ridiculousness of Mimi and her fans, "Obsessed" moves up 20-17! I'm sure the lambs are happy but I still feel bad for the guy who dropped $200 to see the song inch of 3 spots. For $1,200 he might be able to buy another No. 1 for his favorite diva!

1. "I Gotta Feelin'" - The Black Eyed Peas
2. "Best I Ever Had" - Drake
3. "Knock Me Down" - Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo
4. "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift
5. "Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon
6. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston
7. "Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas
8. "Lovegame" - Lady Gaga
9. "Waking Up In Vegas" - Katy Perry
10. "Battlefield" - Jordin Sparks

Here's Drake's video. Please go No. 1 next week. Please: