Today In Music History: Cam'ron feat. Ma$e - Horse and Carriage [4/13/98]

15 years ago there were about three things I was sure about: Bulls basketball, chicken quesadillas from Taco Bell and Cam'ron music. It was on this day, 15 years ago, that Cam'ron and Ma$e changed my life forever by dropping the single Horse and Carriage. This was the first single from Cam's debut album Confessions of Fire and also the first of many classic Cam'ron songs/videos. There's zero chance you don't remember this: I hope that made your day. And for good measure, here's the remix. [I hope the remix doesn't ruin your day. It featured Silkk the Shocker, Charli Baltimore and Wyclef so, uh, good luck with that.]

Kid Cudi feat. Kendrick Lamar - Solo Dolo Part II [MP3]

So, Kid Cudi's much-anticipated third [or fourth, depending on who you ask] album Indicud leaked yesterday, or so I heard through the Twitters. Upon first listen, the album has an exceptionally strong start but seems to fizzle out pretty hard toward the end. The early highlight, other than previously released singles King Wizard and Immortal has to be the Kendrick Lamar-assisted Solo Dolo Part II. Now, I'm not sure how someone can make a song with someone else and still call it Solo Dolo, but this song works and it goes. For some strange reason, Kendrick is still hungry and Cudi's still Cudi. [And I mean that in the best way possible.] Check out Solo Dolo Part II:

Cudi is always an artist that leads to debate and early thoughts on Indicud are mixed. I've always been a fan of his. I mean, he makes music to rage and drink beer to, what's not to love. But at the same time, I've felt let down at some points in the past. But at least with this album, we might as well wait until it's actually released to completely dissect it.....yeah right. Where's the fun in that?

@sampgetssnooks I'm good on that.

— Ricardo Finland (@SlimiHendrix) April 9, 2013

@sampgetssnooks that's exactly how I feel. I don't think he will top the first cd tho

— Mackenzie Thompson (@Kenzie__87) April 9, 2013

@sartorialbee @sampgetssnooks this argument may be moot because I'm sitting here listening to Indicud feeling like I'm ascending to Valhalla

— Tupac Chopra (@fivefifths) April 9, 2013

RT @zannygetpanties: You listen to Cudi for crazy melodic humming gibberish shit. I love that shit man. Cudi sings like a didgeridoo

— serenissima (@sartorialbee) April 9, 2013

Pharrell Turns 40 + The Top 5 Pharrell Hooks [Videos]

In recognition of the 40th birthday of everyone's favorite genius producer not named Kanye [or Timothy], here is list of the Top 5 Pharrell-assisted hooks——in no particular order——as determined by me, my iTunes and embedding-enabled YouTube videos. I went with hooks because there are way too many beats or songs by the Neptunes/Pharrell to narrow down into a readable list. I even threw in the song from way back that started it all. Check these out and bump some N.E.R.D. today for God's sake.

1. Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell - Beautiful
Beautiful really ushered in the musical partnership between Snoop and the Neptunes that would ultimately bring us classics such as Drop It Like It's Hot, From tha Chuuuch to da Palace, Pass It, Pass It and...

2. Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell - Let's Get Blown
This is definitely my favorite Snoop/Neptunes track and I doubt it'll ever leave my iTunes despite having background vocals from.......Keyshia Cole? Sorry, I hope that doesn't ruin the song for you because it definitely almost did for me.

3. Jay-Z feat. Pharrell - Excuse Me Miss
Say what you want about The Blueprint 2 but I enjoyed it [a lot, actually]. Pharrell definitely left his mark on the album with four Neptunes-produced songs, with Excuse Me Miss being the best of the group. No matter where you are when you hear this song, this is a hook that you just have to sing along to. Incredible hook. Oh, and the rest of the song is cool, too.

4. Clipse feat. Pharrell - Gangsta Lean
Gangsta Lean was probably my favorite song on Lord Willin', even above Gridin'. While the better song might be debatable, what cannot be argued is the fact that this is one of the great Pharrell features in history. Random sidenote....Where are Philly's Most Wanted these days? Anybody?

5. Clipse feat. Pharrell, Ab-Liva & Rosco P. Coldchain - Cot Damn
I still think this is one of the most underrated Clipse songs of all time, not saying that there are many, but still. Pharrell's hook is what sticks out initially but this is just a dope song overall. Even WITH Ab-Liva and Rosco P. Coldchain, and that's saying a lot. Check that out, my blog's first Roscoe P. Coldchain reference. I'm distinguished now.

Bonus: Ma$e feat. Puff Daddy - Lookin' At Me
Okay, so I realize that it's not technically Pharrell singing this hook but this is the song that started it all. Plus, the Neptunes did the beat and in hindsight, wouldn't you much rather have had Pharrell on this hook instead of Diddy? Yeah, me too.


Also, Complex put out a list of the Top 25 Pharrell Hooks a couple years back but I didn't actually read it, though. Because, you know, slideshows are annoying.

Happy Birthday, P.

Tyler, the Creator - Wolf | Out Now + Deluxe Cover Inspiration

Wolf is out today and upon first listen, it's well worth the wait.

Also, I just noticed today [after looking way too close at the album art for the Deluxe version] that the artist commissioned to paint the Deluxe cover, Mark Ryden, seems to have given his original piece of work California Brown Bear somewhat of a hat tip on the cover. [Hint: Look to the left of Tyler's right hand.]

Pretty cool.

You can check the rest of Ryden's the tree show artwork here.

Cop Wolf on iTunes here.


OFWGKTAllthatjazz.