PUYL Favorite Song: AlunaGeorge - Watching Over You

British duo AlunaGeorge are going to be one of the breakout groups of 2013; don't believe me, just watch.  They may not have spent much time naming themselves, but their brilliance shines through in their music.  Singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid combine to form this type of post-dub pop music with hearty doses of 90's R&B.  Add in dripping codeine-hop influences and you've got a stew going that might describe AlunaGeorge.  Only they have the actual recipe.

I had this song on repeat a lot this year.  A lot.  I think what struck me most was the apparent simplicity but the underlying complexity.  At face value, the plinking pianos and Aluna's rolling voice in the chorus are soothing and pleasing, giving the track a lot of repeat value.  Under all that, though, is some serious bass and Aluna does a fantastic job of changing her pitch and tone throughout the song.  George's synths and drum kicks pair with the vocals perfectly to complete the package.

This wraps up my Push Up Ya Lighter Favorites for 2012, but it certainly wasn't an exhaustive list.  I've already got posts planned to start off 2013, and I'm excited to hear and to share new music in the new year.

Download: AlunaGeorge - Watching Over You

PUYL Favorite Song: The Hood Internet - These Things Are Nice (ft. Kid Static, Slow Witch & Kleenex Girl Wonder)

The Hot Dog Internet

The Hood Internet became Internet famous several years ago for their mashups.  They now have an extensive catalog of creations, most of which pair hip-hop and indie music.  Their appeal comes from how natural their remixes sound; many of them seem like they are studio recordings.  In 2012, they released their first album of original productions, FEAT.  Maybe it's because I've gotten used to their style and sound, or maybe it's because rappers and indie acts ARE starting to collaborate in studio, but their album feels a lot like their mixes.  And it's a good thing.  Essentially, they just inserted themselves into an earlier step of the creative process.  Instead of mashing up existing songs, they worked with rappers, singers, and bands to assemble the vocal and instrumental pieces of new songs.

This track is a cover of Kleenex Girl Wonder's 2010 song, These Things Are Nice... (note the ellipsis).  The guys from The Hood Internet felt that the verses and chorus fit perfectly into a rap and sing format so they had Kid Static rap and Slow Witch cover the singing.  The title offers the first part of the chorus, but the rest of the lyrics question the point in continuing on when things are just 'nice'.  Over grandiose production, everybody joins together in belting the chorus by the end of the song.  It provokes some interesting thoughts, making it a great album closer.

Download: The Hood Internet - These Things Are Nice (ft. Kid Static, Slow Witch & Kleenex Girl Wonder)

PUYL Favorite Song: Kendrick Lamar - Westside, Right On Time (ft. Young Jeezy)

As with Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar didn't let the fact that he had a stellar album coming out hinder him from releasing additional quality music this year.  One day in August, two Kendrick tracks surfaced: the first had him featured alongside Frank on a Mann song, and the second was his own featuring Young Jeezy.  Of course, I was much more excited to hear two of the year's brightest stars collaborate rather than a song featuring a not so young trap rapper.  To my surprise, it turns out that the latter is actually far better.  Granted, it is Kendrick that carries the song, but he raps out of his mind.

Canei Finch flipped How Love Hurts by The Sylvers to give the beat an old school feel.  This was probably a nod to past hip-hop artists before Kendrick proceeds to declare his arrival and the arrival of all the young rappers today.  He acknowledges both coasts, east and west.  This is a new era in hip-hop because the new artists have grown up on it, but they aren't reflecting their influences and idols in terms of rivalries and beefs.  There seems to be mutual respect among the various crews from around the country such as TDE, OF, A$AP Mob, and Beast Coast.  I think this probably stems from the common understanding of what it takes to rise in today's music climate, and the transparency of artists' methods.  These guys see what their peers are doing every day thanks to the Internet.  Back in the day, long lasting and violent beefs could erupt from a few underhanded slights in a song.  Now, it's just comical and pathetic when rappers try to start calling out each other and creating enemies.  

It's worth saying again, Kendrick is a technical master when it comes to spitting bars.  He winds his way through the song, weaving in alliteration and internal rhymes while fitting those words into ever shifting rhyme schemes.  It's impressive to say the least.  Let's take a look at all the interesting wordplay in his last verse:

1. All I ever wanted was a dollar bill and hundreds
2. And my teacher as my woman, when she smiled I stick my tongue in
3. Plus some cartoons and some cereal, Snoop Doggy on my stereo
4. Some British Knights or LA Gears with glowing lights or Perry Ellis jacket
5. I would love a swapmeet full of Chevrolets in candy paint
6. That's wet with Tammy on the bumper, can I hump her? Poppa tell me yes
7. A DPGC concert and a DJ Quik song on cassette
8. Twenty years later, "Hi hater, I'm the fucking best"

First off, he adds an 'h' sound before 'ever' in Line 1 to match with the subsequent 'hundreds'.  He pronounces 'wanted', 'hundreds', 'woman', and 'tongue in' so that they all rhyme.  In Line 3 he exaggerates the syllables and closes the vowels so that 'cereal' rhymes with 'stereo'.

For Lines 4-6 the rhyme scheme follows A, A, B, C, B, C, D, D, C.  Seriously?  The rhymes (some of which he created) are 'Knights' to 'lights', '-cket' to 'candy', 'ChevroLETS' to 'wet' and 'yes', and 'bumper' to 'hump her'.  Also, he sets up a comparison between 'British' and 'LA' which reemphasizes his global appeal.

Lines 7-8 match the sounds of 'DPGC' and 'DJ Quik'.  'Song on cassette' rhymes with 'I'm the fucking best'. and he throws in the internal 'later' to 'hater' rhyme for good measure.  Genius.

Download: Kendrick Lamar - Westside, Right On Time (ft. Young Jeezy)

PUYL Favorite Song: Kid Cudi - Just What I Am (ft. King Chip)

This might be my favorite song at the moment.  I'm really glad to see Kid Cudi maintaining his 'be true to yourself' approach to making music.  He strives to be as open and honest as possible in his creative process, and that's admirable especially for someone of his fame and stature.  Along with his Cleveland buddy, King Chip (the artist formerly known as Chip tha Ripper), Cudder expounds on past struggles, appreciating success, and accepting individualism.  And smoking, of course, but that's just what Cudi is.

Download: Kid Cudi - Just What I Am (ft. King Chip)

PUYL Favorite Song: Childish Gambino - Unnecessary (ft. ScHoolboy Q)

Childish Gambino gives us his own style of brag track with 'Unnecessary', which appears on his ROYALTY mixtape.  He recruited ScHoolboy Q for a verse, but it's really Childish's show.  This actually isn't the mixtape version of the song.  That one features an additional interlude-type stanza by Ab-Soul.  In fact, all the verses are pretty standard for these guys.  Childish packs his with witty jokes and references, while Q uses his signature style of rushing rap.  The simple, yet ominous beat and the two hooks are the real fine points of this song.  Gambino lists all the opulent things he does and buys, concluding each line by saying "that's unnecessary".  Glover proudly flaunts all the excesses he has access to, and openly acknowledges that he doesn't have to live like this, but he will because he can.

Download: Childish Gambino - Unnecessary (ft. ScHoolboy Q)

PUYL Favorite Song: Flosstradamus - Rollup

Wafflradamus

Flosstradamus is a Chicago DJ duo who have been on the forefront of the trap music movement that rose to prominence in 2012.  For a little bit of history on the genre read this.  With merely six words, Flosstradamus had a hit with their original production, Rollup.  This is actually one of their less frenetic tracks, but, appropriately, they released it on 4/20 of this year.  A couple months later, they were removed from the lineup for the Chicago leg of the Mad Decent Block Party concert series because they allegedly incited a riot at one of their shows.  Their shows certainly are high energy, and they're riding pretty high now so look out for more from them in 2013.

Download: Flosstradamus - Rollup

PUYL Favorite Song: Theophilus London - Big Spender (ft. A$AP Rocky)

It's Christmas and what is really important is being with friends and family and taking time to be glad and thankful for everyone and everything that we are fortunate enough to have in our lives.  Presents are great, but it isn't all about material goods.  And it certainly isn't about high end clothing, drugs, women, and connections.  Well, mostly because that's not your life.  The best, most materialistic Christmas ever for average citizens would just be another day for some people.

Making heavy use of the Peggy Lee song of the same name, 'Big Spender' is Theophilus London and A$AP Rocky's soapbox for declaring how rich they each are.  It's got pretty standard bragging rhymes and ego inflated talk, but this song just hits on all the right levels.  Since the day it came out, it's been one of my favorites from this year.  The original big brass sections work perfectly with the booming hip-hop bass.  The sample provides the entire hook, so as Peggy entices a potential sugar daddy, these two are eager and willing to flaunt their wealth.  So have fun today, and whether you are an international star or not, enjoy all that you have.

Download: Theophilus London - Big Spender (ft. A$AP Rocky)

PUYL Favorite Song: Frank Ocean - Whip Appeal (SBTRKT Edit)

Hooold up.  I've been doing this for 2 years now.  About a third of all my posts are coming this month, and I can't say that there's been much growth for my blog, but I'm still doing it.  That's really what's most important to me.  Push Up Ya Lighter has always been just a creative outlet dealing with an area I know and love, music.  That said, I truly appreciate the views I get.  Knowing that at least a handful of people see what I write and might discover something they've never heard of makes it worthwhile for me.  So thank you.

On to the music for the day.  Frank Ocean fans didn't need to wait until the release of his album in mid summer for some refreshing new sounds from the young crooner.  Soon after the original appeared, SBTRKT grabbed 'Whip Appeal' and filled it out a little bit.  It's got that summertime feel, which is why I included it on my Glare mixtape back in August.

That picture is from Frank's set at Lollapalooza this summer, which I was lucky enough to be at.  He played a stage that was tucked away under a stand of trees, and he was the closing act for the night.  Actually, SBTRKT had played same stage the day before.  Of all the artists I saw, Frank Ocean was the only one that I made a point of watching for his entire set.  His album, channel ORANGE, had been out for about a month so I felt that he was too relevant at the time to miss.  Of course, he didn't let me down.  The stage setting, the summer night sky behind us and the Chicago skyline behind him, and the hushed lights on stage created an atmosphere that perfectly complemented Frank's powerful performance.  This man gave us one of my favorite songs of the year and it wasn't even on his album, which was one of the best of the year.  That's a true talent and I'm glad to be able to recognize and appreciate him and his music.

Download: Frank Ocean - Whip Appeal (SBTRKT Edit)

PUYL Favorite Song: Diplo - Express Yourself (ft. Nicky Da B)

Superproducer Diplo introduced this banger to the world in 2012.  It isn't just a song; it's also an instruction manual and a full blown movement.  Diplo provides a furious array of claps and rubbing whomps while NOLA bounce artist Nicky Da B explains exactly how you should 'express yourself'.  It's very specific.  Usually, expression is intentionally open ended, but the focus here is mainly rear ended.  They led a contest where people from around the world submitted creative photographs of individuals expressing themselves.  Even months after the contest was over, fans are still finding it hard to contain all their expressions.  It has turned into the biggest movement since planking (sorry).

Download: Diplo - Express Yourself (ft. Nicky Da B)

PUYL Favorite Song: ScHoolboy Q - Hands On The Wheel (ft. A$AP Rocky)

There are ten days left in 2012 so we're in the homestretch now.  For the rest of the year I'm going to share one of my favorite songs per day from the past twelve months.  First up, I've got Hands On The Wheel featuring A$AP Rocky off of ScHoolboy Q's sophomore studio album Habits & Contradictions.  What really makes this song is the sample.  Kid Cudi's anthem for living life to the fullest, Pursuit Of Happiness, could have provided a fine hook for Q and Rocky's ode to the joys in their lives, but they switched it up a little bit.  Instead, they took a snippet from a live cover by a relatively unknown artist, Lissie.  Her heartfelt rendition is stellar enough in its own right, but the fact that these guys were aware of it and recognized its awesomeness is equally impressive.  It's a testament to the culture of indie music (regardless of genre) and the sharing power of the Internet; ScHoolboy may have had more troubles clearing the sample had this been a major label release.

Download: ScHoolboy Q - Hands On The Wheel (ft. A$AP Rocky)

PUYL Honorable Mention Album: Azealia Banks - Fantasea

I define a good album as one that I can listen to all the way through without skipping tracks.  There may be strong points and low points, but as a whole, it flows in a way that makes continuous listening enjoyable.  Often times, I won't have any idea what the names of individual songs are on my favorite albums because I never look at them.

Azealia Banks burst onto the scene last year, and this free mixtape was the highlight of her 2012.  It gathers essentially all her previous releases, except for 212, along with some new music to fill out a full length tape.  It's really good.  Azealia's sharp tongue and quick wit are on display as she goes in over a variety of adventurous beats.  This one is just an honorable mention because, for me, it didn't have the staying power of the other albums I featured.  I was really into it for a while when it came out (I even put channel ORANGE to the side for a bit), but it's not a tape I kept coming back to.  It's a strong effort nonetheless, and I will definitely still be watching for new material from the eccentric and driven Ms. Banks.

Download: Azealia Banks - Fantasea

PUYL Favorite Album: Frank Ocean - channel ORANGE

In 2011 Frank Ocean had pretty much the best year an emerging artist could have.  After several years of songwriting for other artists, Ocean put out his mixtape nostalgia, ULTRA which propelled him into the public eye.  He also had two features on two of the most highly anticipated hip-hop albums of 2011: his Odd Future brother Tyler, The Creator's Goblin, and Watch The Throne by Jay-Z & Kanye West.  With him finally being recognized with commercial and critical success, Frank was set to dominate the airwaves when his debut studio album came out this past July.

Ocean did indeed start to get heavy radioplay with his lead single, Thinkin' Bout You.  It was first released in the summer of 2011 as a reference track since he originally penned it for Bridget Kelly.  In a perfect example of people connecting to Frank's passion, his version received so much praise that he decided to use it on his own debut as well.  In a little under an hour, Frank explores love and love lost, pain and pleasure, privilege and poorness, and vices and virtues.  For all the turmoil he contemplates, it always feels like he reaches some kind of catharsis and is able to be at peace.  The instrumentals are an eclectic mix of experimental drum beats, piano lines, and soothing synths.  They never draw away from the main focus of the album, Frank.  The handful of featured artists never steal much attention either.  This doesn't come across as arrogant, though, Frank's deeply introspective musings should be the centerpiece of channel ORANGE because they are the most touching aspect of his music.  Beyond the production, features, and Frank's own excellent voice, his personal reflections on life and living give color to the album and make it worth tuning in.

Download: Frank Ocean - Pilot Jones

PUYL Favorite Album: Kids These Days - Traphouse Rock

Hailing from Chicago, Kids These Days are a seven piece band making some of the most unique music I've heard in a long time.  They've got a rapper, a male vocalist/guitar player, a female vocalist/piano player, a bassist, a drummer, a trumpeter, and a tromboner (right?).  After putting out an EP and an assortment of singles, Traphouse Rock was released this fall.  With production help from Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and appearances at a few major music festivals, KTD has positioned themselves to achieve big time fame in the near future.

It's a rarity in the hip-hop realm for an act to include such a wide variety of musical talent, so Kids These Days have set themselves apart in that respect.  As you may know, I absolutely love live band instrumentation paired with rapping.  It gives a whole new dimension to hip-hop.  In addition, I'm a big fan of seeing who artists are influenced by since it helps to give me an idea of where they are coming from stylistically.

It still fascinates me that a musician can conceive a song in his head, record it, put it on the Internet, and have it flowing through my headphones and into my ears and brain within a few hours these days.  I find it just as impressive, though, when artists interpolate others' works into their own and build off of a base sample.  It's a lot of fun to listen to a new song and then have your ears perk up when they catch snippets of familiar melodies.  Even more so than with cover songs, musical interpolation allows the artist the freedom to use the best parts of one song, and at the same time, to expand it to add their own flare.

I'm almost certainly missing some but Kids These Days reproduced portions of music from Nirvana, Kanye West, The Pixies, 50 Cent, Crucial Conflict, Radiohead, Outkast, The Strokes, and Arcade Fire.  I think they did a fantastic job of incorporating these pieces into their own music.  The lyrical themes are their own; they talk about what they know.  They certainly aren't fakes.  For a musician, there aren't many greater joys than emulating and playing the songs of others, but with your own interpretation.  It's not stealing when your only intent is to nod your head toward your idols.  I'm not expecting future releases to be this heavily sampled, but for a young group still gaining traction, it was probably the best and most fun approach for an initial release and definitely did not disappoint.

Download: Kids These Days - Traphouse Rock

PUYL Favorite Album: Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city

The second studio release from Kendrick Lamar has already secured its place in many Best of 2012 lists, and for good reason, it's m.A.A.d good.  After several singles and leaks appeared, anticipation was high.  While early releases such as Backseat Freestyle and Swimming Pools are definitely key pieces, it is the cohesiveness of the whole album that creates its strength.  Most of the songs could stand alone as respectable records, but Kendrick paints a more complete picture with the entire collection.  K-Dot has been a rising star for several years now, and this album sees him truly maturing as both a rapper and a storyteller.  The beat production is top notch and each instrumental perfectly reflects the tone of that particular narrative.

What makes GKMC the most engaging is its honesty.  Kendrick gives very personal accounts of his struggles with the evils of his hometown as well as his loyalty and love for the community and culture that raised him.  The themes span the whole spectrum of society from good to bad and back again.  He discusses youthful ignorance, joy, temptation, friendship, desire, addiction, loss, rage, revenge, regret, and repentance.  All are part of his reality.

Most listeners will not directly relate to this Compton anthem album, but the very real emotions and situations he portrays easily provide a vivid glimpse of that world.  The characters come to life with his words to share their warnings and blessings, which, at their core, apply to any upbringing.

Download: Kendrick Lamar - Money Trees (ft. Jay Rock)

PUYL Honorable Mention New Artist: Action Bronson

This guy.  Action Bronson has been making music for a couple of years now, but I first really started listening to him in 2012 and he has certainly had a breakout year.  Hailing from Queens, NY (Flushing to be exact), Action entered the rap game late due to the fact he was originally a trained chef by trade.  Per the old adage, I'd say we can trust him.  Weighing in at over 300 lbs of pure beef yet probably barely topping 5'6", he has a stage presence unlike any other rapper.  Despite his heft, he's fond of wandering through the crowd as he performs; all but disappearing as fans clamor and tower over him.  He'll usually make a stop behind the bar as well to buy everyone a round.  I really don't know anyone else who seems to be having more fun than Action Bronson.

As an artist, he is quite skilled at what he does.  Bronson is a technically sound rapper who makes good use of various rhyme patterns and clever puns.  He crafts elaborate tales with his rhymes about gangsters, women, weed, and of course, food.  He's created an over the top persona that's as large as he is, but has done it so light heartedly that it's just pure entertainment.  2012 was blessed with two free Bronson mixtapes: the first, Blue Chips was produced by Party Supplies, and the second release was a collaboration with The Alchemist entitled Rare Chandeliers.  And oh yeah, he recently started a new Twitter/photo trend: #RareSquats. This guy is something else. 

PUYL Favorite New Artist: Purity Ring

Vocalist Megan James and producer Corin Roddick came together a couple years ago to form Purity Ring.  The pair collaborated to release a few songs in that time, but didn't put out their debut album, Shrines, until this year.  I've heard them compared to other indie electronic duos such as The xx, but those comparisons also dwelled on the fact that they consist of a male producer and female singer so it seemed like a weak connection.  In my opinion, I think they are unlike any other group making music at the moment.  Their songs swell and encompass you.  Megan's voice lightly rides the wave of sound yet her lyrics are strangely disparate from the music.  Pretty much all of the song titles are made up words.  Each tune manages to seem like a lullaby and a dream, as well as a petrifying nightmare all at the same time.

The group realized that the energy of their music might not translate well to a live show because of the mixed emotions it may induce.  To add another dimension to their performances, they worked with a design team to invent LED cocoons that hang around the stage.  The setup is directly linked to their production equipment, so the lights are exactly synched with the music as they play.

They also re-released their song Belispeak after adding bars from rapper Danny Brown.  That was a collaboration I did not see coming, but it worked pretty well.  Purity Ring is certainly a pioneering group with many more tricks up their sleeves.

Download: Purity Ring - Fineshrine

PUYL Favorite New Artist: TNGHT

TNGHT (vowels aren't cool anymr) is a collaborative effort between producers Lunice and Hudson Mohawke.  Each artist has generated significant buzz in his own right; Lunice was involved with '212' and HudMo with 'Mercy', two of the biggest hits from the past year or so.  I saw Lunice perform live before I knew who he was, and it was something special.  His show was great; he played lots of fresh, high energy songs.  What impressed me the most was that he was the exact same way.  Generally, DJs stand behind their decks, bob their heads a little, and leave getting weird to the crowd.  Lunice, however, was head banging in Billy Blanks double time and often stepped away to bust a move or ten.  It was incredible.  After his set, he was handing out copies of One Hunned Stacks, which got me hooked on his music.

The first time I heard of his new project with Hudson Mohawke was through this promo video:

You're lying if you say that doesn't get you hyped up.  You hardly want to take it easy after hearing this right?  Well think twice because the title is 'Easy Easy'.  It literally feels like we're gonna launch into space.  All those crashes and booms and claps typify the chaotic soundscape that these guys create.  After such a brief time working together, they've already concocted a perfect blend of trap, bass, hip-hop, and electronica stylings.  Their music begs to be danced to.  Hard.  Knowing them as producers, I at first felt that it lacked vocals, in particular some raw rap verses.  I quickly realized the music works just fine on its own, AND rapping would be awesome over it.  Versatility will take them far tnght, tmrw, and into the nw yr.

Download: TNGHT - Easy Easy

PUYL Favorite New Artist: The Underachievers

I've already written about The Underachievers, and unfortunately, not much has changed since I did.  Please familiarize yourself with them if you missed that previous post.  I did the whole write up within two days of first hearing their music because I was that excited about sharing this new talent.  They truly are new favorites because they've only been making music together since June of this year.  These kids are on another level, and I mean that in an metaphysical sense.  They are very into achieving altered states of consciousness and gaining universal enlightenment and clarity.  It goes beyond recreational drug use, too.  Issa Dash will routinely tweet about lucid dreaming, philosophical musings, and his favorite books.  Their debut mixtape, Indigoism, was slated to be released at the end of September, but got pushed to October.  It got bumped again until after Captain Murphy's Duality was dropped, which happened toward the end of November.  It's December, now and I was really hoping I'd be able to share the whole tape with you, but I can't.  So go bug Issa and Ak.  Hit up their official handle on Twitter.  Bother their label, Brainfeeder and the man who signed them to it, our friend Flying Lotus.  C'mon!

Download: The Underachievers - T.A.D.E.D.

PUYL Honorable Mention Video: Grimes - Genesis

Grimes - Genesis

So this gets the honorable mention because I didn't keep coming back to it like I did with my other favorites.  For those three, the imagery was intimately involved with the audio, so together they provided a total experience.  'Genesis' is a great song, and this video is definitely interesting.  Music by Grimes is always full of surprises and oddities, while still being well crafted.  The same is true for this video.  We get plenty of scene changes, costume changes, weaponry, a python, and a rapper/stripper co-star.  It's not the worst combination of visuals even if I can't make any sense of it, but knowing her, that's kind of the point.

PUYL Favorite Video: Baths - Lovely Bloodflow

Lovely Bloodflow from BATHS

Alright, this one is actually a couple years old, but I only recently discovered Baths, and I was instantly hooked.  There is something about scenes of tranquil green forest that captivates me.  I feel like I'm supposed to hold my breath so as not to disturb the peace and serenity.  At the same time, the greenery is a sign that life is thriving.  As the wounded warrior staggers through the woods we don't know how he sustained his injuries.  The pulsing drums and dark melody follow him on his final steps while strange white figures observe him from a distance, their intentions unknown.  After he falls and begins to emit a ghostly blue smoke from his wounds, they seemingly heal him by reversing the flow.  It appears he is saved, yet they drag him away and leave him for an encounter with another figure.  My favorite part of the song comes at this point where, around 2:34, a few notes of harsh distortion are immediately followed by a gentle piano riff.  The man is now alert but underwater, apparently meeting his end.  The creature inhales his last breath and the forest returns to as it was, with only a few remnants of his disruption.

PUYL Favorite Video: Flying Lotus - Putty Boy Strut

Flying Lotus - Putty Boy Strut

Flying Lotus has always been one to push boundaries.  Preceding the release of his fourth album, Until The Quiet Comes, FlyLo put out a short film which gave fans a first chance to hear a handful of songs from the album in the setting of a rather dark, yet theatric video.  After seeing that, I wasn't sure what to expect from Putty Boy Strut.  Because my first view of the video also gave me my first listen of the song, I was initially struck by the frenetic and urgent pace.  The viewing experience is enhanced by the robots clapping along to the beat and reacting to sound changes.  I feel like I am visiting a Seussian machine world devoid of intelligent life.  The inhabitants are constantly consuming and destroying things around them... until the quiet comes and the song culminates with a symbol of the beauty of change.

PUYL FAVORITES 2012 & Video: xxyyxx - About You

Another great year of music is winding down, and I have continued to lag behind on passing it along to you.  I figured I'd do something ambitious to make up for it and to try and catch you up to speed.  For the rest of the month, Push Up Ya Lighter will be featuring my favorite music from the past year.  The plan is to write a new post each day to highlight what was so great about 2012.  I'll share my three favorite music videos, new artists, and albums; along with some honorable mentions.  In addition, I'll close out the calendar with my top 10 favorite songs in the chronological order they were released.  Hopefully I can make the time to stay on schedule and then use that momentum to get a good start to 2013.  After all, as long as the music keeps playing, I'll still be listening.  Let's get started...

XXYYXX - About You [directed by VASH]

When this video first came out, I went through about a two week period where I would watch it every single night before I fell asleep.  While listening, my breathing falls in sync with the slowly shifting chords.  The sparse drum kicks and nearly unintelligible vocal samples are not at all overbearing and merely serve to complement the main melody.  Seeing the girls in the video push up their lighters is relaxing in its own right, and by the time the song gets a little wild, I'm essentially already asleep.

Zion I x J.Period - Bomb First (Mixtape)

I watched Rush Hour 2 the other day.  100% of the reason I watched it was because of this scene.  I know this is a music blog, but I'd argue that that scene tops Chris Tucker's karaoke performance.  Anyways, I also noticed that since it was 2001, Tucker casually refers to people and things as 'da bomb' which unfortunately has gone out of style.  If you've read this far into the post, I'm guessing it's because you knew exactly which scenes I was referring to and you wanted to watch them and then see where I'm going with this.  I want to convey the excitement of shared interests.  It's always fun when someone expresses interest in things that you enjoy.  Long time collaborators Zion I and J.Period linked up for a warm up mixtape to Zion I's upcoming album release.  I had heard the Zion I x Little Dragon Remix earlier this week so my expectations were already set high.  I wasn't expecting them to produce a stellar tape made up almost entirely of my current favorite artists.  Not only are the features and samples amazing, never before have I heard such a varied mixtape.  We get remixes, added features from Zion I, samples with new verses, samples mixed with old verses, and straight, unadulterated hip-hop.  I was really blown away by the selections so I think it's fair to call it da bomb.

There are tracks by previous Push Up Ya Lighter post stars such as SBTRKT and Little Dragon, Blu, Danny Brown, and Curren$y.  I would be willing to bet lots of Curren$y A$AP that my most played list from the past few months contains the particular songs included here by Kendrick Lamar, Theophilus London, Azealia Banks, Frank Ocean, and Action Bronson.  And of course, there are nods to some of hip-hop's legends as J.Period mixes in verses and instrumentals from The Roots, Andre 3000, Nas, and MF Doom.  Hell, even the interludes are interesting!  Normally those are an instant skip but this time we get a vocal sample of Morgan Freeman from the show, Through The Wormhole.  And Lights is sampled!  That alone should be enough to hit DOWNLOAD.

Stream the uncut mix above and click the download link for a zipped file of the separate tracks.

Chiddy Bang - Paper & Plastic

This is a little old, but I'm still playing catch up on sharing some great tunes.  Chiddy Bang was one of those groups that was super exciting when they first popped.  Xaphoon Jones helped push the boundaries of hip-hop sampling by digging up indie rock music as opposed to traditional soul and R&B records.  He also adds his signature 'bleeps' and 'bloops' to most of his tracks.  His partner, Chiddy, is well known for his freestyle skills and clever delivery and word play.  That's why they're good.

In my opinion, they kind of fell off after all that initial hype.  After the brilliance of The Swelly Express, their subsequent mixtapes and EP's were a noticeable step down in quality.  Their debut album, Breakfast, also left much to be desired.  It may have had a little to do with the novelty of their style wearing off with time, but I feel that their energy level was decreased.  It seemed like they were going through the motions of what worked before, but with less fervor.

A few months ago they collaborated with Champs Sports and Converse on a project to produce an exclusive new track.  They involved fans by starting with a little audience participation:

Basically, they held a contest where people sent in refrigerator magnet poems and they based the writing process for the new song off the winner, "Ladies like the sandwich party captain".  Alright. There's still nothing new for them here.  It's the same style of production and the same style of rapping, except I really like it.  Using outside inspiration could have sparked a new energy level.  Or maybe since all their mediocre releases have food themes, looking outside the fridge was a step in the right direction.

The Underachievers

A reawakening is happening.  This time last year, I was most excited about the up-and-coming rappers out of the Pacific Northwest, but 2012 is unveiling some very refreshing new talent, and they are coming from the cradle of hip-hop, New York City.  A few months ago we saw Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era Crew start to gain traction in the blogosphere.  I feel like when you can earn the respect of the Internet, being the fickle and fleeting fans they are, you've given yourself a good chance for success.  He has also drawn attention from a variety of fellow artists, so that is legitimizing as well.  Real recognize real, right?

Another young Brooklyn group, The Underachievers, are more than deserving of a spot in the limelight just because they shine bright, and they rhyme tight.  Check out their first music video:

Download: The Underachievers - Gold Soul Theory

Their name originated as a disparaging label which they are seeking to repossess and empower.  It isn't hard to imagine, however, that even the duo might feel a little bit of truth in their name given the fact that they grew up on the streets that produced some of the most important artists of all time.  Hopefully, that is plenty of motivation to stay dedicated to their craft and to continue to push the genre forward.  Ak and Dash clearly draw a lot of inspiration from their hip-hop predecessors, as well as from more experimental artists such as Flying Lotus, and, of course, they use plenty of herbal assistance:

Download: The Underachievers - Herb Shuttles

Their trippy visuals, gloomy beats, and focused rhymes combine to make a strong case for why they claim the East Coast is the Beast Coast.  Their first mixtape, INDIGOI.S.M., will be released next week on Tuesday.

Glare (Mixtape)

CAUTION: Don't stare at the album art for too long without eye protection.

I've had this playlist ready for quite a while, but I'm just now getting around to sharing it with everyone.  I named it Glare, and it's a collection of songs with that summertime feel.  I realize the season is winding down, that's why I felt like I should release it to bring a little brightness to your days.  Put it on for your morning run, a barbecue with friends, or for a drive through your city with the windows down.  The breeze will be blowing in as the tunes are flowing out.  You get the picture; I'm sure I really don't need to tell you how to enjoy yourself.

I noticed that not as many blogs posted summer playlists this year so hopefully some of you were aching for one and this hits the spot.  I was initially hesitant to share the songs I had chosen, but I think this playlist came out really well.  As always, peep the tracklist after the jump, and enjoy!

Download.

I know that I've been slackin on my pimpin with the music posts.  I promise I'll be sharing things more regularly in the future.  I'm sitting on a lot of great music that I'm dying to spread the word about.  Keep yours eyes (and ears) open, but for now I've really gotta stop looking at the Glare cover.

Muffins (Mixtape)

I baked up a couple dozen tasty treats for ya.  This was supposed to come out yesterday, but I've been busy/lazy.  Also, Blogger changed a lot since the last time I posted so it's taking some getting used to.

Muffins.

I didn't add any chocolate chips, but I still think it's a sweet list of chill songs to play while relaxing.  I've tried to gather tracks from some of the more obscure artists in my library.  Also, a lot of these are recent releases.  Hopefully, you can find something new that you really like in here.

Jump...

23

-AV

I turned 23 today.  It feels really old, but I know it's not.  I've got way more ahead of me than I've left behind, and I'll need everything I've learned so far to help me get to where I need to be in the future.  I'm old enough to know how to get what I want, but I don't always know what that is to begin with.  I spend a lot more time alone with my thoughts than ever before.  I am confident that there are two things that truly aid me in relaxing and clearing my head: listening to music and sleeping.

I like to fall asleep with music on, but sometimes that gets counterproductive.  I'll become so absorbed in my listening experience that I won't go to sleep.  Even if I feel tired and it's really late at night, I'll still lie in bed awake wanting to hear just one more track.  I call it inSONGnia (no I don't), but it is a real affliction of mine.  In fact, it's happening right now.  I suppose there's something about the dead of night that makes it such an appealing listening time for me.  The darkness and quiet remove any outside disruptions.  The moment right before drifting off to sleep forms the junction between the conclusion of the previous day and the anticipation of the next.  Hence, the songs I listen to tend to be focused on instrumentals, have soft vocals or slower rapping, and are downtempo.  Repetition is a common theme, whether it be the lyrics or the chord progressions.  Cycles in music must elicit calming and soothing sensations that comfortably lull me toward sleep, yet entrance me in a way that makes them difficult to turn off.  The music is cathartic and provides a release which prepares the mind to dream.

These are my songs: Download.

Continue reading for the full tracklist, as usual.

Chuck Inglish - WRKING. (Mixtape)

Chuck Inglish released a beat tape the other day.  He was hyping it up a few hours before the release, but it was New Year's Eve so I was out already by the time he posted it (he was working on West Coast time).  I forgot about it until today, so I'm assuming a lot of other people also lost it in the shuffle over the weekend.

Download the whole tape from his Tumblr.

Fans of Chuck should recognize quite a few beats on WRKING from his previous output.  There's no rapping, but I guess it's supposed to be more like background music to have playing while you power through whatever the hell it is you do with your time (for me, writing this post).

For those who don't know, Chuck is one half of the duo The Cool Kids.  I've posted about his partner, Mikey, before.  They're one of my personal favorite groups, and I had the pleasure of seeing them perform three different times last year.  For 2012 I resolve to take advantage of as many opportunities to see live music as my time and money will allow.

These guys broke out a few years back right as the rap scene was going through a transition phase.  The change is still happening so listen up, kids.  So rap came along in the late 70's when people like DJ Kool Herc at disco and funk parties started rhyming at the crowds to get them pumped for the dance break beats.  Then came Grandmaster Flash and others like him who took the technique known as 'scratching' and made it an art form and staple of the hip-hop sound.

During the 80's, hip-hop became an established musical genre after the mainstream success of groups like Run D.M.C.  After finding its foothold in the public's attention, hip-hop began to branch naturally into a variety of sub-genres.  Political rap was pioneered by Public Enemy, the Native Tongues collective and their affiliates produced conscious and alternative hip-hop, and the infamous gangsta rap genre was brought to the world by groups like N.W.A.  This diversification all occurred in the late 80's and early 90's and paved the way for the Pacs and Biggies of the world to enjoy massive success during the mid 90's (and beyond).

Hip-hop continued to grow and mature into the new millennium, and while it found a place among all the other genres, the creativity involved still lacked the same respect.  The Roots were, of course, well aware of this travesty even way back in 1996.  Listen to the very end of their Intro track from Illadelph Halflife: The Roots - Intro.  It might be hard to hear, but what he said was

Hip-hop records are treated as though they are disposable.  They're not maximized as product even, you know, not to mention as art.

Every hip-hop artist can trace his or her influences back to one, a few, or all of the people that I've mentioned.  What is interesting about today's emerging artists is that they are exactly the same age as modern hip-hop; they grew up together, and so, like any childhood pals, they have an innate understanding of each other.  Just as Nas and Jay-Z didn't have to convince people to listen to scratching on an album because their predecessors had already done that, musicians today are free to build off of previous artists' innovations and can begin building their own styles and sounds.

For The Cool Kids, it was great listening to older rappers exclaiming "Fight The Power!", "Fuck Tha Police!", and "Can I Kick It?" but when they started making music in their late teens, none of those sentiments were part of their world.  So they did all they could do: emulate the style and passion of their favorite artists but use their own experiences as source material.  Hence, we get songs about bicycles, and lines like

Eating a bowl of them fruity pebbles, fruity pebbles, fruity pebbles.  How gangsta is that? - A Little Bit Cooler

And there is nothing wrong with that.  I think it's great to see hip-hop come of age and have artists like Chuck who are ready and willing to experiment with their sound and rhymes to see what wrks and is cool.  Props to the kids of Generation Hip-Hop.