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.