Makin' Moves: NotSomeKid.com

We know we haven't been posting much recently, but there is good reason: We've been working hard on transferring our blog and re-branding!

We've had a good run under the name Usain In The Membrane, but we've decided to switch blog platforms from blogger to wordpress and get a more user-friendly name in order to take our blog to the next level.

CHANGE IS GOOD! 

With this change will come more daily updates of great music and other exciting projects that will be announced soon and are being worked out as you read this!

In a few seconds you will be redirected to our new blog, and we encourage you to bookmark it and check back often for updates.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@NotSomeKid) and become a fan of us on Facebook!

Travie McCoy: Billionaire ft. Bruno Mars

This is the first single off Travie McCoy's debut solo album, Lazarus, that is due out later this year. McCoy, lead vocalist of Gym Class Heroes, got together with singer Bruno Mars for this feel-good, inspirational track about their billionaire aspirations.

*updated with explicit version*

Preview:

Download

Travie McCoy - Billionaire ft. Bruno Mars | Clean Version |

Wakey! Wakey!: Twenty Two ft. Theo Martins

Rapping over indie rock samples seems to be a growing trend in hip hop recently. This track, originally by Brooklyn indie band Wakey! Wakey!, is different. It has more of a balance than a lot of the other ones that I've heard, and I think it works nicely.




Download: Wakey! Wakey! - Twenty Two ft. Theo Martins

Johnny Polygon: Kids Broken Hearted & To You...

Last week I made a post with some of Johnny Polygon's music, but the tracks that I included in the post were a random selection from his mixtape. Now, after playing through the mixtape multiple times, I decided to post up two of the songs that have really grown on me over the past couple weeks.


Download: Johnny Polygon - Kids Broken Hearted


Download: Johnny Polygon - To You...

If you didn't get the mixtape the last time I posted it, here's another chance to download it:
Johnny Polygon - Rebel Without Applause (full mixtape)

Bonus Video (released today):


Previously: A Few New Artists

The Gorillaz: Stylo (Chiddy Bang RMX)

The Gorillaz recently released the first single off their new album, and Chiddy Bang was quick to put out a remix.



Download: The Gorillaz - Stylo (Chiddy Bang RMX)

A Few New Artists

Recently I've been hearing projects from some up-and-coming artists and I figured I would put some of their music up and let you be the judge of their skills. The new artists being introduced in this post are: Machine Gun Kelly, Johnny Polygon, and Childish Gambino.

----------------
Machine Gun Kelly - He has a pretty distinct voice and fast flow. Fun fact: He was the first rapper to ever win Amateur Night at the Apollo.


100 Words and Running


Leave Me Alone ft. Rock City

Also, check out a video of his HERE.
----------------
Johnny Polygon - Johnny is signed to DJ Green Lantern and his Future Green Entertainment label. Fun fact: He started off as a breakdancer/B-Boy before he got into rapping.


The Riot Song


Get Right ft. Amanda Diva
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Childish Gambino - A fellow Usain reader told me about this one, he has a lot of clever wordplay and a very distinct voice. Fun fact: Childish Gambino, real name Donald Glover, is a writer from 30 Rock and Mystery Team as well as a comedian from UCB.


Yes


Starlight ft. DC Pierson and Amber Petty
----------------

If you enjoyed some of the songs posted above, here are the links to their mixtapes. Also, you can click the artists' names above to visit their websites.

Machine Gun Kelly - 100 Words And Running (mixtape)
Johnny Polygon - Rebel Without Applause (mixtape)
Childish Gambino - Poindexter (mixtape)

B.o.B: May 25th (Mixtape)

B.o.B comes through again with a full mixtape of new songs, and he did not disappoint. The mixtape is titled May 25th, which is supposedly the release date for his debut album. Lots of nice tracks on this one, check out a couple of them and/or download the full mixtape below.

Fool For Love ft. Charles Hamilton


Gladiators ft. J.Cole

Download:

B.o.B - Fool For Love ft. Charles Hamilton
B.o.B - Gladiators ft. J.Cole
B.o.B - May 25th (full mixtape)

Previously: | The Biz | Nothin' On You | B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray (Mixtape) |

The White Stripes Reimagined

Adrian Champion, the multi-talented artist out of Michigan, put together this remix project using only samples from The White Stripes and vocals from some of his favorite classic rap songs. Watch the trailer above and listen to the tracks below to see why this project should be added to your collection.

"12 Classic remixes, plus 1 new exclusive track from Adrian Champion, featuring Brian Jacobs. Starring Mos Def, Outkast, Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, 2Pac,Nas, M.O.P, Eminem, Jay-Z, Redman, Common, and Pharoahe Monch." - Adrian Champion

Preview:

Turn It Up (The White Stripes + Kanye West)


Cash Run (The White Stripes + Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac)

Download:

Adrian Champion - Turn It Up
Adrian Champion - Cash Run
Adrian Champion - Stars and Stripes: The White Stripes Reimagined (full project)

DJ Bootie: NirGaga & Bulletproof Radar

Here are a couple mash-ups off of DJ Bootie's most recent mixtape. The mixtape, Best of Bootie 2009, has some pretty interesting blends and they're all mixed seamlessly. The full mixtape can also be found below.

Preview:

Lady Gaga x Nirvana = NirGaga

Brittney Spears x La Roux = Bulletproof Radar

Download:

DJ Bootie - NirGaga

DJ Bootie - Bulletproof Radar

DJ Bootie - The Best of Bootie 2009 (full mixtape)

B.o.B: The Biz

B.o.B adds his own style to the Shook Ones Pt. II instrumental. This will be on his next mixtape, titled May 25th, which should be out in February.

Preview:


Download: B.o.B. - The Biz

Previously: | Nothin' On You | B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray (Mixtape) |

The Knux: Watchu Say

 Don't let the title fool you, this is nothing like Jason DeRulo's hit single that took over the radio for a while. This is a brand new track off The Knux's The Fuck You EP that they released for free to start off 2010. If you like what you hear, download the full EP below as well.

Preview:


Download:
The Knux - Watchu Say
The Knux - The Fuck You EP
Support the Artist: The Knux - Remind Me In 3 Days

BOOGNIGHTS: Cheers!

BOOGNIGHTS, an artist out of Spring Valley, NY, put together this laid back, positive song that samples One Republic's "Good Life" just in time for the new year.

Happy Holidays!

Preview:

Download: BOOGNIGHTS - Cheers!

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Life is Cinema

Since I first heard of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis a couple months ago, I've been looking out for new music by them because I liked their unique style. This song samples All These Things That I've Done by The Killers, and on their new The VS. EP they add an interesting, hip hop twist to tracks by Beirut, Arcade Fire, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and more.


Download: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Life is Cinema

*Bonus*
This is the first song I heard by them, and after listening you'll see why I was hooked by their style. This song samples Otherside by the Red Hot Chili Peppers but takes the song in a completely new direction.


Download: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Otherside

Joell Ortiz: Make It Without You & Soldier (RMX)

Off his new Road Kill mixtape, Joell Ortiz, 1/4th of the hip hop super-group Slaughterhouse, recorded these tracks while he was on the road for The 50 Day Tour with Slaughterhouse and Tech N9ne (hence, "Road Kill"). His story telling throughout this whole mixtape is great. Preview two of the tracks and/or download the full mixtape below. Also, Joell is in the process of recording a joint mixtape with Novel, one of the artists featured in our Artist Watch series, and we will be sure to have it here when it comes out.

Preview:
Make It Without You

Deep track about his grandma who passed away. He says it's the "realest shit [he] ever wrote."

Soldier (RMX)

Creative concept for this song. He keeps the theme and voice throughout and it sounds good.

Download:
Joell Ortiz - Make It Without You
Joell Ortiz - Soldier (RMX)
Joell Ortiz - Road Kill (full mixtape)

Zion I: Coastin' ft. K.Flay

This song by Zion I, the Oakland, CA duo consisting of AmpLive and MC Zumbi, came out early this year and was praised for its feel-good style and socially conscious lyrics. After not hearing it for a while, I had my iTunes on shuffle today and it came on so I had to put it up. Enjoy!

Preview:

Download: Zion I - Coastin' ft. K.Flay

Xaphoon Jones: I Wanna Know Now & Radar Detector

If you haven't heard of Xaphoon Jones or heard any songs off his most recent mixtape, The Xaphoon Jones Mixtape Vol. 1, you should definitely listen below. Xaphoon Jones, best known for producing some hit tracks for Chiddy Bang, is a beast with samples and mash-ups and this mixtape shows it. Preview two of the tracks and/or download the full mixtape below.

Preview:

I Wanna Know Now (Bob Marley, MGMT)


Radar Detector


Download:
Xaphoon Jones - I Wanna Know Now
Darwin Deez - Radar Detector (Xaphoon Jones RMX)
Xaphoon Jones - The Xaphoon Jones Mixtape Vol.1

Move Shake On Video (Mash-Up)

The White Panda, the duo consisting of Procrast and DJ Griffi, is most known for their seemless mash-ups and remixes. Move Shake On Video, their most recent mash-up, blends Shake by Pitbull and the Ying Yang Twins with Fatman Scoop's portion of Drop over the beat of Trans X's Living On Video.

Preview:

Download: The White Panda - Move Shake On Video (Mash-up)

Lupe Fiasco: Enemy of the State: A Love Story (Mixtape)

What better way to start off Thanksgiving than with the release of Lupe Fiasco’s new mixtape, Enemy of the State: A Love Story. Motivated by his exclusion from MTV’s list of the “Hottest MCs in the Game,” Lupe decided to get back in the studio and record a mixtape in efforts to get people to be like, “Look at this positive dude, the underdog. The positive one who came and murdered all these dudes.” Good work, MTV.

Rhyming over other MC’s beats, Lupe uses his smooth flow, clever wordplay, and deep lyrics to separate himself from the rest of the rappers that were on MTV’s list. His next mixtape, Friend of the People, will be coming out on Christmas.

Enjoy!

Preview:

Check the wordplay:
“She said she was a fan of mine
Knew she was New Jersey
But said that she was Anaheim”
(New Jersey Devils; Anaheim Angels)

Download:

Previewed Above: Angels (RMX)
Full Mixtape: Enemy of the State: A Love story
 

Jay-Z x Radiohead: No Karma

This track is a mashup off of the Jaydiohead project released earlier this year by Max Tannone, a DJ and producer out of NYC, and is just one of the many gems that he created. It samples Jay-Z's "No Hook" from American Gangster and Radiohead's "Karma Police" from OK Computer. A fellow Usain In The Membrane reader told me about this project last week, and, after listening to it all the way through, I thought it was definitely worth a post. Enjoy!

Preview:

Download: No Karma - Jay-Z x Radio Head
OR
Download: Jaydiohead (full project)

Visit the website dedicated to the project here.

B.o.B: No Man's Land & Mr. Bobby

One of my favorites in the "freshman class" of artists, B.o.B is a multi-talented musician with a very unique style. These two songs, off his most recent mixtape B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray, demonstrate his creative ability and dynamic style and definitely deserve a listen.

No Man's Land:

^Watch him perform this live in Utah here.

Mr. Bobby:


Download:
B.o.B - No Man's Land
B.o.B - Mr. Bobby

Want to hear more from him? Check out his website or download the full mixtape here.