The SwAze Playlist X

It's A Rap brings you the 10th installment of The SwAze Playlist!  You know the routine by now!  Keep it SwAze like us!  No particular order, just equally dope...Certified.

1. DJ Khaled ft. Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, & Lil Wayne-"Take It To The Head"

2. Rich Hil-"Lady In The Hall"

3. Mike G ft. Vince Staples-"Award Tour"

4. Slaughterhouse-"Everybody Down"

5. Nacho Picasso-"Burn Bridges"

6. Rick Ross-"This Me"

7. 2Pac-"Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find"

8. Mac Miller-"Desperado"

9. OJ da Juiceman-"Stripper Song"

10. Los-"I'm On One" (Freestyle)

The Letter

Dear Hip-Hop,


       I'm writing you today to demonstrate my devout gratitude and to thank you for all you've provided not only myself, but entire cultures and generations alike.  I am eternally indebted to you for giving me, and people similar to me, the opportunity to have a voice and the ability to discuss and dispute the greatest and most diverse art form to date.  Thank you for the debates you've sparked, that no matter how compelling the arguments, will never be resolved.  Thank you for the artists, MC's, producers, style, culture, and history.  Not only is the way you have been able to evolve and maintain relevant in an expanding and diversifying populous commendable, the innate capacity to forge contemporary ideals to the frontier of entertainment is truly astounding.  Thank you for the superstar rappers, the underground and indie artists, the mega producers to the ones making beats in their basements.  Thank you for the jobs you've created, the ambitions you've pushed, the words envisioned as poetry, and the dreams you've helped actualize.  Thank you for the competition within the game that has propelled artists to make each other better, along the beef within the culture that no matter how tragic the outcome, has taught us valuable life lessons about how not to repeat past mistakes and to grow from experience.  You have changed lives, uplifted communities, and showed people that they can make a difference not only for themselves, but for others as well.  At times you've strayed from positivity and made questionable choices, but eventually, in time, found your way back.  You're contribution and generosity to us is so renowned that repayment is nearly impossible.  Just know how immensely proud and thankful we are and that your legacy will never be forgotten.  Please continue to provide us with music and lifestyle that we can identify and connect with, and while you will constantly be changing, always remain true to your deeply routed principals and foundation that has ordained you timeless.  


          Forever Grateful,
                     It's A Rap                                       

The SwAze Playlist IX

It's A Rap brings you The SwAze Playslist IX.  These tracks are in heavy rotation at "IAR" and here's another opportunity to keep it #SwAze like us.  No particular order, just equally dope...Certified.

1. XV ft. Los-"Get It"

2. Casey Veggies ft. Rich Hil-"Euphoria"

3. CyHi The Prynce ft. Yelawolf-"Bulletproof"

4. Odd Future-"Oldie"

5. Notorious B.I.G-"Respect"

6. Meyhem Lauren-"Got The Fever"

7. Kirko Bangz-"Play Me"

8. Tory Lanez-"Motto" (Freestyle)

9. Sunday Down-"Illuminati"

10. Machine Gun Kelly-"Chip Off The Block"

Odd Future-The OF Tape Vol. 2

Obscurity.  The operative word that has surrounded the L.A. collective since their meteoric rise has been a staple of critics and listeners alike.  Gimmicks, comedy, ego, and a nonchalant attitude towards hip-hop and people within the culture, is what has helped propel OF into stardom, whether they want it or not.  However, the different personalities, abilities, and overall place in the group, have detracted from one cardinal facet that, for the Wolf Gang, is often overlooked, their talent.  They are a RAP group.  The rappers can RAP and the producers can PRODUCE.  Setting aside the group's antics, that for some hip-hop fans could be depicted as just a ruse for publicity, OF is not receiving the appropriate recognition as some of the best in the game.  "The OF Tape Vol. 2" is going to provide them with that recognition.  The much anticipated follow-up (which is released as an actual full length album despite it's title) to "The Odd Future Tape" gives OF heads a familiar feel to their previous works, but also expands to a more maturing and wide-spread fan-base.  The production from Syd, (the sole female member) Left Brain, Jet Age Of Tomorrow, and Tyler, the Creator (front man of the group) is melodic and simplistic, which has been the credo for their success.  While some of the beats are hard-hitting, the subtly whithin the production allows for dynamic lyricism, which they have in spades.  Tracks like "Bi*ches," (Domo Genesis/ Hodgy Beats) "Ned Flander," (Hodgy Beats/Tyler, the Creator) and "50" (Mellowhype) are signature songs that are the foundation of the OF sound.  Mike G shows off his lyrical expansion on "Forest Green," The Internet provides a funk influenced track with "Ya Know," and Taco and Jasper (non-rapping members) spit on "We Got Bi*ches," which is a comedically driven mockery and snub to main stream hip-hop.  R&B crooner Frank Ocean shines and displays why he has exploded in the last year with songs like "White," Snow White," and fan favorite, "Analog 2."  Proclaimed "weed" rapper of the group, Domo Genesis, once again proves his lyricism and flow should be mentioned with some of the best with the song "Doms."  Tyler, the Creator is all over the album and it stands to good reason.  He's growing, rapidly, as not only a rapper, but an artist who is able to propagate a significant message through his music.  The album ends with "Oldie," a 10 minute song that everyone gets a crack at, including highly touted, anticipated, and mysterious Earl Sweatshirt.  The expectation and pressure that has been placed on Sweatshirt, (who is still 17) is burdensome, but the verse he spits on "Oldie" could have been acapella and solo and still been the best track on the album.  Hyperbole aside, he is a lyrical monster!  Earl's youth and foresight into hip-hop are going to put him in a position to challenge some of the biggest artists for rap supremacy.  "The OF Tape Vol. 2" has great lyrics, punch lines, melody, and variety with an undeviating feel to what makes OF unique.  This album will undoubtedly contravene Odd Future's critics, vanquish any remaining doubt to their relevance, and prove that the Golf Wang's future is brighter than ever.                               

The SwAze Playlist VIII

"IAR" presents The SwAze Playlist VIII.  As the weekend approaches and you gear up for St. Paddy's Day, here's some songs that can help you keep it #SwAze like we do.  Friends don't let friends listen to whack hip-hop.  Enjoy Responsibly!  No particular oder, just equally dope...Certified.

1. WZRD-"Teleport 2 me, Jamie"

2. French Montana ft. Maino-"Drop A Gem On Em"

3. Earl Sweathshirt-"Drop"

4. Macklemore-"Irish Celebration"

5. Action Bronson ft. Meyhem Lauren-"Expensive Pens"

6. Key Nyata-"Get High"

7. Lost Boyz-"Lifestyle Of The Rich And Shameless"

8. Shwayze-"Summertime"

9. Wiz Khalifa-"California"

10. Slaughterhouse-"Onslaught 2"

"IAR" Interview: FKi

"Fu*kin Kick It!"  That's a philosophy and lifestyle that the rising duo from Atlanta fully embraces and is an indicative theme in their music.  FKi is comprised of 1st Down and Raye Rich, longtime friends that are now building a novel and revolutionary sound in hip-hop.  FKi's music consist of every intricate aspect of what makes the rap game great, moreover, the implementation of contra-distinct methods outside of hip-hop, is what's distinguishing their sound from the rest.  The ATL tandem applies a mixture or rap, dubstep, club music, techno, and even a hint of funk, which has proven to be the recipe for innovation.  The buoyant ego and party swag of FKi ceases to detract from their lyrical and producing abilities.  Even though their songs are fairly consistant with one, centric theme, the individual lyricism and production value of Raye and 1st offers a greater and byzantine feel to their music.  Engineering club bangers, that can often drown out an artists message, has not hindered them from conserving lyrical integrity that in club music, is typically nebulous.  They can SPIT, and in doing so, begets them as a rising super-group.  It's A Rap had the fotunate opportunity of interviewing FKi and with a new  mixtape, (Transformers N The Hood) growing catalogue, and a rapidly expanding fan-base, "Fu*ckin Kick It" is making major power moves and demonstrating that the collective is considerably greater than the individual.


IAR: How did you two link up to make music together?
FKi: Raye Rich: "Jay-Z vs. Nas Argument!  I just moved from GA to NY and had an argument with a random kid who happened to be 1st Down in our World History class.  To make sh*t even weirder, we ended up living in the same neighborhood.  It was all history from there."


IAR: What inspired the name FKi?
FKi:  1st: "Honestly, nothing inspired the name, it's just exactly what we do.  "Fu*kin Kick It."  We just do the same sh*t we've been doing since we were young.  The chicks just look better now and we can afford good weed."


IAR: When did you get your start in hip-hop?
FKi: Raye Rich: "1st momma's basement!"
         1st: "I've been making beats in my mom's basement since 7th grade.  We used to record to tape decks and have to do all our songs in one take.  Truthfully though, sh*t got serious when we went to Full Sail University in Orlando.  Fu*k Sally Mae by the way.


IAR: What qualities do you bring individually, to operate as a group?
FKi: Raye Rich: "I'm more the wild ni**a in the group."
         1st: ".............the hoe-magnet."


IAR: Can you categorize your sound?
FKi: "No, we are influenced by so many types of music that when it comes time to make our own, it's a blend of so much sh*t."


IAR: Musical influences?
FKi: "Daft Punk, Timbaland, The Neptunes, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Parliament Funkadelic."


IAR: Artists/producers you want to work with?
FKi: "Skrillex, Fiest, Daft Punk, Chris Brown, and anyone fresh and young that is looking to get it going."


IAR: Future projects and what's next for FKi?
FKi: "We just released our mixtape "Transformers N The Hood" that we did with Diplo Heroes X Villains, & Mayhem.  You can download that at Clubtapes.com.  Also, more videos off of that project to be dropped.  Also, we're building out the show to support the tape.  We really want it to be something special, a fun, raw experience.  So check for us coming to a club, dorm room, and rave near you soon.  Also more production work from us.  We have records with Lil Twist and Shanell of Young Money, Neon Hitch, our homie Iggy Azalea, and more dropping before the summer.  We really going hard with this Zooly movement.  We the new A!  Remember we said that when you hear the radio in the next few months!"


Follow on Twitter:
@fkimusic
@FKi1stdown
@FKiRayeRich 

The SwAze Playlist VII

Friday.  The SwAze Playlist VII.  These songs are in heavy rotation at "It's A Rap" and here's your opportunity to keep it #SwAze like us.  No particular order, just equally dope...Certified.

1. Big K.R.I.T.-"1986"

2. Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire-"Huzzah!"

3. Wale-"Beautiful Bliss"

4. Gucci Mane ft. Rocko-"Plain Jane"

5. J Cole-"Rise and Shine"

6. Lost Boyz-"Me And My Crazy World"

7. Tyga-"Do It All"

8. Russell W. Howard ft. Jon Connor & Joe Gates-"Beautiful Distraction"

9. Hopsin-"Rize Until You Fall"

10. Lil B-"I Own Swag"