We Plug To You... Childish Gambino - CAMP

I’m disappointed I hadn’t heard of Donald Glover prior to receiving the link to his latest album CAMP and if you’ve heard of the rapper who goes by the stage name Childish Gambino, you’re one up on me.

Born September 25, 1983, Donald Glover is an actor, a comedian, a writer and - adding to his list of talents - a rapper and a producer. He has attended the Dekalb School of the Arts in Atlanta, Georgia and also graduated from NYU with a degree in Dramatic Writing in 2006. No surprises there as Donald was a writer for Tina Fey's NBC series 30 Rock for two years and won the Writer's Guild of America Award for his work on the show's third season. He also starred in the popular US TV show Community as Troy Barnes as well as writing for Jon Stewart's The Daily Show amongst other roles in TV and Film. With music, Donald started out in college dropping a few mixtapes here and there, and by few I mean many. His most famous project till date - the album Culdesac - was released last year and now we feature his brand new album titled CAMP. To be precise, CAMP is his fourth album but first commercial release which is scheduled for release on November 15 under Glassnote Records. Lest I forget, Donald also DJs under the moniker mcDJ and has released a number of mixes under this name. I ask is there anything this man can’t do? Let's get into some of the amazing music to expect on CAMP, shall we?

We Plug To You... BLINK - The World Is Small

Hello world I have been gone for a minute but I'm back with a real jump off for you this time! Oh by the way, did I forget to ask you how your extended Easter holidays were? OK so how were you Easter holidays? Anyways enough of the chit chat, please walk closely with me on this one

When this particular album was sent to me, on first sight the thought in my head was and I quote, "wow Festac 77" but on a closer look at the album cover art, I could not help but admire the concept behind the design (shout out to Lloyd Cooper) - a really art inspired creation. Now my thoughts start to race as I hear murmerings of myself directed at no one in particular saying, "i hope this lives up to the expectation". I clicked play and can I just say that the rest is history.

21 year-old Blink - real name Nelson Agose - was born in Abia State (Eastern Nigeria) and raised in Lagos State until his teenage years. At age 16, he moved to America to pursue a degree in Economics, which in August 2010, he obtained from the University of Illinois Urbana champaign. The World Is Small is his debut album and this album tells a story of a traveling boy, interacting with the circumstances and situations he finds himself in life and how he uses those experiences to grow into a man. The experiences which are common to most people in the same circumstance include music, culture, race, religion, education, sex, and nationality but what makes Blink unique is his ability to fuse all of these into this interesting masterpiece, making good music for the ear.

The album kicks of with 'Dreams of A Winner' which serves as an apt beginning to the story on The World Is Small. On this record, Blink proclaims that he's ready for "blast off" as he speaks to his listener about his continued journey to achieving his dreams while remaining grateful for his present blessings as he seats somewhere "on coach" where he conjures up these "international dreams"… 'Dreams of A Winner' is a really chilled-out record which speaks volume about personal motivation and did I mention that the hook on this track is hella infectious plus the mellow drum-kicks infused production by Baron Boys is just straight fire. Listen below...

"Dreams of A Winner":

"I'm still dreaming like a winner/ but living like a sinner/ but my blessings are more so thank God for forgiveness"

The album moves further into a more conscious space with the song titled 'Pay Attention' and pay attention is exactly what you need to do on this drum and horns-led track produced once again by Baron Boys. On this one, Blink referring to himself as an "artist and thinker" goes in on everyone and everything from selling out in his music to fake rappers to ignorant listeners to the Church to Science to the media and even down to lack of electricity in his home country, Nigeria all in little over three and a half minutes. Check it out below but please make sure you 'Pay Attention'.

"Pay Attention":

"The truth is a blunt u got to take a hit/nowadays u make dollars u aint gatta to make no sense/so should i bring change or make sense?"

The 16-track album also features loads of exceptionally good Hip-Hop tracks such as the thumping and bass heavy "The Countdown", the incredibly catchy and infectious banger "Super" which sees Blink and The Baron Boys on 100% top form plus the braggadocious "Everywhere I Go", "Road to Riches" which features G.o.d jewels and the solemn, hard-hitting and very profound "Blanket of Dreams" which is backed by heavy keyboard arrangements and vocal from SLV. The song sheds an in-depth light on the problems and troubles facing his home country Nigeria and asks the poignant question of where the nation is going after 50 years of independence - a worthy listen by all accounts.

However, the final track I've decided to share (only because I've simply fallen in love with the tune) is the smooth and soulful key board-driven 'Jet To Lagos' backed by lush drum kicks and features Nigerian rapper Lynxx and singer Teeklef (can I hear you say "utunu") and in Blink's own words, 

"Even though I have experienced four winters in America, I'm still not used to the Illinois cold or the Chicago wind… Since the first time I came to America, I spent every Christmas break from school back in Lagos Nigeria. This song describes what my experience on the way back home is typically like and what life on the good side is like back home… Jet to Lagos"

I could relate to this song in every aspect of it as this reminds me so much of home and any one in diaspora will get this "catch a plane back home" feeling once you hear this record, especially if you are African... Still missing home? OK click play below and "Jet to Lagos"...

"Jet to Lagos":

The World is Small makes for a very good listen especially for a debut album and at a point where a lot of so-called "hip-hop" albums are laced with meaningless party songs, true Hip-Hop heads and aficionados will love this album as it addresses relevant individual, community and world issues while still keeping that braggadocio as Blink tells a good story that fuses culture, politics, sex, education and religion into one very G.O.O.D record. The young emcee sums up the album nicely in his own choice words and we will close out this piece with them:

"I am not a conscious rapper, I am a semi informed citizen of this world. It helps to THINK and ASK before you BELIEVE anything. Just a simple way to keep TABs on real life - The World is Small." - Blink

Purchase: Blink - The World Is Small (iTunes) // Bandcamp

Keeps Tabs on BLINK: Website // Twitter // Facebook

Until the Next Time... 


I am KingKC* and I love G.O.O.D Music 

We Plug to You... Praise Petrelli - Train of Thought (Preview)

Whats really G.O.O.D people? Since this is a season of revolution (if you are still in doubt look around you), I'm also trying to revolutionalise the music you the listener is continually fed... OK now I'm sounding like Malcolm so let's cut the pleasantries and head straight into the booth for this next feature...

This feature is on emerging UK-based Nigerian rapper Praise Petrelli who goes by the government name Praise Ogbalu and is currently based out in Hatfield pursuing a Major in Information Technology at the University of Hertfordshire. I vividly remember my days at that university and looking around the university now, you cannot help but notice the love and passion the students have for music. Couple that with the state-of-the-art £38 million entertainment space the authorities recently unveiled which includes a style bar, balcony area and a club area grand enough to accommodate 2000 people and what you get in the university of Hertfordshire is every one navigating towards music which kinda makes it very hard to seperate the grain from the chaff...but alas Praise Petrelli is no chaff! He has been doing this for years and his main musical influences include Eminem, Bone Thugs, Lil Wayne & Kanye West amongst others.

The first time I heard Petrelli, I knew he was just that raw and uncut diamond. He strikes you as quiet in person but beyond that quiet disguise, lies the heart of a great thinker and it's no wonder his forthcoming mixtape is titled 'Train of Thought'. When I heard he was dropping this mixtape in the Summer, I had to get a hold of him so I could PLUG some of his records to you and of course beat my chest like king kong when he explodes and we all can point at him and say "yes I told you so". Lets cut to the chase and get to the actual music...

The first single, "I Advice" from his upcoming mixtape Train of Throught is extremely lyrical with a passionate flow. I remember the first time I heard this and I was asked to guess who the rapper was, i was busy calling out more established names while Petrelli was sat right there laughing his ass off as I just sat there mouth agape with wonderment. "I Advice" goes hard and is obviously a befitting single with production credit going to Zone Beats and yes I said Zone Beats, not Just Blaze. Praise Petrelli effortlessly announces his entrance to the game and why the wait should be over with some playful lyrics, dope wordplay and a whole lot of punchlines that I got tired of counting... Listen for yourself and count at your own risk.

Hope you didn't have a whirl wind of words on that first track? This next track is titled  "I'm up" - a beautiful and uplifting song produced once again by Zone Beats with singer Mex complimenting the soul-inspired beats with his soulful voice, leaving Praise Petrelli with no other option but to go for the kill. His delivery is pure skills and the wordplay gets even more interesting on this track but I particularly like the laid back production which gives you that serene feeling. If you ever loved any Kanye West & John Legend collaboration then I put my fiver on this track right here and say that you will like this too but just don't get it mixed up, you are still tuned in to Praise Petrelli...

My final selection is a track titled "Fly" which is produced by Delz. This is a real Hip-Hop joint as Praise Petrelli goes "society high" to address his issues with the Music/Hip-Hop scene as he declares a no fly zone and swoops on the so called care takers or gate keepers who try to define what real music is and I have to agree with him. Good music is really what comes from the heart and this must be the deepest song from him, listen below.

Praise Petrelli clearly has passion for his music plus he spits good music over a variety of beats and this versatile nature makes him stand out in such a way that you're hard pressed as to predicting what his next track might be. His strongest point might be his content however, as he always has some real hard knock facts to say. His mixtape Train of Thought drops in the Summer and going by the Petrelli weather forecast, it is going to be a real hot summer. He has promised to make the mixtape available to us the minute it drops but for now, do enjoy the three available songs up top and get your download on. Finally, in Petrelli's own words - "One of you suckers tell me it is not my time?". I'm certainly no sucker

Keeps Tabs on Praise Petrelli : Twitter

Until the Next Time... I am KingKC* and I love G.O.O.D Music

We Plug 2 You... IKES - The Intermission

Yes yes y'all! This week is a special week, because today iPlug to you one of UK's hardest working Rappers, Ikes (Yes #TeamUK)! I've known Ikes for about a year now, and I have to say, if there is anything you can't knock him for, it's his work rate... If you haven't heard Of Ikes, in the next year I'm pretty sure you will. Ikes is UK's latest offering of talented lyricists who have been entertaining hip-hop heads and not-so-hiphop heads on both sides of the Atlantic for some time now.

Ikes' real name is Kevin Ogbodo, born to Nigerian parents and unlike a lot of other rappers, Ikes is not just a rapper, he is also a brilliant RnB songwriter and he was involved in back in the 2008 underground hit 'Dream come True' by Sheya. He was also featured on Flavour Magazine's hit list for 2010. Ikes has made significant progress this year as an artist with his June mixtape 'Peer to Peer' receiving 10000 downloads in just two weeks. This year, Ikes was also featured on SBTV, which has featured the likes of Chipmunk, Wretch 32 and Chiddy Bang on it's on-line platform. 

If you are into heavy hard-hitting beats and top notch lyrics, I'd advice you to pay attention to this guy. Before I bring to you 'The Intermission', I thought I'd plug to you a few of Ikes' previous art. This one is his SBTV freestyle, which he did over Rick Ross's Mafia Music.

With that freestyle, he is definitely in my list of top ten SBTV freestyles ever.

This next track is called 'The One' and no need to front, Ikes is the one. This tune is off of his previous mixtape 'P2P' but it kinda fell under the rather, so I'm bringing it back. This has that late 90's hip-hop feel to it. You just can't listen to this tune and not bop your head or move your hands, 'The One' also features Mega from S.a.S!

Well, I featured the above tunes, so you know where Ikes is coming from, anticipate and appreciate where he is heading to. Now its time to connect you with his latest offering (The Intermission). The intermission is a link between 'Peer to Peer' (P2P) and his forthcoming album 'One of One' (1/1).

This next track 'Miss This' from 'The Intermission' is produced by one of London's finest emerging producers MaleekBerry. If you are from London, you will love this tune but if you are not, you should still appreciate this. This is a proper UK Hip-Hop song (so if you are not in the UK, get with the program or MISS THIS)!

Oh wow! I wish I could continue with more tracks, but I need to stop now, so I'll drop one last tune. As much as I love hooks, I have to say that this is my favourite track off the mixtape, straight rapping and heavy content. This track 'Believe' is too inspirational for me to ignore it.

"Im wrapped around the steering wheel of my career, I've never known a chauffeur"

Thats all for today folks... Download the mixtape The Intermission, its a very good Rap compilation and there is a lot of thought out lyrics in there. You are assured 16 tracks of pure goodness! To keep up with Ikes, follow him on twitter: http://twitter.com/ikesonthereal and keep an eye on his blog for new tunes: http://www.lifeofikes.com/

We Plug Good Music, you love it and everybody's happy

2 up, 2 down Until next week

... Fhanthom