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February is off to great start as far as the music world is concerned. The Grammys came and went, Iggy Azalea didn’t win the Best Rap Album award and Katie Perry brought out Missy Elliott and danced with sharks during the Super Bowl half-time show. But more importantly, we have a fresh batch of tunes for your listening pleasure with our latest edition of Songs of the Week.
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"Iconic"
Madonna Feat. Chance the Rapper & Mike Tyson
The original naughty girl, Madonna, has captivated the music world for three decades and continues to evolve her artistry. This week, she released her new single, "Iconic," which will live on her upcoming "Rebel Heart" album, set to release March 10. Following a short intro courtesy of Iron Mike Tyson, Madonna holds court over the futuristic production with her lush vocals, creating a motivational number worthy of a few spins. A long-time supporter of rap, she decided to enlist Chicago trippy-kid Chance The Rapper to lay a verse on the track, who makes the most of his opportunity, dropping a stand-out eight bars that will surely be getting him even more love in the pop world. Score one for Madonna and company.
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"The Mexican"
GZA Feat. Tom Morello
The surprise entry this week comes via the new GZA cut, "The Mexican." Getting assistance on the production tip from Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello on the production tip, the Genius crafts the beat and handles the verses without breaking a sweat. Morello's show-stealing guitar riffs and the GZA's top tier mic-skills make for a perfect marriage, resulting in "The Mexican" being the epitome of audio dope. Be on the lookout for The GZA's upcoming LP, "Dark Matter,' which is sure to deliver more greatness such as that displayed on this number.
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"The Blacker the Berry"
Kendrick Lamar
The biggest musical splash of the week came in the form of Kendrick Lamar's latest release, titled "The Blacker The Berry." Featuring production by Boi1da, with additional boardwork by Terrace Martin, "The Blacker The Berry" is the first official release from Kendrick's ominous sophomore effort, which seems to be right around the corner and could be announced any given day.
A barrage of high-octane bars, "The Blacker The Berry" see Lamar spitting lyrics of fury without any regards for feelings or an ounce of remorse. The release was met with praise as well as critique, getting the conversation going about race and politics, as well as being compared with transcendent works by the likes of Tupac Shakur.
With all of that said, "The Blacker The Berry" has officially set the tone for Kendrick's return and if the LP is anything like what we've heard thus far, it's a safe bet that K Dot's impending album will be another classic in the making
