"can we get to know each other, more than we already do"

May marked the end of my extended stay in one of the best cities in the world, Prague. After spending four months taking twenty credits, chasing trams, traveling around Europe, getting lost on purpose so that I could discover new neighborhoods, and work work working it out at Hip-Hop Night at Radost, it was finally time to pack my bags and head west.

From the return of Kehlani to yet another banger by my new favorite trio, Terror Jr, May is sort of an emotional rollercoaster. Feel free to cry with gnash and Olivia O'Brien and then turn up with Ty Dolla $ign, Flume, and Tove Lo fifteen minutes later. 

Below are the twelve songs that served as my soundtrack for the month of May: 

1. "This Is What You Came For" - Calvin Harris & Rihanna
2. "i hate you, i love you" (feat. olivia o'brien) - gnash
3. "Up to You" (feat. Chelsea Cutler) - Andrew Luce & Graves
4." Close" (feat. Tove Lo) - Nick Jonas
5. "Care" (feat. Madi) - R3hab & Felix Snow
6. "24/7" - Kehlani
7. "Hold Your Hand" - JAHKOY
8. "Wavy" (feat. Joe Moses) - Ty Dolla $ign
9." Sugar" - Terror Jr
10. "Say It" (feat. Tove Lo) - Flume
11. "Sex" - Cheat Codes & Kris Kross Amsterdam
12. "Fast Car" (Radio Edit) (feat. Dakota) - Jonas Blue

Happy Listening, 

Robert

"haters, i hit 'em real deep in the jugular"

photo by Azealia Banks (@azealiabanks on Instagram)

At the end of March, Azealia Banks, one of Hip-Hop's most underrated, versatile, and unapologetically black artists, dropped the eight-track mixtape, Slay-Z.

The first single off the mixtape, "The Big Big Beat," features a Notorious B.I.G. sample and demonstrates Banks' ability to do virtually anything, and do it well, as she ferociously spits bars over a Detroit house beat.

Slightly more compelling than the track itself is the visual. Directed by her fellow LaGuardia alum Matt Sukkar, the four-minute clip features Banks in strutting through the hallways of the projects, dancing in front of a New York City municipal building, and vibing on top of a cop car in Chelsea.

Banks took to Twitter to explain that she did not choose those locations randomly, in fact, she wanted to critique the cyclical nature of incarceration and poverty in her hometown, New York City.

I shot the big big beat video in the hallways of the projects and in front of central bookings because after being arrested in NYC

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) April 26, 2016

More than once and having spent many of my teenage days hanging out in the projects you begin to see how public housing and jail are

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) April 26, 2016

One of the paths laid out for black youth. The police actually patrol the hallways of public housing looking for people to arrest

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) April 26, 2016

The materials used to build the projects are the same materials inside of jails and precincts. I see it all as a form of mental programming

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) April 26, 2016

Almost as if poor Black Youth are being conditioned and groomed for jail from the start.

— BRUJA DEL BLOQUE (@AZEALIABANKS) April 26, 2016

In just under seven days, without promotion or support from a major label,"The Big Big Beat" has been viewed almost two million times and it looks like Banks might have a "Big Big" hit on her hands.

Happy Listening (watching),

Robert

"vans on like a skater"

April was filled with travel, school, planning for the summer, and just general shenanigans for me, and naturally, I had to have a playlist to get me through it all.

I started my April on a pretty high note by seeing Ty Dolla $ign live, and from then on, I knew that my playlist for the month would have to be filled with turn-up bangers, and with the exception of a slow R&B love song by KINGDM and a big pop euro-pop record by Molly Sandén, it is.

Below are the eleven songs that served as my soundtrack for the month of April:

1. "Saved" (feat. E-40) - Ty Dolla $ign
2. "One Dance" (feat. Wizkid & Kyla) - Drake
3. "Highlights" - Kanye West
4. "Circles" (feat. Vanic) - machineheart
5. "BeFoUr" - ZAYN
6. "Asking 4 It" (feat. Fetty Wap) - Gwen Stefani
7. "Baby" (feat. Kevin Garrett) - KINGDM
8. "In My Room" (feat. Ty Dolla $ign & Tyga) - Yellow Claw
9. "Tennessee" - Kiiara
10. "3 Strikes" - Terror Jr
11. "Satellites" - Molly Sandén

Happy Listening,

Robert

"we're not like the other ones, sucking up to anyone"

photo by Terror Jr (@terrorjr on Instagram)

After exploding onto the music scene about a month ago via Kylie Jenner's "Glosses" commercial with their debut single, the infectious electro-pop "3 Strikes," Terror Jr has continued to wow music listeners around the world with their follow-up, the bouncy and equally as catchy "Sugar."

The previously masked trio consists of producers Felix Snow and Campa, the dream production team behind Kiiara's low kii savage, and a singer named Lisa.

photo by Terror Jr (@terrorjr on Instagram)

Much like "3 Strikes," "Sugar" has an incredible beat, light and airy vocals, and a bridge so sick that you'll want to throw your headphones across the room. 

"Sugar" is a summertime/anytime jam perfect for blasting at full volume at your family's cookout, your friends darty, or through your car's speakers.

I'm super excited for whatever Terror Jr has planned, a based on what they've released so far, they won't disappoint.

Happy Listening,

Robert

"i'll take the blame for the both of us"

Between midterm exams, internship applications, and SPRING BREAK (let's be real, it's the most important one), March is one of the most stressful and fun-filled months of the year for college students.

During the first half of March, I was particularly into "alt-R&B." I needed some chill vibes to get me through a seemingly endless amount of work, but as the month rolled on, my dreams of tanned skin and white sand beaches became a reality, and my music taste shifted to more upbeat, club and dance music.

Like most of my playlists, March is a rollercoaster ride, filled with everything from slow grooves by newcomers Kiiara and Gallant, to EDM bangers from Jay Cosmic & Delora and The Chainsmokers.

Below are the sixteen songs that served as my soundtrack during the month of March:

1. "Hallucinations" - dvsn
2. "Feels" - Kiiara
3. "Work This Out" - Litany
4. "Fool to Love" - NAO
5. "No Words" - Erik Hassle
6. "Toothbrush" - DNCE
7. "Timelines" (feat. Rico Greene) - Wantigga
8. "With Me" - dvsn
9. "Weight in Gold" - Gallant
10. "Have it All" - Jay Cosmic & Delora
11. "I Won't Let You Walk Away" (Lost Kings Remix) (feat. Madison Beer) - Mako
12. "This Must Be My Dream" - The 1975
13. "Bourbon" - Gallant
14. "Wasted On You" (feat. ROZES) - Louis Futon
15. "Faded" - Alan Walker
16. "Don't Let Me Down" (feat. Daya) - The Chainsmokers

Happy Listening,

Robert

"behind the pen is a creator"

Northern Virginia born, L.A. based singer-songwriter Rebel Rae proves that she knows how to have a good time in the music video for her debut single, "Good Vibes."

The video, directed by Alexi Papalexopoulos, is a mix of 90's nostalgia and Los Angeles swag, with acid wash jeans, bucket hats, crop tops and flannels in abundance at the party that serves as the backdrop for "Good Vibes."

To make the video more authentic, Rae actually threw a party, inviting all of her friends to come perform alongside her. With solo cups and iPhones in hand, party-goers dance along as the R&B newcomer belts out the lyrics to the song. 

Rebel Rae is currently recording her debut album, and I am definitely looking forward to it. 

Happy Listening (watching),

Robert

"taking my time on my ride"

Just like December and January, February was a pretty intense month for me. On top of starting classes and having to learn how to survive in a city where I do not speak the language, I also traveled every weekend.

During those twenty-nine jam packed days, I needed something to get me through long tram rides, long bus rides (both domestic and international), awkward trips to the grocery store, late night walks and getting dressed for Hip-Hop night.

This playlist really only explores two moods: chill and turn-up, which pretty accurately describes what I wanted to do throughout the month.

Below are the thirteen songs that served as the soundtrack to my life during the month of February:

1. "Work" (feat. Drake) - Rihanna

2. "Ride" - Twenty One Pilots

3. "Not Above That" - D∆WN

4. "PILLOWTALK" - ZAYN

5. "Kiss It Better" - Rihanna

6. "Bang My Head" (feat. Sia and Fetty Wap) - David Guetta

7. "Skipping Stones" - Gallant and Jhene Aiko

8. "Don't Be So Hard On Yourself" - Jess Glynne

9. "Dreaming - The Chainsmokers Remix" - Smallpools

10. "Something New" (feat. Chris Brown) - Zendaya

11. "Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better)" (feat. Jasmine Thompson) - Felix Jaehn

12. "Iced Tea" - crwn

13. "Work from Home" (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) - Fifth Harmony

Happy Listening,

Robert