Remembering where the hype began is one of my all time favorite games to play. Looking back at a particular artist’s musical career, and remembering what their music was like in the pre-superstar era is semi-refreshing. For example, I toss on Kanye’s “We Don’t Care” or “Family Business” from The College Dropout, and I remember being in my ’95 green Ford Explorer after first popping in his CD. It’s just cool to bring back that “Ohhh shiiiiiiit” moment I had when my ears were first exposed to his new style. Now everybody in the world is sick of his antics and voice, but there was a time where he was new and gave me that “Oh SHIT this is huge” feeling.
So sit back and remember where the hype began for these artists that have made it/are right on the cusp of being unfathomably popular. Below are the tracks that struck a chord with me, and gave me a little sneak preview of what lay ahead.
1. KiD CuDi – The Prayer
This was the first Cudi track I ever heard, and it’s still my favorite song of his to date. The spacey, chilled out hip-hop had such a different vibe than anything else out there, and it was exactly what my ears wanted to hear at the time. Cudi’s entire A Kid Named Cudi then took over my iPod with full force, and I wanted nothing else. Then came his debut album, which did nothing but impress me. He’s one of a select few artists where I’ll drop whatever I’m doing to hear his new music.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: KiD CuDi – The Prayer
2. Mike Posner – Evil Woman
My cousin EB (consistent writer for the site when his summer job doesn’t own his soul) dropped Mike Posner’s first mixtape on me last summer, and I was blown away. I remember bumping his cover of ELO’s “Evil Woman” driving EB’s mini-van around the beaches of Maine, and we could both tell that he had some mysterious trait which guaranteed he was going to blow up in the American music scene. Fast forward one year and here he is.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Mike Posner – Evil Woman
3. Chiddy Bang – All Things Go
Chiddy Bang was first introduced to me by Jimbo as he randomly came across them scouring the internet for jams last fall. ”Kids (The Opposite of Adults)” was the track that served as the introduction for me, and I was 100% sold. The beat was utterly outrageous, and Chiddy’s flow over it was near perfection. I figured it was a one-hit-wonder kind of deal. Then I heard “All Things Go”, and I lost my shit. What they did to Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago” was absurd, turning it into a straight hip hop banger. So while “Kids” was my first taste of Chiddy Bang, “All Things Go” was the track that proved to me that they were the real deal. Wait until their full album drops at the end of August, and they’ll take over the rap game.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Chiddy Bang – All Things Go
4. B.o.B. – I’ll Be In The Sky
To me, B.o.B.’s hype began with “I’ll Be In The Sky”, back when I didn’t know whether his name was B.o.B. or Bobby Ray, or if those were two different people. He had a style that was beyond unique, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. The dude made his own beats, played his own instruments, sang, and rapped. Just way too much talent going around, and “I’ll Be In The Sky” put it all on full display. Now if you find yourself listening to the radio, you’ll find “Nothin’ On You” on one station and “Airplanes” on another simultaneously. The guy’s at that level.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: B.o.B. – I’ll Be In The Sky
So there you go. That’s a little game we like to call “Remembering Where The Hype Began”. Thanks for playing.
