Music is alive and well. Also, it sucks. Here are five brand new songs that you should avoid at all costs.

Paul McCartney – Fuh You

Can you believe I’m starting with one of the best songwriters of the last sixty years? This song takes the worst tropes of modern music and melds it with the smarmy lusts of a 76 year old man – set to the backdrop of the #metoo movement. Why Paul? Why?

Steve Perry – No Erasin’

After 25 years of silence, ex-Journey front-man releases this lyrical cesspit. Another guy pushing 70 pining for the backseat of some girl’s car. Even that smooth mid-section can’t save this Viagra ad.

Greta Van Fleet – When the Curtain Falls

Honestly, if this was a parody or a Ween song, I might feel differently, but come on Greta Van Fleet. You can’t just copy every nuance of Led Zepplin and get away with it. Although it’s working for them so far. All the elements are in place, they just need to find some originality. (the music kicks a little ass, I will admit)

Nicki Minaj – Ganja Burn

If Nicki Minaj looked like me you wouldn’t even know her name. Eight million views after three days.

Florida Georgia Line – Simple

If you like your middle-aged housewife country music with a dollop of auto-tune, have I got a terrible song for you.

With a month left in the summer of 2018,  more releases are coming fast and furious. The competition for the airwaves is on and the prize is your attention –  so let me put you on to five new records.

Queen (Nicky Minaj)

Look who’s back? It’s Queen Nicky and she brought her pen with some friends along. Eminem, Lil Wayne, Ariana Grande and Foxy Brown (nice to hear that voice again) to name a few. Nicky made a concerted effort to reach into her West Indian bag of roots on a couple of tracks on this offering and it’s worth the listen.
Standout Track – Barbie Dreams

Astroworld (Travis Scott)

This brother has been working! Travis Scott didn’t half step, as a matter of fact he took two steps forward. Seventeen tracks are on this album to prove it…STRAIGHT UP (Travis Scott voice). This is one of those albums where you can let it rock out and stay in Astroworld the entire night.
Standout Track – Wake Up

5E (N.O.R.E)

Let me start off with a big THANK YOU to N.O.R.E for staying true to his craft. If you’ve never heard what the NY sound was revered for, I suggest you cop this album immediately. “Mami use to call me Dick Cheyney cause I never take my chain off, when I got my brain off” is just one those lyrics that we look forward to N.O.R.E spittin. The collaborations are on point from start to finish. Fat Joe in particular took it back to the block on a couple joints on here.
Standout Track – Don’t Know

Commissary (Casanova)

Sometimes you need tracks to hit the gym right. Sometimes you need tracks to hit the club right. Well Casanova managed to have a little bit of both on Commissary. Get your weight up and pump this!
Standout Track – Left, Right

Rolling Papers II (Wiz Khalifa)

For all of you out there that have a problem with the frequency of Wiz Khalifa’s releases. I will venture to say the problem has been solved. Wiz dropped twenty-five songs…yes 25! for you to roll with and to. So do what you do and let Wiz be the soundtrack.
Standout Track – Something New

The Lyrical Summer is upon us! 2018 has been on a nice run (musically) and the lyricists have something to do with it. So if you’re into lyrical content and raw talent, I have seven projects for your indulgence.

Peep the list below and tell a friend to tell a friend! Your soundtrack to the summer has just began!

KOD (J. Cole) – Another solid effort by the Rocnation/Dreamville star. You’ve probably got a good feel for this album from all of the outtakes during the NBA finals. If so, i’m sure you own it already. If not, get in the game already.  Standout Track – 1985

Streams of Thought Vol. 1 (Black Thought) – Contrary to many Christopher Columbuses out there. You did not just discover Black Thought was ill from his freestyle on Funk Master Flex’s show. He’s been nice for decades! So suck it up and catch up by getting into this EP. You won’t be disappointed. Standout Track – 9th vs. Thought

August Greene (Robert Glasper, Karriem Riggins and Common) – This album has been out for a bit but plenty of you have missed the boat. This is a diamond in the rough full of soul and straight jazz that any and everyone can appreciate.  Standout Track – Practice

Daytona (Pusha T) – Unless you’ve been in solitary confinement for the last couple of months, i’m sure you know who Pusha T is. Besides delivering a death blow to Drake at the likes we haven’t seen in some time, he dropped a lot more bars on his 7 track offering. Move on from “The Story Of Adidon” and get into Daytona. Standout Track – Senteria

Ye (Kanye West) – There’s plenty I can say about Kanye’s recent marketing campaign but i’ll stick to the music. And when it comes to the music he rarely disappoints. Once again he dropped a notable project that deserves a listen. Standout Track – All Mine

Nasir (Nas) – Your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper got together with your favorite producer’s favorite producer and created what we hoped for. A creative unique experience that stays on repeat. Standout Track – Everything

Everything Is Love (Beyoncé & Jay Z) – Now that the internet is functioning again after these two gave it a scare. Chemistry is the first word that comes to mind after hearing this duo. It’s evident, genuine and works perfectly. Standout Track – Love Happy (sorry Tidal ain’t having it)