Do you like free stuff? Do you like music? Well more and more great music is available for free on the internet (legally – tut tut you). Anyone familiar with music blogs will be able to tell you that the internet is awash with free remixes and DJ sets of every genre and sub-genre imaginable. But even more excitingly, there are a lot of free albums out there too. Now classifiable as big name acts, A$AP Rocky and the Weeknd made two of 2011’s best releases with their free albums, and in 2012 this trend showed no signs of stopping. For cash-strapped music fans, this is extremely welcome. So cast your eye over this selection of 2012’s finest musical freebies.
(Disclaimer: free stuff is definitely more common in hip-hop, R&B and electronic music, so if you’re still desperately waiting for the next Arctic Monkeys album to come along, this might not be for you)
Action Bronson with Party Supplies – Blue Chips
Action Bronson is not your typical rapper. Mind you, there aren’t that many typical rappers around anymore. But still it’s fair to say being a very overweight, heavily bearded, former gourmet chef of Albanian descent is enough to put him securely in the ‘not typical’ camp. I’m not exactly sure why Bronson gave up the chef gig, because he is obsessed with all things culinary. I mean properly obsessed, often instagramming photos that wouldn’t look out of place in the Observer Food Monthly.
On Blue Chips Action Bronson displays his killer Wu-Tang-esque lyrical style, frequently referencing his passion for gastronomy over the top of soulful sample based beats provided by Party Supplies. ‘Quattro fromage/Big plate look like a lobster collage/I’m on the art and the food scene/Fuck rap, laying back, eating poutine.’ Blue Chips is a delicious treat that no hip-hop fan should be without.
Download it here:
Jeremih – Late Nights
I know what you’re thinking, the ‘Birthday Sex’ guy, really? Well yes actually. Admittedly the lyrical themes haven’t changed much, Late Nights ain’t about those Haribo-fuelled essay crises, if y’know what I mean. But then subtlety is not Jeremih’s strong point, with the pornographic video for ‘Go To The Mo’ being a clear case in point. Currently Jeremih is in something of a competitive environment, with forward looking R&B/pop being in no short supply. But with Late Nights, Jeremih is able to stand out through his combination of great pop songwriting, sexual subject matter, and interesting, modern production. A good example of this is the sparse down-tempo beat on ‘Fuck U All The Time’ which is built around mellow keys, hard hitting bass, and manipulated vocal samples, giving it an almost James Blake-esque sound. Forget the ‘mixtape’ trappings, Late Nights is a highly polished album, packed full of catchy and well produced R&B.
Download it here
Jackmaster – Tweak-A-Holic Mixes
Jackmaster describes his Tweak-A-Holic Mixes as “the soundtrack to your girlfriend’s next house party” and I’m not sure I can top that to be honest. Jackmaster seamlessly mixes together 80s pop, soulful R&B, grooving disco and slap bass funk to create an absolutely unstoppable body moving, booty shaking, toe tapping force. If you can’t get down and boogie to these mixes, you are officially dead. Expect to hear the likes of Madonna, Luther Vandross, Tina Turner, Prince, oh and a little bit of Phil Collins too. Trust me, just whack the Tweak-A-Holic Mixes on at your next pre-drinks/house party, and you will avoid all those arguments over who has control of Spotify.
Download them here
Death Grips – NO LOVE DEEP WEB
Death Grips are not for the faint hearted. The experimental rap-rave-rock band makes music that is aggressive, abrasive and practically abusive to your ears. The artwork for NO LOVE DEEP WEB is a photo of an erect penis with the title written on it in marker pen. They gave their label the middle finger by releasing the album without their permission, initiating a hard fought legal dispute. So to sum up, Death Grips just generally don’t give a fuck about much. Nihilistic and transgressive lyrics are shouted psychotically over the top of dense electronic beats, which in their crescendo become a sheer wall of pounding bass, coarse synths and furious drumming. The end result is an inescapable atmosphere of paranoia and alienation. NO LOVE DEEP WEB is disorientating and intense and unrelenting but those are the things that make it so damn thrilling to listen to.
(the label seems to have taken down the initial download so your best bet is to just Google it)
Joey Bada$$ – 1999
17-year-old Brooklyn born rapper Joey Bada$$ must have hip-hop in his blood. On 1999, Joey revitalises and pays tribute to a classic style of hip-hop which he clearly loves. The production of the beats is excellent, with crisp drums and dusty samples coming together to create a distinctly old school sound. It is this sound combined with Joey’s great lyrical talent which invites comparisons with fellow Brooklyn greats Nas, Jay-Z, and Biggie Smalls. There are also some smooth jazzy elements to several tracks, reminiscent of NY rap group A Tribe Called Quest, something that only adds to the classic East Coast rap vibe. Just in case that’s not enticing enough for you, there are also a handful of beats from esteemed producers J Dilla and MF Doom as well. 1999 is a commanding debut and well worth checking out, expect to hear the name Joey Bada$$ a lot more in the future.
Download it here
Flying Lotus – Lovers Melt mix 3
Flying Lotus introduces the third instalment in his Lovers Melt series of mixes as “Another mix for your summer – some things you know -some things you may not –love”. On it FlyLo displays the same mind blowing eclecticism that is evident in his own music, a trippy melting pot of electronica, hip-hop, and jazz. The mixes take you through smooth soul jams to heavy dub reggae as well some fuzzed out psychrock. Turn it up and blast away those Hilary winter blues.
Download it here
Cassie – The Cassie Trilogy
Cassie is perhaps the biggest pop star you haven’t heard of. Her self-titled debut was released 7 years ago and there has been no follow up record since. However she has a dedicated fanbase, her most popular video on YouTube has over 15 million views, and she has received heaps of critical praise. The Cassie Trilogy is a neat compilation of unreleased Cassie gems, deliberately copying the format and design of The Weeknd’s own trilogy. In terms of quantity of music The Cassie Trilogy is a bountiful offering, containing 66 songs in total. And it’s definitely not just quantity that is on offer, there are some absolutely top notch tunes in here, from ‘Don’t Go Too Slow’ a catchy yet stripped down slow jam, to ‘Activate’, a driving piece of sexy electro-pop. Download this now, become an authority on her back catalogue and you will have a load of music cred when Cassie becomes the next Rihanna, because it’s only really a matter of time.
Download it here
Ryan Hemsworth – Fact Mix 32
Ryan Hemsworth is an up and coming producer, riding the current wave of creative cross over between electronic music, hip-hop and R&B. Hemsworth stays clear of many of the clichés at the more aggressive end of the spectrum, instead blending beautifully lush and ethereal synths with vocals from hip-hop eccentrics such as Danny Brown and Lil B. His remixes are exceptional, with his takes on R&B tracks ‘Thinkin Bout You’ by Frank Ocean, ‘Boss’ by Tinashe and ‘773 Love’ by Jeremih all particularly stunning. Ryan Hemsworth has created something truly original, proving just how easily genres can be melted into one another in the Internet age of 2k12.
Download it here.
