Passion Pit

Passion Pit is an American electronic band from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Formed in 2007, the group consists of Michael Angelakos (lead vocals/keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards/guitar), Ayad Al Adhamy (synth/samples), Jeff Apruzzese (bass) and Nate Donmoyer (drums). Originally, Michael Angelakos had started Passion Pit as a project in order to write a few songs for his girlfriend as a Valentine’s Day present. The project, however, turned into something huge. They became uncharacteristically followed for a group that played in only a handful of shows at local eateries like Elmwood Taco & Subs of Buffalo. Nevertheless, they were voted Best New Act in the The Boston Phoenix’s Best Music Poll, and were shortly thereafter signed to New York City-based Frenchkiss Records and Columbia Records in the UK.

The group has released two sets of work, their EP ”Chunk of Change” and the album “Manners”. They, following through with their original intention, featured the 4 songs written for Angelakos’s girlfriend (1-4 on their EP, ”Chunk of Change”). The EP achieved some acclaim based solely on the success of the song “Sleepyhead”. The song is unbelievably catchy, so advertisers across the globe featured it in commercials. “Manners” was released in May of 2009. “Sleepyhead” is on “Manners”, but “The Reeling” was the first single released. The album is a masterpiece. Here is a taste-test.
Sleepyhead

Little Secrets

The Reeling

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In today’s world of music, it seems like every man, woman, and child is releasing a mixtape, recording an album, or going on tour. It makes it hard to distinguish between the good music and the stuff that’s not so good. That’s where we come in. We’ve assembled a list of eight hip-hop artists who we think are going to blow up in this next year. These guys are all very talented, and they have what it takes to make it in the game. Keep listening, because you’ll be hearing from them soon.

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J. Cole

Hailing from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Jermaine Cole began rapping at the age of 12 and quickly developed a signature style and flow. He then went on to attend St. John’s University in New York City on an academic scholarship. After releasing his first mixtape, “The Come Up,” he caught the attention of Jay-Z and became the first artist to be signed to Jay-Z’s new Rocnation label. He followed this up with a second mixtape, “The Warm Up,” which was even better than his first. He has been compared to Nas, Eminem, Drake, and more, but he’s got his own signature style that sounds more like a blend of these and others. He’s got some of the best rhyming ability and flow out of anyone on this year’s list, and you’ll deffinetely be hearing him featured on many tracks this coming year (including Jay-Z’s “A Star is Born”). He’s currently working on his first album, so keep your ear out.

Check this out: Lights Please

Download these songs:

1. Last Call

2. World is Empty

3. Hold it Down

Mike Posner (and The Brain Trust)

It’s not so often that you hear about a white kid who’s a student at Duke making a name for himself in hip-hop. That is, however, exactly what Mike Posner, and his band The Brain Trust, are doing. A while back, he released his first mixtape, “A Matter of Time,” which turned out to be one of the best mixtapes of the year. He’s got one of the most distinct voices and sounds out of all the newcomers, and his self-produced songs are a testament to his skills as an artist and producer. Now, while finishing up his senior year at Duke, his is recording both his first album and his second mixtape. He was recently signed to J. Records, and despite keeping busy with school and recording, he’s spending most of his weekends this year playing concerts at various college campuses throughout the country. Keep an ear out for both his songs and his collaborations with artists like Big Sean, Wale, and Kid Cudi (his distinct raspy voice makes for some catchy hooks).

Check this out: Drug Dealer Girl

Download these songs:

1. Still Not Over You

2. Halo

3. Cooler than Me

Big Sean

Big Sean got his big break in the music business when he was signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music Record Label in 2007. Since then, he has released two mixtapes and worked with some of the biggest names in the hip-hop industry. While his skills as a rapper and his rhymes are sometimes questionable, he makes very catchy songs and has a unique voice and sound. He’s also done some great collaborations and remixes, including “Rollin” with Jackie Chain, “Loser” with Lil’ Wayne, and “Who Knows” with Mike Posner. He and Posner, who met working at a Detroit radio station, make a great team, so look out for the two of them together in the future. His first album, Finally Famous, is set to drop in spring of 2009 and will feature artists like Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Pharrell Williams, and The Dream. For now, download his mixtapes for free from his website here. http://www.uknowbigsean.com/

Check this out: Smoke and Drive ft. Mike Posner

Download these songs:

1. Dreams

2. Who Knows ft. Mike Posner

3. Tomorrow

Wiz Khalifa

This guy’s been around for some time, and he’s released a few successful singles, but he still hasn’t achieved the fame he deserves. Khalifa’s incredibly talented, but the fame seems to be coming slower for him than for some of the other guys in his position. However, following the release of his successful “How Fly” mixtape with Curren$y, he seems to be getting some more recognition, and with his second album coming out later this year, it won’t be long before you’re hearing a lot more from him. He’s already released one album and six mixtapes, and he’s put out some very good songs. “Say Yeah” and “Make it Hot,” two of his earlier songs, were actually pretty popular. The majority of his music, however, has passed under the radar. Don’t let that deter you, though. This guy’s good. Check out his mixtapes, including the very recently released “How Fly,” a collaboration with Curren$y.

Check this out: Boarding Pass

Download these songs:

1. Say Yeah

2. Make it Hot

3. Rollin Up

Chip tha Ripper

While Chip’s been pretty big in the Cleveland, Ohio music scene for a while, it wasn’t until he started working with fellow Cleveland native Kid Cudi that he began to get national recognition, and for good reason. The two make an incredible team, as shown by their collaborations “Ask About Me,” “T.G.I.F.,” and more. In fact, he and Cudi plan on doing an album together titled “Almighty GloryUS.” He’s also worked with Akon, Big Sean, GLC and some other well-known names in hip-hop. However, some of the best stuff he does is completely on his own, though that work has gotten the least recognition. He’s got a sold verse on the track “Hyyer” from Kid Cudi’s new album, so that should help him get some more listeners. If he keeps working hard and collaborating with some more well-known artists, it won’t be long before Chip is a well-known and respected name in hip-hop.

Check this out: Club Rockin ft. Akon

Download these songs:

1. I’m Fitted

2. I Didn’t Know You Strip ft. Young Ray

3. Hyyer w/ Kid Cudi

88-Keys

88-Keys is still a relatively unknown artist, and for a while he’s been riding on the coattails of some of the bigger artists he’s worked with (Kanye West, Kid Cudi, etc.) He served as an opening act in Kid Cudi and Asher Roth’s “Great Hangover Tour” along with B.o.B., helping to increase his popularity a bit. He’s got a very unique sound, perhaps the most unique out of any artist on this list. His debut album, The Death of Adam, was executively produced by Kanye West and was released in August of 2008. He’s still got a long way to go before he’s a household name, but he’s definitely got the capabilities to be a strong force in hip-hop. He’s got some great connections, a lot of talent, and he puts on an incredible live show.

Check this out: Ho is Short for Honey ft. Kid Cudi

Download these songs:

1. Stay Up! (Viagra) ft. Kanye West

2. Wasting My Minutes ft. Kid Cudi

3. True Feelings

Cory Gunz

Lyrically one of the best artists out there, Cory Gunz gained fame after some of his incredible freestyles got out on the web via youtube and other sites. In fact, if you search his name on Youtube, pretty much all you get for the first couple pages of results are freestyles. While his freestyles are pretty nasty, this guy also has some really good regular songs. Obviously, it’s his lyrical ability that really sets him apart from other rappers like him. In fact, he wrote one of the original verses for Lil’ Wayne’s “A Milli,” but Weezy later replaced it with one of his own. Gunz came back with his own version of “A Milli” that’s pretty sick. He’s already released seven mixtapes, so the real question is when is this guy gonna release his first album? We’re not exactly sure, but we can’t wait.

Check this out: Richer than Richie

Download these songs:

1. Gamble on Me ft. T-Pain

2. Heartless (Kanye West Remix)

3. Get Right Tonight

Chiddy Bang

Though still in their first year of college and still relatively unheard of, Chiddy Bang represents the future of hip-hop groups. This four-man group from Philadelphia calls their style a hip-hop/electronica fusion, but listening to their music it’s clear that they embody a wide range of musical genres. They’ve sampled everything from MGMT to Kid Cudi to Passion Pit to Radiohead in their music, and it really works. In addition, their front-man, Proto, provides some great lyrics to go along with the backbeats provided by the rest of the crew. These guys are only in their first year of college, and they haven’t even released a mixtape yet. However, they are one of the most exciting prospects in the hip-hop world. While we wait for their first mixtape to drop, check out their profile on Song Cloud and download the free songs there. http://soundcloud.com/chiddy-bang

Check this out: Sooner or Later