This Week In Music 

Welcome back to Sound Bite! This week we will be covering releases from Westside Gunn, Drake (sadly), Bon Iver and Freddie Gibbs in what I can only describe as the most mismatched Valentines day catch-up issue of all time. 

Westside Gunn just released a new mixtape entitled “12”, and I loved it. His voice is as unique as ever, his flows are fun, and this mixtape is just loaded front to back with amazing features. Brother Tom Sos is a standout for me on this mixtape, and his features really elevate both songs he is on. If you’re interested in the mixtape, I would recommend jumping in at “OUTLANDER” and hitting shuffle from there.

Drake also released a new album this past week in collaboration with long time friend PARTYNEXTDOOR. I would like to say something about this album, which is entitled “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U”. I didn’t listen to it, and I don’t think you should either. Not only is it bad from a musical standpoint, with critics claiming it has no new style or flow, but Drake is almost certainly one of the most unethical artists out right now. In summation, don’t listen to Drake; and yes this is coming from a Kendrick fan.

To circle back to our Valentine’s day theme I’d like to cover a song by Bon Iver, entitled “Everything Is Peaceful Love” which he released just about a week ago. It’s a powerful song about love and parting ways, in which he talks about the possible futures of love after he splits ways with his lover. Personally I don’t listen to much Bon Iver, but I always have fun listening to his new albums as they come out, and this single bodes really well for his future. It’s a bittersweet valentines ballad and it could not be more relevant, especially in a digital era.

Lastly we have a returning Sound Bite favorite, Freddie Gibbs. What Freddie Gibbs did on this single is something I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen before. He took an interlude off of his latest album, “You Only Die 1nce”, and rapped over it to create a new track of the same title, “Nobody Like You”. Not only does this new track improve on the original interlude in almost every way, but it takes shots at Drake and proves Freddie Gibbs is as relevant as ever in this modern rap scene. It’s a fun valentines day single, and if you have ever looked into his music in the past I have to highly recommend this single as one of the most inventive concepts I’ve seen in a long time.