By shelz.

So the original music windfall kept And The Beat Goes On from delivering your weekly blast of stuff that’s well..unoriginal last week, but we’re back.  The stolen music front has been kind of quiet, but considering its November and everyone from Virtuoso to My Chemical Romance to Kanye West to Nicki Minaj is dropping a major release in the next couple of weeks,  I’m sure we will all get over it.  In the mean time and in between time though, let’s look at this crazy week and then give it a soundtrack.

First of all, Matt Lauer playing the cool, detached apology policeman in his GMA manhandling/interview of Kanye West just didn’t sit well with me. His technique was a leading mess of tunnel vision and I understood Kanye’s disheveled and agitated response.  I’m sure it’s a bitch trying to make sure you say the “right” thing while maintaining your opinion while being placed on the spot by a professional interviewer.  His nerves were getting to him.  You could see the resentment welling up; I felt bad for Kanye.  He can be an ass, but Lauer didn’t appear neutral to me and that’s part of his job.  Maybe West’s behavior has written a check his ass can’t cash.

[pro-player width=’450′ height=’323′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoSiyNr46Ic[/pro-player]

Also, is Weezy on the Maury hot seat again?  I’m going to need Weezy F. Baby to take a trip out to Q-Tip’s spot because if you need them, he has crazy prophylactics. Anyway, on with the show.  First up we have a double dose of Styles P.

I love this track.  I think it conjures all sorts of beautiful melancholy, so I’m not going to bitch about all these “Runaway” freestyles.  Styles P says he’s nice; with a mic, a gun and a knife.  It doesn’t matter. There’s plenty of drug talk and posturing.  He moves to self-big up and back patting for walking away from the darkness in his past and condescension to those who aren’t on his level.  Standard.

Styles P – “Runaway”

Styles_P-Runaway_Freestyle-2dope

Next is Styles over PLK’s “Start It Up,” a song with a snare that doesn’t make me frown.  Styles offers to rob everyone 50 Cent style. Then he warns folks who say they have a killer on their team that he is the killer on his team.  Sucker druggies, snitches and turn coats need not apply to the clique.  The membership applications were burned years ago.  It is what it is playboy, watch your back if you like to rock canaries and drink pink liquor. Spaceghost knows you’re soft. Dope.

Styles P – “Start It Up”

Styles_P-Start_It_Up_Freestyle-2dope

Moving on are Aloe Blacc and The Grand Scheme taking a trip to “The Dark End of the Street.” Everybody has taken a spin at this song; Percy Sledge, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin and even Courtney Love.  I can tell you without hesitation Aretha performed my favorite rendition without even listening to everyone else, but Aloe and The Grand Scheme do the song justice.

Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme – “The Dark End of the Street”

The Dark End Of the Street

Serius Jones.  Remember him?  He’s the battle king who couldn’t seem to crawl out of that image and into a nicely constructed song to save his life. Well he’s still around, this week it’s on Wiz’ “Black and Yellow,” but for Jones its “Black and Ghetto.”  Fortunately for us, it’s not an ode to his ingrained hoodness, it’s a statement about black culture and how it’s snatched and replicated.  At least that’s what the first part is about. Then he goes on to prattle off almost every stereotype that exists about the ghetto and requests a co-sign.

Sigh.

Serius Jones – “Black and Ghetto”

01 Black and Ghetto

Last up is Vancans with his cover of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness.”  One thing I’ve noticed about these covers, no one really changes it.  Lissie’s rework was cute, but this is pretty tepid.  There is some extra bass and echoing claps that I can’t say I remember from Cudi’s version; a vocal overlay and I guess that’s about it.  Enjoy.

Vancans – “Pursuit of Happiness”

Pursuit Of Happiness (Kid Cudi Cover)

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