By shelz.

Bonjour tout le monde.  It’s time to cover all the sonic shanghais that happened this week.  I don’t have that much for you. The past seven days and change were actually pretty light on the rip-off forefront, unless of course you consider Justin Bieber’s Grammy.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy for Esperanza Spalding and said before the ceremony that even though she’s been around for ten years, she still deserved the award.  But I’m in the minority in that thinking because the Bieber Fever Gang took to the nets and tore into Spalding like she kicked young Justin in the neck. I don’t even think they listened to her album first.

Bieber handled the loss with grace and tact, saying he was happy for the winner but even that was over shadowed by his recent interview with Rolling Stone during which he allegedly told the interviewer when asked about abortion for rape victims that everything happens for a reason.  The mag has since installed a missing sentence from that conversation which, in their opinion, changes the shade of what he said to a little less offensive (and you can read all about that here.)

At least wee Mr. Bieber did well in the All Star Weekend celeb hoop game.  Anyway, let’s get to it people.

First up is Lupe Fiasco

Lasers is coming and Lupe is spending more time in the public eye.  While spending some time with Westwood and Semtex over at the BBC he dropped a couple of freestyles.  The first of the pair tackles Kanye’s and Jay’s Watch The Throne offering, “H.A.M.” He says it’s off the dome and I believe him. I think we’ve gotten used to pre-written freestyles.  Fiasco ability to get playful with his cadence is great.  What’s he talking about? I dunno.

Lupe Fiasco – “H.A.M.”

31330 2 17 Lupe Fiasco Ham Freestyle

Next up is well… Lupe Fiasco

I told you it was light this week, plus Lupe set up shop at the BBC for a minute.  He also took a spin in Kanye’s “Monster.” It sounds like his first bar was an attempt at that contrived English accent he uses sometimes, but he lost it somewhere.  Again, dude is really bringing it from the brain and not the blackberry and this one yields better results on the lyrical tip.  UK emcee Sway closes it out admittedly with a written verse.

Lupe Fiasco – “Monster”

Lupe MonsterHQ

Moving right along, we have Theo Martins over the Passion Pit Remix of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade.” The dance version is a far reach from the original, with Mars’ vocals relegated pretty much to the chorus. Once you add Theo on top, it’s damn near a new song.  Martins deals in the same theme, spinning a narrative about a relationship that seems to have outlasted its usefulness. Check him out.

Theo Martins – “Grenade”

Theo_Martins-Grenade_(Passion_Pit_Remix)-2dope

Now, we have a serious blast from the past from Kate Nash.  If you’re not familiar, she’s one of the many young UK female singers getting a little love in the states.  And she tackles Deniece Willaims’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” If you don’t remember that’s okay, this song was appended to a movie that had Kevin Bacon and Sara Jessica Parker playing teenagers. Nash is pitchy in parts, but it’s cute.  I guess. Oh, the movie was called Footloose. My bad.

Kate Nash – “Let’s Hear It For The Boy”

lets hear it for the by-pkate nash

Last, but not least, we have Young The Giant with a cover of another young British singer’s song.  Adele’s album 21 drops Tuesday (you can check our review here) and the lead single, “Rolling in the Deep” was snatched by this group for a BBC performance.  The minimalist musical foundation taps into the slight roots music sound this song has and the lead singer when not screaming sounds pretty good.

Young The Giant – “Rolling In The Deep”

young the giant – rolling in the deep

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