So here it goes: I'm not a James Blake fan. Now before you start sharpening the knives, let me explain. Like most, I was intrigued upon hearing his debut, but it didn't really spark my interest on the first listen. After giving it a few more shots, I was starting to come around, until I caught him live at a festival in 2011. Now I don't know if it was the tent he played in tampering with the sound, the shirtless EDM crowd rubbing against me, or that poor little Blake was having a rough day, but I had to bail halfway through. To put it lightly, he was shit. Ever since, my relationship with Mr. Blake has been more as an acquaintance than a friend.
Today Blake released a new version of "Life Round Here," a track from Retrograde, featuring a guest verse from Chance The Rapper. According to Blake, he felt the song never sounded complete, and being a fan of Chance, offered him the opportunity to drop a verse. Good decision, James.
Like Kendrick Lamar, Chance is part of the new breed of rappers making their mark on the game. His debut, Acid Rap, is one of the best hip-hop albums of this year, and while it might not look compatible on paper, Blake and Chance go together like Tango and Cash. Chance's bubbly personality and quirky flow meld seamlessly with Blake's unusually energetic production on "Life Round Here." The Chicago MC even gets a little deep, reflecting on his life and all the crime and death that surrounds his native Chi-Town.
While this still hasn't got me on board the Blake train, I might upgrade our relationship from acquaintance to casual friends.
SIMILAR SONGS
