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Will.I.Am feat Jennifer Lopez & Mick Jagger - T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)
 Since time immemorial, heads have hotly debated the relative hardnesses of various artists, but an objective standard for measuring that elusive quality has yet to be established—until now. Using a complex set of algorithms, we have determined that The Hardest artists Ever to grace the game are… Will.I.Am, Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger?! Huh, go figure. In theory, then, the lead single off Will’s fourth solo set should be the most intimidating record in urban-music history. Premiering live on tonight’s American Music Awards broadcast, this tough-as-nails cut finds Will, Audiobot and Dallas Austin teaming up to craft a danceable synth-percussion beat to back the B.E.P. mastermind as he delivers his trademark blend of Auto-Tuned singing and guilty-pleasure punchline lyricism. After a tuneful guest verse from J-Lo (who also lends her vocals to the chorus), the Rolling Stones frontman grabs the mic to flaunt his considerable swagger (and his poor math skills: “Hard like geometry, trigonometry / This is crazy—psychology”) in a gruff closing 16. So, do these artists sound like the Holy Trinity of hardness, or should we re-check our calculations? If you’re digging this cut, keep it locked for release details on willpower. |
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EMELI SANDÉ FEAT. NAUGHTY BOY - Daddy
 Influenced by Nina Simone, Massive Attack, and Joni Mitchell, Jazz-Soul artist Emeli Sandé provided guest vocals for several of the UK's most successful grime artists before eventually embarking on her own solo career in 2010. While studying medicine at Glasgow University, Emili signed a publishing deal with EMI and, following a meeting with producer Naughty Boy, the pair began working together on a number of tracks, including Chipmunk's Top 10 "Diamond Rings". After also inking a solo deal with EMI, Sandé moved to London and appeared on tracks by Tinie Tempah, Professor Green, and Devlin; supported Solange Knowles on her UK tour; and scored a second Top 10 hit with Naughty Boy and Wiley on a cover version of White Town's "Your Woman". Naughty is again Emeli's "Daddy" on her first solo single. |
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Lana Del Rey - Video Games
 The words "YouTube sensation" are rarely a good omen. "Chocolate Rain", Rebecca Black: all destined to be "liked" into oblivion. Thank heavens, then, for Lana Del Rey's "Video Games", the clip for which is currently smashing the Internet's cold, dead heart into pieces. Del Rey (aka 24-year-old New York State native Lizzy Grant) calls her music "Hollywood sad core", and this gloriously molten ballad could easily ornament the rolling credits of Tinseltown classics. Here, delicate harp plumage and weighty piano build to a climax that'll make you weep harder than completing Halo 3, yet Del Ray sings about a state of untroubled romantic bliss: "He holds me in his big arms / Drunk and I am seein' stars / This is all I think of." The heart-punching sadness comes from knowing it's fleeting, emphasised by Lana's voice--a flooring, Cat Power-ish pout. |
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