Ayo! Welcome to episode #2 of Infinite Shuffle! You’ve made it this far, which is honestly impressive. That means I made it this far too. Usually, I start something and then forget about it, but this is a GREAT SIGN! HOORAY FOR FOCUS!

I’ve been told to put the playlist at the top of the newsletter so it’s easier to listen to. Unfortunately, some of the songs here are not on Spotify, so I’ll put the Youtube playlist up here and then put a Spotify playlist at the bottom of the newsletter. Fair? fair.

Here’s the Youtube Playlist Now let’s talk about our artist of the week!

Artist of the week: Aaron May

Aaron May is the future, plain and simple. The Houston newcomer has already made a big first splash with his flow, sound, and visuals. With songs like ‘RIDE’, and LET GO, May has all the potential to be a superstar in the years to come. I first found out about him through the Youtube recommended video tab and they did not let me down.

‘Let Go’ is a powerful first impression.

Did I mention that he PRODUCED, ‘Let Go’ himself? The ‘Heatwave’ sample showcases his ear for production as well which is honestly so cool. I wish I knew how to sample shit. Oh… I almost forgot. The project of the week is…

Album of the week: CHASE

‘Chase’ has such a dope atmosphere around it, and the project becomes even more impressive when you find out that he produced most of the project himself. The beats are elite and Aaron May’s lyricism shines throughout the entire album. The fact that he put out a project this impressive this early in his career has me looking forward to witnessing his evolution. The sky really is the limit for him.

Now here are your songs of the week.

Baby Powder - Jenevieve

As I’m writing this, Jenevieve only has 2 songs on her Spotify, but dammit they’re both ELITE. BABY POWDER IS ELITE. THIS SONG IS SO DAMN GOOD AND CATCHY YO. If this song wasn’t on your summer playlist, then you’re welcome because it’s an instant add in my opinion.

You know what? I’m adding her other song to the newsletter too. I make the rules.

Medallion - Jenevieve

Both songs are true perfection and I’m so glad Youtube recommended both of these songs to me. It’s early days in her career, and whenever she decides to drop more music it’ll be a great day.

I was able to find a third song on her SoundCloud too! SHE DON’T MISS Y’ALL!

*Whenever she drops a project, she’ll be the artist/album of the week. I’m deadass.*

Blessed - DVTCH NORRIS

“Oh my god, I feel blessed… Oh my god, I feel blessed.”

DVTCH NORRIS is a rapper that hails from Belgium with really good music videos. This song makes me just appreciate life man because that’s not something we do all the time. Yann Gaudeuille also does his thing on the first verse. Youtube suggestions are really 3/3 this newsletter.

Youtube really is a very underrated form of music discovery in my opinion. A curated playlist is great, but there’s something about being recommended a song with an incredible visual to match. Maybe I’m just nerding out because I make videos for a living. Idk.

Losing My Way - FKJ & Tom Misch

FKJ (a.k.a. frenchkiwijuice) makes some of my favorite instrumentals ever. It’s the perfect music to relax and fall asleep to.

(I feel like I should say this. When I say that I can fall asleep to a song/artist, that DOES NOT mean that it’s boring. I mean that the vibes are so immaculate that I feel comfortable listening to it to go to sleep. If something is boring, I will outright say it)

His work with Masego on “Tadow” was incredible, but I want to focus on his other studio performances because they’re just as great. Watching FKJ hop from instrument to instrument like it’s nothing is truly awe-inspiring every time.

You can tell that FKJ and Tom Misch have so much passion and fun making music, and it’s a joy to watch them perform.

When outside opens back up, I want to see this man in concert. TAKE MY MONEY!

Janet Jackson - If (Kaytranada Remix)

You will see Kaytranada in this newsletter a lot. Some of his incredible work is housed deep in the catacombs of Soundcloud. He has a great way of taking a song and remixing it into his oh so recognizable style. It takes talent to take an already great Janet Jackson song and turn it into something completely new. I urge you guys to look deep into Kaytranada’s archives and DJ sets. They’re incredible.

Für Elise… but on calculators.

I found a Youtube channel that plays covers of songs on calculators. Enjoy.

Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Stanton

“YOUNG HEARTS! RUN FREE!” I sing this in my head every 30 minutes.

This song makes me want to time travel and apply to become a Soul Train dancer… or do they take walk-ins? I don’t know how other decades did TV shows. Some of the old studio audiences feel like anyone could join. You always have that one gentleman that laughs too loud. There’s always one.

This song makes me want to get those room LED-lights that change colors. Which I will totally get if I resign my lease.

Stomp! - The Brothers Johnson

‘Stomp!’ Has one of my favorite choruses ever. When I said I loved older music, I wasn’t freaking lying.

I grew up in a household where my mom would play songs and be like “What you know about this here?” and I’d be like “I don’t know anything about this… I’m 12 and you have parental controls on my internet access”.

Sunflower - Vampire Weekend. (Post Malone & Swae Lee cover)

My introductions to other genres are often through covers of rap. Covers are a great way to hear a different rendition of the same song because it also can introduce you to a new band and a new genre entirely. I knew about Vampire Weekend through that “Diane Young” song that was everywhere, but I hadn’t kept up with their music.

I love this rendition of Sunflower. It’s so serene and peaceful. Don’t get me wrong, I still prefer the original in an everyday setting, but when I’m alone in my backyard? I play both.

Devastated - Lilspirit

Now I originally finished with this newsletter on Thursday. On Friday I usually do last looks and then publish on Saturday so this shit looks like it has its shit together. However, this new Internet Money tape dropped and lilspirit KILLED THIS SHIT man. It’s so dope to see him get more recognition. Before this, my favorite song of his before this was You, but ‘Devastated’ has quickly taken over the top spot.

I can’t stop playing it. Help. Someone, please help me.

Sample of the Week: This week we look at ‘Good Evening’

It’s a joy to go through Mac Miller’s whole discography and see all of the samples that his producers (and sometimes himself as Larry Fisherman) would cook up. This time we’re going to talk about my favorite Mac Miller song, Good Evening.

The producer B[dot]Jay absolutely spazzed on this. The vocal sample comes from Drake’s 2009 cut “A Night Off” featuring Lloyd.

However, when you take a closer listen, there’s a second sample. A sample within a sample.

What? Yes. According to WhoSampled and Genius, this song also samples Between the Sheets by “The Isley Brothers”.  

I’m probably an idiot because I didn’t recognize it when I was younger. I didn’t know about the electric abyss of samples back then. (Look, I never said I was an expert here. I just share songs that I like)

‘Between the Sheets’ has been sampled by The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper, A Tribe Called Quest… the list goes on and on.

After trying to trace and research this here’s what I think happened.

I think Good Evening sampled A Night Off, which sampled Jay-Z’s Ignorant Shit, which sampled Between the Sheets. Well, it’s something like that because the Spotify credits of ‘A Night Off’ give credit to the Isley Brothers and Shawn Carter himself.

I may be right or I may have just confused everyone reading this. Regardless, it’s still super cool to see bits and pieces of songs taken and repurposed to make new music. I like to think that the old music lives on through it.

One day in the future I’m going to notice a song sampled from 2019 in the year 2045 and be like “What y’all know about this?” and my kids will blankly look at me for the uncool parent I am.

Until that day comes, the best we can do it celebrate what we have now and Good Evening, just like everything Mac Miller made, will always be worth celebrating.

- R.I.P. Mac