In Search of the Next ‘Umbrella’
Ben Barna
June 10, 2008
It’s June, everyone (as if you’re a complete lunatic and needed reminding), so start your internships, season your skewers, and keep your ears open, because the search for the Song Of The Summer is on. Two potential candidates: head Stroke Julian Casablancas has teamed with head Neptune Pharell and head next-M.I.A. Santogold on the garage track "Drive Thru." It’s part of a Converse campaign called Three Artists, One Song, and the song is quite fine, notable for its tres-cool trio, but it begins to grate, especially when Casablancas wails. This would have worked better if Santi and Pharell had gone in on it alone.
Our vote goes to the hottest heads in rap, Weezy and Yeezy, for a song called ”Let the Beat Build”—and that’s exactly what they do. The song begins with one of Kanye West’s signature and singular soul samples, no drums, while Lil Wayne raps over it, all but begging for a beat to come in. Kanye eventually gives it, and the MC runs wild. Is this the song of the summer? So far, yes.
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