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Ratatat’s Lo-Fi Electro Returns On “Shiller”

Americans normally have piss-poor taste in electronic music. On a mainstream level, fans have always insisted on keeping their guitar-based rock completely separated from synth and sample-driven dance music. Still, the underground has no shortage of innovative acts, notably Brooklyn-based instrumentalist duo Ratatat (made up of Mike Stroud and Evan Mast), who have been winning since 2003 with a unique mix of gritty guitars and lo-fi electronics.

The duo has dropped two studio albums, plus full remixes of each with vocals from folks like Young Jeezy, Jay-Z and Bun B. With their third album LP3 set for release on XL Recordings this July, their newest single “Shiller” shows their more melancholy side. Listen to the full song below.

Popularity: 85% [?]

B.O.B. Shakes Off The Haterz In His New Video

Fans of comedic, self-depricating raps from the likes of Redman and Eminem, meet Decatur, GA rapper B.O.B. After earning a devoted internet following with tracks like “Cloud 9,” he dropped this synthed-out trance-rap record last summer. Since then, it’s been remixed with verses from Rick Ross and Juvenile, but the final version—featuring Rich Boy—finally got a video. Watch how young B.O.B. takes on haters in a American Idol-esque competition. This is the first official joint off of his forthcoming Atlantic Records debut, The Adventures of B.O.B, which is being released in conjunction with producer Jim Jonsin’s Rebel Rock imprint. Watch “Haterz Everywhere” after the jump.

Popularity: 84% [?]

Is Lil Wayne Jackin’ For Techno Beats?

Lil Wayne’s syrup addiction is fueling all sorts of creative endeavours lately. Aside from the ubiquitous vocoder allowing him to get his T-Pain on, and his tendency to wield a guitar any chance he can, techno seems to pique D’Wayne’s interest judging by the bleeping melody on “Lollipop”.

The Jim Jonsin co-produced track is the latest example of rap borrowing from euro dancefloor sounds (see: Wiz Khalifa’s “Say Yeah” and B.O.B.’s “Haterz Everywhere”). Listen to the opening melody on “Lollipop,” and tell us it doesn’t sound strangely similar to the opening from “Trip II The Moon (Kaleidoscopiklimax)” by early ’90s electronica group, Acen. Hear both songs after the jump and tell us what you think.

Popularity: 88% [?]