Tag: Lil Weezy

Cult Bit: Wallpaper. AutoTunes Jay-Z

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It’s my honor to introduce a furiously banging track by my dear friends in Oakland-based duo Wallpaper. This thing should be viral soon enough, but for now, you can stream it and download (by right-clicking) below.

Jay-Z & Wallpaper. – “D.O.A. + 99 Problems (Wallpaper. Remix)”

Now the backstory: Jay-Z recently contributed his piece to the raging (har har) international debate over the blatant overuse of AutoTune in radio pop. Essentially hopping on an already existing meme, he named his track “D.O.A. (Death Of Autotune)” — co-produced, ironically, by one of the fad’s biggest abusers, Kanye West — and caused a stir with the lyric, “This is anti-AutoTune / Death of the ringtone / This ain’t for iTunes / This ain’t for sing-along.”

Here, Wallpaper., a group that’s used AutoTune as an instrument since early 2005 (that’s pre-T-Pain, for those taking notes), repurposes that lyric for a very singable, digitally modified hook. The somewhat brillaint ironic appropriation doesn’t end there, however. The meat of the track comes from Jay’s monstrous 2004 hit, “99 Problems,” which leads to this rather astute line from Wallpaper vocalist Ricky Reed: “I’ve got 99 problems but my pitch ain’t one.”

Oh, and did I mentioned that Jay’s voice is AutoTuned throughout?

Cult Bit: “I need a Lil Wayne impersonator desperately.”

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Perhaps this is one for Helen Keller Services For The Blind? It seems a misguided and/or quite ingenious DC-area parent has come up with a plan to possibly scheme his/her son into having an extra-special birthday. That lucky son, who is set to turn 16, is evidently a huge fan of Lil Wayne. The thing is Wayne’s “schedule will not permit him to make it,” as the parent states in a Craiglist ad which calls for an impersonator. But here’s where it gets interesting:

“My son is blind so you do not need to look like the rapper just sound like him. I understand he grunts and mumbles a lot. I don’t care if you are 67 and Jewish if you can sing the songs you’re hired. Money is not an issue.”

The humble petitioner goes on to ask for video documentation of applicants’ best Weezy portrayal — “serious inquiries only,” of course. You can read the actual posting here as long as it’s available, and decide for yourself whether the parent plans on letting the birthday boy in on the plot. Thanks to Bomarr for the tip.