Mike Posner & Big Sean Perform "Speed of Sound" at the Roxy

If you didn't already know, Mike and Sean have what it takes to rock the mic right (yeahh). Book them for a show at your school while you still can-- dates are filling up fast!

Bow Wow, "Greenlight 2" Mixtape

Prince Bow shows why Cash Money put him on the roster with his latest mixtape, Greenlight 2. There are a couple new and original tracks on there, and he also spits over a couple jacked beats. He's been releasing mixtapes more recently, and hasn't come out with an official studio album for a little while. My guess is that 1. this is a marketing scheme to build up a buzz for his first official album release under Cash Money, 2. he has better material and is waiting to put it on his first Cash Money release, and 3. Cash Money is probably telling Bow to wait a while because Jay Sean, Birdman, Young Money, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Wayne all have albums out or about to drop first quarter. Check the link below to cop G2.

Download: Bow Wow - Greenlight 2

Thank You!

Thanks for the support everybody! I promise Heartless Handshakes will be bigger and better in 2010. Until then, be safe, party right, and drink responsibly.

Heartless Handshakes' Top 10 Mixtapes of 2009

1. Drake, So Far Gone

Obviously this was hands down the mixtape of the year. Beyond that, Drizzy Drake dropped the best body of work in 2009 period-- album, mixtape, whatever. The fruits of his labor: two Grammy nominations and a lucrative distribution deal with Universal/ Cash Money Records. What's next for Mr. Toronto, you ask? Be on the lookout for his first studio album, Thank Me Later, to drop Spring/Summer 2010.

2. Mike Posner, One Foot Out the Door

What a year for Mike Posner, huh? One Foot Out the Door dropped in October and it blew me away-- straight hits. What more can I say about the kid? He's got the right people and the right resources around him to drop a classic freshman album. Think he can do it?

3. Chiddy Bang, The Swelly Express

The Philadelphia duo from Drexel University quietly dropped one of the best mixtapes of the year. It still puzzles me as to how they managed fly under the radar like that. They flipped MGMT's smash hit "Kids" and haven't looked back since. Don't sleep on Chiddy Bang in 2010.

4. Big Sean, UKNOWBIGSEAN

The kid from detroit spit the freestyle of his life for Kanye West back in 05, signed to G.O.O.D. Music soon after, and has worked with some of the industry's best and brightest ever since. Big Sean showed the world why 'Ye and Pharrell put so much stock in him on this mixtape. 2010 is his year to shine.

5. Wiz Khalifa, Burn After Rolling

Khalifa man has been around for a couple years, but hasn't managed to get over the hump until now. Burn After Rolling was simply amazing-- a nice blend of original material and crazy bars over jacked beats. His freshman album, Deal or No Deal, drops early 2010. Do yourself a favor and pre-order it on iTunes. OKAY!

6. Chester French, Jacques Jams Vol. 1: Endurance

Chester French x Clinton Sparks... a delightful combination. The boys from Harvard have done well to integrate the their classic Beetles vibe with Clinton Sparks, Diddy, Kanye West, Jermaine Dupri, and Pharrell's influence. This mixtape makes you want to party like a Ciroc Star.

7. Ocean's 7, 3000 and 9 Shit

The modern day Rat Pack-- JD, Usher, Nelly, B. Cox, Trey Songz, Johnta Austin, and Ty. An all-star cast of hip hop artists, R&B singers, super producers, and label execs team up to give away free music-- too good to be true, right? Nope. No tricks here, just Vegas swag.

8. Pac Div, Church League Champions

Phat beats and dope rhymes-- yeah, that's Pac Div. My face was scrunched up the first time I heard "Mayor." The heavy 808s and early 90's snare had me bobbing my head so hard I almost broke my neck. These dudes murder tracks in 501 jeans and crew neck sweaters. You'll definitely hear more mixtapes from them in 2010.

9. Mike Posner and the Brain Trust, A Matter of Time

Mike Posner went from making beats in his dorm room at Duke University to working on one of the dopest mixtapes of 2009 with DJ Benzi and Don Cannon. That's a fast come up. Now he's your typical poor college student by day and your favorite singer/songwriter/ producer by night. Catch Mike Posner at a venue near you in 2010.

10. Wale & 9th Wonder, Back to the Feature

Ah yes, a classic pairing in hip hop. 9th makes the beats, Wale raps and gets the girls. I remember anxiously waiting for this tape to drop, and when it finally did, it was like when a dope fiend gets their fix. Order was restored and all the blogs had to find something else to talk about. I wish Wale would have used 9th more on Attention: Deficit because some of the songs on the mixtape are definitely better than some of the material on the actual album.

Heartless Handshakes' Top 10 Albums of 2009

1. The-Dream, Love vs. Money

What can I say about this album? Wow. Top to bottom, every track is on point-- a perfect blend of fast and slow tempo and everything in between. I can't believe the Grammy committee snubbed my man like that. That's alright though, he gets my vote for album of the year 2009.

2. The Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.

BEP raised the bar for pop acts in 2009. "I Gotta Feeling" was the summer anthem and still gets the party jumping. The rest of the album is jam packed with that 120 bpm head bobbing, foot tapping, hip swaying vibe.

3. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon

People's faces were scrunched up when Cudi's highly anticipated freshman album dropped. How could such an emotional and spacey record garner such mainstream success? Well, Cudder found the winning formula-- clever album concept, the right co-signers, and the Crookers remix to Day 'N Night.

4. Passion Pit, Manners

They came out strong with Sleepyhead and managed to keep their momentum going throughout 2009. They have an airy, melodic, and unique sound that lulls you into la la land. It is truly a blissful listening experience when you're rocking with Passion Pit.

5. Jay-Z, Blueprint 3

Hovi's home! The third installment of the Blueprint trilogy reestablished Jigga's starting spot as the point guard in the rap game. Many thought Jay lost his hunger as a musician in the past few years, but it seems as if he rediscovered his timeless swag in 2009.

6. Maxwell, BLACKsumer'snight

Finally, people can start making babies again. Maxwell is a true artist-- he consistently delivers that sultry, mood-setting music, which many other artists imitate but rarely duplicate. Gentlemen, keep it simple-- wine, dine, Maxwell. It works every time.

7. Rick Ross, Deeper than Rap

There was a lot of pressure on Officer Rawse to generate big numbers with this album. And fortunately for him, he moved more units than 50 Cent. The whole body of work conveys that smooth, laid back in the Maybach vibe-- for bosses only.

8. Milkman, Circle of Fifths

Riding the wave of his hugely popular debut mashup, Gregg Luskin AKA Milkman released his sophomore album in March. I didn't think he could top Lactose and THC, but pulled it off in a big way-- better quality, production, and song selection. Put this on at a party and watch the room bounce in unison.

9. LMFAO, Party Rock

The album title is self explanatory. The Miami-based duo developed their crazy party flavor over the span of a couple of years and this is what came from it-- a ridiculously hyper sexual orgy of party beats and playful rhymes. Always a winning combo. Brilliant.

10. Robin Thicke, Sex Therapy: The Experience

I've been on Robin Thicke since he signed to Pharrell's label, Star Trak. The man can sing, especially when he puts it down with the falsetto. The album is loaded with good music and oh, tons of sexual innuendoes to make things pop off late night. Enjoy.

Skillz - 2009 Rap Up

It's that time of the year, folks. You can stop asking when that song about the events of the past year by that rapper is coming out. Well, his name is Skillz and the song is "2009 Rap Up," and it's finally here. Get em while they're hot! Check the link to listen the year that was 2009.

Download: Skillz - 2009 Rap Up

Complex Magazine's 10 Best Heavy Winter Boots

Complex Magazine has put together a list of the 10 best boots for the winter time. Seeing as how I go to college in Waterville, Maine I need to cop some new boots to get me through the harsh weather conditions. It's definitely time to put the Dunks and Jordans in the shoe box at least until the middle of March... sad to say, but that's the reality when we are talking about winter in central Maine. I've got my eye on the Bean Boots by L.L. Bean for $134. It's a classic boot with longevity, plus it's made in Maine, so I will also be supporting the local economy. It is crafted with waterproof grain leather, chain-tread rubber bottom, and lined with shearling. Click here to check out the rest of the list.

Ben Baller Has the Jewelry Game On Lock

Nike Air Flight Condor

$98. Now available at wish. Call 404. 880. 0402 to order.

Birdman, "A Day in the Life" Part 2

"A Day in the Life" continues as cameras follow Birdman and Jay Sean and the Cash Money crew as they attend their album release parties, perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, make it rain the Louis Vuitton store, and jet set all over the east coast and across the Atlantic Ocean to London. I can't imagine that the life of a rapper is anything like this, but I guess when you are the owner of a record label you have to be everywhere supporting your artists, which may involve album release parties, video shoots, television appearances, power meetings with lawyers and accountants, etc. It's a crazy fast-pace lifestyle with tons of perks including an rolodex full of celebrity contacts, preferential treatment, loads of money, luxury cars, designer clothes, and all sorts of other cool stuff.