On the Radar:

Barely two weeks into the new year and artists are dropping singles for their 2014 albums, what seems like, daily. Groups we haven't heard new music from in years and hard-hitting breakout stars alike stream their new jams via Soundcloud and YouTube for fans worldwide awaiting their highly-anticipated LP's.

Common

Last year, rapper Common teased that his 10th LP "Nobody Smiling" will be released sometime in 2014. The rapper collaborated with producer and longtime friend No I. D. in what seems to be a politically driven battle-cry, based off the artist's newly released single "War." On Twitter, Common posted a link for the first single off his upcoming album, where he speaks out against the violence that plagues his hometown Chicago.

"We came up with this concept; Nobody's Smiling was really a thought that came about because of all the violence that was going on in Chicago. It happens in Chicago, but it's happening around the world in many ways. It may not be to the numbers that's happening in Chicago, but it's happening in the inner-cities all over America. It's really a call to action." Common speaks during an interview segment towards the song's closing.

Chromeo and Toro Y Moi

The grooves and bops created by the Canadian duo Chromeo have collided with the funk that is Chaz Bundick of Toro Y Moi--giving a disco-inspired, toe-tapping hit to kick us out of our frozen January. "Come Alive" is Chromeo's newest single from their upcoming album "White Women", dropping sometime this year. In conjunction with the single, Chromeo also announced a North America spring tour:

01-09 Miami, FL – Holy Ship (DJ Set)
03-21-22 New Orleans, LA - BUKU Music + Art Project
04-06 Houston, TX – House of Blues #
04-07 Austin, TX – Stubbs #
04-08 Dallas, TX – House of Blues #
04-12 San Francisco, CA – Independent #
04-14 Portland, OR – Roseland #
04-15 Vancouver, British Columbia – Commodore #
04-16 Seattle, WA – Showbox Market #
04-19 Phoenix, AZ – Marquee #
04-30 Boston, MA – House of Blues *
05-01 Montreal, Quebec – Corona *
05-02 Toronto, Ontario – Danforth Music Hall *
05-05 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall *
05-06 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
05-07 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant *
05-09 Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Hall *
05-12 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse *
05-13 Richmond, VA – The National *
05-14 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer *
05-16 New York, NY – Terminal 5 *
06-03 Paris, France – La Cigale
06-04 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
06-06 London, England – Roundhouse

# with Tokimonsta
* with Oliver