(Image via skoodmusic.com)

Dear readers, I apologize for the slow week on Sound Buffet. I wish I had a good excuse as to why I haven’t been blogging much, but the honest truth is just that (1) I’ve been kind of lazy; and (2) no music trending on the internet really struck my fancy. That is, until I caught wind of MellowHype’s latest tracks. The duo released not one but five new tracks for free online last week as a means of building hype for their upcoming album, Numbers, which drops next month. My favorite track, “Wasabi,” features rap veteran Juicy J and serves up a pretty ratchet beat. The first time I heard the song, the beat and the flow seemed a little off kilter, but the more I listen to it, the better it sounds. MellowHype are a rap duo composed of rapper Hodgy Beats and producer Left Brain, both members of OFWGKTA.

MellowHype - Wasabi (feat. Juicy J) by sicxfeetdeep

(Image via beforebigs.com)

Kudos to Frank Ocean, who took to Tumblr on the Fourth of July to come out. In a culture as heteronormative as hip hop, it’s refreshing and courageous of the star on the rise be upfront and honest about his sexuality. Frank Ocean is a member of hip hop collective Odd Future and an R&B singer in his own right. He made more guest appearances than any other artist on Jay-Z and Kanye’s Watch the Throne and placed second in BBC’s Sound of 2012 poll. His debut album, Channel Orange, is scheduled for release later this month.

Frank Ocean - Thinking About You by Island Def Jam