I can’t believe I made myself wait this long to share this album but, Sunday is so absolutely fitting of a day to enjoy the collection of smooth beat-driven tunes I’m about to unleash on your ears. Melodic keys, heavy jazz influences, and a simple yet calming hip-hop beat just make everything about your day of rest that much better.
Hailing from the Ukraine, stay posted to the duo via Soundcloud or their Facebook page. Listen to their clean-cut 14-track release, Daybreak, below.
There’s nothing extremely different about Kae Sun’s latest music video for his song, “When The Pot.” But god damn, is it infectious.
VHS-quality black and white instantly strikes a nostalgic chord and the clean cut look of a simple white button up and sharp blazer really works. The dance-y rhythm alongside the repetitive lines, “Something’s gotta change,” keep the track deep inside of your head even hours after listening.
Why I haven’t thought of this sooner is beyond me. Based in the 215, introduce your ears to the widely talented producer/emcee, Lushlife.
God knows how many flyers I’ve seen this dude’s name on in the city and he was recently named the Deli Magazine’s “Performer of the Year.” Needless to say last year’s Plateau Vision is a work of art. It’s an elevated style of hip hop showing off Lushlife’s insane production work. From the hypnotizing opening track, “Magnolia,” to the soulfully chopped-up track, “She’s a Buddhist, I’m a Cubist,” featuring Cities Aviv, I cannot get enough.
BONUS: His music video for song, “Magnolia,” is also being screened at this year’s SXSW. Editing executed to another level.
Check out this new squishy fuzzy sounding, glitch-hop kind of 8bit boom bap rap track from the big homie Jonwayne. “Royalty” is a track that didn’t make the cut for the Wayniac’s new album that should be dropping some time this Summer.
Also, check out his recent appearance on The Passion of The Weiss’s podcast, “Shots Fired,” where he, Milo, Jeff Weiss, and MC Nocando nerd out about independent rap.
Last night, in the midst of his European tour, Mykki Blanco took to the internet and leaked (via tumblr) a new track off his upcoming EP, Betty Rubble: The Initiation. The Matrixxman produced track is pretty clean in that its got fairly sparse instrumentation; bass, snare claps, some hi-hats, some “hey!(s),” and a leading synth. With the space it lends nicely to Blanco’s raspy flow running right over it.
If this is any indication of the rest of the new EP, well..damn it should be pretty mean. Check out the track below and be on the lookout for “Betty Rubble..” next month and more North American dates after the European tour wraps up.
..And here’s an older track (bFunk bootleg style) to take away and bang while you’re waiting for that newness:
Raiza Biza’s stream of consciousness is on point, beats are smooth, and he’s got just the right amount of soul laced throughout his individual sound. I also love the collaboration with Crime Heat, it just works and deserves some more attention. Keep tabs on Biza, a new project is due out shortly.
This Past Monday the Prince of Dark York, Le1f, dropped his second mixtape Fly Zone, co-released by Himanshu’s (of Das Racist ::RIP::) Greedhead Label. The free tape features 13 tracks of ridiculous production and a bit more straightforward rapping than last year’s Dark York. This tape is, for lack of a better word “rave-rap.” Just crazy sounding club/dance/rave/freakout jams and Le1f’s signature voice and style riding right along with them.
Le1f ”arrived on the scene” some time last year and sort of emerged amongst the partnerships between left-field indie rappers and weird underground electronic producers (think Haleek Maul and Supreme Cuts, Hot Sugar and Kitty Pryde, or Antwon and Pictureplane) but at the same time Le1f produces many of his own beats; most of Dark York was self produced.
Anyway, check out the tape below and then check out the video for last year’s Dark York cut, “Wut,” which is catchy as hell.
If you don’t know, now you know. The homie A$AP Rocky finally dropped his debut album LONG.LIVE.A$AP on 1.15.14. Rocky had a pretty jam packed day and hit radio stations Hot 97, SIRIUS XM, Power 105.1, back to Hot 97, The David Letterman Show, and then finally his album release party at art gallery The Hole located off of Houston and Bowery Street in NYC. (I tried to get into the party but arrived too late and the doors were locked down).
The album’s sound for the most part continues the Houston influenced, hazy production style set forth on Rocky’s 2011 mix tape Live.Love.A$AP, with some updated sounds from producers like Skrillex, Hit-Boy, and Danger Mouse as well as Clams Casino, A$AP Ty Beats, and Rocky himself (as “Lord Flacko”).
The lyrics and flow continue the Yin and Yang between Rocky’s druggy laid back braggadocios style and his flawless rapid fire flow harkening back to Bone Thugs N Harmony. And the content? Pussy, Money, Weed, high end fashion, and always repping that A$AP Mob. I think he really knocked it out of the park with this one. Solid debut album from an artist on the come up big time.
Check out a couple tracks below, go on over here to pre-order that yellow vinyl and check out his performance of “Long Live A$AP” and “Wild For The Night” with a little help from Atrak, araabMUZIK, and DJ Clark Kent.
