Tag Archives: rap

Vicious Boy {Tai Allen}

Posted on June 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

a4238514902_10Vicious Boy by Tai Allen   (Brooklyn, NY)

 
 
 
 

The discovery of Tai Allen’s new release Vicious Boy was unexpected and appropriate today. In my small Brooklyn apartment, rain coming down outside with no clear end in sight, I began the EP to find a combination of elements that, strangely, I don’t hear mixed enough nowadays. The opening track, my favorite, is titled ‘Right Hand Luke‘ and kicks in the record with a hard-hitting horn section sample over a splashy ride cymbal and classic hip hop bass and snare beat. No doubt a head mover, the rest of the album tastefully combines soul, spoken word, r&b, jazz and hip-hop with a crisp production overall. For fans of Saul Williams, Gil Scott Heron, and other music infused poets, this is for you. Great to find a local Brooklynite who not only stays busy on the cypher/slam scene but also in the studio. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

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Video Release: CHeCk yO mIND {b.FUNK}

Posted on May 22, 2013 by | Leave a comment

327011_10100139558271458_1260363813_o‘CHeCk yO mIND’ by b.FUNK   (New Jersey)

Some bands, when arranged well, have a vision that starts with music but continues to grow far beyond just one outlet of artistic expression. New Jersey’s hip-hop live band b.FUNK embody this mentality; intelligent funk with all the most progressive elements of modern hip-hop and a hustle that seems to (strangely) be a thing of the past in their scene. Their video for ‘CHeCk yO mIND‘ is a perfect representation of the band; fun, energetic and all-inclusive.  These qualities have made their fan base demographic very broad as well as made them not only college party legends but gotten them onto huge festivals like Toronto’s NXNE this June. Following this international tour, keep an eye out for future releases as we are told to expect mixtapes and EPs coming from both the band and frontman B.C. @thinknotsleep

 
 

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Posted in A: Egan, T: News, T: Video

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Video Release: Overloaded {Lil Kids}

Posted on May 17, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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A few days back, Lil Kids hit us with their new album “to collect digital dust” as frontman Adam Kane said via Facebook.  It was titled- Dead Ass.  Here’s the video of the first track, ‘Overloaded’.  It’s exactly what I’ve come to ecpect from them; completely silly.  @Dingusonmusic

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Posted in A: Dingus, T: News, T: Video

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Single Release: The Initiation {Mykki Blanco}

Posted on May 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

artworks-000047701797-yvhflh-t500x500‘The Initiation’ by Mykki Blanco   (New York, New York)

Blanco is back with another single pushing the limits of the word “intense”.  If you’re not caught up on the anti-rap career, I’d suggest familiarizing yourself deeply because a full conceptual understanding of ‘The Initiation‘ requires much more than a singular listen.  Blanco has made a name for himself by bending gender lines and throwing the results in societies face- it’s worked.  His latest ignores protocol and reaches deep into the lower intestine to pull out a guttural fight song that any killer would gladly take the ring to. @Dingusonmusic

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Posted in A: Dingus, T: News, T: Single

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Single Release: Francs {Benny Francs}

Posted on May 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

artworks-000048017966-5m2cff-t500x500‘Francs’ by Benny Francs   (Chicago, Illinois)

Hip hop is a tough genre for the DIY.  Perhaps because faithful rap is born on the street.  Sure, you can go the bitches, money, fame route, but I’d like to think that the world is getting sick of that falsity.  Real rap has a soul defined by struggle (in fact nearly all truthful music is born from struggle).  It comes from our declining cities where most are trapped as mice on a spinning wheel aching for a moment of peace and production.  Hip hop is a touch genre for the DIY because those involved in the struggle, often, are not your tech savvy upper class.  But Benny Franc has the flow.  It comes from experience and though this is his first release- you can taste the personality in ‘Francs‘. [Free Download] @Dingusonmusic

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Posted in A: Dingus, T: News, T: Single

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Tunnel Buddies

Posted on May 2, 2013 by | Leave a comment

705092_468199999890676_1765782939_oTunnel Buddies by GDP   (West Orange, NJ)

 
 

Some artists who remain persistent and creative throughout their independent careers can become underground champions. If there is any East Coast MC capable of this sort of success, it is GDP. Releasing album after album, mixtapes, instrumentals and even punk music, this dude has built his own career and developed a vision of his own independent of managers and suits. Following in the footsteps of other cult hip hop modern classics like MF Doom and Aesop Rock, his vulgar yet poetically insightful lyricism has gathered a ton of hype in circles that dig the Odd Future types but want even more substance. GDP is a suburban kid and critic of everything and that’s just what hip hop is looking for these days. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

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Adam Kane Lost on Vine

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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If you live in New York, you’ve been to our shows.  If you’ve been to our shows, you know Adam Kane aka Lil Kids aka the Nutty Professor (I made that one up).  Well, the other night he got drunk (or so it would seem) and posted a whole bunch of vine videos- which have been regarded by some as high modern art.  To see em all (and to continue the entertainment), check back on his twitter account.  Gallery owners, get out your check book- he doesn’t come cheap. @Dingusonmusic

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Posted in A: Dingus, T: News

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You Win Some You Lose Some

Posted on February 25, 2013 by | Leave a comment

2090172502-1You Win Some You Lose Some by Moose   (Las Vegas, Nevada)

 
 

This cats got flow. Again. Always happy to find good hip-hop. What turns me on when looking for beats that flow and words that go? Step one, versatility. Tracks that stand alone, but have a subtle consistency crossing over. Step two, switch up your flow, make sure to spit in ways that people have but haven’t heard before. Step three, have cojones, big ones. Moose. Great Job, on all three fronts. @TheSnakeRecords

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Posted in A: Spinrad, T: LP/EP

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Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to The Pharcyde

Posted on February 12, 2013 by | Leave a comment

118663232-1Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to The Pharcyde by Amerigo Gazaway/Gummy Soul   (Nashville, TN)

 
 
 
 

An indie label coming out of Nashville, TN with more soul than a sock with a hole, Gummy Soul has redefined the way we listen to golden era hip hop and soul music with every album release. Generating a ton of hype surrounding the release of Fela Soul, a mash up of Afrobeat godfather Fela Kuti and De La Soul, 2011 was a milestone year for them. The latest dream mash up to drop is a pairing of 90s hip-hop legends The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest called Bizarre Tribe. The album is a compilation of classic Pharcyde acapellas thrown over the jazz/soul samplings of Tribe favorites like ‘Bonita Applebum‘ and so many more from their discography. With thousands of amateur mash up albums clogging the arteries of the hip-hop community over the years, Gummy Soul brings music fans brilliantly selected and produced tracks that pump new life into songs that are now over a decade old. Never a dull release from this label and I’ll surely be covering more albums in the future. Fans can go to their bandcamp page to download the album for free or with a generous donation. [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, C: Staff Favorites, T: LP/EP

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Voyage EP

Posted on February 11, 2013 by | Leave a comment

3174625326-1Voyage EP by Jay Prince & Maloon TheBoom   (London/Paris)

 
 

Jay Prince is an artist/producer/rapper living in the UK though it is likely we’ll see him venturing further than his home country very soon with the release of his cooled-out, lounge hip-hop EP Voyage. In collaboration with Swiss producer Maloon TheBoom, Jay Prince cleverly spits over smooth instrumentals with an uplifting demeanor and accent that hip-hop fans abroad will find infectious. Tracks like ‘Breathe‘ and ‘That’s Life‘ send you floating through glittery electric piano loops and swirling synths with a backbone beat to keep you on the straight and narrow. A sense of movement and travel is consistent throughout the 8-song album as is a feeling of love and positivity. True soul music from across the Atlantic. [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, T: LP/EP

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