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ScHoolboy Q has been attracting many new fans recently, as the critics lap up his new album, Habits & Contradictions. Having heard it, it’s not hard to realise why; the production is top-notch and he offers a rather sombre yet gritty style to his peers, like Kendrick Lamar. NigHtmare On Figg St. is a wonderful reworking of Jay-Z and Kanye’s flamboyant Ni**as in Paris, the production is great and the video rather haunting. Fresh from the mixtape comes a video; Maino does not mess about! One reason why I’ve always kept my ear out for Maino’s music is because he is, without any doubt, credible. If he says he’ll punch you in the face, you know he’ll do it. Last of the Mohicans echoes that sentiment, where he and Push Montana tell us they’re part of a dying breed, which I can certainly agree with (looking at the types of rappers that currently get all the plaudits!). Push Montana is fast becoming one of my favourite ‘unknown’ rappers about too. Get the mixtape here.
There’s certainly a ‘runway’ feel about this for the first half, with a light electro backdrop combining with whispery, intermittent vocals and spoken word additions for a relatively eccentric yet sonically consistent effort that suits its intended environment. Things turn more ‘song-like’ in the second half, as the synth gets a little bassier and Azealia’s allowed a little more time and frequency in the vocal department, bringing some much-needed energy to the whole affair. An enjoyable listen that offers something a little different.
Great use of sampling of some classic lines from the epic TV series, The Wire. Real nice touch which gives the mixtape a concept feel. Visit the link below to go stream and download the mixtape! Maino – I am Who I am (mixtape)
Opening with in an atmospheric and drifty manner, there’s an instantly smooth vibe pouring out of this one, and whilst the song does shift into a more pop/R&B realm with the percussion and additional elements, it retains enough of that initial airy quality to give it a distinctive flavour. Legend’s vocals are never in doubt, and here he actually does a good job of stifling his natural passion and intensity, instead opting for a more structurally sound effort that still showcases his wonderful talent. Definitely worth a listen, and look out for it on iTunes on Tuesday. John Legend-Tonight (Best You Ever Had) ft. Ludacris
The track is a good all-rounder, with Ed once again utilising his rap-esque delivery, blending his naturally smooth voice with a speedy delivery that both works in tandem with and in contrast to Yela’s own pacey, but more shrill style. The production has a magnetising minimalism, made up mostly of a light percussion and soft synth, and the combination works to spotlight the lyrical work of both artists. Worth a listen for sure. Ed Sheeran and Yelawolf-You Don’t Know (For F***’s Sake) A gem found in my inbox, this laidback slice of acoustically-driven hip-hop will win fans of a huge variety of genres. J.O.T.T. picks an excellent production here, and goes for that rarely-touched but ever-effective blend of acoustic guitar and rapping, which offers a relaxed vibe that allows the natural emotion in Jitta’s raps to come to the fore. It’s not the sort of backdrop that lends itself to complex, multisyllabic rhymes, and instead is one that calls out for a softer, more melodic approach that Jitta brings in spades with some solid introspection in the raps, and a nice harmony on the hook. The video offers a good range of natural scenes, in a few senses of the word, as much of it takes place in a forest or around a campfire, with additional scenes of warming interactions with friends and spouses interspersed throughout. It’s an excellent range of selections for the style of music created, resisting the temptation to become too alternative or too hip-hop. Instead, it’s an easy-to-watch effort that cruises along with the audio nicely. Good all-round effort, and you can grab this track on iTunes right now.
Joe Budden – No Church in the Wild (remix) The four-man collective that Joey’s a part of, Slaughterhouse, have announced that their major label début album will be released on May the 15th! With a nationwide American tour also scheduled around the time. We need Slaughterhouse to perform in the UK soon!
Gilbere is certainly one of OTU’s favourite upcoming rappers, and hopefully his consistency will carry over to this collection of rarities, whilst providing a good platform for him to really excel and break that glass ceiling this year. He’s joined by an excellent line-up of supporting artists, including established acts such as Pusha T and Lloyd Banks alongside frequent collaborators Sean Rose and Selina Carrera. Free grab of the 18-track project is available below. Gilbere Forte-Year of the Dragon
NoLay Since the release of ‘Unorthodox Daughter’ lyricist, singer and songwriter from South London, NoLay, has seen support from the likes of 1Xtra, MTV, SBTV, ID Mag and more. Recently dropping her new EP ‘He said, she said, I am bad’ she’s one to watch for 2012. www.facebook.com/NoLaysWorld Sylvia Stone is a Brit School graduate with a unique, arresting voice, striking self-styling and a fantastic work ethic. Her songs range from tongue-in-cheek 40’s-esque blues and jazz, to epic cinematic belters all the way to bass heavy bangers. This girl is a genre-straddling, experimental artist with killer vocals and a clear vision to tickle the back of listener’s souls. www.facebook.com/sylvia.st0ne Dj’s Emily Rawson, Fearney & Malenya will be on the decks spinning everything Hip-hop, Dupstep, House, Electro, Garage & Bass. Time: 8pm-2am Entry: FREE before 9pm / £6 concessions list via hello@rockthebelles.com // Advance £5 rockthebelles.com // Door £8 Tables: FREE to book Address: Notting Hill Arts Club, 19-21 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JQ Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Hosted by Just Blaze and a feature from ex-enemy Joe Budden, I anticipate this’ll be a good mixtape. Especially as the blogs have been praising the quality of the singles that Saigon had put out there from this tape. Grab it below. Saigon – Warning Shots 3: One Foot In The Grave (mixtape)
I’ve also assembled here a quite perfect trifecta of tracks for your listening pleasure; none of that sweet baby music making here in this episode, just three tracks that will get you moving. Click on below to see what is in store for you this (or last, should I say?) week. → Continue Reading R&B Fridays: Episode 134 One of the more durable tracks on Rocky’s debut mixtape, with it still grabbing plays on my iTunes to this day. Warning: not suitable for viewing by minors! A trippy blend of psychedelic colours and dimly-lit environments captures the essence of the audio excellently, whilst there’s certainly a general vibe around this video that has a real throwback feel. There’s a little sprinkling of opulence too, as Rocky flaunts his new-found fame and success, without overshadowing his natural style and charisma throughout the video. Of course, the rest of the A$AP mob are featured throughout the video, and I’m sure we’ll hear more from them soon. Thematically, the video isn’t going to throw you any surprises, but makes for an easygoing, fitting accompaniment to a very enjoyable track. Grab it for yourself on the LiveLoveA$AP mixtape now. For more info on the video, click here to visit the home of Vice, the clip’s directors and producers.
If you’ve heard any of Eric Turner’s collabos with urban artists from both sides of the Atlantic, then you’ll know what to expect: Very addictive vocals from Eric with a banger of a beat to match. Lupe and Tinie both come through with decent verses, but would it be fair to say that Tinie’s verse is the better of the two? These are controversial times we live in. Download below. Eric Turner – Angels & Stars ft. Tinie Tempah & Lupe Fiasco Speaking of JME, he just posted this video on his Twitter account. Basically, whenever he gets stopped by the police he tends to film it on his phone and post it on his Twitter for all to see (this appears to be a regular occurrence!). Well something unexpected happens in this encounter; I’ll let you see for yourself. JME is the king of grime. JME performs his new single 96 Fuckries over his classic instrumental 96 Bars of Revenge (whilst also blending in some lyrics of the latter track also). You can listen to and see the official video for 96 Fuckries here and you can buy it from iTunes by clicking here now! The single is already in the top 40 with no marketing budget and no radio play. A phenomenal achievement, considering the title contains a swear word and has no chorus, which shows the value in engaging with your fanbase. As Wiley said recently on twitter: JME is the new king of grime. Been a bit of a guilty pleasure for me over the last month! A guilty pleasure as this is a song about a footballer who plays for a team I dislike very much. I can’t hate on Mario though, he’s hilarious! The track is rather addictive too, the opening verse and subsequent hook is the real highlight of the song. The video’s been shot well too, but a little disappointed they didn’t get Balotelli himself involved. Apparently Tinchy and Mario have come together to create an official “Why always me?” t-shirt, so look out for those soon too.
Here is one of those tracks from the EP, I Like U. Really into this track, Mikill Pane has a lot of wit which is what makes his songs so easy to listen to. Nice little track for those crushing on someone right now!
Live: IJH Combine jaw-dropping live beatbox from UK Beatbox finalist Pikey Esquire and infectious lyricism from Leon Rhymes, I’m Just Happy spread beats, smiles and rhymes to the masses wherever they go. Astro-Physics are a 6 piece, live Hip-hop collective from Brighton. Their unique sound comes from their adept ability to fuse hip-hop, rock and dance in a fiercely distinctive British fashion. Concessions lists: £5 via itssupadupafly@gmail.com / £7 on the door Saigon comes through with some animated visuals for a track off his brilliant Greatest Story Never Told album. A good song to introduce yourself to what Saigon’s about, if you’ve never really heard his stuff before (here’s another good example). Here he lets loose his feelings about greed of certain churches and preachers in America… Fun video to watch! You can buy the album from iTunes by clicking here. An unexpected cover version of a rather controversial track! Although I shouldn’t be surprised by anything Mike Posner does really, he seems to be capable of anything. He and Blackbear (not someone I’m personally familiar with) do an excellent job of covering this mainstream hip hop track, adding an acoustic sound to it. Well worth a watch. (The original can be found here). Jeezy’s album TM103 was a long time in the making and it was finally released at the back end of last year; it did not disappoint. Supa Freak being one of those classic Jeezy records which has an incredibly hyped up beat and a hook that’ll stay in your head for ages, if you like this then you’ll love his album! Typical club video which is certainly suited to a track like this.
This one is from the upcoming Lovers Holiday II project, and combines an upbeat core with a laidback sensibility that makes for a very replayable alternative/R&B/hip-hop hybrid. Thick and bassy electro synths create a thumping backdrop, whilst the soft vocal mellows things slightly, and an ever-changing percussion keeps the track a little unpredictable. The combination is effective, and the progressive nature underpinning the whole thing gives the track a feelgood vibe that will find favour with many mainstream fans. A very good hybrid effort from an underrated talent. Theophilus London-Last Night (LVRS Anthem) Easily my favourite remix to date of this track, and arguably just as good as (if not better than) the original, Nipsey and YG throw some visuals together for their unofficial West Coast remix of Drake and Lil’ Wayne’s The Motto. YG opens with his laidback, magnetising verse that doesn’t boast any head-bending wordplay but has a nice flow and easy rhyme scheme, blending excellently with the production, whilst the video has some nice flashes of charisma from YG, as he takes things to the club to inject a little energy into the track.
Certainly the man of the moment in the hip-hop world for his recent venom towards Drake, and we’re not to forget that ‘beef’ comes on the back of the release of his very enjoyable The Dreamer, The Believer album, with this visual being the 5th video from the album. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio on its release almost exactly a month ago, and the relatively simple video works with the track nicely. Two main settings are found here, as a dimly-lit card game between Common and his cronies provides the canvas for his retelling of the lyrics, with that story taking place in the other scenes set in a lively club environment. It’s nothing complicated, but is a good, easy-to-watch visual that’s accompanied by an excellent head-nodder of a track.
The lyricism is heartwarmingly simple, as Jay expresses his sheer delight and awe, whilst also once again (assumedly) mentioning to the miscarriage he referred to in This Can’t Be Life. It’s not a track you’ll get for any complex wordplay or multi-layered production, but certainly a raw, honest track from Jay that strips away the bravado and gives listeners a look into what’s probably the most emotional moment of his life. Oh, and it officially lists ‘B.I.C.’ as a feature (her cries and wails are included towards the end)-she’s 2 days old and already getting royalties! |
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