Let CK.FM006 take you into the underground
Sean CK was a big part of rubyhornet version 1. Starting off as an intern, he rose up to key contributor and even held down the fort for a short time after I left. He had a classic interview with Sir Michael Rocks during the height of Cool Kids label-fuck-shit era. And he did a phone interview with Sean Price in our office stairway, came back in the room shaking, and erratically muttering "I can't believe I just talked to Sean Price."
To know Sean CK is simply to love CK.
He recently launched a weekly soundcloud radio show, uploading weekly mixes of his favorite songs. Most episodes have focused on electronic music, but for number 006, he decided to focus some new gems from the underground Hip Hop scene.
I hit him up for a description and he told me that he wanted to hit to branch out with a "largely hip-hop filled episode with lively, conscious lyrics from emerging artists."
Enjoy the episode above, and definitely look for CK to be involved as we continue moving forward.
"The Mayor" Documentary depicts Wiki's love for New York and gives an intimate look at an emerging new voice
Wiki is one of my favorite emcees. He's got a voice and flow that is unmistakable with prose delivered in deliberate, stabbing sentences. This short film traces Wiki's journey towards a rap career, and his parallel relationship with NYC, using the context of a 5-Borough tour that coincided with his recent LP, No Mountains In Manhattan.
Wiki teamed up with Boiler Room on the tour and film, making the footage intimate, raw and imperfect. In true Boiler Room fashion, Wiki took to non-traditional venues such as a Brooklyn Beer Hall, Staten Island Skate Park, Bronx backyard, Queens rooftop, and for the finale, took his talents to the storied Nuyorican Cafe.
Wiki travels to each show on public transportation. His journey to each venue simultaneously traces his upbringing in NYC. "Once you could take the train on your own... it's like you can do anything. And that could take you down any route. That can make you get into anything," Wiki says in the film.
As discussed in the 21-minute documentary, Wiki choose Hip Hop as early as 6th grade. Routinely hitting the Rec Center, which led to frequent subway trips en route to cyphers, shows, and parties. As he traveled he took in a fuller picture of what it meant to live and rep NYC in life and his music. That discovery remains a main element of his music, and a large reason why Wiki is embraced so heavily in New York that he has been bestowed the nickname of The Mayor. It's not just a false claim, or something he chooses to brag about, but a point of honor and significant muse.
"I always loved New York. It's always been that thing, I always wanted to represent.When I was younger I wanted the thing that said 'New York' on it. I wanted motherfuckers to know. I realized getting older that it's like, 'nah, you do you.' That's the best way to be New York."
The documentary follows Wiki through each performance as well as the planning and gives a glimpse into an artist that cares deeply for New York as well as the people that make the city what it is. It's further evidence of Wiki's endearing qualities as a emerging artist. The film also provides a new context with which to enjoy his album.
Now if only we can get him out here for a Digital Freshness.
BoatHouse - "A Small Glimmer In The Distance"
I got a text yesterday from BoatHouse, "I'm gonna drop a beat on Soundcloud." A couple hours later, he hit me with the link to this jam, "A Small Glimmer In The Distance". The instrumental is light and fun, definitely something set for a quick soundcloud drop. I would say what the inspiring track is, but we ain't sample snitches over here.
Enjoy this jam below, and catch BoatHouse on Sunday at Bottom Lounge opening up for Smino and T-Pain.
Songs For Keith Olbermann - A Collaborative Playlist
Man... I know, I know, I'm late. All the Eminem BET Cypher discussion happened last week. We're passed that now. I'm not really here to add another think-piece about Marshall Mathers and his Anti-Trump performance, there are plenty already out there that make points way better than I could.
What I do want to write about is fucking Keith Olbermann and his smug comment that Eminem's freestyle removed 27 years (?!) worth of doubt that he had about rap music. He never fully explained what the doubt centered on, so I can only assume he doubted it as a genre capable of important social messaging? Maybe the doubt was about a rapper's ability to hold political thoughts? Keith, did you doubt an emcee's desire to pay attention to current events?
That comment and the way he made it - as if his tweet provided some sort of holy and sought after validation on rap music - really bothered me. Oh shit, Keith Olbermann is on board?! I think we got something with this hip hop shit after all. GTFOH Keith. Seriously.
I am a big fan of your videos on GQ and your persistent stance against Donald Trump. But you continue to deliver that message with a tone of arrogance and cockiness that is extremely off-putting. This tweet you made is a prime example of why people don't fuck with you...
But, yo, now that you have no more doubts about rap music, I have a secret for you - rappers aren't just rapping about Donald Trump! Shocking right.
What if I told you that Hip Hop music has centered on societal critiques since its inception - gasp - over 40 years ago! What if I also told you that there are songs about past presidents too. Hold up Keith, did you know your boy Eminem actually made an anti-George Bush song back in 2004 to inspire people to vote for John Kerry? Maybe if you were paying attention and shared that one, history would have played out a little different.
Anyway, Keith, here's a little playlist I made literally in 5 minutes without even really thinking. The playlist contains Hip Hop songs that address everything from politics to healthy eating, from police brutality, racial inequality, zealous patriotism, xenophobia and general complacency Check this out, and let me know what you think. Isn't crazy how deep this genre gets?
To our readers - please hit us up with more songs that should be added and lets make this a collaborative playlist.
Seriously, is Black Thought the G.O.A.T.
Black Thought and Method Man appeared together on Sway In The Morning in promotion of their new HBO show, "The Deuce". I don't even want to describe it in great detail, because it is truly some shit you need to see for yourself. The thing I do want to talk about is Black Thought, one of the best emcees (and performers) ever!
This man never even wastes a bar. You'd be hard pressed to present more than 10 bad Black Thoughts lines. Black does two exquisite rounds in this Cypher, and not to diminish Method Man at all, but it's truly an incredible thing to see.
Outside of the content - how dope is it to see Method Man and Black Thought cypher together on a radio show in 2017? The back and forth alone is classic material and I sincerely hope someone has a grainy home recording of the audio - a true bootleg gem...
...you know, if bootleging was still a thing, and you had to record the radio with a tape deck and couldn't just enter this url into one of those youtube ripping sites and then just like have the audio to do whatever you want with it...
Watch Wu-Tang Clan's New Video for "People Say"
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Best verse you will ever hear that ends with "paypa." That's what Raekwon provides in this new video for Wu-Tang Clan's "People Say", the latest drop from their forthcoming LP, Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues. Method Man, Redman, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa all join Raekwon on "People Say", with each emcee providing quotables - and yet again reminding Hip Hop fans everywhere the under-ratedness of Inspectah Deck.
Wu-Tang's last few releases have been met with a certain skepticism for the last couple years, a skepticism that spans the business and internal dynamics as well as the music. This video has at least somewhat galvanized the fan base and has been met with very positive reviews. I certainly agree it's one of their best outings in a bit.
Loren Hits Restart On New Project - Fake Deep
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Hear the First 3 Songs from IDK's Anticipated IWASVERYBAD
IDK, formerly known as Jay IDK, inked a unique deal with Adult Swim in spring of 2017. October 12th, the Maryland native will release his new project, IWASVERYBAD, via a first listening experience on Adultswim.com, followed by a worldwide release on October 13th. The pairing with Adult Swim makes more sense as you dive into the release strategy and IDK's purpose with the music. Billed as a soundtrack, the project will drop in 3 installments of 3 songs releasing every Thursday and meant to be viewed as episodes in IDK's life growing up middle-class in Maryland.
The first drop includes "Mrs. Lynch, Your Son Is The Devil", "Maryland Ass N***a" feat Swizz Beatz, and "Pizza Shop" feat Young Gleesh, DOOM, and Del Tha Funky Homosapien.
The songs all speak to a story of a kid growing up being exposed to both, as IDK spits on the intro track, "spelling bee winners and them PG killers" and never fully committing to either. The tone is urgent, narrative, and always with a hint of something going wrong. Much like setting up a movie or show, these first tracks definitely set a scene and an impending problem. "Maryland Ass N***a" is my standout on first listen, although I would probably prefer another IDK verse over the Swizz vocals.
You can pre-order IWASVERYBAD here.
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