[Video] Flosstradamus: "Total Recall"
Chicago DJ's Flosstradamus are one of the most fun electronic duo's making music right now. They take cues from Chicago's rich history of house music and easily mix in influences from other aspects of the city's culture. "Total Recall" is a wild track that is sure to spice up a dreary and cold tuesday, definitely worth a listen.
"In the spirit of New Years, Flosstradamus just dropped the new song 'Total Recall' (think apocalyptic trap takeover) with a NSFW video by Thunder Horse featuring crazy footage of throw downs around the world. Feel free to share..."
http://youtu.be/vL22Oj4ZY60
Sound FX: "The Greatest"
Sound FX, made up of Maddy McFly and Dupree, is one of the most social conscious Hip Hop groups currently operating out of California. Their music embodies life in its purest form, with all its trials and tribulations, not simply the positives. "The Greatest" is inspired by Muhammed Ali, who graces the tracks cover, and examines the duo's current push towards fame. The journey to the top is strewn with conflicts, both internal and external, and Sound FX's lyrics do a great job of showcasing them. Stay posted as the group's The Sunset LP will be dropping soon.
"The Greatest"
[Mixtape] Lee Bannon: Gnarlon Bando's Midnight Noir
West Coast producer Lee Bannon has worked hard to establish himself as a name in the industry. His range as a musician has helped immensely as we've heard him easily move through styles; everything from boom-bap to futuristic synth heavy production. His latest venture, Gnarlon Bando's Midnight Noir, contains some seriously deep and rich sounds. The darker composition of the tape makes it great for listening on those dreary winter days and while the tape bounces around from tempo to tempo, overall it is very mellow and Bannon uses some great samples. The album is available for purchase for a small sum via his bandcamp as well as free streaming below.
[Video] Raekwon: Unexpected Victory Trailer
With Raekwon's Unexpected Victory dropping on Sunday, January 1st, we get a quick trailer for the project. The trailer is made up of in-studio footage of the MC listening to his latest track "This S@!t Hard" featuring L.E.P. Bogus Boys and Dion Primo. Recently the Chef released Dope on the Table, a series of remixes by Andrew Kelley and also collaborated on a t-shirt with Mighty Healthy. 2012 should be a good year for Raekwon, look for his work with us as well as a new album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7wi8s9s8Gjg
[Mixtape] The Weeknd: Echoes of Silence
The Weeknd released his final mixtape of 2011 early last week, coming out of now where with yet another quality project. Echoes of Silence shares elements of both House of Balloons and Thursday, like the tripped out, hazy, ethereal sounds and lyrics. Both the cover art and the amount of material it contains are also similar to his earlier projects; Echoes of Silence is made up of 9 songs, all longer than 4 minutes. However there are quite a few elements that differentiate the three. Lyrics have changed as his fame increased and his sound is more developed and pointed, but overall what we love about The Weeknd remains.
It makes sense then that the artist will be releasing a package project next year. It will be composed of his three existing projects, all remastered, with some extra bonus content. This is certainly pleasing to any Weeknd fan and might be the first time we see a hard copy of the artist's material. Download the tape below.
[Download] The Weeknd: Echoes of Silence
Tyler, The Creator's account of his frenzied Los Angeles show
Last night's ODD FUTURE concert served as a homecoming for the group, who haven't been together in their hometown for some time. The show was wild, as the crew performed with Trash Talk, becoming even rowdier than usual Odd Future shows. The night ended with Tyler in jail after apparently vandalizing the sound board. The artist released his version of what happened last night via his formspring, sounds like it was a crazy night indeed.
"during RADICALS, I was on the piano playing the breakdown, only to notice that the music and sound was low, lights went off and that shit wasnt right, I get up, look, and notice that it was two girls hurt from the mosh pits behind them. I grab my mic to tell the crowd to come calm down and inform security because it was none around in the front, but I then find out the sound dude turned everything off. so I'm on stage while its mosh pits and chaos on stage. I played live with Trash Talk, and it was a home show so everyone from OF was there wildn) pointing at my mic tell sound dude to turn it up turn it up, hes shaking his head no. I keep doing this for at least 70 seconds until I get fed up and run over to him threw the crowd. I jump on his sound board and say’ nigga turn my fucking mic up its bitches hurt, let me tell the crowd to calm down, they listen to me’ this nigga goes on saying he doesnt have control his manager said this and that. I keep asking, we go back and forth. I kick the plexi glass and stomp on the cheap ass soundboard, then throw my mike on the floor. go back on stage just in time to throw a couple gifts out to the crowd ( it was the xmas show). someone states ‘ lets get you outta here’. I walk outside to like 20 cops, helicopters, shotguns and some other shit. jail is really cold dude, I had no socks on. I'm fine tho, bail was alot even tho I didn't hurt anyone, I damaged some shit. and idk why rappers talk about jail like its cool, omg I would go crazy. all I could think about was skating the bowl like 8 hours before haha. I havent looked but the media prolly made it seem more epic than it actually is. but overall, I finally feel black." -Tyler
[RH Review] The Roots: undun
The story of troubled youth in an inner-city ghetto is a theme wholly synonymous with Hip Hop. The Roots themselves have explored the topic many times before, however undun takes it to another level. The concept album details the life of a hustler dubbed Redford Stephens, as he spirals into the depths of crime and sin, truly becoming undun. Sonically the album moves seamlessly between genres. "Kool On" is upbeat and catchy, reflecting Stephens' views of the glamour involved in his deadly trade. Black Thought summarizes the sentiment well, rhyming that "my reputation proceeds me like a pedigree, gentlemanly gangster steez." An appeal is either an explanation or excuse for the protagonist's poor choices. Darker themes are imbued in the production of "Stomp," which speaks on the grimy side of Reford's lifestyle and his perpetration of crime. The steady thump of the drum, like the pacing of a march, speak to monotony and repetitive nature of his crimes [See video below]. The second track, "Sleep", which recants Redfords death, leaves you with the haunting lyrics "I've lost a lot of sleep to dreams" itching at the back of your skull. The line is an embodiment of the album's theme and a testament to how painful and tumultuous the fall into darkness can be.
The Roots "undun" short film
http://vimeo.com/32534820
The Internet: "Visions"
If you're your someone who pigeon holes Odd Future as a shock rap crew or something along those lines, then The Internet should serve to show that you're mistaken. The duo composed of Syd Tha Kyd and Matt Martian are peddling a downtempo, chill ass, moody music that is really dope. To celebrate the release of their Purple Naked Ladies today, they freed up "Visions" for their fans enjoyment. So I guess all I have to say is enjoy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-hCRsw7P1TI