SHIRT Shares His Thoughts On Ye With "It Be Your Own Drums"
"I don't care if you made the album in the Everglades, Or in partnership with Tesla, K, your shit wrestling now Smarten up."
Last week, Kanye lit up the twitter by sharing a fly on the wall style video of him in beat-making mode. The video drew attention for multiple reasons, beyond the music, the video showed a white board listing all the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music releases and helped make Kanye's promises of new music a bit more tangible.
SHIRT - in classic SHIRT fashion - ripped the audio from Kanye's video and made a song expressing his feelings on Kanye and the upcoming releases. The track isn't a diss or any kind of Kanye takedown, but comes off a heartfelt open letter or a conversation set to drums.
Check it below. SHIRT latest album, Pure Beauty, is out now on Third Man Records.
https://soundcloud.com/shirt/it-be-your-own-drums-produced-by-ye#t=0:00
Navarro Blends Worlds On Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sondido
"I done paid my dues and have some changed left."
Navarro, known well throughout Chicago's underground Hip Hop scene as Scheme, returned in April of 2018 with a new album centered fiercely on identity and story-telling. The LP, Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sondido, plays out like a documentary set in Chicago's Mexican neighborhood and narrated by the polished emcee.
The album is timely for many reasons. As Donald Trump and his administration continue to harm the immigrant community (and all communities of color), Navarro's perspective as a first generation American who fell in love with Hip Hop is welcomed and needed. Since his last proper LP, Navarro has changed his name, created a successful after school program and also has a growing daughter. Those kind of life changes will force anyone to really examine their life and decide what is most important. As an emcee with over a decade of experience, Navarro has had to clearly define his priorities as well as how he fits into the current climate of commercial music.
Duality is an inherent part of the immigrant experience, and Modern Mexican Art succeeds the most when that duality is at the forefront. The album's first track, "Sin Singre En Las Venas" is a perfect example of the recipe as Navarro raps in both Spanish and English over hard drums provided by long-time collaborator, Nascent. The track also welcomes listeners into Navarro's world, using old audio about Mexican immigrants and the ways in which they have used music for escape, empowerment, and action.
Action is the subject of the album's second track, "Feel The Earth Move", another track with Navarro in his bag, clearly displaying his lyrical skills. Tracks like "The Jordan Era" and "City Never Sleeps" featuring GLC bring in the Chicago perspective and add some lightness to the album. "Timeless", produced by Panik is another favorite on the LP, with Navarro recounting his experiences as an emcee and the frustrations with hitting a ceiling as far as recognition and accolades in the first verse. The second verse, he adopts the perspective of greed and motivation, showing the search for such accolades and success as a relationship and actor in the frustration.
The album ends with "Final Peace" a dedication to Hip Hop culture, something that gave him a voice when he thought he had none. I feel like this is the track in which Navarro brings everything together - his current family needs, his place in music, and a love for Hip Hop above fame. It's a sentiment that's not popular, but needed.
Kahrion & Squeak from Pivot Link on Weight
Kahrion flows effortlessly on a Lil Wayne sampled track produced by Squeak from Pivot titled Weight. The spacey beat is complimented by the raw lyrics about losing friends, breaking laws for cash, and the emotional toll this has on a person.
Being introspective about the life he is living has a sobering feeling, very similar to I Feel Like Dying, the song that is sampled in this track. Weight marks the first release in seven months from Kahrion with a new project, Rambleworld on the way.
Michael Christmas Drops New Single with Fool's Gold
Michael Christmas follows up with his second single titled Ball, produced by Thelonious Martin & Aniko Thomas, off his upcoming album Role Model. The album will be released with his new label home Fool's Gold. This project is the first full length release from Christmas since the rapper’s 2016’s Baggy Eyes EP release.
The Boston native drops Ball right before NBA game 5 between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Your head will be bouncing like the beat to this funky track.
Late Pass - Lorde Fredd33 emerges with NORF: The Legend of Hotboy Ronald
"Late Pass" was a popular phrase in the earlier days of blogging. See, the key was getting posts up quickly, and if possible, being the first to do so. So, when writers would be even slightly late on posting a song, or album, or video, it was common that the writer would request a "late pass". Anddddd, you were just expected to be up on all the hot new joints.
Anyway - I've been way behind on new music and just writing in general, and I shall be requesting (and hopefully acquiring) several late passes this summer. Let's start with NORF: The Legend of HBR by Milwaukee's Lorde Fred33. This album was released May 1st, making me about 3 weeks behind. I'd now like to take a minute to also call out WebsterX for not letting me know this was out until... F*$KING MONDAY. Damn, Web, I thought we were boys... I feel extra stupid and late cause I've known about Lorde Fred33 for like 2-3 years now, and just never spent the time to fully dig into his music.
NORF: The Legend Hotboy Ronald is an album that feels centered in self-determination. That theme pops up early and often, and is perhaps best showcased on the second track, "Child Support (Need A Lick)". Fredd33 raps, "LLC cost $130, ain't shit to wake up early, get on the internet, craigslist, run the check," before pointing out the large DIY video library of youtube, and free cost of tuition to youtube university. What makes the song even stronger, and more representative of the LP's message, is the beautiful shift in the production that occurs just 30 seconds later.
After a few listens through the album, it seems that the core of the LP is a "I'm here to win, so I'm not here to play" philosophy, immersed in stories of day to day life in Milwaukee, one in which Fredd33 "grew up playing violins, around sirens and violence, not a lot of friends, at least I got fam though."
Fredd33's fam, the NAN Crew, comes through for him in a big way on NORF. WebsterX shines on "NBN", managing to reference Danica Patrick, Larry Bird, and Mike Jones all in the same verse. That song also stands out because of the way in which Lorde Fredd33 melds his style to match Web a bit in his cadence-heavy, slightly singing delivery. Then at the same time, Web chooses more straight forward bars, also recognizing his own change in creative spaces. It's a trip... The song also relays a clear message that Fred33's bad side is not a good place to be.
NAN's in-house producer, the incredibly talented Q The Sun, is the lone producer on 14 of the album's 15 tracks. "Goals" is the only exception, which was co-produced by Markayla (a student in Lorde Fred33 and Q The Sun's music program with Milwaukee Public Schools).
Fredd33's son also is a major part of the LP - both directly and indirectly. His son serves as the battery pack for Fredd33's sense of urgency and catalyst on many of the album cuts. He also is heard directly on "Free (Type Shit)".
I'd be remiss if I did not mention how clever and funny this project is at times. I feel I painted almost too much of a gloomy or serious picture. There is a serious tone on much the album, but also lighter moments. "Possum Play" is one of my favorite songs, and at its core, it is a crash course on spelling Lorde Fred33's name right (delivered with a Busta Rhymes tribute).
Hit play below.
https://soundcloud.com/lordefredd33/sets/norf
Kweku Collins nonchalantly releases something new.
Out of the blue, Kweku Collins released something new last night, very much under the radar. Taking it back to his, high school days, Kweku had "Meet Halfway" running around in his head, recorded it at home, and uploaded it to soundcloud. Consider this the warm-up, as Kweku gets ready for Pitchfork and has been hinting on social media for a potential new project of some kind.
https://soundcloud.com/kwekucollins/meet-me-halfway
Beastie Boys Book Gets Release, Available For Pre-Order
Here's something to get excited about if you are a fan of the Beastie Boys. Back in 2013, Mike D and Ad-Rock officially signed on for a memoir. Notorious for spending long hours in the studio discussing and then ordering take-out, the Beastie Boys took their time in finishing the book. Alas, the memoir now has an official title, release date, and is available for pre-order. Beastie Boys Book will hit shelves October 30th, and tell the story of the band's formation as well as numerous transformations over their 20+ year career. The book also includes rare photos, a graphic novel, map of the Beastie's New York, playlist accoutrements, and more.
"A panoramic experience that tells the story of Beastie Boys, a book as unique as the band itself—by band members AD-ROCK and Mike D, with contributions from Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson, Luc Sante, and more."
And just for fun, here's the 1998 "Beastieography", which you can see it's all its glory. The video is completed with 1998's MTV commercials as well - truly like stepping into a time machine.
https://vimeo.com/68587522
Jack Larsen Introduces New EP with "Break"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0PygcvwbCo
On Saturday, Jack Larsen walked across the stage at the Auditorium Theatre, and accepted his diploma from Columbia College Chicago. Less than a week later, he will release his debut EP, Push-Ups, on Closed Sessions. It's a fitting turn of events for Larsen. His music centers on growing up, and that odd transition from teenage exuberance to the excitement, confusion, and definite pressure that comes upon entering your early twenties and exiting childhood. Last week, ahead of his college graduation, Larsen released "Break", the EP's first and only single that also serves as a summation of the thoughts, feelings, and memories that make up the EP. Connecting the dots through milestones in his childhood, Larsen captures the coming-of-age aesthetic poignantly.
I've spent a lot of time with "Break" and Push-Ups. In full-disclosure, Jack was a student of mine at Columbia College last fall. That's when I first encountered his music, and it's a major reason how we all got here. I think Push-Ups is going to strike a chord with a lost of listeners, and am proud and excited to support it on CS. But don't take my word for it. Listen and watch below.
https://soundcloud.com/closed-sessions/jack-larsen-break