Kyle Lucas: Night and Day
"He signed us because we’re different, he signed Janelle (Monae) because she’s different. We sound so different, and that's the thing with Vonnegut, you can’t really put a finger on it. It’s like 'there’s a band, but he raps, is it pop? I don’t know what it is?”'
It's Sunday afternoon, the final day of Lollapalooza 2011, and Kyle Lucas just finished his second consecutive appearance at the…
RH First Look: Calez
I met Calez for the first time while shooting the video for "Natural High". He showed up with the rest of his 2008ighties Crew. I didn't really know how he got there, and had never heard his music. During a break in shooting the party scene, he approached me, introduced himself, and asked me about submitting to RubyHornet. I gave him my email address, and told him to send away. A few days…
[Mixtape] Laws: Yesterday’s Future
Laws drops his third mixtape which was inspired by Sir Paul McCartney and is hosted by Don Cannon and Mick Boogie. With the help of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Laws takes 13 McCartney tracks and infuses them with his infectious style of hip hop. I have not had a chance to listen to this yet but I have high hopes for this tape. Laws consistently gives solid rhymes and an impressive variation in his…
Naledge Is 20 Something Mixtape (Hosted by DJ Moondawg)
Today is Naledge's birthday and he celebrates with a gift to his fans. Naledge Is Twenty Something is hosted by WGCI's DJ Moondawg (Aphillates) and features 19 new tracks recorded over the last 2 years since Naledge returned home to Chicago. Guest features on the mixtape include Willie The Kid and Vandalyz, Murs, Sulaiman, GLC, Mikkey Halsted, Skyzoo, Freddie Gibbs and more. I had the chance…
Yonas: “Y’all Know”
"I keep it honest just like everybody should, Just let me in your heart and I shall be in there for good."
The young, NYC-based rapper is pleading for a chance. Yonas delivers a lyrical resumè on a more a pop/mainstream sounding track . Sean Devine creates a synth and brass track that is not too complex and compliments Yonas' hook to make a for a catchy tune. Yonas has an untitled project due…
I Am An Artist of The People: Kweli Speaks on Gucci Collab
A few weeks ago a song leaked featuring Talib Kweli and Gucci Mane. The song is called "Poltergeist", and I posted it within minutes right here. In the post I remarked, " And worlds have officially collided and a million backpackers have no idea what to do with themselves." I think the song is pretty cool, and at this point in my life, am happy to see Kweli continuing to make music cause he is…
Treasurechest’s Vault: Commercial Or Underground?
Back in the summer of 2004, Talib Kweli was readying a new LP, The Beautiful Struggle. His last LP, Quality, was a huge success. The album further cemented the BK emcee as a fresh face in Hip Hop and, right or wrongly, the face of Hip Hop's "conscious" movement. Artists garnered such a title in part because their music often focused on political, or social commentary as well as incorporated…
J. Beck: An Educator’s Story Documentary
J. Beck: An Educator's story is a short documentary film about an aspiring rapper and current Chicago Public School teacher. I think Beck needs to be applauded for doing whatever he needs to do to reach his students and make learning something they want to do. From what his students say in the film, it appears that he is accomplishing that task and hitting benchmarks. I taught in CPS for 3…