[RH Interview] Meyhem Lauren: More Pressure
Meyhem Lauren loves turkey. I know this because I just spent last night binge watching episodes of "F*ck That's Deicious", the VICELAND show in which Meyhem Lauren travels all over the world with Action Bronson, The Alchemist, and Big Body Bes. Meyhem serves somewhat as the straight-man on the show. If Bronson is the foodie extremist, displaying an appetite that possibly only he alone can maintain, Meyhem is the regular guy that shows everyone else, 'hey, maybe these brains aren't so bad to try after all.'
In his rap music, Meyhem exists in a similar manner. One of my favorite emcees when it comes to making straight-forward rap music. Wordplay, metaphors, grimey shit, beautiful shit, that's Meyhem's music, which most recently took the form of an album (Gems From The Equinox) and EP (Frozen Angels) with the legendary DJ and producer Muggs.
"Mey raps. Mey is a monster," Muggs tells me over the phone on an early morning in late June (the same morning Muggs released this with DOOM and Freddie Gibbs).
The story has been told before, the one about how Muggs and Meyhem met during a session at Alchemist's studio, Muggs threw him some beats, some time went by, he threw him more beats, and they decided to do a project together. That became the 2017 release, Gems From The Equinox. They had so many songs done that they came back with the Frozen Angels EP, which you may have missed amidst all the Drake/Pusha/Kanye hoopla. And if you did miss it, stop what you're doing and go listen.
The shits is tremendous. And it's just the start. While those releases were predominantly completed over email, the two have since been in the studio together regularly. They are now shaping music hand in hand, and both say it's their best work together yet.
"At first I was just throwing him tracks you know, and he would pick what he likes and then he rapped on them," Muggs says about the early material. "But now we are dialed into a sound. So even the stuff we're [now] doing doesn’t sound anything like either the Frozen Angels or the Gems. It’s just like, now we're in studio everyday, and just like, figuring it out. Now I'm really dialed into the new sound to make him shine even more."
The bond between Muggs and Meyhem was strengthened by their shared aesthetics, musical preference for Mobb Deep and CNN. And while Muggs is so closely associated with LA Hip Hop thanks to his work with Cypress Hill and the Soul Assassins, both he and Meyhem actually grew up Queens. Oh, and they both love food.
"When we first started working it was kind of like, he’s Muggs, I’m Mey," says Meyhem about their early relationship. "But now it’s like, you know, we're friends, we're fam, that’s my man. We rode around laughing and throwing lobster tails on the grill."
Read on more my full interview with Meyhem Lauren as he talks about working with Muggs, his style of Hip Hop, and how all the success of "Fuck That's Delicious" only makes him want to rap more.
https://youtu.be/l3RW2hVR5Uk
rubyhornet: I believe that Frozen Angels came out the same week or shortly before the Nas album and in the middle of all the G.O.O.D. Music releases, and the Pusha and Drake beef, and then you got the 6ix 9ine's trolling shit. Did you guys think at all about where this project would sit with what is happening in Hip Hop overall right now?
Meyhem Lauren: We don’t ever think about that. We just think about what we want to put out, what we wanna represent and drop it. That’s it, you know?
rubyhornet: Yeah, he was saying too that you guys have been able to work more in person on new music, and that’s helped just making him better in working with you and creating more music. From your standpoint how has the relationship gone specifically working with Muggs?
Meyhem Lauren: I mean it sounds better. When we first started working, it was kind of like he’s Muggs, I’m Mey. But now, it’s like, you know we're friends, we're fam, that’s my man. We rode around laughing and throwing lobster tails on the grill. And I get what you said, like he knows more what beats suit me. Like I’ll be listening if the beat is ill or not. But that might not always be for me, like the beat that’s ill could be for B-Real for GZA or for someone else, may not fit with what I got. But now he just knows right away like, 'Yo, this is a Mey style beat.' We gotta have that chemistry, and that was crazy. In the last couple of days we knocked out 5 songs from the next project that are so crazy, they literally blow away everything we ever done before. We are just moving in the right direction.
rubyhornet: That’s exactly what he was saying and he also mentioned you guys grilling all the time.
Meyhem Lauren: Yeah (*Laughs*)
rubyhornet: Also speaking of that, you do work with different producers and are constantly writing and making music. The way that he might have a specifically beat for you, do you save any kind of style or is there any kind of subject or rhyme style that you wanna save for Muggs? And think to yourself yeah this is what I’m going to use on the Muggs project vs. something you do solo or Harry Fraud stuff. Is there any 'Muggs' kind of rap?
Meyhem Lauren: Naw, not in particular. Not where I’ll like plan to save a subject for Muggs, but Muggs makes dark beats. So it kind of brings darker rhymes out of me. Does that makes sense?
rubyhornet: Yeah that definitely makes sense.
Meyhem Lauren: Me and Muggs recently have been doing some up tempo beats. And I didn’t still try to strictly stay dark on that, cause that wouldn’t make sense. So it’s based on the beat, the beat brings the rhymes out.
rubyhornet: Yeah, obviously you’ve heard about Cypress Hill before you met Muggs. And I’ve read and seen interviews with you talking about just listening Cypress Hill’s music as a kid and a being big fan of Hip Hop. I’m curious if you had any just preconceptions of what it might be like to work with Muggs or even as a kid or aspiring rapper in your teens? The same way of someone who wants to be a baseball player might think about visualizing hitting a home run off Randy Johnson, had you visualized what a recording session with Muggs might be like?
Meyhem Lauren: No, the whole relationship started organically. I met Muggs at a recording session, I was at Alchemist's house. Working on completely different music, he came through, had some beats. He’s Muggs, so he knows about raps man. He was playing beats, and I had the opportunity to jump on a Muggs beat, like why wouldn’t I? And we just moved from there on. That was day one, day one was the session. We just got right to the work.
rubyhornet: Got you, Got you. I think I read a bio of yours that starts with….
Meyhem Lauren: Yo, I hate all these bios floating around (*Laughs*). I don’t even know who is writing these things? The only one good thing I can say is there’s a bio floating around where they shave like 5 years off my age. I’m not sure why, but I’ll leave that alone. But I don’t know what’s going on yo, I don’t even know what you’re going to say right now... But there’s a bunch of unauthorized bios all over the internet, I don’t even know how to fix that.
rubyhornet: Got you, I did see one that said you were born in 1989. And I was like I don’t know…
Meyhem Lauren: Yea exactly, I’ll take that (*Laughs*). I’ll keep it 100, I’m ‘83, but if you wanna say ‘89 hey.. Who am I to point that out. Everything else is wrong.
rubyhornet: Exactly, I read that and then I saw you talking about listening to Cypress Hill in like middle school or high school, like, 'Damn this motherfucker must’ve skipped like 5 grades. For Cypress Hill to come out while he was in high school'... But I read something where it described you, but I don’t know who wrote it, but it described you as a Queens based rapper that represents a genre of Hip Hop that is near extinction. And I thought that was interesting if you started your bio like that, maybe someone else wrote it. Do you feel that way?
Meyhem Lauren: Naw, you know what’s crazy? It’s actually a piece of a very old bio that I think that I wrote or someone else wrote. But it’s like someone just took all these bios and put them in the blender, and added things and put things that were never said. But yeah, I’m cool with that, and that does makes sense to be honest.
rubyhornet: So what does that mean to you? Why do you feel like it’s going through extinction? Why do you represent this genre so much?
Meyhem Lauren: I’m just playing my part. I’m just actually doing what I like. And I don’t think it’s necessarily going through extinction, maybe in the mainstream of the public eye it is. But it’s actually stronger… from what I feel. And I’m not talking about myself, because a lot of dope stuff that fits the category of that genre that has been on the rise lately. Like I said, it’s not like a niche thing or something like, 'Oh, I’m trying to be cool.' I'm really making what I like, I’m making what I’m listening to. Obviously it’s an updated version because of whatever year it is. But I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do, you know?
rubyhornet: Yeah, does having the success with the TV and cooking take any pressure, in your eyes, off making music? Does it go into this attitude of letting you making what you like?
Meyhem Lauren: Naw, my thing is 'more pressure.' Cause it’s like, I gotta remind dudes that I still rap. Matter of fact not just that I rap, but I rap first and foremost... I’m Meyhem Lauren, so it actually gives me more pressure to stay on top of my music.
rubyhornet: That’s interesting man. That’s an interesting concept, and I think that’s probably part of why you’re such a good rapper and artist. Is that you kept that mentality, where it might be easy for someone to be like 'I’m on TV, I have these other things. I’ll let that ride.' But you're attitude, now listening back to the music, it makes a lot of sense. So I think that’s dope.
Meyhem Lauren: You know something crazy? Beyond TV, I don’t know if you know, but I’m the voice of the World Cup. All week I have been doing voice ovesr for the World Cup. I’m at Fox everyday, updating games, and screaming and yeah doing crazy things. I just threw that in there cause I really wanna do voice overs now, I wanna cook food, but... I still wanna rap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKJsEXVsftE
rubyhornet: Yeah, I saw that on your twitter like people were asking is this Meyhem Lauren on the World Cup Games? Are you a soccer fan or did they pick you for your voice?
Meyhem Lauren: I’m a soccer fan now. I love soccer. It saved my life.
rubyhornet: I also saw on your twitter that someone said something about you being a famous rapper and you replied, 'I appreciate that, but I’m just a regular guy from Queens.' And I feel like that sums up a lot. And is part of the reason that Muggs wanted to fuck with you. He said first and foremost you’re just a cool dude. Is that at the heart of how you see yourself or your identity?
Meyhem Lauren: Yeah, basically. Regular guy from Queens, it’s not like necessarily like average Joe regular, but regular meaning, I’m a certain type of person from Queens and there’s a bunch of people like me. That are in whatever. I’m just a regular guy from Queens, bro. I have been a rapper and done a bunch of things and I'm grateful for that. But that’s not who I am necessarily only.
rubyhornet: When we first worked with Bronson and brought him out here for our party and Closed Session, he said the exact same thing, and when we were just talking he was like 'I’m just a regular guy, I make music, but i’m just a regular dude from Queens.' That seems like that's a key part of your bond. And I know that you guys are real friends from like 12 years old.
Meyhem Lauren: Yea that’s my man forever.
rubyhornet: Outside of the Muggs, you said that you guys have another album that you’re working on now. Is there any other music or things that you want people aware of?
Meyhem Lauren: In between Gems from the Equinox and Frozen Angels I put out an album with Fraud.
rubyhornet: Yep Glass right?
Meyhem Lauren: Glass, yep and I loved that. It was a bunch of issues on the back end like it took while to get out so we kind of just threw it out there. But the feedback’s been incredible. Dropped a video with me and Conway. And I’m still gon’ drop one or two videos from that project.
Curren$y And Action Bronson Team Up For "Scarab 38"
Curren$y's latest release The Marina EP, which came out last week, is an 8 track, star-studded EP filled with features from artists like French Montana, Action Bronson and Wiz Khalifa going toe to toe with the New Orleans MC. Curren$y linked up with producer Harry Fraud on the album and all of the beats are crafted to match the vintage Miami aesthetic that's found throughout the EP.
One track in particular stands out, "Scarab 38" is a summertime bop. The beat sounds like the soundtrack to a James Bond style speedboat getaway, complete with coast guard radio chat scattered throughout the track. Action Bronson kicks things off with his trademark braggadocios style followed by Curren$y humblebragging in a way that only a truly successful rapper can, not aspirational but casually observational.
https://open.spotify.com/track/43OL0dGJqivn6EPGP3BnoI?si=A86FgHOjRTemYXJzZ66uEg
So Much Happens in the debut episode of Action Bronson's Untitled TV Show
Action Bronson and Viceland are doubling down on TV shows together. Following the success of "Fuck That's Delicious", Bronson and Viceland now introduce "The Untitled Action Bronson Show". The episode kicked off in grand fashion with grass fed BBQ cooked by an Irish chef from Brooklyn, blind wine tasting, polish funk, and Wyclef breaking, playing every instrument in the house, and reminiscing with Alchemist about the time Canibus brought a lion to Smokin' Grooves.
You gotta see this.
[Songs Of The Day] 1/30/14 (Feat. Arcade Fire, ZMoney, Njomza & More)
Alright, the end of the month, finally. We're not quite there just yet, but it's the 30, so on to February. The music certainly did not stop today either, as we have a smattering of single track releases from around the web to keep you up to date while you stay inside from the snow.
Chicago's own Zmoney, performing tomorrow night at Reggie's in his hometown, starts things off with the JNeal-produced "Drug Star" single featuring Boss Polo and Brickface. There were several new faces to the site today too, as A$ton Matthews teamed up with veteran artists Action Bronson and Flatbush Zombies for "TLC", EDM act DeAira set the tone with her track "Flow Like That" and a newcomer from Chicago, Njomza, graced us with her latest in "Hold On". Smoke DZA linked up with the legendary Flying Lotus for "Just My Thoughts", Mobb Deep offered up the first cut from their upcoming album in "Take You Off Of Here" and Arcade Fire offer up a live session to round out our list for today. Check back daily for the latest releases to hit the Internet!
ZMoney “Drug Star” (Feat. Boss Polo & Brickface)
DeAira "Flow Like That"
A$ton Matthews “TLC” (Feat. Action Bronson & Flatbush Zombies)
Njomza "Hold On"
Smoke DZA "Just My Thoughts" (Prod. by Flying Lotus)
Mobb Deep "Taking You Off Here"
Arcade Fire "Triple J Live Session"
SXSW 2014 Announces Expanded Lineup
Yesterday, South by Southwest organizers announced the full lineup for this year's massive week-long music-industry meet and greet in Austin, Texas. Included in the avalanche announcement to perform at official showcases throughout the six-day event were Melsisa Etheridge, Action Bronson, Allen Stone, The Dum Dum Girls, Vic Mensa, Mobb Deep, Charlie XCX, Big Freedia, Cody ChestnuTT, The Tontons, and many more that joined the bulging roster of over 1,200 acts slated to perform during SXSW 2014.
According to the Associated Press, "In 2013, more than 25,000 people saw 2,278 acts during the festival." The official announcements run alongside the ever-increasing number of unofficial, and often feature more headlining acts. A list of artists announced yesterday I'm looking forward to can be found below, and a full list can be accessed here. The rest of the country may have celebrated 2014 on Dec. 31, but with this latest announcement, SXSW 2014 organizers have set the groundwork for the music industry's true beginning to the new year.
Artists Announced:
3LAU (Las Vegas NV)
Ariel Abshire (Austin TX)
Action Bronson (Queens NY)
A.Dd+ (Dallas TX)
Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys (Austin TX)
Adelaida (Valparaiso CHILE)
Priscilla Ahn (Los Angeles CA)
Air Review (Dallas TX)
Akka (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
Alaclair Ensemble (Quebec CANADA)
Alligator Indian (Asheville NC)
Lisa Alma (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Alpha Consumer (Chicago IL)
Alpha Rev (Austin TX)
Dave Alvin (Los Angeles CA)
American Aquarium (Raleigh NC)
American Authors (Brooklyn NY)
Animic (Barcelona SPAIN)
Keren Ann (Caesarea ISRAEL)
A-N-T (Houston TX)
Antal (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
Anthm (New York NY)
Archie Pelago (Brooklyn NY)
Adam Arcuragi (Los Angeles CA)
Juliette Ashby (London UK-ENGLAND)
Andrew Ashong (London UK-ENGLAND)
The Atlas Moth (Chicago IL)
Atropolis (Astoria NY)
Federico Aubele (Buenos Aires ARGENTINA)
awaken! (Venice CA)
Awill (Oslo NORWAY)
Baby Bee (Houma LA)
Badbadnotgood (Toronto CANADA)
Liam Bailey (London UK-ENGLAND)
The Ball & Chain (Vilnius LITHUANIA)
Band of Skulls (Southampton UK-ENGLAND)
Lee Bannon (New York NY)
Jef Barbara (Montreal CANADA)
Barcelona (Seattle WA)
Bobby Bare, Jr. (Nashville TN)
Cy Barkley and the Way Outsiders (Nashville TN)
Basecamp (Nashville TN)
Battle Lines (Leeds UK-ENGLAND)
B. Dolan (Providence RI)
The Bear (Muscle Shoals AL)
Bearcubbin’! (Portland OR)
Bear Hands (Brooklyn NY)
Beat Culture (New York NY)
Beautiful Bodies (Kansas City MO)
Cory Becker (Los Angeles CA)
Bent Denim (New Orleans LA)
Bent Shapes (Boston MA)
Cindy Lee Berryhill (San Diego CA)
Josh Berwanger Band (Lawrence KS)
Betty Who (New York NY)
Beware Of Darkness (Los Angeles CA)
Big Dirty (Austin TX)
Big Freedia (New Orleans LA)
BioShaft (Caracas VENEZUELA)
Bipolaroid (New Orleans LA)
Diane Birch (Portland OR)
Birth of Joy (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
Bishop Nehru (Rockland NY)
Bituaya (Caracas VENEZUELA)
Black Atlass (Montreal CANADA)
Black Books (Austin TX)
Black Cobain (Alexandria VA)
Black Drawing Chalks (Goiania BRAZIL)
B L A C K I E (Houston TX)
Blacklist Royals (Nashville TN)
Black Milk (Detroit MI)
Black Tusk (Savannah GA)
Black Violin (Miami FL)
Bloodgroup (Reykjavik ICELAND)
Blue Eyed Blacks (Nashville TN)
Hugh Bob and The Hustle (Milwaukee WI)
Body Parts (Los Angeles CA)
Haley Bonar (St Paul MN)
Boogarins (Goiânia BRAZIL)
The Bots (Glendale CA)
Brazos (Brooklyn NY)
The Bright Light Social Hour (Austin TX)
Bronze Radio Return (Hartford CT)
Bronze Whale (Austin TX)
Brothertiger (Brooklyn NY)
Hollis Brown (Queens NY)
Marcus Brown (Austin TX)
Tyler Bryant and the Shake Down (Honey Grove AR)
Buffalo Daughter (Tokyo JAPAN)
Basia Bulat (Toronto CANADA)
Christian Burghardt (Portland OR)
Bett Butler & Joël Dilley (San Antonio TX)
The Cactus Blossoms (Minneapolis MN)
Cage The Gods (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)
Calculon (San Diego CA)
California Wives (Chicago IL)
Kirin J Callinan (Blue Mountains / Sydney AUSTRALIA)
CALLmeKAT (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Fabrizio Cammarata (Palermo ITALY)
The Casket Girls (Savannah GA)
Jackie Chain (Huntsville AL)
Chalk And Numbers (Brooklyn NY)
Vaadat Charigim (Tel Aviv ISRAEL)
Charli XCX (London UK-ENGLAND)
Charlotte OC (Blackburn UK-ENGLAND)
Chatham Rise (Minneapolis MN)
Cheerleader (Philadelphia MN)
Cheetah Chrome (Cleveland OH)
Cherry Glazerr (Los Angeles CA)
Cody ChesnuTT (Atlanta GA)
Chlöe Howl (Maidenhead UK-ENGLAND)
Chocolate Tiger (TAIWAN)
Chrissy Murderbot (Chicago IL)
Circa Zero (Los Angeles CA)
Clear Plastic Masks (Brooklyn NY)
Cocktails (San Francisco CA)
Coin (Nashville TN)
The Cold and Lovely (Los Angeles CA)
Collie Buddz (Bermuda BERMUDA)
Wendy Colonna (Austin TX)
Andrew Combs (Nashville TN)
Como Asesinar a Felipes (Santiago CHILE)
Congorock (Los Angeles CA)
Cosmonauts (Fullerton CA)
Cough (Richmond VA)
The Creases (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
Creepoid (Philadelphia PA)
Crew54 (Central Texas TX)
Crooks (Austin TX)
Denzel Curry (Miami FL)
The Cush (Fort Worth TX)
Cut Snake (San Diego CA)
Cymbals (London UK-ENGLAND)
The Damn Quails (Norman OK)
Douglas Dare (London UK-ENGLAND)
Bart Davenport (Los Angeles CA)
Nicholas David (Minneapolis MN)
Marie Davidson (Montreal CANADA)
Mikaela Davis (Rochester NY)
Dead Earth Politics (Austin TX)
Dead Ghosts (Vancouver CANADA)
Dead Leaf Echo (New York NY)
Dear Boy (Los Angeles CA)
Death By Unga Bunga (Oslo NORWAY)
Jerry David DeCicca (of The Black Swans) (New Braunfels TX)
Deep Cotton (Atlanta GA)
The Deep Dark Woods (Saskatoon CANADA)
The Defibulators (New York NY)
Delhi 2 Dublin (Vancouver CANADA)
Della Mae (Boston MA)
Dënver (San Felipe CHILE)
Desert Noises (Provo UT)
The Deslondes (New Orleans LA)
Madi Diaz (Los Angeles CA)
Dinner And A Suit (Nashville TN)
Dinosaur Bones (Toronto CANADA)
Marianne Dissard (Paris FRANCE)
The Districts (Philadelphia PA)
Divers (Portland OR)
DJ Amen (San Francisco CA)
DJ Babychino (Austin TX)
DJ Buddha Stickygreen (Missouri City TX)
DJ Dimepiece (Chicago IL)
DJ Halo (Oakland CA)
DJ Hella Yella (Austin TX)
DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia (Memphis TN)
DJ Richard (New York NY)
Doctor Explosion (Oviedo SPAIN)
Dorrough Music (Dallas TX)
Dots Will Echo (Ridgewood DE)
Dott (Galway IRELAND)
Dr. Awkward (San Diego CA)
Dreamend (Savannah GA)
Daniel Drexler (Montevideo URUGUAY)
Driver Friendly (Austin TX)
Dr. Rackle And The Sound Griots (New Orleans LA)
DTCV (Los Angeles CA)
Dubb Sicks (Austin TX)
Dugas (Winnipeg CANADA)
Andrew Duhon (New Orleans LA)
Ben Dukes (North Hollywood CA)
Dum Dum Girls (New York NY)
Dyse (Berlin/Dresden GERMANY)
Mia Dyson (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
DZ Deathrays (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
East India Youth (London UK-ENGLAND)
East Of The Wall (Asbury Park NJ)
Eaux (London UK-ENGLAND)
Echosmith (Los Angeles CA)
Ana Egge (Brooklyn NY)
Electric Eye (Oslo NORWAY)
Eliza and the Bear (London UK-ENGLAND)
Carrie Elkin (Austin TX)
Eminence (Belo Horizonte BRAZIL)
Equals (Austin TX)
Eros and the Eschaton (Greensboro NC)
Escondido (Nashville TN)
Escort (Brooklyn NY)
Melissa Etheridge (Leavenworth KS)
Et Tu Brucé (London UK-ENGLAND)
Evans the Death (London UK-ENGLAND)
Ex Hex (Washington DC)
Factor & The Chandeliers (Saskatoon CANADA)
Falcons (Los Angeles CA)
The Family Crest (San Francisco CA)
The Family Rain (Bath UK-ENGLAND)
Farewell Fighter (Nashville TN)
Deniro Farrar (Charlotte NC)
Fat White Family (London UK-ENGLAND)
Favored Nations (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
Fé (London UK-ENGLAND)
Fences (Seattle WA)
J Fernandez (Chicago IL)
Fictionist (Provo UT)
Fires Were Shot (Austin TX)
Harvey Sid Fisher (Hollywood CA)
Fismoll (Poznan POLAND)
FKi (Atlanta GA)
Flagship (Charlotte NC)
Float Fall (Leuven BELGIUM)
Fly Golden Eagle (Nashville TN)
Fofe y Los Fetiches (San Juan PUERTO RICO)
Folk Family Revival (Magnolia TX)
Foot Patrol (Austin TX)
Elijah Ford & The Bloom (Austin TX)
Forests (Taipei TAIWAN)
Foxtails Brigade (Oakland CA)
FOXTROTT (Montreal CANADA)
Lyla Foy (formerly WALL) (London UK-ENGLAND)
F.R.E.E. - Forever Radical Edifying & Exalting (San Antonio TX)
French Horn Rebellion (New York NY)
Friendly Savages (Austin TX)
The Front Bottoms (Bergen County NJ)
Fuel (Harrisburg PA)
The Futures League (Los Angeles CA)
Galcher Lustwerk (New York NY)
Gambles (New York NY)
Gang Of Youths (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Gap Dream (Akron OH)
The Garden (Orange CA)
Gardens & Villa (Santa Barbara CA)
Gareth Emery (Los Angeles CA)
Martin Garrix (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
Howe Gelb (Pennsylvania PA)
Gentlemen Hall (Boston MA)
Gerald G (Austin TX)
Gezan (Tokyo JAPAN)
GF Soldier (New Orleans LA)
Ghost Beach (New York NY)
Ghxst (Brooklyn NY)
Glitches (London UK-ENGLAND)
Gloryhound (Halifax CANADA)
Glossary (Murfreesboro TN)
Gnaw (New York NY)
Gochag Askarov Ensemble (Baku AZERBAIJAN)
Louise Goffin (Los Angeles CA)
Gold Beach (Austin TX)
Lynval Golding and Contra Coup (Madison WI)
Louise Gold & the Quarz Orchestra (Berlin GERMANY)
Goldroom (Los Angeles CA)
Good For Grapes (Vancouver CANADA)
Gorgon City (London UK-ENGLAND)
Gramma’s Boyfriend (Minneapolis MN)
Grand Analog (Toronto CANADA)
Grayskul (Seattle WA)
A Great Big World (New York NY)
Grieves (Seattle WA)
Gringo Star (Atlanta GA)
The Griswolds (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Grizfolk (Venice Beach CA)
Grmln (Santa Cruz CA)
Growl (Austin TX)
GT Garza (Houston TX)
Guantamano Baywatch (Portland OR)
Gulp (Cardiff UK-WALES)
Noah Gundersen (Seattle WA)
Habibi (New York NY)
Hablan Por La Espalda (Montevideo URUGUAY)
Haerts (New York NY)
Happy (Kyoto JAPAN)
The Harlequins (Cincinnati OH)
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer (Vancouver CANADA)
Heidi Harris (Astoria NY)
Hauschka (Dusseldorf GERMANY)
Dave Hause (Philadelphia PA)
Hawk & Dove (Brooklyn NY)
Heathers (Dublin IRELAND)
Ryan Hemsworth (Toronto CANADA)
Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas (Detroit MI)
Katie Herzig (Nashville TN)
Heymoonshaker (Paris FRANCE)
Lilly Hiatt (Nashville TN)
High Tension (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Judith Hill (Los Angeles CA)
His Electro Blue Voice (Como ITALY)
JP Hoe (Winnipeg CANADA)
Holiday Mountain (Austin TX)
Holychild (Los Angeles CA)
Holy Esque (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)
HolySexyBastards (Valencia VENEZUELA)
Honeyblood (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)
The Hood Internet (Chicago IL)
Hospitality (Brooklyn NY)
Hospital Ships (Austin TX)
Hozier (Dublin IRELAND)
Cymien Hughes and The God Phaktorr (Dallas TX)
Humboldt (Valparaíso CHILE)
Humming House (Nashville TN)
Hundred Visions (Austin TX)
Hunee (Los Angeles CA)
Hunter Hunted (Los Angeles CA)
Eric Hutchinson (New York NY)
HyunA (Seoul SOUTH KOREA)
Ice Eater (Fort Worth TX)
Imarhan (Timbuktu MALI)
Indian Summer (Cheltenham AUSTRALIA)
In-Flight Safety (Halifax CANADA)
Inner Oceans (Denver CO)
Jacuzzi Boys (Miami FL)
Jameszoo (’S-Hertogenbosch THE NETHERLANDS)
Ruby Jane (Austin TX)
Jetta (London UK-ENGLAND)
Jitterbug Vipers (Austin TX)
Fletcher C Johnson (Brooklyn NY)
KatieGotBandz (Chicago IL)
Sean C. Johnson (Del City OK)
The Jones Family Singers (Bay City TX)
Stanley Jordan (Sedona AZ)
July Talk (Toronto CANADA)
The Jungle Giants (New Farm AUSTRALIA)
Kashmere Stage Band’s Thunder Soul Orchestra (Houston TX)
Ethan Kent (Dallas TX)
Mikal kHill (Charlotte NC)
Kid Astray (Oslo NORWAY)
Kill It Kid (Bath UK-ENGLAND)
Emily King (New York NY)
Emily Kinney (Santa Monica CA)
Kishi Bashi (Athens GA)
The Kite String Tangle (Strathpine AUSTRALIA)
Kiven (Los Angeles CA)
Jordan Klassen (Vancouver CANADA)
Sonny Knight And The Lakers (Minneapolis MN)
Oumar Konate (Bamako MALI)
Krampfhaft (Utrecht THE NETHERLANDS)
The Krayolas (San Antonio TX)
Kristy Kruger (Denton TX)
La Canalla (Sevilla SPAIN)
Dawn Landes (Brooklyn NY)
Jon Langford & Skull Orchard (Chicago IL)
Language Room (Austin TX)
Larry g(EE) (Dallas TX)
La Triple Nelson (Montevideo URUGUAY)
Le Chat Lunatique (Albuquerque NM)
Leftover Cuties (Venice CA)
Lemaitre (Oslo NORWAY)
Julian Lennon (Liverpool UK-ENGLAND)
Leopold and His Fiction (Austin TX)
Les Claypool (Sebastopol CA)
Let’s Buy Happiness (Newcastle UK-ENGLAND)
Li’l Cap’n Travis (Austin TX)
Lily & The Parlour Tricks (New York NY)
Little Fyodor (Denver CO)
The Littlest Viking (Whittier CA)
Little Wesley (Austin TX)
The Living Room Project (Austin TX)
Lo’Jo (Angers FRANCE)
The Lonely Biscuits (Nashville TN) The Lonely Wild (Los Angeles CA)
The Lonesome Heroes (Austin TX)
Liz Longley (Nashville TN)
Lost Bayou Ramblers (Lafayette LA)
King Louie (Chicago IL)
Lydia Loveless (Coshocton OH)
Lovelife (Los Angeles CA)
Lovely Quinces (Split CROATIA)
Mike Love (Oahu HI)
Lovers (Portland OR)
Low Cut Connie (Philadelphia PA)
Lowell (Toronto CANADA)
Lucky Loc (Hillsboro TX)
The Lumiphonic Creature Choir (Brooklyn NY)
Rosu Lup (Oaklyn NJ)
Lyenn (Brussels BELGIUM)
Annie Mac (London UK-ENGLAND)
Machinedrum (New York NY)
Magic Mouth (Portland OR)
The Magic Numbers (London UK-ENGLAND) Mahogany (Brooklyn NY)
Mallory Knox (Cambridge UK-ENGLAND)
Mandolin Orange (Carrboro NC)
maNga (Istanbul TURKEY)
Manic Sheep (Taipei TAIWAN)
Man Or Astro-Man? (Atlanta GA)
Marianne’s Wish (Nicosia CYPRUS)
Maribou State (Berkhamstead UK-ENGLAND)
Marmozets (Yorkshire UK-ENGLAND)
Felix Martin (Caracas VENEZUELA)
The Mary Onettes (Jönköping SWEDEN)
Matrimony (Charlotte NC)
Matt the Electrician (Austin TX)
Tom Maxwell and The Minor Drag (Carrboro NC)
The David Mayfield Parade (Nashville TN)
Ian McLagan (Austin TX)
MC Lars (Oakland CA)
Mean Creek (Boston MA)
Meat Market (Oakland CA)
Me and the Bees (Barcelona SPAIN)
Rod Melancon (Los Angeles CA)
Lubomyr Melnyk (Winnipeg CANADA)
The Melodic (London UK-ENGLAND)
Vic Mensa (Chicago IL)
Meta and The Cornerstones (New York NY)
Lori Meyers (Madrid SPAIN)
Miami Horror (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Mideau (Salt Lake City UT)
The Migrant (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Tor Miller (New York NY)
Chris Mills (Brooklyn NY)
Mimicking Birds (Portland OR)
Mingo Fishtrap (Austin TX)
Mire Kay (Malmö/Stockholm SWEDEN)
Misun (Washington DC)
Chris Mitchell (Houston TX)
Mobb Deep (New York NY)
Mood Rings (Atlanta GA)
Ian Moore (Seattle WA)
More Or Les (Toronto CANADA)
Moving Units (Los Angeles CA)
The Mowglis (Los Angeles CA)
Mr. Lewis and The Funeral 5 (Austin TX)
Mr. MFN eXquire (Brooklyn NY)
Mt Warning (Strawberry Hills AUSTRALIA)
The Mud Howlers (Mexico City MEXICO)
Mujeres (Barcelona SPAIN)
Nick Mulvey (London UK-ENGLAND)
My Education (Austin TX)
Mystery Skulls (Los Angeles CA)
Nabiha (København N DENMARK)
Natig Rhythm Group (Baku AZERBAIJAN)
Natives (Southampton UK-ENGLAND)
Natural Child (Nashville TN)
Neighbours (Pittsburgh PA)
John Mark Nelson (Minneapolis MN)
Neon Hitch (London UK-ENGLAND)
New Bums (San Francisco CA)
New Desert Blues (Whiteley UK-ENGLAND)
The Niceguys (Houston TX)
Night Riots (San Luis Obispo CA)
Night Terrors of 1927 (Los Angeles CA)
Niño Cohete (Concepción CHILE)
No Coast (Kokomo IN)
Norris J (Dallas TX)
Northcote (Victoria CANADA)
Nothing (Philadelphia PA)
Nothing More (San Antonio TX)
Oberhofer (Tacoma WA)
Obliteration (Kolbotn NORWAY)
The Ocean (Berlin GERMANY)
O Conqueror (Austin TX)
O Emperor (Dublin IRELAND)
Ofei (London UK-ENGLAND)
Off! (Los Angeles CA)
Oil Boom (Dallas TX)
Morgan O’Kane (Brooklyn NY)
OK Sweetheart (Seattle WA)
Okta Logue (Frankfurt Am Main GERMANY)
Angel Olsen (Chicago IL)
Onehunnidt (Houston TX)
Opus Orange (Santa Monica CA)
Bernie Worrell Orchestra (Hampton NJ)
Orchid (San Francisco CA)
Orthy (Austin TX)
The Orwells (Elmhurst IL)
Outernational (New York NY)
The Outfit, TX (Dallas TX)
Owl Eyes (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Paddy And The Rats (Budakeszi HUNGARY)
Painted Palms (San Francisco CA)
The Painted Redstarts (Austin TX)
Panama (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Mangham Parker (Austin TX)
Jay Park (Seoul SOUTH KOREA)
Bobby Patterson (Austin TX)
Pawn (Los Angeles CA)
Perfect Pussy (Syracuse NY)
Jarell Perry (Los Angeles CA)
Mike Peters And The Alarm (Rhyl WALES)
Bird Peterson (Austin TX)
Petite Noir (Kinshasa DR CONGO)
Petunia & The Vipers (Vancouver CANADA)
Phil Beaudreau w/Dawaun Parker (Los Angeles CA)
Phox (Madison WI)
Pigeon John (Los Angeles CA)
PigPen Theatre Co. (Pittsburgh PA)
Pink Nasty (Wichita KS)
Plastic Visions (Nashville TN)
Polytype (Provo UT)
Pompeii (Austin TX)
Pony Boy (Nashville TN)
A Pony Named Olga (Berlin GERMANY)
Popstrangers (Hamilton NEW ZEALAND)
The Preatures (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Primitive Man (Denver CO)
Printz Board (Los Angeles CA)
Problem (Compton CA)
Protomartyr (Detroit MI)
Matt Pryor (Lawrence KS)
Psalm Zero (New York NY)
Psychic Teens (Philadelphia PA)
Pujol (Nashville TN)
PUP (Toronto CANADA)
Pure Bathing Culture (Portland OR)
Purple (Beaumont TX)
Pyrrhon (Brookyln NY)
Quaker City Night Hawks (Fort Worth TX)
Quiet Kids (Mcallen TX)
Radkey (Saint Joseph MO)
Raffertie (London UK-ENGLAND)
RAMS’ Pocket Radio (Belfast NORTHERN IRELAND)
Rare Monk (Portland OR)
Rathborne (New York NY)
Ratking (New York NY)
Raw Geronimo (Los Angeles CA)
Real Magic (Oakland CA)
Katey red (New Orleans LA)
Regra 4 (Curitiba BRAZIL)
Salaam Remi (Miami FL)
Reptiles (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
Reuben and The Dark (Calgary CANADA)
Graham Reynolds / Golden Arm Trio (Austin TX)
The Rich Hands (San Antonio TX)
Ri¢hie (Nashville TN)
The Ridges (Athens OH)
Ringworm (Cleveland OH)
Rittz (Atlanta GA)
Rival Consoles (London UK-ENGLAND)
Rivers of Nihil (Reading PA)
Robbie Fulks (Chicago IL)
Emilio Rojas (Rochester NY)
RonKat Spearman (San Francisco CA)
Roo & The Howl (Denver CO)
Roosevelt (Cologne GERMANY)
Ruido Rosa (Mexico City MEXICO)
Caroline Rose (Burlington VT)
Peter Rosenberg (New York NY)
The Royal Concept (Stockholm SWEDEN)
Royal Teeth (New Orleans LA)
R. Ring (Kelley Deal & Mike Montgomery) (Dayton OH)
Rubblebucket (Brooklyn NY)
Ruby The Rabbitfoot (Athens GA)
Ruen Brothers (Scunthorpe UK-ENGLAND)
Running in the Fog (San Francisco CA)
Russian Red (Madrid SPAIN)
Rustie (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)
Dan Ryan (Los Angeles CA)
Sadistik (Seattle WA)
Said The Whale (Vancouver CANADA)
San Fermin (Brooklyn NY)
Sango (Grand Rapids DE)
Sandhya Sanjana Band ( THE NETHERLANDS)
San Saba County (Austin TX)
Sean Nicholas Savage (Montreal CANADA)
Save Your Breath (Newport UK-WALES)
S. Carey (Eau Claire WI)
Schaffer the Darklord (New York NY)
Schwarz Dont Crack (Berlin GERMANY)
Scorpion Child (Austin TX)
Jackson Scott (Asheville NC)
Scotty ATL (Atlanta GA)
Secret Colours (Chicago IL)
Seekae (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Seoul (Montréal CANADA)
Sertified (Austin TX)
Shad (Woodbridge CANADA)
Elaine Shepherd (Vancouver CANADA)
Sheppard (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
She Sir (Austin TX)
Shimmering Stars (Vancouver CANADA)
Shoulders (Austin TX)
Shurman (Austin TX)
Shy Girls (Portland OR)
Sick/Sea (Mcallen TX)
Sihasin (Navajo Nation AZ)
The Silent Comedy (San Diego CA)
Silent Diane (Austin TX)
Silk Rodeo (Austin TX)
Silver Snakes (Los Angeles CA)
Simian Ghost (Stockholm SWEDEN)
Jade Simmons (Humble TX)
Sinistarr (Detroit MI)
Sivu (Cambridge UK-ENGLAND)
Justine Skye (Brooklyn NY)
Slaves (Kent UK-ENGLAND)
Sleepy Man Banjo Boys (Port Murray NJ)
Small Black (Brooklyn NY)
Snowmine (Brooklyn NY)
Sober (Dallas TX)
The Soft White Sixties (San Francisco CA)
Solids (Montreal CANADA)
Something Went Awry (Phoenix AZ)
SoMo (Denison TX)
Songs of Water (Greensboro NC)
Son of Stan (Los Angeles CA)
Sons of Fathers (Austin TX)
Spain (Los Angeles CA)
Jeremy Spencer (London UK-ENGLAND)
Splashh (London UK-ENGLAND)
Split Single (Evanston IL)
SSLEEPERHOLD (Los Angeles CA)
Stabil Elite (Düsseldorf GERMANY)
StaG (Los Angeles CA)
Nico Stai (Los Angeles CA)
Star & Dagger (New Orleans LA)
The Stargazer Lilies (New York NY)
Starlings, TN (Austin TX)
The John Steel Singers (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
Step Rockets (Minneapolis MN)
Peggy Stern Trio (Austin TX)
Mike Stinson (Houston TX)
Allen Stone (Chewelah WA)
Angus and Julia Stone (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Stone Jack Jones (Nashville TN)
St. Paul and The Broken Bones (Birmingham AL)
Strange Talk (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
The Strypes (Cavan IRELAND)
ST 37 (Austin TX)
Suenalo (Miami FL)
The Summer Set (Scottsdale AZ)
Moses Sumney (Los Angeles CA)
Sundara Karma (Reading UK-ENGLAND)
Superfood (Birmingham UK-ENGLAND)
Surly Gates (Austin TX)
Swamp Cabbage (Jacksonville FL)
Sweater Beats (New York NY)
Sweet Da Kid (Los Angeles CA)
SW/MM/NG (Fayetteville AR)
Rossana Taddei (Montevideo URUGUAY)
Team Me (Elverum NORWAY)
Team Spirit (Brooklyn NY)
Teenburger (Halifax CANADA)
Teeth Of The Sea (London UK-ENGLAND)
Tesoro (Tucson AZ)
Texas Never Whispers (Austin TX)
The Victor (Houston TX)
ThinkNoThink (Austin TX)
This Wild Life (Long Beach CA)
Thorcraft Cobra (Los Angeles CA)
Those Darlins (Nashville TN)
Thousand Foot Whale Claw (Austin TX)
Thumpers (London UK-ENGLAND)
Toad the Wet Sprocket (Santa Barbara CA)
Jonah Tolchin (Princeton NJ)
Tom the Lion (London ENGLAND)
The Tontons (Houston TX)
Traams (Chichester UK-ENGLAND)
Trae Tha Truth (Houston TX)
Tom Trago (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
Tribecastan (New York NY)
Troller (Austin TX)
Tronic (Santiago CHILE)
Troumaca (Birmingham UK-ENGLAND)
Trumpeter Swan (Brooklyn NY)
Turbo Goth (Manila PHILIPPINES)
Turboweekend (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Tus Amigos Nuevos (Santiago CHILE)
Twin Forks (Boca Raton FL)
Twin Peaks (Chicago IL)
Twin Shadow (New York NY)
Two Cow Garage (Columbus OH)
Twrk (New York NY)
Tying Tiffany (Bologna ITALY)
Tyvek (Detroit MI)
Umbertron (Chicago IL)
Underbaby (Beijing CHINA)
Vancouver Sleep Clinic (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
Sharon Van Etten (Brooklyn NY)
Alex Vargas (London UK-ENGLAND)
Vattnet Viskar (Plaistow NH)
Vedazen (Los Angeles CA)
Verse Simmonds (Charlotte Amalie VIRGIN ISLANDS)
Vertical Scratchers (Los Angeles CA)
Victory (Los Angeles CA)
Vikesh Kapoor (Sunset Pines PA)
Leif Vollebekk (Ottawa CANADA)
von Grey (Atlanta GA)
Waco Brothers (Chicago IL)
Ryley Walker (Chicago IL)
Warm Soda (San Francisco CA)
Adam WarRock (Memphis TN)
WatchOut! (Santiago CHILE)
Waters (San Francisco CA)
Juan Wauters (Jackson Heights NY)
Wave Racer (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Waylayers (London UK-ENGLAND)
Grace Weber (New York NY)
The Weeks (Nashville TN)
We Have The Place Surrounded (Viña Del Mar CHILE)
Well Hung Heart (Orange CA)
We Met Tomorrow (Oskarshamn SWEDEN)
Wet (Brooklyn NY)
The Wet Secrets (Edmonton CANADA)
Wheelchair Sports Camp (Denver CO)
Wheeler Brothers (Austin TX)
Whiskey Folk Ramblers (Fort Worth TX)
White Arrows (Los Angeles CA)
White Mystery (Chicago IL)
Tony Joe White (Franklin TN)
Whores (Atlanta GA)
Why Not Satellite (Austin TX)
Wick-it the Instigator (Nashville TN)
The Wild Feathers (Nashville TN)
Wildflowers (Bristol UK-ENGLAND)
Mack Wilds (Staten Island NY)
Jess Williamson (Austin TX)
Windhand (Richmond VA)
The Wind + The Wave (Austin TX)
Luke Winslow-King (New Orleans LA)
The Winter Brave (Pittsburgh PA)
Sofie Winterson (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
Wiretree (Austin TX)
Withered Hand (Edinburgh SCOTLAND)
Woman’s Hour (London UK-ENGLAND)
Wonder Villains (Derry UK-N. IRELAND)
Worldwide (San Antonio TX)
Wounds (Dublin IRELAND)
Wrekmeister Harmonies (Chicago IL)
The Wytches (Peterborough ENGLAND)
Yoshiki (Chiba JAPAN)
You Me & Apollo (Fort Collins CO)
Young Fathers (Edinburgh UK-SCOTLAND)
The Young Folk (Dublin IRELAND)
Young Male (New York NY)
Young Summer (Washington DC)
Young Thug (Atlanta GA)
You Won’t (Boston MA)
Yukon Blonde (Vancouver CANADA)
Yuppie Pricks (Austin TX)
Yvette (Brooklyn NY)
Zarigani$ (Tokyo JAPAN)
Zeale (Austin TX)
Zorch (Austin TX)
Sidewalk Chalk: "There She Goes"
Chicago-based eight-piece band Sidewalk Chalk has been honing their unique assembly of Jazz, Hip-hop and Soul around the Chicagoland area for a minute now, gaining listeners and fans with an eclectic sound that appeals to a wide swath of music enthusiasts. The group's latest track, "There She Goes" premiered today on Okayplayer and is the first single off their upcoming project, Leaves. Sidewalk Chalk has shared the stage or opened for the likes of ?uestlove, De La Soul, Action Bronson, Jean Grae and Hiatus Kaiyot, among others, proof that the music doesn't lie. Leaves, the group's follow-up to 2010's debut Corner Store, is due out on February 25. Check out "There She Goes" available below.
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[Video] Action Bronson: "Amadu Diablo"
Queens emcee Action Bronson dropped his stellar Blue Chips 2 collaboration 'tape with Party Supplies a few weeks ago, and the reception from fans and critics alike has been extremely positive. Now, Bronsolino is back capitalizing off the buzz with a new visual off the project for the track "Amadu Diablo." Directed by Rik Cordero, the video is inspired by MTV's Unplugged series and yet another W for Action Bronson.
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Artists to Catch at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2013
For the eighth Fun Fun Fun Fest, the organizers of the Austin, TX festival have put together an eclectic mix of bands, rappers, singers, and even comedians for revelers to enjoy. Mix in a handful of extreme sports athletes and an amazing lineup of local food vendors, and Fun Fun Fun Fest is unlike any festival you've been to. To help both newcomers and wily veterans, we've come up with a list of our most anticipated acts to see this weekend. Check out our staff picks for the festival.