Childish Gambino – Ruby Hornet

Watch Childish Gambino Perform At Open Mike

Once a month Chance the Rapper's charity, SocialWorks, puts on an "Open Mike" (named in honor of Brother Mike Hawkins) in collaboration with Chicago Public Library. There have been 27 Open Mikes so far, with over 6,000 attendees and star studded lineups, having featured appearances from Vic Mensa, Kanye West and yesterday Childish Gambino was added to that list. Gambino came out and performed his hit "This Is America" with full choreography.

https://twitter.com/MalcolmLondon/status/1006330602717614080

by Stephen Kaplan

[Review] Childish Gambino "Awaken, My Love!"

Awaken, My Love! is proof that Donald Glover can do absolutely anything in entertainment, and truthfully you'd be the odd man out if you didn't like it. He can rap, stand up comedy, sing, act, write TV shows...seriously anything, and it's all above average. Awaken, My Love! is no different. This album is throwback soul and it's probably going to lose a lot of his younger fans. But who cares man, it's dope!

This album reminds me of the documentaries I've seen about the '60's movements and the free love, and the sounds of that era. I listen to this and visualize women burning bra's, the Panthers marching [or "rioting"] and soul singers overdosing on heroine ["Boogieman" and "Zombies"]. It's soul power for the new millennium and it's a great message in song on this album ["Have Some Love" and "Stand Tall"]. Your uncle is going to want to burn his reefer slow to this, and your parents are going to get up and slow-dance after hollering, "HEEEEYYYYYYY! This real music right here!"

You might be able to leave it in when "Terrified" comes on. Just a thought.

Awaken, My Love! is the love child of Prince, Hendrix, Pharrell, Sly, The Family Stone and Lenny Kravitz. I couldn't really pick a "must-listen-to song" for this project. You really just have to let it play, and if you got an ounce of soul in you; You're going to like it. In a time where a lot of R&B sounds like melodic rap on a trap beat and the running theme is "f**k these h*es, if I can't f**k these h*es", Childish Gambino gave us a timeless album that is going to resonate with you on a day when you're in a "I don't want to hear that bulls**t" mood.

Not many artists can capture a sound from an era they weren't born in yet, make it sound current. But, somehow Childish Gambino managed to do that phenomenally with this album. This is a far cry from Camp, Because The Internet and STN MTN/Kauai, but the instrumentation, production and vocals front to back on this album are amazing!

With all the respect in the world, this album is dope and many will give this critical acclaim. Many people will probably tell you that you need to listen to this album. I wholeheartedly agree, but I'd still much rather hear 'Bino rap. Here's to hoping a great project with BARS is on the way in 2017.

[iframe id="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P_9U-zkEPAI"]

Just wanted to share that because it's one of the greatest covers ever in life. Donald Glover can really do anything, dog. It's unfair. It's just unfair.

by @ImCamQuotes

[RH Photos] Austin City Limits Festival 2014

Photos by Virgil Solis

Austin City Limits Festival 2014 hit Zilker Park in Austin, TX for the second weekend in a row this past weekend. I was able to hit the festival Friday with camera in hand. Check out some of my photos of CHVRCHES, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, and Outkast below.

CHVRCHES at Austin City Limits 2014 By Virgil Solis

St. Vincent at Austin City Limits 2014 by Virgil Solis

Childish Gambino Austin City Limits 2014 by Virgil Solis

Outkast at Austin City Limits 2014 by Virgil Solis

by Virgil Solis

[Songs of the Day] 2/17/14 (Feat. Beyonce, Kanye West, PARTYNEXTDOOR & More)

There was a huge influx of new music over the weekend, and we're here to round it all up, organize it, and make it a little easier to sift through it all. Unless your head has been firmly buried in sand somewhere, you may have heard Beyonce dropped an unexpected album, the lead single of which ("Drunk In Love") has been burning up the radio waves and Internet. Everyone and their mother seemed to get on a remix of the Jay Z/Beyonce track as Diplo, Kanye West, T.I. & The Weeknd all highlighted a heavy dose of Bey. Weathering the "Drunk In Love" storm was Canadian product and OVO signne PARTYNEXTDOOR, who dropped off a new song in "Persian Rugs" and Trinidad Jame$, who celebrated Valentine's Day the way only he can, with a new record in "EtheREAL". Jeremih & Shlomo's latest track, "No More" got a remix from Boots and some EDM from Jr. Hi, who got Childish Gambino on "Trillion Girls" and Ellie Goulding who unveiled a new Skrillex track on her latest mix for BBC Radio 1. Kanye West made the list twice, with producer Hudson Mohawke leaking the original cut of "Bound 2" featuring Tyler, The Creator in Leeds over the weekend, Big Boi continued his series of "Mash-Up Mondays" with a new track in "Damaged World Mash-Up" which comes complete with animated visuals and Trash Talk & Flatbush Zombies got together for "97.92". From Honduras we got a fresh song in, "Ace" and The Trouble With Templeton showed up with "Soldiers". In other news, Treated Crew member Mic Terror teased his latest album, Fresh Prince of Darkness, with "Anti-Swag" featuring Taylor Bennett and The GTW of JODY fame dropped a dope little dance number in "Calling Cards". Check it all out, streaming below.

Track of the Day: The Weeknd: "Drunk In Love Remix"

Beyonce: “Drunk In Love Remix” (Feat. Jay Z & T.I.)

Beyonce: “Drunk In Love” (The Weeknd Remix)

Beyonce: “Drunk In Love” (Diplo Remix)

Beyonce: “Drunk In Love” (Kanye West Remix)

PARTYNEXTDOOR: “Persian Rugs”

Jeremih & Shlomo: “No More” (Boots Remix)

Trinidad James: “EtheREAL Love”

Jr Hi: “Trillion Girls” (Feat. Childish Gambino)

Ellie Goulding: “Goodnight Valentine Mix”

Honduras: “Ace”

The Trouble With Templeton: “Soldiers”

Trash Talk & Flatbush Zombies: “97.92”

Mic Terror: “Anti-Swag” (Feat. Taylor Bennett)

The GTW: “Calling Cards”

Kanye West: “Bound 1” (Prod. Hudson Mohawke)

[youtube id="qk4Ecvns1-g"]

Big Boi: “Damaged World Mash-Up”

[youtube id="svPE7HVbBus"]

by Jake Krzeczowski

[Video] Childish Gambino: "I'd Die Without You" Live on BBC 1Xtra

Since dropping his latest album, Because The Internet, Childish Gambino has been everywhere, on seemingly every late night and morning talk show as he helps push the project. The other day, he stopped by BBC 1Xtra to do a live rendition of P.M. Dawn's song, "I'd Die Without You", giving it his own flair in the process, showing off his non-rap vocals for a change of pace. Check out the full video of the performance, streaming below.

[youtube id="P_9U-zkEPAI"]

by Jake Krzeczowski

Best Music Projects of 2013

Photo by Bryan Lamb

With new projects from established musicians like Daft Punk, Kanye West, and Neko Case to up and comers like Chance the Rapper, Lorde, Disclosure, 2013 was a huge year for music. Through a very scientific method, the Ruby Hornet staff has gone through the eclectic mix of 2013's various project releases from hip hop, R&B, indie rock, soul, techno, EDM, and more to deliver our definitive list of 2013 music projects. Check out our list below!

What more is there to say really? The follow-up to the Chicago artist’s 2012 debut release, 10Day, Chance’s 2013 project blew up fast than anyone on the country could have expected, carrying the 20-year-old Chatham native to stratospheric heights that has seen Acid Rap at the top of many year-end lists, battling with Kanye West and other industry heavyweights on the strength of his free Internet release, after less than eight months. It’s easy to forget that the warm Spring day at Jugrnaut on Chicago’s South Loop where the Acid Rap party began was on April 30. The whirlwind of events that have happened since are the stuff of legends: touring with Macklemore, Mac Miller, 40 sold-out headlining dates, Lollapalooza, etc. His honest, intoxicating ruminations over growing up, learning to live with loss and regret, all while trying to hold it together under a steady acid drip is perhaps the most refreshingly real, intuitive look not only at the world around him, but also within himself. In an interview earlier this year, Chance touched on his lyrical content, saying “I feel like I definitely have a responsibility to at least speak on what’s going on. As artists, we’re supposed to report and speak about what’s going on. But I don’t blame anyone musically for the violence.” On April 30, I wrote in the Chicago Sun Times that the glaringly personal, yet easily relatable project had the potential to be the next College Dropout. Having watched Chance rise the way he has using inherently Chicago themes both in words and musical style, he may just prove me right. Songs to listen to: “Acid Rain”, “Pushaman/Paranoia”, “Good Ass Intro”

Dance music, especially on this side of the Atlantic, has gotten increasingly stale and repetitive, with many DJs at this year’s Electric Daisy Carnival simply playing the same song as the artist before him, with only a slight change. Disclosure’s 2013 release Settle, is a refreshing glance back at 80s glam pop and up-tempo compositions that easily put you in the mood to move your feet, with carefully-selected features that blend perfectly into an inspiring aesthetic that is at once fun and thoughtful. That sentiment has been reflected throughout the end of the year as the DJ duo has found themselves at the top of not only most publications year-end best lists, but also the artists themselves. It is hard to permeate both pop and deeper sensibilities, especially in a saturated market like dance music, but Disclosure does it all on Settle. Songs to listen to: “Latch”, “Grab Her”, “Confess To Me”.

Nobody with a pulse can listen to Vampire Weekend without singing along with lead singer Ezra Koenig to those ultra catchy choruses, or busting out a shoulder shake to the masterful beats of drummer Chris Tomson. It is simply impossible. This album is no exception to the pure indie-pop sound that Vampire Weekend produces with ease. Though I’m not completely on board with all of the experimentation with phaser effects and what not, I appreciate the solid songwriting and Paul Simon-y vibe of this record, from upbeat super singles like “Unbelievers” to the less obvious tracks, like “Obvious bicycle” (no pun intended) and “Everlasting Arms.” Listen to: “Obvious Bicycle,” “Don’t Lie,” “Worship You”

Well, what is there really to say about this one. The most controversially-discussed album of the year, of course came from the most controversial person in pop culture today. Kanye’s screaming indignation of his indifference to what is cool or trending on his 10 track, Rick Rubin-aided release is at once different and annoying. The album alone is an interesting look at how much one person can tell people what’s cool, and involves hyper-interesting aesthetics to songs like “Bound 2”, “Blood on the Leaves” and “Send It Up”. But, in the same breath he makes tracks like “New Slaves”, “Black Skinhead” and “Hold My Liquor” which demonstrate the larger-than-life artist stretching to find meaning at best. Against a somewhat-weak 2013 release schedule, Yeezus looks decent. Stacked up against albums like Graduation and My Dark Twisted Fantasy, and I’m not impressed. Songs to listen to: “Bound 2”, “Blood on the Leaves”, “Send It Up”.

“Overgrown” James Blake – James Blake has one thing in his pocket that most artists would kill to have: he has yet to put out anything bad. Released on April, Overgrown is a sonically beautiful album thatp ulls from his previous releases, James Blake & Enough Thunder, while building to create something honestly unique and different. In talking to him for a story before his April show at Chicago’s Metro Theater following the release, Blake said to me about Overgrown, “For this album, I had a bit more money so I went out and bought some hardware to mess about with,” he said. “It’s been a lot more fun to produce like that — to have a few more things at your disposal.” Having teamed up with Chance The Rapper for “Life Round Here” Remix, there should be plenty more to expect from Blake. Songs to listen to: “Retrograde”, “Digital Lion”, “Life Round Here”

Nothing may have been the same, but not a ton changed for the 28-year-old Toronto artist. Just like he did on Thank Me Later and Take Care, Drizzy managed to put together a project of radio bangers, with just enough artistic integrity to skirt a definite “pop” stamp. Nothing Was The Same, Drake’s third studio album, gives listeners a continuation of the overtly-emotional, R&B-tinged ramblings of drinking too much Moet while trying to figure out if she’s the one, or just in it for the cash. The album is chock-full of features and bona-fide hits, including 2 Chainz, Jhene Aiko, Boi-1da, Jake One, Jay-Z, Hudson Mohawke, Sampha and more to create an album that seems to have every song on the radio, on the hour. “Hold On, We’re Going Home” may very well be played at all our weddings for years to come. If Drake is still depressed after this one, there’s no hope. Songs to listen to: “Too Much”, “Worst Behavior”, “Hold On, We’re Going Home”.

Few artists emerged with as much fanfare or promotion as 16-year-old New Zealand-native Lorde. The entrancing “Royals” is a removed-lens view of the life of Lorde and her friends as they scrounge up enough change for the train and team up to make it to parties. Both her storytelling and her ability to connect instances to a larger context are much beyond her years, as is the powerful voice with which she delivers them. While she may have benefitted from listeners reacting purely to age, Lorde made fans across the board with an album she allegedly has been working on with Universal since she was twelve years old. Forget everything else, this project was just plain good. Songs to listen to: “Royals”, “Tennis”, “White Teen Teeth”.

When I heard the first single “Man” off of The Worse I Get I could only hope the rest of the record was just as awesome – indeed it is. Neko Case wrote the album in the midst of grief and loss, creating a truly powerful and intimate collection of songs with a bite. The album features members from My Morning Jacket, Calexico, Camera Obscura, and M. Ward to name a few. Delving into depression with her claws out, Case sculpted her strongest and strangest record. Listen to: “City Swans,” “Man,” “Ragtime”

Childish Gambino/Donald Glover has been one of the more interesting enigmas in hip-hop music since hitting the national conscious with his 2011 EP featuring the song “Freaks and Geeks”. Since then, Gambino has established himself as a creatively thoughtful lyricist that is more than this generation’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. His last two releases, Royals and Camp have built upon the idea that you don’t have to personify a certain attitude or “look” to be a successful act in hip-hop music today. That he backs this up with a steady, mixed bag of rhyme schemes and intonations as he glosses over the intricacies of what the internet means to all of us, ironic because without the internet we may never have an artist like Gambino. Because The Internet is the culmination of everything we’ve heard from him this far, and a projection to what we can expect moving forward. Songs to listen to: “The Worst Guys”, “Worldstar”, “3005”

Silence Yourself is probably the most innovative album I’ve immersed myself in, in a very very long time. Savages, the four piece, London based, all female post-punk rock band takes us to a place of brutal honesty, kicking out the chair from underneath all of us, leaving us to face the fear, anger, and reality of the true disconnect that has come with being so connected in modern life. Guitarist Gemma Thomson rarely relies on chords to fill out the sound, using simple melodies with an enormous tone to compliment the bass, drums, and raw, feral vocals of front woman Jehnny Beth. Listen to: “Shut Up,” Cities Full,” “Hit Me”

The beginning of 2013 saw Chicago’s Vic Mensa in a very different situation than the end does. In January, Mensa was the frontman of the band Kids These Days, which broke up in May after a four year run. Released in late September, Innanetape is a experimentally-creative re-introduction for the Save Money hip-hop artist. Working with producer Peter CottonTale, the 20-year-old MC was able to craft a project that spanned years of experiences in music, creating a cross-genre mix of tracks that include production from Boi-1da, Om’Mas Keith, Hit-Boy, and more, including CottonTale and Mensa himself. Ever the resilient artist, Mensa parlayed a bad experience into one of the more inspired calendar years in hip-hop with this project. Songs to listen to: “YNSP”, “Run”, “Orange Soda”

I got my first proper introduction to Bonobo this past November in Austin, Texas for Fun Fun Fun Fest. The groups ambient, dream-like production is infectiously interesting, taking dance music out of the club for a moment to slow things down. Their live shows are invigorating and keep things up-tempo with tracks like “Cirrus” and “Know You”. The project has certain elements of UK house with a certain experimental flair that makes listening to the album once feel as though it just wasn’t enough. Songs to listen to: “Heaven For The Sinner”, “Antenna”.

In the endless sea of fad indie-rock bands, it is quite refreshing to come across an unfading talent for songwriting and musicianship, and Elsinore’s album “PUSH/PULL” is clear evidence of a band who has nowhere to go but up. Elsinore is the real deal when it comes to folk pop rock, and I am head over heals in love with this album. Lead singer and songwriter Ryan Groff creates a landscape of lovely lines and melodies that stay vivid in your mind for days, haunting and guiding your thoughts through his stories. Each track has a place and purpose, though Groff floats through the album effortlessly, engaging the listener until the very end. Listen to: “Art of Pulling,” “Ultraviolence,” “Mislocation”

Boards of Canada have long been one of the most creative experimental electronic acts in music. Characterized by ambient, down-tempo aesthetics, the tracks on their latest release were sculpted by Marcus Eoin and Mike Sandison over the course of eights years since their last studio release, 2005’s The Campfire Headphase and features timing changes throughout that are employed to give the album a sort of soundtrack feel from a much earlier decade. The result is a collection of seriously intense and beautiful compositions that are as easy to listen to as they are complex on the back end. Boards have had a tendency to push some listeners away with a frenetic pacing and off-beat samples, but they got it just right this time on Tomorrow’s Harvest. Songs to listen to: “White Cyclosa”, “Nothing Is Real”, “Palace Posy”.

Trouble Will Find Me has the potential to be one of the best The National albums to date. It seems like the guys finally got to the point where they could take a step back from their intensity and not take themselves too seriously. Some may say it takes time for their music to really grow on you, but I think Trouble is their most easily accessible record to date, though I could listen to the deep, brooding, and beautiful baritone bass vocals of Matt Berninger any day of the week. Drummer Bryan Devendorf experiments a little more with mixed meter patterns on this record, highlighting his expertise and innovative beats. Put on this album with a stiff drink in hand and you are guaranteed to listen without skipping a single track. Listen to: “Graceless,” “Demons,” “Sea of Love”

Tyler, The Creator has never been one to stray from the over-the-top and unruly. His first video featured a silhouette of himself eating a Tarantula and Gay rights groups protested his Pitchfork performance in 2012. So, when, on the opening track, “Wolf”, Tyler ruminates, “you think I’m crazy because I think you’re a fucking fag” it’s easy to think we’re in for another dose of what we’ve been expecting. On th latest project we find Tyler dealing with deeper issues and observations that come with quickly rising through the levels of the music industry while appearing not to care much at all. Tyler seems to have a shell on at all times, it’s very interesting to hear what happens when he takes that off. Songs to listen to: “Tamale”, “Awkward”, “Colossus”.

If you like undeniably catchy electronic pop music then this is the album for you. The Scottish trio’s debut LP is littered with hook heavy tracks to get you moving and shaking. The sound is clean and clear, with rocketing synths and glowing vocals from singer Lauren Mayberry. Chvrches brings some new ideas to the electro-pop world, possessing a well-rounded and more advanced sound than you’d expect from such a new group. Listen to: “Lies,” “Recover,” “Science/Visions”

The Internet is one of several very talented electronic production teams to emerge throughout this year, perhaps an off-shoot of our over-saturated Protools society we now live in. Regardless of why, Odd Future members Syd and Matt Martians prove that the ofwgkta crew does more than just rap and do Comedy Central shows. Feel Good is one of those ethereal, deep-thought-inducing projects that can be easily played in the background of the party or dug through track by track to find hidden intricacies. “Sunset” featuring Yuna Zaraai may be one of my favorite songs from the whole year. Songs to listen to: “Sunset”, “Cloud of Our Own”, “Higher Times”.

This year also saw the first major release from the duo of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel since 2011’s Nightlife EP. Rolled out throughout September and October of this month, the project is a continuance on what one could come to expect from the pair, with certain alleviations to new creative spaces along the way. Phantogram features the same mix of clever instrumentation and piercing vocals that can be found on previous releases, albeit with a new, somehow more confident feel to the tracks that make up the project. Songs to listen to: “Black Out Days”, “Celebrating Nothing”.

The buzz that surrounded 19-year-old British indie rocker King Krule (formerly ZooKid), reminded me of the rise of James Blake back in 2009/10. The gutteral, gritty voice is a throwback to 70s/80s British punk motifs, while the arrangement and experimental instrumentation pace the melodically-different tracks on the short project. It may have just been a brief EP, but this release from King Krule has laid the groundwork for one hell of a career moving forward. Songs to listen to: “Bleak Blake”, “Lead Existence”.

The first time I saw Local Natives live lead singer Kelsey Ayer confessed that the band was supposed to be in L.A. recording their new album (Hummingbird), but when The National calls you and offers you a spot on their tour you don’t turn them down. The National’s influence is evident on this record especially with the melodic and asymmetric drumming style from Matt Frazier. Local. Natives deliver the same charm that is found on Gorilla Manor but Hummingbird is much less obvious, radiating a cathartic and mellow vibe. Listen to: “Heavy Feet,” “Black Balloons,” “Columbia”

Well, to start, Atoms for Peace features both Thom Yorke and Flea playing music. Together. That in itself should be enough to get it on this list. I digress. Atoms for Peace is a project I have been anxiously awaiting for some time now. The super-group project that is the brainchild of the Radiohead’s Yorke and Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Flea produced one of the funkiest, experimentally intriguing projects to hit the inter-web. The funky feel of Flea blends beautifully with the carefully worked-out aesthetics of Yorke’s production efforts. Please, lay in some grass at some point in 2014 and listen to Amok. Songs to listen to: “Before Your Very Eyes”, Reverse Running”, “Amok”.

Few artists came up over the course of 2013 as much as often SBTRKT collaborator Sampha. Having hit top singles with the likes of Drake, Solange and Jessie Ware, among others, the UK artist set out to show fans that he can do it alone as well, releasing this solo EP project earlier this summer. His melodic voice is at once infectious and off-putting at times, though not enough to stop listening. Sampha is a sort of collaboration robot, having worked on so many different projects with a variety of artists, here’s to hoping we can get another heaping of this next year. Songs to listen to: “Hold On”, “Sanctuary”, “Without”.

Sam France and Jonathan Rado were seemingly destined to make music together, if only to create this album. The indie psych-rock duo shuffles through musical genres, revealing an array of influences and styles. France is a true story teller, delivering images and lines to shock the senses. We Are is an album that speaks for the generation of 20 somethings, with a booming, wild, and eccentric voice. Listen to: “San Francisco,” “On The Blue Mountain,” “No Destruction”

by RH Staff

[Video] Childish Gambino: "3005" (Official Video)

Childish Gambino has blown up the internet with his latest release, Because the Internet, which dropped last week to voracious listeners and solid early reviews. With the project in the public forum, Gambino, also known as Donald Glover, has begun dropping accompanying visuals for the singles on the album. Last week, he dropped the video of him riding a ferris wheel at a carnival, looking unamused clutching a teddy bear. Over the weekend, Gambino also dropped his surf-inspired video for "The Worst Guys" featuring none other than Chance The Rapper, who very well may be having the best week ever between dropping songs with Justin Bieber and a new track with Vic Mensa, all while stopping down in Miami for the stretch run of the Social Experiment Tour. For "The Worst Guys" it seems all the pair did was have a good time at the beach smoking in the water and whatnot. Check out the video here below and pick up Because The Internet now on iTunes. Also, check out Gambino's new video for "3005", available below as well.

Update: The "The Worst Guys" video was originally available, then only available using the password "12.10.13SIXTY", and now seems to be down once again. We'll keep you posted as the video comes available again.

"3005"

[youtube id="tG35R8F2j8k" mode="normal" align="center"]

[vimeo id="81209854" mode="normal" align="center"]

by Jake Krzeczowski

[Video] Childish Gambino: "3005"

With Childish Gambino's Because The Internet album release date just around the corner, CG keeps his promotional-run going with a rather witty spin on the lyric video format for his single "3005." Featuring Abella Anderson (who also starred in Mr. Glover's Clapping For The Wrong Reasons short-film), the emcee types his lyrics into a live video/chat room while the adult film star responds with emojis and seductive dancing. Because The Internet will hit retail and online stores on December 9th through Glass Note Records.

[youtube id="L-hSHO_Lh0M" mode="normal" align="center"]

by PedroGnlz