Elzhi Turns to Kickstarter for Next Album
Talk about independent. Detroit MC Elzhi announced today that he will fund his next project strictly off the crowd-source funding site Kickstarter. Elzhi is underground to those not in the know and one of the low-key hottest artists in the Midwest to those who do. Having first hit the scene on J Dilla's milestone project, Welcome to Detroit, the artfully thoughtful MC has gone out to carve out an interesting lane in the vast hip-hop landscape today. Respected by his peers enough to remix Nas' groundbreaking album Illmatic and underground enough to get respect from those not in the limelight, Elzhi is certainly in a unique position.
With this in mind, the Kickstarter campaign makes a good deal of sense for Elzhi. In an atmosphere in which artists from Mac Miller to Chance The Rapper are keeping hands out of their pockets by staying independent and making music on their own terms, all an artist needs is some funds-because recording sessions cost money regardless if you release the end result for free on the internet. Check out Elzhi's Kickstarter video and break out your wallet to help make this project come to fruition. More below.
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MED, Blu, Mayer Hawthorne & Madlib: "The Buzz"
This super funky collaboration is, in fact, real. MED got together with the soulful trio of Blu, Madlib and Detroit's own Mayer Hawthorne to craft "The Buzz". With a beat perfectly suited for everyone involved as Hawthorne lays the hooks between which Blu, MED and Madlib do their thing. The track will make even the greyest of Fall days seems a bit more hopeful. Check out the track below and keep an eye out for the single dropping November 26 with D?M-FunK‘s “Peroxide” on the B-side. Pick up "The Buzz" via Stones Throw.
[Album] GRiZ: "Rebel Era LP"
GRiZ has been one of the refreshing sounds in electronic dance music for awhile now. The Detroit native has built a steady following in the festival and dance scenes with his mash-up of contemporary electronic production and horn playing that is reminiscent of a Big Gigantic arrangement, while saving certain musical aesthetics to make GRiZ records wholly his own style. Last week, he released his latest album, Rebel Era LP, to glowing praise from many outlets. Today, he finally gets the RH treatment for his latest release. Check out a stream of the full project below, as well as a behind the scenes video from his national headlining tour and a personal message from GRiZ on Rebel Era LP, all below and catch GRiZ this weekend in Detroit and Chicago where he headlines a pair of Freaky Deaky shows with Danny Brown and Tokimonsta.
Download the album Here
http://youtu.be/5-jy9h6nlF4
Eminem: "Rap God"
Man, the internet just moves too quick. Eminem attempted to tease out his latest single, "Rap God," off his upcoming album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The plans were to release a series of clues, but the song leaked in Europe before the first hint could hit the net, thus the stream via Youtube below. The song, as far as beats are concerned, is very different for Shady, with some of the electronic and house-y elements that grew out of his hometown and now grace neon festivals across the country. As always, Em is on point with his flow, riding a frenetic beat that would give even the best MC a headache and tied tongue. Perhaps it's a beat made for a Rap God? Decide for yourself below.
Favorite Line: "I don't know how to make songs, I don't know what words to use/Let me know when it occurs to you/While I'm ripping any of these verses"
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Mass Appeal Presents “WATCHxWITNESS” with Jason Goldwatch & 13thWitness: Detroit
The duo of Jason Goldwatch and 13thWitness or WATCH X WITNESS have released a set of visuals for their new photo journal series making a visit to the city of Detroit. The pair sets off to document the city, its people, and from watching the video, you can see the effect of Detroit's bankruptcy has had. They travel to some of the most desolated parts of the city and run rampant amongst abandoned buildings snapping some very haunting images of what once was. They not only captured old relics, but also snapped shots of people in some of Detroit's forgotten neighborhoods. Both WATCH and Witness do a great job capturing a side of the city that many have only read about in print and or on the web.
http://youtu.be/QL-fyrq7AMo
[Photo by WATCHxWITNESS] [Via Hypebeast]
Scott Hocking Photographs Detroit's Worst Graffiti
Its not often that you see graffiti like this documented and I don't mean graffiti in general because many have documented the art of graffiti in various ways. But when we typically see photographs of graffiti that someone took the time to document its usually huge murals, lots of color, and crazy style, you know a work of art. Photographer Scott Hocking chose to go a different route and decided to document the worst graffiti in Detroit. What he shot was pretty interesting and honestly quite amusing making you think who would write these things, but in the end the project captures someone who wanted their voice heard. Check out the photos and head on over to Vice for the rest of the set here.
[Photos by Scott Hocking] [Via Vice]
Danny Brown: "Side A (Old)"
Talk about something having a long lead time. It seems like we've been hearing about Old, Danny Brown's debut release on Fool's Gold, forever. After threatening to leak the album in response to its apparent shelving or a dispute over the release date, a stream of the album came available late Monday. Check out the stream here below and stay posted for the full release coming soon.