RH First Look: A.J. Crew
My first meeting with A.J. Crew came at SoundScape studios, where I was working with Michael Kolar on something or other. I asked the kid if he was working on something at the time, and he said that he wasn't, that he was just at SoundScape to hang out. What he really meant was watch and learn. Many times at SoundScape I would find the unassuming Crew sitting on various couches while working on his lap top, sitting in during studio sessions, and of course, working on his own Nightmares and Daydreams, his first formal project that will see it's release on September 1st. Crew's first run is similar to many starts nowadays, with a free collection of work, spread viraly to gain an audience. However, Crew is quick to point out that Nightmares and Daydreams is a free-album, not a mixtape. He tells us, "Calling your project a "mixtape" gives it a certain connotation. People instantly think a DJ, drops, other people's beats, remixes, poor recording quality. A "free album" is what it is. It's a project that was went about like creating an album."
There's another, more pronounced difference between Crew and others his age that are just getting started on presenting music to the public, Crew's studio-ratness allowed him to soak up technical skills and the engineering talent of one of Chicago's top studios, as well as let him build with the studio's other clientele, including Rhymefest, who heard Crew's "Destiny & Desire" and decided to provide the upstart with a guest verse. We learn the story behind that encounter, as well as much more as Crew goes under the First Look microscope.
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RH First Look: Jet Audio
Biting wouldn't be an issue if it wasn't prominent. Proven methods wouldn't last the test of time if they didn't work. While the middle ground between pure biting and pure originality is where most fall, and perhaps where the new innovations emerge, it is the biting that kills promising trends, and makes something creative into something boring and repetitive. We all know the story how the labels live in worry, which causes them to latch onto anything popular and hit the repeat button as if it is the only button. It stems from fear, a fear that is a basic human element: fear of leaving one's comfort zone. That fear holds people back in a variety of situations, from approaching a woman at a bar or party, accepting a challenging job in a new city, or, in a producer's world, trying new sounds, all at the risk of possible advancement.
"If we didn't take risks, music would never evolve", says producer Jet Audio, who recently released his own compilation, The Stand Alone Complex. Sensing something new and original in his production, we sent Ashydakid to talk to Jet about his own risks and rewards, the meaning behind the title, as well as his own background and history. Check out the full RH First Look below, and also check back later in the week, as we'll have some new music from Jet featuring Kardinal Offishall and Donnis coming later in the week.
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RH First Look: Big Homie D.O.E.
I've been following Big Homie D.O.E. for a while now. His catchy hooks and lyrics to go along with them made him stand out amongst the pack, and his recent move to our homie Naledge's Brainiac Society has only served to increase his visiblity, improve his work ethic, and place him in the right situation where opportunity meets preparation. Many people wondered how the somewhat intellectual approach of Naledge would work with the "in your face" personality of The Big Homie D.O.E., but as he said, it's not as much of a stretch as some may think. Sticking to his vision to "express the thoughts and feelings of myself, my peers and others through timeless music," D.O.E. has found synergery with Naledge through similar goals pertaining to the music. With that being his main focus there's almost no way that Naledge and D.O.E. couldn't work well together because at the end of the day making timeless music is what Hip-Hop is all about, right?
RH's Ashydakid caught up with The Big Homie D.O.E. for a candid First Look. Check it out below..
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RH First Look: Lush Life
Philadelphia producer/emcee/instrumentalist, Lushlife, is no stranger to originality. His work ranges from 60's rock, futuristic electronic, soul, boom-bap, and pop. His projects expand from the successful mash up of West Sounds (Kanye West meets the Beach Boys), to the sample heavy Order of Operations, to his newest pop and instrumentation inspired Cassette City. Although his music has changed from project to project, the thing that has held true is its alternative roots to stay one step ahead and one step to the left of your average Hip Hop listening experience. RubyHornet conversed with Lushlife to untangle his mind on everything from his past work to his current project and all of his inspirations in between. Check out Lush Life as he goes under the First Look microscope.
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RH First Look: Donnis
“Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.” – Elizabeth Drew
Atlanta born Donnis knows all too well the meaning of travel, and contrary to Elizabeth Drew’s quote, his form of conversation is rhyming on a microphone. From Japan to New York, the young troubadour is far from the “basement recording rookie.” His life experiences have not only helped him personally, but also shaped his music, which became obvious in his recent sit-down with RubyHornet. Donnis spoke on everything from his culture shock in the big apple to his upcoming mixtape with a certain streetwear heavyweight, as well as leaving the dull points at the door. Check it all out as Donnis gets under The First Look microscope.
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RH First Look: ChiBoys Tee's
When the fellas from Pac Division hit came into Chicago last summer, we scooped them from their hotel and gave them a driving tour of the city. One of our first questions was, "what do you think of when you think of Chicago?" Their first response was, "Michael Jordan." Their second response was "Barack Obama." And their third response was "pizza." All are understandable, as DeShawn Murray of ChiBoys Clothing says, "we all know that Jordan is the most influential sports figure of our time, and Obama is unmistakeably the most inspiring man of all time," and well, pizza is a just that good...In addition, much of the clothing celebrating the city, as far as streetwear goes, centers on MJ, or Mr. Obama, leaving a lot of the city untapped in terms of tee-shirts. That exclusion of Chicago's rich history and landmarks is what gave inspiration to Murray to throw his hat into the tee-shirt ring with ChiBoys, a "Chicago themed t-shirt line that tells the story of Chicago's history, culture, hardships, architecture and personality."
The line launched just a few short weeks ago, and we caught up with Murray to talk about the clothes, the brand, and the city in this week's RH First Look. Check it out below.
RH First Look: Bullet
More love over there, than over here is a popular phrase for underground Hip Hop artists. From Wordsworth to Little Brother, Dilated Peoples to Pugs Atomz, many emcees spit bars about feeling neglected in their hometowns, and Chicago grew quite a rep for sending artists elsewhere to achieve some sort of validation before gaining the Windy City's love. It's perplexing and frustrating for some, daunting for others, and disappointing for most. But, not so much Bullet, a Chicago emcee that reps hard...for Jupiter that is. Bullet explains,
"I personally got tired of trying to be a part of something that was so cliquish. I got tired of reaching out to certain people, so I did it on my own and was like, 'you know what? You can have Chicago. My mind is somewhere else.' Hence the reason I rep Jupiter."
But Bullet's not all Rodney Dangerfield. While he battles for more attention in the city, he has built a solid foundation outside city limits and hopes to capitalize on them witha record deal. Bullet talks about his plans, speaks more on Chicago, and breaks down his outerspace ambitions vs. Lil' Wayne's. Check it out below.
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RH First Look: The Kid Daytona
The Kid Daytona can flat our rap. That was one of my first thoughts after hearing the Lanky BX native, who hit the scene with a remake of Tribe Called Quest material handled with care and knowledge as well as guidance from Hot 97's Cipha Sounds. There's something a bit more to The Kid, as witnessed in his second successful "concept" project, The Daytona 500, a seven song EP in which producers from Double O to 6th Sense reinterpret Bob James' "Nautilus". The record gets better, as Daytona adds to the songs by weaving stories about career take-off, as each song contributes to his ultimate flight. We caught up with The Kid to talk about his last EP, as well as the main course, Come Fly With Me, set to drop later this year. Daytona also talks about working with Cipha Sounds, and how the loss of his parents has impacted his music. Check it all out below as The Kid Daytona goes under the RH First Look Microscope.
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