[Video] Benefit: "So Sick"
If there's one thing that'll remind you of your old age, it's a ghost coming back from the past to haunt you. Luckily, it's lyrical magic and not a distraught ex in this scenario.
It must have been near 10 years ago when I first heard Benefit. Back in high school, I was really into punk rock and ska (I still am... minus the ska). However, Benefit was my first real taste of "real hip hop" outside of the Top 40 rap/gangster rap that was taking over the early 2000s. Before struggle rap was a thing, there was Benefit. Before there were "internet rappers," there was Benefit. Despite making some waves from his song "Warp to World 6-9" because of its Super Mario Bros. sample, it was an entry in a young Napster (damn, remember Napster?) contest that put his name on hip hop heads' radars. Then... nothing.
Under our radars, Benefit made a public comeback over the past two months, first with a lyric video for "So Sick" (which you can see below), then with a Noisey-exclusive video feature with Matisyahu and producers Mr. Green and Kyon Williams. Benefit's preparing to release his first new material in over a decade, but I wanted to share an oldie, the aforementioned "So Sick" lyric video, to introduce (or hopefully re-acquaint) you to the talented MC.
Following a Sesame Street sample of Burt and Ernie talking about sickness, Benefit explodes in a lyrical, alliterative warhead that doesn't relent until the verse's hook: "So nice that it's nasty/So banging, it's busting/So sweet, that it's sick/So dope, it's disgusting." I'm not into brag rap where rappers are fronting their bars, but damn man... Benefit's my exception.
Buy his debut album on iTunes (recorded on a $5 computer mic and $12 sound card!), digest as much of the enigmatic rapper as you can, because if he's truly back for good, the hip hop scene's about to explode. Choice tracks are "Supreme," "Exact," "Friends," "Garbage Pail Kids," and "Proceed with Caution."
[youtube id="QDwOgO213gM"]
[Video] Roc Marciano: "Sacrifice" (prod. by Madlib)
Last week, Roc Marciano dropped his latest project, The Pimpire Strikes Back. This week, Roc drops a video as a follow up to the mixtape, giving us a visual for his Madlib-produced single "Sacrifice". The song and accompanying video certainly reinforce the aesthetic that emanates from the mixtape's title. Check out Roc Marciano's pimp dream in the video below.
[youtube id="p-KYV1Ui3Js" mode="normal" align="center"]
[Video] Kenna: "Relations" Remix (feat. Childish Gambino)
Childish Gambino was able to collaborate with alternative artist Kenna for the latter's official remix of his "Relations" record. The original version is available in Chapter 1 of his Land 2 Air Chronicles II: Imitation is Suicide EP series and even though he has already released Chapter 2, he decided to go back and give this bouncy track a quick revamp. Listen below.
[iframe id="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:uma:video:mtvu.com:977911/cp~vid%3D977911%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtvu.com%3A977911" mode="normal" align="center"]
[via MTV]
[Video] The Impossibles: "Come Back"
"Consider, please, our past in taking me back."
All it took was the opening upstroke of The Impossibles' "Come Back" for me to fall back in love with them. Outside of a couple of reunion shows in Austin, TX, The Impossibles have stayed broken up since 2002. First forming as a ska/punk band during the '90s, the Austin-based band broke up in 1998, only to return in 2000 with an increased focus on Weezer-esque indie-rock, eschewing the upbeat ska sound they were previously known for. Unfortunately, after the release of Return and the post-hardcore 4 Song Brick Bomb, the band called it quits for goods following two final shows at the storied Emo's venue in Austin.
It wasn't until this past August that murmurs began rippling across Twitter that new recordings were taking place. Sure enough, a crowdfunding project popped up for a new 7" featuring two new songs from the band, "Come Back" and "The Position." I don't even have a record player or collect vinyl, yet I happily donated my money towards the promise of new songs from The Impossible.
Despite being available to the aforementioned crowdfunders, today marks the official release of the Come Back b/w The Position 7" and iTunes digital release. To commemorate, a music video was shot for the A-side single, "Come Back." While the video's simple, featuring a pretty girl listening jamming out to the 7", the real excitement is in the actual song itself. Much like the opening song, "Enter/Return," on Return, "Come Back" is a tongue-in-cheek song sung by singer/guitarist Gabe Hascall using a reunion with an ex-girlfriend as a metaphor for the band's return. Fans of early, The Impossibles/Back for the Attack/Anthology The Impossibles will be happy to note the return of the ska upstrokes combined with later quiet-to-loud dynamics of Return/4 Song Brick Bomb-era The Impossibles.
Whether you're an old fan, an old, old fan, or a newcomer to The Impossibles, "Come Back" is a great introduction to the band. You'll be able to catch The Impossibles' return this weekend at this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, TX. If you're really digging "Come Back," I highly recommend purchasing the Come Back b/w The Position on iTunes here. Here's hoping that the 7" release and Fun Fun Fun Fest appearance will lead to more music and a tour stop in Chicago.
[youtube id="Dl9Ece_Mqs8" mode="normal" align="center"]
[Video] Logan: "In The Light"
Chicago upstart, Logan, has been making waves ever since he released the video for "Came Up" and now he's back with a new record and visual to keep his buzz going. As we have come to expect, Logan delivers introspective rhymes in which he ponders on his actions around his peers and family with the bittersweet scenery of the city as the background. Props also go to J. Krown on yet another great video shot.
[youtube id="mJajjFWuvnw" mode="normal" align="center"]
YouTube Music Awards... Interesting
The inaugural YouTube Music Awards (YMA) took place Sunday night in New York City. The website-sponsored music awards show, touted as a celebration of the do it yourself content environment Youtube helped to foster. It was billed as the crowning moment of years worth of artists that have taken things into their own hands to make it on their own terms. From the sounds of it, the YouTube Music Awards seemed poised to crown those who had used the website as a come up. Think Mac Miller, Macklemore, Chance The Rapper and the hundreds of young artists and directors across the country using the site to get their art to the world.
Instead, the YMAs featured headliners Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga and Eminem performing while shooting live music videos with program director and legendary video director Spike Jonze. It was, in the words of one of my former Journalism professors, one of the biggest public blowjobs in the history of already blowy award shows. The awards show was, in essence, Jonze's wet dream, a grand stage for the director to remind everyone he's pretty good at what he does. Add in the fact that hosts Jason Schwartzmann and Reggie Watts rarely had any idea what to say and you have yourself a show with a production value seemingly lower than many of the videos the site hosts.
In a similar position to that of MTV on September 14, 1984 when the Video Music Awards first entered the world, YouTube finds itself as the de facto landing spot for music videos in today's media climate. Perhaps because of this distinction, the YMAs came to fruition yesterday. Jonze, earlier last week, voiced his interest in creating "live music videos" at the awards show. While playing on YouTube's reputation as an open-source type format from which anyone can make a name for themselves, Jonze missed the mark in directing videos for larger-than-life acts such as Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, Eminem and Avicii; forgoing the up and comers that make the greatest use of the streaming video site.
It wasn't all bad. While the artists featured may have been different from what I had in mind when first picturing the YMAs, organizers did get plenty right. For one, by producing a live awards show, albeit a show Jonze described beforehand as one in which "We’ve been given a lot of room to make a mess,” YouTube was able to step up and prove itself a viable alternative to traditional television-an important distinction as viewers increasingly ditch the tube and cable for free streaming service via the website. Winners were also voted on by fans, a nod to the user-generated content and interaction that has made YouTube the media Goliath it is today. While Eminem interestingly won 'Artist of the Year' days before his first album in two years came out and kid's group Girls' Generation won best video, it was a good move to leave it to the fans. . . I guess.
Regardless of what I or anyone else thought of the show last night, it happened, and that's all that really matters at the end of the day. The web was flooded with fresh memes and, soon, a slew of new Jonze-directed videos. Any first run is going to be a little rough around the edges (see: early VMAs), but it will be interesting to see where YouTube takes the fledgling awards setup-to the mainstream or tailored to the users actually frequenting the site and providing much of the content. Either way, organizers of the show and YouTube can sleep easy knowing they're having a better week than former YouTube owner Chad Hurley, who got himself in Kanye West's line of fire this week, although Tyler, The Creator may feel differently (see below).
[youtube id="du1SJ9APuNw" mode="normal" align="center"]
[Video] of Montreal: "Fugitive Air"
of Montreal's new record, Lousy with Sylvianbriar, has received two thumbs up from critics and fans. The band is known for their ever-changing experimental pop-rock sound that evolves with every record, keeping things funky and fresh for all of their fans. They recently put out the music video for "Fugitive Air," the first track off the new record.
Check out the video below, and if you're lucky, you can win free tickets to see of Montreal live! Go here to learn more about the contest and your chance to win!
[youtube id="TrBIEPFGsII" mode="normal" align="center"]
[Video] ShowYouSuck: "Hang 10"
ShowYouSuck wants some homies to hang ten with him in his final music video drop before Dude Bro's release next month. Rapping over P. Rico's "Hang Wit Me," the rad rapper does his best Chief Keef vocal impression in "Hang 10." Directed by J. Frank, the music video features the Hometown Hero dropping pop-culture-heavy bars that he's known for, referencing everything from 1992's Ferngully to the SaveMoney Army. The neon-lit colors remind me of a certain Ryan Gosling-led film, but I can't exactly put my finger on its title; I hope only god can forgive me for forgetting.
The lighting/color scheme isn't just for aesthetic pleasure as it serves as a visual allusion to next month's Dude Bro, releasing as a paid EP through our Closed Sessions homies. ShowYouSuck will be having a release party for the aforementioned release next month with support from Auggie the 9th, MattBoyWhite, and Today's Hits on November 21st at The Hideout. You can check out the "Hang 10" video below, as well as the flyer for The Dude Bro Show.
[youtube id="OVQFusoRhpE" mode="normal" align="center"]
