[Album] Psalm One: "Hug Life"
With all the talk of the violence in Chicago and 'Chiraq' this and that being hawked by out-of-towners on the daily, mucking up the Second City's image for personal gain, it can be easy to forget that there is still plenty of positivity in the city's streets. Chicago's first lady of hip-hop, Psalm One is out to challenge that dubious status quo with her latest project, Hug Life. A play on Tupac's seminal phrase all the way down to the "Hug Life" torso tat on the album artwork, the title is a juxtaposition of nuanced meaning that perfectly accents the message Psalm puts forth on her latest, perhaps most complete project to date.
Released via iTunes under Psalm's alter-ego Hologram Kizzie, the project is an examination of love, lust and the things that come from both. In a story for the Chicago Sun Times, Psalm characterized her different monikers and the roles they occupy as such: "Kizzie is a little — a lot — less inhibited than Psalm One,” the rapper detailed, pointing out that while her biblically derived handle is well suited to her all-ages content and humanitarian endeavors, being Hologram Kizzie “gives me a lot more freedom.” The project includes a who's who of Midwest up and comers and bedrocks alike, including the likes of ProbCause, Tanya Morgan, The Hood Internet, Young Josh of Flosstradamus and Lazerbeak and PO$ from DoomTree, among others. Hanging out at a West Town loft last weekend listening to the project, we listened through several times without noticing it had started from the top again, a true testament to a full-fleshed out project that hits the proper chords from start to finish. Check out Hug Life streaming below and pick up the full project over at iTunes!
![[Video] Skrillex Unveils Chance The Rapper Collaboration](https://rubyhornet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/skrillex-chance-the-rapper-collaboration.jpg)
[Video] Skrillex Unveils Chance The Rapper Collaboration
Chance The Rapper took over the hip-hop world last year on the strength of his Acid Raps, and since the new year turned last month, it appears Chano isn't satisfied with handling just the rap side of things. After teaming up with Justin Bieber for "Confident", the Chicago MC has been rumored to be working with Skrillex in the studio quite a bit as of late, with the gossip being spread on the Internet with regular updates. Last night, in New York City at The Brooklyn Bowl, Skrillex decided to unveil his collaboration with Chance amidst a string of BK shows that have many calling his time out East a 'Skrillex takeover'. The track isn't like the EDM superstar's past connections with rappers, most notably 2012's "Wild For The Night" which was essentially a Srillex song with A$AP Rocky rapping over it. Here, we have something with distinctly juke elements that feature Chance sing-song rapping his way through the track. With Pop and Hip-hop seemingly on lock, Chance very well may be getting his EDM playlist in check, with a recently-announced set at Ultra Miami on deck. Check out the latest from Chance and Skrillex in this less-than-stellar video below.
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[Songs of the Day] 2/10/14 (Feat. SBTRKT, Ellie Goulding, DJ Rashad & More)
Ah, another week, a fresh batch of tracks for your listening pleasure. Starting things off this time around is none other than Ellie Goulding, who received a remix of her track "Burn" via Four Tet. UK production guru SBTRKT dropped his latest offering in the funky "Hold The Line" while New York City's ABGOHARD continued his push for his latest project with the Ryan Hemsworth-produced "GTA" featuring Slater, and Z Money teamed up with Chicago independent label Closed Sessions for "I Can't Stop". Big Boi continued to pump out content, following up last week's dual releases with "Run Th3 World" featuring the likes of Wavves and B.O.B, Missouri rockers Radkey give us "Feed My Brain", DJ Rashad keeps the jukin' hits coming with "First Move", some soul from Neneh Cherry with "Out of the Black" and Julian Bell's "Who I Am" while The Prototypes give us a synth-shower in "Lights". Chicago pops up with some new music from Chief Keef on "War" and Bruza The General with "Don C.". Check out this monster list from today and the weekend, all streaming below.
Track of the Day: SBTRKT: "Hold The Line"
Ellie Goulding: “Burn” (Four Tet Remix)
SBRKT: “Hold The Line”
ABGOHARD: “GTA” (Feat. Slater) (Prod. by Ryan Hemsworth)
Z Money: “I Can’t Stop”
Big Boi: “Run Th3 World” (Feat. B.O.B., Wavves & Third World)
Neneh Cherry: “Out of the Black” (Feat. Robyn)
Julian Bell: “Who I Am”
Bruza The General: “Don C.”
The Prototypes: “Lights”
Yasiin Gaye: “Anna’s Love Song”
DJ Rashad: “First Move”
Radkey: “Feed My Brain”
Chief Keef: “War”
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[Mixtape] Isaiah Rashad: "Cilvia"
Among one of the most talked about young artists in the game right now, TDE's latest signee, Isaiah Rashad, offered up his latest project, Cilvia today with a free stream on Spotify. The project comes as the hip-hop world anxiously awaits label-mate Schoolboy Q's upcoming Oxymoron project, and closely follows a disappointing Grammy Awards for TDE flagship artist Kendrick Lamar. Cilvia, which hit the net today, is the first full project we've heard from Rashad since joining the TDE imprint and continues to showcase the immense talent that the collective has been able to garner and develop over the past few years en route to being one of the premier labels in the game. The project has a healthy dose of fellow recent TDE appointee SZA, as well as a rousing performance from Chicago-bred newcomer Jean Deaux, who has quietly been establishing herself on the west coast. Jay Rock and Schoolboy also hop on the ride out track, "Shot You Down". With Ab-Soul also preparing his full-length, expect TDE to continue its hip-hop reign, on every level of the rap spectrum. Cilvia, streaming below.
[Mixtape] ABGOHARD & Slater: "Rich Yung Pimp"
Lately, we have been hearing a lot of good coming out of the New York City collective "Inner City Kids" (ICK), and just before the weekend the world got the latest from the group's newest MC in ABGOHARD, who teamed up with Slater for a fresh new project in Rich Yung Pimp. The project is an interesting play between a pair of talented up and coming artists on the rise in a burgeoning east coast/New York City scene. Featuring production from the likes of Suicideyear, $1 Bin, Marlee B, Ryan Hemsworth, Rich Yung Pimps is as eclectic as it's title is stereotypical. The pair of artists are at the forefront of the next wave of New York City hip-hop that has emanated from what many have called a renaissance in the NYC scene. The project is boom-bap-ish, with more developed sensibilities, taking a step forward while keeping another firmly rooted in the sounds that curated the scene on the right side of the country in generations before them. It's a rap project, with both Slater and ABGOHARD handling crafty rhyme schemes with ease while ruminating over the ins and outs of the world around their heads. Check out the latest from ABGOHARD and Slater, Rich Yung Pimp, available for stream/download below.
[Video] Phantogram: "Fall In love"
Photo by Virgil Solis
The Phantogram duo has been steadily keeping us supplied with fresh tracks and inspiring visuals over the past few months since releasing their abbreviated, self-titled offering that landed at the end of last year as they ready fans for their first full studios albums since 2011's critically-acclaimed Nightlife. Today, adding to the hype around the expected drop, Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter released their video for the song "Fall In Love" off their latest, set to be titled Voices. The trippy, black and white accents of the video add a layer to the track, appropriately titled as we enter the Valentine's Day vortex this week. If nothing else, the UK duo know how to build anticipation, but alas the three-year long journey that has been Voices will come to an end on February 18 when the project finally finds its way to fans. You can pre-order the album, via iTunes, here. Check out the full video, streaming below.
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[Video] Foster The People: "Coming of Age"
Foster The People has experienced a lot on the way to becoming one of the most well-known bands in the world, years of hard work, touring, recording and sleepless nights that culminated in the success the group enjoys today, playing and headlining a healthy dose of festivals this summer. The group relives the ride and the early days of trying to make it in their latest video for the appropriately-titled "Coming of Age". Playing on distinct 80s aesthetics, the video is an homage to playing in high school on whatever stage was available. "Coming of Age" is available for download when you pre-order the band's next album, Supermodel, due out March 14. The follow-up to 2011's Torch that set put FTP on the national radar, it seems to be a perfect time for everyone to take some time to reminisce as they prepare to do it all over again. Check out the latest from Foster The People as they recount everything that lead to where they are now.
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[Video] Charles Bradley Announces Tour
The "Screaming Eagle of Soul Music" himself, Charles Bradley is one of the my favorite, and most refreshing stories of making it against the world's forces. The 65-year-old crooner has found success late in his life, garnering attention at 2011 SXSW on the strength of his debut project, No Time For Dreaming and a rousing string of performances. Last year he followed that up with the critically-acclaimed Victim of Love, continuing to show a lost generation the ways of soul. Yesterday Bradley announced his touring plans for 2014 alongside a video of him performing his song, "Confusion" live on Soundcheck. Tour dates can be found after the video.
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Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires Tour Dates
Feb 05 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
Feb 06 Providence, RI - The Columbus Theatre
Feb 07 Boston, MA - House of Blues (with Galactic)
Feb 08 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory (with Galactic)
Feb 22 Wellington, New Zealand - NZ Festival (James Cabaret)
Feb 23 Wellington, New Zealand - NZ Festival (James Cabaret)
Feb 25 Perth, Australia - Perth Festival
Feb 28 Adelaide, Australia - Adelaide Festival (Free Opening Night Festival)
Mar 01 Canberra, Australia - National Portrait Gallery (Enlighten Canberra - FREE)
Mar 02 Sydney, Australia - The Basement
Mar 03 Sydney, Australia - The Basement
Mar 04 Brisbane, Australia - The HiFi
Mar 06 Melbourne, Australia - Corner Hotel
Mar 07 Melbourne, Australia - Melbourne Zoo Twilights
Mar 08 Meredith, VIC, Australia - The Golden Plains Festival
Mar 09 North East Tasmania, Australia - Panama Fest
Mar 12 Singapore - Mosaic Music Festival
Apr 22 Cleveland, OH - The Beachland Ballroom
Apr 23 Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig
Apr 24 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
Apr 25 Nashville, TN - Exit/In
Apr 30 Austin, TX - Stubb’s
May 01 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
May 02 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 03 Houston, TX - Houston International Festival
May 09 - May 11 Atlanta, GA - Shaky Knees Music Festival
May 15 San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom
May 17 Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre
May 18 Dana Point, CA - Doheny Blues Festival
May 29 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound