[Video] Disclosure Lets The Fire Burn At Coachella 2014
Photo by Chris Garmon
Unless you've been living under a rock, you're very aware of last weekend's mega festival in the desert, Coachella. This year seemed to be the year of the special guest appearances. For example, Nas brought out Jay and Puffy, Queen Bey danced around supporting her sister Solange, Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg joined Pharrell on stage, Chance The Rapper brought out Justin Bieber, and we finally got to see Outkast back together, who themselves were joined by Janelle Monae and Future. RH favorites Disclosure was not going to be left behind as they also brought out some of their special friends to one of the best sets from the festival, bringing out Sam Smith, Mary J.Blige, and Aluna Francis (of Aluna George) to the stage during their featured songs. The UK brothers have been killing it since they dropped their debut album Settle last year and haven't looked back as they've been performing non-stop and appearing on talks shows and award shows all over the world.
Settle was pretty much on everyone's top albums list of 2013 (including ours), and with good reason. I pretty much had it on repeat for six months, and like many others, I couldn't get enough of their infectious production. I was lucky to be able to catch them during their tour stop in Austin this past January (check out the photos). I've seen a lot of DJ/producer sets, and Disclosure is definitely on the top of my list after seeing them live. If you are a fan or have yet to see them, check out their full set at Coachella below and don't be afraid when you end up dancing around your desk.
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Pharrell Signs to Columbia, Announces Solo Album
As everyone has been talking 'best of the year' as 2013 comes to a close, it's safe to say few people in music had as much of an impact from January to December than the genius himself, Pharrell Williams. Today, the producer interestingly announced his signing with Columbia Records, along with plans for a solo album, which according to Complex will include the song "Happy", for which Pharrell put together a 24-hour music video for. For now, a release date is simply sometime in 2014.
It's odd that at this point in his career Pharrell would make a move like this. For one, artists with drastically less resources and money are skirting record labels and finding great success (see: Chance The Rapper). The other side of things is the fact that we've never heard a solo album from the former N.E.R.D. frontman. Hooks, sure. Playing a show at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago a couple of months ago while on tour with Waka Flocka Flame, Borgore and Steve Aoki, Pharrell simply walked about the stage first singing Frontin', a song that was my Virgin Mobile ringtone back in eighth grade before launching into a series of hooks that he sang between the recorded verses he book-ended. Perhaps it was this experience of realizing he forgot to save some beats for himself that prompted the move. Whatever the case, this just became one of the most anticipated releases heading into the new year.
[Video] Azealia Banks: "ATM Jam"
Azealia Banks' Pharrel Williams-produced single "ATM Jam" got a video treatment with a colorful affair courtesy of director Rony Alwin. Give it a look for yourself below.
[Sunday Coffee Sipper] Reflecting on the BET Hip Hop Awards
On October 16 in Los Angeles, California Rap music's elite showed out for the annual BET Hip Hop Awards, commemorating the best of all things hip-hop in the past year. Kendrick Lamar cleaned up, hauling in five awards including best album and lyricist of the year while Jay-Z, Big Sean and the rest of hip-hop's governing body took turns patting each other on the back. For today's Sunday Coffee Sipper I break down the list of winners from several of the categories and decide who I would have picked from the very small group of nominees that were available for the awards, enjoy!
Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake "Started From The Bottom": I literally thought this was the most bogus video I had seen until Chief Keef's "Love No Thotties" premiered this week. Seriously though, you're not making it any easier to legitimize the "Started From The Bottom" mantra with the opening scene of a Toronto youth soccer game played in a bubble, or perhaps it's the perfect metaphor. The fake snow, all white everything convertible dance scene is just downright goofy, as is the Wal-Mart confetti-strewn dance party. Drake had a lot of dance parties at the bottom. Where is 'here' anyway? Could be anywhere. Ah, Drake, they'll love whatever you do.
Who Should Have Won: Kendrick Lamar – ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’
Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo, Duo or Group): A$AP Rocky f/ 2 Chainz, Drake & Kendrick Lamar "Problems": Of the nominations, this was an easy favorite for the best collaboration of the year. Featuring the top names in hip-hop today and a blistering verse from K Dot it stood head and shoulders above even Ace Hood and Future's summer banger "Bugatti" and J. Cole and Miguel's "Power Trip".
Best Live Performer: Jay-Z: Not sure about the nomination or the win on this one. Jay-Z is certainly a pillar of hip-hop, but there are plenty of better live acts around the country that could have vied for the title, even outside of the nominees. Granted, Jay-Z proved to be a step ahead of the competition in the crafting of a different live set idea with his "Picasso Baby" art installation, a wholly different take on hip-hop as an accepted artform. Regardless, I can't help but feel there was a better choice to be had.
Who Should Have Won: J. Cole/2 Chainz
Lyricist of the Year: Kendrick Lamar: They probably didn't need to announce this one. Between good kid, m.A.A.d. city, the much-talked about verse on Big Sean's "Control" and a host of outstanding features throughout the year, Kendrick cemented himself as the lyricist to match in 2013. The "Control" verse in general, in which he called out the other top names in the game, nestled Kendrick firmly in the upper echelon of hip-hop artists today.
Album of the Year: Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid m.a.a.d. City: Again, a fairly easy choice as the top rap album of 2013. Kendrick finally emerged from Section 80 to the big leagues with his chart-topping album that, as stated earlier, vaulted him from one of the new guys to the forefront of everything happening from here on out.
Producer of the Year: Mike Will Made It: It's hard to be too upset with this decision, Mike Will Made it had some of the year's biggest songs, using his enormous drum ensembles to shake the walls of clubs from coast to coast with songs like"No Lie" by 2 Chainz, "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J, "Pour It Up" by Rihanna and "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus. They weren't the best songs of the year, but they topped the charts. I can't forgive him for allowing Cyrus to don a Michael Jordan jersey while twerking in their "23" collaboration, though. In comparison, Pharrell did songs with Jay-z, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke and Daft Punk.
Who Should Have Won: Pharrell Williams
Track of the Year: "Started From The Bottom," produced by Mike Zombie and Noah "40" Shebib: Can't even lie about it, this song was not the best track of the year, by any means. Drake's attempt at convincing listeners that watched him as Jimmy on Degrassi that he, "started from the bottom" was ill-conceived and uninteresting. Sure, the beat and hook get stuck in your head, but is that all it takes to have a hot track? Of course, you catch more fish with a larger net and most of the nominees for each category were held to roughly the same six characters. That makes for a small net.
Who Should Have Won: ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’ – Produced by Sounwave (Kendrick Lamar)
Best Mixtape: Big Sean, Detroit: This one just didn't make sense. In a category that included a host of independent artists including Chance The Rapper and Travi$ Scott, this would have been the perfect opportunity for BET to sway towards the up and coming, essentially the heart of hip-hop today. Instead, the crown for best mixtape was given to Big Sean's Detroit, making for an un-inspirational win for the G.O.O.D. Music star.
Who Should Have Won: Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap
Who New? Rookie of the Year: A$AP Ferg: This is deserved. Trap Lord was easily one of the hottest releases of a packed summer of new music and Ferg showed that the buzz surrounding him and his major debut release was no fluke. With co-signs from just about everyone in the game right now, the award was fitting. Tough competition here, too, with Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson and Joey Bada$$ rounding out the nominees.
MVP of the Year: Kendrick Lamar: Honestly, he could have taken most of the awards with the competition BET stacked up against Kendrick. More than anyone else, Lamar and his TDE crew have brought about a sound and a mentality that had been lacking in hip hop as of late. As he made it known on that fateful "Control" verse, this is now Kendrick's game, and everyone has to step up.
Aokify America Tour feat. Steve Aoki, Pharrell & more
The folks over at REACT Presents just keep raising the bar. Today, they announced Steve Aoki’s Aokify America Tour with a sort of instructional baking video from Aoki himself. The tour is a Fall monster, with supporting acts Borgore, Wacka Flocka Flame and Pharrell! The tour comes through the UIC Pavilion with the full lineup. The REACT crew released a video of Steve Aoki baking a cake, just to get everyone going. Tickets available HERE.Read more
[Video] Pharrell Interviews Nardwuar
And the tables have turned. While at SXSW Nardwuar, who now works for Pharrell at I Am Other, got to interview Skateboard P in typical "Doot Doola Doot Doo" fashion. Yet, after his classic catchphrase ended Pharrell took to a microphone of his own and began to interview the human serviette himself. Definitely a classic moment, and the 17 minute clip is must watch the whole way through. I'm surprised this hasn't happened before, but it's only right for P to do this one. Stream below.
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First Look: Chester French
"The idea here is sort of that the music speaks for itself," says Max, one half of the Star Trak signed Chester French. "We'd sort of prefer people know the music before they know anything about us. That way they can judge it as music, without biases."
So far, we know this much of Max and D.A. of Chester French. They are named after a famous sculpture, met at Harvard, got the attention of Pharrell Williams and signed to Star Trak/Interscope. Their first single, "She Loves Everybody", tells the story of a girl who gets around the scene, and its packaging implies just how D.A. and Max interact with her. Chester French are currently readying their debut LP, and just finished a tour with Common and N*E*R*D. We caught up with the duo to find out more. Check out this first look as Chester French talk Ivy League musicians, pop music, and leaving Los Angeles.
RubyHornet: So, how many interviews start off with a question about going to Harvard (not including this one)? Does that ever get annoying?
D.A: Most of them start by asking how we got started, which inevitably includes some mentions of Harvard. That doesn't get annoying because it always affords us the opportunity to insinuate that we're geniuses.
RubyHornet: Do Ivy League groups stick together? You ever talk to Naledge and Double-O of Kidz In The Hall? Related question, anyone confuse either of you for Asher Roth?
D.A.: We met the Kidz in The Hall in Texas last year. They were nice guys. We don't get confused for Asher, unfortunately. We'd probably get some of his residual girls if they did....
RubyHornet: Your first single was packaged like a condom. In terms of presentation of your material, has that always been a thought of yours along with the music, or has that come since joining Interscope and making music on a higher visibility level?
D.A.: We've always tried to entertain our supporters and uninitiated listeners as much as possible. If we can have fun with our packaging, style, etc, we try to!
RubyHornet: You are signed to Star Trak, which may first make people think of you guys as a Hip Hop duo. How would you describe the music that you make? Does Hip Hop fit in anywhere into the equation?
D.A.: Hip Hop has been a major influence on us as musicians and playazzzz4lyfe. We describe our music as Pop because we try to make songs that anyone can appreciate and enjoy.
RubyHornet: "She Loves Everybody" is the big single that has introduced the music world to Chester French. What was the deciding factor to go with that song?
D.A.: People really seemed to instantly "get" it. And DJ's can bump it for rumps to hump in da clubz.
Max: It was the first song on our Myspace page. It chose itself by virtue of that placement.
RubyHornet: The song appears to be about a girl that gets around the scene. The dude knows she gets around, but still can't shake her. That's definitely
something a lot of guys can relate to. Did that come from personal experience? Any tips for our male readers when dealing with a girl that "Loves Everybody"?
D.A.: It came from personal experience. The only tip I can offer is the obvious one.
RubyHornet: You recently went on tour with Common and N*E*R*D. Did watching the crowd react to Common or N*E*R*D leave any lasting impressions on you guys that you can apply to your growth and stage show?
D.A.: Absolutely. Pharrell and Common are both amazingly energetic and engaging front men. They both had great bands. Both elements were inspiring.
Max: People went to those shows to have fun and show love for the performers. It was a great environment to be working on our show in.
RubyHornet: You were living in LA, then moved out. What was the deciding factor in leaving Los Angeles? How did living there affect your view of the music industry? Did you see any affects (good or bad) on your music or creative process?
D.A.: We just got tired of L.A. and of paying rent when we were on tour a lot of the time. We got to see the music industry from the inside there a bit, and the only conclusion I left with was that it's easier and more fun to create outside of that world.
RubyHornet: Would you describe your relationship as Stockton/Malone, or more Shaq/Kobe, or insert your own famous duo here.
D.A.: Rodman - Louganis.
Max: Agreed.
RubyHornet: What's up next for Chester French as '08 goes into '09? Tell our readers a little bit about the LP.
D.A.: We're getting really excited about putting it out and finally letting people hear what we do. We'll be touring a lot after that, I imagine.
Max: Our LP has thirteen songs on it, and only 8 of them suck. It's amazing.
RubyHornet: Lastly, for some of our readers, this will serve as an introduction. What are three things you want listeners to know about Chester French before going to check out more of your music?
Max: The idea here is sort of that the music speaks for itself. We'd sort of prefer people know the music before they know anything about
us. That way they can judge it as music, without biases. That said, it'd be cool if people knew we wrote, produced, and engineered pretty
much the whole thing ourselves. Yep. Yar. WHOA! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!