[Review] Kodie Shane Drops "Zero Gravity" EP
After first seeing the video for "All In", I was curious as to who the girl rapping is. I would later find out that her name is Kodie Shane. As an official member of Lil Yachty's "Sailing Team", Kodie officially released her EP, Zero Gravity, and it looks like she's planning on sailing into 2017 with the purpose of making a name for herself musically.
Kodie opens her EP with "Drip In My Walk", a Lil Uzi Vert style flow over the signature Sailing Team Rugrats inspired track. I'll be honest, I'm not sure I know what having a "Drip In My Walk" means, but you can bounce to it. Sometimes this is all that matters.
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Unfortunately, a lot of hip-hop purists will have to come to terms with the fact that the song "Sad" featuring Lil Yachty is the standout track on this EP - and it sounds really good. Yachty taps into his inner Fetty Wap and delivers a solid effort over a very smooth, but bouncy "Emo Anthem". This sounds like something that's going to bang during lots of radio night shows, and a few lounge and club scenes I'm sure.
"Can You Handle It" shows more of Kodie Shane on an R&B wave, even more so than "Sad". It's a great melody that you can ride to. I'm not mad at the inner R&B Diva in Kodie Shane.
The Sailing Team is going to coast into 2017 and this EP is going to calm the waters. Kodie Shane is likable. Her look, charisma and potential are enough to keep fans interested in a time where music is lucky to be hot for a week. I personally would like to hear more singing from Kodie Shane. Rapper Kodie Shane needs to get on a project with Lil Uzi Vert; It would just make sense after hearing "Zero Gravity"
While listening to "Zero Gravity" you will notice that a lot of the hooks, cadences and lyrics get extremely repetitive ["Losing Service" as a prime example] and you're not really getting anything "new" when it comes to style, flow, production or content. The truth is we are in an era that doesn't really care that much about all that.
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Kode Shane "Zero Gravity" EP https://itun.es/us/-JaAgb
“SAD” FEAT. LIL YACHTY
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/Sad_iTunes
Apple Music: http://smarturl.it/Sad_AM
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/Sad_Sptfy
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/Sad_GP
Amazon Digital: http://smarturl.it/Sad_Dig
Deezer: http://smarturl.it/Sad_Dzr
Soundcloud: http://smarturl.it/Sad_SC
Tidal: http://smarturl.it/Sad_Tidal
Mobb Deep's "Hell on Earth" Album Anniversary
Many conversations were had on this topic between myself and others this year. The question is which album and artist suffered most after "Hit Em Up" dropped? My Stance: Nobody took a L bigger than Mobb Deep in all this. Not even Chino XL.
It’s November 19, 1996 and Mobb Deep dropped their third [yes 3rd] album, Hell On Earth, and from a career standpoint that became symbolic to this period of time.
In '96, an album with Method Man, Raekwon, Nas and Havoc’s production on Loud Records would have been deemed an instant classic for anyone; Especially for a group that put out a certified classic the year before. However, an unstoppable force buried this album, and it’s dopeness. That force was the angry wrath of Tupac Shakur.
By November 19th of 1996, All Eyez on Me was given the crown as album of the year in hip-hop. “Hit Em Up” was being mentioned as the greatest diss of all time, and Pac had been dead for 2 months. Outside of Lil Kim's catalog, the Makaveli album was the only album anyone spoke on. Add that to a group that was now known for being added to Pac’s “Fawk You List” and it was anything but easy for the Mobb to keep momentum going.
"L.A, L.A" was a decent set of jabs while everybody was living. It would also go on to be added to the debut album for Capone-N-Noreaga in 1997.
“Drop A Gem on Em”, the Pac Diss was a featured song and rumored to have a video was stifled because of Pac’s death. At that time in hip-hop it wasn’t cool to speak on the dead. Making diss tracks aimed at a person that couldn’t respond wasn’t honorable. Looking back, it appears that neither Loud Records nor Mobb Deep had a promotional plan in place after Pac passed. Sadly they never mended the fence that the biggest rapper in the world tore down prior to his death.
This album is dope! It’s vicious, melodic, even spooky. “Man Down”, “More Trife Life” and “Get Dealt Wit” are bright gems on the track list. Havoc is a much better emcee on this album, yet it’s critical acclaim and gold status by spring of 1997 couldn’t help its placement in hip-hop memories. This is also one of the first releases to have the “Enhanced CD” that you had to “Put into your CD ROM” to get the “bonus content”. Havoc sampled Tony’s Theme from Scarface on the album. He might have been the first to do that.
Much like the young people understand today, It’s hard to get positive, progressive press when the number 1 rapper in the game doesn’t like you. What Mobb Deep understands better than anybody is how to try to drop an album after that rapper dies.
Media and Music moved a lot slower in 96 and I think Mobb Deep got it worse than Biggie, Junior Mafia, Jay and Nas. Unfortunately in 1996, The people remember:
Oh yeah, Mobb Deep: you wanna f**k with us?
You little young-a$$ motherfu**ers
Don’t one of you ni**as got sickle-cell or something?
You’re fu**ing with me, ni**a
You f**k around and catch a seizure or a heart attack
You better back the f**k up
Before you get smacked the f**k up
and hardly anyone remembers
Havoc
You yell my name, that’s only giving me props
Plus the fans that you got wondering what’s got you hot
It’s too not, knocked out the box and got rocked
Got raped on the Island, you officially got
Kick that thug s**t, Vibe magazine on some love s**t
Keep it real kid, cause you don’t know who you fu**ing withAnd Prodigy with his “Dry Snitch-esque” Bars like.
My rebellion, retaliate, I had the whole New York state
Aiming at your face at the gate
Bottom line off top soon as you came through
Shots flew, don’t even know the half of my crew
I got a hundred strong arm ni**as ready to rock your s**t
Clocks tick, your days are numbered in low digitsand
When you see my clique you need to run behind shit
You got a gat you better find it
And use that s**t, think fast and get reminded
Of robberies in Manhattan, you know what happened
60 G’s worth of gun clapping
Who shot ya? You probably screamed louder than an opera
New York got ya, now you wanna use my mob as a crutch
What you think you can’t get bucked again?
Once again
Pac dying was the “East Coast vs West Coast Beef” going too far and unfortunately Mobb Deep dropping in November after his demise and after the Makaveli album didn’t help their cause on either end. Although the summer of '96 was huge, I truly want to know if Mobb Deep tried to push this album up.
Respect to both Mobb Deep and Hell On Earth. A dope body of work that dropped too late. Click here for more Mobb content on Ruby Hornet.
The Boy Illinois releases "Memories" from upcoming project Home Court Advantage
The Boy Illinois might be on tour with Lupe right now, but that's not stopping his creative process! He just dropped off a new joint called "Memories" and it's of the same quality you now expect from The Boy Illinois.
Memories is laying the groundwork for Illinois forthcoming release "Home Court Advantage". Bringing a classic lyrical fun feeling that has been lost in hip hop. Illi creates a story, placing the listener in a setting where you can visualize everything he spits, from riding the "L" (CTA Train), to not making money yet creating opportunities. A short song with a plethora of lessons and life combined, Memories takes you back to dope punch lines like "Hit a lick like I never had a PayPal." With a catchy hook & mid tempo flow, The Boy Illinois effortlessly states his claim of being righteous but all about success, money, being the best and coming up with his team from day one.
Vic Mensa performs private show for Summer of Collaboration
Summer of Collaboration presented by AT&T partnered with Vic Mensa for a private show at Chicago's AT&T Michigan Ave store with street photographer Vivian Maier’s.
Maier was street photography’s best kept secret. Maier worked as a nanny in the Chicago suburb North Shore in the late 1990’s. That's where while working she took what would become some of the best street photography.
Maier’s work almost never saw the light of day if it wasn’t for Chicago artist John Maloof. Maloof purchased Maier’s extensive work at an auction. He found an extensive amount of film, negatives, and prints of hundred rolls of film, home movies, and audio tape interviews that all belonged to Maier.
Maloof hosted a presentation going over Maier’s mysterious life and talking about her work and the impact surrounding it. Described as a Mary Poppin’s type, this introverted photographer opened her subjects up in the most beautiful way.
Chicago rapper Vic Mensa when up on stage admired Maloof’s courage and passion for being bold and fearless. Mensa was set to perform only three songs but added an additional for go measure. He performed: 16 Shots, Shades of Blue, There’s Alot Going On, and U Mad.
We recently caught Vic Mensa at The Vic Theater while on his "There’s Alot Going On" Tour. While at the Summer of Collaboration event we witnessed a side of Mensa that most music fans don’t. Pegged as a south side rapper and Kanye West pupil, Mensa is keeping busy with work outside the studio.
Vic Mensa has been politically active when it’s come to personal issues. Vic Mensa participated in the Laquan McDonald demonstrations. He also volunteered at Flint, Michigan during their water crisis. Vic urges young voters to register to vote by offering his latest EP “There’s ALot Going On” for free when they registered to vote.
Vic Mensa made sure his personal efforts were made clear as the Roc Nation rapper treated fans to a stadium caliber performance. With so few attending the private event, from seeing the incredible photographs from Maloof and seeing one of best in the city with Vic Mensa, the Summer of Collaboration was one of the purest ways to end the summer off right.
View our photo gallery of Vic Mensa’s Summer of Collaboration event below!
[Review] Mad Decent Block Party returns to Chicago
Diplo’s Mad Decent Block Party returned to Chicago despite negative feedback from previous years. This year hosted in Chicago’s heart of the Museum Campus, Northerly Island, Mad Decent definitely received a much needed facelift. On the shore of Lake Michigan, Diplo headlined the event at the First Merit Bank Pavilion. The beautiful city skyline was a perfect match as the background met the sounds of Mad Decent.
Surprise electric Chicago duo artists Louis The Child joined the lineup, making them the only Chicago based artist to Mad Descent’s stop in Chicago. The duo worked the growing crowd with there headlining caliber set list.
The clear fan favorite was pop mega star Kesha. The fans came in droves to see the new leased on life artist. With support from The Creepies. Kesha didn’t disappoint the crowd with her crowd pleasing performance of TiK Tok, Your Love Is My Drug, and Take It Off. Despite her recent legal issues Kesha’s performance speak for itself. Currently on tour, Kesha hasn’t lost her groove leaving Mad Decent fans with a rock out set.
Rae Sremmurd’s short career is met with discussion of their successful hip-hop longevity. The Mississippi brothers have proven time and again their place in today’s hip-hop discussion with record breaking single from No Flex Zone, No Type, and Come Get Her. Festival fans were treated with a hip-hop thrill ride. The non-stop energy seeped through the crowd as the duo of brothers didn’t stop giving an energy packed performance from start to finish. Definitely one of the biggest take away from Mad Decent is seeing these young hungry hip-hop artists.
Mad Decent creator and one of the biggest faces in electric music, Diplo closed off the night. Diplo a true music jack of all traits kept the Mad Decent crowd going into the night with a mixture of electric, hip-hop, and house classics. Diplo’s long list of hit records were present with performances from Where Are U Now, Revolution, and Take U There. The music master had incredibility balanced all type of electric music from trap, big room house, reggaeton, and moombaton.
Minor setbacks from the volume to time in-between sets didn’t hinder the fact that Mad Decent found it’s footing in Chicago.
A true treat Diplo had in store for Chicago was hiss final five minutes of his set. After thanking Chicago for it’s day one fans he ended his set with Chicago house and juke jams. A true appreciation for Chicago's music scene we’d love to see Mad Decent and Diplo come back bigger then before.
Mad Decent Block Party Chicago 2016 - Photos
Spring Awakening Music Festival same thrills, new location
The fifth anniversary of the mega popular Midwest electric music festival Spring Awakening has found its signature groove despite a slew of location setbacks. This year, the festival definitely did not disappoint for its anniversary celebration.
Past Spring Awakening attendees were accustomed to the stadium-size electric mecca at Chicago’s Soldier Field. With the move to the Addams/Medill Park on Chicago’s near west side community, Spring Awakening transformed the grass-laden fields into the best place in Chicago for electronic music.
With over one hundred acts performing this year, attendees were treated to some of the best artists in electronic dance music.
Day 1
Closing off the first night were some of the biggest recognizable names in electronic music, respectively. Steve Aoki brought his crazy antics and energy filled set to the Windy City, along side with his signature cake throwing. Electronic music bad boy Deadmau5 stole the show though, with his progressive house music anthems and crowd pleasing set. We last saw Deadmau5 in his long awaited return back to Chicago at Reaction NYE.
There were many signature moments from other artists, including Dillon Francis, Borgore, Flux Pavilion, and Jamie XX. Francis later crashed the middle of Deadmau5’s set to add to the already existing friendly melodic environment.
At Spring Awakening, the catchy beats and emotionally charged songs were met with individual fans who, collectively, grooved together. In a closed off space, Spring Awakening was still able to feel more tight knit. The distance between the stages was closer than previous years. This helped festival goers witness all that the Spring Awakening had to offer when it came to visiting each stage, and festival attraction like the Ferris wheel or the large water slide.
Day 2
Heavy hitters like Chicago’s own Kaskade, and a stable of electronic artists from Carnage, Nicky Romero, A-Track, and ShowTek all took over the second night of Spring Awakening. We also saw numerous memorable moments from the smaller branded stages throughout the three-day festival.
A-Track showcased his champion style of DJing and scratches that seemed nearly impossible. Due to an overheated laptop A-Track’s set was stopped abruptly as he to rallied up the crowd with friendly Chicago banter like not putting ketchup on hot dogs. He later thanked the crowd for not leaving while getting things started again.
With no other notable tech slip ups during the three-day festival, Spring Awakening held its own against the heat. The temperature played a factor during Spring Awakening weekend. With teasing reports of rain, Spring Awakening was prepared for the heavy heat by providing free water filled stations, CTA buses that were used for festival goers to cool off, and three tented stages that provided some much needed shade.
Acts like Above & Beyond, Chainsmokers, and Crystal Castles ended the final night on a high note. The well balanced lineup gave an opportunity for many to enjoy the different types of electronic music.
Day 3
The final day saw a well-balanced mixture of artist from trap to even traditional house music. House legend Green Velvet had a special set that many festival fans will rave about for years to come. Velvet's set was filled with throwbacks and classical house jams.
A touching display to note were the moments of silence that both the Chainsmokers and Above and Beyond held for the Orlando victims from the mass shooting that occurred just night before. This was a somber moment that, even during a three-day music festival, reminded its festival goers the human side of the issue.
Ending on a high note, Spring Awakening, despite its rocky first announcements and venue location change, was able to pull off another memorable experience for Chicago’s electronic music scene.
Chicago Music & Ruby Hornet: Artists feature and a chance to record at Pressure Point Studio
Chicago Music and Ruby Hornet are looking to select 10 ReverbNation artists to showcase in front of local labels and A&R representatives. All selected artists will receive a photoshoot and feature on both Chicago Music and Ruby Hornet. One (1) artist will also be given the chance to record a 1 or 2 song demo at Pressure Point Studios in downtown Chicago.
You already have a ReverbNation account? Great, you’re halfway there. Just visit our page on ReverbNation (a convenient link has been placed at the bottom of this post) and submit your profile to us for review. Chicago Music is an equal opportunity promoter. We do not discriminate genre. In fact, we welcome diversity with open arms.
Let’s say you don’t already have a ReverbNation account. Get one! The ability to submit your work to Chicago Music isn’t the only perk. ReverbNation is a great place for artists to build fan bases and community among other musicians.
Artist Submissions Here
Singer Lloyd achieves major educational milestone
Graduation season is once again upon us and as students across the nation walk across their school’s stage and receive their diplomas, they’re sharing the good news with their friends and family online. But this graduation season, those students, both old and young, are not alone because R&B singer Lloyd recently revealed to the world that he just earned his GED.
Lloyd shared the big news this weekend, posting a series of photos on his Instagram page. In the photos he donned a red cap and gown and posed with family and friends. According to reports, the 30-year-old singer received his GED during Therrell High School’s graduation ceremony last week in Georgia.
Photo credit: Instagram – @curlyheadedblackboy
“Congrats to my fellow #graduates!!! Was nice meeting you and your families and may you all enjoy this moment in time! Photo: Class of 2016 Hair & makeup by: #Determination Cap & Gown by: #Dedication Smile by: @curlyheadedblackboy,” Lloyd wrote in the caption.
Photo Credit: Lloyd’s Instagram (@curlyheadedblackboy)
“Where would I be without the ones who’ve supported me? #graduates #diploma #familyfirst,” Lloyd captioned the photo.
Lloyd first spoke about his journey to obtain his GED last October when he made a post on Instagram revealing that he dropped out of school and signed his first recording contract at 17. Lloyd shared that he’d always wanted to go back to school and was happy to be closing an old chapter in his life.
“Sometimes, moving forward involves taking a step backwards. … When I moved to New York to sign my first record deal, I promised my 17-year-old self that I would return to school to finish my education. I am neither ashamed nor embarrassed to say that I’ve taken my first step towards that goal. Thanks to the support of friends and family, I’m ready to go back & finish what I’d started. Firsthand, moneymaking experience is great and, in most cases, is what we go through years of school for anyway, but I just HAD to go back for my GED so I could at least show myself & others that there is no shame nor regret to be had or felt when you are making a conscience effort to become a better you. A sneaky little paparazzi caught me studying in my room. Thought I’d share … Y’all have a great week !” Lloyd wrote in the post.
By December, Lloyd shared that he’d finally earned his GED.
Photo credit: Instagram – @curlyheadedblackboy
Now, we see that he was not only able to graduate, but obtained his diploma as well. We’re happy that Lloyd decided to go back to school and we hope he inspires others towards the truth that it’s really never too late to get an education.
Article Originally Published by our friends at Rolling Out.