Listen: Juice - @KeysEra_ ; A Niles P. Joint

Keys Era is not going to slow down anytime soon.  GOOD.  While prepping for the release of her first EP 11 which will be released in December and her eventual 2016 untitled mixtape, she released another gem via SoundCloud.  Juice gives the listener two looks as it uses the relaxed, 90’s inspired beat while the Chester, PA emcee switches up her flow.  Keys spits more nimbly than she has before, which is akin to a pitcher adding a fastball to their arsenal.  The topic of juice holds much weight within the lyrics.  Keys Era is advocating people coming together and sharing their knowledge gained from struggles and life in general with each other.  This can then can be passed to the next generation, ensuring humans are more woke in the future.  She feels that she has said juice and wants to allot it to those around her.  There’s a lot going on in a song that’s a shade over two and a half minutes but it streams excellently.  

On her first song via Soundcloud, Keys Era proclaimed that she was on her lazy shit and now she’s sharing the juice with anyone who wants to listen (which should be everyone because she’s dope.)  Her growth as an artist has been remarkable in a short period of time, and she’s just getting warmed up.  Check out Juice after the break and stay tuned as WTM will have more Keys Era coverage in the future as she releases songs and albums.

Listen: Guillotine Flow - @BIGKRIT & @rapsody (prod by @9thwonder)

Two of the best in the game colloborated to murder a beat done by 9th Wonder.

Last week Big K.R.I.T. grabs Rapsody kill a brand new track Guillotine Flow. The title is fitting. Two weeks back the King of the South impressed us with a surprise mixtape It's Better This Way that Zuri reviewed here. Not sure if this didn't make the cut or if it's just a loosie. Either way it's a blessing for the people. Opinionated but once again Rapsody does more than hold her own but outshines her peers on another feature. You can judge that yourself. Listen to Guillotine Flow after the break.

Listen: Understand - @Olawumiii (prod by @SOUNDSBYNOVA)

Track one of Olawumi's #thefeels released yesterday.

The Queen's newest NOVA produced song is titled Understand. These two always make awesome music together and the trend continues. This song was the unknown track I mentioned in the Editor's Picks lasts week. You can really see her progression and growth as a singer and songwriter. Less repetition, great song structure, and vocal development will make Olawumi a force to be reckoned with for a long time. Listen to Understand after the break and stay tuned for her next releases.

Watch: These Walls - @KendrickLamar feat. @annathewise @Bilal & @Thundercat

Its been while since we last heard from Kendrick Lamar and out from left field he goes and releases his video for These Walls. 

Comedian Corey Holcomb narratives this wild tale of a house party gone wrong or well depending on who you were. The video is similar to the i video in terms of lighting and mood. It offers some comical scenes and other times confusion. Why is he hitting that Quan with Terry Crews? Who is Miss Thickie who behind strong enough to throw you through walls? And how did black hippy miss this banger? SZA and Isaiah Rashad made a cameo running around or in bed with a few beautiful women. Either way, the visual is funny and at other times serious. Check out the visual for These Walls after the break.

@Logic301 Preview - The Incredible True Story

Aside from the RattPack, Maryland native Logic has pretty much been slept on by just about everybody.

I first came about Logic when Wale gave him a Twitter cosign along with fellow DMV spitter Phil Ade.  Young Sinatra is coming off a huge success with Under Pressure last year, Logic looks to continue his winning trends with his sophomore studio album The Incredible True Story. Under Pressure didn't necessarily sell well but the public was very receptive of it. iTunes rated it the best hip-hop album of 2014 and it also got the Editor's nod last year for WTM. Logic is also member of the 2013 XXL Freshman class. In my opinion they are the most successful and talented group to come out thusfar so being chosen among his peers that year says a lot about your skills as an emcee and artist overall. The Incredible True Story is slated to release November 13th and can be pre-ordered on iTunes now. To date he's only released two singles, Young Jesus featuring Big Lenbo and Like Woah; both come with your pre-order. Listen to both tracks below and look out for Psychological coming very soon.

Watch: 38 Special - Illa Ghee (@ILLAGHEE2K); A Niles P. Joint

I’m not sure that anyone has built off of an underground buzz better than Illa Ghee.  He had a slept-on album last year in Social Graffiti and turned heads with his seven guest appearances on friend and colleague Sean Price’s posthumous mixtape Songs in the Key of Price.  Now he’s back with the video for 38 Special.  Illa continues his lyrical assault over a malevolent piano-laced track provided by Beat Butcha.  It’s the embodiment of grimy, which is good news for those of us that prefer hardcore rap.  The video is shot on location in Brooklyn, including scenes in front of the Sean Price mural.  Conjointly, any song that samples dialogue from the flick Paid in Full is good in my book.  This is the first song off of his upcoming mixtape Illa Matic which precedes his next solo LP Suede Cigarettes.  Check out the video after the break and stay tuned to WTM for more Illa Ghee coverage in the future.

Listen: 300z - @RapperBigPooh @NottzRaw by @Natural_Nation

It’s the kind of song you think of when you think of the word hip-hop. This was my first time listening to Big Pooh and Nottz  and I was a bit surprised. Immediately, it took me back to a time when I used to stay up all night siting in my room, listening to Nas on repeat. The beat is fairly simple but still carries enough weight and impact that it makes you want to nod your head in unison. Instead, the beat draws your ear towards the lyrics and makes you place more focus on the words . If you're looking for a classic hip-hop tone and sound this track will give you what you need. There is absolutely no reminisce of the type “hip-hop” we have grown used to hearing today. No trap queens in sight.

Watch: Give the Drummer Some - @Caneisthename

Cane is one of the most refreshing emcees I've heard in a long time. 

I recently reviewed his throwback Charles St. Chi tape where he remade a lot of modern classics. Yesterday, The Virginia native released a visual for his own original material, Give the Drummer Some. I was impressed when we saw this performed live but the video is just a sweet. Check out Cane's lyrical wordplay and sick microphone skills after the break.

#RoyalThrone Review: EraNu - @TheRealTyJack

Ty Jackson latest project EraNu is filled with heart filled lyrics, and silky vocals.

He has a soulful, smooth voice reminiscent of the days when Neo-Soul ruled the airways. He sings about some of the stages of love. From feeling that this person is the one, that this love is real. To singing about moving on from a love that has run its course. 

The tape opens up with a self title. Soulfull narrates where most of the actually music is is just scats and humming vocals aside from a verse. Soulfull makes another appearance on track three Nice to Meet You. Gritty rap meets soul. Funny enough the former comes from the latter. Great song structure and catchy. My only issue is Ty Jack doesn't really have a verse and just sings the hook. It sounds like Soulfull featuring Ty Jack and not the opposite. Bri Janet does a nice job singing background. This is followed up by the lead single Slow Jam which I covered here. Bri Janet also makes another appearance on my favorite track Breath Interlude. The way their voices blended together into one lovely fixation was heaven sent. Just two powerful singers that started to match each others notes while sitting in the studio one day, and came out with gold. The message along with their voices is like a cherry on top of a perfect sundae. "Just breath and let it go." The beat is sampled from J. Cole's Can I Holla At Ya? off the first volume of his Truly Yours series in between his rookie and sophomore albums. I Like is another fan favorite. It features A.Lee and takes a fun Chocolate Factory sound. You can play this one at the cookouts for your parents and peers to hit the love slide to.

As much as I love the Neo-Soul old school vibe of the project, I wish he had more fun with this project. It's like he got in the studio with a good producer and ripped whatever track they played. Things don’t always have to have that old school feel to be good. Music can be a great compromise between the new and the old. I felt like he held back. I also think it was short, but nine tracks on a debut is perfect. Ty Jack makes each of these nine songs his. The monologues at the end of the tracks gives him a real identity as an artist and a man. He doesn't waste time trying to sound like anyone else. He is a pure tenor and still takes chances reaching into his upper register and does this flawlessly throughout. There are a few rookie mistakes but they happen. I cant wait to hear future projects and see all his potential fulfilled. The New Jeru Natives are full of talent and Ty Jack is another gem within the camp. Listen to EraNu below after the break.

Listen: Angels - @ChancetheRapper featuring @sabaPIVOT

10 minutes til it starts! Let's get #ChanceOnColbert trending for the release of #Angels

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) October 27, 2015

Fresh off a Colbert Report performance Chance the Rapper wastes little time crafting this masterpiece. Already with an AOTY nomination with his next Surf, this new single is titled Angels for his upcoming project. Frequent collaborator Saba makes an appearance on this fun but super musical track. Listen to Angels after the break.

Watch: Hello - @Adele

You know with this kind of music you never have to say much. You especially keep quiet when you're talking about Adele.

I don't know what it is about singers from the UK but these British artists have pipes. She just dropped a new video for Hello. Mack Wilds makes cameos as her former lover. This one is for the ladies and the sappy lover boys like me. Hello by Adele after the break.

Listen: Nothin' - Kris (@MahnameChrist); A Niles P. Joint

     Earlier this year, T’Nah Apex of Brooklyn was set to release her first EP Mint and throw the obligatory release party.  She had some strong buzz based off of numerous collaborations with the likes of Buckshot and Chelsea Reject.  She was always a staff favorite at WTM and me and my editor Ramsey were always floored by her boundless potential, drawing tentative Lauryn Hill comparisons.  Then for reasons that are still unknown the project and party were cancelled at the last minute.  Compounding the confusion was the fact that she changed her stage name from T’Nah Apex to Kris and denounced some of her former content (particular the 47 symbol used by her former crew Pro Era.)  It was unclear where she was headed musically.

Fortunately for all of her fans and the game in general, Kris has returned and blessed us with new music.  Nothin’ is heavily inspired by the classic track Ain’t Sayin’ Nothin’ New by The Roots.  Kris earns her stripes as a triple threat as she’s the producer in addition to her usual credits as emcee and singer.  She hasn’t lost a step at all after her sabbatical, using a flow that breezes between rapping and singing.  The song is though-provoking and simultaneously easy to groove to.  It’s a great song and will both announce her return and introduce her incredible musical skill set to a new audience.  I hope she builds off this and continues her musical journey.  WTM will be watching her career with great interest.  Check it out after the break.

Review: It's Better This Way @BIGKRIT Written by: @Natural_Nation

Right out the gate Big K.R.I.T. comes hard. I actually had to pause the first track to collect myself before I could continue listening.

I’ve been a K.R.I.T. fan ever since I heard Children Of The World one hot summer weekend on MTV Jams. My friend and I stopped to look at each other when the song ended. The pure fire we had just experienced amidst the 2010 hits of Young Money, Gucci Mane, and Soulja Boy had completely caught us off guard. It was lyrically saturated, full of gumption, and it was SO southern. A combination we’re not used to hearing in mainstream hip-hop.

“I got a chip on my shoulder the size of a boulder.”

Krit brought it all back and hit us with a jazzy and soulful first track entitled King Pt.4 on his new mixtape It’s Better This Way.  I admit it was his typical M.O.A jaded rapper feeling ignored due to restrictive southern rap stereotypes, who was long overdue for mainstream success. A tale we’ve certainly heard from him before. But it’s his raw emotion that forces you to listen to his story time and time again. It’s what leaves you saying…” Damn, why ya’ll do him like that?." You have no choice but to empathize and that is the magic of Krit, a Master storyteller with candy coated words.

The rest of this mixtape is pretty classic Krit. If you are already a listener you won’t be disappointed. If you’re not, you are most certainly late but I won’t hold it against you. This is as good a mixtape as any to hop on the bandwagon. Krit supplies us with the all the juicy 808, seat back, one hand on the steering wheel, gold grill, head nodding tracks we’re looking for. I personally always listen to him in the summer, windows down, music blaring. He manages to encompass all the catchiness of a hit record with all the production and content of a classic record. And he has no problem delivering this to us time and time again. I would imagine this is why he is so frustrated with the industry. The reason why I enjoy this artist has everything to do with the factors I mentioned earlier, when I first heard his music back in 2010. The combination of his style, lyrics, and delivery, hit the center of every target for me. As a musical genre, hip-hop does little to acknowledge the talented rappers of the south. When it comes to naming top rappers/lyricists of almost any decade, how many of those names appear below the Mason-Dixon line? Let’s name the few that mainstream does acknowledge: Lil Wayne, T.I., UGK, Outkast, and depending on who you’re talking to the infamous Jay Electronica ( yes, he is in fact from New Orleans). Long story short when it comes to merit, especially lyrically, this is an area the south gets the once over. From the gate Krit has always had this factor working against him and he’s not shy to say it. Despite that, he doesn't shy away from his roots. His origin is proudly represented in his music and it’s one of the most important aspects of his sound.

The track that stood out most to me was track 8: Into the darkness. It’s a sound I don’t recall hearing from Krit before. It embodied more of a PartyNextDoor vibe. It never lost the Krit flare of course but it was still interesting to hear him experiment with a different sound. Krit also manages to feature a number of different artist on this mixtape. I was surprised to hear Ludacris, and BJ the Chicago Kid was one of my personal favorites on Vanilla Sky. Overall, this body of music gave me everything that I wanted to hear and reminded me once again why my itunes reads 9 albums and 137 song under his name. He may not have the fame or recognition he desires but his effort and talent shows. He’s taken no shortcuts, he’s put in the work and his music is reaching the ears of those who appreciate it and really want to listen. It’s a long road but maybe, ...it’s better this way.

@Natural_Nation’s Favorite Tracks:

[King Pt.4].[How Bout That Money],[Party Tonight],[It’s Better This Way],[Piece of Chain], [Shakem Off]

Stream It's Better This Way below via DatPiff

Watch: One- Esperanza Spalding (@EspeSpalding) on @JimmyKimmel

Esperanza Spalding is her own genre. 

Spalding performed her new song One on Jimmy Kimmel recently and blew me away. I am a new Esperanza Spaulding fan, and it’s because her style can’t be mimicked. Her performance of One is from her upcoming album Emily’s D+ Evolution. While the lyrics seem more like a blues ballad, the electro-jazz sound combined with her falsetto voice takes her audience to another planet. Like the “one” love she talks about in her song, her voice “stops the world and my heart spinning." The lyrics are poetic and it’s complemented with a mysterious composition as well. Puzzling and enticing us, Esperanza has made one hell of a first single that makes her listeners want to come back for more, because only she can deliver it.  Check out the video below and look for my review of her new album soon.

Watch: Girls that Dance - @UncleSego & @MedasinMusic

If you're favorite DJ isn't rockin with Girls That Dance in rotation you need to throw him out like Uncle Phil does Jazzy Jeff.

Medasin and Masego hit the Sego Step and turn a party out for the better in their new visual for Girls That Dance. The track is the first hit single off their Pink Polo EP. Uncle Sego even makes an appearance and makes a phone call at the end of the video. Peep game after the break.

Watch: Fading - @SirElijahBlake

"A lot of these dudes are just really just as talented but it doesn't matter." Wale (regarding artists that are slept on.) Falorin was right in his controversial breakfast club interview yesterday. One of the names that were brought up was Elijah Blake.

I talked about Adrian marcel and Elijah Blake on breakfast club too . And tyrese and tank on my intvw

— Young Olu the Genius (@Wale) October 21, 2015

Since most of you haven't heard I'm here to fill in the blanks. Elijah Blake dropped a new video for Fading off his Shadows and Diamonds album. Dude is super talented and just waiting his turn. In the video he tells the plights of a troubled young woman. Anyways, you can peep the visual below.

#ThrowbackThursday: Paid In Full - @EricBAndRakim; A Niles P. Joint

Sometimes the smallest events can change history.  Legend has it that back in 1985, WBLS DJ Eric B. of Queens was looking for an emcee to rap over his beats.  A friend suggested trekking to Long Island in hopes of linking with Freddie Foxxx.  When they got there, Foxxx wasn’t home.  The friend’s second recommendation was William Griffin, better known as Rakim.  The two recorded an album together at Marley Marl’s home studio that became Paid in Full.  While the historical minutiae seems basic, think about this: one of the best albums in Hip Hop came to be because someone wasn’t home.  All praises due to Freddie Foxxx, he's a tough emcee in his own right.  But if he was home that day, history would’ve been altered and we may have never gotten to know Rakim Allah.

I’m glad things played out the way they did because Eric B. & Rakim wound up changing the game with their debut album.  The first song I Ain’t No Joke is a prime example of this.  Eric B. samples the horns from James Brown’s band and Rakim stakes his claim to lyrical supremacy.  This didn’t just set the tone for the album, it set the tone for the entire genre going forward.  Soul samples have been integral in production and have helped bridge the gap in Black music ever since.  Rakim’s use of internal rhymes delivered in a calm yet authoritative demeanor put him on a higher plateau than the standard 1980’s rapper that were in-your-face loud and used almost exclusively end rhymes.  My Melody has the iconic “Seven Emcees” lyrics that have been often cited as the best and duplicated by rappers paying homage.  If you were a b-boy, I Know You Got Soul was your jam.  It seemingly was made for breakdancing without sacrificing lyrical depth.  Move the Crowd contained some of the earliest bars containing Five Percenter ideology, which became played a massive part in the underbelly of Hip Hop culture.  The title track is also one of the most recognizable among the duo’s biggest hits.  Rakim’s verse serves as an inner monologue as he thinks about getting paid, a most relatable subject. His lyrics are under a minute long but prove that quality trumps quantity as not a bar is wasted.  On the original version the banter between DJ and emcee is legendary and remade constantly.  English duo Coldcut, however, brought the song to the clubs with their remixes that included a vocal sample from Israeli singer Ofra Haza.  This was a novel idea and helped make the concept of the rap remix popular and successful moving forward.  The sampled bassline also came about in other songs.  This bassline infatuation also happened in As The Rhyme Goes On which is the most underrated on the album.  Eric B. Is President was their first single released in 1986.  The sprawling record was the world’s first introduction to this dynamic duo and worked as the album’s penultimate song.  It also drove a wedge of sorts between Eric B. and Marley Marl as the latter claimed he produced the song while the former insists he did and used his mentor as an engineer.  

Speaking of Eric B., he deserves his own special credit for his genius.  While many people take note of Rakim’s wordplay, (and rightfully so,) Eric B. more than complimented the process.  His production style is the epitome of Hip Hop culture in the 1980s.  Any time I hear some older heads go glory days on me and tell me about fun times back in the day, I always have an Eric B. produced instrumental playing as background music as I try to visualize the story.  Even if it’s anachronistic to the narrative, it just works so well as a representation of an entire decade for me.  And besides producing, Eric B. is also a master DJ.  He gets three “solo” instrumental tracks.  Eric B. Is on the Cut and Chinese Arithmetic showcase his ability to use his turntables and mixer as instruments, with the latter using Asian motifs (including what sounds like tea being poured.)  True DJing is a lost art in an increasingly digital age but Eric B.’s scratches are timeless.  The third solo track of his Extended Beat lets you feel every intricacy of his beatmaking skills.

I initially wanted to write about all of the different artists that sampled/interpolated music and lyrics from Paid in Full.  But according to trusty resource WhoSampled.com, that list goes into the hundreds.  Instead of turning in a 20,000 word piece using that topic (that would likely give my editor an aneurism,) I realized something else.  This album is essentially Hip Hop’s answer to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  Eric B. & Rakim made an album that at its most basic level is about the importance of DJing, being the man when it comes to rapping, having a good melody in your rhymes and having soul while rapping and/or breakdancing, being able to move the crowd while onstage, getting paid for all of it, and the audience’s ability to absorb your lyrics.  The four elements of hip hop as many of you may know are rapping, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti.  The first three are covered extensively in the album and the latter is prominently displayed in the video for the album’s opening track.  Eric B. & Rakim have essentially made a love letter to Hip Hop culture as a whole.  Their genius has ignited creative fuses in hundreds, if not thousands, of artists in the years since 1987.  In fact there may only be one other album in history that has even come close to having a similar impact.  But that’s another story for another day.  So instead, just know that Eric B. & Rakim made the most important album in the entire history of Hip Hop.  Point blank, period.

Watch: Based - @ChelseaReject

Been a little bit since we last heard from Chelsea Reject.

A few months go by but she doesn't waste time on her next route. This one is new visual for Based. this is the first we've heard from her since her last project CMPLX which I reviewed here. In Based the duckdown emcee tells us how complex she really is. Find out after the break.

Watch: The Jig - @MikeZombie

A little while back Mike Zombie dropped his visual for The Jig.

Great cinematography as I see why he called it, The Motion Picture. Not much else to be said. Take a trip down in the woods of the 609 and watch The Jig (The Motion Picture) below.

Listen: Violent Life - @5unGxdAmaterasu (@Bandit_SYKEZ & @AIM4murdoc)

On Soundcloud you'll really find a gem or two on your stream or explore page. I follow a million producers because it's interesting to see what they listen to for inspiration. That's how I came about Solpress.

The first track I heard him produce was a track called Temple Water. It reminded me of the countless hours I spent trying to beat a level of Zelda listening to the video game sounds bling through my ear. Those sounds plus hip-hop percussion and a melodic piano made for a somber produced track you could close your eyes and vibe out to.  Solpress' newest track features verses from Sykez & Murdoc and is called Violent Life that you can stream it below. I need y'all to feel this.

Feature: Uncomfortable - @AndyMineo

Christian Rapper Andy Mineo gets his audience out of their comfort zone.

Mineo came out with his sophomore album, Uncomfortable, this month. Some of you are already hesitant to listen to him with the label of  “Christian” rapper. But wait! This guy talks about much more than Wednesday night bible study and the pastor’s Sunday sermon. He gets real with his listeners.

He came out swinging in his first track Uncomfortable by discussing topics like, homosexuality, racism and classism, all the while calling out American culture’s need for instant gratification. He doesn’t hide his feeling on government corruption either in Vendetta.  He boldly voices that “Pac did a lot more for me than Barack,” expressing his frustration with the system but also acknowledging the power that many artists have to make real change. It's safe to say this isn’t your mother’s Christian Rap.

He has a bone to pick with the entertainment industry too. In Rat Race featuring Jon Bellion, he calls out art critics who put labels on his music. His response to them comes in Desperados featuring Mali Music, which is my favorite of the entire album. Mineo tells his listeners the lesson he learned: “The only way you get acceptance, is when you know you don’t need it,” a wise word for anyone striving for acceptance by others. 

But it isn’t all politics and fame with the New York native. He dives into his personal life with tracks like Uptown, a tribute to his hometown of Washington Heights. This track fuses an old school beat with new school content, as Mineo brings up current issues that are facing the city he knows and loves. In Hear My Heart, an ode to his big sister Grace who was born deaf, he unveils their strained connection. He admits that he never learned to sign, and asks her for forgiveness because he put little effort into their relationship while growing up.

On his website Mineo says “My other albums have sounded like playlists. This is more of a focused full-body of music”.  Uncomfortable in particular unpacks Andy’s mind and life. If you want to get to know the man behind the music, this is the album to listen to.  It’s the perfect combination of faith, family, and wit; a combination that anyone can relate to, regardless of what you believe.

Watch: Hotline Bling - @Drake

Flat out, Drake's new video for Hotline Bling is hilarious.

Aside from the small controversy with D.R.A.M., his video for his newest hit has gone viral. In 48 hours time there have been countless memes and gifs making jokes of the Toronto spitter. They've even put the video to the music for the Cosby Show and Elvis Crespo's Suavemente.

After watching the Hotline Bling Video, it's obvious Drake and Kanye West have the same dance instructor

— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) October 20, 2015

Personally, I think the dancing is more reminiscent to Sean Paul and his Like Glue video, but that's just me. Have a laugh and enjoy the video to Hotline Bling below after the break.

 

Listen: Caretaker (extended version) - @ONLY1DRAM featuring @SZA

It's safe to say it's been an eventful week for VA native, D.R.A.M.

Yeah, I feel I got jacked for my record...But I’m GOOD.

— D.R.A.M. not DRAM (@ONLY1DRAM) October 20, 2015

To keep it a buck, I agree with D.R.A.M. The first time I heard Drake's record, Hotline Bling on the radio I thought it was just a cover of the former's hit song Cha Cha. Instead of really debating the issue he got back to work in studio to make an extended version of Caretaker. We first heard it on the Chance the Rapper/Donnie Trumpet & Social Experiment collaboration project Surf which I reviewed awhile back. This time he enlists the talent of Jersey native, SZA. She blesses the remix of this lovely in a response to D.R.A.M. He then adds some new riffs and runs vocally that is similar to the live performance. This is the first single off his upcoming mixtape Gahdamn! which is slated to drop next week. Listen to the extended mix of Caretaker below.

D.R.A.M. at Trillectro '15

First Impression @MikeZombie Written by @Natural_Nation

To say that I am late, when it comes to Mike Zombie, is a complete understatement at this point. A friend mentioned his name to me a while back when the Started From the Bottom track by Drake first dropped.

"You know that song started from the bottom? I know who made that beat, he's from Willingboro." I brushed it off. Who comes to Jersey to find music, especially Willingboro? This was a friend of mine who knew everybody. "What do you need? Oh yeah my uncle can get that for the discount." When you hear that many connects in a lifetime none of them mean much after a certain point. Not too long ago I hear his name pop up again, and again, and again. Then somebody tells me he's signed to OVO. I thought to myself "Wow that was quick!" It's not like I thought that my friend had lied but like I said after hearing so many connects it all kind of blends together. So finally I decide to give my man a listen.

Now I'm not gonna lie, the first thing I heard had my face twisted. I had no idea how I was supposed to write about music I didn't like. But, upon further analysis, I realized the song I was listening to wasn't even his. It was a song he happened to re-post on his Soundcloud. I took a deep breath and wiped my forehead. As of today, the only piece I have had a chance to listen to really give a thorough listen to is Rebel Without a Cause. This is what my opinion will be based off of today.

Right off the bat listening to Rebel without a Cause had my mind turning. Even now I'm having trouble trying to word the questions I was forming. So, anyone who listens to Drake will be able to pick up on a certain sound Mike Zombie has. But the thing that had me intrigued was whether or not that sound came from Mike Zombie or whether it came from Drake. My first thought was to say "Well, damn I hear Drake all throughout this mixtape." But it's more than a possibility that it's really a sound Drake adopted from Mike Zombie. It would be crazy flattering to me but who knows? It's probably not something I would be able to really get a grasp of until I listened to Mike's earlier music.

That being said, there really is something about the sound of this project that I like. It's still rough in the way that artists are rough before they become mainstream and everything is so polished. I don't know if it has to do with the actually sound quality, but it still has that little bit of street that I like. That was same reason I used to listen to Meek. The raw tone gives the album the texture of a mixtape.

Another thing I really love is the fact that he has New Jersey pride, something I feel as though I don't hear very often. Some of that has to do with my personal ignorance about artists from NJ but the other part I believe has to do with NJ lacking popularity. There is this perception that NJ is the armpit of the nation only offering up dirt and foul air. Now, there is something funky going down around exit 52 that I take no parts in. But, anyone from here knows that we're a powerhouse. So, I love the fact that Zombie loudly wears our badge on his arm. In one particular song called Southside Anthem Zombie reps South Jersey to the fullest, touching on divides that most New Jerseyans know all too well.

One of the first tracks that caught my ear was titled They Need to See This. Zombie talks about his experience with becoming someone people need to know as well as his frustrations with the journey. It's a story that's added to every rapper's repertoire but Zombie's version reads more like an anthem. The catchy chorus and lyrical content make it one of those tracks anyone would want to be heard rapping over.  Clearly Mike Zombie is someone to keep an eye on. When I have a broader feel for his music I'll be back to write an update, this was just a teaser. Enjoy.

@Natural_Nation's First Impression: Keep an eye out

What's New with @KanyeWest

Yesterday was a crazy day in the music world. There were lots of surprise releases of videos and new material from a lot of artists. The biggest surprise was with Kanye West.

I always thought it was interesting seeing mainstream artists on soundcloud. When I think of the streaming service I think about underground acts of all genres and how gems can be found out of the rubble. 

soundcloud is awesome cuz there are so many people on there with over a million plays that youve never heard of

— HOLLYWOOD HEF HOGAN (@hefstradamus) October 19, 2015

With that being said it's interesting seeing the culture change with someone like Yeezy joining the soundcloud wave. His production and sampling is unrivaled and it'll be interesting to see how that continues as time goes on. Until then, Ye dropped two new tracks yesterday. The first is a remix to Say You Will featuring Caroline Shaw. The 808's hit was done justice and is better than the original. Caroline Shaw's vocals and autotune was perfect for the new production. The second is titled When I See It. The beat is from The Weeknd's Tell Your Friends which was produced by Yeezus himself. Music is usually emotion influenced, so I'm curious what inspired Kanye to revisit these old tunes.Click the links to enjoy the music as I have.

Watch: Waves - @Miguel

We all know Miguel is on the quirkier side of the music industry. He draws influence from a lot of different genres and legends like Prince. In his new video for Waves, the trend continues.

Last week Miguel blessed us with a Relit version of Simple Things that features Chris Brown and Future respectively. He keeps ups with new material this week with a new visual off his Wildheart album. Check out the wavy video by Miguel below.

Listen: Spectrum - @Goldlink (prod by @louielastic)

In this newest installment, Goldlink dropped his third single for his upcoming album And After That, We Didn't Talk.

This single is titled Spectrum. Louie Lastic (whom was mentioned earlier in the editor's picks) sampled Missy Elliot on this new track. This isn't the first time he did it as we hear it in Get Your Link on from the Fuck the Internet Mixtape he released last holiday season. Anyways the follow up to Dance on Me and Movin' On continues this trend of future bounce sound, Louie Lastic production, and just fun sounding music. Look out for And After That We Didn't Talk which you can pre-order on iTunes now. It's slated to release November 13th but in the meantime, listen to Spectrum below.

#InCaseYouMissedItMonday: Self Titled (Illa J) - @IllaJ; A Niles P. Joint

It’s never easy following in the footsteps of a successful family member. When your late older brother is one of the most beloved and revered producers in Hip Hop history, the challenge seems nearly insurmountable. This is a common theme in the story of Illa J.  

Being the younger brother of J Dilla had some perks. He became a member of his brother’s group Slum Village and his debut album was filled with posthumous Dilla beats. However he soon yearned to outgrow his brother’s shadow. He wound up moving from Detroit to Montreal and had his self-titled sophomore album produced by Canadian production duo Potatohead People with a couple of co-producers. With these new pieces in place, Illa J is ready to set off on his own musically.

As cool as the album is, it actually starts on a seemingly sad note with She Burned My Art which is a breakup song with a hopeful monologue at the end. It sets a sonic tone at least as the beat is entrancingly smooth.  It also features Canadian spitter Moka Only, who shows up on four of the album’s eleven tracks. Universe is appropriately titled as it is a bouncy space-funk joint that is two step worthy. Aside from rapping, Illa J gets to display his singing ability on the song. Kaytranda continues a hot streak and co-produces Strippers, a hypnotic ode to the exotic dancers of the world. Conversely, Sunflower is a duet with Allie that profiles as more of a love song. While being entirely sung by both parties, the guitar work is astounding. It’s a sweet song that is also danceable. 

Of all the sports in the world, I’m not sure I’ve heard too many songs about bowling. Perfect Game changes that with lyrics chock full of bowling termanology that Illa J uses to describe how dope he is. The entrancing keyboards that Potatohead People have mastered are stippled with the sound of a ball knocking down some pins. The closer is one of the more heartfelt joints you'll hear in 2015. Never Left pays tribute to J Dilla. The title says it all, Illa J feels that his big brother is always with him. At the same time, he speaks about people that try to profit off of Dilla’s legacy. It’s a very honest song that shows two sides of a story that most don’t cover. There are many tribute songs to deceased loved ones on wax but there can sometimes be a seedy factor when it comes to dealing with posthumous material and other affairs. I commend Illa J for addressing it while also expressing love and reminiscing over his big brother.  

Illa J is possibly the most chill album of the year. It seems like every single track was purposely designed for you to groove to with your drink of choice, creating a very even wave for the album’s duration. Now musically and thematically Illa J utilizes some of the same trademarks that Dilla had perfected. But by switching labels (from Delicious to Bastard Jazz) and going with Potatohead People in lieu of beats from the vault, Illa manages to make an enjoyable album on his own terms while still keeping with family tradition musically. Potatohead Peoples deserve recognition as far as the beats go; not only do they stay consistent with quality, they also don’t use any samples at all. They might seem like minor footnotes but they are both easier said than done and hold pivotal indications for the future. Illa J is a homecoming of sorts, as Illa J himself successfully forges his own place in the game and lays the foundation for a bountiful solo career. Listen to Illa J below.

In My Ears: Editor's Picks Week of 10-18-15

Sometimes you guys have to go easy on us music bloggers. Checking submission boxes, sifting through emails, beats, press kits, and the dreaded twitter dms. This suff adds up. This music stuff can turn from love to a job really quick if you don't catch yourself.This past week I spent some time listening to music leisurely and it's the best I've felt in a while. Let's get to it.

Album of the Week:

Louie Lastic - Soulection White Label: 015

You may have heard Louie Lastic producing tracks with Goldlink and his God Complex album. The two of them make awesome future bounce together but Lastic is simply a monster. Even if it is by himself. Soulection blessed us with this EP that can be heard below. Only three tracks but pure food to your ears. My favorite of the trio is I Need Girls which samples part two of the Diddy classic I Need a Girl featuring Mario Winans.

 

Songs on Repeat: 

III Life: The Biggest Troll Ever - Childish Gambino

When you are in a certain space you listen to certain music. When you've grown and outgrown the situation, you usually move on sonically as well. A little bit of drama (that will not be publicly mentioned) went down and I had to travel back to a time in my life to reflect. I may not be the kid in the camp anymore but this track still goes. Listen to the plight of Donald Glover (and myself) below.

Don't - Bryson Tiller

On a much lighter note the WTM fam got to congregate at Zuri's. While everyone has a drink in hand and converse amongst themselves I'm sitting here listening to this gem on her playlist. Don't is probably the best song on Bryson Tiller's TRAPSOUL. I really do enjoy this subgenre of R&B and Hip-Hop. Bryson Tiller delivers, listen to Don't below.




Throwback Jawn: Selfish Slum Village

While chatting with Niles' regarding his Illa J piece that will release later on this afternoon, the Slum Village mention took me back. So I listened to my favorite one of their jams Selfish featuring Kanye West. Reminds me of a time I work sweater vests and ties to school on Tuesdays just because I wanted people to ask me why I was fly. Take a trip with me below.

Indie Track: 

Untitled - Olawumi

This one is kinda funny because it didn't drop yet. I can't reveal the title of track one to Olawumi's upcoming project, thefeels. Just know its odee wavy. I love when friends send me stuff before the world gets it. Yes, I must admit it makes me feel important =). Anytime she collaborates with NOVA excellence is produced. You can really hear growth and song structure from The Calm til now. Until then she's sitting on a lot of music including the CROWNS EP. In the meantime listen to their first collab Queen Shit below.

Watch: Cocaine Bimbie - @SIIMBALIIVES

It's been a long time coming for the debut of Siimba project. Today we premiere his brand new video Cocaine Bimbie. 

I don't know if there is a harder working cat in the scene today. I swear every show or event I go to you'll see Siimba there as well in all white swallowing fire, because he's just that dope. He also has a ridiculous amount of talent with words and a microphone. Up until now my favorite verse was his assist on Angelo Mota's Alive on the Crystal Avenue tape. Watch Simba tame the lions in Ethiopia below in his new video for Cocaine Bimbie. No word yet if this is a the first single for a new project. Stay tuned when we know you'll know.

#ThrowbackThursday: Doe Or Die - AZ (@QuietAZMoney); A Niles P. Joint

Believe it or not, it’s entirely possible to have a bonafide classic/genre defining album and still be one of the most criminally underrated rappers in Hip Hop history. Such is the case with AZ. 

Born Anthony Cruz, the BK emcee used his guest appearance on Nas’ Life’s A Bitch (from the legendary Illmatic) as a launching point for his own career. His 1995 debut Doe or Die celebrated its 20th birthday a week ago. It is regarded as a classic by those in the know and definitely plays a pivotal role in the genre’s history. However, despite selling a million copies, I still feel that the album mirrors AZ’s career as a whole inasmuch as it is slept on by far too many people. So for this Throwback Thursday, we’re going to revisit Doe or Die for the fans and hopefully put some new people on to a classic.

The album actually starts on a gritty note, as the intro soliloquy spills into Uncut Raw which is the darkest song on the album. The gun sound effects built into the beat make it the musical version of rolling up on your enemy with a black hoody on.The scene shifts completely with Gimme Yours. Nas comes through on the intro and chorus while AZ raps about his desire for the finer things in life. As a kid listening to this I always imagined this song playing while you were laid up with a naked chick in some expensive ass hotel room eating lobster provided by room service. That still applies as this song is the epitome of decadence, albeit peppered with AZ’s trademark wisdom. Speaking of which, the Buckwild produced Ho Happy Jackie works as a story of a fictional gold digger and how to avoid real ones. Peep game because the money saved might be your own.

Rather Unique has AZ flexing lyrically over an easygoing Pete Rock beat. Every rapper needs a track where he both tells and also shows you how ill he is with the wordplay. This is that track. The tempo kicks up a few notches on I Feel For You.  Erica Scott provides omnipresent backing vocals and AZ takes a moment to briefly feel sorry for the competition. The instrumental fits his multi syllables like a glove, mostly incorporating fast paced drums and a periodic bell. Sugar Hill was the album’s most popular single as far as charts and radio goes. Appropriately enough, it features legendary NYC radio personality, Miss Jones and very capable singer on the hook. This is another one that gave me visualizations of a champagne-induced pool party at a Spanish-style villa. Those thoughts were triggered as soon as I heard the beat (exquisitely concocted by L.E.S.). The album contains a wonderful paradox in Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide because while the lyrics are violent in nature, DR Period cooks up a swanky beat built around an O’Jays sample. They contradict in theme but it ultimately works, especially when you have AZ and Nas trading bars.  As an added bonus, a short song called Born Alone, Die Alone is hidden within the song. The title says it all when it comes to the lyrics, as it’s the most dour track on the album in mood, with rain sound effects and simple drums.

The title track invokes feelings of the old show “NY Undercover” partially because AZ mentions it in the song intro. Overall, the vibe would fit right at home on any 90’s cop and crime-related tv show.  We Can’t Win is a thematic departure of sorts because it deals with Five Percent Nation ideology in addition to conspiracy theory type bars in order to explain the plight of the Black community. Amar Pep provides the beat, intro, first verse, and chorus. While I wouldn’t necessarily label this song as conscious rap, it definitely fits as the proverbial change-of-pace track. Ski laces Your World Don’t Stop with a popping snare drum and pulsating piano chords. AZ raps from the perspective of a prisoner and details the harsh realities of life behind bars. In spite of rugged conditions he remains optimistic that life will go on, hence the title. This would be the perfect closing track, but instead it becomes the penultimate one as we get another added bonus in the remix to Sugar Hill. This one is tougher than the original but still excellent and stands the test of time.

This album is a classic not only in sheer quality of music but because of where it stands in Hip Hop’s timeline. It’s a companion piece to Illmatic and essentially bridges the gap between that and It Was Written, gradually taking the setting from the projects to a lavish life. It’s also the thematic cousin to Raekwon’s masterpiece Only Built 4 Cuban Linx as they both came out in 1995 and popularized Mafioso rap, which was a staple that later gave way to the bling era and whatnot. Viewed as a singular project, Doe or Die is absolutely sensational. AZ manages to walk a very thin line between the streets and a more opulent lifestyle, all while staying believable. His bars have substance and he manages to fit multi syllables into every song without falling into the realm of becoming the dreaded “Rappin-Ass-Rapper” who says things just because they fit schematically without having much relevance. Throughout his career AZ has had one of the best ears for beats in the business, and it all started here as nothing is out of place musically. Doe or Die was the starting point for a very solid career for one of the most unfairly slept on emcees in the rap game. In recent years, there have been talks about releasing a sequel to his debut album (something that’s been popular lately in rap). No matter what happens though, AZ can take pride in the fact that he made a perfect album. Take a trip with me and revist the classic Doe or Die below.

Listen: Simple Things (Re-lit) - @miguel ft. @chrisbrown & @1future

While Miguel doesn't need any features, they definitely don't hurt. 

Simple Things isn't a new song. Along with Miguel's newest album Wildheart, Simple Things was released earlier this summer. With the help of Brook Dleau, he decided to remix or "Re-lit" the song recently. Chris Brown adds some dimension with smooth background vocals in Miguel's first verse. He also gets his own verse afterwards. We all know that Chris wouldn't just settle for the background. Future's verse speeds things up at the end to build a musical momentum. With a sultry guitar loaded beat, the song was already sexy, but now it is attractive to an even bigger audience than before. Smart move Miguel. Listen to the ReLit version of Simple Things below after the break.