Watch: Canal Street - @MoRuf88

Moo is back.

The Essex county spitter takes it through Jersey City through the Holland to Canal Street with his sunday best and jewels shining. Between the shots and the animation this video is dope. Day in the life turns into life of the party. MoRuf's Canal Street musically is eccentric in the best ways. Rap meets Pop meets House meets Bounce. It's a musical reunion you can't help but to tap your foot to. Check it out for yourself after the break.

Watch: Still Love Me (EASTWICK) - @Moruf88 & @ikenna92 (shot by @SAEWESSA)

MoRuf and Ikenna linked up for a brand new visual, STILL LOVE ME (EASTWICK).

It's nice to hear Moo back behind a mic as this is the first thing to drop since Loosies two years back. Much has changed but the Love Over Everything vibe is still the same. If hip-hop were truly married to R&B and they had a kid I swear it'd be MoRuf. He and Ikenna trade bars from the barber shop to the streets on this GlassCity produced beat. While checking his cousin Jeff's IG, I peeped he recently got hitched. God Bless. You can catch that on the tail end of the video to be honest. I wonder how life's perspective change will work in his art. Hopefully this is the beginning of a series of new content. Only time will tell. After all, not all your art has to come from pain. Check out Still Love Me after the break.

#WTM's Ten Acts to Watch for in 2016

It's finally the second quarter of 2016. The weather is warming up, the sun is out just a little bit longer every day which usually means new music from heavy hitters and underground artists alike. I always try to give the people what they want and you guys seem to like that in list form. Below is a group of acts (in no particular order) that we here at WTM think you should keep an eye (or ear) out for the rest of the year.

MoRuf - Two years, that was the last time we got a project out of the Irvington emcee. Shades of Moo was the last we've heard aside from that one week we were blessed with new material in Try and a video for Neighborhood. I always liked this guy since my man Jeff put me on. MoRuf is like the 90's raised music love child of D'Angelo and Jill Scott AND he can really spit. Moo was featured on Mohdalsoul's Pisces Loops EP, they dropped a video for a song titled Viewtiful Fish. Check that out below.

Ty Jackson - I heard him for the first time at Tha Grey Matter's relaunch event that I love to rave about. Ever since, I couldn't write about this vocalist enough. Frankly speaking, the Franklin crooner packs a huge punch. We just heard him on his col laboratory effort Boulevard Blues with fellow New Jeru Native, SOULFULL (whom we'll hear more about later). I'm also excited to hear what he has cooking up as a solo artist. Not many R&B singers out here in a world where everyone wants to rap. The follow up to EraNu is something I'm excited for flat out. Listen to Truth with Soulfull after the break.

Siimba Liives Long - I just caught this emcee shutting down Pianos in the lower east side a few weeks back. His set was electric and after the show we all followed him around like a cult waiting to see him eat fire. Not much is known about Siimba which gives him this mysterious factor that leaves fans begging for more. My sources tell me his debut album is finished and a release is imminent. From what I can tell this is something brewing for a long time and we all should heed and be prepared for. Thusfar he's given us three tracks in Lost Souls, WIA, and Cocaine Bimbie which you can watch below.

Khalil Jibran - Khalil Jibran is one of the best emcees from around the way, don't argue with me. Khali is the full package: An Instrumentalist, a firery emcee, and he brings such energy to every performance. Newark's archangel has yet to give us a solo project since RainOnASUNday a few years back. The Libre Brand artist worked with a lot of underground talent from TrapDan, Yoqueri from 185, and more. We've gotten a few videos and loosies but I think we're all ready for the concept project we know he's capable of. I know he has a lot of great stories and trials in his life that has probably hit the booth. Khalil is brings intensity like Meek Mill, knowledge like Lupe Fiasco, and incorporates different genres of music like K. Dot. A month back he dropped Love is King produced by DJ Fade the Future, listen to that after the break.

Rav P - Passport Rav has seen a lot of success since I first heard him. There's a lot of growth going on for this young man. Making music with the likes of Smoke Dza and Black Thought is no small rodeo. The sky is the limit for him as an emcee AND a producer. It's been almost a year since Slave Name Todd released but he's been building more and more buzz as time goes on. You can actually check him as one of the headliners of a show at SOB's on the 27th. I already covered Idle Hands but you can stream that one again right here.

SOULFULL - I think SOULFULL is top five emcees in the state of Jersey, underground or otherwise. If you had to ask him he doesn't even say he's the best in the Natives. He reserves that right to the GodBodyRapper Khamal (whom I'd love to hear more of soon). That says a lot about how humble of a guy SOULFULL is. You really have to watch out for him in what is gearing up to be a breakout year for this guy. When I sat down with him he talked to me about the projects he had coming out. The collab with Ty Jack was slated to go in a few weeks but we talked about his collab project with Karma, I-95 & Wifi as well as two more solo projects in the works. I won't spill too much but, you can catch the rest in my interview coming soon. What I can tell you is if we're lucky we'll get a sequel to MTAG as well as a big project in the fall that hits close to home. A few days ago he remixed Grind with One Take. Bump that after the break.

see.francis - seefrancis is an act that I'm just now getting to know about. If we're being frank I only heard of him this year. Cosigns from my man Yasin and his Podcast About Nothing interview is where I got to know him more. We've covered a couple of his songs recently in All I Wanted and Everything. I'm just interested to see what is next for this guy. He's very talented and I just learned he produces as well as records as an artist. The follow up to Fiat Lux EP is going to be one to remember. Listen to All I Wanted with Rado below.

Audrey Rose - The Long Branch Native took the mainstream world by storm last year. I was especially impressed with her project, Chapter One: Guns and Roses. I said it before I say it again, there aren't enough singers from around the way and it's nice to see the talent flourishing in the spotlight. She had a crazy rookie and sophomore year and I'm sure I'm not the only one looking forward to the follow up. She recently has been working with another singing talent from North Jersey, Justin Love. I had the pleasure of meeting him once via a mutual friend at his home studio in Bergen. To see them both collab was dope and they performed at Webster together last month. Listen to their track Play after the break.



Kärma - She's probably the most underrated act on this list. Super talented from an outright musical standpoint. She flat out knows how to create a song and make it worth the listen. We've gotten a few loosies recently with DeathWish and Solstice but I'm excited to hear a full length soon. I love the fact she isn't Hollywood and a pleasure to talk to in person (with or without a drink or hookah in hand). She's probably made music with your favorite around the way rapper or singer too. I already told you she's been cooking up and EP with frequent collaborator SOULFULL titled I-95 & Wifi. A couple weeks back I reviewed her project Life After Love. Upon listening I was begging for more. It was impressive considering it was a few years old. I'm pressed to find out how much she's grown. Listen to Watchu Need featuring Kraze below.

Joe College - Rounding out our list is Joe College. For a while I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering "Where the hell is Joe College?" It wasn't until recently when he reemerged on social media recreating his instagram. Usually when artists disappear without a trace they are working on something big and I haven't ruled that out. We haven't got a project from him since Rugged but Smooth. In his interview with us he spilled that he's finally ready for an LP, something tells me that he's close to being finished (probably should have asked him when I ran into him at the gym). He recently performed at Webster with Desiigner (the guy on Panda who sounds like Future but isn't Future) and he's been cooking up a new sound while balancing his work with CivXSav Apparel. Listen to Make Money/Take Money below.


Jersey is beginning to take a precedent and make a stamp on the tri-state and in the national scene. Rounding this out to ten acts was difficult but these are the cats who's proven they are a force to be reckoned with. That is not to take away from other acts making noise like the A1 crew, Sticks and Stones, the Remy Boys, or others I may have just missed out on (it happens I'm just a man). Otherwise I'm impressed by these guys and more which proves a testament that the New Jersey Culture scene is booming with talent and love.

Listen: Try - @Moruf88

Moruf has had a crazy week with the updates.

This update is probably the deepest. The thing I've always loved about the Newark emcee is how personal he is. I always praise artists that aren't afraid to let you in. That's exactly what he did on this new track titled Try. Try uses the piano chords from XXYYXX's Piano Song. In fact he does no rapping and sings about fear. It ends with a skit and real conversation Moo had with some friends. "It's easier not to try than to try. It's cuz n*ggas is scared to fail." he says. No word yet if this is part of a new project or just a loosie. This one hits home and I need yall to feel this. Listen below.

Watch: Neighborhood - @Moruf88

One half of this week's in case you missed it feature also blessed us with new visuals.

A couple days back Moruf dropped his new video for Neighborhood on loeforever.co where you can also cop some new merch from the Newark product. The visual takes us to a live showing of the song and makes cameos throughout downtown Brick City. Thusfar all the videos from Shades of Moo have been gems. The trend continues with this. See for yourself after the break.

In Case You Missed It - #Euphoria - @Moruf88 & @IAmImanOmari

Let's go back to a couple years back. Shades of Moo hadn't been released yet. Garden State to Live was still in rotation and we got nice loosies like Jasmine. The point is we were wondering when we'd here the new Moruf project. Fast forward a little bit of time and he touring with Stalley. Who knows how or when but he got to link with an awesome producer named Iman Omari. The duo collaborated and created something quite on unorthodox from what we have heard before. Let's get to the music.

The tape opens with a self-titled introduction. Very eerie sounding production blares through your headphones. Omari croons over the beat and verse one. Enter Moruf in the second part of the intro. It's interesting to hear his voice altered and edited to a slightly higher pitch. Nonetheless, great way to open up a project. Track two, Clutch! I actually spent a lot of time trying to find the melody but frankly there isn't one in a flipped song like Iman Omari trademarks. The melody comes solely from Moruf and his lyrics and Omari and his singing in the second verse. This trends throughout the tape. In fact, SLY!, Fallen, and Get Envolved do the same thing. My favorite joint on this album is School Daze. I've always loved how Moo uses skits from scenes of old movies in the intros to his song. So of course he does the same with School Daze and name dropping a bunch of classic 90s movies and TV like Next Friday, Kids, Family Matters, Fat Albert, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and others. I also really enjoyed The Path. Omari shows out his soulful vocals over a crazy beat. It pissed me off how long I sat there trying to figure out the sample he flipped the beat from. I swear I had my tongue on it but had to give up so if you're reading this it's never too late.

I suggest you listen to this through headphones rather than speakers. Iman Omari outdid himself producing. Moruf still gave us the classic hip-hop sound we all love him for. When I first heard this tape I actually despised it. Not because it was bad but because I didn't understand it. Myself, like all things have to grow up to appreciate it for what it really is. I'm glad to say Euphoria was just that for me. Stream Moruf & Iman Omari's Euphoria below.

Watch: Togetherness/Compromise - @Moruf88

"That song reminds me of us..."

That's what I said to my lady while watching this new Moruf visual (especially when it's shot in the city while he takes photos of his girl around what looks like Bryant Park). Old souls stuck in young bodies. So 90's love influenced, maybe that's where the Love Over Everything movement stemmed from. The video is actually two songs (Togetherness and Compromise) off his latest project, Shades of Moo that released close to a year ago. It's funny he only makes one cameo as a street performer in this love story. Shades of Moo was so easy on the ears and love for your headphones. This video is the same for your sense of sight and the eyes. Watch this below for yourself, Enjoy Togetherness/Compromise.

In My Ears: Week of 8/31 Ramsey

Been awhile since I notified you of What the Movement really is.

The Webisodes are coming soon. I keep saying it, I mean it. I finished a few of them to be honest, I just want to be consistent with the releases so you'll have to wait until later this fall for the debut. Thanks for your patience in advance, it's worth the wait. Alright lets get to it.

Album of the Week: The God Complex - Goldlink

This weeks album was featured before on a "In My Ears" segment but we need to revisit it (especially after going to see him live in DC last week). The God Complex by Goldlink is pure...well Gold. Future Bounce is the....well Future. Goldlink has created this feel good genre mixed in with a wicked hip-hop flow over a variety of instrumentals (that's why I love hip-hop, it's a different sound and story depending on where you from. No other music genre is like that). On the real, there's a reason Goldlink has appeared twice in the few #IME segments. Listen.

Songs on Repeat: Almost is Never Enough - Ariana Grande feat Nathan Skyes/ About the Money - T.I. feat Young Thug

This is a little bit of a left turn. Almost is Never Enough by Ariana Grande just made this weeks list. Very few times in my life has a girlfriend hit me with a song to listen to after a bad argument. This is one of em (in case you cared the other ones were Me by Tamia and Next Lifetime by Erykah Badu) (jerks). Lets see if she actually reads my writing anymore (Confession: I listened the moment you told me to). Shoutouts to Nathan Skyes on the assist, just some serious vocal talent on this track. Just listen.

The other song for the week has been About the Money by the ATL homie T.I. I know this seriously contrasts the first song but Tip linked up with Young Thug to create this ultimate vibe track. Production was a perfect ten on this one. Easily could have been a summer anthem if promoted right.

Indie Track: Buckle Up - Moruf

It's clear the 90's era had a serious influence on Moo. 90's R&B, movies, all of that. It was only fitting the dialogue from the breakup scene in Love and Basketball resonates throughout the track (I know it came out in 2000 gimmie a break). Peep the visual from the archives via Street Etiquette.

Just my tunes for the week. I hope you take the time to listen on your own. See ya when I do.

Deeper Than the Music with Sir Moore & Khalil Jibran

Snowed out Tuesday equals Late Night Friday.

 Between chilly weather, precipitation, and campus police alarm settings, hosting WTM on our normal Tuesday night time slot was impossible. All setbacks lead to a better opportunity. The station gave us the go so we convened WTM on a prime time Friday Night from 10 pm-1 am. Well we didn't let the snow stop us from this dope sit in with Sir M00RE & Khalil Jibran. Of course we spoke about both of the artists and their projects and upcoming events. 

Khalil came in with a few announcements to make. The first of which was an announcement of his upcoming mixtape Rain On a SUNday which is expected to release on February 14th. I asked why Valentine's Day and he explained the oxymoron of the title. He got into his R&B roots and disclosed the smoothness of the project. "We don't have music for rainy Sundays where you can just look out the window and listen," he says. Valentine's day seems perfect in my eyes for something that soulful. Later on in the broadcast we played one of the tracks off that tape titled Please Just Get Away from Me featuring The Olawumii. 

#RainOnaSunDay
— The Chosen One (@KhalilJibran_) January 25, 2014

Throughout the segment we chopped it up with Sir Moore. We talked about his first ever EP, August Rush. He discussed the name and inspiration behind these six tracks. We also got a little off-topic and broke into his relationship with The Strivers' Row Poetry members and fellow NJ Emcee, Moruf. He filmed the show Moruf had with Jasmine Mans earlier this month in Newark. Joe V and August Rush was featured in Garden State Hip-Hop's "10 NJ Rappers to look for in 2014" article ran by Rodney Coursey.

Following the inteviews both artist had a killer freestyle to multiple instrumentals old and new. Both of them killed their spot. All in all both artists have a crazy 2014 coming up on the way. Glad to have gotten them on the show before greatness occurs. Clips from the freestyle will be posted at a later on, tune in.

Your Editor,

Buckle Up (A Film by Street Etiquette)

Moruf has been working. Between a show with lyrical wordsmith Jasmine Mans and the release party for his latest project, Shades Of Moo, he even found time to make an official video for track 12, BuckleUp. You can find that below, check it out.

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Royal Throne: L-O-E Vibes

Ghost town native Moruf  dropped his latest LP Shades.Of.Moo. and I cant stop playing it. The project contains 15 songs with three Bonus songs (lucky us) and with it starts his new movement Love Over Everything aka L.O.E. Which tells you what Shades.Of.Moo is all about.

Tracklist:

01.Neighborhood

02.RealEyes

03.Respect(Skit)

04.Respect94

05.Soulhop

06.TOGETHERNESS

07.Restwell

08.her.

09.Homie.Lover.Friend (ft.Jesse Boykins III)

10.Compromise

11.tangerine (demo)

12.BuckleUp.

13.JoyTears

14.Fallen.

15.DYV.

16.SoulRich (Bonus)

Overall Shades.Of.Moo tells you what Moruf is about in this stage of his life. Those chill L-O-E vibes. Each track giving a soulful feel to the listener.

It reminds me of a chill summer hanging out . Like he said this mixtape is that  “ type of shit you listen to on your porch watching the mail man.” And I highly recommend you give it a listen you can check it out here along with his other works. Below is the visual for track seven, Restwell.