For as often as I really appreciate a sample heavy studio-produced beat, it’s tough to hate live hip-hop groups. May I present the latest in a trend that I hope sticks around for good, ArtOfficial. If you’re digging this track, and why shouldn’t you be, then you won’t have long to wait before sinking your ears into full release. “Vitamins & Minerals” comes out next Saturday.
Archive for October, 2011
Blue Sky, the latest track to come out from The Dreamer, The Believer got video treatment. This song is vintage Common and sounds real good. The video fits the song so well with the color scheme and the way each person is practicing their respective “art.” With the work I’ve heard so far I keep getting more hyped for this release.
Sabzi, the man behind the production for Blue Scholars and numerous groups released a set of instrumentals a few days ago. These beats sound a lot like his work from the Oof! EP, but there is a little bit more going on. Listening to this you feel like breaking out and free styling over these beats.
The full album, PARTHENIA, is available through his Bandcamp through one of those “name your price” deals.
Common and No I.D team up on this track released on Cocaine 80s Ghost Lady EP. This is the vintage Common sound that most people will recognize. With anticipation building up for Common’s next album, the work I’ve heard from the album plus other releases make The Dreamer, The Believer one of the most anticipated albums in a while.
After a period of silence and hearing nothing from Cyne, just the other day I got news that a new mixtape will be coming out soon. Since first hearing Cyne, I have been drawn to their full body of work. I was pretty excited to hear new work, and they didn’t dissapoint. This is a bit different sounding than their previous work, but none the less it is still good.
You can pre order the tape, and yes I mean actual tape, here
Thes One & Double K have a knack for making the last handful tracks of their albums brilliant. My one complaint with PUTS is that there is too much focus on quantity but they definitely know how to end an album with fanfare. This, “Left Foot, Right Foot” of the freshly pressed Highlighter album, is one of their best finales to date. Pure feel good lyrics and production here.
A remix of a remix here as Royce The Choice’s remix of Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” is given the Roy Ayers treatment by another Seattle based producer, GMK. Only complaint, it’s too short.
Prometheus Brown, one half of Blue Scholars, recently released quite a few tracks that were previously unreleased and/or features for other artists. I would highly recommend checking out this little tape, as we get solid appearances by Prometheus Brown. Additionally, many of the other artists featured are pretty good. The whole northwest hip-hop scene has been rocking for the last few years, and it is awesome to see so many new artists coming out and being supported by a great local act.
Haven’t seen this one getting too much love across the blogs. It’s a shame because I thought that Raashan Ahmad’s 2010 album, “For What You’ve Lost”, was one of the best of last year. Well produced jazzy-beats and forward thinking lyrics are tough to turn down around these parts. Anyway, here’s the video for “In Love With Wax” from that same album.
October 17th 2011 Lesson Six Original
Review: Open Mike Eagle’s “Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes”
Open Mike Eagle has always been on the verge of something. He’s clearly an intelligent guy, or at least the self-proclaimed art rapper came off as such in his first album, ‘Unapologetic Art Rap’. Tracks like ‘I Rock’ proved that he had some smarts and showed that Mike was on the verge of something unique. The same is true of his sophomore release ‘Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes’ where he comes to the realisation that he’s actually the “smartest broke guy ever” for choosing a life of art-hop.
