Hieroglyphics is a hip hop group out of Northern California. Each year they celebrate new hip hop talent with their own festival in Oakland on Labor Day. I got the chance to cover their show this year and even though there were over a dozen quality performers to see on each stage, I was there for one.
It took me over three hours to get to Hiero Day, public transit wasn’t doing so well. When I got there the temp had to be hitting on 90 and everyone was looking for shade to sit in. But I had to find Anderson .Paak. The main reason I was there.
I caught him right before his performance on the Third Eye stage. I ran up to him like a giddy fool and blathered about my love for his music. When I realized how foolish I was sounding, his manager assured me that they all felt the same way too. We talked a bit longer about other LA emcees, I actually told him the only other one that could compete with him was Doja Cat. He got a kick out of it.
His performance on stage had just as much character as his music, along with the short time I talked to him. The day was a highlight I’ll be holding on to at least until next Labor Day.
Now this is more like it. Had my qualms with Common’s last leak, “The Believer,” really, just because I have such high expectations for him. But now I think it’s just “Raw” is more of the flavor I love from Common and really has nothing to do with the actual quality in music. Whether or not I like “The Believer,” I sure have faith in what Common’s all about.
[audio:Raw.mp3|titles=Raw]
When Atmosphere’s latest EP(‘s) dropped a few months back, I planned on posting two of my favorites (that weren’t pre-released), but decided to sit on ’em until the pre-releases’, To All My Friends & Freefallin’, hype died down.
A couple days ago Atmosphere’s team posted a video featuring “The Best Day” on Facebook, which was one of the songs I planned on posting, so I thought this would be a better time than any. The video comprises mostly of live shots from Atmosphere tours and other […]
[audio:The-Best-Day.mp3,Americareful.mp3|titles=The Best Day, Americareful](Download Link in Full Article)
With all these tracks Kanye is pushing out and his G.O.O.D. music label growing, the man’s becoming a multi-purpose music machine rather than just a top charting hip-hop artist. But unlike Diddy, KanYe is enlisting some of the best acts in hip-hop.
If you take a look at the two’s recently released tracks – KanYe’s “Christian Dior Denim Flow” & Diddy’s “Another One” – you see where hip-hop is growing apart and evolving (at least in some areas). It’s not really about how the beat’s evolving or even the lyrics. That may have a part in it, but it’s mainly how the culture is progressing. For too long hip-hop’s been about […]
[audio:Christian-Dior-Denim-Flow.mp3,Another-One.mp3|titles=Christian Dior Denim Flow,Another One](Download Link in Full Article)
As foolish as KanYe can be, the man is right in many respects. A couple months back I was listening to KanYe’s rant on a UK radio station (featured below), and I’ll admit I was skeptical of him every word he said.
Now that I look back on it, I’ll admit he was right for the most part. Yea the guy is arrogant, but at the level he’s at, who wouldn’t be It would take a very humble man to control an ego like that.
The only thing I disagree with KanYe in the video is when he talks about the Bible. I’m no “Bible enthusiast” – in fact, I’m not even Christian – but no KanYe, you would not be […]
[audio:Lord-Lord-Lord.mp3|titles=Lord Lord Lord (feat. Mos Def, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon & Charlie Wilson)](Download Link in Full Article)
In an interview with Ryan Olson on The Local Show, Ryan talks about some of his favorite music from the Midwest, one being from Doomtree’s very own Cecil Otter.
The song he talks about, Traveling Dunk Tank, is off of Doomtree’s first album, False Hopes. I talked about one of False Hopes‘s singles, Flex, a year back, but I had to showoff the rest of the album, thanks to Ryan.
Unlike Doomtree’s latest self-titled album, False Hopes is set up with one hit after another. It’s just one of those […]
[audio:Slow-Burn.mp3,No-Homeowners.mp3,Traveling-Dunk-Tank.mp3|titles=Slow Burn,No Homeowners (Renter’s Rebate),Traveling Dunk Tank](Download Link in Full Article)
I haven’t heard Common in a while, but damn do I miss that smooth flow of his. I don’t know how KanYe does it, but he gets the best of the best (and the worst of the worst). I guess it’s just because he’s KanYe “mother fuckin'” West (for better or worse).
Minus the theatrics, he always shows us some talent, most recently with this “Good Friday” feature. CuDi features on the track with some back up vocals – I’m liking his recent stuff even more than KanYe’s. Common, like I mentioned above, was most impressive with lyrics that reminded me of a Pharcyde quote I remember from back in the day […]
What’d you think of the rest of the featured artists – Pusha T, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson
[audio:Good-Friday.mp3|titles=Good Friday (feat. Common, Pusha T, KiD CuDi, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson)](Download Link in Full Article)
Atmosphere’s latest EP, To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EP’s, is set to release Tuesday, the 4th of September. Just in time for their summer end tour.
Two songs have already been released off the EP, “To All My Friends” about two weeks ago and “Freefallin'” just today. The two have a similar vibe with a laid-back country, summer-daze and a smooth hittin’ beat. Slug lays some reflective lines on both, which, if not like always, seems to be a theme for the EP. Like his music, he seems to be maturing with age, bringing on a new style any fan will come to appreciate.
Alright, I’m off to the North Coast festival this weekend. Can’t wait to see Pretty Lights live for the first time! Maybe I’ll hit up Atmosphere’s Madison set on the 8th, the first stop on the tour… I wish.
[audio:Freefallin.mp3|titles=Freefallin’](Download Link in Full Article)
A couple weeks back I heard Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) was working with KanYe on his new album, Dark Twisted Fantasy, due out in mid-November. A collaboration with Vernon is just what KanYe needs, especially after hearing Vernon’s work on GAYNGS.
A preview of what’s to come was posted yesterday on KanYe’s blog. The new mix, “Monster” shows some promise for these two, especially when you throw Jay-Z into the mix. Unfortunately, the two others featured, Rick Ross & Nicki Minaj, aren’t as promising.
Not just 24 hours ago, I was listening to MTV – we all have our guilty pleasures at 4 am (usually infomercials for me) […]
[audio:Monster.mp3|titles=Monster (feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj)](Download Link in Full Article)
I was gonna feature “Deja Vu” back in November of last year, but I thought I’d wait till the album was released. Well, I still haven’t listened to the album, so I thought I’d drop this before I do.
What hooked me to Analyrical – other than his Minnesota ties – was his style. Lately I’ve seen the majority of Minneapolis MC’s gear their style towards the lyrically driven East Coast. And as much love as I have for it, over the years I’ve gone Westward bound towards the more laid-back, soul/funk driven style.
Now, I wouldn’t say Analyrical has a West Coast style, just more west in his Midwest style. Give “Deja Vu” a listen and tell me what you think of it. I’m still trying to figure out the whole classification thing, though it’s becoming more & more obsolete these days.
[audio:Deja-Vu.mp3|titles=Deja Vu](Download Link in Full Article)