When I first heard KeithCharles Spacebar’s “PrettyBrownEyedGirl”, I thought it was a prank. His flow just reminded me too much of a fairly well-known East Coast/Midwest rapper, one I couldn’t put my head to. The whole vibe reminded me of AbCreole, who are actually from Seattle, but knew I was thinking someone more nationally known. It’s frustrating as hell, but I still can’t figure it.
But besides that, KeithCharles vibe is smooth as hell, especially with those neo-soul beats behind ’em. The beats actually remind me of a couple of my favorite producers, though these I can name.
Besides his minor references to video games classics, KeithCharles’ BeforeCommonEra is also similar in sound to D.C. producer K-Murdock. Both posses beats with a forward-thinking, experimental style that incorporates […]
[audio:Eyed-Girl.mp3,Dpad-UP.mp3,Minoring-In-Arson.mp3|titles=PrettyBrownEyedGirl,Dpad UP,Minoring in Arson]Here’s the second single off Atmo’s upcoming album, The Family Sign. Slug’s down to earth rhymes seem to be consistent in “She’s Enough” and all of his latest work – I guess that’s what comes with age, more stories to tell and less ideologies to preach. Whichever Slug you’ve grown to love, it’s good to see the MC come to age.
Verdicts still out till the album drops April 12, see you then.
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I was looking at my ‘tracks to post’ when I ran across Mos Def & Talib Kweli. For a second I was confused on why they were there, I haven’t heard anything new from the two in a while and didn’t think anything recently emerged. Then I saw who produced the tracks, DJ Deckstream, and realized why I need to post these up.
Deckstream is one of my favorite nu jazz producers from Japan. He’s got a shit load of good tunes to chill to, but up until recently lacked good rap support. In Deckstream Soundtrack 2.0, the producer steps up his rap game featuring some talented rhymers, including Mos Def on the original “Life is Good”. But on the two remixed versions that dropped last year, Mos Def gets some support by the other half of Black Star […]
[audio:Life-Is-Good-Remix.mp3,Life-Is-Good-Remix-2.mp3|titles=Life Is Good Remix, Life Is Good Remix Part 2]What makes this so ‘cool headed’ isn’t just the melodramatic wizard, Kid Cudi, but also Travis Barker’s sedated beat. I swear everything Cudi touches turns to gold, but in this I gotta give props to Barker.
In each track I’ve heard so far off his upcoming mixtape, Give the Drummer Some, Barker somehow crafts a beat that fits the featured performer well, damn well. Whether it’s Kid Cudi or Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell Williams, Barker takes their rap to a new level – or at least in a new flavor.
The mixtape is set to release on the 15th. Can’t wait to hear it in full.
[audio:Cool-Head.mp3|titles=Cool Head]I’m still weary about this Childish Gambino, he’s got such pristine raps and a pretty damn decent set of vocals, but his style needs some getting use to.
His latest release, the Childish Gambino EP, however, is habituating me to this fine rapper’s sound. With heartfelt raps and clean, high-pitched vocals, this man’s musical range is only second to his comedic talent.
Make sure to listen in closely, it’s well worth an active ear.
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I love my mashups like I love my Midwest musicians… together Whatever, this is one mad mashup.
Mr Physix takes two tracks, Rusko’s “Soldier On Remix” (The Temper Trap) & Camp Lo’s “Luchini” and does what mashups do best, takes the best of two tracks and crafts them together into one glorious sound.
[audio:Soldier-Of-Luchini.mp3|titles=Soldier of Luchini (Dirty Disco Kidz Mashup)]Chopping up Lil’ Wayne’s lines from The Carter and dubbing ’em over John Carpenter’s Escape from New York score sounds risky – ya gotta appease two different crowds, the hip-hop heads and fanatics of Carpenter’s cult classic. But SP-33 manages to take from the two and mash it, cut it and whip it into a completely new grimey cocktail.
My first encounter with Escape from Tha Carter was its 5th track, “A Milli(liter of Vaccine)”. The best line I’ve heard that fully describes my feelings for this song were, “[it] makes me want to chew oxy’s and drive a tank” […]
[audio:A-Milli-Vaccine.mp3,Asthma-Hoes.mp3|titles=A Milli(liter of Vaccine),Asthma Hoes]There’s nothing better than a sax leading a classic De La Soul number. Mix it with Stevie’s “Sign, Sealed, Delivered” & a little Beastie Boys and this is mashup perfection for that funkified crowd. Learn it, love it, get more of it.
Also, if ya know of anything else sampled here hit it up in the comments below. And for some reason that “Sign, Sealed, Delivered” beat reminds me of a Beatle’s song. hmm…
[audio:Paid-In-Full.mp3|titles=Paid in Full]In an interview last night on The Current, Slug of Atmosphere introduced the first single off his upcoming album, The Family Sign. In the interview, Slug talks about the emergence of ‘rap bands’, highlighting The Roots, explaining they’re more than just the everyday jam bands we see popping up today.
He also goes into how Atmosphere is becoming a jam band with two instrumentalists, a guitarist & keyboardist, who were added around six years ago. It’s quiter coincidental calling Atmosphere a jam bad when their newest single, “Just For Show”, sounds a hell of a lot like one – with Slugs rhymes over top.
Can’t wait to hear what’s to come in The Family Sign, which’ll be out April 12!
[audio:Just-For-Show.mp3|titles=Just For Show]Never been much a fan of Khalifa, but now I see his appeal. The Five One take his original lyrics from “Never Been” and remix it to one laid back beat. But what makes this track is their use of Khalifa’s lyrics – chilled and served smooooth.
“They follow me everywhere my plane go”
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