This is our first label in the Soundklout series. The biggest reason I chose them first is because there are slim pickings when it comes to hip-hop on SoundCloud – I’m trying to recruit more.
Rhymesayers is a collective of hip-hop acts from all over the U.S., but is based out of Minneapolis, MN. I was originally going to show a few tracks from their most notable act, Atmosphere, but thought there’s a lot more to Rhymesayers than just that. However, if you don’t know Atmo, get to, they maybe overrated compared to the rest of Rhymesayers, but they’re underrated compared to the rest of rap.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/11060906" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
F.O.O.L should not be working in music. Their latest release, Call to Krieg, is a clear indication that they need to quit the music biz and get a life in scoring epic war films. This may not be your standard war music, yet, but I guarantee in future war rompers this’ll be the weapon of choice. But until this accompanies mind-boggling 3D renders, let’s talk less war and more beats.
Call to Krieg takes on an orchestral ensemble and electrofies it with a heap of bass and a bit of glitch. It’ll get your blood pumping one minute and put you on incredible highs the next… followed shorty by a car crashing buildup that feels almost like an actual nightmare.. I had.. recently (eerie). The EP may only boast three originals and two remixes, but this short ride just makes me crave for more! LP this shit!
[audio:Krieg.mp3|titles=Krieg]
I try to stay away from too much pop on here, this is a site dedicated to independent music, but I’ve also gotta weakness for the mashup. Robin Skouteris is one of the few mashers who has a strong focus on pop and still catches my interest. She does, however, for the most part pick artists I actually have some respect for – Gaga & Madonna. If you’re not into pop, these are still fun as hell to dance to, just make sure to get your dancin shoes on ;)
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/13215162" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Zeds Dead put this up fo free to celebrate their Facebook page hitting 100,000 fans. “Coffee Break” is a chill bass line buzzer with vocals borrowed from Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer”. The vocals, from what I’m guessing, are altered… due to copyright I don’t really get why they fuck with the vocals like that, but it sure hits the spot anyway.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/22305342" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
You know it’s sad I haven’t done that many posts on Starfucker – They’ve only gotten so much better over time. Their experimental style is hard to rap your head around, but once you get a hold on it, the shit is intoxicating. Sincerely a top group, not only on SoundCloud, but fo realz too.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/7816339" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
I took a peak at the “Acid Wolfpack” preview, maybe a month back, and loved the shit out of it. It just had a flavor.. a finesse that when it comes down to it, is what I look for in all music. However, the final version, although it’s still miles beyond most of the music I come by, took an unexpected turn.
This version of “Acid Wolfpack” strays away from the simplicity of the first into a dirtier glitch viibe. As much as I love that glitch – and, by god, this track – their first version, simply, did it better. I will, however, hold back my final judgement ’til I get my hands on the preview again – I may just be putting the preview on a pedestal.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/22185684" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Going through Minnesota’s dubstep music, you start to see the progress in his work over the last year. His latest EP, Ancient Machines, puts Minnesota’s music on a whole ‘nother level. It kind of reminds me The Beatles, their first few hits were catchy, but it’s only ’til their later work does a whole new style of music emerge. I’m not saying he’s doing for dubstep what The Beatles did for rock, but he’s well on his way.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/19820127" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Pretty Lights is remixing the shit out of 2011 with some old-school rock classics. In today’s feature, PL splits up 7 Zeppelin classics into one electro mashup. In parts, Pretty Lights shines, however, in others I feel like it could’ve been a bit more Zeppelin’d out. I love the grimey, electroness PL always has to offer, but Zeppelin had much more to offer this remix.
[audio:Pretty-Lights-Zeppelin.mp3|titles=Pretty Lights vs. Led Zeppelin]
There are many things to say about the music coming from DOSVEC, aka DJ Whatt, but what stands out the most is his ability to mash emerging styles. Mashup artists are the purveyors of what styles should already be working together, but haven’t quite gotten the clue, yet. DOSVEC takes many opposing styles and makes our ears’ adjust to something that’s a bit experimental now, but commonplace in a few years.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/3497781" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Really wanted to feature Kyprios as one of my first SoundKlouters, but there was one problem – he only has 6 tracks up on SoundCloud. I usually try to find artists with at least 20-30, so I can weed the better from the… not so better. But I knew how much I wanted him in a few weeks back, so I thought if all 6 tracks were solid he’d be up next. Let’s just say they were.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/20439001" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]