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A few months ago, I featured Elaquent in the Producer Spotlight for his terrific sounds on the Oldies EP. Here, he continues to live up to his name. His latest instrumental, Teddy Bear might be the perfect nightcap to relax to. Enjoy!
SCENIC ROUTE EP COMING SOON.
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Erk Tha Jerk is a Bay state artist, whose versatile talents in rapping, producing, songwriting, and even video direction have landed him a solid buzz in both the mainstream and underground hip hop communities.
Download the mixtape here: http://hulkshare.com/4yjfo17t69oe
Click READ MORE to learn more about the sounds of this rising talent.
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Jesse Boykins III brings us his latest 6 track EP that delves into his own definition of art, spirit, voice and style. The talented soul singer/songwriter has been featured with artists like The Foreign Exchange, Daru, and Theophilus London. He describes this EP as “a vision of a lover through his travels in search of his present self.” Sponsored by GFCNY, Passport Life, Street Etiquette, and Soul Culture, this tape is showcases his singing and songwriting abilities and brings us a varied sample of sounds and tempo’s from the artist. Its available for a free download, hit the link below.
Stream the whole album HERE:
.Review- The Greater Than Club Mixtape by Fly.Union
What does it take to be great? What does music need, in order stand out among the millions of other mixtapes that drop each day? The biggest answer I can generate is the idea of being consistent. Fly.Union does not need any training in consistency. Want a vision? They’ve got it. Want a positive message? They’ve got it. Want the kind of music that accurately details the lives of young, fun ambitious people with dreams? Yeah, they’ve got that too. Want to wear a fitted to support The Greater than movement? They even have those. See? This is the consistency we need in hip hop.
This mixtape falls under a themed pendelum of balance, the balancing of their dreams vs. their cash flow, their love for women vs. their divine need for independence. Fly.Union takes us through personal lyrics, to boisterous beats and delivers a project that offers truly consistent persoective from start to finish, of being greater, being above, how they keep rising, what holds them down and how nothing holds them back.
‘Salutation’starts the mixtape off- greeting the listeners and offering them a very real track. Fly.Union opens up about personal struggles, family responsibility and being driven. Overall, the song sets the tone for the mixtape, we’re about to hear the good and bad stories of only having a dream in your pocket. “Ain’t nothing changed but the address, I’m just trying to see progress”.
’Hard Sell’ comes in next with on a happy note, describing the perks, the parties and reminding the listeners that its hard work and money over everything. No matter what it takes. Fly.Union busts out in quick spits and the simple melody:“Lets make these dreams come true tonight” for the chorus- highlighting the come up and the groups dedication to stay on track towards their goals. Powerful Mohammed Ali voiceover at the songs finale… The listeners know that they’re in for some passionate tracks to follow.
The next song, ‘Good to Go’ is the track where we can really start head knocking. Count this one as the “we’re here to stay’ anthem. The bass bangs with a complimentary vocal sample while the group lets us hear their SWAG is certifiable. The group has fun here, letting the beat build slowly and lacing it with playful, young-minded lyrics: “Oh that’s your girl? are you for sure? I plead the 5th, I aint know, Uh oh..” Money on their minds, women on their hearts, a theme most young adults can relate to.
Keeping it consistently moving, the next track ‘5000’ is a fun play on words with smooth chorus “I’m Audi”on repeat. This track sheds the bass and replaces it with some soul, mixed with switched up lyrical styles and keyboard synths. This track declares Yes, they sing, Yes they move right along from money hungry hoes and yes, they sound GREAT doing it. You with them yet?
‘Finish Line’ and ‘Long Run’ are the next two songs, where the Fly.Unionfellas slow it down to truly describe the mindset of belonging to the ‘greater than’ culture. Laced with soulful samples, and content based on moving on, things changing, rising above and not being washed away by the mediocrities of this life and this music biz let the listeners know just how for real these guys are. These two songs are heartfelt, real and relative to anyone who continuously strives to be greater than the person they were yesterday. A theme that everyone can take from and grow towards.
Next up, the track ‘Love for You’, begins impatiently with wanting it all right now rhymes and them slowly realizes that good things come slowly, moving into the portrait of perspective the group carries. Through experience, they learn about fair-weather friends, and that you can’t always win. Other topics on their minds include women, hennessy and the images of being ‘cool’, then, moments of wanting to live more righteously and family oriented, but knowing that ultimately they are just young, and it’s all love. The song rides out with beautiful instrumental keyboard and piano duet, gorgeous notes.
It only takes the group 1min: and 07sec to completely switch up the tempo and direction of the mixtape. The track ‘How to Act’ melts the speakers on its Cool Kids bass and synth mixture, and keyboard keys like a video game. The track takes a quick jab at the current state of popular hip hop asking the listeners: “Where the bad actresses at?”on repeat. After that, Westside native Dom Kennedy lights up verse one of the track ‘Frends.Women.Money’ , doing his usual dope Dom thing.
‘Dont Call’is the mixtapes tell-tale song about the frustrations between men and women’s communication patterns. The ongoing struggle to be alone, rather than responding, and the confusing intertwining of friends, sex, and feelings and the relentless battle to unravel those three. “You cry a river, you build a bridge, you get over it, you burn the bridge”. If you understand pride, you understand this song. ‘Look Up to The Sky’ (featuring BJ the Chicago Kid and P.Blakk) moves the lens from relationships to the culture they live in, and again describing the back & forth between false images of success and their moral responsibilities to the culture, a great way to bring the listener to the next track: ‘Do it For You’, (featuring Pac Div & BJ the Chicago Kid) which serves as the quintessential ladies jam, but the more you listen to it, it could be a jam about the money, or a jam about their dreams. You decide, either way it sounds good.
The group does something unique for the end of the album. Th song ‘Who You Wit’ is a celebration of who they are so far, incorporating an orchestra to help bring it all together and clink their champagne flutes to. Maybe their lyrics should join the elegance, (ahem): “Let’s make tonight unforgettable, almost everythin we doin is un-twittable, somethings are not mean to be told, to tell everyone u know I am un-fuck-wittable.” And the final track on the mixtape is not composed by Fly.Union at all, but rather a compilation of voicenotes of fans, supporters and people that identify with the ‘Greater Than’ movement.
**** 4.5 Stars. Amazing!!!
…I put this beat tape on yesterday morning and my friend’s head immediately began knocking back&forth- he asked “What IS this?… Is this a Dilla Tribute??”…..
…….Need I say more? Enjoy.
Over elaquent’s vast, illustrious career he has consistently blessed us with tape after tape after tape of pure genius. this here is a collection of some of his ‘finer work’, tracks that most of y’all are probably tired of but some of you will shit your pants over. if it was up to eq everything he ever released would be free but we have kids to feed. the point is, for the kids who dunno who this canadian even is, peep game and refer back to his catalogue, and you’ll hear the real gems. As a free goodie, we have attached the first single off Elaquent’s HW&W debut release. The Midnight After coming soon.
released 25 January 2011 Produced By Sona Elango Artwork By Frans. [Bandcamp.com]
B Lewis brings us a free 30 track beat tape showing just what talent and vision his production is made of. This young, fire West Coast beatmaster broke onto the production scene last year with the release of Mercury Backburner, now he’s back showing us his growth and refinement on the boards, his music has incredibly depth and layers, some of these beats have incredible amounts of samples happening all at once its some real innovative shit. If you haven’t yet heard his funky-smooth-electronic-Flying Lotus inspired sound, it’s time for a listen.
My favorites among these beat samples are: Call it Hers, ANGEL, 2 Birds 2 Stones, 3 Suns, and Science with Reason.
Hit the link to download individual tracks or the project in its entirety.
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PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT
Here is 14KT, giving us a jazzy instrumental track titled “Bridges- For Dwele?”. The track dropped a month ago on his SoundCloud where I found it for the first time today, 14KT’s work is phenomenal, from his remixes of popular artists to his own unique beat styles using Jazz & Soul samples, sometimes hard hitting, other times, ultra mellow. 14KT hails from Michigan and had been attached to the way that music could make people move since being involved in church choir at a young age. He turned to production as a default, after his rap group was in search of more beats that resembled the golden era age of hip hop, from which he was heavily influenced.
If you haven’t listened to the “Nowalataz” project from 2009, you’re missing out on a dope beat tape. He is an A-Side Worldwide artist, and a member of the Michigan chicago hip hop group: Athletic Mic League. Now that he is finished touring with Mayor Hawthorne, 14KT is busy in the lab for a new 2011 release. I’m all ears.
New Jack Kings “Ask Of U” feat. Mayer Hawthorne & intramentation by Zo!) by 14KT
Visit his SoundCloud or A-Side Worldwide to listen to more!
Ta-Ku is a sample-based beat producer. He is also a beast. Hailing from Australia, with an impressive collection of head-knocking beat tapes and mixes, he categorizes his tracks into 2 playlists on his Soundcloud: ”Future” or, “HipHop”. A track called Sylvia from the “Future” playlist and from his upcoming LP “Knots” in 2011, was the beat that got my attention to search deeper into this guys work. From this ‘future’ sounding track, I found some great hip hop, an entire Dilla Tribute mixtape and a track called “Hero” feat. Cyphi the Prince for G.O.O.D music’s mixtape: “Royal Flush.” Ta-Ku is a PaperChainPeople artist. Enjoy.
…”Jasmine Solano is a Brooklyn-based rapper and DJ whose debut single, “That’s Not It” is set to become an underground favorite in 2010. Born in Philadelphia, her career began after she took an opportunity to host her own radio show called, The Secret Spot, featured on Boston’s WERS 88.9FM in which she received the Urban Music Award for Best Female Radio Personality. After moving to New York, Jasmine and DJ Wonder released “That’s Not It” and circulated a variety of her DJ remixes around the blogosphere, arousing a good deal of buzz for the rapper in the process as well as an opening slot on an international tour with punk/hip-hop group Ninjasonik. Her infamous monthly party, Electric Punanny with New York City’s downtown stars Melo-X, Roxy Cottontail and Phone By Tone has spread worldwide. Jasmine Solano has produced a variety of indie videos with Va$htie, managed small indie labels and continues to DJ as the darling of the New York City downtown nightlife. She’s been featured in a variety of publications and has performed as a rapper at Miami’s Winter Music Conference, Lyricist Lounge, Rock The Bells and MySpace Music Shows including opening slots for Ghostface, Rakim, The Clipse and Sean Kingston. Since then, she’s also gone on tour with Chuck Inglish of The Cool Kids and is the host of online radio show, Frank Radio on Frank151.com. Jasmine just wrapped up the “Deal Or No Deal Tour” as Wiz Khalifa’s official DJ, performing & djing in a sold out, 60 city nation-wide tour across the US.” [exerpt from: jasminesolano.com]
I had the pleasure of watching Jasmine in action 2 consecutive nights during Fashion Week Boston. First, she launched her new single and collaboration with female streetwear line: Married to the Mob showing off the prideful pink, sassy “Thats Not It” T-shirts. She spun, and ripped the mic at Karmaloop for a small crowd, the spun the tables the next night at the New Society Fashionably Late Fashion Show at The Liberty Hotel, where the entire place was moving to her beat. I spoke with her briefly and she is very friendly, down to earth and genuinely excited about her music and her fans. Next item on my bucket list: Heading to NYC to watch her spin live again.
Visit her site and keep your infatuation growing (I know I am.) —-> http://jasminesolano.com/
Chiddy Bang is a relatively new group that I heard of a few months back. Wednesday of last week, they released this single, The Good Life, which is actually their second, full-scale collaboration produced by Pharrell and Chiddy Band member Xaphoon Jones. The beat goes HARD and the energy is dope, I just wish the track was a little longer. This song is currently in HEAVY rotation on my playlist.
Hear it below:
Chiddy Bang- The Good Life (co-produced by Pharrell) by chavosfiresidechats
Download the track here: http://soundcloud.com/chavosfiresidechats/chiddy-bang-the-good-life-co-produced-by-pharrell
THEN, as I’m playing this song and enjoying my Saturday, a friend let me know that Chiddy Bang was actually in town, and playing at the 25th annual College Fest at the Hynes Convention Center.
After a light lunch and a pitcher of Sangria on Newbury, I headed to the (umm inSANELY crowded) event to catch the performance. Despite my attempts at getting a better view, being a shorty worked against me at this show, and I really could only see the stage through the drunk college students bodies in front of me. Chiddy Bang’s energy was high but their sound was off, (which may have been a result of the convention center’s acoustics). Hey, I enjoyed the live show though, I think this group is on the brink of something major.. : )
Of course, the duo stopped by KarmaLoop too : )
Clearly I had my taller friend snap this photo : )
Here is the story! http://allcatharsiseverything.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/aroundtown-boston-artists-spotlight/#more-760
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| POWER. The first thing I could say about Kanye right now could very well be his music. I’m not going to. Kanye West, quite frankly, doesn’t deserve for me to only talk about his music in the same manner that I post the amazing music of other worldwide artists. Kanye doesn’t deserve it, a) because he doesn’t NEED it, and b) because I think Kanye’s message, impact and position in this lifetime is criminally overlooked. Mistakes he has made, yes. Life changing, nearly era-changing music he has created, yes. A global fan-base of true listeners that will buy any record regardless WHAT he does to taylor Swift, yes. He has all of these things, he has the mentality of a King, and though at times he is outwardly arrogant, I believe that if the young men of the world that listened to his music, stopped and listened to this ideal that we are humans ARE ALL capable of being righteous kings and queens, they too, could have infinite power in their dreams. Beyond the Music—> Kanye’s taste in photography is exquisite. See it here: http://www.kanyewest.com/home/#/category/art/  One of my gallery favorites. __________________________________________________________ Beyond the Hype- The Kanye West Foundation The mission of the Kanye West Foundation, is to help combat the severe dropout problem in schools across the United States by partnering with community organizations to provide under-served youth access to music production programs that will enable them to unleash their creative ability and reach their full potential. ______________________________________________________________ And, yes, finally… The Music.   “See Me Now” Featuring Beyonce and Charlie Wilson: http://usershare.net/hr9k4449dvql E N J O Y. |
Jam-of-the-Month- “Do Ya Like” by Culdesac *End of Summer MUST Hear*
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| “How could you be so mean? Who wrote the Script we read? It’s too late. We’ve already taped this thing The Last Date The Finale The Love Scene Oh am I playing in your Movie? Or are you playin’ me? Cause you know that you move me. |
