Author Archives: Baseer Ahmad

[Video] Tory Lanez – B.L.O.W.

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - September 18, 2015

Tory Lanez
B.L.O.W.

In case you hadn’t already caught on yet, this is your last chance to hop on the Tory Lanez bandwagon before he gets ready to “B.L.O.W.” As part of his Fargo Fridays series, Tory dropped some visuals for a brand new number that promises to be yet another hit for the tireless emcee. Produced by frequent running mate Play Picasso and Sergio R, the trap infused banger follows previously well received singles “Initiation” and “Say It“, the latter of which recently hit #1 on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart. The single is already available for purchase on iTunes, so make sure to grab yourself a copy to hold you over until Tory’s proper major label debut drops via Benny Blanco‘s Mad Love imprint on Interscope Records next year.

Hip/Hop

[Soul] Louis Mattrs – Superman

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - September 15, 2015

Louis Mattrs
Superman

Soundcloud

When it comes to vocal prowess, we’re not sure even “Superman” could rival what Louis Mattrs brings to the table. Hailing from the UK, the multi-talented singer, songwriter and producer is the latest Brit to fly onto our radars with his brand new single. You may recognize Louis from his appearance on SG Lewis‘ much-heralded tune “No Less” from earlier this year. He follows a similar formula on his own number, while giving his delicately soulful vocals more room to breathe over simple, yet elegantly crafted production. At this point it seems pretty clear Louis has no kryptonite to speak of, and we expect big things from his forthcoming Slow Waves EP, which is also set to include features from Lucki Eck$ and Lauren K Faith.

Soul

[Future R&B] Vanessa Elisha – Latency (Feat. CVIRO) (Prod. By GXNXVS)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - September 1, 2015

Vanessa Elisha feat. CVIRO
Latency (Prod. By GXNXVS)

Buy

Vanessa Elisha has been on our radar for well over a year now, but if you’re still late to the party, it’s time you took notice of the Australian songstress. For her latest effort, Vanessa teams up with frequent collaborator GXNXVS and older brother CVIRO to craft yet another wavy R&B gem. Although this is only the first outing from the talented brother-sister duo, the chemistry is undeniable as their vocals sync together in perfect harmony.

“Latency” serves as the lead single from Vanessa’s upcoming Good Ones EP, set to drop later this year. In the meantime, vibe out to the tune above and make sure to grab yourself a copy from iTunes.

Future
Soul

Dinner With Gerald: G-Eazy Talks Lollapalooza, Endless Nights In The Studio & The Golden State Warriors [TMN Exclusive Interview]

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - August 13, 2015

G-EAZY
Oh Well

Download

G-Eazy‘s ascension to hip-hop stardom has been anything but typical. In just four years the Bay Area native has gone from indie rap darling to selling out nationwide tours. It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact moment where fantasy crossed over to reality for the rapper, though if you take the name of his debut album literally, you may be inclined to just assume These Things Happen. Except they don’t. Whether you enjoy his music or not, you have to respect the man’s hustle and the way he’s been able to expand his fanbase organically through a steady release of free music on his SoundCloud page. The hype is very real, so much so that G-Eazy was the only hip-hop artist to headline a stage at this year’s Lollapalooza, a testament to how far he’s already come.

I had a chance to catch up with Gerald prior to that performance as he prepared to take the stage Friday night at The Music Lounge 10 Years After-Party presented by Renaissance Hotels, BMF Media Group and Billboard. Having just landed in Chicago after playing a set at Osheaga Festival earlier that day, Gerald was about to dive in to dinner when we first shook hands. Like many rappers, Eazy’s persona is one that’s built on bravado, but in reality Gerald is an incredibly humble and pragmatic dude. At one point during our interview we were interrupted by a few friends and admirers who wanted to snap a couple pics, which G was more than happy to oblige as he posed with a huge grin while hilariously flaunting a stack of $2 bills (which he subsequently used to make it rain during his set about half an hour later). During this exchange an older gentleman pulled me aside and assured me that in all his years working in the industry, Gerald was one of the nicest individuals he’d ever met, also emphasizing that he was special and always made time for people. Perhaps it’s that charisma and magnetism that draws fans to him in the first place. It certainly translates to his live performance, as G-Eazy had one of the more entertaining sets all weekend. In my conversation with Gerald we touched on what it meant for him to be closing out the festivities on Saturday night, along with plans for his new album and some of his early Bay Area influences. Find out what he had to say below.

Continue reading →

[Hip-Hop] Chance The Rapper & Noname Gypsy – Israel (Sparring)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - August 12, 2015

Chance The Rapper & Noname Gypsy
Israel (Sparring)

Download

A week after releasing his surprise mixtape with Lil B, Chance The Rapper is back again with some dope new material. Produced by Cam O’bi, “Israel (Sparring)” is a relatively low-key tune that features Channo kicking a few laid-back bars alongside frequent collaborator, Noname Gypsy. Don’t let the mellow vibes fool you though, as the introspective cut boasts some of the sharpest rhymes we’ve heard all year. There’s no clues yet on the status of Chance’s next solo project, but with his Family Matters tour set to begin later this fall, we hope that means even bigger things are in store for the future.

Hip/Hop
Soul

Lollapalooza 2015: Our Top Takeaways [Event Review]

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - August 7, 2015

As with any music festival, after Lollapalooza is over, it always takes us a few days to digest everything and snap back to reality. For locals, the festival serves as a three day escape within our own city. For outsiders, it provides them with a completely unique way to experience Chicago. The magic of Lollapalooza is simply unmatched, and despite a weather scare on the final day, Lollapalooza 2015 turned out to be just as memorable as years past. On the next few pages we’ve broken down some of our lasting impressions from Lolla.

Continue reading →

[R&B] Tory Lanez – Say It (Prod. Pop Wansel)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - July 31, 2015

Tory Lanez
Say It

Buy

After teasing us with a snippet of “Say It” late last week, Tory Lanez has come through with the unabridged version of his latest single as promised. It’s barely been a month since the release of Cruel Intentions, Tory’s collaborative EP with the WEDIDIT collective, but the Toronto native is already gearing up for another full length release set to drop through Benny Blanco‘s Mad Love imprint. The fresh new tune is rooted in old school R&B, as Tory once again shows off his singing chops over an instrumental that utilizes a sample of Brownstone‘s “If You Love Me” to perfection. The song is a bit more mellow and relaxed than Tory’s typical output, but we’re not complaining. We trust that you’ll find this one in your rotation way past the end of summer.

Hip/Hop
Soul