Latest Hip/Hop Posts

[Hip-Hop] James Lanning – Until 21 (feat. Michael Christmas)

Posted by Mark McNulty - December 10, 2016

JAMES LANNING
Until 27 (Feat. Michael Christmas)

James Lanning made his first salvo into the ongoing struggle for notoriety in New York hip-hop with the gutsy single “One” in March, 2016. The music video, filmed by the rapper himself, saw James climbing and teetering on top of Big Apple skyscrapers. Combined with his thick lyricism and daring flow, the audio-visual combination was a feast for the senses. Now the driven and introspective rapper is back in a big way with “Until 27” featuring a witty verse from the talented Michael Christmas. “Until 27” is the first single off Lanning’s upcoming debut album Another Day Wasted out December 16th on Onamazu.

Off the bat, this beat slaps. Producer glocque pairs the lo-fidelity of a classic hip hop beat with low-end bass manipulation from the realms of dubstep or glitch hop. This unique backdrop is well-suited for the unorthodox, rapid-fire lyricism of Lanning. He stays in the pocket, and with this beat there’s some wonderfully spacious room for him to rhyme. “You don’t like me? I don’t like me neither / He might be Eazy or he might be Bieber,” Lanning starts in, alluding to his crossover appeal or perhaps some inner tension. Michael Christmas’s verse is a splendid addition to the track, rounding out the ironic tune with a bit of humor. In a city of almost 9 million people, and probably about 15,000 rappers, Lanning is wisely flexing a fresh and unique sound to distinguish himself.

[Secret Ninja Pass] This Week at Beta – 12/1 – 12/4

Posted by Clayton Warwick - December 1, 2016

Winter weather is finally here! Along with snowboarding, sledding, snowball fights, and schnapps-spiked hot cocoa, we can also look forward to a winter stacked with top-notch talent at Beta Nightclub. Per usual, we’re making it incredibly easy for you to get off your couch and head down. Why’s that? Because we’re hooking you up with free entry.

Here’s how:
– Head to the front door and enter the club before 11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Get there before 9:00 on Sunday
– Show this post to the cashier (Valid for 21+ only).
– The deal is valid for FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY this week.

Porter Robinson & Madeon DJ Set - 12/1

’Porter Robinson & Madeon – Shelter’

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Dirtyphonics / Dubloadz - 12/2

’Skrillex & Alvin Risk – Try It Out (Dirtyphonics Remix)’

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’Ookay – Thief (Dubloadz Remix)’

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Ceelo Green - 12/3

’Semi Hendrix feat. CeeLo Green – “Sex Pistol”‘

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Sonny Fodera - 12/4

’JAHKOY – Still In Love (Sonny Fodera & Lauren Faith Remix)’

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[Hip Hop] MOORS – King

Posted by Mark McNulty - November 29, 2016

“There’s a young man named ‘King’, petrified fields smell of evaporated blood, bullet shells as rocks,” begins Keith Stanfield on “King”, the most recent single from Long Angeles duo MOORS. The poetic rapper and actor who co-stars in Donald Glover’s television show “Atlanta” is half of the musical project MOORS. The other half, Hrishikesh Hirway, founder of songwriter’s podcast Song Exploder, supplies the soundscape on King” with a tense, militant-moving beat.

Keith Stanfield told us he finds inspiration in the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe, Langston Hughes, and Johnny Cash. Like these men, Stanfield records his thoughts with adept poetic maneuvering and a split-open, raw delivery. The song deals with distress, disaster and development within the artist’s life, and by proxy strikes a nerve deep within the consciousness of American history.

Stanfield’s internal and double rhymes strike hard and fast. He describes a past where he would “run with the goons subtle and smooth / Untouchable troop / Gutter platoon.” A history of violence left the singer with a plagued mind and vacant soul, and after growing through a history of violence the lines of morality become blurry and even non-existent. The young King asserts the gold within his inner self, which he will continue to manifest and bring forth amidst a harsh reality in which forces of evil are arrayed against him. Among such pressure, “don’t be surprised when I don’t know how to act,” Stanfield asserts. With “nothing to lose” a “thug on the loose” is “bringing a truth back”. The rapper’s literary prowess continues to shine through with double-entendre’s like “fuck a copper we goin’ platinum”. Though the truth of self-empowerment and self-knowledge runs through the lyrics, it’s a dark and at times despairing poetic picture which Stanfield paints on “King”. More than anything else, it’s an honest picture – of his life and the lives of others who struggle through oppression both physical and emotional, whether originating from the penal system or from one’s own harsh memories.

The assertion of self-worth within “King”, the reminder to find the gold inside yourself, is potent and timely. It’s some of the most striking work yet from a group named after the powerful African Muslim empire of the Middle Ages. We look forward to more material from this exceptionally creative pair of artists.

Hip/Hop

Dope Music Village – You’re Welcome [TMN PREMIERE]

Posted by Clayton Warwick - November 25, 2016

It takes a village. That’s the mantra that this DC, Maryland, and Virginia-based collective are using as the catalyst behind their creative endeavor. And, from what we’re seeing and hearing from their first album together, You’re Welcome produces a cohesive vibe that has us bobbing our heads, tapping our feet, and looking ahead into the rest of our long weekend.

Dope Music Village, aka DMV, is comprised of three unique artists, each of which brings their own individualistic creative visions to this project. The name is a play off of two things: the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia), and the village centers that make up their hometown of Columbia. Together, it’s setting the framework for what Nature Boi, Brian Rapp, and Ezko are crafting.

In 2015 we formed a collective known as Dope Music Village. We have adapted the motto, “it takes a village” because it reflects our ethos when it comes to our music scene. Everything we do is collaborative and inclusive. When we put together shows we partner with other collectives and groups instead of keeping everything in house. Our website even features other local artists who we think make good music. We truly believe that a rising tide lifts all ships. – Brain Rapp

Musically, this trio covers a broad breadth of hip-hop and R&B influences that span across nuances of multiple decades. What drew us in at first was an advance listen of “Venting” which features Liqui. The pronounced percussion, fluttering brass sample, and organic vocal harmonies call on associations of legends like De La Soul and Jurassic 5. Yet, as classic as the beat and flows feel, the production brings it forth into current times, blending the best of both worlds effortlessly. It’s the perfect addition to kicking the night off, maybe spouting off the chorus as you get cleaned up and ready to hit the town.

Other tracks provide a more modern, bass-heavy, trap offering, yet still carry the DMV originality throughout. “Hands and Bands” boasts a heavy 808 kick, window-rattling bassline, quick rolling hi-hat hits, and verses that will have you primed and ready for an epic night out. Should you find yourself at late-night after party, this will serve as the perfect soundtrack. Conversely, if you head home with someone who caught your interest instead of going to that after party, maybe you’d prefer to round out your evening with “Ms. Amerykah Badu,” which features a silky smooth beat and evocative lyrics worthy of a permanent addition into your bedroom playlist.

Wherever this weekend takes you, you’re now set up with a tasty set of tracks to cover any situation you should come up on. Whether it’s smoking out at home, or hitting the clubs with your fam, Dope Music Village has you covered. Make sure to show some proper support by picking up You’re Welcome on Bandcamp.

’Dope Music Village – Feel It’

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’Dope Music Village – It’s Been Lit Ever Since’

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’Dope Music Village – Hands & Bands (feat. Stef Is Dope)’

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’Dope Music Village – Inhale Mary’

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’Dope Music Village – This Is It (feat. Liqui)’

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’Dope Music Village – Ms. Amerykah Badu’

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’Dope Music Village – 5011 (feat. S.U. The Clique)’

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’Dope Music Village – Venting (feat. Liqui)’

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Hip/Hop

[Album Review] Uyama Hiroto – Freeform Jazz

Posted by Mark McNulty - November 16, 2016

Sometimes an album catches you off guard, rising from nowhere and roaring into your ears with new sounds and ideas. Such an album grows on you over time, and eventually can reorient what music and sounds you thought you liked. Freeform Jazz, released on November 1 by Japanese producer and multi-instrumentalist Uyama Hiroto for Roph Recordings, is such an album. Emotionally rich, culturally diverse, and technically brilliant, it’s the artist’s third full-length release, his first since 2014’s Freedom of the Son, and it appeared with little to no fanfare or publicity in the United States.

Little information exists about Uyama Hiroto online, but he could first be heard playing the saxophone and clarinet in the music of deceased Japanese beat legend Nujabes, whose blend of jazz and hip hop was known for its technical precision, immaculate sampling, diversity of influence and melancholic vibe. Though Nujabes, real name Seba Jun, passed away in 2010, Uyama Hiroto has been driving forward the Japanese jazz/hip-hop sound and style, which itself has roots far deeper than Nujabes. Hiroto’s prior releases are excellent, but they don’t stray too far from Nujabes’ work. Now, high artistic risk pays off with a high reward on Freeform Jazz, which elevates his own sound and the Japanese jazz style to even higher ground.

The beautiful artwork on the album’s cover is representative of the musical elements which make the album so magical. First, like the painting, the music is rooted (although not exclusively) in prior Japanese musical tradition. Pentatonic scales and warm, emotive piano phrasing saturate the record, and recalls the work of 1970’s-1980’s jazz piano player Ryo Fukui. Constant melodies from the xylophone mix with the piano to establish a backdrop which sounds the way a Japanese maple garden looks in the autumn. This wash of colorful sound can be most clearly heard on “Yamato Damasii”.

’Yamato Damasii’

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The album’s cover has a certain liquidity to it, a fluid rearrangement of the traditional horseman image which looks as if it’s being reflected in water. Similarly, Hiroto filters his acoustic material ever so delicately, resulting in music which sometimes sounds like its being played in a glass of water. Listen to “Skipper” for that effect exemplified.
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[Hip-Hop/Trap] Stööki Sound – Ösiris EP

Posted by Tyler Trew - November 9, 2016

Stööki Sound marked the beginning of their tour with the release of their Ösiris EP. They’ll be playing dates across North America from here onward into the new year. If they stop near you, don’t miss out. Something else you shouldn’t miss is their EP.

Ösiris is a step in, for lack of a better term, different direction for the duo. It’s not so much different, as it is them evolving with their style. They’ve always been an act that puts out quality, creative music, but now they’ve really hunkered down to deliver something really special. Six songs make up the EP, with the sounds moving in between hip-hop/grime, to trap, to electronic sounds that can’t be put into any single frame. There is no weak point in Ösiris, only truly exceptional points, including ones within some of the stronger singles like “Hear That” and “Exodus.” We already heard some of the other songs prior to release, including “Endz” and “My G’s” which deserve another listen, even if you streamed them fifty times each when they dropped.

Stööki Sound are setting the pace for a takeover in 2017. Be there, or be square. Before that comes, grab yourself a copy of the Ösiris EP. You’ll thank yourself for doing so.

’Revive’

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’Hear That Ft. Jelacee & P Money’

’Endz’

’My G’s Ft. Jelacee’

’Exodus’

’Survive’

[Hip-Hop] Ryden – Ready

Posted by Tyler Trew - November 8, 2016

Ryden
Ready

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We’re happy to provide you with the information that Ryden is back with another big original. Not only do you get the information, but you get the single. You ready? Good, because “Ready” is here and it came as a free download.

First we got the illustrious “Dear God,” but now we see Ryden stepping into the booth as the emcee. She’s an all-around talent, and “Ready” shows that in full. Her production style has underground written all over it, but it’s totally accessible with a special signature sound that it seems only Ryden can provide. She’s raw, rugged and completely on fire in every aspect of “Ready” and it has us ready for more. She’s only released two singles under this venture, but more will come. Before those get here, turn up the volume and throw this anthem on repeat. Most importantly, don’t forget to grab the free download above!

Hip/Hop