Mentioned this release a while back and it is now it’s here. I just got Key to the Kuffs a couple of days ago, I can’t give a full review of the release just yet, but here is a video treatment for a highlight “Guv’nor”. Cool video, good song. The Villain is a unique brand of hip hop. If you are a DOOM fan, you will like this. If you have never listened to him before, try Madvillainy first. It’s better. Jneiro Jarel is the best producer out that you’ve never heard of. Enjoy.
Category: music
Killer Mike -“Untitled” (Video)
Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music has been a highlight for RAP Music this year.(Sorry for the easy wordplay) “Untitled” is a stand out track and has one of my favorite opening verses on any song ever. “You, you, you, you you…” El-P’s boom bap thumping production suits this track more than any other on the entire LP. It feels natural.
This video has imagery of Mike as a revolutionary, killer, dictator, and victim. A highlight for me is El-P rolling himself out of his lab or bed to hold Mike’s head on a platter. I love this song so much that I didn’t need any sort of video treatment to enjoy it but it’s cool. “I’m only going once, a coward dies a thousand times.” Perfect. Enjoy.
Open Mike Eagle ft. Has-Lo – “Your Back Pack Past”
If you have grown out of Gang Starr and Wu-Tang this is not for you. If you like to make fun of those changes in Hip Hop culture, this is. Open Mike Eagle and Has-Lo do a great commentary on the industry and what it has become about. They also are making fun of the guy trying to do it all Madonna style to get big or even be relevant part of it. “Your Back Pack Past” is definitely worth the listen. 4NML HSPTL is good and underrated and under the radar. Enjoy.
Joey BadA$$ – “Waves”
I am shocked that this kid is only 17. He is very good. This is a nice summer track and he shows off some of his best lines. I love the beat. Joey BadA$$ is not running away from his youth. Skateboarding around, hanging out with friends, and the always gangster walking around your high school. I love that he owns it. This is “Waves” of the very good 1999. Enjoy.
AMS – “Moonwalking” ft. ESHR
This is one of my favorite local underground Chicago emcees. Full disclosure, I know this guy. I am pushing him and I don’t care. I am not ashamed. This is my damn blog. Agent Mos, AMS, The King of the Nerds has many names, metaphors, and deep thoughts. I have always loved his delivery and the intricate wordiness of his rhymes. You might need to rewind this track and his other stuff several times to achieve full appreciation. If interested I listed links to get his older stuff. I have truly been looking forward to this new release for several years now. It is called Natural(Influence): The World and What We Made of It and I have no idea when it is going to drop. I hope it doesn’t take 3 years. Enjoy.
http://www.agentmos.bandcamp.com
http://www.vaderwins.tumblr.com
http://www.facebook.com/agentmos
http://www.twitter.com/thetruenerdking
Throwback Thursday – System of a Down – “Spiders” + Pantera -“Walk”
Last week I was busy going to see one of my favorite famous people in the world, Conan O’Brien (We’re boys) so I didn’t get a chance to do this segment so I have decided to double the dose today. I have been writing about a lot of Hip Hop lately so here is a bit of a change of pace.
First: System of a Down – “Spiders”.
I loved this band so much because they were so unique. They had political undertones and then later they had political overtones in their songs. I will still get into a mood to listen to them. I give a lot of credit to my brother for purchasing this. Their self-titled album truly did blow my mind (and the speakers on our family van). They are talented and I hear making a comeback. Good for them. Enjoy.
Second: Pantera – “Walk”
I played basketball in my basement on a mini-hoop blaring this song numerous times. It is simple, straightforward, and raw. Not to mention there is an awesome guitar solo. I was taking lessons at the time and really wanted to be able to do this type of stuff (I ended up not practicing ever). I learned then that you can’t be a natural at playing guitar. You have to practice. Rats. Enjoy.
Top 25 Rappers Under 25 -Complex Mag (My Take)
My article about: My Life As a Hip Hop Fan coming soon… Here is a taste. Enjoy.
One of the things I did that made me the ultimate “Hip Hop” fan was that I had a subscription to Complex Magazine. I loved seeing what Kanye would wear next. “Holy shit, those glasses don’t have lenses and have been replaced by plastic horizontal lines! Dope!” I liked that it was geared towards the lifestyle. I liked that people I listened to were on the cover.
They did a list of the Top 25 Rappers Under 25. Here is the Top 10 with my insightful (or not) comments. Click on the link below to get the rest.
10. B.O.B. – Weak. Hahaha. I don’t give pop/rappers a lot of credit at all. When he first came onto the scene I was excited for him but he got the taste of what it is like to have some hits ($$$$$$$) so he will never turn back and I don’t blame him.
9. Tyler, the Creator – The worst Twitter follow ever. Pretty good rapper though. I think he and Earl Sweatshirt are really talented young emcees. I know he is controversial and pretty childish. I don’t mind it. In doses.Worst twitter user ever. Ever.
8. Mac Miller – I don’t like him at all. My 20 year old self would call this whack. Me now still calls it whack. I’m not sure why he is this popular. Because he is white?
7. Schoolboy Q – Barely making the list at 25 years old. I am surprised to see him this high. No pun intended. Not that he is bad, I just didn’t realize he was respected like this. He is a member of the Black Hippy crew which gives him a leg up on the rest in my book. Though he will never have a better verse on a song than Kendrick Lamar. He might want to stop doing that.
6. Big Sean – Of the limited stuff I have heard, I am not interested. Why listen to him when he can listen to Kanye who is way better? Same delivery and content. He is at an advantage because of good production. No thanks.
5. Wiz Khalifa – He is the “weed” rapper of his generation. It is really not my thing but I can see what he is popular. I like his hair.
4. Meek Mill – Party emcee. Not my style. I have never been a big fan of this type of music. Sorry.
3. Kendrick Lamar – It is no surprise that I love this guy. I have written and posted about him several times. I think that he is the most talented and exciting emcee to come out in a very long time (See Wale). Section .80 was chalked full of standout tracks but did have a couple of duds. I am excited for his proper release and I think he is too talented to disappoint with it like some have in the past (see Wale).
(This is a perfect example of why I am excited)
2. A$AP Rocky– He sounds like he is from the South. He raps about things that Southern rappers rap about. However, he’s from Harlem. He has charisma. He has confidence. (Don’t use “swag”, don’t use “swag”, don’t use “swag”) Honestly I think his best feature as an artist is picking his beats. I don’t think he is the most talented or creative rapper, but he links up with guys that make the most creative sounds. That is why he is famous. The verses on “Peso” will do the job, but that is a production hit. A masterpiece.
1. Mr. T – O.G. He is awesome.
I do not get this magazine anymore but I do enjoy this list. I can see a young Bojan still liking it. I think they do a nice job giving love to those emcees that aren’t the most popular but are the up and coming and extremely talented. If you look at the list you can see that this genre is not dead. It has some youth and these kids are good. Enjoy.
Here. – To see the real #1.
Throwback Thursday – June 7th, 2012 Busta Rhymes – “Woo Hah! (Got You All In Check)”
All this talk about Danny Brown makes me think of Busta Rhymes. When Busta came out he was so different from everyone else that it made sense he became popular in the MTV generation. I remember thinking this was some sort of gimmick(which it kind of was). The video for “Woo Hah!” and “Dangerous” were so off-the-wall weird that it actually changed the way videos were done. This was sandwiched in between Biggie’s -“Big Poppa ” and Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin”. I give Busta a lot of credit for being different. Enjoy.
“I make sure everything we make’s raw!”
OH MY! –Grizzly Bear – “Sleeping Ute”
I am excited by anything this band does. Grizzly Bear is definitely not for everyone. Without sounding like a music snob, this is for those people who can appreciate incredible effort on each song made. Grizzly Bear’s 2009 album Veckatimest was a masterpiece. They have a lot to live up to. They have been awesome and because they are who they are, I expect this new effort to be just as good. Here is the first single, “Sleeping Ute”, from the untitled album which comes out in September. I have early excitement. Enjoy.
Danny Brown – “Grown Up”
This guy is awesome. One of the best videos of the year, and maybe ever. Enjoy.
Jugo + Rada Records 