Sunday, May 11, 2014

rMell - SPBM




The dynamic duo of Grammy Family's rMell and Matt McGhee have done it once again. It's almost becoming redundant to speak on, which is why I initially threw this up on the blog with no write up...well that and a little bit of laziness. However, I chose to write my wrong and try to give this joint its proper due.

"SPBM" which stands for Something Produced By Matt, who again is highly underrated in that category, dude can spit but lets start to give him his credit for his production skills. As for rMell, ever since GramFam's 25 I've found myself continuously impressed with his rhymes, he has come along way from the dude who once said "Oh you mad cuz I'm styling on you? Zip it. If you feeling froggy, go ahead ribbit" and the other corny punchlines which I criticized him for in the past. With the rate he is evolving, I just might have to make a part two of my The Evolution of rMell article and I'm no fool but I am definitely ready to hear his "catalog of new shit".

GRAMFAM S/S 14

[Mixtape] Mac Miller - FACES


Happy Mother's Day, have a sammich.

[Video] Freddie Gibbs x Vanderslice - Bugatti Bullet Holes



River City Ransom meets Gangsta Gibbs meets a Bugatti equals bullet holes. Grab Vanderslice's full project Everything's Awesome here.

[Video] Flying Lotus - Phantasm ft Laura Darlington



Track sixteen from Fly Lo's 2012 album Until the Quiet Comes gets the visual treatment from director Markus Hofko who crafts a video just as unique and odd as its creator.

[Video] Inside The Beat: Earl Sweatshirt & Vince Staples



The good folks over at Noisey got together with Earl Sweatshirt and Vince Staples for the first episode of their "Inside The Beat" series. Surprisingly this has very little to do with producing and serves more as insight into Earl and mostly Vince's recording habits and personal feelings on music. Excellent cinematography.

[Mixtape] Unsung Collectiv - Bucket Boys


Bucket Boys is the first project from the Unsung Colletctiv (and if you see the E, drop em') comprised of emcees Nomad and EZ Gustow, producers Eric Barry and DJ 69 among others such as T.Brown. Even with its short duration the tape serves its purpose as a nice introduction to the group and their particular sound. No' and EZ flow well together and have great track chemistry throughout the tape, both have similar rhyming styles but their distinctively different voices set them apart from each other, everyone else and draw you in as a listener. Hopefully a follow up tape is in the works I would love to hear more.  

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

[EP] 2 Chainz - FreeBase


After having a down year compared to his breakout in 2012, 2 Chainz was seemingly in limbo with what to do for his next move with B.O.A.T.S. II not doing what he expected. However, it might have been a blessing in disguise as he sounds hungry once again on his new EP FreeBase. While it isn't T.R.U. Realigon, it is my favorite project from him since the classic mixtape, tapping back into that raw street sound that saw him grow into the star he was two Summers ago. S/O to the good folks over at OnSmash for the stream.

Cal Rips - One Take




Kool Klux Klan's Cal Rips took time out from working hard on his upcoming project to release a brand new track "One Take" which finds him swanking and swaggering his way through a ill verse over some nice brass production from DJ Such-N-Such. Expect Cal's Phor You to drop later this year. After F.

Freddie Gibbs - Bugatti Bullet Holes




For "Bugatti Bullet Holes" the final leak off his upcoming project Everything's Awesome producer Vanderslice laces Freddie Gibbs with some eerie hard-hitting production who in turn spits a equally raw verse. Gibbs has been on a tear this year and doesn't seem to have any intention of slowing down soon, hitting the road earlier this year with Madlib and now on Tech N9ne's Independent Grind Tour. Be sure to cop Freddie Gibbs latest project Cocaine Pinata which in my opinion is the best album of 2014 so far.

[Video] Rick Ross - Thug Cry ft Lil Wayne



It has been a little over two months since Rick "Lemon Pepper" Ross released his sixth studio album Mastermind, the support still continues with visuals coming for the Lil Wayne assisted "Thug Cry". Director Dre Films tabs actor Wood Harris to play a inmate who has recently been released from jail as Ross and Wayne trade verses over the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League produced track. WANGZZZ...

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Lil Wayne - Believe Me ft Drake



With a tweet from Kobe Bryant and a Instagram post from Floyd Mayweather "Carter Season" was said to have officially begun. However, in my opinion it started back in 2013 when Wayne apologize to his fans and promised to work harder once he noticed that his recent projects weren't up for awards. He has since seemed to stick with that sentiment if his verses on "Loyal" (showcasing his classic charm) and "Senile" (his best verse in years) are any indicators. 

One thing that has remained constant over the last few years is that Wayne and Drake are a deadly duo, everything they touch is music gold, and "Believe Me" is no different. Even with Wayne's verses lacking over the last couple of years, he always seemed to rise to the occasion when Drake was featured, this is why even though I'm happy to hear Wayne sounding awake and rejuvenated again I'm hesitant to crown him as officially back. This is a great start however for an artist who has seemingly staked his whole legacy on this last album as he says, Wayne says believe me but I'll have to wait until Carter Season really begins and that is when I can listen to Tha Carter V itself.

Al Hostile - Brazilian BBS ft rMell & Dark Nimbus



3rdiiiUth's Al Hostile links up with fellow Uthian Dark Nimbus and tabs the tracks producer rMell of GramFam fame for the remix to "Brazilian BBS" one of the standout cuts from Al's great debut project The Finer Thangz.

[Video] UGLYFRANK - LEFTOVA



With ILLFIGHTYOU and UGLYFRANK's stock on the rise, the group decides to release visuals for "LEFTOVA" the lead single from the latter's BOBBY HILL EP. Froot Loops, a great beat and good raps what else could you ask for? Frank is easily one of my favorite rappers to come out in the last 5-7 years, dude is crazy good.

[Video] Tyler, The Creator - WOLF Anniversary Show



Tyler, The Creator gives a brief look at what went down during WOLF's anniversary show. Man...it's crazy to think it has been a year since this album dropped I remember the day I heard it vividly. Anyway be sure to grab it if you haven't yet it is definitely worth it.

Plue Starfox - Persian Rugs (Glitch Edit)



Plue Starfox is an absolute mad genius. If you follow him on SoundCloud you'll know that he is prone to sporadically drop songs, remixes and even whole projects. Today I bring you his awesome glitch edits of PARTYNEXTDOOR's anti-friendzone anthem "Persian Rugs".

"Hey...listen!"

93' Bandits - Hunnid Fold ft Mike of Doom



The 93' Bandits make their return with "Hunnid Fold" the third single from the duo and tab the "Mayor of 30Whop" himself Mike of Doom. The inclusion of Mike was a great choice as he changes the format for the Bandits' recent singles which have just been them and he of course brings his signature energy to the track. Steezy Grizzlies and Rashad Stark both drop great verses respectively but it's the latter who turns in what just might be his best verse yet. The 93' Bandits have quickly made a name for themselves and with all eyes on them it'll be interesting to see if they'll live up to the expectations when their upcoming project Bandit Shit drops later this year.

Re-Drop: 93' Bandits - "Got Dammit" & "One Time"

CRASHprez - Thom Yorke Is Black



Although his Wikipedia states differently, CRASHprez wants you to know that "Thom Yorke Is Black" and does so over menacingly dark, brooding piano keys which set the tone for the overall melancholy mood of the track. The production crafted by *hitmayng, CRASH's partner in crime, is reminiscent of Radiohead's "Videotape" and brings the track's reference material full circle. There is a saying that "Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" and these two exemplify that to a t. This is, in my opinion at least, their best effort and I look forward to hearing what else they've cooked up for CRASH's More Perfect which is slated to release this Summer. CATCHWRECK.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Earl Sweatshirt - Nebraska ft Mac Miller & Vince Staples


Earl Sweatshirt took to Twitter earlier today to release two previously unheard tracks dating far back as 2012. The first "Nebraska" features good friends in Mac Miller and Vince Staples, the second is a solo cut featuring a interesting production choice compared to Earl's norm. S/O to you if you know the video SS screenshoted for the cover art. 

Vic Mensa - Down On My Luck



For his international single "Down On My Luck" Vic Mensa transcends his Chicago roots and goes for a sound most commonly heard in clubs over in the United Kingdom. Although it's a little different then what you've come to expect from Chicago rappers, if you're a fan of Mensa this should have be no surprise for you. This could potentially be a breakthrough single for Vic especially overseas where this sound is more widely accepted. I'm sure Chance is jealous...

Vic Mensa's INNANET TAPE is available now.  

Travi$ Scott - Don't Play ft Big Sean



UPDATE: DIRTY/CDQ added

Last month Travi$ Scott took to the stage during his show at The FADERFORT for SXSW to premiere his latest single then known as "1975" with fellow G.O.O.D. Music artist Big Sean. Today a clean version of the track was released now entitled "Don't Play", I'll be the first to say that I'm not the biggest fan of La Flame but this is easily one of my favorite joints of 2014. With Owl Pharaoh being the huge disappointment that it was, it'll be interesting to see if his upcoming project Rodeo delivers what we expected with his mixtape, at the very least this is a great start.

Suncaste - Knight Ryder ft Ciscero




I don't know much about D.C.'s Suncaste other than, that he is a producer and a damn good one at that. On "Knight Ryder" he links up with Maryland's Ciscero who delivers an impressive verse full of witty wordplay and alliteration over the excellent experimental electronic/hip-hop production.

I checked out Sun's Soundcloud after I heard this track to see if he had any other material and sure enough he did, a decent amount of instrumentals with electronic, trip-hop and traditional hip-hop bases and a few with all three elements effortlessly fused together. If you enjoy Flying Lotus or the music featured in Adult Swim's bumps I'd highly recommend you check out his other work. Great stuff.

Big K.R.I.T. - Mt. Olympus



Who the hell pissed off Big K.R.I.T.? That's what went through my mind once I heard his latest "Mt. Olympus" over some epic production, which of course is self-produced, the Mississippian makes his presence felt once again speaking on a range of topics. I like this type of energy from K.R.I.T. he sounds hungry and more focused than ever and that's scary.   

SALVA - Drop That Bitch ft Kurupt, ScHoolboy Q, Problem & Bad Lucc




L.A. based producer SALVA recruits some of California's new age rappers in ScHoolboy Q, Problem and Bad Lucc along with the veteran Kurupt for the remix of his Eazy-E sampled track "Drop That Bitch".