IiMZ - Flows (prod. Hymn)

3rdiiiUth's IiMZ recently dropped his single "Flows", which was sent to me by fellow Uthian Al Hostile, this was my first time hearing from him but definitely not the last. With the track's duration coming in just under five minutes IiMZ impressed me all the way through, one of the few indie rappers I've heard with actual substance to his bars. I also enjoyed the production which was provided by Hymn (my first time hearing his work I believe...good shit Chick) although the vibe did remind me of another track from the 3rdiii called "Atmos-Fear" but that was mainly due to the similar airy-bounce featured on the tracks.

Chick Gaynor - Noir 2 (Prod. Louseph Bruise Em')

Maryland's Chick Gaynor has be quietly working on his next project THE BELOVED, aside from last years "Sophistirachet" we haven't heard much from him. Well late last night the Slug God decided to drop "Noir 2" featuring some ill production from frequent collaborator Louseph Bruise Em'. Seems like every time Chick and Lou get together the product is always top notch (collab project maybe?). Chick has always been one of my favorite artists, he brings a unique energy to any track, so it's good to hear some new material from him. With his EP's release date slowly but surely approaching hopefully we'll get more tracks from it. I haven't hear much from his upcoming project but if Chick can stick to the level of quality he has become known for, I have no doubt that THE BELOVED will be some of 2014's best. 

Chick Gaynor - Sophistirachet ft Cal Rips (prod. by Clayt Da Great)

Moving on from his last project Chick Gaynor is back with the first single "Sophistirachet" from his upcoming The Beloved EP. Backed by groovy production from Clayt Da Great, Chick and Cal spit that new gospel about these hoes. Good vibes from this track. Good shit Slug Gawd. 

[Mixtape Review] Chick Gaynor - LORD $LUG

After a few singles and an EP, Chick Gaynor returns with his first project of the new year LORD $LUG, the follow up to his album ORIGAMI. It's been a while since a project has had me this conflicted on my opinion of it. LORD $LUG is a good project but it is definitely a step back when compared to ORIGAMI, but ORIGAMI shined mainly due to the improvement over Chick's first mixtape Whatever. In no means is LORD $LUG a bad project but it does have its faults, one thing it is lacking is the cohesiveness that ORIGAMI benefited from. It feels much more like an EP comprised of material that Chick has been working on for the past months than a true project. It is almost more comparable to his Slug Gawd: The Lost Memoirs in that sense. 

Chick has always been an artist who has shown improvement with each project and while LORD $LUG doesn't improve on too much from Chick's previous works it does enough. One thing that it has over his past projects is replayability, I've listened to it a lot in the weeks since its release and I've yet to tire of it. Whatever and ORIGAMI both lack in this, mainly due in part to production choices. The production featured on LORD $LUG is definitely more upbeat when compared to the melodic melancholy production on ORIGAMI. Thanks to producers such as Louseph Bruise Em', rMell, High Class Filth, Suede Moccasins and Nomad. Although at the same time Chick doesn't stray to far off from the sound that made him, he more or less fine tuned it. Tracks such as "Alexa Chung" show off Chick's humor and his ability to spit over more uptempo production. While "#BushMOB" shows off Chick's more menacing side, as he and Mike of Doom take turns trading bars while sending shots at fellow rappers. As I said earlier, while LORD $LUG does lack the cohesiveness that ORIGAMI had, it does well to show off Chick's versatility as an artist as he tackles various production styles.

Lyrically LORD $LUG is strong, featuring some of his best verses, Chick retains the improvement in lyrics and flow that he showed in past projects. Chick keeps the feature count low this time around, only Mike of Doom and Nomad make appearances with both bringing their own unique talents to their respective tracks. Chick has always had an ability to be personal in his raps and that makes him much more relatable and it truly shows on this tape. The project ends with the excellent "Lama Sabacthani" as Chick laments over the Nomad produced track about his griefs, it is truly moving and in my opinion the best track on LORD $LUG, a definite highlight.

Overall, LORD $LUG is another great project from Chick Gaynor who continues to improve and hone his sound with each project. It'll be interesting to see what he does for his next project but I have no doubts that it'll be his best yet.

Standout Tracks: #BushMOB, Edward Nygma, Alexa Chung, Psalm 27 & Lama Sabacthani

FINAL VERDICT

+ Some of Chick's best work yet

+ High replay value

+ Strong production

+ Digital Booklet featuring lyrics and excellent design 

- Lacks cohesiveness

- Short duration

8/10

Stream below or download here

[Mixtape] Chick Gaynor - Slug Gawd: The Lost Memoirs

Photo by Kreative Khaos Photography

Download: Slug Gawd: The Lost Memoirs

The Slug Gawd himself, Chick Gaynor decided to drop a tape comprised of tracks that didn't make his first two projects Whatever and Origami. Even for a tape full of unused tracks it still makes for a quality listen, something which we've come to expect from Lord Slug. This should hold you over until Chick drops his next project Macaroni Tony on Thanksgiving. 

[Video] SIR E.U THE GREAT - TRIPPO

SIR E.U dropped visuals for the melancholy "TRIPPO" from his project H I P P O P O T A M U S. Presented by 7VN Bunch and directed by fellow Kool Klux Klan member Chick Gaynor. E.U's next project 3000% Black Excellence drops on September 4th.

Chick Gaynor - Alexa Chung

Chick Gaynor a.k.a. Thug Flutie is back with some heat, with his latest track "Alexa Chung" produced by rMell. Seems like Chick had fun with this one. 

Chick Gaynor - ALOE KING

Download: ALOE KING

New shit from Chick Gaynor. Just straight spitting on this, no hooks. AV4VR. Be sure to grab Chick's last project Origami.

Album Review: Mike of Doom - Of Doom...

Download: Of Doom...

So I said I would review this about two days ago, as did the homie Dave. However, today I decided to overcome my loafage and get to work on this review. Now on to the project itself. Of Doom... is a collection of work by DMV producer/rapper Mike of Doom and showcases his talents as an artist. Mike handles all the production on the tape, and even spits on some of the tracks. The project is 24 tracks deep and I normally don't like when artist have more than 15 tracks on their projects, but the variety of the tape prevents you from losing interest.

Chick Gaynor - Gravity (Video)

The homie Chick makes his directorial debut with Gravity, off his latest and greatest project O R I G A M I.

Read my review and download Chick Gaynor's O R I G A M I here.

Chick Gaynor - O R I G A M I (Mixtape+Review)

Download: O R I G A M I

Chick Gaynor a.k.a. Slug God definitely lives up to his nickname, seeing as his sophomore project Origami was originally due out March 20th. However, I do recall a conversation we had at the time, in which I told Chick that as long as Origami was ill nobody would remember how long it took to make. Well I'm here to say it was definitely worth the wait. Origami is a very cohesive project and I personally can't think of anything negative to say about the tape itself.

Chick Gaynor - Hieroglyphics

Download: Hieroglyphics

On the latest single from Chick Gaynor, we find him speaking on a "special" girl and even trying some (decent) singing. With the released singles so far I can already til that O R I G A M I is going to be a diverse project, subject matter wise. Chick also recently announced that O R I G A M I would be his last project for a while, he'll still be doing guest features and collab projects so don't worry.

Chick Gaynor - Lucifer's Lugie

Download: Lucifer's Lugie


Lord Slug came equipped with the first single from his upcoming project Origami. I like what I hear from Chick on this track. He really hasn't made a song with this certain style or sound, and I always thought the low pitch effect was cool and he uses it well here. Props to Mike Of Doom for the production, very dope. Also, once again each time I hear the man his flow improves, can't wait to see what he has in store for Origami due out March 20th.

Chick Gaynor - Galic Gun

Download: Galic Gun


For the latest installment in the Whatever Wednesdays series, Chick spits over a smooth Dilla instrumental. This is definitely the best I've heard Chick spit lyrics and flow-wise. The highlight of this track though is the usage of Lupe's songs, just plain ill. Origami coming soon.

Chick Gaynor - Queso Dip

Download: Queso Dip


For #WhateverWednesday (yeah it's Thursday, late pass), Chick drops a Whatever leftover in the form of Queso Dip. Some of the best spitting I've heard from the homie over an ill sample, that you may have previously heard in a Jay Electronica track.

Digital Drop Presents: The Rap Up With Chick Gaynor

                                                                     

DD: Thanks for doing this interview, Slug.

CG: No doubt fam, thank you for interviewing a young goon.

DD: Why did you change your name, and how did you come up with Chick Gaynor?

CG: Chick is an old childhood nickname that's far to embarassing to discuss how I got it *slight chuckles* and Gaynor is my government last name heem. The name "Jay Swish" was too common, not captivating enough. I ain't want niggas to be like "Ahhh, another Jay? or not another Swish" all of which were ideas I got from Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Jarvis Hayes (EU & Obii Say).

DD: Why the nickname of Lord Slug?

CG: Cuz bitches love slugs.

DD: *laughs* Did you always want to be a rapper?

CG: I ALWAYS, always always loved Hip-Hop and loved writing raps, poems and shxt. Although I never really took being an artist serious until I was about 15, or 16. Before all that, I always wanted to do Norwegian Funk dubstep...but it didn't quite work out for me the way it worked out for Cudi.

DD: I feel you on that. Why did you name your project Whatever?

CG: I couldn't think of anything cool so one day I just looked at my man Hippo (SiR E.U) and was like "Fuck it yo whatever...yeah..YEAH!...Whatever" *laughs* thats how it really came about. At first it was "Social Reject" but that sounded like a pity party. Then it was "The Prerequisite" but that sounded like a J.Cole tape *laughs again* so I just said "fuck it...whatever".  

DD:What is the reason for re-releasing Whatever?

CG: I wasn't really completely ready to drop a tape, like don't get me wrong Whatever was cool, but at the same time, there's things I could have done better as far as delivery and flow and all that goes. And this re-release is way more than just a re-release. I can't share all the details right now but all I'm gonna say is "Real niggas on the mutha fugkin tv screen". 

DD: Bet. So how did you join up with the Kool Klux Klan?

CG: I believe it was a hot winter day back in 72..yeah..there was a young cat by the name of Petey. Yeah, Pablo was one bad dude man. He had this single out called "Gimme The Loot" off his album Stillmatic. Me, Avionadramida, and Cal at the time were busboys at this juke joint called "& Poets" *shrugs* go figure. Thats when we met EU, Mell, Crash, CJ and everybody else and its been KlanLife ever since.

DD: Word? *laughs* You make a lot of Anime refrences in your music, is that something you do intentionally to stand out or does it come natural with your writing process?

CG: I wouldn't say I do it purposely to stand out, Avion has been referencing anime since we first started and I always found it cool and unique so I found ways to incorporate it with my life and draw parallels and after a while it became natural in my writing process to draw parallels between life and cartoons in general. I just find it to be more creative self expression.

DD: What sets you apart as an artist?

CG: Variety, I think. *ponders and laughs* Creativity, originality and a whole lot of yeah. I see something that alot of artist don't I believe. I don't think many artist not even my own homies sees this art the way I do. Having a perfect balance of music yet not working towards it is always my goal when creating a project or even a jam. The blend of lyricism, flow, content, rhyme structure, etc. Like not getting caught up in doing one particular thing so much that I lose sight of the other. Rappers tend to do that alot. Be a great lyricist with no subject or have amazing content with no lyricism and especially being too realistic and not abstract enough to let the mind wonder (Common, Talib, Tupac, etc.) Just having the perfect blend of all intangible and tangible qualities and utilizing them to the best of ones ability. 

DD: Who influences you as an artist?

CG: Ahhh, I would have to say Kanye, Em, Blu, Jay, MF DOOM, Cudi, Charles Hamilton, Kendrick Lamar, every member of the Klan, Lupe, Lauryn Hill, Tyler, The Creator, 2007 Wale, Q-Tip, and Drake. I think you hear influences from every single artist I just named in every single song that I do. But the trick is to always flip your influence and make it your own.

DD: True, true. Who would you want to collab with most if you had the choice of any artist in time?

CG: I would have to say between Lauryn Hill or Kid Cudi...*laughs*, but all jokes aside. Petey Pablo. That nigga gotta sick reputation for handlin broads.  

DD: *laughs* If you could choose any record label who would it be, or would you remain indie if successful?

CG: I think I'd much rather stay indie if I was successful with it, yah know. Not worrying about record label politics and Suge Knight going to my mama house with the tech. But if God had the strap to my foot and said pick a label right now. I think I'd get rich or die trying with G.O.O.D. music before anybody. I definitely wouldn't expect them to put me on tho...no disrespect to Consequence. *laughs* 

DD: Favorite genres of music besides Rap/Hip-Hop?

CG: NeoSoul is definitely my LEAST favorite genre with Gospel Strip Club Gogo being at the top of my list *chuckles*. But nah g, NeoSoul is my favorite genre of all time but I love Hip-Hop more if that makes sense...recently I been falling in love with Metal. Black Sabbath is ill as fuck and Lynyrd Skynyrd is an ill ass rock band g.

DD: Name one song or album you wished you made.

CG: Jackpot. Chingy had the world eating out of the palm of his St.Louis hands b.

DD: Respect. Goal for your career now and in the future?

CG: I want to have cult following soooooo fucking bad. But, stay relevant and live off of music. Like, support my family and pay bills, travel, afford bitches, buy clothes, afford bitches, make love to rihanna, afford bitches. 

DD: In ten years....

CG:.....afford bitches. Fight drake. Afford bitches. Maintain bitches. Still be relevant in Hip-Hop and in Pop culture as well. Shmang all the bitches I bought at least 16 times a day, and own a juice company that sells biscuits.

DD:*laughs* Any shout outs or last words?

CG: YEAH! Shoutout to all my real niggas holdin it down up Halliburton. My nigga Jarvis (my bush). All the producers I worked with, Mikeyy, Louseph Bruise, Matt Mcghee, and Vaughn G. My sensais Stefisdope, 431 and Nate G. My main bitch Ashaquawanika from 34th n Minnesota. Teni's grandmother. Kool Klux Klan. My dick. KeeKee from Trinidad for holdin me down when I needed that zebra cake up at Suitland Station. The Carryout prod. Jamal safe ass Gray and Maryam short ass. Matt McGhee & Grande Marshall trill asses. My mother and pops for giving birth to a real nigga. That nigga Lord Slug. All the fly shortys that ever let me shmang...WADDUP! Barack Obama for believing in me back when we was in detention. Lil Wayne for setting the bar so low and the greatest up and coming photographers/cinematographers Penelope Airplane (@HannahBongtanna)  and Aliyah Sahar (@AliyahSahar) and most importantly any fan that I have out there, fuck you. I DONT FUCK WITH THESE NIGGAS....AND YOU SHOULDNT EITHER B. *looks around and hopes nobody notices this is my first interview*

DD: Thanks to Chick, and the whole Klan for it's support. 

Chick Gaynor - Epic Theory Of Gravity (prod.Louseph Bruise)

Download: Epic Theory Of Gravity

The first installment of Chick Gaynor's WhateverWednesdays is here and it doesn't disappoint, don't forget WhateverWednesdays is leading up to the re-release of Whatever. You can grab the original version here, and make sure you peep it when it drops again.

Chick Gaynor - Whatever (Mixtape)

Download: Whatever

 The first thing I noticed last night when I added Whatever to my iTunes, was that the genre said 'Art'. I thought it was odd at first, but once I got done listening to the tape I can tell you that it describes Whatever perfectly. Like art it is a combination of many different styles all meshed together to make one cohesive product. From the lyricism of Lord Slug and Fading Legend to the spoken word-esque vibe you get from Our Heartbeat's Heartbeat. Laid back joints such as The Goop or tracks that deal with relationships such as Peace Of Mind. Every track complements each other to create a unique sound through out the whole tape. To close this out, for Whatever to be Chick Gaynor's first tape it definitely doesn't show lyrically and production wise. A overall great tape, and I can't wait to see what his next projects will be like based on the sound of Whatever.

Standout Tracks: Fading Legend, Peace Of Mind, & The Goop

Chick Gaynor - Young Slug God Came Equipped With Dem Snippets

Download: Young Slug God Came Equipped With Dem Snippets


The homie Chick gives a preview of his upcoming project Whatever which drops this Friday.

Chick Gaynor - Slat Foda

Download: Slat Foda


The latest from the Klansman Chick Gaynor over some classic DOOM, Whatever drops November 18th.