Tyler the Creator, frontman of L.A. hip-hop convoy OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All), won’t admit to it but I’m sure he understands his audience to be predominantly white, suburban, indie-teens-in-training. Let’s try to keep that in mind here, now that there seems to be a somewhat recognizable consensus on Tyler the Creator’s second full-length album and first major label release, Goblin on XL Records. From where I’m standing it seems like folks are a bit dissatisfied. Granted there hasn’t been too many local hip-hop acts with this kind of trajectory since the astronomical rise of Lupe Fiasco, the quizzical introduction of Wiz Khalifa and others, this record leaves a lot to be desired. The album is choppy, draining, and quite lengthy. Some of the standout tracks (“Yonkers” and “Sandwitches”) on the record feel somewhat superfluous since they’ve …
|
A celebration dedicated to too many people to mention both living and resting (R.I.P. Guru), DJ Premier and the Beat Junkies (including DJ Rhettmatic and DJ Babu) absolutely obliterated hip-hop at the Echoplex on Saturday only to reconstruct it via expertly crafted golden age-inspired sets. Babu and Rhettmatic made their way through the likes of James Brown, Dead Prez, …
Allindstrom.com continued their interview with Just Blaze and Just talks about working with upcoming artists, XV and Mac Miller, seeing Saigon and Dr. Dre’s albums finally seeing the light of day, and his career ventures outside of producing.
|
In his personal essay, experimentalist Michael Nhat traces his path from the hip hop scene to the indie punk world of underground Los Angeles. This sing-song rapper found his place among the boundless, genreless network of living room venues and unconventional spaces that thrives like a self-spawned weed fertilized by city smog. His new album Swimming To Cambodia comes out this week on label Annie Hall Records. Nhat also has a collaborative project with Kthei???, another maestro of strange beats and verbs. They’re called 1000 Apes In A Room and their record can be downloaded for free. But, first, here’s a candid, ketchup-packet splattered taste of the L.A. DiY scene in “What was …
|
Here are some of my shorthand notes based around a conversation I had with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson at his apartment in July 2010. all of the quotes are not verbatim and are simply some of his thoughts jotted down by me. When I arrived at his home for our interview, the front door was ajar, “It’s actually perfect timing. I’ve been on the phone all day, booking rehearsals.” He admits once I walk inside, “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran grabs my eye on top of a stack of books, across from hundreds of CDs neatly lined against the wall. Framed posters of past masters frame the musical instruments in the living room, which has a shrine in the center.
Leave a Comment!