TAG: Hip-Hop

Mar16

Donny Goines Dishes on “20X” (MP3)

Donny Goines’ resolute display of passion, hunger and a love for music could easily be read as a sign that hip hop has seeped through his pores from the time he recognized his ability to listen. His efforts, however, have brought him to a time and place that calls for change; as redundant as the word may sound when hitting politically-inclined ears, in the music industry, change is always necessary, and almost mandatory. With his recently-released EP Rocksmith Tokyo & Donny Goines Presents 20X having garnered a different sort of buzz for a rapper most noted for abundant lyricism, allow him to reintroduce himself as an all-embracing force to be reckoned with.

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Mar15

Choc Quib Town – Oro (Review)

Choc Quib Town

Oro

Released by Nacional Records


Choco Quib Town is a highly acclaimed Afro-Colombian trio from the blackest and poorest region -- the city of Quibdó in the state of Chocó, and this is their US debut album, Oro. More than one-third of Colombia’s population are of African descent, and the trio is representing a sound that is different from the typical majority of South American music -- actually, it’s similar to that of Brazil. They mix tropical hip hop, traditional Latin and African rhythms, ragga, merengue, and electronica (no cumbia). These are the hybrid urban sounds of Colombia's Pacific coast and it represents the Afro-Colombian neighborhoods they grew up in and the various musical styles that surround them. They were nominated for best new artist at the Latin Grammys, and Oro is a compilation of tracks previously released outside of US, and features production by Richard Blair (Sidestepper). Choco Quib Town have been going strong for a decade, but just now getting the rest of the world to take notice.

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Mar11

Phantogram – Eyelid Movies (Review)

Phantogram

Eyelid Movies

Released by Barsuk


Phantogram's debut Eyelid Movies comes across as a shrine to things that sound great on headphones, full of crisp and spry drums, and breathtakingly lush synthesized textures. It could end up pretty awful, right? It could have been music to shop to or something of the sort, but the record treats this richness as reason enough to exist. In Phantogram's soulful blend of pop, hip-hop and electronica, the duo closely recalls TV on the Radio, but by eschewing that band's zeitgeist-humping seriousness, they produce something more direct and, dare I say it, sincere.

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Mar10

General Steele of Smif N Wessun presents: Amerikkka’s Nightmare Part 2 Children of War (MP3)

Release Party Tonight at Santos Party House 

Unlike the hypocritical rhetoric of some backpack rappers that preach black empowerment during performances to all white audiences, in places like Norway, because they can’t pull a crowd on their home turf, Smif and Wessun are the real deal. Their first album Dah Shinin’, released in January 1995, debuted in the top 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and went on to sell over 300,000 copies in the United States.

So strong is their allure to their core fans, that Sean (who refuses to fly in airplanes) drove all the way from Chicago to New …

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Mar09

Peanut Butter Wolf Gets Cozy With Tom Ford Models TV (Video)

P.B. Wolf recently sat down with Tom Ford Models TV in Brooklyn to discuss the direction his DJing has taken as well as other facets to the Stones Throw Label and artists.  Dope soundtrack, as you would expect, and worth it to see him being asked what he is wearing.  His response, well lets just say the fashionistas will probably be disappointed.  Not unexpected and actually raises my respect for him just a tad bit more.  None the less it is a good five minute peek into the PBW world.

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Mar09

N.W.A. Gets a Foul Mouthed Re-Edit

Think back for second, it was 1988 and five dope boys comin’ “Straight Outta Compton” were dropping an album by the same name.  If you remember it was furor.  Politicians and the like were up arms from this new style “ganster rap” that (gasp) cursed in every verse.  God lord, what are we teaching our kids?

Fast forward 22 years. Holy shit!  My how times have changed.  That is unless you watch Comedy Central and get annoyed by the constant bleeping of Chris Rock’s entire act.  Some stones are yet to be overturned… or thrown depending on which side you are on.  If you feel like reliving those arcane glory days when words were more than words you need to hit THIS SITE.  Someone with far more time than you and I has edited out the entire Straight …

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