BBU – Fear Of A Clear Channel Planet
August 2nd, 2010 | by Curtis | published in hip-hop | 1 comment
Like a raucous Kanye West infatuated with electro samples, BBU have developed a really great niche in turbulent Juke-house rhythms. Chi-town trashy hip-hop: “I Do This For My Culture”. And they do. Because BBU’s album ‘Fear of a Clear Channel Planet’ is FREE.
Macklemore x Ryan Lewis – The VS. EP
July 27th, 2010 | by nolan | published in hip-hop | 2 comments
Sometimes drug abuse and selfishness just seems like a bunch of fun and games enacted by endearingly flawed icons, living a life worlds away from ours that we can’t possibly understand. However, Macklemore puts it best when he says, “He just wanted to act like them/He just wanted to rap like him/Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effects we have on these kids.”
July 25th, 2010 | by Curtis | published in hip-hop | 3 comments
If you think this is The Roots gone soft, it isn’t. They still remain one of the most imaginative, talented and intelligent hip-hop acts of the next ten years (much as much as they were for the last ten years). Lyrically, The Roots are doing what they always have and filling the pot-hole voids for subtly, soul and genius that are often missed by major-label hip-hop. ‘How I Got Over’ is worthy of the mantle bestowed on albums ‘Things Fall Apart’ and ‘Game Theory’ that came before it. A great Roots record.
Major Lazer & La Roux – Lazerproof
June 29th, 2010 | by Taylor Fife | published in hip-hop, reggae, remixes, world music | 1 comment
‘Lazerproof’ is a genius rework of nearly all of La Roux’s self-titled debut. The entire mixtape is entertaining, fun and hilarious in that very special Major Lazer way. Even though it seems Diplo and Switch didn’t do much writing or producing for the tape, it still shows off their eclectic taste and knowledge of various dance and island genres.
June 22nd, 2010 | by Taylor Fife | published in dance, electro pop, hip-hop | 3 comments
You know a group is ripe for a blog review when they drop a ‘2 Girls 1 Cup’ reference within 30 seconds of their E.P. starting. And the vulgarity and hilarity keep plugging along full steam for the rest of the immensely clever and funny opener ‘M.A.N.B.I.T.C.H.,’ an extravaganza that also manages to seriously challenge gender stereotypes.
Yo La Tengo – Here To Fall Remixes
June 21st, 2010 | by Taylor Fife | published in funk, hip-hop, indie rock, jazz, remixes | 2 comments
RJD2 gets the nod for best remix with his jam that makes Yo La Tengo feel right at home in your favorite underground jazz club. Ira Kaplan’s vocals sound perfect over the Hammond organ, slick guitar riffs, and funky baseline. The new drum track is the real clincher that somehow converted a song by Yo La Tengo into my new favorite disco ballad.
The Girls Can Hear Us – Every Day
May 4th, 2010 | by b aiken | published in electro pop, electronica, hip-hop | 13 comments
I’m wagering that a fair amount of the Indie Shuffle audience may not be interested in this genre, but if you’re a fan of dance-pop and hip hop, you will love this album. “Every Day” comes with (and certainly deserves) an explicit rating; the FCC should consider the addition of a warning concerning the likelihood of it causing spontaneous orgy outbreaks.
April 27th, 2010 | by el gringo rico | published in back to the basics, bay area, hip-hop | 2 comments
Best described as a blend of conscious hip hop with mostly futuristic production, Zumbi’s idealistic socially conscious lyrics are without a doubt my favorite in all of hip hop. With subject matters revolving around social justice, cultural history, intergalactic space odysseys, love, and spiritual adventures, Zion I’s seemingly otherworldly rhymes always leave you relaxed, pensive, and wanting more.
April 23rd, 2010 | by J Meagher | published in alternative, hip-hop | 8 comments
What I’ve discovered is this: Plastic Beach is just as much of a musical mess as their previous releases, while being less ambitious and more self indulgent. I just can’t get over the idea that the Gorrilaz project is solely for Damon Albarn’s amusement, which isn’t a bad thing, but did we really need Bobby Womack on two songs here? I don’t feel like I can take this seriously as a “concept” album because the narrative, with its environmental undertones, is so weak that it doesn’t really add anything to the album.
Madlib – Madlib Medicine Show No. 3: Beat Konducta in Africa
April 20th, 2010 | by J Meagher | published in hip-hop, world music | 4 comments
The music is interesting enough, using samples from popular African songs and coming from regional genres such as juju, highlife, afrobeat, and African flavored jazz and funk. Madlib provides his usual woozy production style with lots of fade ins/outs. If you listen to this with headphones you will likely loose your sense of equilibrium.
