Indie Shuffle » Blu

Blu – Rap Dope

sweeneykovar — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:42:14 +0000

Sounds like: Scoop Deville, Kendrick Lamar, Zeroh

What's so good?

It seems Blu is reinventing himself yet again. After channeling the sound of the L.A. beat scene with NoYork, taking us to church with Jesus, and producing a pair of LPs for up-and-comers Anthm and Ræl J Wallace, Azulito’s next project looks like it’ll bring him full circle.

The Angelino MC grew up in the 90s with a variety of musical influences, but Cali’s G-Funk was hometown music. Like so many of us, he spent much of his early years searching past what was immediately available to him and drawing influence from other regions, but Blu’s West Coast through and through. That’s why it’s exciting to see him connect to his rap roots with his upcoming LP, Good To B Home, produced entirely by Inland Empire beatsmith Bombay Da Realest. Judging from the first leak, “Rap Dope,” this is Blu and Bombay re-imagining that hardcore sound of California hip-hop from the 1990s.

Though he’s not always an easy pill to swallow, Blu has proven that no matter what direction he takes, he’ll always keep the music intriguing. This looks to be no exception.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Blu – Rap Dope

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, kendrick lamar, Blu, scoop deville

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Quelle Chris – Long Tokes (Ft. Cavalier)

sweeneykovar — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:12:44 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Blu, Jon Wayne, Madlib

Song: Quelle Chris - Long Tokes (Ft. Cavalier) [download here]

What's so good?

Quelle Chris never disappoints me. When I found out the nomadic, erratic MC had found a proper home with respectable indie imprint Mello Music Group, I was happy. Up until now, all his material has been released in uncompromisingly DIY and lo-fi manners. Whether it was hand-drawn vinyl covers or no-mix Bandcamp releases, everything the Q-meister has put out has been the rawest of the raw.

It seems that’s about to change as Quelle preps 2Dirt4TV Episode 2: Niggas Is Men, which is actually a prelude to his formal full-length MMG debut. The first taste of the very tactfully titled project is “Long Tokes,” a collaboration with new rhyme homie Cavalier. Over production that sounds like equal parts late 90s indie boom-bap and Saturday morning cartoons, the two MCs take turns telling you just why and how they inhale that good good.

Fuck with Quelle. He has an impeccable ear and in a pleasantly refreshing turn for a rapper, he’s not too self-conscious to let himself go completely into the moment, whether it’s emo-rap, boom-bap or whatever. Plus who’s the last MC you’ve heard to reference Gonzo in a verse with a straight face?

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Quelle Chris – Long Tokes (Ft. Cavalier)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, madlib, Blu, Quelle

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

MED & Blu – Burgundy Whip Ft. Jimetta Rose

sweeneykovar — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:37:22 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Madlib, Quelle, Slum Village

Song: MED & Blu - Burgundy Whip Ft. Jimetta Rose [download here]

What's so good?

Roughly a year ago, Blu, the Charles Mingus of hip-hop (or is he the Thelonious Monk of rap?), took to a Bandcamp page to release an album entitled UCLA. It was a 14-track project over Madlib production, and the sound quality was smooth as sandpaper. It was pretty great, I think. As unceremoniously as it went up, it came down. The Madlib gatekeepers don’t play.

One could probably have had some safety in assuming that such a bold move would have barred young Barnes from ever officially rocking over Otis Jackson Jr.’s quirky compositions, but that seems to not be the case. Vaguely advertised as the first of several collaborations over Madlib production, longtime Stones Throw-affiliate MED, aka Medaphoar, recently announced The Burgundy EP, a joint project with Blu invading Madlib’s beat stash. The title cut was also on the UCLA project. The EP boasts three new cuts and a remix from Georgia Anne Muldrow as well as instrumental and acapellas.

I’m not mad about this at all.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: MED & Blu – Burgundy Whip Ft. Jimetta Rose

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, madlib, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

House Shoes: Top 6 Records of 2012

sweeneykovar — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:28:38 +0000

During a tour in December 2012 with the folks at Blisswave, I got to see my old friend and mentor DJ House Shoes in different environments. Equally comfortable in old spots, like San Francisco and Seattle, or new settings like Sacramento, Shoes let his encyclopedic knowledge of hip-hop, beats and all things Dilla lead to amazing solo sets as well as support for Guilty Simpson, the tour’s only MC.

Whether spinning his own beats or getting Guilty to spit familiar verses over unreleased Dilla tracks, Shoes proved to be the backbone of the tour.

Towards the end of the run I got the chance to sit with Shoes and pick his brain on his top five hip-hop records of 2012. Of course, he couldn’t follow directions, and insisted on giving me six. Check them out below; they span from heavy personal cuts off his own debut LP to overlooked gems from the hometeam in Detroit.

Also, check out this video shot and edited by the Blisswave team sharing a bit of what life was like on the road with the crew.

1. Original post: House Shoes: Top 6 Records of 2012

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, detroit, kendrick lamar, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: House Shoes - Roller Coaster feat. Self Says & Fat Albert Einstein [Downloa d]

Song: Moe Dirdee - Ride Clean [Downloa d]

Song: Ka - Cold Facts [Downloa d]

Song: Blu & Exile - A Man [Downloa d]

Song: Kendrick Lamar - Sing About Me [Downloa d]

Song: House Shoes (tHE SKY IS OURS) - Castles feat. Jimetta Rose [Downloa d]

Raekwon – 86 Ft. Altrina Renee

sweeneykovar — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:13:26 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Wu Tang Clan, MF DOOM, Sean Price

Song: Raekwon - 86 [download here]

What's so good?

After pulling off a near-miracle by making Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II a more than respectable album, Rae has recently announced that he’s trying his luck on a hat trick. As an aperitif, he’s readying to drop the Lost Jewelry EP in early 2013. While this humble head opines that maybe the snow beach Don shouldn’t test his luck on a third incarnation of his classic debut, if this “86″ cut is any indication, maybe it’s not such a bad idea.

I love this shit; Raekwon raps over a cool Stephanie Mills sample your older sister was jamming to when you were in diapers. The Chef and his ilk should have never strayed away from rhyming over samples — there is just something about the way the slang hits the track that creates an undeniable magic. It almost doesn’t matter that you kinda get the feeling Rae is not always using words and phrases he actually knows the meaning of; when he’s on the mic it’s Rae time. Wether he’s spitting about building a “Dutch Master train” or name-dropping McCormick & Shmicks, this is that shit.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Raekwon – 86 Ft. Altrina Renee

2. Posted in: hip-hop, Blu, sean price, wu-tang, raekwon

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Best of 2012: Top Hip-Hop Albums

sweeneykovar — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:00:19 +0000

I’ll save the corny Mayan jokes and instead open with this: 2012 was a great year for hip-hop. From the lowest crevices in the underground to the most gilded peak of the mainstream, hip-hop had a strong year.

Let’s be clear, this list is completely biased and personal. I don’t think anyone selling you a comprehensive “Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012″ is credible unless there are at least 50 entries. There are plenty of albums that are probably worthwhile that I won’t be including here, either because I plain didn’t like them (Joey Bada$$, Rick Ross, pretty much anything trap), didn’t get a chance to really listen to them (Killer Mike, Brother Ali), or just plain felt there weren’t my thing (El-P, Ab-Soul).

That said, I do think these are strong pieces of art in the long form. So sit back, enjoy and feel free to reach out and tell me I don’t know anything about rap.

1. Original post: Best of 2012: Top Hip-Hop Albums

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, kendrick lamar, Blu, NaS

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: Knxwledge - mysunshine. [Downloa d]

This dude is nuts, and he releases way too much shit, so there’s no way I could have picked just one project. Dig through and enjoy.

Song: Main Attrakionz - Bossalinis & Fooliyones Pt. 2 [Downloa d]

I was kinda salty that this young North Oakland duo’s “proper” debut LP this year did not live up to the bar they set in with 808′s & Dark Grapes II. Since the latter came out on vinyl in 2012, and since I’ve banged it a ton this year, I still consider 808′s one of the best hip-hop LPs of this year.

Song: Roc Marciano - Nine Spray Ft. Ka [Downloa d]

Roc Marc is the man. He made heads pay attention with Marcberg a few years ago, and his sophomore effort Reloaded seemed to hit the right buttons for 2012. Old heads, jaded fans and throwback aficionados were thrilled to find a cat that brought the feeling of mid-90s grimy East Coast rap to the now.

Why so low on this list then? While Reloaded boasts some of the most oddly intricate and immaculate bars this side of MF DOOM, it doesn’t have the cohesion and direction of Marcberg. His debut LP had songs with themes, structures and all that jazz, while Reloaded sounds to me like Roc showing off how nice he is. I ain’t mad.

Song: Blu & Exile - Seasons [Downloa d]

Well, duh. I’ve followed both of these talented crazies’ careers closely in the past several years, so this LP got tons of rotation this year. It’s great. Blu’s back on his melancholy poetic ish that so many of you have asked him to go back to, and Exile has evolved as a producer in the short five or six years since Below The Heavens.

Song: Thee Satisfaction - Queens [Downloa d]

For whatever reason, I never got into Shabazz Palaces, but I’m damn glad I got into THEESatisfaction. These two fly young ladies created a wonderfully varied effort for their debut LP, Awe Naturale. Self-produced, these young women sang and rapped their assess off on tracks that ranged from feel-good to ominous to cerebral, often times a mix of all three. They made it look easy.

Song: House Shoes - Dirt Ft. Oh No, Alchemist, Roc Marciano [Downloa d]

House Shoes has spent the better part of his life and pretty much the entirety of his professional career helping dudes get on. Finally, after building a waterfront condo on the backburner, Shoes did his motherfucking thing and dropped that full-length he had been talking about for so many years.

Let It Go started out as an instrumental record, evolved into something with a few guest spots, and eventually blossomed into an 18-track LP with over a dozen vocalists and interludes, completely self-produced.

As a friend, it was awesome to see Shoes produce something that so accurately reflected how much of a curmudgeon, sweetheart and music nerd he is.

Song: Sean Price - Bar-Barian [Downloa d]

Sean Carter is nice, but Sean Price is the best. The Brownsville Bomber (that makes two MCs from the ‘Ville that made this list) delivered Mic Tyson after promising the LP for the better part of three years. The wait was worth it; I think it’s his best solo LP yet.

This album is strictly for the die-hards. You cannot be a casual rap fan and enjoy Sean Price on all levels. He doesn’t deviate from his specialties, but boy does he do them well: inflicting physical harm unto you and others, hating rap and rappers, how good he can rap and occasionally sprinkle a line about selling drugs or his family.

There is a magic in the way Sean P delivers his verses, in the honesty and vulnerability he shows through his work. You never take him completely serious, but you also don’t take him lightly. A grown man who is still effectively making hardcore hip-hop music for grown folk deserves a golf clap.

Song: Nas - The Don [Downloa d]

Nas will never be Nasty Nas of the early 90s, who had a chipped tooth and got his first piece of ass smoking blunts with hash. He is nearing 40, he’s a business man, and at some point we’re going to have to accept that.

Life Is Good was a reminder that even living in a lightly populated tax bracket, Nas is still capable of delivering strong hip-hop. I’m not listening to Nas in 2012 with the same mind and ear that I’m listening to Ka or Blu. In 2012, Nas’ peers are more folks like Rick Ross and Jay-Z. Life Is Good was extremely high production; it was glossy and flashy, but it was also enthralling, exciting and interesting.

Nas was a bit sharper with the pen than in recent years, and he was tackling songs with a creative edge I hadn’t heard since Stillmatic.

Song: Kendrick Lamar - Money Trees Ft. Jay Rock [Downloa d]

Even though I’m a contrarian, hating would-be iconoclast, I won’t cut off my nose to spite my face. If any so-called hip-hop head tries to tell you Kendrick’s debut was wack or anything less than impressive, they deserve further questioning.

The Compton MC was seen by many as the mainstream MC that could bring substance back to the masses. I don’t know about all that, but the boy can rhyme, and he put together a hell of an album. good kid, m.A.A.d city was able to teeter the fine line of being different enough but still within the confines of the modern mainstream, and within those very limited parameters Kendrick was able to deliver something that still felt very much human.

With a rhyme style that owes much to Andre 3000, Kendrick refreshed the hood as a setting in hip-hop. From the introspective to the somber to the turnt, Kendrick did his thing. Plus who else do you know that is calling MC Eiht in 2012 to get on a major label album?

Song: Ka - Cold Facts [Downloa d]

Grief Pedigree is my favorite album of this past year. It’s not accessible music; it’s dense, dark and painfully raw. It is also highly emotive — a throwback without sounding dated. Brownsville MC Ka did something similar to what Roc Marciano did with Marcberg in 2010. He created an album that peeked into the psyche of the run of the mill hustler-turned-rapper persona. But while his partner in rhyme was a bit flashier, Ka seemed weathered and vulnerable. Every single track on the LP is fantastic, full of lines rife with meaning and references that hint at an artist that takes his craft dead serious.

Hip-hop is at its best when you can believe the artist. If an MC can make you feel as though they are speaking in confidence and only to you, that is a mark of greatness.

Homeboy Sandman – Illuminati

sweeneykovar — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:17:52 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Blu, Sene, Jon Wayne, Quelle

Song: Homeboy Sandman - Illuminati [download here]

What's so good?

One of the most winning aspects of Homeboy Sandman is his inclination to make a rap song out of pretty much anything and everything. In a genre that can see its auteurs create discographies on a handful of topics, the NYC MC has tracks about canned goods, colors and various other very non-rap subjects. That doesn’t mean he won’t tread on familiar territory. It just means he refuses to be boxed into it.

“Illuminati” is one of my favorite tracks from his Stones Throw debut, First Of A Living Breed. As the title might allude, this could be the “conscious” rap song to end all “conscious” rap songs. The Boy Sand wastes no time getting into it, examining and picking apart everything from government surveillance, GMOs, non-white identities, the war on drugs, and more. The overarching point seems to be if you are so inclined, it’s not difficult to see how so many separate aspects of modern Western society are either designed to distract or disenfranchise basically anyone who is not a rich white man.

As a fan of rap that came up with a feral attraction to so-called conscious hip-hop, it’s pretty cool to see Homeboy Sandman keeping the subversive tradition of the culture alive without becoming trapped to it.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Homeboy Sandman – Illuminati

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Blu, Quelle, stones throw

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Denitia & Sene – Casanova

sweeneykovar — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:29:41 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Blu, Fatima, Knxwledge, Exile

Song: Denitia & Sene - Casanova [download here]

What's so good?

Denitia Odigie and Sene dropped their How To Satisfy Your Lover EP just a few weeks ago, but already they’re back with a new cut, “Casanova.” The duo has definitely mastered a mood with this one, weaving a bittersweet, make-up to break-up narrative over a sunny synth-driven beat — produced by Sene with a helping hand from Nolan Thies and Sly 5thave.

Since Brooklyknight, Sene has begun to emerge as a creative force to be recognized. From MCing to producing and songwriting, this is the kind of diversity and musical vision an MC should have in 2012. Denitia’s voice is used very well; she sidesteps the follies of many young vocalists by not trying to sing the shit out of everything, but instead focus on the mood and groove of the song. Keep an eye on both of these kids.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Denitia & Sene – Casanova

2. Posted in: Electronic, hip-hop, soul, R&B, pop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Blu & Exile – Growing Pains Ft. Johaz and Fashawn

sweeneykovar — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:30:11 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Fashawn, Homeboy Sandman, Quelle

Song: Blu & Exile - Growing Pains Ft. Johaz and Fashawn [download here]

What's so good?

Last time I talked about the new Blu and Exile album, Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them, I kinda shitted on it slightly, but it was, at the very least, a backhanded compliment. I feel like I should rephrase a thing or two: this is a fuckin’ great rap album. I still play it and enjoy large portions of it, though I do think something special was lost in translation from the demo version to the “official.” But that doesn’t mean the entire project was rendered sterile.

“Growing Pains” is a shining example of the advantages of a properly mixed and mastered product. Every time I would play the original version of this in my car, I’d be straining its worn factory sound system to get the proper propulsion from the energetic Exile beat all four MCs bounce off from. It was always a chore, but this new version bangs very appropriately and is an instance of a song on the project benefiting from the mastering process.

Don’t let semi-jaded people like me deter you from checking out one of the best hip-hop LPs of the year!

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Blu & Exile – Growing Pains Ft. Johaz and Fashawn

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Scanz – Ready For A Change Ft. Twizz + FrankeL Remix

sweeneykovar — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:11:02 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Radio Galaxy, Blu, Sene, Homeboy Sandman

Song: Scanz - Ready For A Change Ft. Twizz + FrankeL Remix [download here]

What's so good?

I often need help keeping up with music; in fact I actually just familiarize myself with sub-sections that interest and relate to me. Plus, I have a close circle of friends whose taste I trust to turn me onto new things worth checking out.

Frank (or FWMJ, as he is known on the Internet), is one of those people. He runs RappersIKnow, a blog that has been consistently displaying and breaking underground talent that receives little attention elsewhere (the blog isalso sometimes a platform for Frank to rant about various things he hates, because he’s a hater like that). I recently asked him to hip me to something I was sleeping on, and he pointed me to the Wake Up Call EP he released with Scanz. Here’s what he has to say about “Ready For A Change” by Scanz:

“Emcee/producer, Scanz recently released the Wake Up Call EP. This song takes you into a few different worlds as you listen through. The melancholic beat is layered with vocals and keys, with minimalistic drums, leaving open space for the introspective raps. Scanz and Philly rhymer Twizz exchange verses about being ready for change and freeing yourself of whatever may be holding you back.

Toward the end of the song, it switches up into the Frankel remix, where the vocal-heavy beat is screwed and chopped into a whole different, more upbeat vibe.”

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Scanz – Ready For A Change Ft. Twizz + FrankeL Remix

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Blu, FWMJ, rappersiknow

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Blu & Exile – The Great Escape

sweeneykovar — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:29:24 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Fashawn, Homeboy Sandman, Madlib

Song: Blu & Exile - The Great Escape [download here]

What's so good?

Underground champions Blu and Exile recently released the official, label-issued version of Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them. The duo’s sophomore LP had previously seen the light of day via Blu’s Bandcamp, unannounced earlier this year — it was raw, unmixed and fuckin’ awesome.

This newer version is “properly produced,” meaning the levels are all fairly even, the music is mixed, there is added production, instrumentation, scratching and even a few new tracks. I’ve heard it in full about a half dozen times at this point, and I have the urge to revisit the first incarnation of the project the more and more I listen to the new one. It’s not that this new version is bad per se, it’s more that the initial one was so good in all the “wrong” ways.

Blu and Exile are different people than they were they dropped the arguable classic Below The Heavens more than five years ago. That album had a young Blu coming of age through song and Exile coming into his own as a powerful, capable producer. Blu’s self-examination and lyrical wizardry matched with Ex’s soulful and emotive style cemented the duo as one of the brightest from the west.

Blu’s leaked version of this second LP sounded like the young wide-eyed MC from the first go ’round came back home to relax and reflect after travelling and seeing the world for a few years. The same earnestness is there, but somehow it got a bit lost in the polish of the version that’s out on vinyl and CD now. I can’t quite put my finger on the exact source, but the gut punch — the visceral connection — is not as strong. Without that, one of the best technical MCs rhyming today can sound a tad uninspired at points, and songs that 6 months and a full studio mixing session ago sounded amazing now congeal as merely good.

I probably sound like a nitpicking, entitled critic, but I only care so much because I care so much. Blu and Ex have transcended before, reaching something higher than just good rap music, and that is the standard I’ll be holding them to for the near future.

Enjoy “The Great Escape,” a new track with Homeboy Sandman and Adad.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Blu & Exile – The Great Escape

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, madlib, Blu, Exile

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Fresh Daily – Believe The Hype Ft. MURS

sweeneykovar — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:54:21 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Blu, Quelle, Murs, Shigeto

Song: Fresh Daily - Believe The Hype Ft. MURS [download here]

What's so good?

Fresh Daily has been a staple of NYC’s underground hip-hop scene for at least half a decade. Since last year’s The Quiet Life, Fresh has become one of the more talented yet lesser known underground big apple MCs.

His latest project, The Brooklyn Good Guy, might ameliorate that a bit. He stays intent on rapping well over interesting production. And on this go ’round, the dexterous MC enlists an interesting list of collaborators, from Om’mas Keith of Sa-Ra to St. Louis’ Black Spade and L.A. indie juggernaut MURS, whose collaborative effort we’re streaming today. Fresh spit about Brooklyn’s Mandrill-like funk and MURS explain that dead polar bears make him cry. Produced by Shigeto, the beat finds a middle ground between boom-bap and the electro-driven sound the Michigan wonderkid is best known for.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Fresh Daily – Believe The Hype Ft. MURS

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Blu, Shigeto

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Nickelus F & Ohbliv – Just Don’t Know

sweeneykovar — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:44:54 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Knxwledge, Drake, Blu

Song: Nickelus F & Ohbliv - Just Don't Know [download here]

What's so good?

The underground is always rife with talent, and Ohbliv has quietly and diligently been perfecting the beat through a steady stream of projects. Though his style shares some of the modern leanings of the beat scene, there is a foundation in his sound that extends decades back.

Nickelus F’s style might be curiously reminiscent. Years ago, the Richmond, VA rhymer was Drake’s close partner. Both artists’ penchant towards supple and smooth flows might be due to their time spent in close proximity. But Nickelus seems to take himself less serious, which makes for generally more enjoyable and less melodramatic performances.

Ohbliv and Nickelus F joined together a while back for their Yellow Gold project — a full collection of original rhymes over original production. One of my favorites is ”Just Don’t Know,” a feel-good breeze. The Canadian MCs seamless, carefree delivery is made for Bliv’s sunny composition.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Nickelus F & Ohbliv – Just Don’t Know

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, drake, Knxwledge, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Strong Arm Steady – Forever Ft. Chace Infinite

sweeneykovar — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:53:33 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Roc Marciano, Blu, House Shoes, Scoop DeVille

Song: Strong Arm Steady - Forever Ft. Chace Infinite [download here]

What's so good?

Strong Arm Steady have kind of been the Destiny’s Child of hardcore hip hop in the past several years. The West Coast crew started as a well-populated collaborative headed by Xzibit and has included artists like Planet Asia, DJ Khalil, and have even been affiliated with Talib Kweli for a bit. Now the official roster is usually Krondon and Phil Da Agony, with reoccurring appearances from San Diego’s Mitchy Slick.

They stormed the mixtape market in a way not seen on the West Coast since 50 Cent, but it was their collaboration with Madlib …In Search of Stoney Jackson that finally saw them bubble over. They have some of the fiercest and well-seasoned lyricist spitting in the Pacific Standard Time Zone.

Currently the gang is gearing up to drop Stereotype, their collaborative album with Statik Selektah, one of New York’s most active DJs. The LP is vaguely in the same vein as their …In Search of Stoney Jackson album, Statik Selektah is providing all the beats and the SAS gang invited a good number of their homies to tag along and spice things up.

“Forever” is a personal favorite off the collection. Statik catches a sweet string loop from a record many heads will recognize and SAS tap LA-raised and NY-based Self Scientific MC Chace Infinite to drop some jewels on fools.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Strong Arm Steady – Forever Ft. Chace Infinite

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Blu, new york

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Homeboy Sandman – Brown

sweeneykovar — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:28:28 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Sene, Blu, Knxwledge

Song: Homeboy Sandman - Brown [download here]

What's so good?

Usually when rap songs are about colors they’re fairly predictable or shallow, referencing a gang affiliation or the particular shade of a luxury auto. When Homeboy Sandman got a beat from Jonti to make a song for Radiolab’s colors episode, he took a very literal route.

“Brown” is a song about the color brown. No, really, both of Homeboy Sandman’s intricate and flawlessly delivered verses constantly reference or describe various ways you can come up with the color brown. For instance, the following are name checked for the particular way their light refractions cause your eye to recognize brown: buff elks, coconuts and cocoa puff milk, chew sticks, tree stumps etched with the names of grade school sweethearts, saddles, saddle bags of coffee grounds, camels, owls, a dirt road, oil beneath the soil, the shore, autumn, Woodstock attendees covered in mud. And that’s just the first verse.

Homeboy Sandman has consistently shown his attentiveness to the craft of writing not just for delivery but for the analytical eye (and ear). In this track he finds a delicate balance between creativity, eccentricity, intricacy and style. Hopefully his Stones Throw debut LP continues this.

Jonti, the Australian wonder-kid who also has found a home at Stones Throw and is about to tour supporting Gotye, provides a quirky and slow-rising beat to match Homeboy’s particular flow and content. Just when I’m close to being jaded by repetitive hip-hop from various extremes, pleasant surprises like this pop up and remind me there is still room for the unexpected.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Homeboy Sandman – Brown

2. Posted in: hip-hop, experimental, electronic hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Blu & Exile – A Man

sweeneykovar — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:24:43 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Quelle, Roc Marciano, Knxwledge

Song: Blu & Exile - A Man [download here]

What's so good?

Much to the delight of new-age backpackers worldwide, Blu & Exile, the heralded duo from L.A., return to the spotlight.

Half a decade after their debut collaboration gave a flashback to the Rawkus era with a weeded West Coast twist, the duo officially reintroduce themselves with “A Man,” a cut off of the Maybe One Day EP that just dropped in anticipation of the official September release of Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them.

The full length will be an updated version of the project Blu unceremoniously threw on Bandcamp earlier this year and eventually removed. The preview hints at an updated version of the formula that won hearts all over the Internet — soulful chops adorned with dexterous, introspective wordplay. Blu can still rap laps around your favorite MC when he feels like it, and Exile is always on deck with enjoyable beats that sound deceivingly simple.

Ex has spent the last five years capitalizing off the attention from their breakthrough LP while Blu has spent that time trying to run as far away from that attention as possible. Both have been successful to certain extents, but neither has been able to completely escape the mountainous shadow of their first project. It just may be their Illmatic or Resurrection, the album that fans forever measure their every bar and beat by, but both artists have the talent to transcend this confine.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Blu & Exile – A Man

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Knxwledge, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Exile – Your Life Ft. MED & Blu

sweeneykovar — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 19:19:18 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Exile, Blu, Madlib

Song: Exile - Your Life [download here]

What's so good?

Exile has spent the last half a decade becoming an elite producer. Able to maneuver comfortably between serious mainstream artists (Bow Wow, Big Sean, Mobb Deep), serious underground artists (Fashawn, Blu) and his own experimentally goofy projects, Exile’s diversity is underrated. He is a producer as well as beatmaker, he not only crafts the landscape for a vocalist but he coaches how that will be altered, added to or otherwise modified–a rare trait.

Originally from a mixtape Exile did in conjunction with LRG celebrating his past releases and previewing upcoming one, “Your Life” by MED and Blu is a great example of what Exile can bring out of MC’s he works with.

The two MCs tackle the the track in two methods: MED takes the title and flips it literally while Blu takes an approach that focuses more on the feeling of his performance rather than the actual scripted narrative. Three formidable artists, this track is a winner.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Exile – Your Life Ft. MED & Blu

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Blu, stones throw

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

De La Soul – Stakes Is High (Dela Remix)

sweeneykovar — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:04:58 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: A Tribe Called Quest, Blu, The Roots

Song: De La Soul - Stakes Is High (Dela Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

De La Soul is arguably the greatest hip-hop group of all time. I know some might jump out of their seats at a comment like that — and no disrespect to Tribe, The Roots and the long line of formidable groups that have helped build the cultur — but there is nobody like De La and there never will be.

The trio has not only survived for over 20 years, but they’ve managed to innovate and grow constantly. From being the weirdo new kids during the budding days of Native Tongue and becoming default gatekeepers of “real” hip-hop during the late 90s to becoming one of the most shining examples of how to age respectfully in the genre without becoming corny, De La Soul is a cultural institution.

“Stakes Is High” is a classic among classics in their extensive repertoire. The song from the album of the same name, produced by Jay Dee before he was Dilla, captured the frustration of a generation that saw their music and culture complete the jump into the corporate world. Play this track out at any respectable hip-hop party and Dave’s verse, the second in the song, will automatically elicit a word-for-word recital by at least a handful of heads in attendance.

In a curious twist of fate, Parisian producer Dela (no relation) remixed this track back when MySpace was A&Ring many an album. His remix injects a heavy dose of sunshine into the original, making for a classic remix of a classic record.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: De La Soul – Stakes Is High (Dela Remix)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, hip-hop remixes, Blu, the roots, a tribe called quest

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Sene Ft. Denitia Odigie – Holyday

sweeneykovar — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:03:16 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Blu, Co$$, Exile

Song: Sene - Holyday [download here]

What's so good?

Sene’s Brooklyknight was released last week via Plug Research. The album is a cohesive collection of musings about the world and Brooklyn, an introspective look at the first quarter century or so in the life of a young MC.

One of my favorite tracks on the album is “Holyday,” featuring songstress Denitia Odigie (be on the lookout for more from her soon). Sene details his life perspective, sharing a bit of his cross-country journey that had him living in California for 5 years and its effect on the young mind.

The song encapsulates what is perhaps the most powerful quality of the album as a whole; it’s a very personal view into the maturing process of a young artist.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Sene Ft. Denitia Odigie – Holyday

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Blu, sene, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Uncle Imani (of The Pharcyde) – Paper$$

sweeneykovar — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:39:20 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Ta'Raach, The Pharcyde, Blu

Song: Uncle Imani (of The Pharcyde) - Paper$$ [download here]

What's so good?

It’s been almost two decades since The Pharcyde rode into the popular consciousness of hip hop with their playfully self-aware stylings and feel-good music. Their influence is present on many still. Though no longer functioning as a unit, the individual members of the group can still be found, active and vibrant.

Imani, one of the more playful of the four, is now Uncle Imani. In preparation of a new solo album, he has leaked this cut, a surprise collaboration with Detroit’s Ta’Raach. The song has a low end that would make Q-Tip jealous and Imani delivers a jovial but seasoned take on the song’s subject which is also it’s title. Anything by Ta’Raach warrants investigations and it is a true joy for a Labcabin nut like myself to hear an energized Imani, even if Booty Brown, Fatlip and Slimkid Tre are nowhere to be found.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Uncle Imani (of The Pharcyde) – Paper$$

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, detroit, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Blu Ft. Jack Davey – Everything’s OK (Waajeed Refix)

sweeneykovar — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:18:11 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Slum Village, Waajeed, Blu

Song: Blu Ft. Jack Davey - Everything's Okay (Waajeed Refix) [download here]

What's so good?

Blu is a familiar voice around these parts, but if you’re not aware, Waajeed is a master producer (not beat-maker) and artist from the musical mecca of Detroit. Waajeed’s lineage traces back to before the inception of Slum Village, he was close friends with Dilla and was the impetus for creating the now legendary cassette tape version of SV’s Fantastic Vol.1. Since then he has grown into a talented producer in his own right, ghost-producing for major artists and scoring films. Still, you can tell the man’s heart is still in the MPC.

With this remix, Waajeed slows the pace down a bit from the previous hectic version of the NoYork! track and adds a deep, funky, electronic slump to the song (with some cowbell added for good measure). According to Jeedo’s own blog, Bling 47:

“Kenny Fresh and I were going to release this mix on our Waajeed x FreshSelects project last year. The homie Blu asked me to remix the original version produced by Flying Lotus. After I finished this ruff mix, he asked for a two track of the instrumental to relay his vocal. He agreed to send it back so I could finish it…… It never showed up.

The version we have here is unfinished technically, but to many will sound much more polished than the version Azulito threw up on his Bandcamp, along with a string of remixes by other pals. Some will undoubtedly continue to scratch their heads and wonder, all I can add to the conversation is enjoy the ride or exit the amusement park.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Blu Ft. Jack Davey – Everything’s OK (Waajeed Refix)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, remixes, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Sene – Backboards Ft. Blu

sweeneykovar — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:11:35 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Blu, Co$$, Exile

Song: Sene - Backboards [download here]

What's so good?

We’ve shared Sene‘s music with you guys before. Coming off the out-the-blue buzz of “Exit,Us,” the Brooklyn native is readying a debut album for release on Plug Research later this spring. He recently leaked “Backboards,” featuring his left coast brethren, the ever-enigmatic Blu. The two step back and examine their surroundings, both regionally and musically, over a sweet string loop and drums that sound like bangin’ on the lunch table at school.

Sene is rare in his simplicity. He’s not the flashy 90s throwback that Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire or Action Bronson are (respect to both), nor is he purposefully trying to forgo his N.Y. heritage. The debut Brooklyknight has a consistent sound that wouldn’t sound too out of place in 1996 or 2001, but holds up perfectly well in 2012. He’s jovial without being silly and pensive without sounding like Killah Priest in “B.I.B.L.E.” An everyman MC with above-average qualities, Sene is an MC focused on good music, plain and simple.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Sene – Backboards Ft. Blu

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Blu, brooklyn

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Ft. Danny Brown, Blu & more…: Top Hip-Hop Artists of 2011

sweeneykovar — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:00:46 +0000

I should preface this list with a warning: I hate these things. End of year lists can sometimes bring out the worst in us as music lovers, with comparisons, rigidity, judgement and hollow merits.

That said, I’ve compiled a list of my top five favorite things about hip hop in 2011 very much tailored around what I privilege and prefer in my rap music. I don’t have the time or will to engross myself in all the different types of rap music that are created in a given year. I like my rap to be somewhat serious, rapped with some kind of passion, and to sound enjoyable.

I hope you find worth in the list of highlights I’ve compiled in no particular order.

Listen to more Best of 2011 playlists here.

1. Original post: Ft. Danny Brown, Blu & more…: Top Hip-Hop Artists of 2011

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, Los Angeles, detroit, Knxwledge

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: Main Attrakionz - Bossalinis & Fooliyones Pt. 2 [Downloa d]

I actually meant for this spot to be dedicated to the entirety of youth in hip hop. It might sound a bit surreal, but rap music is pretty near 40 years old now, depending on which culture-capturing documentarian you ask. Like anything that ages, there are visible divisions between generations.

While you (and me) complain about how far off hip hop is from its roots, how it used to be a culture and now it’s an industry, how the music lacks creativity, there are legions of youth keeping the spirit alive. Rap hasn’t been immune to the effects of time and age; for the most part the old guard is very weary of embracing its young. For some reason the rebellious children of the 60s and 70s seem surprised that their children are creating their own aesthetics and interpretations of the same rebellious spirit.

One of the best things about 2011 is that hip hop has been seeing the next generation take shape. From Main Attrakionz, Lil B, Zeroh, and Odd Future to Lex Luger, Clams Casino, A$AP Rocky, Knxwledge, and Fat Trel, the youth have a firm grasp on what hip hop is and don’t seem burdened by the need to be a walking, rapping embodiment of the entire culture (or industry, depending on your perspective). Often they succeed where older veterans fail, capturing that spark, that intangible, magnetic quality that classic rap has without being contrived and over-thought.

Get over the skinny jeans — you don’t have to wear them, but DON’T KNOCK THE YOUTH.

Song: Danny Brown - XXX [Downloa d]

If you had an Internet connection this year and listened to rap, there is no way you could have missed at least a mention of this Detroit titan. After putting his all into his music for more than five years, it took Danny Brown getting a weird haircut, performing at hipster parties, and XXX for Danny Brown to find his niche.

While some of us have been watching from the side lines since his days of killing Dilla beats on mixtapes, Danny struggled to find an audience among fickle hardcore rap heads. Rather than eschewing his quirkiness, Danny embraced it. Now XXL plays catch up while Pitchfork, The Fader and Rolling Stone are all about young Daniel. For good reason, too — he might be the best rapping buzzed-about rapper right now, if that makes any sense. He possesses the innate talent purists always privilege, the drug-infused eccentricity the young collegiate crowds gravitate towards, and (this is the doozy) the focus and urgency that only being 30, from Detroit, and marginally successful will give you. Expect more unexpectedness from Danny in 2012.

Song: Knxwledge - Stedilly(PortiWifMe) [Downloa d]

If you’ve frequented Indie Shuffle in 2011, you have no doubt noticed the ubiquitous, mysterious Knxwledge and his beats. With no less than 12 independent releases this year through his Bandcamp alone, Knxwledge proves he should be taken seriously.

Though still fairly young, Knxwledge has spent the better part of the last five years chipping away at his style. Clearly influenced by Dilla and Madlib, Knxwledge fits in that continuum quite well. His compositions often focus on a feeling rather than technique; they seem to compliment a mood instead of dominating the environment. Jazz-influenced in both timing and spirit, Knxwledge is a fresh take on what is now an old tradition. Expect great things from this young powerhouse in the next year.

Song: Quelle Chris - Sugar Honey Iced Tea [Downloa d]

I first heard Quelle’s Blue Mondays project years ago through the good homie House Shoes, and I was instantly blown away by the talent and ability of Quelle, in particular his originality. I can remember having a conversation with Shoes about how Quelle did not quite sound like anyone in particular. He raps, produces, sings, and does impromptu stand-up comedy all quite well. He allows his vulnerability to live in his music, but doesn’t go all Drake and over do it to the point where his MC bars sound contrived.

Luckily 2011 was the year he finally stopped being a secret and made his presence known. His work with his brother Mosel as Crown Nation, his beats for Danny Brown, and most recently his first official solo album Shotgun and Sleek Rifle serve as a great introductions to Quelle’s range. Heads have taken notice; he is currently working with Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, and a few other respected names in rap. Stay tuned.

Song: Blu - The Only One [Downloa d]

Blu continues to be the quintessential artist — mysterious, devoted, and somewhat misunderstood. While staying mostly out of the public eye, the L.A.-based MC put out quite a few projects in 2011, from the electro’d-out NoYork!, the mellow, lo-fi Jesus, the compilation Open, and he just capped off the year by quietly Bandcamp-ing give me my flowers while I can still smell them, his long-awaited second album with Exile. Prolific.

What puts Blu on this particular list instead of another accomplished, talented L.A. rapper — like say, a Kendrick Lamar or Tyler, The Creator — are the intangibles. As refreshing, talented and “new” as some of these other faces may seem, for all intents and purposes they are new game pieces on an old board. They attempt to seem larger than themselves, by design or subconsciously, and end up reminding you that you’re watching an entertainer, even when it’s a very good one.

Blu seems to have a different set of values. Sometimes that comes at the cost of his audience — some of his recent shows and the sound quality of his 2011 output has been quite polarizing — or even at the cost of himself. In any case, the art is always held in the highest priority. Blu’s legacy will be inspected and debated much longer than some of his more successful contemporaries. I’m glad he’s around, and you should be too.

Exile – 4TRK MND

sweeneykovar — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:00:07 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Slum Village, Blu, J Dilla

Song: Exile - When Nothing's Left (Ft. Blu) [download here]

What's so good?

Exile is a robust white man in his 30s from Italian descent, whose grandfather played polka and in Mariachi bands decades ago in Echo Park. This man is also responsible for introducing the hip hop world to classic artists through classic records. From Aloe Blacc to Blu to Fashawn, Exile has helped foster incredible artistry. He has also done solo work, from producing instrumental projects under his own name to providing production for cats like Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, and Talib Kweli.

4TRK MND is his long-in-the-works solo rap LP, just released this October. Yes, Exile rapping for an entire album. While it’s pretty much an open-and-shut case as to whether or not Exile brings the heat with the beats, some of you serious rapper people — the ones that refuse to smile or do anything other than solemnly nod their head to a song — probably might not be into this too much.

Exile is a great MC. That said, there are many who have very rigid definitions of greatness on the mic. Ex is far from a Nas or a Blu; he’s not going to dizzy you with alliterations and compound rhymes on this album. He’s going to make you laugh, sometimes confuse you, with his brazen and bizarre sense of humor. His cadences and patterns are what those who just skim through music might call rudimentary, but the aim of this project is to touch the heart, not so much the mind.

At times, Ex breaks from his goofy persona to bear his soul, most openly on “Mommas’ Song” and “Younger Days,” where Ex reminisces about both his deceased parents and the tumultous childhood that influenced his approach to music. Sounding like it was recorded when Ex was still underage, 4TRK MND has an instant warmth and intimacy to it that might have you thinking you’ve heard it before.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Exile – 4TRK MND

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, j dilla, Los Angeles, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Blu – SteelRemains(Raw)

sweeneykovar — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:00:29 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Elzhi, Pharcyde, Nas

Song: Blu - SteelRemains(Raw) [download here]

What's so good?

Yeah, yeah, I post a new Blu track every month, so what. You love it anyway.

Azulito has graduated from friends’ couches and his grandma’s backhouse into an unorthodox indie powerhouse. Fans love his quirky eccentricity, others are often befuddled by it, and some just plain think he’s overrated. But they all weigh in anytime San Pedro’s favorite son throws up a YouSendIt link on his Twitter.

While the retail future of NoYork! is uncertain, that’s hardly stopping Blu from keeping his train moving along. With “SteelRemains(Raw),” off Blu’s latest project, the compilation album Open, Blu teases fans with a self-produced track that has him rapping in the fierce, self-congratulatory manner that is most easily accessible for “underground” heads. While many have succeeded in turning that particular style of MCing into a bore in recent years, Blu breathes new life in rapping for the sake of rapping. The cut-and-paste chorus sampling everyone from Bustah Rhymes to MOP to GZA is ill too.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Blu – SteelRemains(Raw)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, underground hip hop, Blu, NaS

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.