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Sounds like: Danny Brown, Shigeto, Chanes

Song: Paul White - Street Lights Ft. Danny Brown [download here]

I was debating which new Danny Brown song to post, his Old preview, “Kush Coma,” or “Street Lights,” a collaboration with Paul White. Ultimately I decided towards the latter, if only because “Kush Coma” already has more than 150K plays on SoundCloud.

The Hybrid reunites with UK producer Paul White for a semi-apocalyptic depiction of a decaying metropolis. Danny teeters between social commentary and traditional MC braggadocio; in one line he’s sharing how even the police are shook in his neighborhood, and a few bars down he’s roasting jealous rappers whose BBM’s he ignores in preference of doing drugs. Paul White’s music creates a dark, tense but moving sound bed for Danny to paint his vividly macabre and curiously witty imagery.

This track serves as the latest exhibit in the case for Danny Brown as one of the most interesting rappers rapping today, and Paul White continues to do his part in pushing hip-hop forward through his own lens. The 12″ vinyl version of this single, shipping out in a few weeks, will feature a remix by Detroit’s own Dabrye, an even colder and more industrial take on White’s version.

1. Original post: Paul White – Street Lights Ft. Danny Brown

2. Posted in: hip-hop, danny brown, Shigeto, progressive hip-hop, UK hip hop

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

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Sounds like: Danny Brown, Shigeto, Chanes

Song: Paul White - Street Lights Ft. Danny Brown [download here]

I was debating which new Danny Brown song to post, his Old preview, “Kush Coma,” or “Street Lights,” a collaboration with Paul White. Ultimately I decided towards the latter, if only because “Kush Coma” already has more than 150K plays on SoundCloud.

The Hybrid reunites with UK producer Paul White for a semi-apocalyptic depiction of a decaying metropolis. Danny teeters between social commentary and traditional MC braggadocio; in one line he’s sharing how even the police are shook in his neighborhood, and a few bars down he’s roasting jealous rappers whose BBM’s he ignores in preference of doing drugs. Paul White’s music creates a dark, tense but moving sound bed for Danny to paint his vividly macabre and curiously witty imagery.

This track serves as the latest exhibit in the case for Danny Brown as one of the most interesting rappers rapping today, and Paul White continues to do his part in pushing hip-hop forward through his own lens. The 12″ vinyl version of this single, shipping out in a few weeks, will feature a remix by Detroit’s own Dabrye, an even colder and more industrial take on White’s version.

1. Original post: Paul White – Street Lights Ft. Danny Brown

2. Posted in: hip-hop, danny brown, Shigeto, progressive hip-hop, UK hip hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/paul-white-street-lights-ft-danny-brown-2/feed/ 1 http://www.indieshuffle.com/kurtis-strange-say-that-i-cant/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/kurtis-strange-say-that-i-cant/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:52:25 +0000 Kavit Sumud http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=67882

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Sounds like: Com Truise, Ta-Ku, Kutmah, Eminem, Madeon

Song: Kurtis Strange - Say That I Cant [download here]

Underestimation is brutal, but its also one of the driving forces behind my life. I have some pretty bizarre dreams for a poor Arab boy from Baku, Azerbaijan: graduate school and global city hopping were not in the lot cast for someone like me.  And my journey so far has been full of crushing defeats and some of the most self-satisfying victories I could ask for.

Which is why I love this piece of art called “Say That I Can’t” from a fairly new-on-the-scene producer, Kurtis Strange. It features this Mike Tyson interview quote spliced over some inventive hip-hop instrumentals:

“I always remembered what people did to me. I didn’t want to get them back physically or hurt them, but I also wanted to laugh in their face, look them in the eye and say remember what you said? I’m too small, I’m too young, I’d never do it at that age…”

Kurtis Strange’s production simmers with a haunting, self-confidence that perfectly matches the tone of Tyson’s quote.  When I talked with him over SoundCloud, Kurtis Strange told me he was remarkably only 15 years old and he was moving “into a serious phase of his producing.”  Taking that into account, this is some Madeon-level quality here.

If you’d like to see where he takes his art into the future, follow him over at his SoundCloud and catch a free download.

1. Original post: Kurtis Strange – Say That I Can’t

2. Posted in: hip-hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, beats, com truise, ta-ku

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

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Sounds like: Com Truise, Ta-Ku, Kutmah, Eminem, Madeon

Song: Kurtis Strange - Say That I Cant [download here]

Underestimation is brutal, but its also one of the driving forces behind my life. I have some pretty bizarre dreams for a poor Arab boy from Baku, Azerbaijan: graduate school and global city hopping were not in the lot cast for someone like me.  And my journey so far has been full of crushing defeats and some of the most self-satisfying victories I could ask for.

Which is why I love this piece of art called “Say That I Can’t” from a fairly new-on-the-scene producer, Kurtis Strange. It features this Mike Tyson interview quote spliced over some inventive hip-hop instrumentals:

“I always remembered what people did to me. I didn’t want to get them back physically or hurt them, but I also wanted to laugh in their face, look them in the eye and say remember what you said? I’m too small, I’m too young, I’d never do it at that age…”

Kurtis Strange’s production simmers with a haunting, self-confidence that perfectly matches the tone of Tyson’s quote.  When I talked with him over SoundCloud, Kurtis Strange told me he was remarkably only 15 years old and he was moving “into a serious phase of his producing.”  Taking that into account, this is some Madeon-level quality here.

If you’d like to see where he takes his art into the future, follow him over at his SoundCloud and catch a free download.

1. Original post: Kurtis Strange – Say That I Can’t

2. Posted in: hip-hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, beats, com truise, ta-ku

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/kurtis-strange-say-that-i-cant/feed/ 0 http://www.indieshuffle.com/denitia-amp-sene-again-new-ride/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/denitia-amp-sene-again-new-ride/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:17:37 +0000 Anu http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=64882

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Sounds like: Miguel, Mikky Ekko

Song: Denitia & Sene - Again. (New Ride.) [download here]

Denitia and Sene released a 5-track EP, Blah Blah Blah, in August of this year. We’ve already covered three of those tracks (“Blah Blah Blah,” “Casanova” and “Trip.Fall“) which should give you an idea of how much we like these two.

Today, the duo dropped “Again. New Ride.,” a minimal version of their trademark sexual ease. Denitia and Sene sing together on this one, and the richness and fluidity of their bare harmonies requires a late night replay.

There’s no confirmation on a follow-up full length, but you can download their EP for free here and support the two on Facebook.

1. Original post: Denitia & Sene – Again. (New Ride.)

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, experimental, R&B, electronic hip-hop

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

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Sounds like: Miguel, Mikky Ekko

Song: Denitia & Sene - Again. (New Ride.) [download here]

Denitia and Sene released a 5-track EP, Blah Blah Blah, in August of this year. We’ve already covered three of those tracks (“Blah Blah Blah,” “Casanova” and “Trip.Fall“) which should give you an idea of how much we like these two.

Today, the duo dropped “Again. New Ride.,” a minimal version of their trademark sexual ease. Denitia and Sene sing together on this one, and the richness and fluidity of their bare harmonies requires a late night replay.

There’s no confirmation on a follow-up full length, but you can download their EP for free here and support the two on Facebook.

1. Original post: Denitia & Sene – Again. (New Ride.)

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, experimental, R&B, electronic hip-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/denitia-amp-sene-again-new-ride/feed/ 0 http://www.indieshuffle.com/jon-wayne-night-school-ft-quelle-jeremiah-jae-scoop-deville-azizi-gibson/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/jon-wayne-night-school-ft-quelle-jeremiah-jae-scoop-deville-azizi-gibson/#comments Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:10:00 +0000 sweeneykovar http://music.indieshuffle.com/?p=51916

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Sounds like: Quelle, Jeremiah Jae, Azizi Gibson, Scoop DeVille, Jon Wayne

Song: Jon Wayne - Night School [download here]

Some of the purest moments in hip hop are spur of the moment.

A few nights ago, unexpected and out of the blue, Jon Wayne dropped “Night School” on his SoundCloud page. The six-minute-plus banger is produced by Wayne, whose quirky but funky style is a great environment for a posse of MCs to showcase their individual styles.

Quelle, Jeremiah Jae, Azizi Gibson and Scoop DeVille bring bits of their respective worlds to collide on this track. Jon Wayne hops in at the end to make sure he blessed the mic as well. If this is where hip hop is in 2012, the Masters of Ceremonies are alive and innovating.

Every MC is raw in their own right, don’t sleep on this heat!

1. Original post: Jon Wayne – Night School Ft. Quelle, Jeremiah Jae, Scoop DeVille + Azizi Gibson

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Quelle, progressive hip-hop

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

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Sounds like: Quelle, Jeremiah Jae, Azizi Gibson, Scoop DeVille, Jon Wayne

Song: Jon Wayne - Night School [download here]

Some of the purest moments in hip hop are spur of the moment.

A few nights ago, unexpected and out of the blue, Jon Wayne dropped “Night School” on his SoundCloud page. The six-minute-plus banger is produced by Wayne, whose quirky but funky style is a great environment for a posse of MCs to showcase their individual styles.

Quelle, Jeremiah Jae, Azizi Gibson and Scoop DeVille bring bits of their respective worlds to collide on this track. Jon Wayne hops in at the end to make sure he blessed the mic as well. If this is where hip hop is in 2012, the Masters of Ceremonies are alive and innovating.

Every MC is raw in their own right, don’t sleep on this heat!

1. Original post: Jon Wayne – Night School Ft. Quelle, Jeremiah Jae, Scoop DeVille + Azizi Gibson

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, Quelle, progressive hip-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/jon-wayne-night-school-ft-quelle-jeremiah-jae-scoop-deville-azizi-gibson/feed/ 0 http://www.indieshuffle.com/the-martinez-brothers/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/the-martinez-brothers/#comments Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:16:59 +0000 Rachel Skotarczyk http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=47975

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Sounds like: Kezla, Kevin Saunderson, HNQO, Morgan Geist, Disclosure

Song: The Martinez Brothers - Issshhh [download here]

DEMF is a very subjective experience. Obviously, music is digested in different ways and perspectives can be as relative as the distance in which you stand from the stage. Of course, we are all entitled to feel different things, but for the tastemakers there were some common denominators and certain sets did indeed pack more heat than others. Among them were The Martinez Brothers.

When I told people I was reviewing them, people said, “Aren’t they those guys on the Blackberry commercial?” Yes, they are, but the brothers are far from just a couple of pretty faces, and though exploitation and commercialization go hand in hand, this was never their intention. If anything, they see the publicity as a positive thing for dance music.

“A lot of young kids are getting into dance music now because it’s so popular, but they are getting fed the commercial stuff. It’s important for them to know that there is other aspects of this music that go way beyond just the mainstream. For Blackberry to expose us and expose that side of music, I think it’s amazing,” says Steve Martinez, now 23 years old.

Wise beyond their years, these boys have a musical vocabulary far more expansive than your average DJ. Well fed on a diet of salsa, latin, jazz, African music, and hip hop, it was their father that inevitably guided them to house music. Steve Sr. was a former party goer himself, so his offspring had access to dad’s colorful history and the music he himself digested at that time. Not only that, but they grew up learning to play a variety of instruments, and by 12 and 14 years old, they had made their first cassette tape (which was so good it caused their dad to pull over the car in disbelief).

A few years later, their first release “Rendition” got the attention of Dennis Ferrer. It didn’t take Ferrer long to realize he was in the presence of raw talent. The boys were signed to Ferrer’s label, Objektivity, in 2007. From there, they managed to tour all around the world, secure a massive European fan base, and continue to make waves in the States.

All this before the age of 24. That’s pretty impressive.

But enough about the back story, what about the show? It was fucking good. Chris brought the disco, Steve brought the deep house, and together their set was quite sexy. I found myself on stage compelled to stay and dance. Not only was the music fucking killer, but their energy was infectious and I was completely mesmerized in their presence.

I can honestly say that theirs was one of the top five sets I caught at DEMF. Dirty base lines, funky beats, and whether or not it was an abstraction of the sound or a physical application, the music was all embedded with hip-hop undertones — a hard thing to combine and still manage to remain very much house.

I’ve neglected to mention that these boys grew up in the Bronx where hip hop is worn like a second skin, but as I’ve said before, the gap between hip hop and electronic music is becoming increasingly close.

“There are a lot of hip hop DJs playing house tracks now. That’s not so far fetched anymore. It’s becoming more integrated again which is good. We just need to diversify a little bit,” says Steve Martinez. In a NY Times interview, their mentor, Ferrer, added, “The hip hop kids are thirsty. They want something new. They see ‘we’ve got somebody our age to look up to,’” adding that TMB represents the new demographic.

Those are some big shoes to fill, but The Martinez Brothers aren’t real concerned with all the hype. Their MO is introducing people to an eclectic selection of great music. They seek to enlighten with a combo of musical history and a fresh perspective, urging all to feel good, let go, and dance. At the bottom of everything, it’s obvious Steve and Chris are loving what they do and they’re damn good at it. At such young ages, they will only get better and that is exciting. So my final summation: TMB are an act to know if you don’t already. If you DO,  I think you will agree — they are pretty fucking rad. Truth.

Photo credit Robert Perry

1. Original post: Live in Detroit: The Martinez Brothers

2. Posted in: Electronic, house, deep house, tech-house, uk funky

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Kezla, Kevin Saunderson, HNQO, Morgan Geist, Disclosure

Song: The Martinez Brothers - Issshhh [download here]

DEMF is a very subjective experience. Obviously, music is digested in different ways and perspectives can be as relative as the distance in which you stand from the stage. Of course, we are all entitled to feel different things, but for the tastemakers there were some common denominators and certain sets did indeed pack more heat than others. Among them were The Martinez Brothers.

When I told people I was reviewing them, people said, “Aren’t they those guys on the Blackberry commercial?” Yes, they are, but the brothers are far from just a couple of pretty faces, and though exploitation and commercialization go hand in hand, this was never their intention. If anything, they see the publicity as a positive thing for dance music.

“A lot of young kids are getting into dance music now because it’s so popular, but they are getting fed the commercial stuff. It’s important for them to know that there is other aspects of this music that go way beyond just the mainstream. For Blackberry to expose us and expose that side of music, I think it’s amazing,” says Steve Martinez, now 23 years old.

Wise beyond their years, these boys have a musical vocabulary far more expansive than your average DJ. Well fed on a diet of salsa, latin, jazz, African music, and hip hop, it was their father that inevitably guided them to house music. Steve Sr. was a former party goer himself, so his offspring had access to dad’s colorful history and the music he himself digested at that time. Not only that, but they grew up learning to play a variety of instruments, and by 12 and 14 years old, they had made their first cassette tape (which was so good it caused their dad to pull over the car in disbelief).

A few years later, their first release “Rendition” got the attention of Dennis Ferrer. It didn’t take Ferrer long to realize he was in the presence of raw talent. The boys were signed to Ferrer’s label, Objektivity, in 2007. From there, they managed to tour all around the world, secure a massive European fan base, and continue to make waves in the States.

All this before the age of 24. That’s pretty impressive.

But enough about the back story, what about the show? It was fucking good. Chris brought the disco, Steve brought the deep house, and together their set was quite sexy. I found myself on stage compelled to stay and dance. Not only was the music fucking killer, but their energy was infectious and I was completely mesmerized in their presence.

I can honestly say that theirs was one of the top five sets I caught at DEMF. Dirty base lines, funky beats, and whether or not it was an abstraction of the sound or a physical application, the music was all embedded with hip-hop undertones — a hard thing to combine and still manage to remain very much house.

I’ve neglected to mention that these boys grew up in the Bronx where hip hop is worn like a second skin, but as I’ve said before, the gap between hip hop and electronic music is becoming increasingly close.

“There are a lot of hip hop DJs playing house tracks now. That’s not so far fetched anymore. It’s becoming more integrated again which is good. We just need to diversify a little bit,” says Steve Martinez. In a NY Times interview, their mentor, Ferrer, added, “The hip hop kids are thirsty. They want something new. They see ‘we’ve got somebody our age to look up to,’” adding that TMB represents the new demographic.

Those are some big shoes to fill, but The Martinez Brothers aren’t real concerned with all the hype. Their MO is introducing people to an eclectic selection of great music. They seek to enlighten with a combo of musical history and a fresh perspective, urging all to feel good, let go, and dance. At the bottom of everything, it’s obvious Steve and Chris are loving what they do and they’re damn good at it. At such young ages, they will only get better and that is exciting. So my final summation: TMB are an act to know if you don’t already. If you DO,  I think you will agree — they are pretty fucking rad. Truth.

Photo credit Robert Perry

1. Original post: Live in Detroit: The Martinez Brothers

2. Posted in: Electronic, house, deep house, tech-house, uk funky

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/the-martinez-brothers/feed/ 1 http://www.indieshuffle.com/zeph-young-lights/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/zeph-young-lights/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:44:41 +0000 Sean O http://music.indieshuffle.com/?p=41601

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Sounds like: Flobots, A$AP Rocky

Song: Zeph - Young Lights [download here]

I love waking up to new music submissions. Today’s dopeness arrives courtesy of Zeph, a Pittsburgh-based rapper currently living in the Caribbean who cooks up fresh hip-hop joints with dope beats and lyrical finesse.

“Young Lights,” produced by PVT, has a lot going on (peep those horns), but Zeph is always in control. Dude definitely sounds at home on the mic.

Check out Zeph’s latest effort, Drown in the Sky, on SoundCloud.

1. Original post: Zeph – Young Lights

2. Posted in: hip-hop, a$ap rocky, progressive hip-hop, Zeph, Young Lights

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

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Sounds like: Flobots, A$AP Rocky

Song: Zeph - Young Lights [download here]

I love waking up to new music submissions. Today’s dopeness arrives courtesy of Zeph, a Pittsburgh-based rapper currently living in the Caribbean who cooks up fresh hip-hop joints with dope beats and lyrical finesse.

“Young Lights,” produced by PVT, has a lot going on (peep those horns), but Zeph is always in control. Dude definitely sounds at home on the mic.

Check out Zeph’s latest effort, Drown in the Sky, on SoundCloud.

1. Original post: Zeph – Young Lights

2. Posted in: hip-hop, a$ap rocky, progressive hip-hop, Zeph, Young Lights

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/zeph-young-lights/feed/ 1 http://www.indieshuffle.com/cyne-boxing-day/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/cyne-boxing-day/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:05:50 +0000 Jason Grishkoff http://music.indieshuffle.com/?p=36259

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: CYNE - Boxing Day [download here]

Merry Christmas! In line with the holiday spirit, Hometapes just released a mixtape for free download, including “Boxing Day” by CYNE. While the release is, in whole, a wonderful folk / indie rock experience, this one track jumped out as a bit of an exception.

Perhaps like many of you, this was my first introduction to CYNE. Turns out their music is actually quite approachable. You’ll no doubt notice that the backing for this song is quite harmonic — atypical from what indie rock fans may interpret as ‘typical’ hip-hop. Personally, I enjoyed it enough that I sought out a few more of their songs. Turns out, they’re all in a pretty similar vein, though I must admit that “Boxing Day” is a highlight.

If you too would like to hear more, you can check it here.

1. Original post: CYNE – Boxing Day

2. Posted in: hip-hop, mellow hip hop, progressive hip-hop, crown city rockers, inspired flight

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: CYNE - Boxing Day [download here]

Merry Christmas! In line with the holiday spirit, Hometapes just released a mixtape for free download, including “Boxing Day” by CYNE. While the release is, in whole, a wonderful folk / indie rock experience, this one track jumped out as a bit of an exception.

Perhaps like many of you, this was my first introduction to CYNE. Turns out their music is actually quite approachable. You’ll no doubt notice that the backing for this song is quite harmonic — atypical from what indie rock fans may interpret as ‘typical’ hip-hop. Personally, I enjoyed it enough that I sought out a few more of their songs. Turns out, they’re all in a pretty similar vein, though I must admit that “Boxing Day” is a highlight.

If you too would like to hear more, you can check it here.

1. Original post: CYNE – Boxing Day

2. Posted in: hip-hop, mellow hip hop, progressive hip-hop, crown city rockers, inspired flight

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/cyne-boxing-day/feed/ 0 http://www.indieshuffle.com/drake-crew-love-ft-the-weeknd/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/drake-crew-love-ft-the-weeknd/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:46:57 +0000 Jason Grishkoff http://music.indieshuffle.com/?p=34059

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Song: Drake - Crew Love (Ft. The Weeknd) [download here]

Well, it’s been a couple days since the fervor around the leak of Drake’s Take Care tore the blogosphere a new one. Now that the dust has settled a little bit, I thought I’d whip out one of what I consider to be the more interesting tracks on the album: “Crew Love” featuring The Weeknd.

Why is this interesting? For one, Drake doesn’t enter the game until a few minutes in, which, considering it’s his album, is a little surprising. Secondly, there’s a vague element of U.K. garage (a la Jamie xx) in the instrumentals — quite unusual for a major hip-hop star. Lastly, Abel Tesfaye’s signature whining vocals provide the perfect setting for Drake’s oft-mellowed out rhymes. Overall, I’ll have to vote this one a winner.

1. Original post: Drake – Crew Love (Ft. The Weeknd)

2. Posted in: the weeknd, Jamie xx, mellow hip hop, drake, progressive hip-hop

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

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Song: Drake - Crew Love (Ft. The Weeknd) [download here]

Well, it’s been a couple days since the fervor around the leak of Drake’s Take Care tore the blogosphere a new one. Now that the dust has settled a little bit, I thought I’d whip out one of what I consider to be the more interesting tracks on the album: “Crew Love” featuring The Weeknd.

Why is this interesting? For one, Drake doesn’t enter the game until a few minutes in, which, considering it’s his album, is a little surprising. Secondly, there’s a vague element of U.K. garage (a la Jamie xx) in the instrumentals — quite unusual for a major hip-hop star. Lastly, Abel Tesfaye’s signature whining vocals provide the perfect setting for Drake’s oft-mellowed out rhymes. Overall, I’ll have to vote this one a winner.

1. Original post: Drake – Crew Love (Ft. The Weeknd)

2. Posted in: the weeknd, Jamie xx, mellow hip hop, drake, progressive hip-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/drake-crew-love-ft-the-weeknd/feed/ 4 http://www.indieshuffle.com/drake-ft-rihanna-take-care-prod-jamie-xx/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/drake-ft-rihanna-take-care-prod-jamie-xx/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:32:03 +0000 Jason Grishkoff http://music.indieshuffle.com/?p=33907

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Sounds like: Jamie Xx, The Weeknd, J.Cole, Big Sean

Song: Drake (Ft. Rihanna) - Take Care (Ft. Rihanna) [download here]

Drake’s long awaited albumTake Care just leaked to the internet for download, with a number of awesome tracks that include this one featuring Rihannah over the Jamie Xx / Gil-Scott Heron. It’s friggin’ sick!

Take Care is the second studio album by Drake, and is set to be released for official download on November 15. The album contains a number of collaborations outside of this, including Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder and The Weeknd. I couldn’t find a link to download a pre-order of Take Care, but if you look hard enough, I’m sure you’ll find a torrent or three of the album!

1. Original post: Drake – Take Care (Ft. Rihanna)

2. Posted in: the weeknd, Jamie xx, mellow hip hop, drake, progressive hip-hop

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

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Sounds like: Jamie Xx, The Weeknd, J.Cole, Big Sean

Song: Drake (Ft. Rihanna) - Take Care (Ft. Rihanna) [download here]

Drake’s long awaited albumTake Care just leaked to the internet for download, with a number of awesome tracks that include this one featuring Rihannah over the Jamie Xx / Gil-Scott Heron. It’s friggin’ sick!

Take Care is the second studio album by Drake, and is set to be released for official download on November 15. The album contains a number of collaborations outside of this, including Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder and The Weeknd. I couldn’t find a link to download a pre-order of Take Care, but if you look hard enough, I’m sure you’ll find a torrent or three of the album!

1. Original post: Drake – Take Care (Ft. Rihanna)

2. Posted in: the weeknd, Jamie xx, mellow hip hop, drake, progressive hip-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/drake-ft-rihanna-take-care-prod-jamie-xx/feed/ 14 http://www.indieshuffle.com/inspired-flight-its-the-chemicals-ft-scarub/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/inspired-flight-its-the-chemicals-ft-scarub/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:44:26 +0000 Jason Grishkoff http://music.indieshuffle.com/?p=31788

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Song: Inspired Flight - It's The Chemicals (Ft. Scarub) [download here]

This song is like listening to The Postal Service smooshed up with The Pharcyde. No wait, it’s like hearing … okay, it’s like hearing Inspired Flight featuring Scarub. Which is an awesome pairing, if you ask me. One that I didn’t know existed before today. And to think it has been around for more than a year now! I guess I’ve been living under a rock.

I was first introduced to Scarub through the group Crown City Rockers, who have a track titled “Balance” which features his vocals. As such, when his rhyming sets in around the 2:25 mark of this track, it totally blows my mind away. The last couple minutes could be cut off — I easily see this song ending shortly after his feature. But I’ll forgive them for that.

1. Original post: Inspired Flight – It’s The Chemicals (Ft. Scarub)

2. Posted in: the postal service, progressive hip-hop, the pharcyde, crown city rockers, scarub

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

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Song: Inspired Flight - It's The Chemicals (Ft. Scarub) [download here]

This song is like listening to The Postal Service smooshed up with The Pharcyde. No wait, it’s like hearing … okay, it’s like hearing Inspired Flight featuring Scarub. Which is an awesome pairing, if you ask me. One that I didn’t know existed before today. And to think it has been around for more than a year now! I guess I’ve been living under a rock.

I was first introduced to Scarub through the group Crown City Rockers, who have a track titled “Balance” which features his vocals. As such, when his rhyming sets in around the 2:25 mark of this track, it totally blows my mind away. The last couple minutes could be cut off — I easily see this song ending shortly after his feature. But I’ll forgive them for that.

1. Original post: Inspired Flight – It’s The Chemicals (Ft. Scarub)

2. Posted in: the postal service, progressive hip-hop, the pharcyde, crown city rockers, scarub

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/inspired-flight-its-the-chemicals-ft-scarub/feed/ 3 http://www.indieshuffle.com/peace-of-mind-laces-out/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/peace-of-mind-laces-out/#comments Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:01:31 +0000 Eric Fallows http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=28033

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Dan The Automator, Kno, 14KT

Song: Peace Of Mind - Diamonds [download here]

Peace Of Mind was a rapper from 2000-2006. It sounds like it could be a long lost artist career obituary, but this is not the case.  It was in 2006 that he decided he’d tuck the rhymes away (even though he appeared on a well known Detroit radio station for his rap skills) and began tapping away on the Akai MPC, which enabled him to transition into a full-time producer in late 2007. After that, his story was history in the making.

I had never heard of this cat, Peace, until Street Justice dropped their album Go H.A.A.M, and then I immediately began to tune into some of his stellar production. Towards the end of this past winter, he released an album of his beats integrated seamlessly with Beatles music. It was on that record that he proved he could make psychedelic hip hop well.

Laces Out, as Peace explained to me, is definitely for listeners with well-to-do speakers. That goes for computer and the vehicle. It’s extremely apparent why when you listen to the opener “Intro,” which carries an extremely deep continuous bass line for the first 45 seconds of the song. From there, the track opens up with celebratory samples and a strong stuttering drum. It is a song like this that makes me wonder why more hard rock fans do not listen to hip hop. It must be because so much hip hop excludes the guitar; but not Peace’s music — he plays that, too.

Throughout the 35 songs, supporters of Peace can be heard tipping their hats and congratulating him on his thorough and cohesive collection of beats. The funniest one comes from DJ House Shoes at the end of song “Faraway,” where Shoes recounts a dream he encountered regarding the following song. Cue in ”Diamonds.” This song (which has one of the best introductions in a hip-hop song ever) that can mangle, strangle, and choke hold its listener. And then there’s the song “Love Was There,” which makes wonderful use of a Paul McCartney sample from the song “Dear Boy.”

With this release, Peace Of Mind proves that he is easily capable of producing different variations of hip-hop beats. He can handle psychedelic, soul, and even movie theme music (“It’s Over”). DJ Premier, Black Milk,  Apollo Brown, and 14KT have trademarked their own drum styles; now you can add another name to that list.

Laces Out can be downloaded for free here

1. Original post: Peace Of Mind – Laces Out

2. Posted in: hip-hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, progressive hip-hop, black milk, dan the automater

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Dan The Automator, Kno, 14KT

Song: Peace Of Mind - Diamonds [download here]

Peace Of Mind was a rapper from 2000-2006. It sounds like it could be a long lost artist career obituary, but this is not the case.  It was in 2006 that he decided he’d tuck the rhymes away (even though he appeared on a well known Detroit radio station for his rap skills) and began tapping away on the Akai MPC, which enabled him to transition into a full-time producer in late 2007. After that, his story was history in the making.

I had never heard of this cat, Peace, until Street Justice dropped their album Go H.A.A.M, and then I immediately began to tune into some of his stellar production. Towards the end of this past winter, he released an album of his beats integrated seamlessly with Beatles music. It was on that record that he proved he could make psychedelic hip hop well.

Laces Out, as Peace explained to me, is definitely for listeners with well-to-do speakers. That goes for computer and the vehicle. It’s extremely apparent why when you listen to the opener “Intro,” which carries an extremely deep continuous bass line for the first 45 seconds of the song. From there, the track opens up with celebratory samples and a strong stuttering drum. It is a song like this that makes me wonder why more hard rock fans do not listen to hip hop. It must be because so much hip hop excludes the guitar; but not Peace’s music — he plays that, too.

Throughout the 35 songs, supporters of Peace can be heard tipping their hats and congratulating him on his thorough and cohesive collection of beats. The funniest one comes from DJ House Shoes at the end of song “Faraway,” where Shoes recounts a dream he encountered regarding the following song. Cue in ”Diamonds.” This song (which has one of the best introductions in a hip-hop song ever) that can mangle, strangle, and choke hold its listener. And then there’s the song “Love Was There,” which makes wonderful use of a Paul McCartney sample from the song “Dear Boy.”

With this release, Peace Of Mind proves that he is easily capable of producing different variations of hip-hop beats. He can handle psychedelic, soul, and even movie theme music (“It’s Over”). DJ Premier, Black Milk,  Apollo Brown, and 14KT have trademarked their own drum styles; now you can add another name to that list.

Laces Out can be downloaded for free here

1. Original post: Peace Of Mind – Laces Out

2. Posted in: hip-hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, progressive hip-hop, black milk, dan the automater

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/peace-of-mind-laces-out/feed/ 13 http://www.indieshuffle.com/selfsays-something-out-of-nothing/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/selfsays-something-out-of-nothing/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 19:00:45 +0000 sweeneykovar http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=22760

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Sounds like: Aesop Rock, Baatin

Song: SelfSays - Little Things [download here]

Charles Vann and his music are not aesthetically pretty. Charles (aka SelfSays) is an awkward 20something kid. He’s from a Detroit suburb, but he’s not affiliated with Black Milk or Slum Village, and his music is more immediately akin to Aesop Rock; he doesn’t rap about his Escalade, trips to the strip club, or the notorious 7 mile. Instead, his music combines the usual rapper braggadocio with small, socially clumsy moments he experiences daily.

His Something Out Of Nothing EP did not receive huge praise upon arrival, but a year or so after its release, it’s aged surprisingly well. Recorded over two years ago, the EP’s production list looks like a who’s who of electro beats before they got “big” (that being an extremely relative term, since the sub-genre itself is niche). Folks like Knxwledge, Devonwho, Samiyam, Buillon, and veteran Dakim craft the moody, off-kilter soundscape for Charles to lay his hopes and worries over.

This kind of rap is not currently in the spotlight, but it is refreshing, honest and original.

1. Original post: SelfSays – Something Out Of Nothing

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Samiyam, progressive hip-hop, SelfSays

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

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Sounds like: Aesop Rock, Baatin

Song: SelfSays - Little Things [download here]

Charles Vann and his music are not aesthetically pretty. Charles (aka SelfSays) is an awkward 20something kid. He’s from a Detroit suburb, but he’s not affiliated with Black Milk or Slum Village, and his music is more immediately akin to Aesop Rock; he doesn’t rap about his Escalade, trips to the strip club, or the notorious 7 mile. Instead, his music combines the usual rapper braggadocio with small, socially clumsy moments he experiences daily.

His Something Out Of Nothing EP did not receive huge praise upon arrival, but a year or so after its release, it’s aged surprisingly well. Recorded over two years ago, the EP’s production list looks like a who’s who of electro beats before they got “big” (that being an extremely relative term, since the sub-genre itself is niche). Folks like Knxwledge, Devonwho, Samiyam, Buillon, and veteran Dakim craft the moody, off-kilter soundscape for Charles to lay his hopes and worries over.

This kind of rap is not currently in the spotlight, but it is refreshing, honest and original.

1. Original post: SelfSays – Something Out Of Nothing

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Samiyam, progressive hip-hop, SelfSays

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/selfsays-something-out-of-nothing/feed/ 6 http://www.indieshuffle.com/jesse-james-truth-hurts-truth-heals/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/jesse-james-truth-hurts-truth-heals/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 14:40:05 +0000 nolan http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=22367

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Hoodie Allen, Mac Miller

Song: Jesse James - I Want Head [download here]

Today, I offer a 19-year-old self-proclaimed hipster hailing from L.A. Jesse James is an interesting guy, with humorous self-deprecation to match a cocky self-assurance that can only come from someone with a truly unique identity.

Contradictions abound in Jesse’s persona: he looks like a real badass, sporting abundant body ink and chains, but he admits to having smoked weed for the very first time at the beginning of this project, his debut mixtape titled Truth Hurts, Truth Heals. And the project only took two weeks. Jesse also clowns on hipsters with stinging accuracy in “Too Cool for You to Know,” but appears to be quite edgy himself, frequently bragging about the constrictive properties of his denim.

But honestly, I don’t give a fuck about his image because his music is dope. He wrote, produced, recorded, and mastered every track himself. And like I said before, it only took him two weeks. He calls it his masterpiece, which I wouldn’t argue with — after all, at 19, competition for the title of “masterpiece” is usually limited to Mario Kart track records and offensively accurate drawings of genitals.

Speaking of which, Jesse takes a comical approach to fellatio on my favorite track off the tape, ”I Want Head.” The quickly percussive, piano-laiden beat samples Tegan and Sara and just forces you to bob your head (no, Kobe Bryant).

If you like what you hear, download the entire tape and give him a shout on Twitter. Enjoy.

1. Original post: Jesse James – Truth Hurts, Truth Heals

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, hoodie allen, progressive hip-hop, tegan and sara

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Hoodie Allen, Mac Miller

Song: Jesse James - I Want Head [download here]

Today, I offer a 19-year-old self-proclaimed hipster hailing from L.A. Jesse James is an interesting guy, with humorous self-deprecation to match a cocky self-assurance that can only come from someone with a truly unique identity.

Contradictions abound in Jesse’s persona: he looks like a real badass, sporting abundant body ink and chains, but he admits to having smoked weed for the very first time at the beginning of this project, his debut mixtape titled Truth Hurts, Truth Heals. And the project only took two weeks. Jesse also clowns on hipsters with stinging accuracy in “Too Cool for You to Know,” but appears to be quite edgy himself, frequently bragging about the constrictive properties of his denim.

But honestly, I don’t give a fuck about his image because his music is dope. He wrote, produced, recorded, and mastered every track himself. And like I said before, it only took him two weeks. He calls it his masterpiece, which I wouldn’t argue with — after all, at 19, competition for the title of “masterpiece” is usually limited to Mario Kart track records and offensively accurate drawings of genitals.

Speaking of which, Jesse takes a comical approach to fellatio on my favorite track off the tape, ”I Want Head.” The quickly percussive, piano-laiden beat samples Tegan and Sara and just forces you to bob your head (no, Kobe Bryant).

If you like what you hear, download the entire tape and give him a shout on Twitter. Enjoy.

1. Original post: Jesse James – Truth Hurts, Truth Heals

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, hoodie allen, progressive hip-hop, tegan and sara

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/jesse-james-truth-hurts-truth-heals/feed/ 2 http://www.indieshuffle.com/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-gramatik-hip-hop-remix/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-gramatik-hip-hop-remix/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:28:32 +0000 Jason Grishkoff http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=21628

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Song: Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven (Gramatik Hip-Hop Remix) [download here]

Yo RJD2, watch out! Gramatik has brought a fantastic beat to Led Zeppelin’s masterpiece, and I can’t help but think he’s chasing directly your way.

Back in February, we featured some of the Slovenian’s jive-based music as Song of the Day [here], and given that he’s poised to release two new albums in 2011, I have a feeling that this might become a repetitive offense.

Based on the precedence set thus far, I’m relatively confident that he’ll be producing some uniquely chill, electronic funk — much in line with touring partner Pretty Lights, for whom he has been opening. We’ll keep you posted, but until then, check out today’s Bonus which features his remix of “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse.

1. Original post: Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven (Gramatik Hip-Hop Remix)

2. Posted in: pretty lights, rjd2, progressive hip-hop, gramatik, led zeppelin

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven (Gramatik Hip-Hop Remix) [download here]

Yo RJD2, watch out! Gramatik has brought a fantastic beat to Led Zeppelin’s masterpiece, and I can’t help but think he’s chasing directly your way.

Back in February, we featured some of the Slovenian’s jive-based music as Song of the Day [here], and given that he’s poised to release two new albums in 2011, I have a feeling that this might become a repetitive offense.

Based on the precedence set thus far, I’m relatively confident that he’ll be producing some uniquely chill, electronic funk — much in line with touring partner Pretty Lights, for whom he has been opening. We’ll keep you posted, but until then, check out today’s Bonus which features his remix of “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse.

1. Original post: Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven (Gramatik Hip-Hop Remix)

2. Posted in: pretty lights, rjd2, progressive hip-hop, gramatik, led zeppelin

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-gramatik-hip-hop-remix/feed/ 9 http://www.indieshuffle.com/macklemore-ryan-lewis-wings/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/macklemore-ryan-lewis-wings/#comments Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:20:17 +0000 nolan http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=18339

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Wings [download here]

Nope, it’s not about Hooters. It’s about sneakers. On the surface two proportionally superficial topics, songs concerning them assumed to be equally so.  But have Mack & Ryan ever made something superficial?  No, and trust me, they aren’t starting now.

This typical Ryan Lewis track consists of the regulars — methodical piano, haunting wail, shaky tambourine, tortured strings — but incorporates a couple new sounds that add excitement.  Denny Middle School (West Seattle) loans their choir for a wonderfully written chorus (Hollis Wear) and a clap track adds edge, complementing Mack’s progressively aggressive diction.

The song begins with nostalgic appreciation for the superhero esteem that Nikes provide, and comes to a screeching halt with news of a slain child, killed for his Jordans. Mack goes on to explore the allure of such retail superpowers, the quest for acceptance, the insecurities that consumerism perpetuates.  He concludes by putting it in perspective for all of us plebians:

“This pair, this would be my parachute, so much more than a pair of shoes/Nah, this is what I am, what I wore, this is the source of my youth/This dream that they sold to you, four hundred dollars and some change/Consumption is in the veins and I say, it’s just another pair of shoes.”

1. Original post: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Wings

2. Posted in: hip-hop, progressive hip-hop, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Wings [download here]

Nope, it’s not about Hooters. It’s about sneakers. On the surface two proportionally superficial topics, songs concerning them assumed to be equally so.  But have Mack & Ryan ever made something superficial?  No, and trust me, they aren’t starting now.

This typical Ryan Lewis track consists of the regulars — methodical piano, haunting wail, shaky tambourine, tortured strings — but incorporates a couple new sounds that add excitement.  Denny Middle School (West Seattle) loans their choir for a wonderfully written chorus (Hollis Wear) and a clap track adds edge, complementing Mack’s progressively aggressive diction.

The song begins with nostalgic appreciation for the superhero esteem that Nikes provide, and comes to a screeching halt with news of a slain child, killed for his Jordans. Mack goes on to explore the allure of such retail superpowers, the quest for acceptance, the insecurities that consumerism perpetuates.  He concludes by putting it in perspective for all of us plebians:

“This pair, this would be my parachute, so much more than a pair of shoes/Nah, this is what I am, what I wore, this is the source of my youth/This dream that they sold to you, four hundred dollars and some change/Consumption is in the veins and I say, it’s just another pair of shoes.”

1. Original post: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Wings

2. Posted in: hip-hop, progressive hip-hop, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/macklemore-ryan-lewis-wings/feed/ 0 http://www.indieshuffle.com/kids-these-days-my-days-4/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/kids-these-days-my-days-4/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:13:27 +0000 nolan http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=16670

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Kids These Days - My Days [download here]

They’re literally kids (in high school!). And they’re more diverse than the UN. And that sound?! Smoother than the melting butter on your post-Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.

Kids These Days hail from Chi-town, and the group consists of three horns, a rapper, a blues-rock trio and a female vocalist. And it shows.

They’ve only released one track, “My Days,” and it comes out of the gate sounding like Matt Costa, molds slowly into G. Love and Special Sauce, and departs with the listener perplexed — like, what genre was that? It’s mesmerizing and relaxing, youthful but nostalgic. It’s damn good.

Like the track? Give it a heart on HypeM!

Look for their debut EP Hard Times in December.

1. Original post: Kids These Days – My Days

2. Posted in: hip-hop, progressive hip-hop, kids these days

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Song: Kids These Days - My Days [download here]

They’re literally kids (in high school!). And they’re more diverse than the UN. And that sound?! Smoother than the melting butter on your post-Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.

Kids These Days hail from Chi-town, and the group consists of three horns, a rapper, a blues-rock trio and a female vocalist. And it shows.

They’ve only released one track, “My Days,” and it comes out of the gate sounding like Matt Costa, molds slowly into G. Love and Special Sauce, and departs with the listener perplexed — like, what genre was that? It’s mesmerizing and relaxing, youthful but nostalgic. It’s damn good.

Like the track? Give it a heart on HypeM!

Look for their debut EP Hard Times in December.

1. Original post: Kids These Days – My Days

2. Posted in: hip-hop, progressive hip-hop, kids these days

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/kids-these-days-my-days-4/feed/ 2 http://www.indieshuffle.com/k-murdock-and-mega-ran-forever-famicom/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/k-murdock-and-mega-ran-forever-famicom/#comments Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:31:11 +0000 Cory Zechmann http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=13455

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Panacea, Y Society, Samiyam

Song: K-Murock & Megaran - The Ruler's Back [download here]

When I first heard K-Murdock and Mega Ran were getting together to create an album with an old-school NES theme, let’s just say I was pretty intrigued. K-Murdock’s sound has always been reminiscent of an electronic style, not too far off from the retro NES games.

I’ve been listening to Forever Famicom on and off for a few months now, but didn’t give it the attention I should have. Recently, when going over K-Murdock’s older albums, from Panacea to some of his solo work, I realized I need to give this one another shot.

Forever Famicom is a nostalgic jump back into the 80s NES classics. I wasn’t even 4 years old when I started playing NES, and it was probably the most fascinating thing for me since the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – because I could be a Turtle! I still remember the code to skip levels… as sad as that may be.

Anyway, K-Murdock and Mega Ran’s album definitely takes me back to those simpler days. With themes from Street Fighter and Metroid, any gamer geek will definitely dig this journey back to NES land. But K-Murdock’s beats aren’t the only talented part of this duo – Mega Ran has words that are as poetic as they are fitting to the theme. I’ve seen some talented MCs spit some intelligent lyrics, but none with the NES theme behind their back.

The album is a step in a different direction for hip-hop, and hopefully will gain more recognition soon. How they aren’t more well known in Japan still surprises me, but I’m sure it’ll eventually catch on.

1. Original post: K-Murdock and Mega Ran – Forever Famicom

2. Posted in: Electronic, hip-hop, underground hip hop, Samiyam, progressive hip-hop

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Panacea, Y Society, Samiyam

Song: K-Murock & Megaran - The Ruler's Back [download here]

When I first heard K-Murdock and Mega Ran were getting together to create an album with an old-school NES theme, let’s just say I was pretty intrigued. K-Murdock’s sound has always been reminiscent of an electronic style, not too far off from the retro NES games.

I’ve been listening to Forever Famicom on and off for a few months now, but didn’t give it the attention I should have. Recently, when going over K-Murdock’s older albums, from Panacea to some of his solo work, I realized I need to give this one another shot.

Forever Famicom is a nostalgic jump back into the 80s NES classics. I wasn’t even 4 years old when I started playing NES, and it was probably the most fascinating thing for me since the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – because I could be a Turtle! I still remember the code to skip levels… as sad as that may be.

Anyway, K-Murdock and Mega Ran’s album definitely takes me back to those simpler days. With themes from Street Fighter and Metroid, any gamer geek will definitely dig this journey back to NES land. But K-Murdock’s beats aren’t the only talented part of this duo – Mega Ran has words that are as poetic as they are fitting to the theme. I’ve seen some talented MCs spit some intelligent lyrics, but none with the NES theme behind their back.

The album is a step in a different direction for hip-hop, and hopefully will gain more recognition soon. How they aren’t more well known in Japan still surprises me, but I’m sure it’ll eventually catch on.

1. Original post: K-Murdock and Mega Ran – Forever Famicom

2. Posted in: Electronic, hip-hop, underground hip hop, Samiyam, progressive hip-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/k-murdock-and-mega-ran-forever-famicom/feed/ 5 http://www.indieshuffle.com/atmosphere-to-all-my-friends-blood-makes-the-blade-holy-the-atmosphere-eps/ http://www.indieshuffle.com/atmosphere-to-all-my-friends-blood-makes-the-blade-holy-the-atmosphere-eps/#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:40:58 +0000 Cory Zechmann http://www.indieshuffle.com/?p=12083

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Doomtree, The Dynospectrum, Living Legends

Song: Atmosphere - To All My Friends [download here]

How the hell does a group stay this strong for so long, no less in hip-hop? Slug and Ant have been together for a good 17 years, and I love ‘em more than ever.

In their latest album, To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs, Ant takes on a few different styles. Songs range from a laid-back country vibe to a more classic Atmo sound. But no matter the beat, Slug lays down some sentimental shit… for the most part.

I talked about “To All My Friends,” the first single released off the EP, when it dropped last month, but now we’ve got a full 12-track album to get through. In a couple songs, including “To All My Friends,” Slug takes some time to reflect in maturity and show that contemplation we’ve grown to love with him.

Then you take a song like “The Number None,” which may not be all that sentimental, but sure packs that Sean Daley wit. The rest of the songs lie somewhere between the two with a handful of keepers.

However they do it, they do it well. I can never complain with anything Atmosphere puts out, and I always come out with something new to add to the collection. They expand their style with every song, which is what makes them legends among many envious rap stars.

1. Original post: Atmosphere – To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, underground hip hop, progressive hip-hop

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

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Doomtree, The Dynospectrum, Living Legends

Song: Atmosphere - To All My Friends [download here]

How the hell does a group stay this strong for so long, no less in hip-hop? Slug and Ant have been together for a good 17 years, and I love ‘em more than ever.

In their latest album, To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs, Ant takes on a few different styles. Songs range from a laid-back country vibe to a more classic Atmo sound. But no matter the beat, Slug lays down some sentimental shit… for the most part.

I talked about “To All My Friends,” the first single released off the EP, when it dropped last month, but now we’ve got a full 12-track album to get through. In a couple songs, including “To All My Friends,” Slug takes some time to reflect in maturity and show that contemplation we’ve grown to love with him.

Then you take a song like “The Number None,” which may not be all that sentimental, but sure packs that Sean Daley wit. The rest of the songs lie somewhere between the two with a handful of keepers.

However they do it, they do it well. I can never complain with anything Atmosphere puts out, and I always come out with something new to add to the collection. They expand their style with every song, which is what makes them legends among many envious rap stars.

1. Original post: Atmosphere – To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, underground hip hop, progressive hip-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog. ]]> http://www.indieshuffle.com/atmosphere-to-all-my-friends-blood-makes-the-blade-holy-the-atmosphere-eps/feed/ 6