Slang Lords, the debut collaboration from The Mic Fiends, is another perfect example of when two good elements combine to create something great. StormShadow and Stress are both more than capable wordsmiths in their own right, but combined, these cats toss wordplay back and forth effortlessly over wisely chosen production. The result is thought-provoking, head nod-inducing hip hop of the highest caliber. Definitely not to be slept on.
-chief
Recently, Salvasquared hit my inbox with a link to his latest project (and first instrumental release), Epocas (Beat Tape). He described it as ‘beats created from musical samples originated from all over the world’, and the description definitely hits the nail on the head. There are pieces of familiar elements in here, as well as ‘foreign’ elements (both in origin and to the ear), both of which give this album an extremely welcoming feel. This is definitely escapism music… certainly worth your time.
-chief
10 years ago this week, Ninja Tune released the debut project for Houston beatsmith Yppah, an invigorating exploration on adoration titled You Are Beautiful At All Times. From its striking cover art down to its beautifully crafted sonic landscapes, this project is about as close to perfect as an instrumental project can be. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen if you already haven’t, or get familiar with it again if it’s been a while.
-chief
Another classic from Jeffrey Garcia and Dream-Atomic Productions. Lambchop is the story of two lovers (although not in love with one another) and their respective journeys dealing with the way love guides them through life. This marks Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice‘s first time in a starring role! Enjoy, share, subscribe to Jeffy’s Playhouse on YouTube and like/comment on Lambchop.
-chief
I’ve only had the pleasure of playing the homie EVAK‘s house shows in the Texas gulf coast area a couple of times, but one think that is clear from the moment you get there is that skate culture is a permanent fixture. This video finds Conner Smith, Taylor Bray, 5 Star and Ivan Lavigne (with a little help from Wolf Pat) reminiscing on their homemade slice of awesome known as the Galv Slab. Dig it, and don’t forget to show love to those local creations you and your friends dedicated significant chunks of your life to.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight
Tagged 5 star, 667, chief, conner smith, EVAK, galv slab, ivan lavigne, the doomsday device, wolf pat
Not to be overly nostalgiac or anything, but sometimes, boom-bap rap is what the world needs. I’m all for exploration of new sounds and styles… don’t get me wrong. But sometimes, you’ve gotta take the foundation elements and explore that realm. Dallas-based MC PDotflo is neck-deep in that exploration with PDotflo & AmAzin Vol. 1. This is the music that is ‘dated’ in the best way possible, to where you pinpoint it in the wrong era. The sounds are familiar, the style is comfortable, but the content and voice are unique. The topics are timeless, and yet a direct reflection of what we are going through right now. This is that kind of hip hop that feels like a family reunion. Great stuff.
-chief
One amazing thing about an Ernest Gonzales record is how much of a journey each listen is. Many of us producers struggle to have our instrumentals be as vibrant and full of life as vocals on a song. On the breathtaking Dreaming In Color, Ernest Gozales makes each song take beautifully subtle twists and turns. They unfold out of themselves, like a flower opening up to receive sunlight, and build into wonderfully playful expressions. I highly recommend this album, and look forward to incorporating many of the songs into my DJ arsenal. A sure fire winner from the Exponential Records camp.
-chief
One of the 2016 bright moments was meeting Ben Buck at Beerland during The Triggermen‘s album release show. I was familiar with the name, but knew nothing about him as an artist. Needless to say, his wonderful balance of beats, bars and beatboxing blew my mind. His latest release, Been Buck, is a collaboration with beatsmith supreme Dr. Bobby Banner, MPC. It’s reminiscent of those early 90s hip-hop tracks where you were allowed to be honest about yourself, joke about yourself and be a little clever as well, before everyone started taking themselves way too seriously. Good jam for sure, and I’m looking forward to a full-length project… hopefully sooner than later!
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged been buck, beerland, ben buck, chief, dr bobby banner, mpc, the doomsday device, the triggermen
Everybody who knows anything knows how The Triggermen get down. Now, after a very long visual hiatus, the recent release of Live Wire has come part in parcel with a new set of visual promotions. The first music video is the extremely catchy Party Pro, and the video does a wonderful job of displaying the crew’s live show prowess and their sense of humor. It’s definitely one to remember, and worth multiple viewings. Dig it and share it, then dig it again!
-chief
These are strange days that we are living in. The latest in a long line of unnatural events was the election of Donald Trump as the leader of the free-world. For many, this does not sit well, and folks like Syllable have decided to speak up. Change The Conditions was a song recorded directly as a reaction to the emotional turmoil Syllable went through (and is probably still going through) while trying to comprehend this ‘decision’ our country has made. You can feel the hope that is trying to break through the many layers of confusion. Such a tragically beautiful creation… be sure to move this one around your social media.
-chief
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 