Author Archives: ChiefDoomsday

Recharge Zone :: Cory Mann Makes A Call To Humanity With ‘Sacred Springs’ Video

Posted on August 27, 2018 | Leave a comment

San Marcos-based performer and nature enthusiast Cory Mann recently collaborated with videographers Konstantin Belyshev and Paul Dubiel to make a plea to everyone who enjoys the natural resources that are the San Marcos river and the Edwards Aquifer zone.  As many in the area know, population growth and rapid development in the area have left a mark on the ecosystem.  Cory, in particular, took the time on Sacred Springs to educate people on the fact that pollution on the river has an effect on the recharge zones in the area, which in turn disrupts the flow of streams and rivers, which disrupts the Edwards Aquifer, the artesian zones, and the natural life (some of it endangered) that exists off of that flow.  Growth and change are natural, but we as humans must be mindful of the impact that we leave as we continue along with that growth and change, because that impact affects us all.

-chief

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Muscle Memory :: Virgil Wolfe And Daroundhero Reconnect For ‘It’s Just Distance’

Posted on August 24, 2018 | Leave a comment

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Virgil Wolfe and Big Lo have been on a songwriting tear recently, so a new track from that neck of the woods is no surprise.  What makes It’s Just Distance so special is that it marks the first collaboration between Virgil Wolfe and Daroundhero in nearly a decade.  The energy between these two on the track is kinetic, and with Big Lo‘s off-kilter jazz-influenced beat as the driving force, the two emcees trade bars and hook duty as good as the cats from Project Blowed used to get down.  Tracks like these remind me of my transition from fan to artist in the early to mid-1990’s, strictly because tracks like these, tracks with so much love emanating from them, being performed by people in very similar situations to myself, let me know that the only hurdle to creative expression was a personal one.  Hopefully this collaboration between these old friends is not a one-off, and we don’t have to wait another eight years for a follow-up track.  Definitely check this one out, share it around, and leave it a like and/or comment.

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Underground Me Now

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Games Played :: CHHK And Tall Kyle Drop ‘The Way She Goes’ Video

Posted on August 23, 2018 | Leave a comment

There’s no shortage of talent within the ranks of the College of Hip-Hop Knowledge (CHHK), and the collective has had no trouble proving that time and time again.  The latest creative offering from their ranks comes in the form of a new music video from Tall Kyle for The Way She Goes, a reflection on that ever present battle of attraction between men and women that ebbs and flows so drastically.  Tall Kyle uses the first verse to visually and lyrically break down how the situations play out, while the second verse is a much more reflective rumination on what could have been, what could be, and how fault ultimately lies at the feet of both parties.  The real point to be considered from everything, in my opinion, is that drive to not let things like this hold you back on your path to fulfillment.  Artistic integrity and rewards are our responsibility, and with achievement of these goals comes the confidence and notoriety that brings people closer to us (which is another examination in itself).  Props to Tall Kyle and CHHK for continuing to put out dope product.  Be sure to like, leave a comment, share the video around, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more quality content.

-chief

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Underground Me Now

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Soft Parade :: Muff Continues To Grow With ‘Go Gently’

Posted on August 22, 2018 | Leave a comment

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There’s something about the Austin-based band Muff that just works for me.  I don’t know if it’s their wonderfully playful guitar and bass melodies, the driving drums, the lyrics that reveal new insight upon repeat listens, the way that they sing, or a combination of all those elements, but Muff makes music that I can just hit play and allow it to take over.  Go Gently, the band’s new release, not only continues their tradition of great songwriting, it ups the ante by introducing new elements : production that is more layered and textured, synth sounds that were either not present in the self-titled debut or not showcased, and an overall more composed and up front sense of being about the band.  The performances are more confident, and listening to this album is like getting to know a friend better more so than meeting them for the first time (which is how it should be in terms of musical progression).  I still have high hopes for Muff, as I can envision great things happening for them due to the caliber of band they are.  Here’s to hoping that Go Gently points them in the right direction and affords them new opportunities.

-chief

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Renaissance Man :: Andrés Forecasts ‘Friendly Skies’

Posted on August 21, 2018 | Leave a comment

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andrés is a man of many diverse interests and styles.  When I originally got to know him, it was via his Unusuals moniker and the unique production approach he took with his albums.  Over time, I’ve gotten to know him deeper via his radio exploits with Cosmic Grooves on KZSM Radio San Marcos, his vintage clothing ventures with BORDER PALACE VINTAGE, and a recent transition into the middle ground of beatmaking and singer/songwriterdom with his work under the name andrés.  Friendly Skies is a reflection on connection, a lament about what one feels when an opportunity for intimacy presents itself, and all you want to do is make things as easy and easy-going as possible.  Bonus shoutout to me on the artwork assist, inspired by the recent admiration and respect andrés has for Missy Elliot.  andrés is certainly carving out a niche for himself that the San Marcos scene hasn’t seen since the likes of Roger Sellers, but andrés (much like Roger) is a wholly unique individual, so it should be a journey worth watching for those lucky enough to witness the growth.

-chief

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Posted in Chief News, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Underground Me Now

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Smart Money :: Riders Against the Storm (RAS) Present ‘OverUnder’ Video

Posted on August 20, 2018 | Leave a comment

It’s late August, and in Austin that means folks are gearing up for RAS Day, a celebration of the Austin-based powerhouse that is Riders Against the Storm, all that they do for the community, and the overwhelming positive energy they’ve brought to the music scene.  With this year’s RAS Day gearing up to be something special, it’s only fitting that the duo dropped a new song and video in preparation.  OverUnder finds RAS waxing poetic on taking action and not being passive in regards to both your support of and your contributions to your culture, hip hop or otherwise.  The video is a simpler affair than past videos, but still effective with it’s striking color palette and it’s portrait-esque portrayal of RAS and friends.  Tracks like these hit that much hard with RAS laying them down, as you can almost feel the ‘walk it like I talk it’ mentality emitting from their lyrics.  The fact that the track, a collaboration with Walker Lukens for his Song Confessional music project, was conceived, written and produced in two hours is a testament to that realness, as well as the message of not accepting limitations in your quest.  Great work from a great squad doing great things.

-chief

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Clean-up Hitter :: Poolboi Blu Knocks It Out Of The Park With ‘Sincere (Volume 005)’

Posted on August 17, 2018 | Leave a comment

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sincere (volume 005) just dropped, and it’s safe to say that poolboi blu is feeling maximum levels of swagger these days.  The sincere series has been getting progressively stronger with each release, but (volume 005) is a true achievement.  The song selection flows seamlessly… the mixes are clean, concise and executed precisely… best of all, poolboi blu doubled down on the mix length, clocking in at just over 45 minutes with (volume 005).  There’s a handful of songs I really dig on this mix, as well as a few that feel like possible new favorite songs in the making.  This mix is most definitely the right way to transition out of that summer madness.

-chief

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Shock Value :: MC Homeless Expounds On ‘Dead Rappers’ With Chris Conde In New Video

Posted on August 16, 2018 | Leave a comment

There’s braggadocio, and then there’s truly being unbothered by what the common crowd is doing… I think it’s safe to say that MC Homeless falls more in the latter category.  An MC that’s never been known to do anything less than his own thing, MC Homeless recently teamed up with San Antonio-based Chris Conde to draw a clear line in the sand between the true unliving heads and those that are basically already the walking dead.  The duo gets down over a Death Woods track (plus a drone loop from Vanishing Cities) with a little visual assistance from co-director Joseph Ramirez (MC Homeless also pulled director duty), makeup and special effects by Chris Paulos, Holly Paulos and Leigh Kessel, and digital effects from David Hampton.  The track will be found on the upcoming split cassette with Brzowski, Dig Two Graves, so definitely keep your eyes and ears open for that release… I’m sure this is just a small sample of the dopeness that project holds in store.

-chief

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Wasted Hours :: Mad One Reflects On Time With ‘Winter Nights’ Video

Posted on August 15, 2018 | Leave a comment

Mad One and DJ Ninja are making sure that their new collaborative project Ghost Of The Record Store gets all of the attention it can (and deserves), and one of those routes is the promotional music video push they’ve unrolled.  After dropping the hard hitting Bombz video, complete with images that help reinforce the album idea, the duo has followed up with Winter Nights, a reflective and somber track glorifying an understanding of time and how all aspects of it can affect us.  Paired with Max Fleischer era animation, the bars and earworm piano sample hit that much harder in terms of relevance, making the song a gem that reminds us of the mid-1990s jazz influenced boom-bap hip-hop we could use more of these days.  If you haven’t already, go check out Ghost Of The Record Store, and be sure to give both videos a like, comment and share.

-chief

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Missed Connections :: Curbside Jones And The ‘Milk Tea Choronicles’

Posted on August 14, 2018 | Leave a comment

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Curbside Jones has already done what it takes to prove himself as one of the most creative and charismatic artists in the Austin hip-hop scene via previous releases, but he’s in the midst of making a major impact with his latest project.  A serial journey over several different EPs titled Milk Tea Chronicles, this series of songs and releases has some serious head nod factor working for it due to Curbside Jones‘s extremely mature production and highly confident lyric ability.  Installment one is a reflection on expanding your horizons and exploring the world around you, while Voicemail Blues is a reflection on our new existence in the information/communication age and how we still manage to not maximize these potential connections despite every given opportunity to do so.  For my money’s worth, it feels like Curbside Jones can do no wrong, and I’m really hoping he becomes one of the artists that can break through Austin‘s glass ceiling and make noise on a bigger level.

-chief

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