Category Archives: Audio-Visuals

Anything focused on Audio-Visual elements… YouTube, etc.

Grimy Rhyming :: NORMAN BA$E Drops ‘ODB’ Single

Posted on February 25, 2021 | Leave a comment

The homie NORMAN BA$E stays representing that raw era of hip-hop that many people choose to sleep on, and in my opinion, he should be celebrated for it. His latest single, the ultra-grimy ODB, is a collaborative effort with producer MînGø aka !YAD•NUS, is another notch in the belt of proof that BA$E is not the MC to be slept on, with it’s Wu-esque piano-laden production and BA$E‘s vivid metaphorical imagery. Dig the single above, and if you’re feeling it, leave a like and a comment to let him know, and share it around so that everyone gets blessed.

-chief

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

Tagged chief, MînGø aka !YAD•NUS, norman ba$e, odb, the doomsday device

Tribute Talk :: Clemits Gives Respect On ‘RIP MF DOOM FREESTYLE’

Posted on February 24, 2021 | Leave a comment

The announcement of MF DOOM‘s passing on New Year’s Eve of last year tore a hole in the collective heart of the hip-hop community. It’s hard to find creators on any level from the past couple of decades that where not either directly or indirectly influenced by the legendary wordsmith and producer, so it only makes sense that creatives on all levels would feel the need to pay homage. Recently, Clemits stepped into this realm with his RIP MF DOOM FREESTYLE, a quick blast of tribute released via his YouTube channel. If you dig what he has to say about MF DOOM, or you miss MF DOOM like Clemits (and the rest of us do), don’t hesitate to leave a comment and a like on the video, and share it around for everyone to discover.

-chief

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

Tagged austin, chief, clemits, hip-hop, RIP MF DOOM FREESTYLE, the doomsday device, youtube

Shop Talk :: #WeirdRapDiscussionGang Keeps Momentum Going With Episodes On Billy Woods And The Pharcyde

Posted on February 12, 2021 | Leave a comment

Being a part of the Weird Rap‘s YouTube and podcast series #WeirdRapDiscussionGang has not only been an honor, it has been extremely educational, insightful and inspirational. As a lover of hip-hop and an ex-record store employee, the need to indulge in deep conversations about music and culture has been ingrained into my DNA, and thanks to Th’Mole, #WeirdRapDiscussionGang has served as the perfect way to scratch that itch. Our last two episodes featured an in-depth look at the incredibly dense mystery of an album that is Hiding Places by Billy Woods, as well as a discussion of the first two albums and overall career of Los Angeles hip-hop icons The Pharcyde. If you love hearing nerds talk that nerd talk about moving music, then do yourself a favor and subscribe to the Weird Rap channel today, because it feels like this boulder is preparing to gain some momentum.

-chief

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

Tagged #weirdrapdiscussiongang, beverly fre$h, billy woods, bizarre ride II the pharcyde, chief, hiding places, labcabincalifornia, the doomsday device, the pharcyde, WEIRD RAP, youtube

Faded Loyalty :: Cha’keeta B and Lakrea Drop Video For ‘In My Bag’

Posted on February 9, 2021 | Leave a comment

Cha’keeta B has been shooting shots for years, and in my opinion, she hasn’t missed yet. This go ’round, she reached out to Lakrea for a brief but powerful rumination on how jealously can shift the intentions and actions of others titled In My Bag. As with most all of the production Cha’keeta selects, this one is catchy and has plenty of bounce, which keeps her already inspired and high energy flow at a level that darts and weaves through the bassline and hi-hats. As for lyrical content, you already know that if it’s coming from Cha’keeta B it’s going to be real talk, and Lakrea helps punctuate the matter with a memorable and catchy hook assist. This one is rapidly approaching a four-digit view count, so if you want to help this clip achieve virality, go give it some spins, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for others to do the same!

-chief

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

Tagged austin, cha'keeta b, chief, hip-hop, in my bag, lakrea, the doomsday device

Recovery Raps :: CHASEISNORML Lets The World Know He’s ‘OKAY’

Posted on February 5, 2021 | Leave a comment

It’s been a minute since the homie now known as CHASEISNORML has tossed his hat into the hip-hop ring, but it appears that his absence may have done his some personal good. His new single and video, the brooding and introspective OKAY, seems to be a bit of a confessional about his ascension from deep lows to his current status in life, all over a dark but vibey beat by Thurty Fiive (my apologies if this is a miscredit). With a little help from videographer Roy Burkhart III and editor ViperHyper, CHASEISNORML has blessed us with a set of visuals that help capture the vibe of where his head is currently at. Check out the video, leave a like and a comment if it moves you, and share it around to run those numbers up!

-chief

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

Tagged chaseisnorml, chief, okay, roy burkhart iii, the doomsday device, thurty fiive, viperhyper

Proper Praise :: Riders Against The Storm (RAS) Drop Video For ‘Flowers For The Living’

Posted on February 3, 2021 | Leave a comment

The adage of ‘give me my flowers while I can smell them’ has become an ethos that is gaining rapid popularity, as many people often find themselves regretful when it becomes too late to give someone the praise that they deserve. It is quite possible that this new cultural awareness may get a boost in the form of Flowers for the Living, a song as self-explanatory as it is catchy. Chaka and Qi’Dada bar up the Ayma-produced track (as they are known to do) while Clarence James shines on the hook, and thanks to director @JustinHCinema, the track is given a colorful and vibrant visual counterpart full of the life that it celebrates celebrating. It may be a little early for a summer jam, but if this track ends up having some legs, it’ll definitely serve as a proper candidate due to its immense amount of feel good vibes.

-chief

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

Tagged (RAS), @justinhcinema, austin, chaka, chief, clarence james, flowers for the living, hip-hop, qi'dada, riders against the storm, the doomsday device

Strange Fun :: Urban Heat Channels Talking Heads Energy With ‘A Simple Love Song’

Posted on February 2, 2021 | Leave a comment

Jonathan K. Horstmann, the lead guitarist and singer for the dynamic group Urban Heat, is a man of many looks when it comes to artistic expressions. Urban Heat has been an outlet for his more melodic, pop-sensibility songs, and while quality and style have been present since day one, something must have been in the air during the recording and video production of A Simple Love Song. To call it a variance on a style established by Talking Heads is to do an injustice to the song and video, but the influence is certainly there and undeniable. The song is immediately catchy, with the chorus of “I wish I could write you a simple love song, but the world keeps falling apart” standing as both a testimonial observation to our times and the catchiest of earworms to emerge in 2021. Definitely check out the video, give it a like and leave a comment, and spread it around so it can be the next viral video sensation!

-chief

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

Tagged a simple love song, austin, chief, jonathan k. horstmann, the doomsday device, urban heat

Stranger Things :: Jack Henry Releases Music Video For ‘Stranger’

Posted on January 20, 2021 | Leave a comment

After testing the waters a month or so ago with the release of the stranger single, Jack Henry is back at it with a wonderfully strange music video. Directed by Izzy Gazette, the video is a fun romp through visual silliness, a stark contrast against the very solid sound Henry has created for his era-shifting single. That being said, the video itself is a fun one, and certainly worth checking out, so give it a view, leave a like and a comment if you dig it, and share it around so that Jack Henry can become a household name.

-chief

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

Tagged chief, izzy gazette, jack henry, rock and roll, san marcos, stranger, the doomsday device

Time Passage :: Cunabear Reflects Deep On ‘Curse’ Video

Posted on January 19, 2021 | Leave a comment

Cunabear, the underground hip-hop philosopher with a voice of gravel and a heart of gold, is hitting 2021 in the correct manner by not letting off of the 2020 gas and momentum he created. In preparation for the release of STEEL TIPPED BEAR’S CLAW!, his upcoming project, cunabear has released the single and video CURSE, an abstract look at existence through the eyes of an optimistically pessimistic MC. Steel Tipped Dove provides the sinister, piano-laden track that gives cunabear room to spit his heavily symbolic bars, while the video plays like a self-made affair displaying cunabear in his natural element. Dig the track, drop a like and a comment on the video, and share it around to build up the hype in anticipation of what’s coming soon!

-chief

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

Tagged beartooth collective, chief, cunabear, curse, steel tipped bear's claw!, steel tipped dove, the doomsday device

Talking Shop :: Weird Rap Presents The #WeirdRapDiscussionGang On YouTube

Posted on January 8, 2021 | Leave a comment

One of my personal highlights of 2020 was the development of a working and social relationship with the super talented producer and social media influencer Th’Mole. After a long period of social media interaction on the Weird Rap Discussion Group, as well as other random online meetings, he approached me with an opportunity to collaborate on a project (which is currently in the works). Not too long after this opportunity was presented, he followed up with something I’d been dying to be a part of for quite a while : the chance to be a talking head on a YouTube series dedicated to talking about hip-hop albums and artists that may have been overlooked or underappreciated. The series, which eventually became known as the #WeirdRapDiscussionGang, features Th’Mole, myself, Beverly Fre$h, Oxygen Elmo and Nosaj of New Kingdom, and so far, episodes have been posted focusing on Freestyle Fellowship‘s Innercity Griots, our favorite songs by Tricky, and Blowout Comb by Digable Planets. If you dig what you see in these episodes, be sure to like them, comment on them and subscribe to the channel, because we’re just getting started.