Category Archives: Audio-Visuals

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

Making Tracks :: Blastfamous USA + Blackillac Connect For ‘Pull Up’

The magic that can occur in the rare instances where you introduce old friends to new friends only for everyone to get along is hard to match.  Maybe that’s why it seemed inevitable that Zeale Rapz would find a way to link his multiple successful ventures into a single stream of dopeness.  His longtime companionship/collaborative efforts with Phranchyze, along with their mutual friendship of Gary Clark Jr., resulted in the creation of Blackillac.  Meanwhile, Zeale Rapz had forged a newer, sharper and more politically driven connection with the killer production duo of NGHT HCKLRS, resulting in the lightning fast creation and maturation of Blastfamous USA.  With both camps combining forces for the upcoming busa flock EP, it was only fitting that they signal it with a music video in the form of pull up.  The video showcases all of the key components folks need for understanding what busa flock is about : unique aesthetic, high style, banging production, quality rhymes and a sense of humor are all calling cards the crew possesses.  The connection is intriguing, and yet it makes all the sense in the world… I will definitely be keeping my eyes and ears open for more.

-chief

Ballistic BoomBap :: MAD-1-ONE Presents ‘Bombz (Funeral Muzik)’ Video

San Antonio-based hip-hop artist MAD-1-ONE is back at it again.  In preparation for the July 6 release of his upcoming album Ghost of the Record StoreMAD-1-ONE connected with fellow hip-hop artist Mr. Composition, enlisting his visual skills to create a video for the first single.  Bombz (Funeral Muzik) serves as half calling card, half stern warning to anyone foolish enough to not recognize or respect what MAD-1-ONE is bringing to the table : knowledge of self, knowledge of culture, years of experience, and razor sharp bars that inspire just as much as they entertain.  The video features MAD-1-ONE and crew wandering the block, rocking in the record store, and raising spirits in the cemetery, all of which fit into the larger scope that MAD-1-ONE seems to be presenting with Ghost of the Record Store.  If the first single is any indication of what the full length holds in store, I think it’s safe to say San Antonio will have a project they can be proud of in 2018.

-chief

Stay Fly :: Bird Peterson, BLEUBIRD And Jabrjaw Combine Forces For ‘Conflict Resolution’

Bird Peterson is officially in full rollout mode for the upcoming Infinity Molasses.  My man has been dropping singles like crazy, the latest being the super catchy Conflict Resolution.  The track is the standard, infectious Bird Peterson mix of dope drums, textured samples and a few hilarious soundbites.  For vocal duties, he’s enlisted the help of Florida underground legends BLEUBIRD and Jabrjaw to match the track energy, and all parties involved more than stand up to the challenge.  It’s nice to hear tracks that defy genre classification in this manner, as this song could easily get play in both dance clubs and hip hop circles without anyone batting an eye or questioning the placement.  With the sneak previews we’ve been given thus far, I must say that my anticipation for Infinity Molasses continues to grow and grow.

-chief

Taking Flight :: Poolboi Blu And J Brodsnax Reconnect For ‘Schwifty’ Video

poolboi blu may be moving forward in terms of constantly dropping new music, but that has not been at the expense of continuing to promote his recent standout EP, horseplay.  In his efforts to create a music video for each track, poolboi blu and video collaborator j brodsnax decided to delegate 3 of the project’s 6 tracks to j brodsnax.  The latest selection, Schwifty, just hit the airwaves, and it’s a psychedelic spin through prisoners in confinement still managing to find expressive and positive outlets via showing their skill in a dunk contest.  The hypnotizing track works well in tandem with the slow motion, washed out and color drenched footage, slightly hypnotizing you and making the just over 2 minute long track breeze by.  Word on the street is that the duo has one more video under their sleeves, so hopefully they unveil it for us sooner than later.

-chief

Cinematic Orchestration :: PNTHN and Jeffrey Garcia Team Up For ‘Henny Dreams’ Video

The combination of PNTHN and Jeffrey Garcia has produced nothing but gold so far, and that trend doesn’t look like it’ll be ending anytime soon.  For their latest collective effort, PNTHN and Garcia put together an ode to the films of TarantinoScorcese and a couple of other prolific filmmakers for the Henny Dreams music video.  The result is a wonderful mash-up of bars, a banging beat and hilarious references to iconic moments in film from the past 30 years or so.  The work from all parties involved has continued to get better and better with each effort, and I can only imagine where PNTHN and Garcia will land if they keep churning out work of this nature.

-chief

Summertime Rolls : Clemits Drops ‘Selfish Summer’ Video

Austin-based hip-hop artist/producer Clemits has really been putting in ground work in anticipation of his upcoming instrumental release, Cult Classic.  After dropping a pair of singles via multiple streaming services, Clemits has released a third single, Selfish Summer, via music video.  The song is a mellow affair, with a hypnotic finger-picking sample surrounded by traditional boom-bap drums.  The video, however, is a celebration of solitude and doing the things that make you happy regardless of (and as long as they don’t harm) those around you.  Josiah Panella captures Clemits as he ignites fireworks, takes a pedicab and bikes around Austin, and eventually ends up back in the lab working on more beats.  Overall, the entire presentation is memorable, definitely something that Austinites can be proud of, and another notch in the belt for Clemits as he continues to rise.

-chief

Natural High :: Anastasia Drops Straight Talk For ‘Ceiling’ Video

Austin-based artist Anastasia has been on a creative and personal climb over the past couple of years.  After hitting the ground running on the Austin live music scene, she decided that the cure for complacency was to challenge herself.  After some traveling, soul searching and intensive writing, Anastasia is back in the mix with new music that shows waves of the maturation she has gone undergone.  Ceiling is a reflection on love and allowing yourself to be taken in by the feeling, with an affirmation in the form of a rap to help close out the Ty On Da Track 2018 instrumental.  For the video, Fresco Filmz captures Anastasia as she essentially sits us down and talks straight to us, making the performance aspect extremely intimate, personal and full of honesty.  It’s definitely nice when an artist doesn’t put on airs, instead opting to let you in to their process and their state of mind.  I am happy for all of Anastasia‘s growth, and excited to see both what the future holds in store for her and what she has on deck for us.

-chief

Mix Mastery :: Bird Peterson Drops A Mix Set For Serato

As mentioned recently, Bird Peterson has been excelling above and beyond these days.  Aside from his upcoming release, he recently dropped by Serato HQ to drop a mix set for the masses.  As usual, his mix is on point, his track selection is solid, and his sense of humor is on full display.  Definitely check this one out, give it a spin, and throw a like or comment Bird‘s way!

-chief

Positive Elevation :: Nicolas Azlon Spreads Good Vibes For ‘Skywalker’ Video

I don’t know how this slipped under my radar, but central Texas has a dynamic duo of epic proportions on their hands at the moment.  Lyrical guru and all around great guy Nicolas Azlon has joined forces with the razor sharp beatsmith Ruler Why for Skywalker, a meditation to assist others in maintaining amidst the madness set to a hypnotic, signature Ruler Why banger.  The video is raw and honest, essentially allowing Nicolas Azlon to cut through the facades separating artists from listener and instead dropping knowledge on you the way that a caring friend would.  I’m excited for all of the things that Nicolas Azlon has in store for the near future, and I will definitely be checking out his latest release, Infinite Potential, as soon as time allows.

-chief

Esoteric Experience :: KNDRX Drops Epic Video For ‘Pain’

My man KNDRX has been clearly doing some serious soul searching during his time in Denver.  He’s always been known for dropping bars that are brutally honest and introspective, but nowadays he’s evolving the presentation into something a bit more vulnerable in the best ways possible.  In Pain, we find KNDRX questioning the nature of allowing himself to be completely open to someone whom he does not fully comprehend, but is nonetheless fascinated with.  The video, directed by Chino Chase, more than matches the level of production and songwriting KNDRX brings to the table, resulting in a final product that all parties involved can be wholly proud of.  This should definitely get KNDRX more attention… be sure to share this one around, give it a like, and drop a comment so he’ll be inspired to keep making high quality art.

-chief