Category Archives: Audio-Visuals

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

Loving Warriors :: Voodoo Boogaloo Join The NPR Tiny Desk Contest Concert Field

It seems like there is a vibe in the air that 2017 is going to be someone’s year in my peer group.  Everyone is taking shots at making bigger steps and gaining more exposure.  Case in point, yet another set of my wonderful and talented musician friends are in the mix for the NPR Tiny Desk Concert Contest.  This time, it’s the San Antonio-based trip hop duo Voodoo Boogaloo bringing their spacey, loving vibes to the contest.  My blog may just mess around and end up being a ton of my friends going for the NPR-gold in 2017!

-chief

Making Waves :: Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice Enters NPR Tiny Desk Concert Contest

NPR announced that there were record breaking numbers of entrants into their annual Tiny Desk Concert Contest for 2017.  After seeing the homeboy Da’Shade Moonbeam throw his hat in the ring, and knowing that this year will be the first of a major transition into the visual realm, I knew it would be foolish to miss this opportunity.  Therefore, Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice is now officially entered into the contest as well!  Check out my submission video for Choke from Permanent Record (beat by Lo Phi), and please give it a like, leave it a comment, and encourage others to do the same!  And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for what should be an exciting 2017 filled with visual content…

-chief

Master Class :: Da’Shade Moonbeam Takes Part In NPR ‘Tiny Desk’ Contest

Right around the beginning of each year, NPR kicks its Tiny Desk Contest Concert Series into gear.  The rules are simple… record yourself performing a song, and you must include a desk of some sort in this performance.  This year, I plan to take part, but I also plan to showcase all of my musical friends and peers who are choosing to take part as well, in hopes that our scene can make some much needed noise.  The first cat out the gate for 2017 I have seen is the incomparable Da’Shade Moonbeam, sharing a piece of work he has labelled as Untitled at this time.  Don’t let that lack of title fool you, though… nothing that Da’Shade puts in the world lacks depth or substance, ever.

-chief

Direct Action :: BLXPLTN Releases ‘Blood On The Sand’ Music Video

I love pretty much everything about BLXPLTN.  Their 2016 release New York Fascist Week was a sonic breath of fresh air and much needed dose of immediacy… a call to attention for the craziness that is unfolding daily all around us.  Blood on the Sand finds the duo broadcasting from their creative space about the ills of a military minded society, where blood is business and death equals dollars.  Tracks like these are a main part of the reason why their album was on many ‘Best of 2016’ lists, and having a solid video to back it up will only help spread the word.  Mad props.

-chief

Unique Usuals :: The Minority Project Hits Us With ‘Suspect’ Video

There is almost nothing in hip-hop like a good strong crew.  Austin, luckily, seems to have its fair share of solid crews, which is a blessing to the scene.  The Minority Project, comprised of IIIXCTYIsa Da Creature and T-Y da Fly, all catch wreck on the track and video for Suspect, a single from IIIXCTY‘s upcoming release entitled SINphony.  The video is simple and direct… great stuff.  I am loving the quality of hip-hop coming out of my home city these days, and The Minority Project is definitely keeping that good vibe going.

-chief

Long Goodbye :: The Teeta And Grind Life Films Combine Forces For ‘Sayonara’

Over the past 8-12 months or so, one name that seems to consistently pop up among Austin hip-hop artists is The Teeta.  I’m not gonna lie, it took me a hot minute to getting around and actually checking out his music, but one thing that never hurts in my book is an endorsement from Grind Life Films.  Enter Sayonara, a video I stumbled across while doing my daily due diligence of combing the internet for dopeness.  Needless to say, I am impressed upon my initial listen.  The sample on this track is used cleverly, the bars are super solid and hold weight while not taking themselves over-seriously, and The Teeta definitely stands out in terms of style.  My attention has been gotten… I am curious to find out more.

-chief

Wordplay Display :: NORMAN BA$E Drops Video For ‘LOVE The MC’

MC extraordinaire NORMAN BA$E has been putting folks on notice for ages now that he is a multi-talented force to be reckoned with.  Coming up strong off the release of his latest mixtape, Long, Live, Little Harlem is the lead single LOVE the MC.  It is a brutally honest lament on the state of the mouthpieces that represent the culture, but delivered over a wonderfully laid back and expressive beat.  If you haven’t already, get hip to NORMAN BA$E, as he is not one to disappoint with the output.

-chief

Future Vision :: Smackola’s ‘Glass Sky’ Video Is One For The Ages

Austin-based hip-hop legend Smackola has been doing his thing, regardless of the times, for slightly over 2 decades.  His approach to music and the experiences it has afforded him allows the type of perspective found in the song and video for Glass Sky.  The concept of both the song and video are brilliantly executed, and have me very much excited to discover what else lies within Smackola‘s latest release, The Thomas Brookz Project.  As always, expect nothing but quality from Smackola and anything Dirty Wormz affiliated.

-chief

Breaking Frames :: Retr0gRaDe’s ‘Tribal Bounce’ Video Debuts

Austin-based hip-hop dynamite duo Retr0gRaDe made waves in 2016 when they dropped their self-titled debut album.  Now, fresh into 2017, the group has dropped their first video.  Tribal Bounce finds the fellas (with an assist from Clifton Dukes) going off over a visually stimulating, slightly psychedelic framework, reminiscent of the Scenario or Return of the Boom Bap classic videos.  Definitely super dope.  Like it, share it, and make sure to keep an eye out for more from these cats.

-chief

Bars Galore :: ‘#REALESTMC CYPHER PT III (Austin TX)’ Unleashed

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I love lyrics.  No matter the musical genre, if you can put some words together in a way that catches my attention, you’ve got me 1000%.  This is one of the things that gets me hype about Jay Mackall‘s #REALEST CYPHER (Austin TX) series.  Not only have I come to expect top notch bars from these cyphers, but it’s doubly assuring to know these cats represent where I’m from.  The sequel to the sequel includes George Vondoom, Syndicate Same Ol, Charlie Rock, Dub Fresh and Black Haze.  Enjoy, share, like and support local!

-chief