Of course Ceschi can take a demeaning situation, like incarceration, and turn it into a light-hearted deep reflection on having your humanity ripped from you. We’re talking Phil Ochs level here… nobody in hip-hop is writing anywhere near this deep. Get hip quick.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight
Tagged ceschi, chief, prison sporks, the doomsday device
Spit Gemz is a rhyme animal. This dude reminds me of everything I love about true school era hip-hop. That Mobb Deep, Bootcamp Click, Def Squad, and so on type hip-hop. Equal parts heart, skill and knowledge. Urban griot type ish. Dig his latest magnum opus, the dope self-produced video for Common Knowledge.
-chief
T Bird & The Breaks are one of the most sincerely funky outfits this side of New Orleans. Their latest release, Harmonizm, has a music video for the title track that shows you exactly what can be done with a little help from your friends. Dig it, and support these cats.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight
Tagged chief, harmonizm, t bird & the breaks, the doomsday device
I don’t think I was fully prepared for how jazzy this track was going to be, first and foremost. Everything about this piece of work is striking… the strong visual styles, the perfectly balanced in its frantic qualities track, or the griot style with which Oliver Grimball weaves the story together in Exploitation Cantata. If you don’t share anything else with your friends today, share this.
-chief
Have you ever wished that Sergio Leone wrote music for a half Tom Waits – half Johnny Cash creation? Wish no more, because Dead Random out of Austin is that and much much more. They recently performed at Lost Well as part of the 2nd Annual Krampusfest, and this live rendition of Prison or a Rose Garden was captured in all of its glory. Check out this performance, and check out more of their music here.
-chief
Ceschi, after a couple of years facing unforseen turmoil, is back stronger than ever. If Elm City Ballad is any indication of what’s to come from Broken Bone Ballads, then we are about to get a level of truth unparalleled in the realms of hip-hop. Then again, Ceschi is closer to folk hero than hip-hop hero.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight
Tagged broken bone ballads, ceschi, chief, elm city ballads, the doomsday device
San Marcos has been an endless wellspring of talent over the years that I have spent there. No matter what kind of musical styling you enjoy, someone (or a group of someones) generally has it nailed.. and they are more than willing to let you be a part of their journey. Here are two entries for NPRs Tiny Desk Contest from two sets of all star acts:
Rock Bottom String Band
Henry + the Invisibles
-chief
Here’s a little something on the smoother side from Austin’s R&B scene. This song is courtesy of soul singer Jake Lloyd, with an assist from songbird Alesia Lani. Love can be a tricky game, but watch how these two navigate themselves through a triangle many of us have been through, all to the tune of a 48 Laws sonic masterpiece of a track. Dig it, share it, and support your local singers.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight
Tagged 48 laws, alesia lani, chief, i.b.u.w.m.g.f., jake lloyd, the doomsday device
Lawjick, one of the emcees from San Antonio hip-hop collective Dead The Poets, has just unleashed one of the best videos I’ve seen out of Texas in a bit. It’s direct, it’s raw as all hell, and it’s got the content to back up the visuals. Get lost in Overlook Hotel, but don’t forget to find your way towards sharing this gem.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight
Tagged chief, dead the poets, lawjick, overlook hotel, the doomsday device
You already know the drill… D.O.S., Crew54, Jamar Equality, production by Ruler Why, and a bunch of guest appearances in the video? Too Raw is exactly that… raw beat, raw bars and raw visuals from the talented cats at DVZN Media. Automatic dopeness.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight
Tagged chief, crew54, d.o.s., dvzn media, jamar equality, ruler why, the doomsday device, too raw
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 