Category Archives: Spotlight

Artists of all varieties that I know and work with.

Consumer Products :: Juicy The Emissary Gets Down On ‘Attention Kmart Choppers’

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Most of us familiar with the internet know how the first part of this story goes.  K-Mart used to play muzak in their stores.  A former employee took a look behind his local store’s customer service desk to check out the sound system, and he found some old cassettes featuring said muzak.  He collected them over time, uploaded an archive of them to the internet many years later, and the internet’s viral nature took care of the rest.

Many producers, myself included, marked that page as something to revisit, comb through and eventually mine for production material.  Lots of us talk, but action speaks louder than words, and Juicy the Emissary is a man of action.  He created a collection of beats from these lost tapes that would easily make me spend all of my time and money in whatever vestiges of Kmart are left in the US.  Attention K Mart Choppers is definitely worth your time and money… support creative cats doing creative things!

-chief

Standup Man :: Trae Crane + Lyrical Lemonade Drop ‘On My Own’ Video

My main man Click-Clack is constantly on point when it comes to knowing who is who and what’s what in the Austin hip-hop scene.  He recently threw out props to Austin-native Trae Crane‘s recent video for On My Own, and I instantly knew it was getting posted to the blog.  The song is catchy af, and the video (produced by Cole Bennett) is a standout without being overly flashy.  Chicago-based Lyrical Lemonade has gotten behind this piece, and the numbers show it… quality music, pushed properly, can make an impact.  Share it, like it, and keep supporting our scene(s)!

-chief

Hit Parade :: The Teeta Drops Another Stunning Visual With ‘Mood Swings’

Consistency is an important yet often overlooked trait when it comes to building your brand.  In hip hop, being consistently dope is one surefire way to set yourself ahead of the rest.  If there’s one cat in Austin that is 100% on the consistently dope list, it’s The Teeta.  Not only does he drop standout music that most others emulate with minimal success, but when he puts video to these tunes, he takes things to a completely new level.  Mood Swings is no exception, bringing all of the trademarks you’d expect for a video from The Teeta : trippy aesthetic, hip hop tropes turned slightly on their ear, and plenty of swag without giving a damn who notices.  The run has been legendary, and here’s to hoping it continues trending upward.

-chief

Good Combinations :: NGHT HCKLRS + FOCI + Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice Bombard Swan Dive

As September drew to an end, a show was scheduled at Swan Dive involving NGHT HCKLRS and BLXPLTN.  Recently, NGHT HCKLRS has been known to collab with various MCs across the spectrum of Austin hip hop.  On this particular night, the Fragments of a Conscious Eye (FOCI) crew were in the house, as was Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice (myself), and of course NGHT HCKLRS decided to set if off.  FOCI especially came with it on the evening, as their usually energy boost hit the crowd perfectly, and Ben Buck‘s split second decision to beatbox during his freestyle combined beautifully with what NGHT HCKLRS were throwing out there.  If you catch word all of these elements will be in the same building again anytime soon, don’t front.

-chief

Soulful Sounds :: hERON Releases Self-Titled Debut

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My man Progeny has been big-upping Rob Castro for ages, well before he even made it known that he would eventually be moving up to Seattle for full-time collaboration.  The two had collaborated on Ghost Palace music in the past, but there was always a sense that something else was brewing just below the surface.  Enter hERON, and the self-titled debut album… this instrumental project takes you on a real trip through some ethereal planes.  Every groove is on point, and the songs stand alone well while also holding up the entire project as a collective thought.  I highly recommend supporting these guys in hopes that there is more dopeness in store for all of us.

-chief

Smokers Anthem :: Branden Rex Drops Visuals For ‘Weed In The Bathroom’

I’m sure many of us have done it before… wherever the party is going down, there’s usually a party inside that party that the well-informed are partaking in.  Branden Rex, over an extremely live track, drops science on the science of getting lifted in the venue, and the music video is another top notch offering.  The creative run that Branden Rex is on with the Black & White Hipster release is awe-inspiring, and Weed In The Bathroom only drives that home further.  I hope that visuals are released for the lion’s share of this project, as the three that have seen daylight thus far are extremely dope.

-chief

Another One :: Notes Floats Releases ‘Lightning Butter’ On Your Eardrums

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You already know what it is when it comes to the mad genius Notes Floats.  If there were a contest for hardest working man in Austin hip-hop, Notes Floats would hands down be a finalist.  His latest project, LIGHTNING BUTTER, is another sure shot in a catalog full of standout work.  Dude has the touch on the beats and the lyrics, and his covers are either extremely compelling or hilarious.  Cop this one, and keep your eyes and ears open, because word on the street is that he’s already in the studio working on a full length.

-chief

Beat Machine :: Ben Buck’s ‘Boom Bap (Summer Beat Tape)’

Some people live and breathe hip hop… it exists in every fiber of their being.  MC, producer and beatbox artist Ben Buck is one of that gigantic faithful, and he proves it on pretty much a daily basis.  His latest evidence is his recently released Ben Buck Boom Bap (Summer Beat Tape), his latest collection of tracks that have yet to be blessed.  Dude’s production is consistently dope, and this collection is no different.  Dig it and dig it good.

-chief

Diverse Vibes :: 7evenThirty Introduces Listeners To ‘Jentleman Jack’

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Dallas has a large number of MCs and producers who are not afraid to embrace their individuality wholeheartedly.  My latest discovery (and I appear to be late to the party) is MC/producer 7evenThiry of Vintage Noize Records.  I stumbled across his latest release, 7evenThirty is: Jentleman Jack, and the cover alone immediately got my attention… one of those ‘I have to listen to this at least once’-type covers for sure.  The music does not disappoint at all… the music has a newer vibe to it, but the lyrics are full of references, many downright nerdy in the best ways possible.  I’m pretty sure I will be revisiting this album over time, and I will definitely be keeping my ears and eyes open for music videos and more releases.  It’s a name your price release, so why wouldn’t you cop it?  Share it too, and support your local scene.

-chief

Origin Stories :: Crew54 & CientifiQ Drop Visuals For ‘DAE1NZ’

As a crew, Crew54 is a dangerous outfit, equally efficient at both dope bars and dope video content.  Their latest offering is for the latest single (and straight banger) DAE1NZ, and the video is that raw style that we’ve been missing lately… dope locations, dope editing, dope performance footage, and a clean presentation.  This one is racking up likes quick, but it’s not too late to add your like to it… maybe a share or a comment, even a subscribe, because the heat is gonna keep coming from these guys.

-chief