Category Archives: Spotlight

Artists of all varieties that I know and work with.

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

Posted on February 2, 2017 | Leave a comment

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

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

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

Posted on February 1, 2017 | Leave a comment

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

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

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

Posted on January 27, 2017 | Leave a comment

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

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight

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

Posted on January 26, 2017 | Leave a comment

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

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

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Mind Reader :: Kydd Jones Gets ‘Dripped Up’ Dropped

Posted on January 25, 2017 | Leave a comment

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This is some straight up solid work from the man known as Kydd Jones.  Not that his other work hasn’t been on point, but this song, in my humble opinion, is the kind of track that could make the charts right now.  Dripped Up finds Kydd dropping some sparse but strongly delivered bars over his own production, and this beat is moody as hell while still being moving.  Keep on growing, Kydd, and I won’t be surprised if the world is talking about you sooner than later.

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

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Truthful Musings :: Willing + AO Drop ‘Closed Set’

Posted on January 24, 2017 | Leave a comment

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I remember when willing was just showing up at the Austin Mic Exchange and other local hip-hop events, hungry like all of us are, and trying to find his place in the scene.  At first, he had a rapid fire style that was wonderful rich with poetic and referential textures, but over time, willing has honed his style into a very direct approach… well thought word choices and placement, and exploration with lots of depth.  Closed Set, a recent collaboration with producer AO, is a two song streaming set with 6 additional tracks available when downloaded.  Give willing and AO a listen, a share, and some support.

-chief

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

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Throwback Approach :: DDotElles Tints The Track ‘Sepia’

Posted on January 23, 2017 | Leave a comment

If you had to put me on the spot with an Austin hip-hop top five, DDotElles will constantly make that list.  My man is consistently dropping some of the most thought-provoking hip-hop coming out of the south, let alone Austin.  His newest single, Sepia, is certainly not new ground for the last year or so, as ageism and the generational divide has been a hot button topic for hip-hop.  What makes Sepia different, however, is its clever approach to stressing the need for understanding of what came before you and how it allows you to move ahead, among many other points that it stresses.  Props to DDotElles, Arthur Castro and the ill beat by 3Zone$.  Share this, but not until you give it a few deep listens for yourself.

-chief

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

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

Posted on January 21, 2017 | Leave a comment

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 IIIXCTY, Isa 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

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

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

Posted on January 21, 2017 | Leave a comment

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

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

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

Posted on January 20, 2017 | Leave a comment

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

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