(RAS) Riders Against the Storm are an unmatched duo. They’ve made dance parties wildly relevant in the Austin area with their Body Rock events, and now they’re keeping that heat going with a new single aimed straight at the dance floor. Booty Sweat contains two mixes, and all proceeds go towards helping out the Ballet Afrique Contemporary Dance Company. Go ahead and do your part by sharing and donating, and keep supporting (RAS).
-chief
DVZN Media has been building an incredibly strong portfolio for the last few years. Their latest composition is for CientifiQ‘s single The Science. It features production from Tony Emeraldz, and it is what it sounds like… listen and you just might learn something.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight
Tagged chief, cientifiQ, dvzn media, the doomsday device, tony emeraldz
After releasing the Let’s Go EP on Fort Knox Recordings last year, Qdup returns with a funky collection of tunes featuring some amazing vocalists from Austin, Texas. While Qdup was in Austin DJ’ing at the Art Outside Festival, he linked up with some of Austin’s finest MC’s and the result is the Lone Star EP. The funk flows deep in both Austin and DC and it shows on this strong release.
Qdup and Fort Knox Five have road tested these tunes to assure their dance floor potency at festivals and clubs. The Lone Star EP comes locked and loaded to light up the dance floor.
-chief
from the digital desktop of Willie Green:
“The recent events in Ferguson, Missouri (as well as Staten Island, Beavercreek, Ohio, and Los Angeles) have lifted a veil of comfortable ignorance across this country. The murder of Michael Brown, resultant cover up and egregious treatment of protesters has shown that the perception of Black people in America has changed little since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. Americans live in a country where the oppressed are dehumanized and told to be quiet and gracious about their anger; and where the oppressors are harbored by our government and rewarded by our peers. Where the media warps facts to prove agendas against citizens and digital voices rush to play devil’s advocate to conceal their own bias. These are terrifying statements and not exaggerations. I’m no revolutionary. But I am someone who wants to look his children in the eyes and say when his country showed its worst, he did something.”
-chief
Austin based outfit Denise (formerly known as stickers) recently spent a stint at Eastern Sun Studios exploring the depths of their sound. The result is the very solid 5 song collection Warsh Yer Onezie. Think Metric without the obligatory noise… Chairlift, but with a southern sensibility… check it out for yourselves, because I’m sure you will enjoy it.
-chief
Protextor (P-Tek) of Austin is not only a creative hip-hop artist, he is a creative filmmaker as well. Back in 2010, he created an instillation piece meant to be played as a loop for Toy Joy‘s Art Show. The piece was titled Cycle One, and it was a very creative experiment with non-traditional storytelling…
Later that year, on a rainy day, P-Tek decided to make a music video for his crew The Department of Public Safety‘s latest release, Look Up Motherfucker!! You may recognize an image or two from this expressionistic journey…
-chief
Legendary MC RA the Rugged Man is currently holding a nationwide contest he’s labelled Definition Of A Rap Flow. MC’s are supposed to either submit an audio track or a video over Rugged Man’s Definition of a Rap Flow instrumental, or any other instrumental in his catalog. Austin AMX mainstay Feral the Earthworm has thrown his hat in the ring, and here’s his submission… dig it:
-chief
California independent label snowbroth puts out “smallish editions of experimental hip-hoppy lo-fi”. An offshoot of the Rotifier Cassettes crew, their latest project is a solid beat tape from Houston beatsmith Rez. Dig it, share it, and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged chief, feels, rez, rotifier cassettes, snowbroth, the doomsday device
“FALL (EP)” by Slop Musket
GRADE :: A-
IN A WORD OR TWO :: bold, forward thinking, infinite potential, raw
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THE GOOD :: Slop Musket was already a solid project when MCs anom and Joey Alpha were the lone members, but the addition of a band gives a sonic match to the sense of urgency from the complimentary styles of the two. The rhythm section is on the same page throughout, and the guitar playing may as well be the third MC of the group, if not a Spliff Star or Freaky Tah style hype man. The song Drips and Drops is definitely single material.
THE BAD :: The letter E instead of the letter L in the designation of what the project is. Although this is just a toe in the water of the possibilities that lie before the feet of Slop Musket, it would have been nice to see them expand to a short, 8 song album. With recent appearances on Van’s Warped Tour under their belt, the timing would be perfect to catch as much energy in the studio as possible.
THE UGLY :: Sometimes, our baby pictures get public. We all have to start somewhere, and for what it’s worth, for a first recording on a new project, there are moments of solid execution. Early on, the EP sounds like experiments realized during studio time, but by the second half of the album, the songs sound road tested and more assured. I’m sure when it’s LP time, none of that will be an issue.
THE FINAL WORD :: Slop Musket as a hip-hop outfit was like Mario… possibly even Mario after he’s taken the mushroom. Slop Musket as a band is like Mario with the fire flower, or one of the many awesome incarnations he takes on in the many sequels. It’s nice to see a band evolve so quickly into such a strong direction, and I’m sure that many good things await them.
-chief
KB the Boo Bonic is on the rise… she’s been grinding nonstop in anticipation for her second project, the Farrah Flo$$itt EP. Some bold steps are being taken, and growth is definitely being shown. Don’t sleep, because there’s a good chance she’ll be making noise in the near future.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight
Tagged chief, farrah flo$$itt, kb the boo bonic, the doomsday device
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 