Category Archives: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Album reviews.

Doomsday Desire :: Chief And TheDoomsdayDevice Release ‘Carte Blance DuBois’ Single

Posted on September 19, 2019 | Leave a comment

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You already know what it is… Day For Night is right around the corner, so naturally we’ve got to release a single or two from the Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice camp.  First up is Carte Blanche DuBois, a statement about keeping your integrity in check and forward moving in a time when all but integrity seems to matter.  This track, like the rest of the EP, is self-produced, and I even decided to dust off the turntables for the hook.  I’m very excited about the project, so stay tuned for a follow-up single in the next week or so, and the full EP in mid-October, more than likely.  Definitely share Carte Blance DuBois around, leave a like and a comment, and support your local creatives!

-chief

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

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Double Dive :: SiCK THoTS And Poolboi Blu Reconnect For ‘Easside’

Posted on September 17, 2019 | Leave a comment

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What happens when you connect musically, and it sounds dope?  Naturally, you do it again.  Funny enough, SiCK THoTS and poolboi blu must agree, because they recently dropped dual singles in support of their respective projects.  Nites and Weekends showcased the range that will be found on poolboi‘s upcoming project DIXIE, and it seems like SiCK THoTS convinced the homie to collab on Easside, their latest single.  The song is a laid-back powerhouse, perfectly capturing the feeling of kicking it late night in East Austin, be it a good or bad night.  I feel like this one is going to get a lot of play from me, especially while I’m on the road, so do yourself a favor and check it out on your favorite streaming service as well.

-chief

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

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Poolboi’s Game :: Poolboi Blu Drops ‘ENDER’ Single

Posted on September 16, 2019 | Leave a comment

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poolboi blu‘s latest single may be titled Ender, but he’s certainly not playing any games.  His last single showed range, but Ender is a display of growth in terms of poolboi‘s lyrical content and delivery.  With each rap song the homie releases, I see the confidence and skill growing, and I’m all here for it.  Keep your eyes open for DIXIE, because it’s definitely going to be a banger and a half.  Go check out Ender on your favorite streaming service, and encourage others to do the same.

-chief

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

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Live Direct :: Virgil Wolfe Captures Live Chief And TheDoomsdayDevice Performance Of ‘Just To Be Clear’

Posted on September 11, 2019 | Leave a comment

This past weekend, I took part in The Wild Rumpus 48, a monthly event curated by Grid Squid Entertainment that is currently held at Kiva Lounge & Bar in San Marcos.  The homie Virgil Wolfe was in attendance, and after rocking a spur of the moment set, he was gracious enough to capture my performance of Just To Be Clear, the last single I’ve released from most recent collaborative effort with Lo Phi, Uncanny Valley.  I almost got through the whole thing, but a slight (hilarious) distraction in the audience caused me to take a freestyling detour to wrap things up.  Definitely happy this one was captured, however, as it’s been a while since I’ve seen myself on stage.

-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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Street Spirit :: Dowrong Gets Real With ‘Trap On Wheels’

Posted on September 9, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Austin-based rapper Dowrong has been on the scene for a number of years making noise, and like many in 2019, it seems like he’s intent on raising his creative bar in all aspects.  Trap on Wheels, his latest release, has more heart in four songs than many artists can achieve in a traditional length LP, both in terms of the way Dowrong spits and what is being said.  His energy is high throughout, but his style shifts from song to song, fitting each bit of production perfectly and infectiously.  Be it the hypnotic nature of Trap Phone, the organic sounds integrated into I Stay Down, the wall of sound that is G.O.O.N., or the assault on the senses found on In The Streets, there’s something for everyone on Trap on Wheels, so find and stream it on your favorite streaming service sooner than later, and share it around for others to do the same.

-chief

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

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Tenacious Types :: 5-D Drops ‘D-Up’ Single

Posted on August 30, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Austin supergroup SubKulture Patriots may not be active these days, but don’t sleep on the individual members of the crew, as many of them continue to put in work.  One of the most active members has been RuDi Devino, who along with fellow MC HBZ and producer Solar Shield has formed a formidable crew of their own, 5-D (DoubleDeuceDuoDuplicateDeluxe).  Their latest single, D-Up, is a summer jam in every sense of the definition… monster beat (courtesy of the homie Mikulak), infectious energy, high-level and clever bars, and a chorus that you can sing along to that gets you as amped as the chorus originators.  In all honesty, I’m hoping the cats drop a video for this one, because there are plenty of Austin beatmakers and MCs I could see making court cameos.  This one is a banger for sure, so put it in your rotation, share it around, and encourage others to do the same.

-chief

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Living Tribute :: Ben Buck Embodies A Bygone Era Via ‘Checkmate’ Single

Posted on August 29, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Hip-hop is currently in a phase where the generational divide is greater than it ever has been, meaning vital elements of a once rich and thriving culture have been pushed aside in the name of innovation and redefinition.  There were times, however, that hip-hop managed to broaden it’s scope while simultaneously enriching the culture and bringing in new skills to the existing elements, and this growth was mainly due to the way that new acts and participants embraced and pushed these elements forward.  Thankfully, this aspect of hip-hop is not completely extinct, as Ben Buck demonstrates on a daily basis.  His latest single, Checkmate, echoes back to a time in the early 1990s where hip-hop reached a true mainstream and underground harmonic tipping point : raw rap over high level production (shout out to UGGO for the monster beat), overlooked elements of the culture showcased (Ben Buck‘s prolific beatbox skills), braggadocios and self-validating lyrics, and most important of all, raw energy focused squarely at the listeners’ hearts and minds.  These single releases by Ben Buck have me hype about what the upcoming full length holds in store, so I’ll definitely keep all of you in the loop once it hits.  In the meantime, check out Checkmate on your favorite streaming service, and always support your local creatives!

-chief

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Therapeutic Movement :: Curbside Jones Moves Bodies And Spirits With ‘Let’s Be Clear’

Posted on August 26, 2019 | Leave a comment

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If the motto of an age that has passed on was ‘ignorance is bliss’, then maybe we should adopt a new one in our age of information and social media : ‘clarity is bliss’.  It appears that Curbside Jones may agree with me, as the topic and title of his latest genre-shifting single mirror my sentiments via the statement Let’s Be Clear.  Curbside Jones puts it beautifully in the song’s liner notes :

“Let’s Be Clear was created after multiple thoughts and conversations about how my generations treats relationships; romantic and recreational.  We tend to expect more than we give and we often have a hard time understanding where we stand with people.  These feelings could be linked to the online culture we have adopted or just a lack of empathy.  When these feelings go unchecked we end up with a sense of entitlement to others time and energy.”

Amen to that… we must realize that all communication, spoken, written or otherwise, leaves an impression and makes an impact on those around us.

As for Let’s Be Clear, it’s the lead single off of the upcoming EP Kwamé Vol.1, and if this is an indication of Curbside Jones stretching his creative wings, I will definitely be here to reap the benefits of those results.  Check out the track, share it around, and cop it if you’ve got a spare buck lying around.

-chief

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

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Funky Dividends :: ‘BMF (Big Money Facts)’ Visualized By Clova And $outh$ide Hippie

Posted on August 23, 2019 | Leave a comment

Anyone who steps away from the visual for BMG (Big Money Facts) by Clova and $outh$ide Hippie (beautifully put together by Big&Little Productions) unclear of what motivates the duo may need their head checked.  The Austin-based hip-hop duo make it pretty straight forward in both their lyrics and the visuals that accompany them… money is the major motivating factor, and they are not ashamed to stand behind that.  Rap life is lived to the fullest in this visual, with the studio session blasting the track, plenty of drink and smoke to go around, homies paying surprise visits (Austin modern day legend Sertified, in this case), and money raining from the sky to drive it all home.  This one is solid and straightforward, to great effect if I say so myself, so let’s all get behind it by liking the vid, leaving a comment, and sharing it around for others to do the same!

-chief

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

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Taste Makers :: NextGang And Breadshots Link Up For ‘0001’ Visual

Posted on August 20, 2019 | Leave a comment

Austin has always had a hip-hop scene, be it focused upon or marginalized, but lately it’s shown levels of diversity that truly validate the strength of the scene.  For an instant example of that diversity, one should look no further than the Breadshots directed visual for NextGang‘s latest, 0001.  The crew, consisting of SheLovesLyrik, ImYoungin, The Teeta and Seas, put it best in the video description :

‘The very rare legendary NextGang links up with infamous Breadshots to film a lyrical gumbo that captivates listeners with variations of cadences and styles cohesively blended to cater many genres of Hip Hop wit.’

Honestly, I’d have to agree.  On top of that, the transitions and visual trickery employed by Breadshots keep things lively, showcasing both his skill as a director/editor and the unique style of each MC.  Check this one out, share it around, and leave a comment if you dig it!

-chief

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