Category Archives: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Album reviews.

Triple Down :: THREE HEADED DRAGON Debuts With ‘STAND ALONE DIFFERENT’

Posted on August 16, 2019 | Leave a comment

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EVOLVE is back at it again, and this time he has a crew with him… with the assistance of fellow MCs (and professed brothers) Mic Melt and Palmleaf, the culture has been blessed with THREE HEADED DRAGON, a lyrical conglomerate ill enough to stand up to comparison with the greats.  Their debut, STAND ALONE DIFFERENT, is an immediate testament to this statement, as it somehow manages to display each MCs’ unique style while still flowing as a coherent whole.  The producer list is vast, with input  from TRYSTYL, Remy Cosmo, John Henry, Billy Young, Tankwon and Stay Busy, Ill Fisto, IBE Hustles, ? and Phonolit, plus cuts on a cut by SWAB, but as stated before, there are no dips in quality or slow, uninteresting moments… every songs guides the listener through its world, and then hands off the listener to the next one in line until we are left with silence and hopes for more.  This one is dope, so don’t sleep.  Check it out, share it around, and support by copping a digi version, or some of that physical merch, or maybe even both!

-chief

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Rising Swag :: Poolboi Blu Hits Double Digits With ‘Sincere (Volume 010)’

Posted on August 14, 2019 | Leave a comment

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You already know what it is… sincere(volume010) is officially live over at s i n c e r e R A D I O thanks to my main man poolboi blu.  Now that we’re officially in double digit territory, it sounds like poolboi blu is showing just a bit more flex in his song selection… the normal dynamic ranges of mellow to body moving are still present, but the lyrics in the song selection show just a bit more urgency than normal, and DEFINITELY are showing a whole lot more in terms of putting a foot down.  The theme for this round is definitely about recognition and making an imprint in the game, locally or otherwise, and in all honesty, poolboi deserves mad recognition.  Check out sincere(volume010), leave a comment, and share it around for others to do the same.

-chief

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Clout Talk :: Ben Buck Stepping Out On ‘Spirits’ Single

Posted on August 12, 2019 | Leave a comment

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When it comes to street buzz backed up by real skill, Ben Buck has to be at the top of any list of Austin MCs you make.  For the last couple of years, his hustle has been impossible to ignore, and on his latest single Spirits, we got not only a brief oral history of this experience, but a dual demonstration of growth as a recording artist and confidence in his skill level… the latter of which is ironic, as Ben Buck was never one to doubt his skills.  Flobama easily matches Buck‘s energy and urgency with his production, making the testament that they will ‘break y’all’s spirits if  you fake that realness’ one with real weight to it.  This song has the makings of being both a mixtape and live show staple, so check it out, leave a comment, and share it around for others to get familiar with.

-chief

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Rising Doom :: Kal.Kal Explores New Ground With ‘Cliff’ Single

Posted on August 9, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Kal.Kal is back at it again, this time getting heavy in the studio putting together his upcoming project (a Doom Patrol-themed instrumental album).  The first single, Cliff, finds us deep in Kal.Kal‘s signature textured rhythms, but this time the sound has a much heavier and industrial feel to it.  Add to this mixture the guitar-work of Alcoda, and a crazy cover by Ozymandias’ Dream, and you’ve got a lasting first impression for what promises to be a wonderful sonic departure by Kal.Kal.  Definitely leave a comment on this track and share it around so others can bask in this sonic goodness.

-chief

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Group Therapy :: Hermit Kingdom Ends Their Silence, Releases Debut Album ‘TAROT’

Posted on August 7, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Back when Austin Mic Exchange was really going strong was when I was first introduced to Hermit Kingdom.  As a product of listening to mid-1980s through mid-1990s hip-hop, I’ve always had an affinity for the group dynamic, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better group in the Austin area at the time than the combination of Philos, Mugger and Flobama.  After a few years blazing stages in Austin and on the East Coast, the group took to the studio for a productive, self-imposed exile that has resulted in their debut LP TAROT.  The rawness that the group was known for is still present in their sound, but there is a maturity to the presentation of this project that shows the wait was clearly well worth it.  The album comes on the verge of more changes within the world of Hermit Kingdom, but it’s my opinion that the project might just be strong enough to sustain another brief disappearance from the group.  This album is best enjoyed diving in without too much direction, so I definitely encourage you to do so… maybe even share it around, drop a few bucks and cop it, and ALWAYS support your local creatives.

-chief

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False Phases :: MC Homeless Drops Remix For ‘The Depression Swag’

Posted on August 6, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Later this month, MC Homeless has plans on dropping a bomb in the form of a remix EP for his recent release Sex & Death.  The album has quite the cast for such a tight-knit collection of songs : Guerilla Ghost, C Money Burns and the legendary Riddlore pull up for production duties, while Bad Graphics Ghost, Rozanne Combs and the prolific AWOL ONE drop guest verses.  The album is currently up for pre-order, and your reservation gets you the Guerilla Ghost remix of The Depression Swag in all of its electronically lush glory.  Definitely support this project by pre-ordering and encouraging others to do the same, which allows MC Homeless and cats of his ilk to continue blurring the boundaries and limitations created by staunch genre application.

-chief

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Party Favors :: Casino & Sertified Visualize For ‘Roll It Up’

Posted on July 31, 2019 | Leave a comment

Austin is no stranger to the loud, to the point where if you were to create a smoker’s anthem, there are more than enough candidates to pair up.  Two of the latest entrants are Casino and Sertified, and with their quick, laid back offering that is Roll It Up, they’ve certainly made a strong play for having the current frontrunner.  With the help of Nvision Media‘s Eric Sattler, Happy Clouds Smoke Shop, and a handful of cameos from Austin creatives, the duo made a memorable video centered around throwing a smoker’s delight style party in the ideal location.  Check out the video, leave a like and a comment, and share 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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Money Moves :: Blackillac Drops ‘Shoebox’ Single, ‘Meet The Blacks’ Blog

Posted on July 29, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Blackillac is most certainly a force to be reckoned with, and it doesn’t take much research to solidify that fact.  Exhibit A can be found in their latest single, SHOEBOX, a slow banger letting folks know that the come up is very real (monetarily and creatively).  The duo, along with guest MC 300 LBS of Guwop, drop the aforementioned knowledge over a drone-y, bass heavy track that hypnotizes the listener.  Aside from taking time in the studio, the crew has also been out on the road heavy… check out the Meet The Blacks vlog, where the first episode focuses on their time with Dew Tour 2019 :

If you like what you’re seeing or hearing, be sure to follow these cats, because this is clearly just the beginning of the journey.  Knowing Blackillac and their work ethic, it’s almost guaranteed that good things are in store for them.

-chief

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Exchanging Ideas :: Clemits And More Bless CCFridays

Posted on July 25, 2019 | Leave a comment

CCFridays is filling a very important void in the Austin hip-hop community : a space for up and coming artists to get stage time under their belt and hone their craft while working out ideas.  Held every first and third Friday at The Exchange, the event gives an open mic atmosphere for performers to share songs, and in the case of this particular night, Austin-based stronghold Clemits performed a set.  Working my own Friday residency makes it hard to check out events like this, but if you find yourself in Austin on the proper night, definitely go check it out.

-chief

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Loco Motion :: Notes Floats Keeps It Going With ‘FULL STEAM AHEAD’

Posted on July 22, 2019 | Leave a comment

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With two-plus decades in the rap game, it’s nuts how consistently fresh that Notes Floats is able to continue to be with each new release.  His latest project, FULL STEAM AHEAD, has all the earmarks that we’ve come to know and love from a Notes Floats project : funk-laden production with a quirky edge, humorous and witty lines with an acute sharpness to them, a focus that is not lost in the humor, and quality guest verses, this time from the likes of Gorilla Monk, and Devo.  This album also has a running theme of trains throughout, including a free-form sonic, poetic exploration to close out the proceedings.  If you dug the Triple Dang Snap single, then buckle up for a memorable ride.

-chief

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