Category Archives: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Album reviews.

Indelible Force :: Faylita Hicks Releases ‘Onyx’

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The things that Faylita Hicks has accomplished on the spoken word scene are numerous and valuable enough to give the average person a sense of career and artistic fulfillment.  Like many of my central Texas peers, however, I know Faylita is not satisfied with conquering the obvious, and all of the work she has put in has led her up to the point to transition into something greater.  That being said, the seeds she has planted over the years are coming to fruition in 2019, as a secured distribution deal for her book #Hoodwitch has provided her the opportunity to release a warning shot in the form of Onyx, her latest spoken word release.  A collaboration with producer poolboi blu, the project showcases a handful of poems from #Hoodwitch, which allows us to get a sense of the deeply personal and thought provoking words that Faylita plans to share in her book.  Don’t forget to check out the artwork for the individual tracks as well, especially while taking a moment to read along with the performance on the track.  Trust me, this is one experience you will not want to miss.

-chief

Proximity Warning :: Sounds Of The Underground Drop ‘Move Back’ Video

The Culprit and Mic Trey, collectively known as Sounds of the Underground, are representing the College of Hip-Hop Knowledge and Austin hip-hop perfectly with their latest video and single, Move Back.  An old-school style track with new energy giving it life, Move Back lives and thrives off of the kinetic back and forth between the two emcees, each punctuating the reasons why other cypher dwellers should be wary about putting forth anything less than their best.  The video finds the pairing at the Hope Outdoor Gallery (I believe) and the skate park, spitting venom straight at the camera for all to feel.  This video and song are dope, period point blank.  Share it around, give it a like, leave a comment, and support what CHHK is doing.

-chief

Legend Assist :: EVOLVE Connects With Masta Ace For ‘Far Behind’ Single

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I know a whole lot of cats in the Texas rap game, but only a few have the pull to book legit names.  Chief among these folks is EVOLVE, a raw talent with a penchant for spitting fierce bars, so it’s only fitting that he’d have a legend cut from the same cloth on Far Behind in the form of Masta Ace.  Over a sinister, drum-heavy track by SWAB, the pair lay out plenty of proof about why most emcees find themselves attempting to catch up as the pair continues to forge new ground.  Check out the track, lace EVOLVE with a buck if you’ve got it, and spread the word about this ill collaboration.

-chief

Vessel’s Voice :: Lace Tunes Drops Intimate Video For ‘Who I Am’

When it comes to the numerous hip-hop acts that have come and gone in the central Texas corridor, one of my favorites (and one that left a lasting impression) was Lace Tunes.  His energy is infectious and undeniable and his lyrical content was always heartfelt and honest, and it appears that he has refined all of these characteristics into a laser-sharp focus these days.  Who I Am is a straight-forward and clever confessional over a golden-era style hip-hop track with tons of unique texture to it.  The video is colorful without being overly flashy, and its method matches the no-nonsense delivery implemented by Lace Tunes.  Definitely a solid track and video, and one that’s worth sharing around, liking and commenting on, so be sure to do so!

-chief

These Days :: Pleasure Venom Drops Music Video For ‘Hive’

Pleasure Venom has been on a monstrous run over the course of the past year or so.  They hit the ground running in 2019 with an album release, a handful of music videos and a supporting tour with Garbage, and they don’t appear to be stopping things anytime soon.  Their video for Hive, directed by singer Audrey Campbell and drummer Thomas Valles, is a seemingly innocent single shot ‘day in the life’ style video, but as we all know, looks can be deceiving.  Check out the video, give it a like and a share, and leave a comment to let them know you’re supporting this run!

-chief

Definitive Statement :: Royal Minus And Same Dfrnc Connect With Ruler Why For ‘Conclusive’

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Royal Minus is getting prepped to drop a metric ton of Ruler Why produced heat on us, and I’m ready.  The first single, Conclusive, features a guest verse from Sam Dfrnc, and the two lace the guitar-driven track with a verbal onslaught that true heads will certainly enjoy.  This is the kind of hip-hop that gets you amped up, makes it hard to sit down and relax, and makes your neck sore from the headnods it induces.  A burner for sure, and if it’s an indicator of what’s in store for The Regalia, it appears that all of us are in store for some straight dopeness.  Check out the track, share it around, and leave a comment on your favorite line!

-chief

Primal Scream :: MC Homeless Drops ‘Not A Human’

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MC Homeless has never been one to shy away from his industrial and hardcore roots, even while affixing himself firmly within the world of hip-hop.  While many of his recently released songs and projects wade in the pools of the aforementioned genres, Not A Human is a deep dive with cement boots into both of those worlds.  On top of jarring and aggressive production (in the best ways possible) from Death WoodsMC Homeless unleashes a torrent of a statement about being more than your average man.  This one is definitely for those tired of hearing the same old, run of the mill hip-hop and rap, and I’m totally on board for seeing him do this live in the near future.  Check out the track, share it around, and drop a buck or two when you download it, if you can.

-chief

New Forms :: White Jamal Takes A Swing At Lil’ Uzi Vert’s ‘Rich Forever Leak’

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I’m all for this movement of producers I know taking shots at remixing songs by popular artists.  The latest of these to hit my radar is Lil’ Uzi Vert‘s Rich Forever Leak, a high energy and braggadocios lyrical onslaught that White Jamal laced with an equally high energy, drum heavy track.  The earworm that’s really sticking in my head is the melodic vocal sample that White Jamal loops through the majority of the verse… it’s so hypnotic that you find yourself giving it equal time with the punchlines that Uzi is blessing us with throughout.  I’m definitely putting this one in the mix, as I can already see it being well received by those on the listening end of my DJ sets.  Check it out yourself, share it around, and stay tuned to White Jamal‘s Soundcloud for more production-based releases.

-chief

Today’s Math :: RoyalKingMinus Drops ‘The #’s Vol. 3’

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San Antonio-based MC RoyalKingMinus reached out to me recently to see about some shows in the San Marcos and Austin area, so I did what I do and got him in touch with cats I knew were active.  Then I did something I need to get better at, and asked him what his latest releases were, and GOOD GOD am I glad that I did.  RoyalKingMinus has been hard at work on what he calls The Numbers Series, a series of EPs that deserves a deep dive based on the brief but brilliant The #’s Vol. 3, or at least that’s the case in my experience.  The off-kilter production and rhyme delivery, heavily referential and smart lyrics, and the vocal samples that tie it all together had me wishing for more, and lucky me, there are 3 other entries in the project to check out.  I recommend you do the same, and if you’re in the central Texas area, keep an eye out for RoyalKingMinus later this summer.

-chief

Pace Setter :: New Tunes From Kal.Kal Now Streaming

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Kal.Kal is back at it again on the beat tape tip, it seems.  Not too long ago, he dropped a pair of new tracks : the equal parts hard hitting and airy Ahead, with it’s interesting Secretariat-based vocal sample hiding in its midst; and Settle, the deceptively mellow track that almost immediately amps up the energy while remaining as spacey and airy as its companion counterpart.  I’m always down for the beats that Kal.Kal cooks up, and for him to drop a pair that he feels are Spotify (and the like) levels of quality gives me solace that more work, or perhaps a new release, may be on the way.

-chief