Category Archives: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Album reviews.

Wired In :: Trieyevision Unleashes ‘#DataGang’ On The Listening Public

Posted on April 30, 2018 | Leave a comment

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When it comes to forward thinking sonically, there are a handful of Texas-based artists that always keep things interesting.  A contingent of these artists have collaborated under the umbrella name of Trieyevision to drop a boom-bap blitzkrieg known as #DataGang.  The lineup consists of Persephone, 7LayerOscillator, Black Davinciii, Tony Dark, mlcbr and Deerail, and the stimulation comes non-stop on this one.  The tracks are unique, and the lyrics have substance, making this 5 song collection’s whole greater than the sum of its parts.  Definitely one worth putting on your radar and spreading 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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Lucid Dreamscapes :: Chief And TheDoomsdayDevice Officially Releases ‘This Town Has Turned To Dust’

Posted on April 27, 2018 | Leave a comment

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After a two year span of personal growth and focus on film, Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice has returned to his music-making roots with the latest beat tape (for lack of a better word), This Town Has Turned To Dust.  The project was inspired by a Rod Serling episode of Playhouse 90 with a nearly similar name that focused on the fallout of the Emmitt Till lynching.  The album itself is meant to flow similar to the film Waking Life, using production by Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice in tandem with a litany of film samples to give the impression of floating from one train of thought to the next.  The project is not only deeply personal (almost as much as the upcoming rap release A Memoir Called Noir), it also serves as a defined signpost (no pun intended) for the transition between music and film that Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice is undergoing currently.  Check it out at Bandcamp or any of your other favorite online outlets, as it is available in every streaming service or digital storefront, and be sure to tell your friends to do the same.

-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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Rapid Fire :: 5-D And Bronze Whale Unveil ‘Shrubbery’

Posted on April 25, 2018 | Leave a comment

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SubKulture Patriots clearly left an indelible mark on the Texas hip-hop scene, and the waves of their creation continue to have impact to this day.  Case in point is the recent offshoot group known as 5-D (RuDi Devino and HBZ).  Together with producer Bronze Whale, the crew is set to make some noise that may cross genre boundaries in a way that is sorely needed right now for the hip-hop culture to continue to thrive.  Shrubbery is an uptempo ode to everyone’s favorite downer, laced with a bit of lyrical gymnastics to give it heavy replay value.  I’m definitely looking forward to integrating this one into mixes, and you should be getting your like/comment/share on so that 5-D and like-minded groups can thrive.

-chief

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

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Wild Style :: PNTHN And Jeffrey Garcia Team Up Once Again For ‘Chrome’

Posted on April 24, 2018 | Leave a comment

Chrome is not the first time that Jeffrey Garcia has directed a video for PNTHN, but so much has happened for both camps since their last collaboration that Chrome serves as exhibit A for evidence of growth.  Garcia has become an award-winning short film director, slowly working his way through the independent festival circuit in the search for a big opportunity.  PNTHN has taken their potential energy and turned it into tons of exposure and many chances to rock for crowds all over Texas.  Chrome could serve as the first true statement video for PNTHN in the wake of their new-found success, and as another wonderful notch in Garcia‘s creative belt.  Definitely spread this one around, as everyone involved deserves the love this one is getting.

-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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Thankful Days :: Virgil Wolfe And Punk With A Camera Visually Express ‘Gratitude’

Posted on April 18, 2018 | Leave a comment

Virgil Wolfe brought the musical vision, Punk With A Camera brought what it took to capture the vision in music video form, and Rib Fest Records helped make it all possible.  The result is a testimonial style slice of life in the form of Gratitude, where we find Wolfe reflecting on all things big and small worth pointing out, because all of this shaped him into the man he is today.  Punk With A Camera helps make everything easy to relate to, keeping the environments grounded rather than forcing Wolfe to posture like someone he is not.  These are the kind of videos that both resonate good vibes and help you unlock your ability to do the same.  Give it a like, a share and a comment, and keep supporting your favorite indie creators.

-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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Inspired Intertextuality :: Kal.Kal And Alcoda Combine For ‘The Authoritative Kal.Kal. And Alcoda’

Posted on April 11, 2018 | Leave a comment

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There’s something special about inspiration and homage in the creative world that can inform an artist in ways that result in beautiful creations.  I’m not sure what has caused the recent spike in style influenced by the old comic strips of Calvin & Hobbes (honestly, my love for the strip has never waned), but the results have been some of the most wonderfully forward thinking yet nostalgia-inducing projects of late.  One of the latest is the mesmerizing The Authoritative Kal.Kal and Alcoda, a collection of downtempo gems from producers Kal.Kal and Alcoda (with a lovely album cover by De’Angelo Galvan).  Grab your favorite Calvin & Hobbes anthology, your headphones, and dive headfirst into this one.

-chief

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Real Talk :: The Negro Problem Podcast Comes To An End… For Now

Posted on April 6, 2018 | Leave a comment

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All good things must come to an end.  Taji, Ryan and Cody, the team behind The Negro Problem podcast, recently had to face this fact as they gathered for what seems like the last time for the unforeseeable future.  No spoilers here though… in order to find out why they’ve come to the end of the road, and to find out what the future holds for each member of the team, you’ll have to tune in for yourself.

-chief

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Heavy Hearts :: Conwaythewhale Stops By KTSW 89.9 Studio C Sessions

Posted on April 5, 2018 | Leave a comment

Evolution is a natural part of dedicated creation.  Take Conwaythewhale, for example.  Upon their inception, the band was just a duo, albeit a powerful one.  Due to life circumstances and other creative obligations, what started as a raw musical confessional turned into a full-fledged power packed sonic testimonial, backed by a traditional full band.  What has not changed, however, is the cutting honesty and pure emotion of singer/songwriter Justin Conway.  The band stopped by KTSW 89.9‘s acclaimed Studio C Sessions recently, and their performance of John Locke was extremely touching, especially for those of us that have spent any time over the last 5 years or so in the San Marcos area.  Check it out, share it around, and be sure to give it a like and/or leave a comment.  Support college radio and local artists!

-chief

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Viral Vibes :: Shelly Knicks Drops ‘Internet Rapper’ Video

Posted on April 4, 2018 | Leave a comment

Texas-based hip-hop artist Shelly Knicks packs a powerful punch in just under 2 minutes with his latest single, Internet Rapper.  The song is a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek look at how the internet can skew perspectives and inflate egos in subtle but powerful ways.  The video has a slightly off-kilter vibe to it with the color grading used, the computer style text and word bubbles, and even the meme-like behavior conveyed by Knicks and crew.  The video is a dope one for sure, so give it that like, share and comment treatment it deserves.

-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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Carpe Diem :: Pleasure Venom Release Music Video For ‘Seize’ To Instant Critical Acclaim

Posted on March 20, 2018 | Leave a comment

As a working, touring band trying to get ahead in an over-saturated game, there is a sense of accomplishment to be felt whenever you complete a creative endeavor such as a music video or an album.  At best, you hope that your blood, sweat and tears are recognized by a handful of appreciative folks.  Sometimes, as in the case of Pleasure Venom and their newest video/single Seize, you put in that work, and then a publication like Afropunk gives you props and posts about it, giving you a bit more incentive to keep doing your thing.  I’m happy for Pleasure Venom, as it’s always nice to see those that deserve recognition get it.  They’ve been on quite the tear closing out 2017 and leading into 2018, so give the video a like and a share, drop a comment, and subscribe to the channel for all of the latest Pleasure Venom haps.

-chief

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