Category Archives: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Album reviews.

Pack Leader :: Curbside Jones Drops ‘Wolves’ Clothing’ EP

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Nothing hits me harder than a well executed concept album.  I’m a casual fan just like anyone else… I dig it when production is going hard and lyrics are clever.  There’s something special, however, about an artist who can take an idea, explore it thoroughly from song to song, and yet have each song be its own entity.  I believe that Curbside Jones has dropped a concept album for the ages with his latest release, Wolves’ Clothing.  A very original take on the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ concept, Curbside Jones gets extremely personal by using the analogy of the timid sheep ‘wearing’ the persona of the wolf.  The smart part is how the analogy is direct, and yet open ended and easy to apply to other concepts, not just the literal imagery being set forth.  Add in some of the hands down dopest cover art I’ve seen in ages, and it seems like we’re dealing with something that will more than likely make many best of lists at the end of the year.  I’d be surprised if it doesn’t make mine.

-chief

 

 

Hidden Gems :: DEFY’d Gives You ‘Nothing For Your Birthday’

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There’s problems, and then there’s good problems.  A problem is when you have every intention of creating music, but you lack the motivation or the opportunities to do so.  A good problem is when your motivation and opportunities are so abundant, that sometimes your musical output goes overlooked by even those who stay checking for it.  The latter would be the case in regards to the homeboy SymmaTree.  Dude stays busy both representing for Grid Squid Entertainment and StereoFiend, so when I came across a post about a project he was in called DEFY’d, I was surprised that I completely missed the boat on it.  nothing for your birthday is the solid first effort from a band, an amalgamation of members from Call Me King and Dancing with Gepetto, as well as the previously mentioned SymmaTree and additional vocalist M.E. Farrell.  It would be easy to classify this project as rock/rap [see the very self-aware (my ears matter) interlude], but that would be doing this collaboration a disservice, as there is something definitely brewing here.  I’ve heard the song Fingertips previously, but it does a nice job of rounding out this debut offering.  I am looking forward to hearing more from DEFY’d, believe that.

-chief

Another Take :: DDotElles Drops ‘EFAdemo:Take3’

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You already know what time it is.  Whenever a new DDotElles anything drops, be it single, video, or especially album, it’s gonna get shine around here.  This cat consistently puts out HIGH quality hip-hop, and in all honestly, should be operating on a much larger scale than he currently is.  I guess all that artists of our caliber can do is keep dropping music and hope that one day the masses catch up.  That being said, EFAdemo:Take3 is truly a project to be proud of.  The album flows damn near seamlessly from track to track as DDotElles provides us with the elements that we become accustomed to hearing on his projects : lyricism on both witty and deeply personal levels, banger production, beautifully chosen guest spots and skits/movie samples to break things up and usher listeners through the project.  This is what hip-hop sounds like in my perfect world.  Share it, support this cat and spread the word.

-chief

 

Making Tracks :: Feral The Earthworm, Vanlife, Vanarchy And DIY Life

If you’ve ever been in need of true inspiration, Austin-based MC Feral The Earthworm is someone you need to look into.  He started off on the scene as a standout among the many wonderful MCs that frequent Austin Mic Exchange, and he was as brutally honest as he was talented.  You knew right from the beginning that he had a vision, and to see this vision manifest has been incredible.

After a DIY tour with Weird CityFeral began the process of eliminating bills and rent from his life in an effort to maximize doing what he loved, which was making music and performing shows.  What began as an idea has turned into his Vanarchy album and his Vanlife movement… he turned an empty van into a living space and a recording studio, and went straight to work on releasing the Vanarchy project:

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If this doesn’t inspire you to chase your dreams and say f-ck it to any obstacle in your way, I don’t know what will.  Mad props to Feral the Earthworm, and here’s to all of the well-deserved success that will hopefully come your way.

-chief

High Alert :: Blastfamous USA Drops Debut EP

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Blastfamous USA is far from the first supergroup out of the Austin music scene, but they’re by far one of the illest and most promising musical connections the scene has seen in quite a while.  NGHT HCKLRS and Zeale Rapz certainly did not need one another, as each of these particular musical projects has seen varied levels of success on their own.  This go-round, however, is proving to be fruitful for all parties involved, especially Zeale Rapz, who was always clever with the wordplay, but is showing a completely genuine edge on these tracks that (in my opinion) has only been hinted at in the past.  As with most banger EPs, I am certainly ready for what the full length project has in store… props to everyone involved in this project.

-chief

Straight Talk :: Ben Al Drops Visuals For ‘In A Min’

Sometimes, being all business can be the best format for getting your point across.  Enter In a Min, the latest video from Austin hip hop mainstay Ben Al.  The video takes a lo-fi approach, catching Ben Al in many familiar places, addressing the camera directly, and giving what equates to a state of the union for him and his stances on life and hip hop.  You know how I do it… I love doing the grounded thing just as much as I do the fantastic approach, and this video/song combo stays so grounded it’s underground by association… that being said, give it a share, a like and a comment, and keep supporting that local hip hop.

-chief

Another One :: Abuzayed The Free’s Session With ‘The Hot Conversation’

Once again, Ovrld comes through with another dynamite edition of The Hot Conversation.  This go-round, Austin MC turned new New Yorker Abuzayed the Free stopped in to talk about her music, her philosophy, and her general outlook on life, among other things.  Lots to digest here, and definitely worth your listens.

-chief

Strange Fiction :: EVOLVE Drops ‘Life’s A…’ Visual

Props to EVOLVE for being both one of the hardest working cats in the game and one of the folks most willing to collaborate with others.  His latest project, in fact, will be a series of collaborative songs with many, many recognizable names in the hip-hop gamut.  The first single, Life’s A…, features Deacon the Villian (of CunninLynguists fame) and JunClassic, and your’s truly was lucky enough to get the call for producing a music video.  ‘Public domain science fiction’ would describe the motif, but believe me, this track is dope.  Check it out, give it a like, and give it a share!

-chief

Forever Fresh :: DJ Baby G’s ‘Bomb-Ass Mixtape’ Vols. 1 & 2 Resurface



1994, my freshman year of high school.  Hip hop had recently turned super gangster, but as a teenager on the fringe of becoming a young man, I already had dreams of partaking in the hip-hop culture in any way that I could find to help sustain the fullness of the culture.  It was right around this time that a homeboy laced me with a DJ Baby G mixtape entitled Bomb-Ass Mixtape 2, and my mind was blown.  I knew a handful of things instantly : I needed turntables and a mixer ASAP, there has to be a Bomb-Ass Mixtape 1 in existence in order for there to be a part 2, and I needed to find out where I could cop these mixtapes and records.  Some pavement work resulted in the discovery of Alien Records (then on 15th street), and the rest was history.  A journey that I am still taking part in was put in motion.  Here we are, almost 25 years later, and these tapes still sound wonderful.  DJ Baby G still gets down behind the ones and twos.  And hip hop is bigger than any of us could have imagined.

-chief

Full Circle :: DJ brimLo & Bavu Blakes Create ‘The Comeback Story’

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From the digital desk of DJ brimLo :

“When DJ brimLo and Bavu Blakes are in the studio together Hip-Hop excellence has been assembled, two turntables and a microphone.  DJ brimLo trades his microphone for the role of the maestro on this project while Bavu provides us the narrative of The Comeback Story.  A good story starts with catastrophic tragedy, and that is the tone of Tick Tock.  The fall is scored in the ballad of Dead to Us.  The vocal stylings of CJ Edwards solidify the emotional foundation.  As we arrive on our title track, Comeback, the dynamic duo really flex their muscles.  Our wordsmith is in full stride as we all know “everybody loves a comeback,” he petitions to us on the Hip-Hop anthem.  Staying true a good narrative, the feeling of overcoming is followed by a lament for a time before the self-destruction.  Reggie Coby sets the tone of Yesterday with a properly penned hook and a swift sixteen.  In a true call and response fashion, TempestB closes the tune with the complimenting counter-chorus.  As a victory lap we get a repeat of the BIG Bright Future three piece ensemble of Bavu Blakes, DJ brimLo and Eric Levels on the closing song, Get Love.  Carefully broken into five significant segments, this EP effectively takes listeners through the emotional trek of a return to one’s better self.”

My two cents, this is definitely worth a listen and a share, and if you’ve got the funds, it’s worth copping.

-chief