Category Archives: Underground Me Now

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Beyond Measure :: Cha’Keeta B Releases ‘2Incomparable’ EP

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After a successful video release last year for 2 Can Play That GameAustin-based emcee Cha’Keeta B steps into the release realm with a new EP, 2Incomparable.  Cha’Keeta B does a wonderful job of laying down empowering thoughts and observations with supreme confidence and delivery.  The production is on-point throughout the project, and guest appearances from Cat CarterLakreaNubia Emmon and Alesia Lani help round out the empowerment stance found on the album.  Cha’keeta B reminds me of newer female emcees such as Rhapsody, no doubt, but her voice is also reminiscent of Neb Luv from The 5 Footaz, both in her rhyme schemes and timbre.  This is definitely a strong way to start 2018… be sure to listen, share and support Cha’Keeta B in this venture, and always give props to your local artists.

-chief

Preemptive Strike :: Chief And TheDoomsdayDevice Releases Lead Singles From ‘A Memoir Called Noir’

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One of the purest senses of joy I experience is releasing new art into the world.  It’s been since late 2015 that I released any music, one of the longest gaps in my music making career.  I spent 2016 recovering from a wave of personal setbacks, and 2017 was focused on getting momentum going in my film career.  During both of those years, however, I never stopped writing, and as Fall of 2017 approached, I was beginning to form my upcoming release : A Memoir Called Noir.

Recording has gone smoothly, and I am now in the process of mixing songs while I wait for a handful of guest verses to arrive.  In the meantime, I thought I would begin the promotional rollout, hence the release of the lead singles : Kickstart, a song about personal responsibility in the light of an ever-changing world; and Fifth Estate Amendment, a song about learning to be a wise risk-taker.  These are extremely simplified explanations, but hopefully, you will be able to make your own connections to the material.  Expect A Memoir Called Noir no later than March, hopefully, and then be on the lookout for the instrumental album also to be released in 2018, This Town Has Turned To Dust.

-chief

More Sincere :: ‘Sincere (Volume 002)’ By Poolboi Blu Now Available

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As poolboi blu‘s notoriety as a DJ and producer has risen, and as he clocks more and more time performing live, his confidence as an artist has grown.  Even though the gap between sincere (volume 001) and sincere (volume 002) has not been a large one, the growth in execution and song selection is noticeable.  sincere (volume 002) is a more upbeat affair, but it does not let up one bit on the thought-provoking and heart-wrenching nature of the songs selected.  These are the kind of songs you dance to upon initial listen, and reflect upon once you become familiar with them.  Hopefully, the volumes keep coming, as the first two have been stellar.

-chief

Scary Hours :: Cunabear Presents ‘Sidequest 01’

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Virgil Wolfe has proven to be not only a man of considerable talent, but a man of good taste as well.  If he recommends a piece of music, it is definitely not meant to be taken lightly.  When he recently posted about sidequest 01, a project from Savanna, Georgia-based cunabear, I was so fascinated by the cover art that I had to listen.  Needless to say, I was not disappointed.  The music is as textured and mysterious as the album cover, and the beats take you to some very distinct places in regards of mood.  Definitely top notch work.

-chief

Branching Out :: More Eaze Lays Foundation For ‘Hard Fun’ Record Label

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Austin-based experimental folk artist More Eaze seemed to spend much of last year making efforts to branch out and explore new ideas, new roles and new connections.  After a handful of releases to round out 2017, More Eaze has opened 2018 with the creation of a new record label, Hard Fun.  Strictly digital (for the moment), the label’s initial group of releases shows a solid diversity right out of the gate.  Dane Rousay‘s of SIRI is a free-jazz experimental monster… Bear Club‘s Waking Up The Light covers the pop and indie rock spectrum… and two collaborative efforts from More Eaze (a split with real life rock and roll band and a pairing with Derek Rogers) round out the inauguration day catalog.  Knowing the love for music that More Eaze has, I am excited to see what comes of this label.

-chief

Master Crafting :: Bern Ichus Goes Public With The Beats On ‘Yasuaki’

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As 2017 came to a close, Austin-based MC Bern Ichus (one half of Homeroom) made it clear that he was a man obsessed, and had plans for expanding his repertoire.  Already forever hungry for beats to feed his rhyme-writing output, Bern invested in an MPC and immediately went to work.  In a relatively short time, he seems to be getting comfortable with his tools, and after roughly a month he is going public with beats.  The first, Yasuaki, is incredibly textured and mood driven for an early composition, as if it did not need lyrics to exist and would be fine as an instrumental piece.  I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Bern Ichus as he becomes a more confident and skilled producer, because I know for certain that his love for hip-hop will shine through, regardless of what he does.

Skill Share : Ben Buck Drops ‘Beat Tape #5’

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Ben Buck stays working on the beats, rhymes and beatbox output, sometimes to an almost unfathomable degree.  Like clockwork, you can expect Buck to drop new batches of beats every 4-6 weeks or so.  His latest collection, Beat Tape #5, is a collection of mellower offerings than normal.  Most hit around the 90s tempo (beats per minute and era of hip hop), and while a handful still have angular rhythms, most are good for lyrical vibe sessions or smoke sessions.  Props to Ben Buck for his perseverance and dedication to his craft.

-chief

Vigilant Vibes :: Kal.Kal Drops ‘January EP’

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Baytown-based beatsmith kal.kal is becoming a fixture on this blog.  The dude stays hard at work in the lab, and his sound variety is quite awe-inspiring.  Right out of the 2018 gate, kal.kal finds himself experimenting with an electronic based, slightly dancier sound, while still managing to incorporate some of the trademark moods and textures he is becoming known for.  The January EP may be more of a taste-tester project, or possibly it is a sign of the shape of things to come.  Either way, we are certain that there will be more and more coming from kal.kal, and smart people are tuned in.

-chief

Powerful Nostalgia :: Total Sound Group Direction Action Committee Footage From Trophy’s Surfaces

Anyone unfamiliar with the legend of Tim Kerr (especially anyone native to Austin) has some homework to do.  From Big Boys to Lord High Fixers to Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee and more, Kerr has left an indelible mark on his city, punk/rock music, and art as a whole.  Recently, Butcher Bear uncovered some footage of a Trophy’s on South Congress show, and decided to upload it to (in)Sect Record‘s YouTube channel.  As a result, all of us have been blessed with the raw power than was Tim Kerr and his bandmates, and their extremely passionate sound.  Enjoy, share, and let the nostalgia of a simpler and better time take you over.

-chief

Mood Music :: Soda Lillies Release ‘Sleep Reel’

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Sometimes, when you have no power, but you have a need to create, you’ve gotta run an extension cord a few windows down to a neighbor and make something happen.  That’s what Soda Lillies decided to do for Sleep Reel, a collection of lo fi goodness in the vein of Jesus & Mary Chain or My Bloody Valentine.  The sound washes over you, creating a feeling of waves when it comes to the instruments and lyrics.  This one is definitely primed for the headphones, so throw a pair on a dive in.

-chief