Austin-based MCTall Kyle has never been afraid to be himself or speak his mind, but with Mt. Vernon, his latest solo effort, it’s clear that Tall Kyle has reached a level of self-awareness that comes with big wins and big losses. The same vices, passions and inspirations that have always been present in the lyrics of Tall Kyle are definitely there and accounted for, but there is a wisdom and understanding that comes with perspective and humility within the bars now, making each song as revelatory as they are entertaining. Go find this one on your favorite streaming service and run the numbers up, or even better, find it on a digital storefront and buy it. Either way, spread the word, because Tall Kyle blessed us with one of the better offerings of the year, front to back, and it deserves both your time and attention.
The Austin-based College of Hip-Hop Knowledge (CHHK) is really and truly a blessing to the Austin and central Texas hip-hop scene. Every artist in the collective manages to effortlessly straddle the line between innovate sound and classic knowledge dropping, all while maintaining a vast array of individual styles and characteristics. One of the more vocal and high profile members of the crew is the enigmatic Tall Kyle, the kind of cat who will punch you in the eye for disrespecting his third eye. On his latest single Mona Lisa, Tall Kyle manages to draw a line between the confidence in his style and the innumerable influences spanning space and time that lead to the confident being his is today. 2020 may have been a forgettable year for most, but the CHHK has been making the most out of it, and this latest effort from Tall Kyle stands as further proof. Check it out on your favorite streaming service, and spread it around for others to do the same!
Those familiar with the Austin hip-hop scene know to check for any release affiliated with the College of Hip-Hop Knowledge, so when Big Tree 4Real announced his upcoming single and video release for Y’all Got Me Fucked Up, it was more a matter of preparation than wondering. Big Tree‘s super smooth southern drawl and delivery are perfectly paired with Sheff Shmurda‘s mellow banger of a track, and Big Tree‘s self-confident bars on not letting others dictate the quality of your product rings incredibly true. Dig the video, and if you like it, leave a like and a comment, and spread it around for others to do the same.
I’m a week late in sharing this one, but the fifth episode of #DOOMpeerREVIEW took a special focus on Austin‘s own College of Hip-Hop Knowledge (CHHK). From their Austin Hip-Hop Awards cipher down to their extensive catalog of solo and group videos, the talent of the CHHK is undeniable. Enjoy this episode, leave a like and a comment, share it around if you dig it, and stay tuned for future episodes, with more special episodes every fifth release!
The College of Hip-Hop Knowledge (CHHK) continues to come with it in 2020. After releasing a very forward-thinking and looking video for In A Zone, the duo of Sound of the Underground (S.O.T.U.), consisting of MCs The Culprit and Mic Trey, have come together to form a strong project in the form of Cymatics. The production on the project gives off a slight 8Ball & MJG vibe, serving as a great foundation for the unexpected rapid fire flows that each MC brings to the table. The styles each member utilizes balance well from song to song and against one another, and the subject matter covered has a range, giving the lyrics a multi-generational vibe in terms of topics covered. You can find this project most anywhere, so check it out, share it around, and support your local creatives.
The College of Hip-Hop Knowledge (CHHK) has a monster roster that stays high quality and high quantity with the output. The most recent example of these tenants, as well as the diversity of the crew, is found via SOTU (Sound of the Underground), the collective form of solo MCs The Culprit and Mic Trey. The single, In A Zone, not only has an incredibly catchy track that the two lyricists do all kinds of verbal gymnastics for, but a video with some serious visual effects of space-age tech that makes the duo look like science-fiction film characters in a strange world. Definitely check this one out, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for everyone to enjoy!
Tall Kyle, Big Mic, JSun the Prophesor, Big Tree, Sill, Mic Trey, The Culprit (with a special guest) and Kartune recently got the call from the Austin Hip-Hop Awardsto create a cypher in the vein of the BET Awards, and to nobody’s surprise, the crew did not disappoint. For any successful cypher, you need a banger of a track, and the high energy A$AP Ferg track East Coast served as the perfect platform for the collective of talented MCs to drop bar after bar after bar, with tons of historical, mythical and cultural references intertwined among an a vast array of styles and deliveries. I love what the CHHK is doing for hip-hop at large, and for Austin-based MCs in particular, as it’s allowed a handful of promising individuals with raw talent to transform into the seasoned performers confident enough to present a cypher of this caliber. If the past few years have been any indication, CHHK will be making big moves this year, so definitely stay connected with them for more dope output.
As much as I support hip-hop pushing it’s stylistic and cultural elements forward, I’m a sucker for raw raps and boom-bap, always. Therefore, it’s always refreshing when I hear like-minded MCs creating new music in that vein. The Austin-based College of Hip-Hop Knowledge (CHHK) is in that club of MCs who feels the same, and proof of this would be the release of The Syllabus by the collective known as AKAdemics : Big Mic and JSun the Prophesor on lyrical duties, with DJ Berlin holding them down on support. If you’re a fan of tracks that make you think in equal measure to making you nod your head, then you’re in luck, because this project is overflowing with that level of dopeness. Certainly a strong release from the CHHK camp, and a solid way to wrap up what seems to have been a productive 2019 for the collective. Knowing those cats, this is just a step in their continued upward trajectory, so definitely get hip to CHKK, AKAdemics, and everyone else connected.
After dropping the over the top video for Crazy 88, you’d imagine that most artists would double down on the initial style and aesthetic laid out. Sill, however, has decided to do his College of Hip-Hop Knowledge brethren proud by following up with a powerful, thought-provoking music video for his second single, Ego Death. With the help of Nvision Films, Sill takes the concepts of self-reflection and self-sabotage he explores lyrically to a different level with the cinematic narrative presented. The video starts off normal enough, subtly introduces what seems like innocent visual trickery, only to turn that trickery on its head in the most compelling way possible. This is a serious candidate for video of the year, and I hope that all involved consider presenting it to the Austin Music Video Festival in December. Check out the video yourself, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for others to do the same.
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 