Tag Archives: hip-hop

Steady Work :: EVOLVE Keeps It Coming With ‘White Tiger’ (SUNGODS – EVOLVE X IBE HUSTLES)

Posted on December 1, 2020 | Leave a comment

One thing that I will always respect EVOLVE for is making the type of hip-hop that helped me find my way from fan to artist.  While some would be short-sighted and classify it simply as ‘boom-bap’ or ‘backpack rap’, the raw passion and pure elemental approach that EVOLVE brings to the table hits receptive listeners right in the bullseye of the soul.  He also has a knack for collaborative projects, and SUNGODS serves as yet another example of this.  With collaborator IBE HUSTLES, White Tiger is a megadose of that timeless hip-hop that reminds us how beats, rhymes and life are forever intertwined.  If you’re a fan of realness, dig this one and dig it good.  Share it around for others to experience, and if you’ve got a few bucks, support these cats by copping some merch.

-chief

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World View :: Protextor Taps Doc Brown And Bird Peterson For ‘Look Around’

Posted on November 30, 2020 | Leave a comment

Entitlement is a dangerous thing, especially when a previously (minimally) disenfranchised but persistent group finds new validation in the leader of the free world.  Speaking about institutionalized racism, unbalanced power structures and the pervasiveness of the victim complex can be an uncomfortable topic, but it’s a topic that can no longer be ignored.  Thankfully, Protextor has the wherewithal to not only speak honestly from his perspective, but the foresight and common decency to invite an artist like Doc Brown to share his perspective as well… while the two have a long history of collaboration and a few key similarities in taste, their backgrounds and experience in the world could not be more different, which makes their synergy that much more palatable.  It doesn’t hurt, either, that the prolific Bird Peterson lent his production skills to the track, turning it from a heavy dose of medicine to an eye-opening and perspective shifting banger.  Stream this, cop this while it’s at a variable price point, and pass it around for others to listen, and in turn, grow from it.

-chief

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Coming Up :: TOKIE Talks Perseverance On ‘Backend’

Posted on November 27, 2020 | Leave a comment

As much as I’d love to kick Facebook to the curb, the time that I’ve spent building personal and working relationships with artists has turned my timeline into a fertile breeding ground for new and exciting content.  Recently, a post from Texas-based MC TOKIE came down the line due to his connections with Cory Kendrix and Kydd Jones, and after checking out Backend, his latest single and video, I’ll definitely be checking for more material.  With his smooth, sing-songy flow, TOKIE jumps on this drum and guitar-driven track and talks real talk about how beneficial it can be to stick to your grind in the wake of others abandoning theirs.  This one is definitely vibey as hell, so don’t sleep on it… check the video, leave a like and a comment, and share it around far and wide if you support Texas hip-hop.

-chief

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Pulling Cards :: The Freethinkers Educate The Masses On ‘Illusion Of Choice’

Posted on November 26, 2020 | Leave a comment

Normally I ignore ads, be they Facebook, television, on a podcast, or wherever they are fed to me.  Every once in a while, however, ads catch my attention for some reason or another.  In the case of The Freethinkers, it was the recognition of the SIXO memorial shirt being worn in their latest video, Illusion of Choice, that got my attention.  Lucky for me, the hard rocking, truth driven track more than impressed me very much.  It’d be easy to write this track off as a Rage Against The Machine emulator, but that would be a shortsighted view of things… the song is more a testament of how much things stay the same, despite years and years of apparent ‘growth’ and ‘change’ that the masses fool themselves with.  If you’ve ever felt a way about the injustices that many accept as commonplace, this song is for you.  Check out the video, leave a like and a comment on it, and spread it around so that everyone can hear the good word.

-chief

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Dirty Laundry :: Feral The Earthworm Gets Personal On ‘Sludge Covered Branches (Throwies)’

Posted on November 24, 2020 | Leave a comment

The homie Feral the Earthworm has never been the kind of person to hold back, but usually he takes his ability to hyper-focus and break a topic down with amazing eloquence and turns it on outward stimulus.  With the release of Sludge Covered Branches (throwies), however, we find Feral the Earthworm taking a seat directly in the eye of a storm that he has experienced his entire life, speaking frankly on personal issues that have not only shaped who he currently is, but continue to haunt him.  It would have been understandable if his recent reduction in materials could have been chalked up to COVID-19, but Feral bravely chose to continue being forthright and brutally honest by sharing his volatile family experience with his listeners.  If you’re not afraid of a bit of realness mixed into your entertainment, dig this latest edition of throwies, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for those that could use a heavy dose of reality.

-chief

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Night Moves :: DowrongLilBully X Eric Dingus Connect For ‘Wolves’

Posted on November 17, 2020 | Leave a comment

When it comes to hustling and making moves in most any industry, those that succeed are the ones that make moves while everyone else is sleeping or relaxing.  With this in mind, Austin-based mainstay DowrongLilBully tapped the prolific producer Eric Dingus for an anthem about that very move-making mindset in the form of Wolves.  From it’s moody, movie-like soundtrack to Dowrong‘s ruminations on hustling that sit squarely between spitting bars and vibing on the track, this song is an instant banger from the moment you press play.  Definitely check it out on your favorite streaming service or digital storefront, and support your local creatives.

-chief

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Blast Off :: Kydd Jones Spaces Out On ‘Left Earth’

Posted on November 13, 2020 | Leave a comment

Disillusionment is not a rare state these days, and that seems to go double for those with any aspiration, creative ability or personal drive.  With so many supposed opportunities having been skewed by COVID-19, it’s not surprising that artists such as Kydd Jones have continued to thrive.  As Left Earth demonstrates, Kydd has always been one to thrive in spite of obvious opportunities like hustling, street culture or drug selling.  Over an interestingly manipulated, organic element-based beat (it’s hard to explain, but give it a listen), we find Kydd spitting a short set of lyrics talking about why he will continue to thrive regardless of the state of things for those held down by gravity (the Earth‘s, or otherwise).  If you need a shot of inspiration, this one is for you, so definitely check it out, support if you can, and spread this word far and wide.

-chief

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Double Down :: EVOLVE Drops A Pair Of Companion Projects

Posted on November 10, 2020 | Leave a comment

As October came to an end, the homie Evolve decided to bless the masses with a pair of connected projects : SIDE A: CONVERSATION PIECES and SIDE B: SINNER’S PRAYER.  On top of both having stellar album artwork that is immediately striking, EVOLVE‘s hardline observations can be found all over both projects, with his deliberate and proud delivery of truth coming at the listener relentlessly.  Both albums have a somber feel to them, although CONVERSATION PIECES relies on more introspective, lush, piano-driven beats, while SINNER’S PRAYER definitely has the more sinister sonic edge.  With a production line-up consisting of Shots Dupre, Jony Escoe, Junk Room Beats, Purple Villian, Jones Got Music, The Process, Awdazcate and Lord Damage, these two distinct audio feels have enough variety amongst themselves to carry you through both projects.  For those with money burning a hole in their pocket, this is definitely worth supporting, but even if the money is tight, these albums are certainly worth your time, attention and shares, so be sure to support however you can.

-chief

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Master Stroke :: Tall Kyle Drops New ‘Mona Lisa’ Single

Posted on October 20, 2020 | Leave a comment

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!

-chief

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Familiar Vibes :: Kydd Jones Reminisces With ‘Skate World/No Smoke’ Singles

Posted on October 14, 2020 | Leave a comment

Those who know me and follow the blog know that I am a huge fan of the way that Kydd Jones has continued to reinvent himself and redefine his creative niche’.  After recently launching a fashion line, Kydd now finds himself in a partnership with publishing giant BMI, a connection that has afforded him even more creative freedom.  As a sort of celebration, Kydd hooked up with producer NIP Productions for a pair of singles that offer up nostalgic moments : the power-packed pair of Skate World and No Smoke.  Check out the vibes that Kydd is serving up, complete with a few interpolative moments that’ll have you thinking back to simpler times.  Check out the tracks, support if you can, and share them around regardless!

-chief

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