Tag Archives: hip hop

Emergency Broadcast :: Chris Conde And Crew Go For Broke On ‘Basic Rappers’ Visual

Posted on August 13, 2019 | Leave a comment

Over the past couple of years, Chris Conde has really honed in the defining aesthetic in all aspects that makes the music and live performances memorable.  I’ve seen glimpses in different mediums, but everything really comes together perfectly in the recently released visual for Basic Rappers, a collaboration with Angel Marcloid of Fire-Toolz on the overall vision, Scott Newman on the performance footage, Oliv on makeup and Z the Barber on hair duty.  This single (an old live show staple) and video could easily fit in as a pirate broadcast interrupting said basic rappers and warning them that mediocrity will not be tolerated in the culture from either side (performers or supporters).  Plain and simple, Conde is laying down the gospel that MCs need to hear and heed.  Dig the video, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for others to do the same!

-chief

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Clout Talk :: Ben Buck Stepping Out On ‘Spirits’ Single

Posted on August 12, 2019 | Leave a comment

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When it comes to street buzz backed up by real skill, Ben Buck has to be at the top of any list of Austin MCs you make.  For the last couple of years, his hustle has been impossible to ignore, and on his latest single Spirits, we got not only a brief oral history of this experience, but a dual demonstration of growth as a recording artist and confidence in his skill level… the latter of which is ironic, as Ben Buck was never one to doubt his skills.  Flobama easily matches Buck‘s energy and urgency with his production, making the testament that they will ‘break y’all’s spirits if  you fake that realness’ one with real weight to it.  This song has the makings of being both a mixtape and live show staple, so check it out, leave a comment, and share it around for others to get familiar with.

-chief

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Dedication Jams :: Terrence Wood Releases Visual For ‘By Your Side’

Posted on August 8, 2019 | Leave a comment

Anybody that’s been touched by the vivid spirit of the hip-hop culture can tell you (or attempt to, anyways) about how all-encompassing the connection is in terms of give and take.  Be it the ‘casual’ fan, or those inspired enough to contribute to the hip-hop continuum, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone connected to hip-hop from its inception in the late 1970s to a period just before the turn of the century that is not as heavily dedicated to the culture as they feel the culture is a part of their entire being.  Case in point is Terrence Wood, the MC formerly known as Side Effect, who demonstrates all of these feelings perfectly in By Your Side, his latest video and single.  Unlike other songs dedicated to hip-hop, Wood manages to actually capture the energy surrounding the culture in both his lyrics and the production.  Add to this the stark visuals provided by director Dan2TheL, which captures both direct references in the form of album covers, and the symbolic love by providing a human representative for hip-hop, and you’ve got a combination that cannot be ignored in terms of the impression it leaves.  Definitely an instant classic, and a strong video of the year contender, so be sure to like and comment on the video before sharing it around.

-chief

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Group Therapy :: Hermit Kingdom Ends Their Silence, Releases Debut Album ‘TAROT’

Posted on August 7, 2019 | Leave a comment

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Back when Austin Mic Exchange was really going strong was when I was first introduced to Hermit Kingdom.  As a product of listening to mid-1980s through mid-1990s hip-hop, I’ve always had an affinity for the group dynamic, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better group in the Austin area at the time than the combination of Philos, Mugger and Flobama.  After a few years blazing stages in Austin and on the East Coast, the group took to the studio for a productive, self-imposed exile that has resulted in their debut LP TAROT.  The rawness that the group was known for is still present in their sound, but there is a maturity to the presentation of this project that shows the wait was clearly well worth it.  The album comes on the verge of more changes within the world of Hermit Kingdom, but it’s my opinion that the project might just be strong enough to sustain another brief disappearance from the group.  This album is best enjoyed diving in without too much direction, so I definitely encourage you to do so… maybe even share it around, drop a few bucks and cop it, and ALWAYS support your local creatives.

-chief

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Multiverse Madness :: Mista Mozes Blows Minds With Dual Video For ‘The Outside/Whoa!’

Posted on August 5, 2019 | Leave a comment

These days, it seems like the best bet for getting memorable music video work as an Austin-based hip-hop artist is to enlist the assistance of NVision Media.  The latest exhibit in a long line of proven work is the latest Mista Mozes music video, a combined effort for his singles The Outside and Whoa!  Mista Mozes and director Eric Sattler leaned heavily on the influence of modern day science fiction and psychological thrillers, such as Jordan Peele‘s seminal classic Get Out, as the driving force for this compelling and thought-provoking music video that stands up perfectly to the match of Mista Mozes‘ flow over both banging tracks.  This one is layered, and definitely deserves multiple watches, which is a testament to the execution of this short film (more so than music video) in all aspects.  Dig it, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for others to do the same!

-chief

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Both Sides :: Click-Clack Explores Boom-Bap With ‘Sequence’ EP

Posted on August 2, 2019 | Leave a comment

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At its core, hip-hop is nothing if it’s not cyclical.  A strange dance occurs in this genre/culture where we seem to be both influencing and reflecting on what’s popular, what we moved past, and what’s coming back around.  I say that to say this… when I first got to know Click-Clack, he was a raw MC with infinite talent in search of a sound that he could call his own.  Over the years, he has attempted (and successfully nailed) a few different sounds, but on Sequence, it appears that Click-Clack may be going back to some of the things that (seemingly) inspired him to start rhyming, especially over the OTESLA production that makes up the EP.  All of the cleverness, pride, self-reflection, humor and swagger we’ve come to expect from Click-Clack is here, but the production elevates it to a different level reminiscent of the ‘true-school’ era of hip-hop that helped catapult it into the lofty position it has held for the past two decades or so.  Long story short, Sequence is that raw hip-hop shit that us lovers of the music seek, so definitely give it a listen, leave a comment or two on your favorite tracks, and share it around on your favorite streaming service so others can do the same.

-chief

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Parallel Thought :: ConductHer Releases ‘GEMINI SEASON’

Posted on August 1, 2019 | Leave a comment

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After cutting her teeth as a member of experimental duo ChurchCough, 2019 seems to have found ConductHer making major strides in her personal journey of creation.  After closing up 2019 with the releases of the solo venture Female Masturbation and the collective project ChurchCough & Friends, ConductHer hit the production and writing vibes heavy.  GEMINI SEASON presents everything you want to see in the progression of the artists you dig : intriguing and thought-provoking writing, lush and vivid production, and the confidence that comes with getting multiple projects under your belt.  GEMINI SEASON, in all honesty, is more of a statement than it is an album, and it’s certainly a statement worth taking in and considering.  Check out the project, share it around and drop ConductHer a couple of bucks for the download if you can spare it.

-chief

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Party Favors :: Casino & Sertified Visualize For ‘Roll It Up’

Posted on July 31, 2019 | Leave a comment

Austin is no stranger to the loud, to the point where if you were to create a smoker’s anthem, there are more than enough candidates to pair up.  Two of the latest entrants are Casino and Sertified, and with their quick, laid back offering that is Roll It Up, they’ve certainly made a strong play for having the current frontrunner.  With the help of Nvision Media‘s Eric Sattler, Happy Clouds Smoke Shop, and a handful of cameos from Austin creatives, the duo made a memorable video centered around throwing a smoker’s delight style party in the ideal location.  Check out the video, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for others to do the same!

-chief

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Exchanging Ideas :: Clemits And More Bless CCFridays

Posted on July 25, 2019 | Leave a comment

CCFridays is filling a very important void in the Austin hip-hop community : a space for up and coming artists to get stage time under their belt and hone their craft while working out ideas.  Held every first and third Friday at The Exchange, the event gives an open mic atmosphere for performers to share songs, and in the case of this particular night, Austin-based stronghold Clemits performed a set.  Working my own Friday residency makes it hard to check out events like this, but if you find yourself in Austin on the proper night, definitely go check it out.

-chief

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Regal Vibes :: RoyalKingMinus Drops Knowledge On ‘The Regalia LP’

Posted on July 19, 2019 | Leave a comment

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San Antonio-based MC RoyalKingMinus has seemingly always been about mixing education into the finely-tuned bars he delivers, from what I can tell.  In the opening moments of The Regalia LP, his latest project, the reasons for this approach are laid out : the status of the hip-hop artist in the community, the responsibility that comes with their power, and the sphere of influence they create.  This speech sets the table perfectly for the feast of rhymes and ideas that RoyalKingMinus presents the listener over the next ten tracks, with a style that morphs and melds to whatever beat is presented.  I’m a new fan, but will definitely be a dedicated one based on what I’ve heard so far from RoyalKingMinus… I suggest taking some time and checking him out on your own.

-chief

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