Tag Archives: hip hop

Quick Flex :: J Soulja Creates Impressive ‘GUCCI FLAMINGO EP’ In A Day

Posted on December 31, 2019 | Leave a comment

The creative process differs from artist to artist, but when inspiration strikes, the best answer the call and allow themselves to be driven. In the case of Austin-based MC J Soulja, not only did he answer the call when it hit, but he delivered something tangible in the span of the day. This tangibility is symbolized by the GUCCI FLAMINGO EP, a 5-song collection with more range, diversity and style than many MCs are able to amass over the course of 8 to 12 songs. Sporting production by DailyOnThisTrack, FootOnThaBeat, MalOnTheBeat and ShaunSolo, plus guest verses by fellow Austinite and top notch MC Blakchyl and the mighty Ab Soul, this project leaves a lasting impression. I am certain I will be revisiting this project many times over, and if the buzz I hear is correct, the world will be hearing much more of J Soulja in the near future. Check this one out, leave a like and a comment, and spread it around so everyone can enjoy.

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Underground Me Now

Tagged ab soul, austin, blakchyl, chief, dailyonthistrack, footonthabeat, gucci flamingo ep, hip hop, j soulja, malonthebeat, shaunsolo, tde, the doomsday device

Controlled Chaos :: Chuck Duze And Ative Go Hard On ‘Cow Chow’

Posted on December 27, 2019 | Leave a comment

Chuck Duze (of the Austin-based FOCI collective) and Ative just made the rowdiest ode to the loud that I’ve heard in quite a while. With the help of producer Kato On The Track, the pair of MCs drop rapid-fire bars on getting lifted on Cow Chow, with a high-energy and slightly trippy music video produced to match that audio energy. Period point blank, this one is fire, so don’t front… check it out asap, leave a like and a comment, and spread it around so it can go viral.

-chief

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

Tagged ative, austin, chief, chuck duze, cow chow, foci, hip hop, kato on the track, the doomsday device

Family Ties :: Wreblemuzik Reflects On Father’s Music Collection Via ‘Everette’s Crates’

Posted on December 26, 2019 | Leave a comment

Austin-based producer wreblemuzik recently spent some downtime with his father digging through record crates, and based on the knowledge shared during this session, the inspiration for Everette’s Crates was born. Apparently, the digging session at the greenhouse stirred up strong reactions, memories and thoughts, as the beats presented in this short collection have a nearly perfect balance of hip-hop edge and soulful echoes. Hearing the product of genuine inspiration is always a pleasure, so props must be given to wreblemuzik for chasing the muse, and subsequently sharing his creations with all of us. Definitely check out the project, leave a like and a comment on your favorite track, and share it around for others to dive in!

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Underground Me Now

Tagged austin, chief, everette's crates, hip hop, the doomsday device, wreblemuzik

Instant Gratification :: Ratarue Embraces The Moment With ‘Tantrum Tapes’

Posted on December 19, 2019 | Leave a comment

From the digital desk of Ratarue :

“Made with a cheap Drum Machine, a midi keyboard, and an old second hand Apple Laptop. I was in a band and I borrowed the mulitrack recorder and made these four songs in a day. It is unmixed and unmastered. The quality is really bad but we all come from somewhere… Maybe, you will get the messages behind these songs. Peace!”

Check this one out, as it’s definitely inspiring!

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

Tagged austin, chief, hip hop, lofi, ratarue, tantrum tapes, the doomsday device

Data Blend :: Chris Conde Drops ‘Conde Digital’ Visual

Posted on December 17, 2019 | Leave a comment

Hot off the heels of his FreeCember debut, Chris Conde has dropped a music video for Conde Digital, the title track off of the aforementioned Fake Four-released EP. The video is a black and white, up front and personal collage of stock footage overlayed and juxtaposed against Conde performance footage. The black and white aesthetic gives the whole thing a David Lynch-style feel, and thanks to the self-direction of Chris Conde and the editing of Scott Newman, the frentic call to action about finding personal freedom leaves images burned onto the brain. Definitely a strong video to represent a strong project, so leave it a like and a comment, give it a share, and keep supporting indie creators!

-chief

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Underground Me Now

Tagged chief, chris conde, conde digital, david lynch, fake four, hip hop, san antonio, scott newman, the doomsday device

Tough Talk :: Blackillac Keeps It Coming With ‘Hitman’

Posted on December 12, 2019 | Leave a comment

As Blackillac continues their ascension, we’ve been blessed with a constant stream of solid music and video output from the duo of Zeale and Phranchyze. Their latest hit (no pun intended) is the dark and mysterious Hitman, a banger produced by NA the Producer with plenty of moodiness and heaviness to back up the braggadocio coming live and direct from the talented MC pairing. As a bit of a bonus, the two linked up with Dan2theL for a straight-forward, no-BS, well-shot music video :

As someone who has been there to watch both of these cats rise out of the Austin battle-rap scene into solo stardom, and eventually morph into financially and culturally viable artists, I am extremely proud of Zeale and Phranchyze for taking full advantage of a chance to live the dream. I’m definitely staying tuned, as Blackillac is positioning themselves for a breakout year in 2020.

-chief

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

Tagged austin, blackillac, chief, dan2thel, hip hop, hitman, na the producer, phranchyze, the doomsday device, zeale

Master Teachers :: AKAdemics Hits Heads With ‘The Syllabus’

Posted on December 10, 2019 | Leave a comment

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.

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

Tagged akademics, austin, big mic, chhk, chief, college of hip hop knowledge, dj berlin, hip hop, jsun the prophesor, the doomsday device, the syllabus

Shaky Foundations :: Mirage The GR8 Reflects On ‘4-5 Still Alive’

Posted on November 29, 2019 | Leave a comment

Mirage the GR8 has always been one of the MCs in the Austin area that I looked up to, as he was already releasing tapes when I was wondering if it was possible to cross over from fan to artist. It’s only fitting that at age 45, Mirage would take a moment to think back on where he came from, assess where he is, and re-calibrate himself for the journey ahead, and all of this is accomplished in the brief but thought-provoking 4-5 Still Alive. The incredibly smooth track from Trill Gates gives Mirage plenty of room to talk about style evolution and political landscapes, both of which have a synergistic relationship with hip-hop culture, in his trademark laid-back delivery. It’s been an honor working with Mirage the last couple of years on the music video front, and it makes me happy to know that he has no plans on stopping any time soon. Check out the song, leave a like and a comment, and share it around for others to do the same.

-chief

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Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

Tagged 4-5 still alive, austin, chief, hip hop, mirage the gr8, quite trill worldwide, the doomsday device, trill gates

Home Bass :: Tåsi And BLakchyl Connect For ‘East 10th’

Posted on November 25, 2019 | Leave a comment

Producer/MC Tåsi and super-lyricist BLakchyl were both raised in the streets of East Austin, a formerly notorious part of town that has found itself in a transition phase in the face of gentrification. Despite these changes, it seems the duo has taken the adage of ‘no matter how far you go, never forget where you came from’ to heart, as their recent collaborative effort, East 10th, was recorded on the same street that BLakchyl was raised on (and still has family residing on). The songs focus on personal journeys and the ever-changing face of the East Side, while Tåsi‘s production mirrors the changes with a range of sonic moods. Rounded out with guest appearances by ChiClopz, Clare and French wordsmith Cerbère, the project is short and bittersweet, leaving you longing for more (similar to how us native Austinites yearn for things to be more like they used to be in our evolving town). Cop yourself a physical or digital copy of this one, or just stream it and share it so that others can feel the vibes.

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Underground Me Now

Tagged austin, blakchyl, cerbère, chiclopz, chief, clare, east 10th, hip hop, tasi, the doomsday device

Yacht Rocking :: SniperShot Returns To Shore With ‘Fresh Off The Yacht’ EP

Posted on November 21, 2019 | Leave a comment

There’s something about the sea that is relaxing and freeing for the human spirit, and for proof of this, look no further than Fresh Off The Yacht, the latest release from SniperShot. After a prolific 2019, SniperShot took some time to live on a sailboat in the South Pacific Ocean, and upon his return to the states, he linked up with Los Angeles-based producer AC The Program Director for a quick collection of four soul-soothing songs. The standard hip-hop braggadocio energy is still there, but the delivery is drenched with the grounded (no pun intended) nature of someone who put cares aside for a time. AC‘s beat selection is perfect for these words and the way that their stated, as each track has personality and size, but is laid back enough to match the overall project tone. Definitely a good one to wrap up the hot days with, as we transition into the fall and winter. Check it out, share it around, and cop it if you have a few extra bucks!

-chief

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Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now

Tagged ac the program director, chief, dalls, fresh off the yacht, hip hop, los angeles, snipershot, the doomsday device