Boom bap is not dead yet. Insight and knowledge is not dead yet. The latest example comes from Flotation, based out of Dallas, in the form of the single Brand New. Featuring production by Ritchy Flo and a pitch perfect guest verse from Molekular, Brand New is an example of making something fresh out of a familiar approach. As Flotation states, ‘we bring the funk back daily’, and if this is a taste of what may come in the form of a full-length project, I am definitely ready to scope it out. Props on the design and presentation of this project.. it’s cool to see someone drop the single / instrumental / acapella format again. Dig it and download it.
Something about certain women can make a rational man go into a series of thoughts that test the bounds of rationality and sanity. PHRAYNKH P, on his latest track MARILYN MONROE, takes the concept to some wonderfully playful extremes. The verses hit all aspects of that obsession quality that infatuation creates, and the hurt is captured beautifully in the chorus line ‘she got a hole in my brain like a Kennedy’. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how this song will fit into the context of a full project, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I enjoy it on its own. Worth your time on the download and sharing front.
There is something to be said for the power of simplicity. Some of the most memorable music videos of late were simple concept, high execution. I would dare to say that Marcelandrie‘s newest offering, Fix Gon’ Be, falls under those parameters. Director Maurice Barrett took the familiar concept of the mysterious woman, found a beautiful location, and captured a strong series of shots that he rhythmically loops into a hypnotic counterpart for the grounded, gritty soul that Marcelandrie provides. I really enjoyed this, and am looking forward to seeing what comes next… with word of Adrian Quesada being involved in the album’s production, I know it’s going to be good. Once I hear about it, I will certainly notify the masses.
One of the most wonderful things about THE DƎER is their ability to present their music equally beautifully in both audio and visual aspects. This comes through in the starkest manner via the music video anthology the band has built over the years. The latest offering, Up Into Roses, features the band playing in a nice and isolated setting that is part farm, part dream factory. The trademark animation aesthetics are present, and the visual presentation achieved by production group Dinolion gives the whole video a nice dreamlike quality without leaning on easy visual tropes. Quite simply, this video is a masterpiece in a line of masterpieces that THE DƎER have accumulated. Throw a like on the video, share it with your friends, and stay in tuned to THE DƎER, because as good as they are now, this is truly just the beginning.
Another dope music video has been released for one of the many dope …&More… tracks that exists. This go round, Ndelible Ink lent a visual hand for Faces Places, and the end product will most certainly occupy a space in the depths of your mind. The setting is rustic, the juxtaposition between the presentations of Scuare and no1mportant are pitch perfect, and the main track is bookended by two of the instrumental tracks off of Existence Is Futile. You’ve heard me say it before, and I’ll say it again until it happens.. how are these cats not signed or at the next level yet? Don’t sleep, Austin, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to say you’ve been down since day one when these cats eventually blow up.
Even in a country as rich in resources as North America, you run into disparity quite often. With the recent slate of continued hurricanes that have hit the south and southeast, old patterns are emerging, and an errant foundation is gaining strength. Almost a year ago, BLXPLTN took the time to point out an example of this by writing FEMA, an exposé on the level of help the poor are provided in the times that they need it the most. This particular video is from a recent performance at Swan Dive in Austin, and was captured by Son and Son Productions. This track can be purchased on BLXPLTN‘s Bandcamp page, and all proceeds go towards hurricane relief.
Moodie Black certainly marches to the beat of their own drummer, nobody can deny that. The outfit continues to push the boundaries of what music can be and how it can affect the listener, both emotionally and intellectually. With the upcoming release of LUCASACID on the horizon, K has been extremely cognizant of providing enough information for the listener to be receptive to whatever the project will deliver. Between the website, a visit on the Inside The Rapper’s Studio podcast with Jonathan Brown, and the long running Moodhouse podcast (now in its 4th season), anyone wanting to get hip can do so easily. Word on the street is that the album can drop at anytime, and my advice is to be there when it does.
My man Bird Peterson has the holidays on lock, especially those in the final quarter of the year. For anything remotely festive, you can count on a mix from Bird to not only capture the mood, but make you nod your head until your neck hurts. For October 31 (and the surrounding fun days before and afterwards), make sure you’re throwing The Bird Peterson Halloween Spooktacular somewhere in the mix.
Who knew that, out of all the genres of films I love, all the years I’ve dedicated to learning the craft, that the only thing I can apparently make are spooky movies? What started simply as an idea of the visual of an abandoned home with a grossly outdated printer that kept producing cryptic messages has turned into something tangible that I can be proud of. HELP ME essentially put itself together… it was one of the most uniquely organic projects I have ever worked on.
Thank you to Delano Taylor, Kelsey Huckaby and Colton Ferguson for believing in the vision and turning words on a page into characters an audience can connect with. Thank you to David Marrs for always being supportive, and for allowing us to use a location that became the true star of the show. Thank you to Soda Diet and More Eaze for allowing the use of your music… it brought an entirely new degree of engagement to the project. Thank you to Steve Jones for jumping in on the project and earning an upgrade from script supervisor credit to producer credit… you brought some good stuff to the table. Thank you to the Lost River Film Festival for allowing us to submit, and for granting it Honorable Mention status.
And thank you to you, the individual who will hopefully watch it, share it, like it and leave a comment. The project was made for the YouTube faithful, as I have been among your ranks for years now. Here’s to many more coming, and here’s to bigger and better projects in the future.
The combination of filmmaker Jeffrey Garcia and hip-hop thinktank The PNTHN are truly becoming a force to be reckoned with. This go-round, collective members Ra and Jedi Chancellor rock the track NOSFERATU (off their upcoming project [from disorder…]), and Jeffrey Garcia provides them with the perfect moody aesthetics to match. If you aren’t in the loop for these collaborative videos, you are really and truly missing out.
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 