As many people know, the musical mural on 12th & Chicon in Austin has been buffed and replaced by the new ownership. While not a direct effect of gentrification (as some would have you believe), it is a sign of shifting cultural values in one of the last native-Austinite bastions of the city. This story was particularly heartbreaking because it affected a new friend, Chris Rogers (painter of several amazing J Dilla prints hanging on my walls). As a bonus, here is footage of him creating that wall…
Houston-based B L A C K I E has been ahead of the curve for years. His brand of music has always been challenging, densely layered and deeply rewarding for the adventurous listener. REMAINS continues the legacy of consistency that B L A C K I E has worked so hard to become synonymous with. At only 8 tracks, this project gets right to the point, and at a ‘name your price’ setting, why would you not support?
For some, you truly have to escape to find yourself. But in my case, these are just words, and most learn better by example. Rather than run my mouth on the topic, I will allow Anastasia to show you how one gets out of their comfort zone to find their optimum comfort level in life. Dig it, share it, and really listen to what this young lady is saying, as she’s never been one to waste words.
The concept of seasons being signal markers for human change and growth is not a new one… film, music and literature have all explored this story arc. Ceschi, however, is known for his ability to tell a vivid tale, and over Sixo production, Christmas Past plays like the masterpiece it is. The video only further drives home the emotions exploding from the song with it’s colorful and engaging elements. Beautifully heavy.
Straight from New Orleans comes a nice collection of jazzy production from beatsmith Cam Smith. Dry Cereal seem to be explorations between breakbeats and jazz-influenced explorations of vibes, keys and synths. The interspersed vocal samples and radio interview footage provide just enough breathing room for this instrumental album to take you on a wonderful sonic journey. Dig it and dig it good.
If you have spent any amount of time in the central Texas social scene over the last few years, you have more than likely seen Christopher Paul Cardoza at work. His photography has helped him make a name for himself, and it has been a beautiful time capsule of an ever-evolving scene. Many musicians, fans and venues have come and gone, a handful remain, and Christopher Paul Cardoza is faithful to his mission of capturing as much of the action as he can. Cheers to you, sir.
New Orleans-based wordsmith Jonathan Brown has always had a touch for the brutally honest. His punk-rock influenced hip-hop touches all the proper emotional influential buttons, rather than the purely aesthetic ones. On his latest project, The Risk It All EP, we find him as candid as ever about topics such as educational policy, government paranoia and life choices, among other things, all wonderfully encapsulated into slightly more than 10 minutes. Dig it and dig it good.
I’m glad I’ve given this album a little bit of time before posting about it. Sixo is always known to drop quality work, but seeing the concept and guest list for The Odds of Free Will had me rushing to biased positive judgement before I’d even heard the project. Granted, most everyone on the album I’ve either played multiple shows with or know personally, so that was going to sway my thoughts. So, I gave it a few listens, and I must say, this project really stands up in a year full of what’s been sure to be classic material. I’m excited for more production based projects from Sixo, more Alligator Food, and more of whatever he conjures up.
Upon the recent release of her solo debut LP Worlds Within, Abuzayed The Free has found herself touring and telling people her story. In a bit of serendipitous timing, Arthur Shimko Jr. recently released Love Always Wins, an exploration and presentation of Abuzayed The Free‘s music and worldview. Shot over the spring of 2017, during her initial name making push and pre-release promotion for Worlds Within, the documentary catches an artist at a wonderful crossroads.. a crucial period of growth. Definitely worth your time, your shares and your likes.
The best forms of enlightenment tend to be the slow burns… quick aside, slight spoiler alerts on this one.
As I jumped on my morning to-do list (sorry for the lack of posts lately, real life needed tending to), one of the main things I had in mind was to check out the latest music video from (RAS) Riders Against the Storm. I know I can count on quality work from this duo, but MALI was a journey that I was not quite prepared for. The warehouse setting is beautiful, and I immediately was receptive to the juxtaposition of the slavery imagery and the flashy-cultural fashion that (RAS) is so well known for. What was obvious in hindsight, but lost upon me until pointed out in verse 2 by Qi Dada, was the Mali/Molly comparison the duo had cleverly woven into the lyrics (with a perfectly appropriated trap-esque production bed to present it on).
As the slaves ‘freed’ themselves from their traps and began to dance, and the fullness of the slavery vs. style worship metaphor revealed itself in the final imagery, the shared journey left me ready for the day ahead. Well done, (RAS), and here’s to nothing but great things in your future.
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 