If P Smoov were standing right next to OL’ Small would you be able to tell the difference? Certainly not in a hazy, strobe-lit club, the locale that Small’s music is specifically designed for. This earnest young rapper with booze, beats and babes (sorry, I couldn’t avoid the alliterative opportunity) on his mind just dropped a new single, “Back to the Future.” The track does, in fact, feature production by P Smoov, and the accompanying video is directed by Mike Folden. It’s all pretty kitschy and nostalgic to 80’s babies (of which I am one). I can’t say I didn’t find myself smiling at this.
VIDEO: “Bad Guy” – Nacho Picasso
This is some heinous sh-t. Violence against women is either insinuated or blatantly represented in 99.99% of all forms of entertainment, so Nacho Picasso isn’t alone in his abomination. Still makes me cringe, though. I’m more disappointed in the artist than angry, especially since this clip was derived from an album I enjoyed quite a bit. Dude should be given a chance to explain the deeper meaning behind these visuals, women especially are entitled to one.
VIDEO: “Unaware” – Allen Stone
I just saw Allen Stone perform this song on Conan. My girl was like: Who is this guy? Me: One of those new white dudes who sings retro-soul music. He looks like Andy Samberg a little, right? Girlfriend: He looks like Andy Samberg playing a white dude who sings retro-soul music in an SNL skit. Me: Dude’s kinda filthy, though. Then we both nodded our heads.
Also, where the f-ck is Chewelah???
VIDEO: “Make Your Move” – Savant (feat. Nora Perez)
A million and one MCs in the underground, but few have lyrical ability like Savant. You’ve probably never heard of this Chicagoan who now hustles hard in both music and matriculation in Arizona. “Make Your Move” is his first look on the video tip. Get familiar.
#OutOfTownMovement
DOWNLOAD: Hella Proper – Steezie Nasa
Click album cover for D/L link.
Hella Proper is the, er, proper debut EP from BadAssYellowBoyz member (by way of Cloud Nice, of course), Steezie Nasa. Dude rocks what I like to call a “question mark flow,” lacing the ends of his bars with arching inflections, regardless of whether or not his smart-ass statement was an inquiry. HP‘s nine tracks are dressed down in the familiar orchestral trap that BAYB fans will find comforting unless (as Steezie puts it) they’re too “yopped up,” in which case they might find the rapid-fire high-hats unsettling. I certainly enjoyed it.
NEW MUSIC: “Albert Einstein” – Sol
Click photo to purchase at iTunes.
Fresh from the Inbox: new music from Solzilla. “Albert Einstein” is the drop, in advance of Sol’s next LP, Yours Truly. Below is the stream, and below that is a clip of his KEXP in-studio performance.
DOWNLOAD: “Rap Rap” – TH3RDZ (prod. by Kuddie Fresh)
Click photo to D/L.
Candidt: “Hate the word ‘swag’ now / Been havin’ all that/ Bustas make it a thang now.” Concur. More for “the rap nerds” from TH3RDZ. This is called “Rap Rap,” it’s pretty self-explanatory.
VIDEO: “I Shoulda Knew” – Framework
The best kept secret in local rap blogs is Northwest TV, a site that compiles hip-hop music videos from all over the Pac NW. Miss the link to a video an artist Tweeted two days ago? No worries, NW TV will probably have it covered in short.
Here, from the vaults, is a clip from missing-in-action OG, Framework. “I Shoulda Knew” finds Frame going in against snitches, his gravelly rasp as raw as the pavement they find touching their backsides.
DOWNLOAD: “Accountability” – Kublakai
Via The New Yorker.
Kublakai released this track today in the spirit of the ongoing nationwide protests. Keep OCCUPYING.
DOWNLOAD: Slopes – State Of The Artist
Click album cover to D/L.
Slopes, the new 12-song album from State Of The Artist makes it pretty clear that the fellas Parker, Hy and Young TH sound their best when rhyming over tracks by longtime production partners, LA-based Ski Team. Just saying. Much of the material here reminds me of the brief but very Pacific Ocean fresh Hank Moody EP which SOTA dropped post Cali-relocation 2009.
Breezy, wistful party jams where you can practically feel the sting of the salty Pacific Coast air in your nostrils is the order of the day on Slopes. The easy good-life-affirming flows of Parker and Hy settle into a nice balance with tracks like “More Than Fine” where the aim is to please the speakers in your ride as well as the ears of the nearest squad of mini-dressed breezies. TH’s more rugged delivery is the necessary shot of bitter in SOTA/Ski’s otherwise smooth Old Fashioned.
Seattlecalifragilisticextrahelladopeness was SOTA being generously inclusive but trying to please too many people. On the electro-oriented Altered State, the crew strayed too far out of their lane. Slopes, on the other hand, finds the trio sounding exactly as they should.
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 