NEW MUSIC: “Groov” – Brothers From Another (feat. Asher Roth; prod. by Justo)

Groov - BFA feat Asher Roth prod by Justo

Though I’ll probably never let them forget about the time they overslept, thus missing an interview opportunity on WNYU radio (!!!), I’ll certainly forgive them on the basis of continuing to churn out the most fun-loving, breezy hip hop Seattle has to offer. “Groov” is the first drop from Brothers From Another’s upcoming Tacos on Broadway. Justo on the beat and lifetime undergrad Asher Roth with the cameo. Nice look, dudes.

Here’s a video preview of the upcoming album:

Audio

SHOW: The Flavr Blue (with Avery Storm, Alisha Roney and DJ Sabzi) @ Cameo Gallery, Brooklyn

Click image for more info.

Click image for more info.

See, there are good reasons to treck to Williamsburg, Brooklyn on a Wednesday night! Music out of the 206 invades New York City for the next two evenings as electro/dance outfit The Flavr Blue (Hollis, Parker and Lace Cadence) play their first show in the Apple tonight at Cameo Gallery in post-hipsterville Williamsburg. Joining them are budding R&B singer Alisha Roney (who you will recognize from her two stellar turns on The Good Sin’s The Story of Love x Hate), singer Avery Storm, and Blue Scholars DJ/producer Sabzi. Sample a few tracks from TFB’s debut album Pisces, below.

Photo by Alex Crick.

Photo by Alex Crick.

And speaking of Blue Scholars…The currently touring duo will rock Bowery Ballroom for the second third year in a row tomorrow tonight with The Physics and Brothers From Another on deck as support. Grab tickets here or meet me outside for a falafel on the Bowery tomorrow before the show!

Live Coverage

DOWNLOAD: Taco Tuesday EP – Brothers From Another

Click album cover to download

Brothers From Another manage to achieve a rare depth of connection with their listeners through a relatively simple hip-hop formula. It’s the best thing about the duo Tiglo and Cole who continue to belie their young age with a brand of hip-hop that roots itself in the easy-going tradition of mid-90s West Coast underground while remaining true to the themes and challenges posed to the generation to which they belong: a tech-savvy peer group with a set of post-college dreams that seem downright mythical compared to the reality that awaits them.

No matter. BFA lives and works in the hip-hop moment. With the aforementioned reality summarily placed on hiatus while the two attend college in California, it’s enough for Tiglo and Cole to spin rhymes about what confront them on the daily. Taco Tuesday‘s six tracks are spent celebrating — and lamenting — the travails of an active romantic life (good to know these dudes aren’t wasting away their healthy years on Saturday night Call of Duty sessions), summarizing the musical inspiration found within their own hometown’s rap scene (“Sonic Boom”), and counting their blessings while soberly memorializing those who find themselves in less fortunate situations (“5th Of May”).

There’s one track here that’s absolutely bananas from a production standpoint: Sabzi’s “Roxy” is all off-kilter tropical drums and playfully screwed vocals. Elsewhere, BFA willfully place their semi-charmed life lyrics over medium-paced grooves heavy on soul and Pacific Coast boom-bap.

Brothers From Another make this rap shit look easy. The plague of appearing as though they’re trying too hard is unknown to them, as is the dreaded rap pitfall of attempting to be something they’re not. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again now: hip-hop inside the 21st century is in good hands as long as BFA continue to have their precocious say.

Downloads

DOWNLOAD: “Roxy” – Brothers From Another (prod. by Sabzi)

Taco Tuesday is the title of the new EP by Brothers From Another, due June 12. “Roxy” is the first single. That’s available for free below. I’m guessing an incalculable number of Mexican eating establishments across our fair nation offer a “taco Tuesday”-type promotion, but none can compare to the inestimable meal deal of Seattle’s very own Taco Del Mar. I used to indulge my fish taco jones every third day of the week when I lived out there. It’s part of the reason why I got fat. Not sure where I was going with this other than to say it’s hard to find a decent taco in NYC. Real talk.

Downloads

DOWNLOAD: Swisher Nights – Rebel (prod. by Vitamin D)

Click album cover to download.

Vitamin D makes harder beats than anyone in the SEA, that’s just a fact. Up-and-coming MC Rebel nabs five of ’em here, the highlight of which is “Light Up (Shit You Like)” featuring Cole of Brothers From Another (who also show up in unison on “Outta Yo Mind”) and Antbeezy (delivering a rewind-worthy double-time verse). Aside from his tight-knit connection to Vita, Rebel has a lot going for him including a diverse flow and above-average technical skills. Definitely worth keeping your ears open for.

Downloads

VIDEO: “Neon Nights” – Brothers From Another (dir. by Zac McConnell)

BFA is kind enough to keep 206UP.COM in the loop with their drops (video and otherwise) — so mad thanks to them! But the crew invariably forgets to include email attachments or links to the subject matter at hand which is always funny (not to mention endearing) to me.

The track “Neon Nights” and its accompanying video accurately finds the homies just trying to find their way home after a (presumably) raucous night out. Anyone who went to college can relate. Hell, I can relate every time I mistakenly get on the subway at 3:00 am heading in the wrong direction. Carefree intoxicated blundering is not strictly reserved for the very young.

Check out Brothers From Another’s excellent 2011 LP, Quality of Living, below:

Downloads Video

DOWNLOAD: Quality of Living – Brothers From Another

Click album cover to D/L.

Hip-hop is a young man’s game and, as an aging (and concerned) fan of the music, it’s hard for an old geezer like myself to put easy trust in kid rappers who are often more than ten years my junior. I want to hope that my beloved genre will be left in good hands that foster and advance the movement rather than retard and hinder. Much of the sh-t that’s really popping nowadays is more of a portent of things to come rather than a reason to be optimistic.

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