Bullshit Always Kills Everything Real. B.A.K.E.R., DMV-based emcee presents a dive into the mind of a loner. Jazz piano samples all over this, perfectly suiting Baker’s bluesy sing song hooks & introspective verses. Dexter Fizz of KC.93 & Noraa make a few cameos. Add this to your winter playlist.
I remember the homie Digga put me on to this lady Tyra From Saigon’s music back in 2007. Her album Isolated was pretty much the soundtrack of my life that year. Combining her production with her turntablism skills made for a potent mix. She is currently DJing all over North America & her signature “Delayed Flare” scratch technique continues to be taught at the legendary DJ Q-Bert’s Scratch University. Definitely one of the illest DJ’s (regardless of gender) out.
Here are a couple of her standout tracks (download them all at TyraFromSaigon.com):
Here it is folks, the passionate Los Angeles emcee NAK presents his first offering of 2011: Rogue Hearts. These tracks are selections from NAK’s discography remixed by Evan Awake, laying down NAK’s vocals over production from the likes of MF DOOM, Maker, Blue Sky Black Death, Soulostar & more. Those unfamiliar with NAK will find a very unique and energetic voice full of fury. Spiritually charged lyrics are NAK’s forte, & he plays them very well to illustrate life situations. Hopefully we will see an original project with production of this caliber in the future.
The ever hungry Sactown spitter Illecism released this during Christmas time but it was kept very low key from the blogosphere. Having the audacity to go in solo as far as promotion goes (no tracks were leaked & I didn’t even see any tweets from BMR [Illecism's biggest fan] about it) is a feat in itself. However, after some quick research I now understand why: Illecism was doing promo work out of the country & in spots the average up & coming rap artist wouldn’t do. Here it is, Illecism’s Final Fantasy VII inspired album Cloud Strife via iTunes Japan (yeah, he’s serious). Amazing listen based off snippets alone. Cop it now for only 1500 Yen or wait til January 30 for the US release via Illthy.com.
Illecism – Purchase – Cloud Strife
Here’s the 1st US single (it’s surreal to read, I know) “Midgar Music” off Cloud Strife recently released by Fly High produced by Trade Voorhees.
If you don’t have the funds to cop Cloud Strife, The Back2Pluto exclusive Plue Starfox remix of the song hailed by URB.com as Illecism’s best blog offering of 2010, “Akira” is now available for free download via The Runners File Vol. 1
LA duo Seven Day presents a collection of tracks completed within the past 9 months. Quality production from J. Listed & lyricism from both the latter & Jay Diction with appearances by Foci, Versis, VerBS & more.
The collabo joints are ridiculous!
N.L.U. (ft. Foci)
1234 (ft. Versis, VerBS & Makeshift)
This is the original set of beats used in Gambitt’s DontSayIDidntWarnU project. Feel free to use these very soul sample driven beats as long as credits go to Gambitt on production. I highly recommend contacting Gambitt on twitter @Gambitt4Aces before using these instrumentals.
Gambitt – Download – SoultapeLvL3: The Burning Ace
LA emcee TiRon released his a’capellas to the public & our boy Jonathan Lowell grabbed them & flipped them on his beats. What’s good with an official TiRon x Jon Low collaboration though?!
Jonathan Lowell x TiRon – Download – DJN MSTRD
Contact Jonathan Lowell:
Twitter: @NexusOfZero | Website: JonathanLowell.official.fm
We featured Gambitt’s Jonathan Lowell-produced single a while back & here’s the complete project. Gambitt produces 12 of the 14 tracks & engineered the entire album. Respect. Do what it do & shout out to Baton Rouge.
Gambitt4Aces – Download – DontSayIDidntWarnU
Some of you may remember Curbside Jones going by the moniker C.B TV & his anime-themed Endless Waltz album (bro, we should’ve met earlier haha). The Austin, TX emcee/producer completely switched up his style on his latest offering, Bum Life: The Semi Epic Tale Of Curbside Jones, going from the usual bragging/cool guy approach to a more refined introspective look into the lifestyle of the everyday man for better or worse. As C.B TV, something I noticed about his production style was the very abrasive drum programming & Curbside is no different…all of these tracks sound like your boy just went buck on a live drum kit; crashes, cymbals, & frantic fill-ins all the way through. If you like soul sample-based production, this is the album for you. Marvin Gaye’s presence is very much felt. Song concepts about the everyday struggle (“Spare Change”), escapism (“Manga Break”), high class women that you can’t afford (“High Class=Low Ends”), being a victim of capitalism (“The Unemployment Line”) should definitely have something anyone can relate to. Perseverance is the key theme to all of these tracks, so blast this album whenever you need a pick-me-up for sure.
Contact Curbside Jones:
Twitter: @CurbsideJones | Website: EmptySodaCans.com
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