Future...the future of rap? This lad hails from Atlanta but is based in Indiana, and I picked up his mixtape Astronaut Status via rcrdlbl. Firstly, this site has become my go-to place for my rap mixtapes. I haven't been disappointed yet. Astronaut Status is a consistent effort that's not really like anything I've heard before. And I love it. Of the stand-out tracks, the change-of-pace "Deeper Than The Ocean," produced by Will-A-Fool, is perhaps the most stand-out of them all.
Blame the cut of a few acoustic notes.
This could be called a mellow rap song. It's not too aggressive or in-your-face, but it still grabs your attention for being so different. Every rapper should do something like "Deeper Than The Ocean" at least once. There's a pang of sadness that stands out in the chorus, and emotion in the verses than I'd like to see more in the rap genre. Yes, Future is the future of rap. I've got my radar on high alert for an album to come my way.
Blame the cut of the electric notes at the end of the song.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Tetrafusion - Cloudless
Last week I was elated for Tetrafusion's new EP, Horizons to be released online....and for free. It's the perfect present for the band to give to their favourite cheap Canadian fan, though I would have donated if I could. I like that the EP isn't exactly like Altered State. It's a little heavier and a little more experimental, but all in a good way. They didn't pull a Linkin Park and slaughter a release after an amazing one (ahem, ahem...A Thousand Suns...ahem). Of the eight songs on the EP, I already have a few favourites, perhaps my favourite of those being "Cloudless." You're not hearing any Tool influences here. This is all Tetrafusion.
Even in the first second of guitars, you know this will be unlike any Tetrafusion song you've ever heard (I assume you've heard a lot, naturally). The first verse is spoken, an interesting choice that lets the guitar riffs shine while giving "Cloudless" that atmospheric feeling. But don't fret, the vocals come in with a vengeance, and I love it.
What gives you the right to take life away?
In the dawning of our darkest hour
Who says what's right?
Do me a favour and get your hand on this now. NOW.
Even in the first second of guitars, you know this will be unlike any Tetrafusion song you've ever heard (I assume you've heard a lot, naturally). The first verse is spoken, an interesting choice that lets the guitar riffs shine while giving "Cloudless" that atmospheric feeling. But don't fret, the vocals come in with a vengeance, and I love it.
What gives you the right to take life away?
In the dawning of our darkest hour
Who says what's right?
Do me a favour and get your hand on this now. NOW.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Fun. feat. Janelle Monáe - We Are Young
200 posts! Can you believe it? I like to get nostalgic; and now with every hundredth post, I will make a point of sharing something worth sharing (though it all is). The gems. The epics. This is for all of you who read, because without you, this blog would only be read by my sister, brother and friends.
I normally don't like to go mainstream. Blame the hipster in me. Fun.'s "We Are Young" is a rather popular song that I first became aware of through Glee; it wasn't until he video was offered for fee on itunes that I realized what I was missing out on. Who knew something popular could be good (I guess I am a hipster after all...)? "We Are Young" is a song that is exactly what you think it's about: being young, throwing caution to the wind and the many adventures at the bar. And it's done well.
Give me a second, I
Need to get my story straight
My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State
My lover, she's waiting for me
Just across the bar
My seat's been taken by some sunglasses asking 'bout a scar
The lyrics. The instruments. The vocals. Janelle Monáe. OMG. I do wish she could have been in "We Are Young" for a little longer, but I'm content with the final product. More than content. And I recommend the video; much so. This is for everyone, merely looking for someone to carry them home tonight. After all, we are young.
I normally don't like to go mainstream. Blame the hipster in me. Fun.'s "We Are Young" is a rather popular song that I first became aware of through Glee; it wasn't until he video was offered for fee on itunes that I realized what I was missing out on. Who knew something popular could be good (I guess I am a hipster after all...)? "We Are Young" is a song that is exactly what you think it's about: being young, throwing caution to the wind and the many adventures at the bar. And it's done well.
Give me a second, I
Need to get my story straight
My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State
My lover, she's waiting for me
Just across the bar
My seat's been taken by some sunglasses asking 'bout a scar
The lyrics. The instruments. The vocals. Janelle Monáe. OMG. I do wish she could have been in "We Are Young" for a little longer, but I'm content with the final product. More than content. And I recommend the video; much so. This is for everyone, merely looking for someone to carry them home tonight. After all, we are young.
Monday, 6 February 2012
FKi - Bent Up (Feat. Natasha Mosley)
FKi...these guys are so new that they don't even seem to have a Facebook page yet. Yes, I've already looked for it. I downloaded their mixtape, Transformers N The Hood, via rcrdlbl last week, and have been in love with their throbbing bass, quick rhymes and catchy beats ever since. They've also got electronic god Diplo on their side, which doesn't hurt either. The track that immediately jumped out (the most, really...there are plenty o' good tracks here) was "Bent Up" with the lovely Natasha Mosley.
"Bent Up" begins with the delicate tap of a piano and tell a hoe to lean on me, hit her with the Morgan Freeman, my bitch hella bad, your bitch hella decent. Yes, it's a love song set to fuzzy computer sounds with a few choppy repetitions of bent up, bent up, bent up...and it's wonderful. Don't confuse this track with that softcore rap that can put anyone to sleep. "Bent Up" is just as aggressive as FKi's other selections (which you must listen to, by the way), and is in no way a sweet love ditty. Oh no. Ms. Mosley's chorus is the icing on the proverbial cake here too. So what are you waiting for this Monday evening? Are you watching A&E's Hoarders too? Why not get your hands on the mixtape?
Oh, and what does FKi stand for? Fuckin' Kickin' It.
"Bent Up" begins with the delicate tap of a piano and tell a hoe to lean on me, hit her with the Morgan Freeman, my bitch hella bad, your bitch hella decent. Yes, it's a love song set to fuzzy computer sounds with a few choppy repetitions of bent up, bent up, bent up...and it's wonderful. Don't confuse this track with that softcore rap that can put anyone to sleep. "Bent Up" is just as aggressive as FKi's other selections (which you must listen to, by the way), and is in no way a sweet love ditty. Oh no. Ms. Mosley's chorus is the icing on the proverbial cake here too. So what are you waiting for this Monday evening? Are you watching A&E's Hoarders too? Why not get your hands on the mixtape?
Oh, and what does FKi stand for? Fuckin' Kickin' It.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Rusko - Somebody To Love
Bass and I have a troubled relationship, but now and again it redeems itself, and is usually in thanks to the collection of DJs and artists that I call "electronic gods." The UK's Rusko is one of these gods, and the only one whose dubstep is something I find listenable. I'm a regular fan of minimal electronic, don't get me wrong, but not and again I like my bass throbbing and deep. Oh, dear. Only an electronic god could give us the jazzy, danceable "Somebody To Love."
With the lyrics looping everybody's looking for that somebody to love, don't wanna be lonely, just looking for someone to love, while being chopped up into little pieces...dubstep cannot possibly be better than this in any other instance. Rusko is a master of bass. The jazzy part comes from the piano-y "verses," but you've got that hard electronic sound during the "chorus." Everything contrasts like it should. Just listen closely; these three minutes will go by too quickly, and before you know it, you'll be hitting the back button.
With the lyrics looping everybody's looking for that somebody to love, don't wanna be lonely, just looking for someone to love, while being chopped up into little pieces...dubstep cannot possibly be better than this in any other instance. Rusko is a master of bass. The jazzy part comes from the piano-y "verses," but you've got that hard electronic sound during the "chorus." Everything contrasts like it should. Just listen closely; these three minutes will go by too quickly, and before you know it, you'll be hitting the back button.
Friday, 3 February 2012
Meek Mill - Lean With It
I was going to try to make February a month I posted everyday...guess that idea is dead only three days into the second month of the year, but I try.
My early love of music began with bubblegum pop, and then began to veer into rap and hip-hop. Though I'm not as exclusive as I was back then, I still enjoy a good rhyme and a good beat together, and have lately found myself enjoying more rap more often. Though I'll always have my old favourites (Swollen Members, Kanye, Miss Minaj, etc), I'm always looking for new and unknown artists. Case in point? Philly's Meek Mill and his danceable "Lean With It."
"Lean With It" is aggressive rap (i.e. the chorus), but some days call for a song that grabs the collar of your shirt and pulls you right in. The lyrics are just as powerful; Meek Mill isn't someone you should be messing with (when I pull up to the club, you shoulda seen your bitch's face). This is what should be playing in every club everywhere; no more Flo Rida or Usher for this girl to sway her hips! Dear Meek Mill, continue to make the rap genre your own. You've got it.
My early love of music began with bubblegum pop, and then began to veer into rap and hip-hop. Though I'm not as exclusive as I was back then, I still enjoy a good rhyme and a good beat together, and have lately found myself enjoying more rap more often. Though I'll always have my old favourites (Swollen Members, Kanye, Miss Minaj, etc), I'm always looking for new and unknown artists. Case in point? Philly's Meek Mill and his danceable "Lean With It."
"Lean With It" is aggressive rap (i.e. the chorus), but some days call for a song that grabs the collar of your shirt and pulls you right in. The lyrics are just as powerful; Meek Mill isn't someone you should be messing with (when I pull up to the club, you shoulda seen your bitch's face). This is what should be playing in every club everywhere; no more Flo Rida or Usher for this girl to sway her hips! Dear Meek Mill, continue to make the rap genre your own. You've got it.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Dead and Divine - Goodnight, Quiet City
I'm a little late in the evening posting this, I know. Well, if we're talking about the eastern time zone. If you're in Los Angeles right now, ignore this message.
Well now, I suppose the dead of winter is ending sooner than expected. All of the snow here has melted, and it's been a quiet gloomy day in my neck of the woods. What is the perfect music for such a day (or any day, for that matter)? Dead and Divine, of course! And how about something from their early EP, What Really Happened At Lover's Lane? Am I looking for an excuse to feature more D&D? Probably, but this isn't the side of the band you've hopefully seen from my other postings. This is subdued Dead and Divine, though they are still just as fantastic in "Goodnight, Quiet City."
It's acoustic, of course, but don't you dare say this track is selling out. How about the first line, pretty you are, enough to be in magazines, a front-page fuck, for this month. Huh? Maybe it's just unconditional love for a favourite band, but I quite enjoy every facet that they offer in their repertoire. "Goodnight, Quiet City" is what I listen to when I'm in that no-metal mood (it happens!) and just want to chill out a bit. I'm glad my favourite band can help in any way they can. And does it hurt that Mr. Tobin's vocals are delivered beautifully? Not at all.
Well now, I suppose the dead of winter is ending sooner than expected. All of the snow here has melted, and it's been a quiet gloomy day in my neck of the woods. What is the perfect music for such a day (or any day, for that matter)? Dead and Divine, of course! And how about something from their early EP, What Really Happened At Lover's Lane? Am I looking for an excuse to feature more D&D? Probably, but this isn't the side of the band you've hopefully seen from my other postings. This is subdued Dead and Divine, though they are still just as fantastic in "Goodnight, Quiet City."
It's acoustic, of course, but don't you dare say this track is selling out. How about the first line, pretty you are, enough to be in magazines, a front-page fuck, for this month. Huh? Maybe it's just unconditional love for a favourite band, but I quite enjoy every facet that they offer in their repertoire. "Goodnight, Quiet City" is what I listen to when I'm in that no-metal mood (it happens!) and just want to chill out a bit. I'm glad my favourite band can help in any way they can. And does it hurt that Mr. Tobin's vocals are delivered beautifully? Not at all.
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