May
31

Sach O: Mala – XLR8R Podcast

Sach O is surprised his neighbors haven’t killed him yet. Their ceilings must be rattling. Mala commands the kind of awe among Dubstep fans that goes beyond simple respect into the realm of sheer idolatry. The kind of musical presence that has your annoying old uncle yelling “Clapton is God” years after the fact and… Continue reading »

May
31

Video: Peaking Lights – “Amazing & Wonderful”

Adorned in the sepia shades and black and white schemes of the early Velvet Underground, the Andy Warhol screen tests appear to be the chief inspirations for “Amazing & Wonderful.” Take note Lady Gaga: there is no need to scream “LOOK AT ME, I HAVE READ THE PHILOSOPHY OF ANDY WARHOL TWICE,” unless you take… Continue reading »

May
31

Swing the John McEnroe: Cannibal Ox, the Chef and Thor’s Hammer

A decade ago, the underground would have sacrificed several hundred cattle to see the union of the Wu and the Oxes. The Cold Vein dropped ten years ago this month, ushering in a new chapter of serrated sewer rap and catch phrases that only your friend who still wears Ecko would understand. Vast and Vordul… Continue reading »

May
31

Not A Blogger Redux: The Weighty Glory Of Carrying Rick Ross’ Crab Cakes

Doc Zeus’s municipal marvelousity has yet to be magnificently memorialized. Listening to Maybach Music Group’s Self-Made Vol. 1 can be described in a series of short words that may or may not have been used by Rick Ross on the actual album: astonishing, wonderment, immaculateness, impeccability, magnificentience, flawlessment, superlativery, gloriousic and amazitude. Like Xanadu and… Continue reading »

May
30

BEeFF Rap

Stoned, space-age swag rap out of West LA by two dudes who appear to be teenaged or close to it. Influences include Mickey Mouse, moon boots, David Letterman, marijuana, UFO’s, cooking dances. Down with Overdoz and J.R. Rotem’s signing Mann, who dropped last year’s “Buzzin‘,” the massive Nu-Shooz-flipping, LA radio hit. (at least, it was… Continue reading »

May
30

1000names Yes

1000names – Make A Clap from Svetlana Industries on Vimeo. The brainchild of two Bulgarians from Sofia, beats made on an ACAI MPC1000, released on a Serbian label, directed by a director with an Italian name and prominently including an iconic sample from an old-school 5 percent rap legend from Long Island. Odd Future. 1000Names’… Continue reading »

May
28

Sach O: R.I.P Gil Scott Heron

Sach O shouldn’t be writing before coffee. I suppose if I’m up posting this early on a Saturday, I should say something about the untimely passing of Gil Scott Heron. I’m not a fan of writing obituaries for people I never met so I’ll keep it brief: look past all of the “forefather of Hip-Hop”… Continue reading »

May
27

T3: Rise of the Motor Freaks

For the right price, Evan Nabavian will mediate your rap squabbles. Slum Village is over. Dilla and Baatin are dead and T3 and Elzhi don’t get along anymore, thrusting the remaining members into the wide world of solo projects. Elzhi, revered for his laser-guided raps, dropped a pointless cover version of Illmatic this month. T3… Continue reading »

May
27

Sach O: Kromestar – Colourful Vibrations

Sach O speaks primary colors. He’s not fond of British spelling though. Kromestar is a DJ’s producer. His tracks are long, evolving lockstep affairs that feel custom-made for a selector’s able hand and for a massive sound system’s rumble. Paradoxically, he’s also on his third album after 2008 dread-bass infused My Sound and 2009’s heavy-metal… Continue reading »

May
27

Solid as a Rock: Pete Rock, Sean P, and Styles P Go Hard

Abe Beame traded in his Timbos for some suede wally Moccasins. My tastes these days generally run against the grain of the chest beating 41st-siders who won’t stop talking about Action Bronson and still rock oversized Yankee fitteds over doo rags. And on paper, Pete Rock and Smiff N Wessun has the same kind of… Continue reading »

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