May
25

BEeFF Rule the Fake World

Weed in wine glasses, Wonderlic references and squirt gun shootouts. Well played. The difference between BEeFF and their comic-minded peers is that the West LAians understand the difference between satire and irony. Maybe this is a college thing. Still, “Mute’ is the only banger this year that could inspire debates about fakeness and authenticity. Thankfully,… Continue reading »

May
24

Guido Goes to Afrika

Guido’s vision of “Afrika” starts with the drums. Smacked Djembes incite the ritual around the 30 second mark, ceremonial thumps that set the stage for occult keys and synthesizers that sound like they were stolen from a lost Swizz Beatz vault. “Down Bottom” meets dubstep was once the mathematics in the orchestral lab. But while… Continue reading »

Apr
20

Video: Allah Las – Tell Me (What’s On Your Mind)

Immaculately constructed psych-pop in the vein of ? and the Mysterians, 13th Floor Elevators, the Nuggets comp, and The Byrds circa “Eight Miles High.”  The Allah Las are from Los Angeles and record for the Innovative Leisure imprint, which is lights out at the moment. This song is some smoked-out 60s beach cruiser music —… Continue reading »

Mar
27

Roc Marciano, Emerald Emperor

Blood diamonds are too cliche and Roc Marc’s gift is putting a fresh spin on the familiar. So enter “Emeralds,” more crowbars and cars as flying carpets rap. If I were to pitch a reality show to MTV Iggy, it would involve Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, and Rick Ross competing to make up the most… Continue reading »

Mar
27

Video: Zilla Rocca – “Devil’s Pie”

Zilla Rocca, rap Serpico, updates his style from sepia film to contemporary house parties, covert phone calls, and the occasional parking lot car lean. Beyond existing as a metaphor for materialism, “Devil’s Pie” is also an archaic nickname for the 2004 Acura Integra.Why ask why? Small Pro supplies the horns and while no one could… Continue reading »

Mar
26

Video: Blue Sky Black Death & Nacho Picasso – “Staring at the Sun”

At some point, Nacho will have to mix in different flows, but in the interim, I will endorse anyone who gets daiquiris thrown at him, grabs weaves, indicts “boppin’ ass bitches,” and rhymes “Gee Willikers,” with “fucked the bitch so good, I had to steal her purse.” Maybe it’s misogynistic, but c’mon, it’s all jokes… Continue reading »

Mar
20

Video: I Come to Shanghai – “Tied Down”

Somewhere, somehow, one of the old Altered Zones editors will see this video. When he does, he might like it so much that it will cause him to roll around in his grave in the shape of a Lamborghini VHS Cassette Rewinder. You can buy them at thrift store Mortuaries in Highland Park. I wrote… Continue reading »

Mar
19

Video: Lee Fields — “Sunny”

Lee Fields – Sunny from JazzReggae Festival on Vimeo. Listen to Lee Fields.

Mar
05

Video: Action Bronson & Party Supplies – “Hookers at the Point”

This plays out like Ghostface Killah wrote the scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High where Ron Johnson, stereo salesman, seduces Stacy Hamilton. Bronson looks like a cross between Bam Bam Bigelow and Slick Rick. Word to Roberto Clemente. In other news, Bronson, Roc Marc, Cormega, and Saigon went Mars over a beat from the… Continue reading »

Mar
01

City of Nite

One Second of Love by Nite Jewel from Secretly Jag on Vimeo. Because every Real Housewives of Philadelphia champagne and strawberries soiree needs to be broken up by stoned face dance troupes, prostitutes in fishnet body suits and funky ibexes. I’ve been digging the new Nite Jewel album for a minute, but haven’t written about… Continue reading »

Older posts «