Even when I was wrong, I got my point across.

May
02

Abe Beame takes on the conservative war on women.

FAT TAPE: APRIL
http://www.mediafire.com/?60fcsbxyw6gr2w2

Full disclosure: The majority of my month was spent listening to Pluto incessantly. Jeff would not let me post 15 Youtube links, so listen to Pluto. These are the nine songs I’ve cobbled together but have more or less skimmed in between listening to Future. (Big ups to Miss Info, whose blog makes this feature possible and I would love even if she wasn’t a hot Asian chick who wrote the 5 mic review for Illmatic.)

El-P- Oh Hail No (ft. Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire & Danny Brown): The good news is the almighty El Producto bounced back with an actual rap album. The bad news is the best parts of Cancer for the Cure (the album, not the Eels song) involve El-P not rapping. El-P has to be the only rapper on Earth I wish would just go back to making songs about “real Hip Hop.” (ed. note: I disagree). The best part of this song is obviously eXquire, who rips a fucking hole in the beat and has not only never sounded better but exceeds my wildest expectations for him. He is great. And, sorry Internets, but Danny Brown ~~sounds like an feral cat rapping between hits of nitrus~~ isn’t. (editors other note: Sach is currently en route to NYC to refute this statement.)

French Montana- Everywhere we go (ft. Wale): STAY TUNED FOR FRENCH MONTANA’S ALL AUTOTUNE SING RAPPING OVER CHARMELS SAMPLES MIXTAPE HOSTED BY DJ BIG MIKE SUMMER 2012 #YOUALREADY

May
01

Son Raw: Aesop Rock’s Zero Dark Thirty

Son Raw is the rare rap Jedi.

Def Jux: powerful in life, unstoppable in death. I have no idea what Aesop Rock is talking about in Zero Dark Thirty but I do know that he makes it sound fly, a crucial component to his rhyming that was all to often forgotten by his successors. Hardcore heads know the score however; look past the arty facade and current Rhymesayers affiliation and Aes Rizzle has always been a B-Boy at heart, masking his content in wild style lyricism that’s as Hip-Hop as it gets without staying stuck in the past. The catalogue is deep: while Labor Days had all the college freshmen waxing philosophical over bong hits, Bazooka Tooth’s flip towards Rick Rubin approved drum machines and None Shall Pass’ masterful rap eclecticism deserve just as many props. If this latest video is any indication, the winning streak isn’t ending any time soon either as Aes keeps pushing Hip-Hop to it’s breaking point without ever forgetting to keep it funky. Very few people can make rap music outside of the Hip-Hop “scene” without losing sight of what makes the art form work for rap fans: Aes is one of those rare rap jedis.

May
01

MobbDeen Song of the Day: Diamond D – Deflate Ya…

Deen was once a psychotic neurotic.

More than most rap fans, I tend to worry a lot about some of the OGs that made the music of my youth (yeah, I’m getting used to this old nigga shit). I say “more than most” because most rap fans I know give zero fucks about cats like Diamond D anymore – assuming they even knew who he was in his prime. And I say “some of the OGs” because like everyone else, I can’t be bothered to care what the fuck Pete Nice or Lord Tariq are up to. Ain’t but 24 hours in a day and niggas got bills to pay and women… to pay too? Just kidding. The transaction isn’t THAT obvious. Yet.

One guy I’ve worried about a bunch over the years is Diamond D. That’s because he made what, in my opinion, is one of the top 3 producer driven albums in rap history: Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop. I missed the entire album back in 1992 (I didn’t have facial hair back then – still don’t), but I have vague recollections of my best friend’s older brother getting buck to the “Sally Got A One Track Mind‘ video while I wondered why he wouldn’t just fuck off and let us watch Voltron like real niggas were supposed to.

May
01

Ty Segall & White Fence Wear Some Flowers in Their Hair

Jonah Bromwich rocks a powdered wig.

Ty Segall and White Fence’s new collaborative album Hair is very good. That’s not a surprise. Segall is an eternally under-appreciated, songwriting and riff whiz and White Fence’s Tim Presley, while not quite of Segall’s stature, has shown the ability to add both heart and muscle to his guitar-history collages. So yeah, it’s not surprising at all that the two collaborating makes all kinds of excellent, cat-scratch sense, and marks another artistic step for Segall.

Last year’s Goodbye Bread found Segall working in a mellower arena of sound — showing off his songwriting prowess and letting the tempo move with delightfully sluggishness. While the album was excellent, some complained that the pure joy of noise that animated most of Segall’s previous work was missing.

Apr
30

Son Raw: Danny Brown – Blueberry (Pills & Cocaine)

Son Raw just punched an old lady while listening to this.

In which my favorite active rapper spits bars over my favorite style of production. After months of casually referencing his love of Grime, Danny Brown finally delivers his outstanding collaboration with UK producer Darq E. Freaker, splitting the difference between Crunk-style ignorance and London hype. Those looking for the reflective Danny should probably avert their virgins ears but if threats of verbal and physical beatdowns, double-time flows, an impressive amount of drug references and what looks like one hell of a good time capture on video pike your interest – you need this in your life. Danny Brown is now officially Intercontinental and American rappers can no longer ignore the fact that some of the best beats on Earth are being made across the ocean.

Apr
30

Son Raw’s month in MTL

Son Raw spends most of his months in MTL. Book him in your city for a nominal fee.

Lots of interesting music gets made in Montreal, particularly over the Winter months when nobody wants to leave the house for fear of yetis. Unfortunately, I don’t always have the time to properly document all of the good stuff and the media is usually busy shining light the fad of the week instead of the underground soldiers fueling the city’s creativity. So consider this a bluffer’s guide to the best in beats and bass coming out of my fair city over the past quarter, with a particular emphasis on the Dubstep and post-Dubstep scene. Whether it’s mixes or EPs, there’s enough quality material coming out of here to keep your iPod running for a week and I guarantee that none of these artists make or wear vagina shaped rings. Because that would just be really, really stupid.

Apr
30

Game of Ruins: Deniro Farrar Goes Gritty

Jimmy Ness only plays Uno.

Smashed buildings, muddy water and sledgehammers. “Play No Games” is rugged imagery on a gritty and grey specrum. Deniro Farrar locks eyes with the viewer and rhymes about poverty. It’s an overused subject, but he speaks without a trace of pretentious bravado or corny consciousness.

No witty punchlines, no preachiness, no swag. Just compelling rhymes. Farrar wears a weathered sports cap and dirty boots as he raps about alcohol addiction and death. “Sick and tired of funerals and going to these wakes. Killing off each other, while they laugh in our face.” His raps are straightforward and his intentions are clear: he simply wants to tell his story.

Apr
27

Son Raw: Bok Bok delivers mo’ Night Slugs

Look at him now, look at him now…Son Raw‘s grading papeeeerrrrrssss.

Some additional mixology for your weekend. Night Slugs cofounder Bok Bok’s official mix can and must be described with the following words: funky, neon, rude, sexy, future-forward, dubwise, underground, London-centric, druggy, grimy, urban and perhaps most importantly: essential. Sometimes it’s best to forget about context and meaning and just zone out to a phat beat. Yes, I just used the word “phat.” It’s back, in pog form.

Download:
MP3: Bok Bok – Nightslugs Mix [NSMIX001]

Apr
27

MobbDeen never goes full retard

Deen is all about the process.

In lieu of a proper review of El-Producto’s new effort, I’ll leave that shit to a professional because I’m lazy and I “don’t write reviews” (Ed’s note: Son Raw calls dibs), I’m going to write down some of the shit that crossed my mind while listening to “Cancer for Cure.” I think this is a valuable exercise for all of us, since you get to see how I process information/music on a daily basis. Don’t “cool story bro” me – I’m important damn it. Let’s go:

1. El-P has really mastered these Bomb Squad/Pastiche/Sonic Collage sounding ass beats. It’s almost cheating at this point. I could listen to his beats forever.
2. Speaking of Bomb Squad, how many proper reviews of this album will bring them up? What’s the over/under on that shit?
3. Oh and “dystopian” – I bet that word gets thrown around a bunch.
4. How the fuck does El-P get to make 2 of the dopest “posse” cuts I’ve heard in a long while on the same album?

Apr
27

Jimmy Ness: DJ Carnage speaks on A$AP, Dubstep, Kreayshawn and cow manure

DJ Carnage is a young producer who doesn’t care about old school rap values. He’ll make authentic gutter music for grill wearers and annoy them next week with poppy dubstep. Sneaking on the internet radar after producing Kreyashawn’s collaboration with Theophilus London “Shrimp Pt.2”, his uniquely rhythmic bass obviously stood out and he’s continued to carve a creative sound, whether working with the A$AP crew or remixing Beyonce.The DC native is also a charismatic rapper who smiles in all of his music videos and swears too much during interviews. We talked on a fuzzy phone line about working with the A$AP Rocky, smelling manure in Maryland and his varied production style.

By Jimmy Ness

What have you been doing at Coachella?

Man, I’ve been out here on the Borgore tour. You know, I’ve been on the bus with Document One and Borgore and we have been doing shows and shows and shows. One of the stops on Borgore’s tour is Coachella. We’ve been watching other shows too, it’s pretty cool.

I watched Rehab yesterday. I also watched Feed me, Madeon, Afrojack and we watched Swedish House, oh and The Black Keys.

I read on Twitter, you said Kendrick Lamar sounded a bit like DMX?

Kendrick ….uh yeah when he was rapping he was very grungy, I don’t know. I can’t do real hiphop music, like I can’t listen to it. It has to be fast or obnoxiously stupid or something. I don’t know, I just can’t sit there and listen to someone try to be lyrical. You know, I just can’t do it.