The Joker’s not the next big thing. He already was two years ago, as an 18-year old prodigy straight out of trip-hop mecca, Bristol. Even then, he was initially pegged as a savior of grime, then dubstep. Making beats on Fruity Loops at 14, spinning regularly at 15, always heavily hyped, as far as heavily […]
| One Ratchet, Two Clubs, and a Mask | May 11, 2009 |
U-God, a.k.a. Baby Huey, a.ka. Mr. Xcitement, a.ka. the only member of Wu-Tang openly rocking the leather mask that Thora Birch/Enid sported in Ghost World. There is something unsavory about seeing the Clan in suits–like watching dogs play poker, and watching Degrassi High actors become the latest rap sensation. Oh wait. Not sure what […]
| Lil Boosie Gets Loaded | May 7, 2009 |
Photo via The Fader I know I’ve been scarce. There’s been an avalanche of deadlines, an undisclosed long-term writing project, playoff basketball, and sometimes, days just disappear. There’s too much good music to pay proper tribute. Wooden Shjips, the new Kid Cudi and Playboy Tre mixtapes, Belbury Poly’s From an Ancient Star, and anything Grateful […]
| Mayer Hawthorne–“Just Ain’t Gonna’ Work Out” Video | April 28, 2009 |
Of course, it just isn’t going to work out. How can you take a girl seriously who carries a teacup chihuahua in her purse? In terms of white boys with ultra-Semitic names who re-appropriate black music, I’m riding with Mayer Hawthorne all day. This still doesn’t mean that I want Hashem Goldberg to be the […]
| Nico the Beast Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Weapons | April 22, 2009 |
As you may have read at Zilla Rocca’s Clap Cowards, Nico the Beast, one half of Clean Guns, friend of this blog, and the man behind last year’s excellent, No Beast So Fierce, was in a serious car accident last weekend. Initially listed as critical, the bulletproof Beast has improved, and with time, is expected […]
| Forms of the Good: Akron/Family Cover The Grateful Dead | April 15, 2009 |
I’d wanted to write about Akron/Family ever since their SXSW set at the Dead Oceans showcase left me waxing rhapsodic about their ability to successfully navigate the divide between the genius of the great jam bands (The Dead, The Allmans, Phish), vs. the fat-fingered indulgences of their single (brain) celled brethren. But props to Hidden […]
Kevin Elliott tells me that I too often sleep on Columbus hip-hop. Kevin Elliott is usually right about these matters. Therefore, here’s the latest cut from Buckeye rhymer, Illogic, with guest spots from Slug, Aesop Rock, and a guy named Zero Star. It’s a fun song, though I’m not sure if it qualifies as “diabolic.” […]
| Mika Miko-“Sex Jazz” | April 13, 2009 |
Photo via Austin Chronicle The moral of the story is that I should listen to Skeet on Mischa more. Because it’s otherwise inexplicable why I’ve yet to write about Smell favorites Mika Miko–LA’s answer to the X-Ray Spex and Germs smorgasbord of Love is All. Their official sophomore debut, We Be Xuxa drops on May […]
| Kriss Kross: Pretty “Alright” | April 11, 2009 |
Not trying to play revisionist critic–I’ll be the first to admit that the singles and the JD production, far outstrip any actual artistry. However, a YouTube hunt for LL Cool J’s “Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings,” steered me to “Alright,” the lead single from Kriss Kross’ much-maligned sophomore effort, Da […]
| Tha Alkaholiks & Kurupt-“Have Fun” | April 10, 2009 |
By default, even an underwhelming collabo between Tha Liks and Young Gotti has to be good. If the point is to “have fun,” this succeeds. Nice to see Tha Alkaholiks back in action, after a reported retirement had them on the shelf for the last three years. Local legends, Tash, J-Ro, and E-Swift have always […]
