| West Coast Round Up | July 21, 2014 |
Max Bell is starring opposite Robert DeNiro in “Meet the Flockers 2” Last week was a long week for various reasons. Rap and reefer helped. The Cali cure is generally best. Below are some of the latest offerings from L.A. rappers I played during that time. It’s a markedly mixed bag, comprised of veterans, gangsters, […]
| Danny Brown & DJ Sliink: Smokin’ & Drinkin’ Remix | July 10, 2014 |
Max Bell can sing a hook like Alicia Keys Summer music festivals have become synonymous with performances from the current crop of DJs du jour. If you’ve the funds or connections necessary to attend any one of the major festivals this year, you’re bound to see (or at least past by) one man alone on […]
| The End of Days: Ab-Soul’s New Album | July 8, 2014 |
Max Bell carried the cross so you could play Candy Crush 2012’s Control System was an inspired and unforeseen coup. Ab-Soul brought inquisition and introspection, paranoia and conspiracy theories by the oz. There were hits of DMT, witty wordplay, and pineal gland prodding. It was the Carson native’s claim to the title of ‘Best Behind […]
| Summer Mixtape: Max Bell | July 3, 2014 |
Max Bell once played basketball with Nate Dogg. Last week, a friend and recent L.A. transplant told me 2Pac and Dr. Dre songs left still bodies staring at the deserted dance floor of a Westside lounge. Outsiders equate lack of motion to tracks from the accepted West Coast rap suzerain with treason. And yet, this reaction […]
| The Dynasty: Stones Throw Will Not Lose | June 12, 2014 |
Max Bell‘s book collection weighs a ton. Stones Throw has never left you in the lurch. They put out new music every week. More often than not, it’s good and well worth your time. Occasionally, it’s great and requires innumerable listens. Below are some of the latest offerings from label over the last month or […]
| The Martian Chronicles of The Outfit, TX | June 4, 2014 |
Max Bell is a Ray Bradbury guy. At this point, my writing about The Outfit, TX is unofficially part of my job at PassionWeiss. I continue because someone must. Apart from Rob Gullatte, few in Houston have as much talent and potential. (If I’m missing someone, alert me in the comments section — that’s why it’s […]
Max Bell still clowns with the underground. If you know your L.A. rap history, you know Freestyle Fellowship. If you know Freestyle Fellowship, you know Self Jupiter. The Blowedian was at the Good Life, and thus he has styles upon styles. His latest is a video for single “Don’t Say Nathan,” which drops today. Over […]
| Bodega Bamz & Raekwon Fuck Shit Up | May 22, 2014 |
Max Bell wishes Santa Monica had bodegas. Bodega Bamz has always had potential. His alignment with A$AP Mob garnered deserved exposure, but I’ve always hoped for a different sonic direction. A$AP already does A$AP what does. And while the fellow Harlemite is competent over A$AP’s blend of grim Three 6 Mafia trap and ethereal Clams-Casino-esque atmospherics […]
| A Boy Named Su – Iamsu’s Sincerely Yours | May 14, 2014 |
Max Bell own titles and busts nines at his rivals Before most had heard of Sage the Gemini, there was Iamsu. In fact, it was Su who brought Sage into the HBK Gang fold. However, given the popularity of Sage’s singles “Gas Pedal” and “Red Nose,” many have probably been too busy “filming” their yiking […]
| It’s the Diggy-Diggy Doc Y’all: Redman is “Dunfiato” | May 12, 2014 |
Max Bell is the shit like Janet Jackson undressing You can’t fake the funk. You can’t fake charisma. Redman has had both wrapped in Buddha packed Phillies since he ripped the anchor leg of EPMD’s “Hardcore” in 1990. A consummate showman, his vocal presence on wax has always mirrored his energy on stage and on […]
