| 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 […]
| 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 […]
| Toy Light’s “Yay Yay” | May 6, 2014 |
Max Bell is in the back sipping on yak. For the past two years L.A. based producer/DJ/singer/multi-instrumentalist (and not the other way around) Toy Light has operated at the intersection of indie rock and beat scene electronic, somewhere between Thom Yorke and Flying Lotus. If you haven’t seen his name around these parts, then you might’ve […]
| 10 Years Later, The UN’s Debut is Still The Golden Grail | April 28, 2014 |
Max Bell is an advocate for Russian head wear The UN came in with the best. Comprised of Roc Marciano (fresh from his brief tenure as a member of Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad) and three of his childhood friends from Long Island — Laku, Divine, and Godfree – the group first appeared on Pete Rock’s […]
