Author: jeffwbaird
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Hip-Hop, Videos | Kinetics & One Love — Sign Language (feat. Wynter Gordon) [Music Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on November 8, 2012
There are quite a lot of you, I imagine, who come to our site daily and already know what artists and groups you’re looking out for. And though that’s all fine, what makes our job most exciting is getting to share artists with you whom we believe ought to be on the national stage. Artists that stand out from the crowd, or more appropriately, crowded inbox. During my tenure at FNT, there is no artist or group that I’ve posted quite as many times as Kinetics & One Love, and believe me that is deliberate. That is not to say that they’re necessarily producing any more work than most artists, but rather that the quality of what they release is so much greater. My hope is that many will eventually see yet another writeup and think, again? I guess I’ll check them out, and end up with your new favorite group. Today is another tremendous opportunity for that exposure, because Kinetics & One Love are premiering their new music video to “Sign Language” featuring Wynter Gordon, a song that perfectly exemplifies this hip-hop duo and what kind of high-caliber work they are capable of. Bar for bar, Kinetics can out-rap just about anybody you’ve ever heard of, and measure for measure, One Love has a mastery over melody and synthesizers that made me realize quickly that a career as a producer just wasn’t in the cards. This song has everything I love about music and look for when I listen: purpose, meaning, catchiness, melody, lyricism — and it is sure to entrance you for the 4:47 that it lasts. Do yourself a favor and click play.
Hip-Hop, Videos | Accent — X-Men & Street Fighter Verses [Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on November 4, 2012
Every once in awhile I come across an emcee who is truly deserving of that title — who is creating art, and knows the difference between hip-hop and the glorified pop rap of syndicated radio. Too many prospective artists lack the mastery of lyricism, cadence, and rhythm to sustain a listener’s ears for a full track, let alone an entire project. To this issue, however, there are a handful of antidotes, and Accent is one of them. Known as the “best poet rapping,” Accent has garnered FNT fame through collaborations with Kinetics, Mike Stud, and Radical Something, and seeks to set a new standard for hip-hop. In preparation for his upcoming Sight & Sound mixtape, here’s a video of him spitting a few dazzling verses about X-Men and Street Fighter that — even as acapellas — are more compelling than most rappers can manage to sound on top-shelf beats. Check it out below and stay connected with him as he prepares his new project for release.
Hip-Hop, Videos | Kyle Lucas & Captain Midnite — Apollo [Music Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on October 23, 2012
The video is finally here for the single off of Captain Midnite’s new EP, All This Will Fade, which we released for you here last week. These two have a unique and exciting sound, stemming from Midnite’s experimental hip-hop production, which highlights strong influences from other genres. Kyle’s rapping is sharp and at times intricate, complementing the track well with a consistently fluid delivery and smooth flow. Check out the visuals above.
Captain Midnite’s Facebook | Twitter
Kyle Lucas’ Facebook | Twitter
Hip-Hop | Dylan Owen Interview & Freestyle [FNT Exclusive]
Posted by jeffwbaird on October 17, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_osSNbAj0s&feature=player_embedded
The first time I heard Dylan Owen was just about a year ago. He had just submitted “All I Do” to our “Sheeps, Jeeps, and Beats” contest with Jon Kilmer (which he eventually won), and I was completely infatuated by his expeditious delivery and sharp wit. Who knew at that point that we were playing a role in unleashing a star. That a project as honest, introspective, and imaginative as Keep Your Friends Close was in the making. Months after that release, Dylan has become one of the most compelling and promising artists of the year, showcasing an amount of creativity and lyrical depth that few emcees can compete with—record deal or not. As I strive to bring more lyrically-focused hip-hop artists to the FNT limelight, Dylan is a perfect place to start. That said, we are proud to bring you an FNT exclusive: a freestyle and interview that highlights Dylan’s pure lyrical power, wit, charm, and heart—those qualities that make him the special musician that he is. Check the video below, and if you have managed to miss it thus far, here is his most recent EP, the phenomenal Keep Your Friends Close EP.
Albums, Hip-Hop | Captain Midnite — All This Will Fade [EP]
Posted by jeffwbaird on October 14, 2012
In an era where producers are rewarded for providing formulaic, derivative instrumentals, creativity can really catch my ear. Thus was the case with Seattle producer/singer Captain Midnite, whose singles featuring Kyle Lucas and OnCue dropped last week (see here). Midnite is a producer adamantly focused on providing dense textures, with stirring synths that empower his own sung choruses, and the rhymes of his featured emcees. Throughout his new EP, All This Will Fade, Midnite highlights his idiosyncrasies and versatility as a producer, clearly influenced by a wide variety of sounds and yet committed to robust drums and staples of hip-hop production that keep his beats grounded. This six-track EP is heavy on originality, and features strong vocal performances by Midnite himself, OnCue, Kyle Lucas, and Slow Dance. Check him out on Facebook and Twitter.
DOWNLOAD: All This Will Fade (EP)
Hip-Hop | Captain Midnite — Apollo (feat. Kyle Lucas)
Posted by jeffwbaird on October 4, 2012
Earlier this week we posted a phenomenal collaboration, “Ashes Rising,” between two of my favorite young emcees (Kyle Lucas & OnCue) and a producer (Captain Midnite) who was unbeknownst to me at the time. From the minute I started the track, his fervid, enthralling instrumental gripped me, and I spent the day seeking out the rest of his catalogue. In addition to an impressive collaboration project with Kyle Lucas (of Vonnegutt fame), the two also recently released another leak off of Captain Midnite’s upcoming solo EP, All This Will Fade. “Apollo” features a set of instantly-powerful, rugged drums, and a remarkably rich set of sounds that perfectly complement Lucas’ smooth and mellifluous raps. Captain Midnite is impeccably talented for a young hip-hop producer, and I can guarantee you that All This Will Fade will be something special.
Hip-Hop | Jus — You & Yours [Music Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on October 4, 2012
I was introduced to Jus’ music last week, and was immediately enthralled by his ability to just straight up flow. He has a fascinating ability to write introspective, emotionally-charged lyrics through some of the most intricate rhymes I’ve heard from a new artist in a long time. Aspiring emcees, take notice: Jus’ combination of message, complexity, and delivery is exactly what you need to strive for. “You & Yours” is the first leak off his new project, Courtesy Of, which will be released in December, and was inspired by “a difficult year, which in turn led to some very heartfelt and honest music.” To understand just how talented he is, make sure you check the lyrics under the video.