Pop, Preview | Naughty Boy – La La La (Ft. Sam Smith)
Posted by Mach on March 23, 2013
I am usually not one for Pop, but this track will have you moving, grooving, and singing along. The hook really gets to you hooked…seriously. Don’t let the genre scare you away, this track is worth every second of life taken to listen. “La La La” is being released by Virgin Records UK in May, day not yet known.
Bass, RnB, Trap | Shlohmo ft. Jeremih – Bo Peep (Do U Right)
Posted by W8 on March 20, 2013
This dark melancholy of love is Shlohmo and Jeremih’s first official collaboration. Both lead, and or rather invented a new sub-genre that can only be described as a lo-fi branch of Rnb. The mergence of the two talents combining forces certainly marks some next level sh#t. A video after the jump sheds light on their new collaborative vision together.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Shlohmo ft. Jeremih – Bo Peep (Do U Right)
Hip-Hop | Mike Champoux — One
Posted by jeffwbaird on March 10, 2013
It’s a rare moment these days when I come across a new emcee whose sound truly transfixes me. Rapping has become such a major fad in our college culture, and as more nontraditional hip-hop acts gain prestige in this community, it continues to saturate this work and turn a genre that once exclusively documented the struggles of urban life into one accessible to all. I’m very proud of the progression of hip-hop and I believe that it’s an adaptive genre by nature, but simultaneously—as an advocate of hip-hop’s finesse and literary qualities—it has made me loathe checking my inbox and staying on top of the trends. There’s a definite lack of awareness and a presence of ignorance in those who self-identify as artists of hip-hop that I can tell upon first listen. These are artists who’ve been drawn to hip-hop because of the perceived ease of constructing a strong where no message or originality is necessary. Tracks have become defined by punchlines and producer’s remakes of industry singles, rarely detailed and rarely bearing any sign of lyrical prowess. I digress, but this morning a Seattle artist named Mike Champoux was brought to my attention, and has provided me with a temporary sense of trust. He’s a multitalented producer and rapper, and is a few weeks away from releasing his first full-length, L.I.F.E., which highlights the introspective qualities of his work. “One” is a beautiful homage and response to a friend of Champoux’s who took his own life, with a melodic and gripping instrumental that has that characteristic Seattle sound that Ryan Lewis has brought to global attention. Enjoy.
Hip-Hop, Videos | Accent — Everybody’s Crazy (feat. Kinetics) [Music Video Premiere]
Posted by jeffwbaird on February 28, 2013
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that I love introspective hip-hop—and man does this new Accent track take the cake. Amidst a genre primarily concerned with braggadocio and glorified false personas, Accent utilizes his singing skills to evoke this powerful jam about “accepting the imperfections that define us, and being proud of them.” The Kid Vision-produced single from his Sight & Sound EP features a verse from frequent collaborator Kinetics—whose internal rhyme-schemes become more impressive by the song—and impressive visuals courtesy of Hickory that highlight the song’s meaning and personal nature, which Accent eloquently described for us:
“The song recognizes that every human has their own unique qualities, yet it acknowledges that those differences between us are what make all of us the same; everyone struggles with their own experiences and identities. The sources of my own pain are very literally expressed here and every word is carefully recited making for a clear projection of the message. I reference my own issues regarding bi-raciality, growing up without a father and being almost obsessed with what I loved about my childhood but I also touch on my capacity for love and the purpose I have for existing. While “Everybody’s Crazy” comes from a sad place in my heart it encourages people to transform the negativity in their histories into a beautiful representation of the strength they have developed from it.”
Trance | Rank 1 vs. M.I.K.E. – Elements of Nature
Posted by Spice on January 29, 2013
Did you listen to Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy radio show last week? If you did, you will probably remember this track from Rank 1’s amazing, dynamic guest mix. Rank 1 are titans of trance so it’s no surprise that their latest, a collaboration with fellow veteran M.I.K.E., is an absolute killer. Darkly melodic with a fast-paced and uplifting vibe, “Elements of Nature” is the kind of track that puts a fresh, 21st century spin on the genre’s more classic elements.
Beatport: Rank 1 vs. M.I.K.E. – Elements of Nature
Albums, Compilation, Moombahton | Review: Moombahton Forever
Posted by Spice on January 22, 2013
As some of you may already know, I tend to get unreasonably fired up about moombahton. This is in part because I’m a D.C. native, like the genre itself, and in part because I like to shake my ass (and there’s nothing more conducive to ass shaking than Dutch house bouncing along at 110 bpm above a funky riddim). Happily, it would seem that I’m not alone in this regard; with moombahton-centric stages cropping up at major festivals and heavy support for the genre coming from some of electronic music’s biggest names, it’s clear that Dave Nada’s “Moombah” MacGyver job has officially taken on a life of its own.
Moombahton Forever is therefore exciting for many reasons. First, it’s a panoramic shot of the genre as it stands at this exact moment. Moombahton has evolved a fair amount since that fateful homecoming party in 2010; it’s a niche subgenre of electronic music, to be sure, but over time it has come to contain its own diverse elements. In other words, there’s more going on under the moombah hood than you might expect, and it’s all on display in this very thorough 20 track compilation. There are tracks that pay homage to the genre’s midtempo roots in cumbia and global funk. There are deep, sexy tracks that are better suited to the after party than the the club. There are rollicking bangers that recall the halfway mark of a Knife Party set. Hell, there’s even Dillon Francis. Which brings me to my next point: most of moombahton’s most stalwart players are represented on Moombahton Forever. Nadastrom, Tittsworth, Sazon Booya, Bro Safari, ETC!ETC!, Ayres, Torro Torro, Sabo, Craze, Gent & Jawns, Munchi, the aforementioned I.D.G.A.F.O.S. poster boy…the gang’s quite literally all here, and it truly feels like a big creative culmination for everybody involved.
Admittedly, there are people who may find Moombahton Forever repetitive at times, as moombahton, with its fundamental structure of high synth leads and a reggaeton bassline, can get a bit subtle in its intricacies. In fact, there is something nuanced and almost house-esque about moombahton at its very deepest — and it’s a testament to the production level on display that elements of that particular side of electronic music meld so seamlessly with elements from its more primal cousins. I personally find Moombahton Forever smoothly textured and incredibly well organized; the tracks fit together beautifully and as compilations go, it manages to establish an omnipresent unifying theme without feeling redundant. The best part? The bonus continuous mix is all you need to set off a wild, sweaty dance party in your basement.
Rating: 4/5. For best results, add Natty Boh and really good speakers. But remember: there’s only one U Street Music Hall.
Beatport: Moombahton Forever
Electro-House | Mord Fustang – Taito
Posted by Middy on January 21, 2013
Man have we missed the Estonian producer and his unique genre blending brand of electro house. It has been a while since his latest offering “Champloo” and with him getting set to support Feed Me on tour in a little over a week, the timing of the release could not have been any better. Sticking to his complex, funky sound, Mord does not waste one second with deftly crafted synth work, layering over chopped up vocals and well timed electro stabs to give it the sound that we have been craving from the super talented Estonian.
Beatport: Mord Fustang – Taito