Albums, Hip-Hop, Mixtapes | QuESt – Searching Sylvan
Posted by Grubeats on September 2, 2014
There are mixtapes and there are albums. Although Searching Sylvan is available as a free download, I hesitate in calling it a mixtape. It’s too complete, too cohesive, too deep, too polished, & too original to be called anything but an album. This, my friends, is a comprehensive work of art. Miami native, QuESt, has supplied the magnifying glass and opened his front door. Encouraging us not to download the project, but to listen to his story, Q’s genuine appreciation for his fans and his music is a true sign of his character.
You hear it often, but this is honestly one of those records that you have to listen to from start to finish – at least the first few times through. There are tracks for every occasion, but to fully understand QuESt’s story, as a fan, I ask you press play and don’t next until the conclusion of “May 10, 2012”. Then you should press play, again.
There are countless quotable’s throughout this project, but the second half of “Automatic” exemplifies to me what this story is all about. The below is just a bite and even that doesn’t fully grasp the message he’s putting forward.
“Aspirations, responsibilities, caught between them I’m torn
Tug of war with both of my arms
Strategize the cards that I’ve drawn”
There are life lessons, struggles, successes, high highs and low lows, and most importantly an endless hunger heard through and through. It’s still too early for me to pick favorites but the few that stuck out during my first listen through; “Biscayne Blvd”, “Make It Out Alive” (…YesQuEStCanSing), “Automatic”, “Erase Me”, “Hunger”, “Struggle Rapper”, “Jon Bellions One Way To San Diego (Outro)”, & “May 10, 2012”. Shit, well that really narrows it down doesn’t it? Rather than listening to me, head over to SearchingSylvan.com for a track-by-track breakdown by Sylvan himself! There is no weak link in this 17-song masterpiece.
Production credits belong to the entire VMG roster along with Q’s in house producers, The Marvels, the homie OB, as well as other very talented beat scientists. First and foremost, 6ix, who is said to be one of QuESt’s biggest fans, is as committed to succeeding with QuESt as anyone else out there. They continue to grow and together create beautiful music. We’ve heard what Logic and 6ix can cook up together, now is our chance to hear what 6ix can do with QuESt. Feed them hot sauce with their Chipotle and hell, you’ve got bangers like “Hunger” and “Automatic” – two of my favorite songs of the year. Next is Q’s in house producers, The Marvels, who clearly know him as an artist and can craft their work to his liking. From start to finish, these guys put it on. Another one that may have caught some of you by surprise is Visionary’s own, Logic. For the avid listener, we know Logic can produce and can produce well. He’s working hard at improving this aspect of his game and his work on “Biscayne Blvd” and “No Love In The City” attribute directly to that. And don’t let me forget OB, a resident VMG contributor.
Without further adieu, I present to you QuESt’s “Searching Sylvan”. One of the best collections of music you’ll hear this year.
Extra credit reading: “5 Things to Know About Searching Sylvan” by the good people over at The Redefined.
Free Download: QuESt – Searching Sylvan [Mixtape/Free Album]
Featured | I.O.U. Talks About Their Debut Album, their past mixtapes, & much more!
Posted by VMan on March 20, 2014
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Fresh off the release of their debut album “The Soul & The Intellect” and one day away from their first show performing all of their hit songs off the album, at Saints & Sinners in NYC, FNT had a chance to link up with the up and coming New Jersey duo I.O.U. We asked the a guys a few questions on the album, on what a soul and an intellect do for fun, their past mixtapes, working with Harry Fraud and much more! Click on the jump to read what Buck and Izee had to say, and stream the entire album on the Spotify embedded player below. To get more information on their NYC show tomorrow night, click here.
Chill, Hip-Hop | BONES – Calcium (prod. by Kid HNRK)
Posted by BP on January 2, 2014
Wow, this track really surprised me (in a good way). “Calcium” is one track off of Bones’s mixtape called “Deadboy”. This track is produced by Kid HNRK, and that’s how I came to find it, since I’m not usually one to be sifting through rap mixtapes. The beat on this song is amazing. It’s chill and eerie, and sounds great with Bones. It gives me sort of a Clams Casino kind of vibe. Grab his mixtape for more cool tracks.
Free Download: Bones – Deadboy (Mixtape)
Albums, Hip-Hop | Huey Mack – Pretending Perfection [Album Stream]
Posted by LoffyG on October 22, 2013
After releasing a handful of free mixtapes and too many singles to count, Huey Mack’s debut album Pretending Perfection is now on iTunes. Over the course of the past 7 months he has been putting in everything he has into creating this project. There is no doubt he has grown as an artist since the days of Bright Lights And Long Nights and Freshman 15. Just look at the constant growing number of fans. The great thing is he has done it all without the help of a label, tour manager or booking agent. Just him and the fans who love what he does. Stream the full album below and support by purchasing it on iTunes!
BUY ALBUM: Huey Mack – Pretending Perfection
Playlists | Warm Air Vol. 2
Posted by mimada on September 20, 2013
Original photo courtesy of Hayley Trone
Well folks, it’s been real. Tomorrow, Sept 22, marks the official end of summer 2013. In honor of the change in season, I present to you the second installment of my very own Warm Air mixtapes. A mix designed to ease the transition of swimsuits to sweaters and piña coladas to pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha lattes. A mix to warm you up in the cool autumn breeze, to relive the sweet memories of the past few months, and keep your spirits up and motivated as you face challenges in school, work, and everyday life. So close your eyes, and let this mix take you back to that moment on the beach where you dug a hole in the sand with your toes as you watched the sun set, or when you indulged in the most amazing 4th of July BBQ of your life, or drove around recklessly with the top down and the radio up, or the night you watched an epic fireworks spectacle with your boo thang wrapped up tight in your arms.
Remember, just because the summer is over doesn’t mean the fun is. Oh no, 2013 can and will go out with a bang. With 3 months left to go, it’s time the real fun begins.
I’d also like to dedicated this mix to one of my most beautiful friends as she turns 21 today. Hope you enjoy this mixtape as you take your first legal swigs of alcohol today, take an extra big one for me <3
Listen to this mix via 8tracks here.
Hip-Hop, Videos | Hi Rez – Guilty Pleasure [Music Video]
Posted by LoffyG on January 4, 2013
Florida representative, Hi-Rez is gearing up to release an EP this February or March that will be sold on iTunes for the first time. In honor of that, he drops the first song/video from the EP to give the fans a taste of what’s to come. Rez has been putting in work heavy releasing numerous mixtapes such as his recent release “Lost Time“. If you like what he brings to the table support him on iTunes when it drops!
Hip-Hop, Mixtapes | Domo Genesis & The Alchemist – No Idols (MIXTAPE)
Posted by dshaq on August 9, 2012
Although this is a little late, what we have here is one of the best produced mixtapes of all year. No if, ands, or buts. Straight up, what The Alchemist did to this project is magical. Domo Genesis, garnering some really good features, came out of his shell and really showed his true potential on this tape. After this, I think Domo has a real shot at a decent solo career, just as long as the production is this quality. I’m interested to see what people think of this tape and if they think it’s as good as I do. Any and all comments/opinions drop them in the comment box below.