Events, Hip-Hop, Review | SXSW: GoldLink at Soulection’s “Sound of Tomorrow” Showcase
Posted by admin on March 27, 2014
On Saturday March 15th at precisely 2:50pm in sunny Austin, Texas the young and mysterious rapper by the name of GoldLink stepped upon the stage at Barcelona. A showcase aptly titled the “Sound of Tomorrow” had a bill filled with the futuristic sounding producers on Soulection’s roster. GoldLink was neither a part of Soulection’s imprint, nor was he a producer…so as I and the numerous other audience members asked ourselves what he was doing up on stage, he slowly began to gather himself and show us why.
GoldLink’s music is best described by Chuck Allen of Way Less Effort: “Of all the new sounds that have popped up in the industry, from the soul-sucking gothic southern grime that the UK and South Florida have been dropping, to the glo’d up trap of the Chi, this new “future bounce” sound really stands out. It doesn’t throw it all the way back to boom-bap like the “New New York” ish that Pro Era has been pushing, and it isn’t on that entirely digital production tip either. It mixes the buttery grooves of 90?s R&B with classic hip-hop breaks to give it an essence of nostalgia, and then turns on its head with bouncy, forward-thinking production from the likes of Kaytranada and Ta-ku. Add that to Goldlink’s roller coaster flow that fills every pocket of the dynamic instrumentals he tackles, and suddenly your head and shoulders are bobbing and you don’t know what happened.” *1
This future-bounce movement was prevalent all the way through his performance as he went worked through his short SoundCloud catalog, spitting out his semi-viral hits such at “Creep”, “Playah”, and at-the-time-unreleased song “Planet Paradise”. I was entranced by his energetic stage presence and ability to work a crowd whom was not at all expecting to be seeing a rapper on stage.
GoldLink has remained unseen by the internet world, but with his forthcoming mixtape, The God Complex set to drop in a matter of days, I can’t imagine his face avoiding the limelight for much longer. Enjoy, GoldLink’s newest release “Planet Paradise” produced by Louie Lastic, and be sure to prepare yourself for SXSW next year, since it’s never too early to start planning!
*1 (Chuck Allen, Way Less Effort)
Hip-Hop, Mixtapes | Maxxx Flair — S.E.I.S. [Chapter 1]
Posted by jeffwbaird on February 23, 2014
I’m all for self-expression, but the extent to which under-and-post-grads have begun chasing down full-time careers in hip-hop is concerning. It seems to signify the misconception that attaining a lucrative presence in the genre comes with ease; you don’t need to know music theory, don’t need to be able to play an instrument, and don’t really even need a good singing voice, though it certainly helps your versatility and is more appealing in this post-So Far Gone era of hip-hop. Thus, for those who like to write and like the idea of stardom and like the idea of feeding their egos, hip-hop seems like a relatively simple and satisfying career aspiration. It helps, too, that this is 2014 and gangsta rap is no longer the forefront of the genre. We’ve reached a time when there is no defined rapper aesthetic, when Sammy Adams is as equally recognizable as an emcee as Bun B. This is all to say that every day bloggers around the country have their inboxes stocked with thoroughly uninspired rap. Rap that at least attempts to replicate the sounds and flows of what already exists on the radio, as if recycling Big Sean’s flow from “All Me” guarantees radio placement.
This is why it’s so exciting to receive a record like S.E.I.S. It’s surprisingly easy when you listen to an album to tell if the artist enjoyed making it, and whether its sound is genuine and authentic. When that is the case, it’s that much more fun to digest, and it doesn’t make you question the artist’s goals. If the passion is there, they’re not only more likely to do the work necessary to become a success to the extent of a Macklemore or Logic or Hoodie Allen — which is really hard — but also that probably doesn’t even matter to them. It’s art, it’s their passion, and the unlikelihood of acceptance shouldn’t hold them back — the same way that the low acceptance rate at top law schools doesn’t keep hopefuls from applying in bulk. Maxxx Flair, an NYC native, was first featured on FNT in 2012 with “Forever Dope”, and while he was already a budding emcee at the time, his progression as a lyricist and technical rapper is immediately made clear from the first few bars of the intro. Fueled by a solid selection of lively, hard-hitting beats, Maxxx shines over this set of seven tracks, showcasing his finesse with cadence, wide range of flows, and strong attention-to-detail as a writer. Accompanying the mixtape is the video for the first single, “F@#K !t”, produced by 52 Kings, which you can find below. If you take a chance on one new rapper this week, let it be him.
FYI, Home | Watch Action Bronson Fight a Security Guard on Stage After Lighting a Joint
Posted by FilthyTaft on February 5, 2014
It’s pretty clear what went down here – Action Bronson wanted to smoke a J because he’s a traveling hip hop artist, while he clearly he wasn’t allowed to. The security guard decided it’d be cool to be a huge d*** about it in front of the entire crowd, but Bronson wasn’t going to take that humiliation, and he shoves the guard off of him pretty hard, charges him again, and shoves him way off of him. If the rapper on stage was someone the size of Childish Gambino, the security guard’s stunt probably would have worked, but when you go up against the gigantic bearded beast Action Bronson himself, this is what happens. Shoulda seen it coming, bud – big ups to Action Bronson for putting up a show for his fans and fighting for legalization. Lastly, thanks to the random fan who instagrammed this video.
Hip-Hop | Sage The Gemini – College Drop (feat. Kool John)
Posted by yabishcic on December 18, 2013
I can see the college girls steppin’ to this. With another installment from Sage The Gemini, a bay area rapper thats been on some serious grind lately, this is just another banger for the books. I can only imagine San Fran clubs going bezurk for this. From his forthcoming album Remember Me, “College Drop” is just a little insite for the rest of his anticipated tracks.
Hip-Hop, Rap | A$AP Rocky – Angels
Posted by VMan on October 31, 2013
This record “Angels” by A$AP Rocky is dope as hell. The visuals were co-directed by the rapper himself and Luke Monaghan in the streets of New York City. In the video, Rocky and his crew are out terrorizing the streets on BMX bikes, smoking weed, and wearing the Jason mask. In his rap, A$AP spits “I brought the garden back, I brought Harlem back,” those are two big statements, but I’m liking this MC’s progression in the hip hop game since he first came on the scene. This is a must listen!
Hip-Hop, Rap | Anna Kendrick – Cups (Marc Goone Remix)
Posted by admin on September 22, 2013
Once upon a time I thought to myself, “if I hear one more rendition of Anna Kendrick’s ‘Cups’, I’m going to shove pencils six inches in to my ears.” Yet, here we are, with a remix to the Pitch Perfect anthem that I just cannot seem to get enough of. This song lacks a bass line, models, bottles and many other quintessential rapper items, however, it sheds light on just how versatile of an artist Goone can be.
There will be a pretty constant stream of remixes from the Yung man these next couple weeks, so keep your ears open and enjoy!
Hip-Hop, Rap | San Williams – #drugs
Posted by admin on September 14, 2013
A few days ago, I was perusing SoundCloud when I stumbled upon a rapper by the name of San Williams. Going in to the song with skepticism, (as I do with all random SoundCloud songs), I was instantly caught off-guard by San Williams distinct sound. A dark and raspy voice, the emcee has some bottled up emotion that spills on to each of his tracks. One in particular, “#drugs”, tells the tail of Williams quarrels with the drug game and his past experiences, speaking often times with a very pejorative tone towards the drug culture and those who use.
The song is powerful to say the least and the message behind really drives the whole project. Look below for what inspired San to write this song and also to stream/download the song itself.
San’s first encounter with drugs:
School had just ended. I was in third grade so instead of going to aftercare, I got to wait in the gym with the other big kids. On the average day, I’d sit in the gym for an hour or so till my mom picked me up, but this time my mom was already there. I knew something was wrong because as soon as I sat down I could see my mother’s eyes were red as if she had been crying.
“San, your dad was arrested today,” She whimpered as we pulled away from school. “ He was arrested for something that I just cant explain right now, but you will find out sooner or later, and when you do find out…” She then looked me straight in my eyes, the same way my father gave me that day on his bed “… When you find out just know that everything he did, he did for you.”
As we drove past our house my mother told me that we were going to visit him and the entire car ride there I felt numb, a feeling I still hold in my heart, a numbness that spreads from the edges of my toes to the crown of my head and throughout my soul. As we arrived at the station we began a process that to this day I still perform: starting with the waiting room then to the metal detectors and then to the holding area. My mother my sister and I walked towards the door with the guard in front and in we went.
Cracked glass smeared with a decades worth of filth and lies separated the two of us…