Hip-Hop | Maxxx Flair Showcases His Growth on “Kiln Shelves”

Posted by on March 31, 2015

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Hip-hop—more so than any other art form—seems to cause tremendous apprehension about aesthetic. It stems from the 90s gangsta rap binge, and the repeatedly glorified imagery displayed by prominent rappers. New York City rapper Maxxx Flair has struggled to find the proper balance over the course of his past four projects, but now on “Kiln Shelves” seems to have finally found his most authentic, genuine sound yet.

While the EP spans just fifteen minutes, it’s a remarkably intimate and revealing listen. The production, too, is decidedly more fluid, with the full project handled by the talented duo The Hittas. Maxxx has ditched the caricatures and employs his storytelling ability solely to tell his own; “70 West” vividly details his Upper Manhattan upbringing, and “Six Degrees” creatively describes the feeling of being just one connection away from someone who could give you your big break.

Check out the EP in full below.

Hip-Hop | Jon Waltz – Victoria (ft. Allan Kingdom)

Posted by on September 12, 2014

Jon Waltz is slowly, but surely finding his way to the top of my “Up and Comers to Watch Out For” list. On his most recent release Waltz teams up with Allan Kingdom, a rapper from up north who has been causing a buzz alongside Spooky Black and their clique, The Standard.

The two oddball rappers fit perfectly on this track and make a record that is equal parts melodic as it is eccentric.

Wherever Victoria is out there, hopefully she heard this song.

Hip-Hop | Trey Palms – Hold Up

Posted by on July 14, 2014

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“Hold Up” is one of Trey Palms strongest record since his past few releases over 2014 as it showcases his fast double time flow in the first verse before the record is crooned the chorus with a heavy down beat in a matter that highlight’s the rappers deep voice. Trey is on the steady rise for success but until he will be throwing 1’s instead of 100’s to pick up the girls at the club. Check it out and grab the free download below! This is a must listen and a must download!

Free Download: Trey Palms – Hold Up

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Hip-Hop, Rap | Vonny del Fresco – Noir Designer

Posted by on January 12, 2014

With the sheer volume of new rappers emerging every day, it never ceases to amaze me how small the hip-hop community actually is. The interconnectivity of all us youngins’ once again came around full circle when “Noir Designer” graced my inbox earlier this week. Although I was familiar with Vonny del Fresco, I never had sat down and truly listened to what he had to offer.

The distorted voice and harsh passion he brings with every line, helps del Fresco paint a vivid picture of a woman caught up in the materialistic glitz and glamour. The almost-satanic sounding song is the antithesis of a typical ballad. As del Fresco explains,

“Noir Designer” tells the tale of a night’s encounter with a female living in a materialistic world, feeding off of greed inspired by her surroundings.

A beautiful exterior disguises inner ugliness.

The finer things allow her to feel secure, indulgence in excess–drugs, sex, sparkling nights–helps her cope.

She meets someone who understands her urges–a man who wants nothing more than to use her in exchange for giving her everything she desires.

A powerful message put forward in a strikingly blunt and confrontational manner is all summed up with a thought-provoking question: Is this modern love?

Hip-Hop, Videos | Accent — Just For Tonight (feat. Jitta On The Track) [Lyric Video]

Posted by on December 15, 2013

We’re all a part of a moment in hip-hop history during which artists who self-identify as “rappers” range drastically in regards to how they define that role, the kind of music they create and label as “hip-hop”, the kind of technical skill they possess. The aesthetic sound of rapping has become a ubiquitous part of pop radio, and with this change most of the rappers who strive for mainstream attention work harder to try to fit the mold of simplicity that generally regulates what becomes a hit or doesn’t. Within such a concentrated industry, there are limited outlets for the fan both of technically skilled rappers and melodicism; rappers who can really spit, but also who’ll experiment with club-ready production (hence the rapid success of artists who occasionally fit this mold: Kendrick, Macklemore, etc.). Tonight we bring you a record striving to do just this—simultaneously satisfy the tastes of both those who love the kind of melodic, synth-heavy trap beats that Judge (who—if you’re a Mike Stud fan—you’ve likely heard the work of on multiple occasions) so expertly crafts, and also appease those who listen to hip-hop for the advanced lyricism; the kind of alliteration, wordplay, and rhyme schemes that have become synonymous with Accent’s work. This is the kind of song that you can enjoy for whatever it is that makes your head bang, though I certainly hope you’re the kind of people who listen to lyrics. Accent’s new mixtape, The Last Lyricist, drops this winter.

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Hip-Hop | Maino – Just Watch (Prod. Reefa & Myles.William)

Posted by on November 26, 2013

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Real talk, Maino is one of my favorite rappers, you probably don’t hear that often, but his album If Tomorrow Comes is one of the rawest albums that got me through some tough times a few years back. With that said, if you didn’t know by now, or you don’t follow today’s hip-hop scene, Atlanta rapper Trinidad James while in my city talked smack about New York rappers, and that didn’t sit well for a lot of these NYC rappers. Maino took matters into his own hands and recorded “Just Watch” taking shots at Trinidad, over a Reefa and Myles.William production. Do you guys think Mr. James is going to respond? Let me know, this is a must listen and a must download!

Free Download: Maino – Just Watch (Prod. Reefa & Myles.William)

Hip-Hop | Childish Gambino – 3005 (Official Video)

Posted by on November 14, 2013

Childish Gambino releases a brand new track off his upcoming album, Because The Internet. While his rhymes bring on a sense of pop culture and randomness, Childish Gambino is just smarter than most other rappers. His wordplay is unique with a tight flow all the while with him telling a story throughout the song. I’m very excited for the album to come out, which releases on December 10. Look back for more Gambino in the mean time.