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]
Videos | Jon Bellion – Beautiful Mind Documentary
Posted by Grubeats on February 24, 2014
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If you follow Jon Bellion and his music, you have a sense of his creative process and the work he puts into his craft. So you hear the music and see the videos, but do you know the what goes on beneath the surface? Who the masked faces are behind the sounds? Who and what has influenced Bellion’s development and growth as an artist? Chances are, you don’t. I’m a huge fan of JB, but even I wasn’t familiar with many of the faces highlighted in this documentary.
It’s awesome to see an artist grow organically. It’s even better when you actually SEE all of those who contribute, but don’t necessarily get the credit or face time. This Beautiful Mind Documentary is a full feature look into the lives of all those bleeding their skills, emotions, and time into the music. Take the time, learn, and follow the team (links below). Tour dates coming soon. #VMG
Free Download: Jon Bellion – The Separation [Album]
Hip-Hop | Logic – Like Me ft. Casey Veggies
Posted by Grubeats on December 3, 2013
Logic has been fairly quiet since he hopped off tour with Cudi, Big Sean, and Tyler the Creator, dropping a loose track here and there, but for the most part, remaining relatively quiet. Well evidently along with writing and recording, Logic has been toning his production game as is evident on his newest release, “Like Me”. We’ve heard one Logic-produced track in the past, “Common Logic/Midnight Marauder ” which was co-produced by C-Sick and had a feeling more tracks were on the horizon, but this, in my opinion, is a big step forward for Logic. As Logic teased a few weeks ago, him and Casey Veggies were in the studio together, which amounted to this cold, raw new new from the two rising youngsters.
With rumors of the debut album on the way, I’m sure we’ll get a few more loose freebies before that time comes. In the meantime, keep an ear our for a Logic assisted Jon Bellion record coming with Jon’s album release, 12/10.
Hip-Hop, Interviews, Videos | Logic – Young Sinatra: Undeniable [Exclusive Interview]
Posted by Grubeats on May 1, 2012
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A couple weeks back I had the opportunity to meet Logic, interview him, and see him perform as the headliner at a benefit concert for the Dance For Paralysis foundation. Above and beyond that, Logic brought the new age of hip-hop into one of the most storied restaurant franchises, The Hard Rock Cafe, and left his heart on the stage. Prior to the show, I sat down with Logic and asked him anything and everything from growing up, to passion for Frank Sinatra, to Kevin Durant’s tweets, to his favorite color. For all those responses and more, watch the video above. What you may or may not extract from the interview is Logic’s sincerity, passion, love, devotion, appreciation and respect for all, molded into the articulate and professional young man and artist he has become. Truly the most personable and enjoyable interview I have ever conducted.
Hip-Hop, Videos | Logic – Just Another Day: Undeniable (Episode 10)
Posted by Grubeats on April 23, 2012
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I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Logic has become one of the hottest up and coming hip-hop artists in the game over the past several months as he prepares for the release of his junior mixtape, Young Sintra: Undeniable. Anyone who has been following Logic since the beginning knows this series, Just Another Day, has been something Logic started several months back. There has been such a long delay since episode 9 because episode 10 is a culmination of footage showcasing Logic creating Young Sintra: Undeniable from start to finish. Writing, recording, mixing, mastering, collaborating, recording videos, rocking shows, are some of the things we see in this video. I’ll stand by this til the end of time in saying this will be one of the best mixtapes of the year, hands down. Prepare yourselves for the official release next Monday April 30th. Shout out to GRVTY for a undeniable videography as always! #Undeniable
P.S. Logic x FNT Interview coming this week!
Listen/Download the single’s previously released off the tape;
Hip-Hop | Logic – Numbers (Prod. by 6ix)
Posted by Grubeats on March 13, 2012
As promised, Logic drops the mp3 for the third release off his upcoming mixtape, Young Sinatra: Undeniable, after doing over 200k on Youtube in the first week. This track “Numbers” was produced in house by the first producer signed to Visionary, 6ix. Men lie, women lie, number’s don’t I see that. V’s up, thank us later for introducing you to Logic.
Watch the video and download the two previous tracks below!
Hip-Hop | Devin Miles – 412/215 ft. Tayyib Ali
Posted by Grubeats on February 22, 2012
Pittsburgh native, Devin Miles, was fortunate to have a chance to grab a verse from Tayyib Ali who was breezing through the studio. Representing their respective area codes, Devil Miles delivers a strong first verse before the prince of Philly comes in with an impressive verse of his own. Lot of talent coming out of PA these days. Just to clarify, several blogs have labeled this track as Tayyib’s, but in fact it is Devin’s with a feature from Tay and will not be featured on any of Ali’s upcoming projects.