Singer/songwriter India Shawn’s latest project, Outer Limits, is a collaborative piece with renowned producer/songwriter/singer James Fauntleroy. Complete with the experimental sounds famously executed by Fauntleroy and his 1500 or Nothin’ crew, Outer Limits plays like a sonic journey through 80s R&B and beyond. Groovy funk synths, introspective but universal lyrics and danceable melodies display the effortless connection between both songwriters.
Run the Jewels is becoming hip hop’s most redemptive act. Unapologetic, brash, witty, and raw, Killer Mike and El-P have created a sound that eclipses mainstream hip hop’s current blueprint of trendy beats and superficial content. The two are ushering in a model of varied experimentation with their lyrics and El-P’s production. RTJ recently dropped their sophomore album and the response has been outstanding. Murals, super fans supporters, and their own trill hand sign complement the movement these guys are creating all over the country. I went to their sold out show in Atlanta at the Masquerade a few nights ago and it was one of the most high energy performances I’ve experienced this year.
The space was packed full of wild, raucous Run the Jewels fans. Once Mike and El hit the stage, along with their DJ Trackstar, it was over an hour of moshing, jumping and ‘bow throwing in the crowd. Which is exactly what Run the Jewels is all about: cutting up, letting loose, giving not a nan one fuck, then going back to your 9-5 gig and home to your babies. But these dudes aren’t just wilin’ out. In a (unfairly) rare display of masculine affection, the homies took the time to acknowledge a collaboration that’s blossomed into a true friendship. The product of that friendship was grandly displayed on that stage through their complementary rhyming styles and their engagement of the audience. Never a waning moment, the crowd went stupid when Big Boi came out for “Banana Clipper.” Unfortunately, his mic sabotaged his appearance and we heard no bars. His face in the place was good enough for most though.
Along with “Banana Clipper,” the guys pulled damn near all of their two album discography out, including “Sea Legs,” “Blockbuster Night,” “36” Chain,” “Lie, Cheat, Steal,” and still some more.
Moral of this story: if Run the Jewels comes banging through your city this year and next, you would be a damn fool not to check them out.
Images of Black single mothers and daddyless Black children are constantly saturating our media outlets. We’ve heard the narrative for so long that we begin to perpetuate this thought and go along with the misrepresentation. Hip hop is very much a deep thread in the Black community, woven in many facets of our daily lives. As a male-dominated industry, we rarely hear the stories of these men being fathers, along with rappers, producers and students of the hip hop game. Will Feagins Jr. means to steer the conversation and the narrative to a topic that is seldom discussed in a mainstream platform. Divided Time highlights the fatherhoods of independent artists Abyss, Arablak, Damaja D, Ekundayo, Jawz of Life, mikeflo, Snub Zero, Stanza, and Supastition. The men discuss their relationships with their children, the hard choices they’ve made balancing their music dreams and building their families, the examples of fatherhood they witnessed growing up, and what hip hop means to them as parents.
Pic from http://www.runthejewels.net/
When Killer Mike enlisted El-P to take over the production on his 2012 album, R.A.P. Music, hip hop was not fully prepared for what that collaboration would come to beget. Soon, the duo birthed Run the Jewels and really fucked folks’ heads up. Their self-titled debut was an immediate favorite amongst critics and fans of the rappers. So, it’s no surprise that their follow-up was highly anticipated. Behold, Run the Jewels 2. Originally set to drop on October 27, the early leak had the Internet going wild. And rightfully so. This project is quintessential hip hop: raw lyrics, experimental production, and varying concepts. What I dig most about this album is the range of the topics and unexpected but appropriate collaborations. Folks like Gangsta Boo, Travis Barker, and Rage Against The Machine’s Zack de la Rocha all show up and show out. Audio Gumbo’s favorite tracks: Blockbuster Night Part 1, Angel Duster and Love Again (Akinyele Back).
Red Kotton is a relatively new, Atlanta-based independent music label and distribution entity. They pride themselves on showcasing and cultivating only the freshest, unique talents. Stay Tuned is Red Kotton’s answer to the mundane and the monotonous. Originally set to be a monthly event, Stay Tuned is a platform for artists on the cusp of success to share new music, wow new fans, and show the hell out, which is exactly what happened on Wednesday night. As host Anthony David proclaimed, there was not one wack ass song on the stage. That ain’t no an exaggeration.
The show opened up with the band Red Kotton Revival, which includes Red Kotton’s own Head of A&R Brandon Thomas. They played a rocked out version of Drake’s “Find Your Love,” setting the night up for the unexpected and newly imagined.
My apologies, this review is long overdue. But to those of you that have no clue about this project, it’ll be right on time. Amerigo Gazaway returns with a very seminal project, one that will continue to shape the format of the evolving mash-up. From his Soul Mates series, Yasiin Gaye: The Departure (Side One) is the undeniable union of the divided soul singer Marvin Gaye and the artist formerly known as Mos Def, Yasiin Bey. If you weren’t a believer in soul mates, this pairing will dispel your disbelief. The Departure blends the two artists so seamlessly, it’s as if they were creating simultaneously in the studio.
R&B and Soul are two of my favorite genres of music. Emotional, vulnerable, honest, danceable and inspiring, a good R&B album will make you feel a connection to each track. A great R&B album will serve as a soundtrack to your love life’s most pivotal experiences. The new album from The Foreign Exchange will tell the story of your love in many hues.
Love In Flying Colors is the fourth album from the duo composed of front man/singer/rapper Phonte and producer Nicolay. If you’re familiar with FE, then you’re well aware of the magic these two (along with other talents of the FE imprint) have conjured up since their inception. I still find myself in awe over their introduction to each other and just how transforming music in the Internet Age can be. The two have created an intense platform for independent artists and continue to demonstrate an organic connectedness to their listeners and supporters. This new album is no exception.
Photo Credit: Eli Joshua
One MusicFest 2013 is to music lovers what New York Fashion Week is to fashionistas and label whores: indelible bliss. Residents of the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood reaped the benefits of their cool, downtown space being invaded by thousands upon thousands of folks feenin’ for some good ol’ fashioned soul food.
In its fourth year, One MusicFest is proving to be the music festival to attend. Since its inception, it has seen artists such as Common, De La Soul, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh, The Foreign Exchange, Anthony David, Tortured Soul, Santigold, Chrisette Michele, Big K.R.I.T. and a host more kill the stages. In 2013, the lineup and the venue changed but the rules remained the same: come prepared to have a good ass time.
From noon to 11pm, the Historic Fourth Ward Park provided refuge to those seeking solace in the midst of uncertainty. OMF allowed its patrons to let go, let loose and vibe to dope sounds in the company of other like-minded musicheads. Hosted by my personal favorite sanger Joi Gilliam and Atlanta’s slickest, sickest host D.R.E.S. tha BEATnik, the event was transformed from a music festival to a huge block party. Blanketed by camaraderie and enveloped in a commonality of music appreciation, everyone gathered with the intent to enjoy themselves thoroughly.
Lately, the ugly monster haunting hip-hop is its virtual underrepresentation of women behind mics. Now, if you’re only tuned into your local radio station, yes, you’ll be hard-pressed to hear a female holding shit down outside of Nicki Minaj. But if you’ve kept your ear to the ground, you should know the name Rapsody pretty well. Being hailed as one of the best femcees, North Carolina’s own Rapsody has finally dropped her debut EP The Idea Of Beautiful. Produced largely by her mentor 9th Wonder and the Soul Council (Khrysis, Ka$h, E. Jones, eric g, and Amp), Rapsody incorporates clever wordplay, intricate storytelling, and personal revelations into the Jamla Army sound.
Rapsody clearly has a deep, personal relationship with hip hop, as evidenced by the many subtle and overt odes to the art form. It’s not uncommon for rappers to personify hip hop, showing love to h.e.r. through dedications and celebratory lyrics. In “Precious Wings,” Rap comes to hip hop as a sanctuary, an escape from life’s confusions and pain. “Everyday is pressure, each one feeling like 22/catches, that’s some give and take/and all of if learning, tryna educate myself as I go through it like Lauryn,” she laments.
Every once in a while, I’ll be struck by a particular sound, a sound that moves my spirit as well as my body. This is exactly what Atlanta-based band Jack Preston & The Dojo have done with their debut LP In The Land Of Wanderers. Sonically enticing, Wanderers feels like a journey into a space of light and everlasting funk. And the instrumentation is just sick! Vocals, keys, guitars, horns, percussion, and strings, every sound is heartfelt, emitting the energy of an eclectic collective. On the track “Find A Way,” the vocalists combine their voices into almost a choral presentation, evoking the spirit of gospel and soul, backed by the fused instrumentation of rock and funk.
The Dojo describes Wanderers as “a melange of sound and genre coming together to dance upon the ear, stimulate the mind, and comfort the soul.” Agreed. The album is worthy of at least one, thorough listen. But please believe, once you’ve experienced the sound, one time won’t nearly be enough.
Check out the album and info on The Dojo’s album release celebration under the cut.
Audio Gumbo 