Since we are in this Corona lock down, I had time to go back to 2019 and bring forward some beat makers, producers that I didn't get time to touch. One guy I was enjoying for a few years is Mndsgn (Mind Design) a Philippine, Jersey living, Cali living producer. I got caught up with his style once I listened to his 2014 release Yawn Zen. Labeled under electronic, not really hip hop with his early releases. This latest release Snaxx has recovered beats from a hard drive that was supposed to be a full release from a 2018 mix tape. I compare his music discography from then to now.
Tek Lun - Anthology 2014 - 2019
I didn’t do a review of Tek’s highly enjoyable “allow it” released in 2018. I wasn't feeling the earlier EP release Blood, but now with the release of Dweeb. The B’more native has been moving forward with his sound so I wanted to hear what this one would sound like. He goes a different route and flavors his multi layer tracks with more vocals, trap beats and for sure his signature synthesized sound. At the same time I ran into his group NASA 8 so I had to show some love this year.
Young Thug: So Much Fun
Sean and I jumps into one of my favorite southern rappers. This new release is full of features and Sean reveals the secret sauce. J. Cole produced album. Interesting review and our different perspective.
ERYS & Willow - Jaden & Willow Smith
Sean and I wanted to review the Smith children since they both came out around the same time. First we give our take on Willow and a style that we weren't expecting to hear. Also since she is more of a veteran than her brother. We didn't know what we would get. Then we drop in Jaden. He had a few releases after his well received debut album (for the record, those other releases I was not feeling) So for 2019 we get a listen to another one of these long ass releases with long ass 4 min. average songs.
Tyler the Creator - Igor
Almost fresh off our review of his last years critically acclaimed release Flower boy. We get this new change and feel from Tyler after he has done some commercial high viz projects. We review the new 12 track release Igor and debate its merits so to speak
James Blake: Assume Form
I’ve been a fan of James Blake for years. With his odd sound but soothing voice that went with so much but not quite with anything. He made you listen for different reasons and some how you would hear him sprinkled in with some hip hop folks. His dark brooding sound that was heard for years could have been a precursor to the young depressed sound you some times hear today. But this new release has a tone that’s unfamiliar but quite refreshing. This is the evolution of James Blake with a touch of his hip hop buddies help.
Doja Cat Amala (Deluxe Edition)
We flip into our R&B releases that we were happy to break from the the rap scene for a session or two. We start with a new comer and social media darling Doja Cat. Sadly her image grabbed our attention along with her viral song "Mooo!" So we started almost blindly with some preconceived thoughts on what this gorgeous artist would sound like and present
Dabrye From Two to Three (Michigan producer extraordinaire) 2018
I ran into one of my favorite producers from the early 2000's and found that he released a current LP that was in line with his previous releases. Tadd Mullinixor Dabrye at that time was a talented producer from Michigan that did a lot of production with electronics and hip hop. To pay homage to his career and to highlight his new release. I wanted to review his previous releases. Here's part 1
Tadd Mullinixor Dabryeis an American musician from Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, also known by the aliases James T. Cottonand SK-1. During his adolescent years, he grew up in Troy, MI. His Winking Makes a Face was the first album released by Ann Arbor’s Ghostly International. Parting with the IDMsound of Winking..., the first Dabrye album was 2001's One/Three, whose take on instrumental hip-hopparalleled the work of artists such as Prefuse 73.
TakeOff - The Last Rocket
As a continuation of the Quality control releases of the year. We take a listen to the Third member of The Migos, TakeOff. With no features listed on this release. We were very skeptical with what we were going to hear. Especially with the amount of Swag Offset and Quavo always bring to the team.