[MUSIC] 3Bubble & J.Gray - "Live From The Pentagon"

Collaborations in music, like many other things, can be 
hit or miss. The result often lies in how the artists on a
project connect from start to finish. One has to have that
in mind the moment they hit “play” on Live From The
Pentagon, a release from 3Bubble and J. Gray. The two
MC’s hail from Houston, Texas and managed to connect
despite two different paths. In the case of 3Bubble, he 
had built up a solid reputation in the industry dating back
to his first solo release 6 years ago. J. Gray had started 
out having a love of rap fulfilled after engaging in a battle
while at the High School for Performing and Visual Artists.
He ran into 3Bubble after returning to Houston from living
in Brooklyn and Atlanta at a talent show and from there
they found they could really craft great music together.

Live From The Pentagon carries forth a message that both
rappers strive to live by - have fun and live to the fullest 
with a purpose. The album starts out defining how that
message will be delivered, with snappy rhymes and an 
interchange that exemplifies how well these two MC’s
flow together. “Euros” starts out easy, but charges up in
an instant as 3Bubble begins his verse. J. Gray provides
a flow that is uptempo but doesn’t lose focus. In the case
of 3Bubble, you have someone who drops lyrics with the
casual affectation of a veteran. The production is nicely layered
and shows off a strong variety of influences from funk to
EDM. Another standout track to digest is “This One” that
bounces like a Cadillac out on parade in the 5th Ward. The
pair also take time to be wholly introspective, evidenced by
“Studio” which details the consistent grind they underwent
to get to where they are now.”Turn It Down” is an impassioned
plea to those struggling to get past their difficulties and rise above.
Live From The Pentagon covers all the bases you would want
a solid duo like 3Bubble and J. Gray to touch on. Look out for
the album’s release on May 30th. 

www.facebook.com/livefromthepentagon
www.twitter.com/thepentagonlive
www.instagram.com/livefromthepentagon
www.soundcloud.com/livefromthepentagon
www.sonicbids.com/band/3Bubble-j-gray/  

[MUSIC] Wasiu - "P.K. Subban"

Here’s an ode to the Montreal Canadiens’ star defenseman
and highly influential philanthropist, P.K. Subban from Wasiu,
who reps the city well with his lyrics. Production courtesy of
Noah Barer & Cavewerk. Also, make sure to check out Wasiu’s
enlightening interview with THE FADER about the ode to the
city and Subban and his own perspective about being Black in
Montreal. MTLIENS 2 drops this summer.

 

[MUSIC] Bryan Deister - "Spines Of The Heart"

An artist, no matter his or her form, seeks to push themselves
to the limits of their craft and beyond. In most cases, the process
helps them to figure out their own talent and what they wish
to offer. In the case of Bryan Deister, the process is a search for
aural freedom that can be felt in each song. Deister hails from 
Redondo Beach, California and has been a student of the renowned
Berklee College of Music for the past 2 years. With that tutleage
and his own innate gifts that include training in jazz, blues,
classical music and progressive rock, Bryan has found himself in
a ready space to introduce us to his sound through his firstproject,
entitled Spines Of The Heart. 

Spines Of The Heart comes in at a robust 20 tracks. Deister has
proclaimed on his website that this is a deeply personal album, and
one gets that sense from the beginning notes. It’s reinforced by
the fact that he crafted this entire album himself, from writing the
music right down to doing the artwork for the album. The first track,
“All That I Have” dives deep into a swirling pool that seems opaque
to look into. But the lilting airiness behind the moody tone of the 
percussion makes this a strong statement of being yourself, flaws
and all. Deister displays a knack of tapping into both the light and
darkness within us - “Always Further” is haunting, with the light
Latin jazz influence strking a chord of desperate angst. But then 
you get to a track like “Into The Sky”and find yourself locked into
a tune that’s gentle and aspirational with a feel that speaks to the
best of Euro-styled ambient music. Overall, Spines Of The Heart 
is a crisp and enthralling debut from a musician who is really into
challenging himself - and us - to dig deeper. You can get the album
directly from Deister on his website. 

www.bryandeister.com

https://soundcloud.com/bryan-deister

https://twitter.com/bkdeister

[VIDEO] Big Apple IMC - "Freedom"

Here’s an MC that’s grabbing attention one
set of earphones at a time…peep this video
and check his website for the No Apologies LP
and some of the fits seen in the vid. 

[MUSIC] Little Adot - "Born To Fly" & "Internal Conflict"

You’ve probably heard one or two people you know
in discussion proclaim that the younger generation
doesn’t appreciate rap and hip-hop culture enough,
or that they don’t create music or do anything outside
of just being on social media creating silly and harmful
fads. Thankfully those voices are in a minority that’s
getting smaller and smaller, and it’s due to some of
these young kings and queens rising and doing their
own thing for the world to see. And the world is now
set to witness another who’s adding their name to
the ranks - Little ADot.

Little Adot is a 16-year old with some phenomenal
talent and a spirit beyond his age. He’s utlilized a
fierce love of hip-hop and uncanny production ability
as well as live instrumentation skills(as a violinist)
to put together not one, but TWO albums: Born To Fly
and Internal Conflict. With the first project, Adot 
puts his own spin on the classic first album of the
late,great Notorious B.I.G., Ready To Die. He provides
a sharp and enveloping backdrop that gives a fresh
aura to Biggie’s lyrics, not unlike adding gentle accents
on a ceiling fresco. On the instrumental album Internal
Conflict, you are treated to an operatic experience for
the ears. Again, this is the work of a teen. But it’s
evident that Little Adot isn’t your ordinary youngster,
and that his moniker of “The Young King” is not only
earned but only right.

Both albums can be purchased via ThisRespekWear’s
website and at www.littleadot.com. 

[VIDEO] Cavalier - "Heavy Crown"

This cat Cavalier has got a SERIOUS flow and
aura to him, and this track is heavy proof. Check
out his Lem0nade EP ASAP, with Imani Ozuri
and get your mellow on.  

[VIDEO] Kiiara - "Gold"

This young lady BLEW UP last year off the 
strength of one single. Her EP, Low Kii Savage
is out now and in celebration of that, here’s
some striking visuals for that hit single. 

[MUSIC] 061880 - "The Dream Of a God"

There are concept albums, and then there are album
efforts that step beyond the boundaries of what concept
albums can be on a basic level. And that applies to the
latest album by 061880, The Dream Of A God. Despite
the seemingly straightforward title, this album is more of
a cinematically-inclined nightmare on wax. And that is
the entire point. John Parnell, the main mastermind behind
061880, has crafted this project with a gripping backstory:

“In the summer of 1973, a small town in Louisiana was host to a
string of grisly murders. Without a shred of evidence left at the
scenes, much of the town’s population thought it was something
sinister lurking in the forest. Authorities were horrified to discover
the murders were the work of a blood thirsty cult! 

God’s country ends outside of East Hodge, Louisiana.”


In listening to the entirety of The Dream Of a God, you are
left with a serious case of the chills. 061880’s talent for developing
ambient music that tugs at you is in full stride here. One gets
that as the beginning of the album builds suspense, with “A long
tortuous night(part VII)” crashing in and making you jump. 
And if you’re wondering - I did on first listen. There is an eerie
tone that harkens to the scores of Italian slasher pictures that
became all the rage in the 1970’s, but more inlaid with an
emphasis on using your connection to the music to bring the 
horrific dread home. For example, “All evil things must sleep” -
the melancholy tone with the onset of chimes a third of the 
way through underlines the hidden danger. There’s a good feel
for what brings about dread in people on this album, and it does
make The Dream Of a God something that will not only go bump
in the night, but also bump within your playlist. The album is 
available now through 061880’s Bandcamp page and their 
website. 
 

[MUSIC] Frequency - "Fire and Lightning - The Lightning Side"

Tough times can either make someone crumble and fail
to recover or rise and use the turmoil as fuel. That journey
sometimes gets described as being accompanied by fire
and lightning. That could possibly be behind the newest 
release by the rapper Frequency, Fire and Lightning - The
Lightning Side. Frequency, who hails from Mesa, Arizona,
knows about tough times. A bulk of his lyrics deal with the
trauma of being raised in a broken home and constantly
moving from place to place. He turned to rap music as an
escape, and began to compose his own songs at the age of
9. Ten years later, he’s set to release his first album. 

Frequency’s main draw is the ability to perform a budding
new genre of “EDM rap”, where electronic dance music and
rap are fused together. It’s what garnered him attention
from his label Hood and Associates, who signed him without
him even performing a track. The album gives you a clear
idea of why beginning with the first track,  “Alternate State”.
It opens with a brisk and uptempo beat that is the hallmark
of trap-influenced beat production and Frequency wastes no
time, jumping and rhyming furiously. The Lightning Side is
peppered here and there with these fast-charged raps, but
you get a bit more insight into Frequency’s depth when the
pace isn’t so rapid-fire. On “Lightspeed”, which features
famed battle rappper Daylyt, the somewhat slowed beat
evokes a fully reflective mood that both ride with an easy
back and forth of rhyming. A side note about the other
guest appearances on the album - it’s an eclectic mix, with
Baby Bash on one track and the infamous Don Magic Juan
on the slick track entitled of course, “Pimpin’”. Through it
all, Frequency shows a measured confidence and vigorous
energy that you can tell will hold up well in small clubs and
vast outdoor stadiums. Fire and Lightning - The Lightning
Side may prove to be an electric entry for a new artist to
thrill crowds with. Find out more at his website. 

www.hoodandtalent.com

www.frequency66.com

www.facebook.com/frequency66

twitter.com/frequency66

[MUSIC] Stormy Mondays - "The Lay Of The Land"/"Wading The River"

It’s not too often that you come across a band that 
puts out music in direct opposition to its name - and
you don’t mind that fact one bit. Such is the case with
Stormy Mondays. The band has been at the forefront
of folk-rock for a little over two decades, hailing from
Oveido, Spain. They’ve enjoyed some magnificent
moments, from jamming with Slash of Guns & Roses
on that group’s European tour, to having their song
selected by NASA to be played on the Space Shuttle
Endeavour and being the only Spanish band to be at
any of the Woodstock festivals with their 1999 concert
appearance. The group has a sound that channels the
same spirit found in music from artists like Van Morrison
and The Lumineers. There’s a genteel quality to their
music, and listeners will find themselves soaking in it
like sitting in a warm bath with their double EP.

The first album, Wading The River, lets you into the
world of Stormy Mondays with the snappy “Nobody
Knows”. Jorge Otero, the lead vocalist, has a knack
for illustrating the mood perfectly with his voice. It 
blends nicely with the steady and lively guitar work on his 
part along with that of Dani Melendez. The group shows
off their dexterity throughout, especially in the bittersweet
tones of “Silent Star” and “Love and Fire”. For the 
second half of the EP, The Lay Of The Land, you find
more tunes that give you an ‘80’s feel that is infectious. 
There’s power abound in “Merry-Go-Round”, a number
that is robust with great bass. “My Midnight World” is 
a bit of a departure with its bittersweet tone, but it adds
to the overall sharp quality of the album. Stormy Mondays
will definitely lighten the mood for listeners both old and
new. More information about their double EP can be 
found on their website. 

http://www.stormymondays.com
http://en.stormymondays.com 
http://www.facebook.com/stormymondays.fan 
http://twitter.com/stormymondays  
http://twitter.com/stormymondays_e