UnHyped Audio: February 27, 2014

Before the month of February comes to an end here’s another list of under the radar records that will definitely capture your musical earing. Have a listen and enjoy 

Fly Union – Stay Alive:  Another freebie from the Trio called Fly Union with Jerreau and Jay Swifa on the verses over a club banger of an instrumental produced from Jay Swifa himself.   

Vince Staples – Nate: New leak from Long Beach Vince Staples which finds him detailing his childhood memories with his father over a captivating beat by Scoop Deville and bridge done by Cocaine 80’s James Fauntleroy, definitely a dope track.

Ludacris – Party Girls: Last we heard from Luda was his IDGAF mixtape last year and while we still waiting on the LP he drops a new single with singer Jeremiah and rapper Wiz Khalifa , one of those strip club records to listen to. 

Tory Lanez - Danny Glover (Freestyle):  Canada’s Own Tory bodies another instrumental for the swave session this time its Young Thug’s Danny Glover, definitely a track that will be on your playlist.    

REVIEW: Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo

Written By Andre Millwood

Isaiah Rashad released his debut project “Cilvia Demo” on the TDE; Top Dawg Entertainment Label on the 28th of January 2014. It featured label mates SZA, Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock as well as friends he carries with him such as Michael Da Vinci “Mikey D”. Production comes from the likes of Black Metaphor, Ross Vega, Farhot and Digi+Phonics Producer SounWave.

Cilvia Demo is not for the listener who is not prepared to get introspective; it does not have a “banger” in comparison to a Tyga’s Well Done or Fabolous’ Soul Tape 3. It makes up for this with intense lyricism and deep themes that repeat throughout the project. Isaiah Rashad was first introduced to me with the fan made “Welcome to the Game” Mixtape on DatPiff and indeed it was a breath of fresh air. The everyman-ness of Mr. Rashad allows one to see things from his point of view as instead of denoting on riches and even the ever so overdone topic of the pursuit of riches; he speaks on his personal demons such as the defective relationship with him and his paternal figure, rappers who “swaggerjack” the South, The typical ballads to the “loving ladies” who throw themselves on “hype” figures, Depression and Nostalgic references to his rap influences. 

This last point comes out strongly in tracks such as Webbie Flow and Brad Jordan in which the former dedicates the flow and mannerisms of the artist Webbie. It is good to note that Rashad’s hometown of Chatanooga, Tennesee is in the south and as such artists such as Outkast, Lil Wayne, Webbie and Scarface had a great impact on shaping his rap style as well as his more recent TDE label compatriots.

There is not much change in Rashad’s delivery since the tracks I heard previous to Cilvia Demo, but that is not necessarily negative as what most individuals got into was Rashad’s subject matter and delivery, it indeed reflects the music quality that TDE puts out but in his own way Rashad is unique. This may be the personalization in his music, him relating his difficulty to find a good job after a stint with the law, the new baby he has to take care of or just his continuous references to his father being missing in his life.

The instrumentals on Cilvia Demo for the most part reflect the introspective nature of Rashad’s lyrics but there are standouts such as Soliloquy produced by FarHot. The Beat is off-hinge, off-kilter which engages well with the track theme that being that of a soliloquy which is defined as  “an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, esp. by a character in a play.”

It is important to note the emotions put into Rashad’s delivery; the feeling of frustration, aggression and despair itself comes across all across the album. This is a man with a point to prove and a place to shape out in the industry all done without molding to the theory of making pop music but for individuals to take him as is and appreciate him for what he decides to do.

Even if Isaiah never changes or adds on to his range of topics there is a place for him that is unique as he is as “real” as it comes. The very fact that he named the project off his Honda Civic “Cilvia” his old beat up car shows this man is not here to impress you with lyrics on tangible products but on life experiences and personal convictions that you can either relate to or at least understand as there may be some small part of you that screams at racism, the system or just plain wants to just chill out and listen to something that doesn’t need you to “bang out” to it.

UnHyped Audio: February 23, 2014

Here goes another list of hot records that are under the commercial radar, if u got a good ear for quality music you’re going to hit download on every one of these tracks so as always listen and enjoy. 

Fly Union – This or That: Ohio’s own Fly Union been dropping a lot of records these past few weeks leading up to the release of their new album Small Victories on March 4^th and this is just one of the many dope releases. 

Bishop Nehru – You Stressing: Aspiring Brooklyn emcee Bishop as been making waves since last year with his Nehruvia Mixtapes and this is his first release of 2014 with production from rising sensation UK  production Duo Disclosure, surprisingly they manage to provide a grimy boom bap structured beat for the young sixteen to spit his 16’s as always.  

QuESt – Fuck You Mean: Miami’s QuESt has been on almost a two year hiatus since his last mixtape dropped in 2012, since then he’s signed with Logic’s Visionary Music Group (VMG) and is working on his debut album so this was a freebie he decided to hold off the fans until then. 

KR – Off the Record: Upcoming Los Angeles emcee KR drops his first release of 2014 which displays his appealing wordplay and rhythmic flow, definitely an artist to keep you ears tuned into. 

Cyhi the Prynce – Napoleon:  Arguably the most underrated and slept on emcee on Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music’s Label is back with a Bar-for-Bar, Excruciating, Punch line warfare of a record which will be on his upcoming project which is said to be executive produced by Kanye himself.  

                          

Top 5 Mixtapes of the Month (December)

Now it’s been a two month hiatus since I’ve posted any material which I do apologize for but at that moment it seems there was a shortage of “quality” music being released for those two months but seeing that it is now the end of 2013 it’s only good faith that a handful of artiste have compiled a few decent projects to go into the year 2014 so with that said here are the only 5 mixtapes to download for December.. Enjoy 

1. Fabulous – Soul Tape 3:  Now I know all loso fans are still wondering where is the release of the anticipated Loso Way 2 LP but until we get any more info on that project Fab gives us another Christmas gift with the third installment of his popular Soul Tape series, album quality project with production from Mark Henry, Sonaro, Boi-1da, Ryan Leslie and many more with features from Meek Mill, Young Jeezy, Mack Wilds and Tiara Thomas and more. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Fabolous-The-Soul-Tape-3-mixtape.558951.html

2. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – The Abstract and The Dragon: Busta (The dragon) and Q-Tip (The Abstract) deliver a collaborative project with new, old and unreleased records between the two, definitely worth a listen for the old heads and the new school who are fans of the two’s legacy in hip hop.D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Busta-Rhymes-Q-Tip-The-Abstract-And-The-Dragon-mixtape.557088.html

3. Tyga – Well Done 4: T-Raw on his mixtape grind once again with his scorching Well Done 4 tape with features from Meek Mill, Wayne, Honey Cocaine, Chris Brown and many more. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Tyga-Well-Done-4-mixtape.555029.html

4. King Los & Mark Battles – Broken Silence: Mark and Los team up to deliver this collaborative project with big features from Ab-Soul, Wale, Cyhi Da Prynce, Dizzy Wright and many more. D/Link:  http://www.datpiff.com/King-Los-Mark-Battles-Broken-Silence-mixtape.565292.html

5. Rockie Fresh & Casey Veggies – Fresh Veggies: MMG’s Rockie Fresh and PNCTL’s Casey Veggies have collaborated in the past on numerous records but they have decided to join forces to deliver this 10-Track project with banging production from Lunice, Jahlil Beats, Hit-Boy and many more with features from Overdoz, Kirko Bangz, Juicy J and others. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Casey-Veggies-Rockie-Fresh-Fresh-Veggies-mixtape.559248.html

Mic Check 1, 2: New York Edition

This is a whole new section of my blog that I came up with to further showcase another aspect of this culture we call Hip-Hop The Freestyle, even though in this current generation most of our upcoming emcee’s/rappers don’t really spit bars off top its still refreshing to hear the 16’s they can compose and how effortless they deliver these “Freestyles” to the masses so with the first edition id like to display videos of the young and older generation of new york rhyme spitter’s  showcasing their talent on the microphone.

Top 5 Mixtapes of the Month (September)

A lot of very constructive tapes been delivered since the beginning of September but these five are the only five tapes you should give any attention so as always listen and enjoy. 

1. Audio Push – Come As You Are: New project from Audio Push with an extensive list of features from Joey Bada$$, Vic Mensa, T.I., Lil Wayne and many more with production from Key Wane, S Dot, Matthew Burnett , Mars1500 and mainly Hit-Boy And Hazebanga. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Audio-Push-Come-As-You-Are-mixtape.529033.html

2. Astro aka The Astronomical Kid – Stravin like Marvin for a Cool J Song:  Brooklyn’s up and coming emcee Astro drops his second very impressive project with features from Skyzoo, Black Dave, Easy Mo Bee with production from Static Selektah, Brandun Deshay and BMC, definitely worth a listen. D/L Link:  http://www.datpiff.com/Astro-Starvin-Like-Marvin-For-A-Cool-J-Song-mixtape.530198.html

3. Vic Mensa – Innanetape: Fellow uprising Chicago rapper Vic Mensa releases his first project since his band Kidz These Days disbanded in May, it has features from Rockie Fresh, Jesse Boykins III, Ab-Soul and members from his Save Money Crew Chance The Rapper  and Joey Purp with production from Boi-1da, Cam from J.U.S.T.I.C.E league, Hit-Boy, DJ Dahi and Vic Himself.  D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Vic-Mensa-Innanetape-mixtape.536504.html

4. Curren$y and Young Roddy – Bales:  JetLife members Curren$y and Young Roddy deliver a collaborative project with production from Cardo, Sledgren, AJ Beats, Harry Fraud and many more. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Curreny-Young-Roddy-Bales-mixtape.529255.html

5. Meek Mill – Dream Chasers 3: After such a long delay the Philly rapper finally releases the third leg of his dream chasers mixtape series once again hosted by DJ Drama with features from French Montana, Nicki Minaj, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Tory Lanez  and production from Key Wane, Boi-1da, Rico, The Mekanics and many More. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Meek-Mill-Dreamchasers-3-mixtape.439835.html

UnHyped Audio: September 1st 2013

Here are another set of good records that have been under the mainstream radar. Enjoy   

Chiddy Bang – Breathe: It’s been a while but finally a new record coming from Chiddy Bang only this time the production is not done by member Xaphoon Jones but producer Yuri Beats nether less still a well laid back chill record to vibe to. 

Scolla – Roots: Very conscious flow driven freestyle from scolla over a classic MF doom instrumental which may be on his upcoming project.

Astro – Crazy: New cut from Brooklyn’s own Astro giving you them boom bap rhymes and also channeling his inner super cat on the hook with the beat produced by BMC this record will probably live on Astro’s upcoming free album “Starving like Marvin For a Cool J Song” dropping this September. 

Nino Bless – Rhyme of The Year (MK Ultra):  It seems everybody has given a response to K.Dot’s verse in control but I must say Nino Bless definitely has one of the best ones as he goes in bar for bar for 6 minutes giving it his all. 

Skyzoo – Along the Way:  The last of his penny freestyle series where he raps over Jay-Z’s “Allure” another talented effort from a Brooklyn emcee.