Welcome back for this week's edition of Straight No Chase, your one-stop shop source for all things hip-hop here on EARMILK. This comprehensive weekly feature aims to share hip-hop based content we may have missed during the past week, while also highlighting memorable content we did cover. In addition to the recap of our best hip-hop posts, SNC also includes a Video of the Week, Project of the Week, and staff-selected noteworthy upcoming releases.
As any hip-hop head worth their salt knows, these days music floods the blogosphere by the millisecond. Consequently, the landscape of hip-hop is forever changing. There are countless rappers, both established and up-and-coming, as well as renowned and budding producers and beatsmiths dropping their fair share of dope music for the listening masses. It is our mission to mine the interweb for both audio and visual gems, delivering them straight to you for your auditory consumption. But enough with the jaw jacking: let's cut straight to the chase
STRAIGHT KILLER, NO FILLER
Diplo – “Rock Steady” (Feat. Action Bronson, RiFF RAFF, Mr MFN eXquire & Nicky Da B)
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/114311167" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
The king of making girls go nuts is back with a new EP, Revolution, which included this insane number featuring Action Bronson, RiFF RAFF, Mr MFN eXquire, and Nicky Da B. Kicking things off majestically with Action, the song is nonstop action for three and a half minutes. Experimental in a way Diplo can sometimes be, the track is a steady, contorted beat, complete with airhorns.
Mr MFN eXquire – “Untitled” (Feat. Chance the Rapper)
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/113841613" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
Continuing with Mr MFN eXquire, we bring it down slow with this trippy number, which includes some help from 2013’s breakout star, Chance the Rapper. This track was off Kismet (Blue Edition) mixtape. The young Chicago rapper croons and raps smoothly over the simple beat before Mr MFN eXquire takes over, going double-time. The two bring trippy emotional vibes with this one. Not nearly as light as the previous track, but definitely worth the listen.
Chuck Inglish – “Came Thru” (Feat. Mac Miller and Ab-Soul)
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Earlier in the year, I was pretty sure Mac Miller was on a downfall. Actually, I was pretty sure for a while that whatever he was up to wasn’t going to be too much of an interest to me anymore. However, this fall he’s been really proving me wrong. Really wrong. This time he’s teamed up with Chuck Inglish yet again, and brought Ab-Soul into the situation as well. Bringing mad LA vibes with this track, the two rappers go in hard, and major props to Inglish for keeping it way funky. Ab-Soul and Mac Miller have shown that they’ve got nothing to prove, as they go head to head in talent. So much joy in hearing some life back in Miller’s voice, and the TDE avid weed lover brings his awesome vibes. I’m so ready for the weekend, aren’t you?!
Danny Brown – “Dubstep” (Feat. Scrufizzer)
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Not really the biggest hit on the album, but this track with Scrufizzer has been on repeat on my iPod all week long. This isn’t really dubstep in its style, however Danny Brown and the Grime star bring a bit of the American and the UK and mesh it into one hell of a song. First good ole Daniel Brown brings the heat, bringing a steady flow to the electronic beat. On the other hand, Scrufizzer goes as fast as humanly possible (seriously HOW does he do that?!). The track feels like a collision of their two worlds- we all know DB loves the grime scene, and it was his way of introducing it to his American audience. Amazing stuff, as always.
ON THE ROCKS: WEEKLY RECAP
Here's a recap of some of the best hip-hop covered this past week on EARMILK. Take a couple of minutes to stroll down memory lane and revisit a few of tracks brought to you earlier in the week. For those who may have been snoozing at the wheel, here's your chance to play catch up:
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[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/114563185" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/114413751" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
This week's video of the week is courtesy of a 19 year old Houston,Texas native by the name of Cory Jreamz. Seemingly popping out from obscurity his latest video "Alive" has been featured virtually everywhere this week it would seem. What has been dubbed art-rap his flow is quirky and unique yet unforced, his content matter is what intrigued me the most. Unlike most Houston artists he speaks about art and culture, with the stand out line
"Black Marlon Brondo with the grand flow, with dreams of doing Madonna like Pac in '94". "Alive" is a follow up single to the previously released "Howl" which will both be on Cory's up coming project The Lonely Painter
[youtube]http://youtu.be/4x3I4AUYrvg[/youtube]
|OFFICIAL WEBSITE| TWITTER | FACEBOOK |
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
You know that artist whose obscurity baffles you and all of your enthusiastic friends. Well, Maxo Kream is that guy for a large contingent of underground fans. Out of all of the new aspiring emcees out there, he seems to have the most going for him. He is from Houston—thanks to the A$AP Rocky hip hop has been going through a serious honeymoon faze with the Texas City—he has street appeal, he has an intense love affair with fashion, particularly with sneakers, and he knows his drugs.
Maxo isn’t just a collection of clichés and gimmicks that normally entice listeners, but he is also a premier lyricist when he steps in front of the microphone. While his debut mixtape, Retro Card, allowed him to display his lyrical prowess, the maturation that took place during the recording process of his sophomore album makes Quicc Strikes an incredible listening experience.
Unlike a lot of rappers coming up, he actually lives that life. He sounds like Houston because he resides there; he makes street records about selling crack and home invasion because that use to be his main means of making money; he raps about an ample of sneakers and clothes because he has them. It gives his music an elevated level of authenticity that makes songs like “Lewinsky” sound so good, but at the same time incredibly haunting. Maxo just drops bar after bar of some of the coldest lyrics, spitting about selling drugs in elementary school to hitting licks (robbing homes). “I know I’m Christ, but I know I got the devil in me.”
This dark monster like quality dissipates once he begins to rap about his loves—shows and making money. “Whitney Houston” was the first single released, and it is as much a party song as it is a song detailing the drug trade. Rhyming in double time during the hook, he casually runs past the fact that his crew is robbing and shooting, to focus on the fun resulting from their actions. A comparison to Chief Keef’s atmosphere would fit perfectly here, if it wasn’t for the fact that Maxo does this while maintaining a very high level of rapping.
You know that artist whose obscurity baffles you and all of your enthusiastic friends. Well, Maxo Kream is that guy for a large contingent of underground fans. Out of all of the new aspiring emcees out there, he seems to have the most going for him. He is from Houston—thanks to the A$AP Rocky hip hop has been going through a serious honeymoon faze with the Texas City—he has street appeal, he has an intense love affair with fashion, particularly with sneakers, and he knows his drugs.
Maxo isn’t just a collection of clichés and gimmicks that normally entice listeners, but he is also a premier lyricist when he steps in front of the microphone. While his debut mixtape, Retro Card, allowed him to display his lyrical prowess, the maturation that took place during the recording process of his sophomore album makes Quicc Strikes an incredible listening experience.
Unlike a lot of rappers coming up, he actually lives that life. He sounds like Houston because he resides there; he makes street records about selling crack and home invasion because that use to be his main means of making money; he raps about an ample of sneakers and clothes because he has them. It gives his music an elevated level of authenticity that makes songs like “Lewinsky” sound so good, but at the same time incredibly haunting. Maxo just drops bar after bar of some of the coldest lyrics, spitting about selling drugs in elementary school to hitting licks (robbing homes). “I know I’m Christ, but I know I got the devil in me.”
This dark monster like quality dissipates once he begins to rap about his loves—shows and making money. “Whitney Houston” was the first single released, and it is as much a party song as it is a song detailing the drug trade. Rhyming in double time during the hook, he casually runs past the fact that his crew is robbing and shooting, to focus on the fun resulting from their actions. A comparison to Chief Keef’s atmosphere would fit perfectly here, if it wasn’t for the fact that Maxo does this while maintaining a very high level of rapping.
UPCOMING RELEASES
Black Milk
No Poison No Paradise
- Fat Beats Records
- October 15, 2013
Boldy James & Alchemist
My My 1st Chemistry Set
- Decon/Mass Appeal
- October 15, 2013
