EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
EARMILK EARMILK
EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Electronic
  • Hip-Hop
  • Trip-Hop

Smoko Ono and Njomza out pace their critics on "Road Runner"

  • August 22, 2014
  • James Elliott
Total
0
Shares
0
0

Thanks to the massive wave of innovative music being swelling out of the Windy City, it's easy to forget about Chicago's rich musical history. For those who haven't visited a record store, heard of the plethora of blues lawsuits, or at least seen the terrible Beyonce movie, Cadillac Records, hip hop and it's darker offspring, drill, might be all that is easily associated with the Second City. However heart wrenching this tragedy may be, it does give listeners virgin ears for the young upstarts who are attempting to revive the alternative sounds that have called the city home for years. Smoko Ono, although still influenced by more modern iterations of hip hop, is one of those exciting artists borrowing from his hometowns ample bag of tricks. 

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/163847716" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Both house music and juke have their start in Chicago, something that Ono is keenly aware of and takes pride in. His latest track "Road Runner" is as much of an ode to DJ Rashad footwork scene (exemplified in those fast paced pounding kick drums) as it is modern R&B.  Njomza delivers a solid vocal performance, but is easily overshadowed by Ono's astonishingly detailed production; she rides the track well, but never knocks it out of the park or makes it full hers. 

There are moments during this record that once discovered, will have you singing Ono's praises. From the subtle guitar pluck that comes in towards the back end, every time the drums are about to drop, to the strange time the hats seem to be one, it all works together to create a vibrant soundscape. It will remind, those who have forgotten, that there are people in Chicago that like to dance and just have all around good time. 

Smoko Ono claims to be the flexologist, which rings true on "Road Runner". He will have you moving your body, no matter how reluctant you are. Check out the track and then head over to his soundcloud for more great music. Keep your eye out for this guy in the upcoming future.

  • Smoko Ono on Soundcloud
  • Smoko Ono on Facebook
  • Smoko Ono on Twitter
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • Njomza
  • Smoko Ono
James Elliott

Previous Article
  • Dance
  • Electro
  • Electronic
  • Hip-Hop
  • Rap
  • Trap

Kid Sister shows everyone off with DUSK2DAWN: The Diary Of Jane Jupiter [Download]

  • August 22, 2014
  • Kiku Shinfuku
View Article
Next Article
  • Dance
  • Deep House
  • House

Wet's "Move Me" is brilliantly remixed by the myserious TÂCHES

  • August 22, 2014
  • Kiku Shinfuku
View Article
You May Also Like
View Article
  • Atmospheric
  • Easy Listening
  • Electronic
  • Lo-Fi

Mistress Moon is the low-fi duo defining nostalgia and atmospheric electronic music

  • June 6, 2025
View Article
  • Pop
  • R&B

Chloe Florence inspires listeners to disconnect and reconnect with "Log Off"

  • June 6, 2025
View Article
  • Hip-Hop
  • Music Videos

Collin Gibson channels hip-hop’s golden age on “Black Ice” [Video]

  • June 6, 2025
View Article
  • Alternative
  • Funk
  • Hip-Hop

THEKOIWAY delivers a soundtrack of the streets in “La Calle Quema”

  • June 5, 2025
View Article
  • Dance
  • Electronic

Exploring Duality: MarMar’s "The Other Side EP" Shines with "Walking On Water" and "Missing Me"

  • June 5, 2025
View Article
  • Electronic
  • Festival

LIDO Festival Starts Its First Year with Charli XCX, Massive Attack, Jamie xx & More

  • June 5, 2025
View Article
  • Electronic
  • New Music

Under their own label, Purity Ring marks their return with new singles "many lives" and "part II"

  • June 5, 2025
View Article
  • Electronic

Rob Tirea releases the introspective "There You Are" ahead of summer EP

  • June 4, 2025
Popular Music
  • Chloe Florence inspires listeners to disconnect and reconnect with "Log Off"
    • June 6, 2025
  • Mistress Moon is the low-fi duo defining nostalgia and atmospheric electronic music
    • June 6, 2025
  • Singer Songwriter Emma Harner releases folk single, "False Alarm"
    • June 6, 2025
  • Collin Gibson channels hip-hop’s golden age on “Black Ice” [Video]
    • June 6, 2025
  • Navigating Life’s Highs and Lows: Munan’s "Everything in Between" EP
    • June 5, 2025
Recent Scoops
  • Matt Oakley is redefining country music with heart, soul and modernity
    • May 5, 2025
  • Texas’ Blacktop Mojo does rock music the way it should be done
    • April 29, 2025
  • Tha Rapper Haiti blends authentic style with musical passion
    • April 28, 2025
  • Glorybots redefines rock with latest album 'mad.end'
    • April 10, 2025
Community Voices
  • From Machismo To Mujeres: Women As The Face Of Reggaeton
    • July 14, 2022
  • Tyler the creator
    4 things I learned on the 'Call Me If You Get Lost' tour
    • March 31, 2022
  • 4 things every artist needs to think about in 2022
    • January 27, 2022
  • The TikTok Takeover of Hip-Hop
    • January 11, 2022

EARMILK EARMILK
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
All Milk. No Duds.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.