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
  • Hip-Hop
  • Soul-Hop

Leven Kali drops '4102' [Download]

  • August 6, 2015
  • Adam Schulz
Total
0
Shares
0
0

Leven Kali is a neo-funk artist that recently popped up on EARMILK’s radar with his sensual banger, “Rather Be Alone,” featuring fellow Los Angeles native Casey Veggies. Recently, the Santa Monica crooner released his debut project, 4102, which boasts features by Topaz Jones, Zack Sekoff, Jojo, and Sydney Jay. In addition, production features the likes of Thunder Cat, Taylor Mackall, Nick Kennerly, and legendary bass player Ricky Rouse. Despite the many producers and artists that contributed to 4102, Kali co-produced each track on the project as well as handled all the top lining himself. That said, Kali being a multi-faceted musician, informs the listener of the equally eclectic nature of his artistry.

4102’s sound could best be defined as a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, soul, r&b, and of course, funk. The sonic essence of the tape is exemplified by the tape’s standout track, “The Wave,” which features New Jersey-based rapper, Topaz Jones. “The Wave” starts out with a synchronized, pulsating, synth accompanied by Kali’s silky, smooth vocals that make for a mesmerizing sequence. Just as Kali’s vocal drop off, the synth mentioned above begins to pulsate faster and faster eventually building up to a crazy verse by Topaz Jones. In his verse, the 23-year old rapper rattles off a barrage of colorful metaphorical quips and allusions all in the span of 32 bars. Kali’s vocals then sweep into action as the trip-hop production transitions into a funkdelic soundscape with a dashing organ melody and a groovy baseline. “The Wave” is not the only track on 4102 that contains a genre changing transition as evident by another stand-out cut on the project, “September.” The track starts out with a sultry, r&b melody by the neo-funk artist that quickly picks up with the help of a funky baseline and keyboard harmony. The bassline and keyboard melody eventually blossoms into a sonically, gorgeous bridge that features the lovely vocals of Sydney Jay. Ultimately, the project reaches its funkadelic pinnacle with the track, "The One," which is one of the best disco-inspired tracks I have heard in recent years.

Now, I know this is quite the statement, but I believe that Leven Kali's 4102 is one of the most refreshing projects to come out in 2015. With his debut project being arguably just as fun and enthralling as Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap, the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter has the potential to take the neo-funk sound to new heights and revive funk all together. Let's just hope there is a Jamie XX "The One" remix in the future because that is the only way I see this tape being any better.

CKiug-rUEAAGXQI

Leven Kali

'4102'

  • 2015-07-24
  • Leven Kali on Soundcloud
  • Leven Kali on Facebook
  • Leven Kali on Twitter

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • Leven Kali
  • Topaz Jones
Adam Schulz

Previous Article
  • Dance
  • Deep House
  • Indie Dance
  • Tropical House

Michah delivers with his "Away From Me" Chinah remix [Download]

  • August 5, 2015
  • Lauren Jefferson
View Article
Next Article
  • Electronic
  • Future Funk

Julia Lewis & Bonham Carter do an artful rendition of Xavier Dunn's "No Type"

  • August 6, 2015
  • Rasheed Tulay
View Article
You May Also Like
View Article
  • Pop
  • R&B

Kevin Ross strikes a hit with "Love In The Middle"

  • July 8, 2025
Jermaine Mickey
View Article
  • Indie
  • Pop
  • R&B

Jermaine Mickey returns with “All This Love”

  • July 8, 2025
Brent Faiyaz
View Article
  • Alternative R&B
  • R&B

Brent Faiyaz dreams of neverland on "Peter Pan."

  • July 7, 2025
View Article
  • Hip-Hop
  • Music Videos
  • Rap

Sexton shares energetic new offering "Been That" [Video]

  • July 7, 2025
JMT
View Article
  • Electronic
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • Pop
  • R&B

JMT & Daniel Hex collide genres in Detroit-born banger 'Yes, I Can'

  • July 7, 2025
View Article
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • Pop
  • Rap

David Munoz pours passion into “Close Tu Di Vine”

  • July 7, 2025
View Article
  • Alternative R&B
  • Funk
  • Mainstage
  • Neo-Soul
  • New Music

OneoftheMollys keeps it fun and flirty on new single "Rolling the Dice"

  • July 5, 2025
itsHOLY
View Article
  • Feature
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • New Music
  • R&B
  • Rap

itsHOLY sets the stage ablaze in triumphant new visual “Showstoppa”

  • July 4, 2025
Popular Music
  • Kevin Ross strikes a hit with "Love In The Middle"
    • July 8, 2025
  • Caroline Dezelle contemplates "the real things" in latest single
    • July 8, 2025
  • Franno shares romantic song of adoration with "Historia de Amor"
    • July 8, 2025
  • Elements Music & Arts Festival 2025: A Multisensory Journey in the Poconos
    • July 8, 2025
  • Noble Hops
    Noble Hops and Miss Freddye toast to truth with anthem “Life By The Numbers”
    • July 8, 2025
Recent Scoops
  • Jay Tone is carving out his space with "Puzzles"
    • July 7, 2025
  • 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
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.