Fly Anakin & Koncept Jack$on – Chapel Drive

The dynamic duo of Fly Anakin and Koncept Jack$on from Mutant Academy drops another project with their album Chapel Drive which is their best collaborative effort to date. Armed with experience, an incredible affinity for their craft, and a team full of rappers and producers large enough to be mistaken a guerrilla cell, Anakin and Kon formed a well-structured piece of work. While it’s obvious that the two are at the center stage of Chapel Drive, the album is colored with the other members of their RVA based collective which makes it an even more thrilling ride. Big Kahuna OG and Henny L.O. both steal the spotlight in their own right. While not especially aggressive, their overall sound is a dominant one which is a good thing when it’s two to four rappers sharing a track together and everyone needs to be able to mesh together well while also having their own defined voices. It’s evident that Anakin, Kon, and the rest of the features have a powerful chemistry as they seem to come together flawlessly like a debuting Wu-Tang Clan.

Packed with heavily atmospheric production and stylish lyricism, it seems like each track was made to one up the next. Despite the bragging, there are many introspective bars laced into the album such as Koncept Jack$on on “vag manifesto” where he spits “My food for thought is how my mouth get fed. It’s the conglomerate. Never voice your love is what your vagina said” in a self-aware fashion. Lines like, “How you want it? With the red dot vision or something different? You the man? I don’t know your name, these bitches just pictures” from Fly Anakin, really rip into the tracks to give us that dominant sound I mentioned earlier. The beats range from a chill (“Memory Foam” featuring Henny L.O. and produced by Henchmen) to hard-hitting(“dime$” produced by Sycho Sid) while keeping a smooth transition.

My favorite tracks from Chapel Drive would have to be “madblunts,” “memory foam,” “kingpin,” “dime$,” and “when thugs cry” although I definitely enjoyed listening to the album through and through. The most vital parts of the album would have to be the chemistry, and not just between the rappers but with the producers as well. Everything seems to come together perfectly on the album with no bad choices of beats, timing, and use of lyricism although the Mutant Academy camp almost never has that problem anyways. Being a big portrait of the Academy’s soundscape, this is the perfect album to jump into as a starting point in their ever growing discography.

https://itun.es/us/oKJmjb

Injury Reserve – All This Money

This bouncy, electrifying earworm in the form of “All This Money” by Injury Reserve had my head nodding when I turned to Pigeon and Planes Takeover on Beats 1. I knew nothing of this Arizona-based Hip-Hop group when I first listened to them. I even forgot that I saw the name Injury Reserve before, most likely through Pigeons and Planes, multiple times and ignored them each time for whatever reason, admittedly some of those reasons being them not catching my eye as I scroll through my Twitter timeline. I wish I didn’t ignore them though because if this one song and the general consensus by critics across the board is anything to take note of, they’re a promising Hip-Hop clique. Their odd energy reminds me of Odd Future while the sound of “All This Money” is more comparative to a mixture of club songs from the 2000’s. Check out “All This Money” down below and don’t miss out before it’s too late.

Mike Strong – Subject of Sadness

“I can’t lose, I got a war to win”

If you know of my love for Virginian artists then it’s a huge chance you’ll know that Mike Strong is one of my favorite emcees. He’s a very well-rounded rapper compared to a lot of his peers. He’s clever, complicated, edgy, and has the skill to back up those attributes. The gritty sound on Subject of Sadness is reminiscent of his other works like Doors Close, Skies Don’t, yet it’s updated without compromise. Strong’s smooth delivery comes as a contrast to his intricate flow and versatile storytelling which often makes me feel like he’s confiding in me about the secret truths of his life. Subject of Sadness is dark, to say the least, but it also has an eccentric side which makes for a colorful project despite some of its bleak undertones.

Some of my favorite tracks include “THIS RAP SHIT,” “Warning Signs,” and “Mojo” which all showcase his versatility. On “THIS RAP SHIT” Mike Strong tackles the existential question that every rapper faces with “How long will it last?” Instead of simply leaving us with a cliffhanger to wait on the answer later, Strong takes a head-on approach and decides that “I just want to get it and go like a real nigga supposed to. I don’t know shit about culture, I’m who I am” in probably what will be one of my favorite rap quotes of the year. “Mojo” is a rather lengthy track but it handles like a planned detour with a lot to bear witness to from between the first second and the last in this seven-minute track. Strong’s attack on “Warning Signs” starts off with another one of my favorite lines, “I can’t lose, I got a war to win” which sets the powerful tone for the song and the rest of the album, with help from a strong buildup thanks to the first two tracks, “Tufa” and “Fast Food,” letting the album become a portrait instead of just a story. You can hear Mike Strong’s hunger throughout Subject of Sadness but you can also hear his rationale calculating and contemplating each move like a predator fighting for his life but in this case it’s not a beast he’s combating, but the streets, the industry, and everything else that wants to get in his way.

JAY IDK – “Famous Freestyle”

I have recently been getting back into checking out Soundcloud for music and one of the first artists I ran into on everyone’s favorite free music-streaming app was Jay IDK, the London-born, Maryland raised rapper with a ton of versatility. This isn’t my first go with Jay IDK’s music. I was listening to Jay IDK’s Subtrap, which is short for Suburban Trap, which is a fresh and crisp concept album, and a few singles before Subtrap like “Two Hoes.” I could go over how complex the album is but it’s better to listen for yourself. His sound reminds me of a multitude of artists but I specifically think of Kendrick Lamar when I hear him however I don’t think he’s copy-cat as once you get past the fact that he sounds like a ’08 King Kunta, he differs greatly.

When I did press play I was amazed. I haven’t heard a good freestyle in a while, although I don’t really keep up with them nowadays. This “Hello Pt 2” features Jay IDK spitting on Kanye West’s infamous “Famous” track from The Life of Pablo with his signature viciousness while still having obvious fun with it.

Got their feelings so mixed that they heart got good hair. Put me on the throne, I promise I give it good care.

When I first heard it I was left shouting “whew” as the bars start hitting. It’s fun listening to him, as he always delivers and takes pride in his work. He’s gaining traction by actually putting work into his craft, something you can’t hate. I recommend him to anyone who loves a witty rapper with clever lines like Lil Wayne or a rapper who can deliver complex content like Kendrick Lamar.

Jay IDK has several freestyles out most of them on Youtube and Soundcloud. Below you’ll find a link to the “Hello” the part one to this part two you just read about where Jay IDK freestyles on the classic Wu-Tang Clan track, “Ice Cream” as well as a link to his freestyle on the Sway show for the Friday Cypher, in case you want to check out more of his freestyles.

 

 

Peter $un – “IDGAF”

I think people have been missing out on a lot of good music lately with so much of the good stuff being constantly cranked out. 2016 was a huge run for the music industry in terms of quality, especially for Hip-Hop. It appears that the bubbling strife and turmoil from the last few years have given us new music to get over the musical slump that was 2015 and help us cope with the horrid state of affairs for politics and social issues in 2016. Major artists like Beyoncé, Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, and Solange dropped projects reflecting the times in their own vision leading to many think pieces, memes, offline and online discussions, as well as a lot of general attention. Of course, this post isn’t about any of those artists, instead of being about one eccentric rapper name Peter $un.

Peter $un dropped quite a few gems in 2016 such as his project Paradise is a Day Away: Audio Diary, a video for “.American Spirit,” and some other tracks including the song in the title of this post,”Idgaf” which was released in early November. On “Idgaf” $un doesn’t give us a conscious song or even an intriguingly crafted perspective but what he does do is offer up a morsel of his own story with a very basic, and catchy hook, about moving on from the messy business of the day-to-day. In a time where we’re constantly being caught up in the troubles of something new, it’s the very noticeable concept of not being phased by the constant noise.

$un doesn’t try to overdo the song by making it more than what it is like some other artists would which would ruin the song. It’s normalized grittiness and rugged tone keeps it from being another upbeat jam but this is more than okay as with a voice like Peter $un’s it matches well, and the song gains more of an individuality. His brand of crooning layered in the background adds a nostalgic touch which left me wanting to return to the good days that have passed, and while I’m not sure if that was what he had in mind when he was laying down the vocals, it’s appreciated on this listener’s ear. I think Peter $un has a bright future ahead of him as his own work shines through a sea of other music, setting itself apart with Peter $un’s nonchalant energy in comparison to others who try to force their way into even an inkling of attention with their “do the most” attitude.

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pedrosol

Aminé- Caroline (Prod. by Pasqué & Aminé)

“Cause great scenes might be great
But I love your bloopers
And perfect’s for the urgent
Baby I want forever”

So I don’t know where I first heard about this song but as soon as I played this Aminé song on my phone, I instantly could tell it was a potential hit in the making. Regardless if it becomes a charting hit in the real world, right now it’s at least getting a lot of buzz from all over the internet. I think, if the momentum keeps up, this may very well be a breakout song for the artist.

Aminé is from Portland, Oregon and you would be able to tell from both his physical appearance and his vocal appearance due to the eccentricity found in both. This song isn’t just crazy, in fact, it’s well made. It’s jumpy, it’s electric and warm, it’s all the things you would want in a rap song you can get turnt to without any eerie undertones to throw you off balance (I’m looking at you Future). It’s a fun song and it knows it.

I’ve been listening to “Caroline” for the last few days and I feel like it’s my duty to share it with the general public. It’s way too much of a good song to pass up and I felt like I was honestly missing out on something good once I realized this song has been out for a while now, at least since the Summer started. We still have a few Summer weeks, if not days, to enjoy this warm song in the warm Summer sun.

 

Soundcloud Link: https://soundcloud.com/heyamine/caroline

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heyamine

Website: http://www.heyamine.com/

91 Real ft. Rell – #TAKEAPICTURE

Coming out of Richmond, Virginia, 91 Real dropped some summer time heat in the fall time. Delivering an effortless fresh energy, 91 Real shows off a lot of potential both in his confidence and vocal presence. Keeping it glitzy, albeit with a touch of grit that’s common in the production of second wave trap, 91 Real commands you, literally, to take a picture and savour the moment.

Follow him on social media at,

Twitter – @91Real_

Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/91r-e-a-l

Cameron Butler – Godspeed

I hate that Godspeed is such a short work. I hate it!

Now that I have that out of my system, I love Cameron Butler’s Godspeed. It’s unapologetically soulful which is rare in the current decade of Rap as anyone can tell with reactions to the soundscape of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. Only about eight minutes, it’s merely a morsel of music for fans to enjoy, which will most likely leave them hungry for more. However, considering that it’s only a compilation of three “loose” tracks, Godspeed being so damn enjoyable while being rather short, is actually a good thing.

Keep up with Cameron Butler on Twitter –

@cameronxbutler

To download the EP, check out his bandcamp cameronxbutler.com/album/godspeed

Fly Anakin and Koncept Jack$on – The Mandate EP (Side A)

The New Jersey based mastermind GRiMM Doza, laid the gritty, yet surreal production for Fly Anakin and Koncept Jack$on’s The Mandate EP (Side A). Anakin and Jack$on deliver crazy chemistry starting with the adequately named “Troublesome G’s” to “Jefferson’s Crib.” Delivering that nostalgic, yet marvelously modern sound, the EP is nothing short of great work, especially with the duo injecting their buttery flows with their lavish lyrics.

You can hear the major influence from both Koncept Jackson’s last project, Operation LIV LAV which was decidely laid back yet driven by vivid portraits, and elsewhere ave. where Fly Anakin offered up refurbished memories on lucid productions. Combining the most prominent parts of their personas and discography, they successfully delivered on a much desired collab and with this only being “side A,” there’s much more to be excited for on the horizon.

You can buy the album at their bandcamp, MutantAcademyRVA

Keep up with the #MutantWave and GRiMM Doza on Twitter!

@Mutant_Academy – Mutant Academy

@Flyanakin – Fly Anakin

@KonceptMYT – Koncept Jackson

@Grimmmob – GRiMM Doza

Youngn’ – Mighty Healthy Freestyle

Youngn’ comes in hard on a “Mighty Healthy” freestyle. Proving he’s capable of menacing acts of rapping, Youngn’ preps for his Thriller project. Focusing more on delivery and flowing than wordplay, Youngn’ provides a thrilling energy to satiate old fans and attract new ones before Thriller drops.