#90s abstract hip hop

[filthyneverdie]

NAMO - Faye Valentine | MOOD ORGANS

[edonisticdecadent]

Early Millennium Decades Decay teaser: post-production and mastering in ...

[trixiesol-blog]

[girldickdotcom]

any music recommendations right now?

YES! I've been on a lot of 90s and 2000s hip hop lately so here are some albums i want everyone to check out + their genre

mmm... food by mf doom (hip hop)

stankonia by outkast (also hip hop)

blanket by kevin abstract (like hip hop rnb and indie rock all at once. idk tbh)

bestial burden by pharmakon (experimental noise)

i got heaven by mannequin pussy (indie/punk)

peace meter by marissa paternoster (indie)

[randomvarious]

1998 San Francisco Playlist (YouTube)

Really ain't nothin' like the city of San Francisco when it comes to the music. The hippie-psychedelic Haight-Ashbury vibes of the 60s ended up getting baked into the cyber-psychonautic underground rave scene of the 90s; there's been a whole bunch of house music; a rich folk tradition; Bay Area hip hop developed into its own oft-overlooked entity; a pretty deep pocket of turntablism; and, of course, plenty of indie rock too. Quite a mix of scenes, and I'm obviously missing a bunch too!

So this week I'm giving you all something that feels like a long-forgotten CD that some college kid who was attending school in San Francisco may have burnt back in 1998. It's an eclectic, completely underground mix of electronic, hip hop, and a little bit of indie too; and it's been collecting dust at the bottom of a drawer now for over 25 years!

We kick off with a dubby deep house remix of Paris' A Reminiscent Drive's "Two Sides to Every Story" by SF native Charles Webster—14.4K plays on YouTube across a handful of uploads—and then we follow that up with a mix of UK group Globo's "Breakdown" by legendary breakbeat/trip hop pioneer Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto, who started calling the Golden Gate City his home in 1993—under 500 plays on that one as of right now. A little after that we get more breakbeat from a *very* obscure duo called Astralabe, whose cinematic, tribal-psychedelic masterpiece, "Guimbri Dub (Self-Cremating Fire of Passion Remix)," appears to be the only song that they ever released, and is included exclusively on an uncredited DJ mix called The Vertical Iris; currently sitting at a measly 92 plays.

Then on the hip hop side of things, we have some lo-fi dustiness from Double Life and Raw B called "Cycles of the Mind," as well as a 7-plus-minute medley by Sacred Hoop, DJ Marz, and Z-Man called "Not Our House," which I think can only be best described as Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack vibe. Those songs have 28.8K and 6.6K plays, respectively. And then for some killer turntablism, we've got a few tunes, including something from DJ Badrok called "1-800-Coming Correct," which has a little under 400 plays.

There's also a fat, buzzy bassline drum n bass remix by a guy named DJ Abstract of "Dukes Up," the original version of which is by someone who simply went by the name of W, that has a little over 6.5K plays (sorry about the super annoying part at the end of it 😕); and a couple tunes that show the versatility of a dude named Cole Marquis, whose solo indie folk tune, "48's," only has a little over 140 plays, and his much peppier, college/indie rock, keyboard-aided bop, "Dirt Bike Rider," by his band The Snowmen, has a little over 170 plays.

This playlist is ordered as chronologically as possible.

Reminiscent Drive - "Two Sides To Every Story (Love From San Francisco Remix)" Globo - "Breakdown (mixed by Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto)" Daisy Glow - "Right On! (User Friendly mix)" Astralabe - "Guimbri Dub (Self-Cremating Fire of Passion Remix)" Rasco - "Cordless Mics" Cole Marquis - "48's" Double Life feat. Raw B - "Cycles of the Mind" Live Human - "Almost Live" Sacred Hoop feat. DJ Marz & Z-Man - "Not Our House" DJ Badrok - "1-800-Coming Correct" Apollo, Vinroc, Shortkut & Richness - "Live at Cue's" W - "Dukes Up (DJ Abstract's One A.M. mix)" Snowmen - "Dirt Bike Rider"

And here's a list of the compilations and mixes that were used to put this thing together:

Club H Vol. 2 by Harry the Bastard (2000, Statra Recordings) The Chemistry Set (1998, Hypnotic Records) The Vertical Iris (1998, ZoëMagik Records) Observation of Ruins (1998, Baraka Foundation) Cleaning House: A Devil in the Woods Compilation (1999, Devil in the Woods) Cue's Hip Hop Shop Volume One (1998, Dogday Records) Eclectic Electric (2000, eMusic)

And this playlist is also on YouTube Music.

So you've got about 66 minutes of some pretty obscure 1998 San Francisco underground music here, the likes of which I don't think anyone else besides that hypothetical college kid that I made up before would ever put together 😁.

Going back to the 70s next week with an update to a genre playlist that I haven't touched in a *very* long time 👀.

Enjoy!

More to come, eventually. Stay tuned!

Like what you hear? Follow me on Spotify and YouTube for more cool playlists and uploads!

[cyarskaren52]

Check the rhyme and this playlist

A Tribe Called Quest is one of the most influential Hip Hop groups of all time, an act that paved the way for countless rappers to be simply themselves. They laid the blueprint for both quirky and thoughtful alternative rap with lyrical content that was funny, observant, abstract, and full of lightheared confidence. Sonically, Tribe’s production masterfully connected jazz and Hip Hop like no other group before them. 

Part of the alternative rap click, The Native Tongues, Tribe solidified their jubilant arrival with their eclectic, exuberant 1990 debut, People’s Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythms, which boasted a couple of Tribe classics and was a showcase for rapper/producer Q-Tip’s brand of playful, inspirational lyricism. 

But it was their two subsequent releases, widely regarded as two of the best, most influential Hip Hop albums of all time—1991’s The Low End Theory and 1993’s Midnight Mauraders— that cemented their place as innovators with a unique ear for linking fluid, bottom-heavy jazz, with Hip Hop drums and sensibilities. Following original member Jarobi White’s departure, their sophomore effort also served as a further introduction to Phife’s lighthearted, boastful rhyme skills, which would continue throughout Tribe’s career. 

Combined with their quirky, self-reflection, Tribe’s core sound was completely its own, and over the years has proven to be both timeless and endlessly influential.

“We’re all [Q-Tip’s] sons,” Pharrell Williams has said. “Myself, J Dilla, Kanye, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Tribe albums.” 

We’ve combed through their catalog to offer 25 of their dopest songs. 

#26

"RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE" FUGEES FEAT. A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, BUSTA RHYMES, JOHN FORTE [BONUS SONG]

Our BONUS SONG pick is a celebrated classic guest spot! Two of the 90s greatest rap crews join forces on the "When We Were Kings" soundtrack

#25

"THE DONALD" FEAT. BUSTA RHYMES

A tribute to the late Phife Dawg, “The Donald” properly closes out Tribe’s final album, with a fitting feature from frequent collaborator, Busta Rhymes. Tip remembers his friend on the second verse: “We gon' celebrate him, elevate him, papa had to levitate him/Give him his and don't debate him/Top dog is the way to rate him…”

#24

"GET A HOLD" 

J Dilla’s longtime friend and collaborator DJ Houseshoes said it took him about 12 minutes to make what became “Get A Hold” from Tribe’s fourth album, Beats, Rhymes and Life. The beat is one on the album that helped signal a shift in Tribe’s sound when Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed, Dilla formed the production unit, The Ummah.

#23

"STRESSED OUT" FEAT. FAITH EVANS

Tensions were high by the time Tribe released Beats, Rhymes, and Life. But the group’s fourth album did have moments when everything was in tune, including on “Stressed Out” featuring Faith Evans who interpolates Anita Baker’s classic “Good Love” for the hook. 

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#22

"IF THE PAPES COME"

Experimental in both lyrics and production, “If The Papes Come” (the B-Side to “Can I Kick It?”) offers the other side of Tribe’s genius, showcasing their propensity to test musical boundaries and color outside the lines, or at least re-shape them. 

#21

"BUTTER"

Phife shines on “Butter,” a solid addition to the classic Midnight Mauraders, where he spins a familiar “back then you didn’t want me, now you all up on me” tale: “I remember when girls were goodie two shoes/but now they turning freaks/ All of a sudden (we love you Phife)/ease off ho, my name’s Malik…” 

#20

"STEVE BIKO (STIR IT UP)"

A dope beginning to a quintessential Hip Hop album, “Steve Biko (Stir It Up)” (named for the famous South African freedom fighter) is a proper reminder of the creative energy Tribe brought to the table.  

#19

"VIBES 'N STUFF"

A track that embodies the energy of The Low End Theory, “Vibes and Stuff” is a laid-back groove dedicated to Scott LaRock and Trouble T Roy, where Q-Tip shines with bars about staying true to self: “Here I am ghetto, full with a lot of steam/Think I gotta, I think I gotta, I think I gotta scream/Cause that’s how good it feels child/Let your hair down, so we can get buck wild/Do your ill dance, don’t think about the next man…”  

#18

"FOOTPRINTS"

Flipping Donald Byrd’s “Think Twice” before Erykah Badu offered her own rendition on "Worldwide Underground," “Footprints” is an early example of Tip’s lyrical prowess, and a groovy standout on their debut.  

#17

"LYRICS TO GO"

Q-Tip has never hidden his love for iconic singer Minne Riperton, sampling her work on a few of Tribe’s biggest hits, including this one from Midnight Mauraders. He samples “Inside My Love” on the track, which was the B-Side to “Oh My God.”

#16

"EXCURSIONS"

While Tribe wasn’t the only rap act that was incorporating jazz into their music, what they were doing was specific and unique, a vision that came to life on their second album, The Low End Theory. The album got its name because Q-Tip was leaning heavily into the bottom of his production, or the low end, bass-heavy sound that’s used on “Excursions,” the album’s opening track that signaled the direction Tribe was headed in subsequent years. 

#15

"HOT SEX"

It’s not necessarily known as a Tribe standard but “Hot Sex,” featured on the 1992 hit soundtrack for "Boomerang," was an early introduction of the group to casual rap fans.  It was also featured as a bonus track on The Love Movement years later, and helped set up the sound Q-Tip would play around with on his 1999 solo debut, "Amplified."

#14

"WE THE PEOPLE..."

The lead single from their final album, "We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service," was Tribe’s stamp on the politically-charged music that dominated music in 2016. The song dropped a couple of weeks after Trump was elected, and became even more appropriate, a rallying cry that cemented exactly where Tribe stands when it comes to socio-political issues, with Tip in top form over the grinding track.

#13

"I LEFT MY WALLET IN EL SEGUNDO"

Q-Tip’s off-beat storytelling is on display on this memorable entry from their debut album, which also is a wink at the classic series, Sanford & Son.

#12

"SUCKA NIGGA"

More than most Tribe tracks, “Sucka Nigga” gives a clear look into what Q-Tip’s solo run would sound like, especially on 2008’s "The Renaissance."

#11

"SPACE PROGRAM"

 Released in November 2016, We Got It From Here… Thank You For Your Service, Tribe’s final album, dropped eight months after Phife’s death from complications due to diabetes. While the album featured a number of high-profile appearances (Kendrick Lamar, Anderson.Paak, Andre 3000,  Elton John)it was at its brightest when Tribe kept it in-house. “Space Program” triumphantly opens the album, with the celebratory but thought-provoking sound that made Q-Tip famous. Lyrically, they’re sharper than ever: “There ain’t a space program for niggas/We stuck here nigga,” they recite on the hook, ever observant, and always on point.

#10

"FIND A WAY"

The lead single from their fifth album, 1998’s "The Love Movement" (the last album to be released during Phife’s lifetime) “Find My Way” is the culmination of everything producer J. Dilla did best — incorporating mellow, jazzy instrumentation over stark drums that hit hard. “Find A Way.” Add what was already stellar production to a catchy hook and easy, love-friendly lyrics from Tip and Phife, and you have an undisputed heavyweight in Tribe’s catalog. 

#9

"OH MY GOD" FEAT. BUSTA RHYMES

“Scenario” isn’t the only place where Busta shines on a Tribe record, as evidenced on “Oh My God,” the third single released from "Midnight Marauders." Over a sample of Kool & The Gang’s “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight,” Q-Tip offers a nice summation of who is on the track’s opening bars: “I’m a Black intellect, but unrefined…” 

#8

"1NCE AGAIN" FEAT. TAMMY LUCAS

The lead single from their fourth album, Beats, Rhymes and Life, “1nce Again” is a mellow groove and a bright spot on the album. It notably features production from J Dilla (working with the production collective The Ummah which also included Ali Shaheed and Q-Tip). 

#7

"CAN I KICK IT?"

One of the most immediately recognizable songs from their debut, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythms, “Can I Kick It” is a hallmark Tribe track that offers the best the group had to offer— a groovy Hip-Hop track with laid-back rhymes. 

#6

"AWARD TOUR"

The second the opening chords drop, it’s apparent something really cool is happening with the production and when the drums beat on, it completely makes sense that “Award Tour” was the lead single from the classic "Midnight Marauders," and was Tribe declaring their place with the people but also letting everyone know they weren’t to be toyed with. Phife declares on the second verse: “Never let a statue tell me how nice I am…” which takes on new meaning when you consider they’ve never won a Grammy. 

#5

"JAZZ (WE GOT)"

One of the main reasons Tribe is recognized as a pioneering group is because more than any other artists, they brilliantly showed the connection between jazz and Hip Hop, as was the case on the second single from The Low End Theory, “Jazz (We’ve Got).” Pete Rock provided the original sample (which is why Q-Tip shouts him out at the end), although Q-Tip re-worked it to come up with one of the group’s laid-back standouts.

#4

"SCENARIO" FEAT. LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL

Widely considered one of the greatest posse cuts of all time,  “Scenario,” which was the third single from "The Low End Theory,"  also served as a launchpad for Busta Rhyme’s solo career. 

#3

"BONITA APPLEBUM"

Sensual and chill, “Bonita Applebum,” the second single from Tribe’s debut album, "The People’s Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm," was a sexy-cool love letter that hit at the core of what Tribe offered. It was original, sweet but not corny, and different from what everybody else was doing at the time. 

#2

"ELECTRIC RELAXATION"

A classic entry in Tribe’s discography, “Electric Relaxation” was the second single from "Midnight Mauraders," and is basically a perfect song. Phife recalled walking into his Grandma’s house, where Q-Tip was in the basement working on the beat, which samples Ronnie Foster’s “Mystic Brew,” and immediately recognizing it was something special. It’s Phife and Q-Tip at their best, trading back-and-forth verses that birthed classic one-liners like Phife’s endlessly quoted opening: “I like them brown, Puerto Rican or Haitian…”  

#1

"CHECK THE RHIME"

“Check The Rhime” isn’t just a quintessential Tribe song, it’s an essential Hip Hop song. From the slick sample of Minnie Riperton’s “Baby This Love” bass line, to the lyrics, which are chock-full of famous one-liners (“record industry rule No. 4080” chief among them), and the smooth back-and-forth between Tip and Phife, this is a classic example of the energy, charisma, and chemistry Tribe brought to music.

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[gerogerigaogaigar]

Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush was already an avant garde pop rock icon, but when ahe released Hounds Of Love she reached both her artistic and commercial peaks. Side one contains several of her biggest hits and deals with themes of anxiety, loss, the fear of being known, and the fear of being unknowable. All the while Bush toes the line between catchy pop melodies and grandiose avant garde compositions. Side two is a different beast. From And Dream Of Sheep until the end of the album it loosely tells the story of a woman drowning under a frozen lake. The songs are more etheral and less traditionally composed, and the lyrics become more abstract, fearful, and introspective. Listening to Hounds Of Love is a little like listening to two EPs back to back, one that I know all the words to and then one that is too harrowing to even want to sing along with.

Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt

It's baby Jay-Z back from before he was famous! Obviously his talent shows through here but I can't help but feel like Reasonable Doubt is on the list mainly as a 'here's where it all started' showpiece and not for the album's minimal merit. The features from Biggie and Foxy Brown are highlights and its all very good but standard mid 90s hip hop. Jay-Z is also rocking a bit of that mafioso flair on his first couple records. Its cute, but the trend was short lived for a reason. He's a little too corny to take seriously especially when the cocky ass Hova from The Blueprint and The Black Album are there for comparison.

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

I'd feel corny throwing around phrases like 'unparalleled masterpiece' but honestly what else really sounds like A Love Supreme? Its the ultimate evolution of the modal jazz genre. The album is a single continuous piece split into four movements and the thematic elements of each movement start of simple and evolve into cacophonous orgasmic noise. Of particular note are Jimmy Garrison's four note bass line that set the foundation for the whole album, McCoy Turner's piano solo on Resolution, and the unbelievable drum solo by Elvin Jones that starts off Pursuance. A Love Supreme is one of those rare things that actually lives up to the hype, it really is one of the best pieces of music ever recorded.

James Brown - Live At The Apollo

There's a reason that every James Brown album on here has been a live album. He sings funk and soul music with the energy and enthusiasm of a preacher. He sings the gospel of funk. The way Lost Someone plods along for ten minutes only to erupt into the medley that closes out the album is basically musical edging. He literally has the audience screaming in anticipation constantly.

[culturechaos-hq]

Creative Chaos: Artist Spotlight --------------------------------- May 2023 Artist: Maha Sattva

Website Twitter ---------------------------------

__As I was searching for the perfect artist to feature in our first Artist Spotlight, I was lucky enough to stumble upon Maha Sattva - a Wisconsin-based artist shrouded in mystery. __With their unique and captivating artwork, I was drawn in and quickly fell into a rabbit hole of pop art, 90's nostalgia and hip-hop culture. __The mysterious artist has a passion for hip-hop, rap, and pop culture, which is evident in their mesmerizing works.

Maha Sattva's Website

__Maha Sattva often incorporates well known figures and cartoon characters in strange, but inspiring combinations, using oil paints and digital media to create pieces that are truly breathtaking. __Despite preferring anonymity, the artist announced a face reveal for August 28, 2023, building anticipation among fans and followers alike. __Maha Sattva's extensive portfolio is a testament to their versatility, with everything from captivating portraits to abstract pieces that leave a lasting impression.

__Their website showcases an impressive collection of themed artwork, ranging from anime and hip-hop portraits to the colorful and vibrant world of Loteria. __Their "album art" collections are unique blend of iconic shows like Pokemon, Dragonball Z, and South Park combined with a wide selection of classic hip-hop albums, creating a nostalgic trip down memory lane for viewers.

__What truly sets Maha Sattva apart is their stylish clothing collection. Each design is a remix of one of their original artworks. Whether you're a fan of bold colors, intricate designs, or subtle nuances, Maha Sattva has something for everyone.

__To get in touch with this talented artist, reach out via their professional contact information:

contact@maha-sattva.com PO Box 532, Janesville, WI, 53547 ----------

----------

__Don't forget to check out their website for an extensive look at their impressive portfolio and be on the lookout for the upcoming face reveal.

__Maha Sattva is an artist to watch, and we can't wait to see what they create next!

[kicksaddictny]

Adidas x IVY PARK “PARK TRAIL” collection

According to Adidas

Adidas and Beyoncé’s IVY PARK announce their latest collaborative collection called PARK TRAIL; a new rule-breaking, trail-blazing expression of performance wear from adidas x IVY PARK . PARK TRAIL is inspired by the resilience of the outdoors, the spirit of the streets, and the possibilities of the future.

As with the previous adidas x IVY PARK offerings, this latest drop features distinctive looks with inclusive and gender-neutral sizing in fashion styles, performance gear, footwear and accessories. The line is available in adidas stores andonline at adidas.com/ivypark on February 9th and February 10th in selectpartnerstores, globally. PARK TRAIL is a destination you want to explore no matter the setting . Whether scaling that summit you’ve been training for or exploring inward to reach a peaceful state of mind, it’s clear that the path down the PARK TRAIL is an expedition worth taking. PARK TRAIL celebrates the great outdoors as well as an urban adventure. The Trail will lead you through the concrete jungle or the mountains in style. With the new PARK TRAIL collection from adidas x IVY PARK , both the journey and the destination are celebrated with looks that function equally as fashion and performance.

The Campaign The campaign is centered around embracing exploration and adventure to the fullest and guides us to a place of wonder and revelation through time, space and self-transformation. This experience depicts both the natural and the metaphysical, which can be as literal as an exhilarating walk down a nature path or a city sidewalk or more abstract, exploring inward and discovering new dimensions.

Cast members are depicted in a contrasting urban environment that features natural and unnatural elements infused with inspiration from hip-hop 90’s culture. Images from the campaign are realized with enhanced lighting, bold production design and elevated styling aesthetics. The brand utilizes this narrative to convey the idea of getting lost, then discovering yourself through your own PARK TRAIL.

The campaign stars entertainer and global superstar, Offset and his son, Kodi, supermodel and actress Devon Aoki and rising star rapper/singer Ice Spice. Japanese Instagram star and fashion icon/model, Coco Princess, American NFL Football sensation Jordan Fuller, NCAA artistic gymnast Nia Dennis and professional American soccer player Dani Weatherholt, and professional skateboarder, Diego Nájera round out the diverse cast who bring this amazing campaign to life.

The Collection The PARK TRAIL apparel collection serves as inspiration for how to create your own journey and find your park. As gritty as they are glamorous, these versatile apparel looks re-think classic outdoor styles and interpret them through elevated fabrics, powerful iconography, prints, sequins, camouflage, incorporating utilitarian convertibility. Layering and on-body storage are emphasized throughout the collection, which is conceived for function and fashion. PARK TRAIL will empower you to feel elegant yet equipped for any trek. The palette excites with colors that include Sol Ange (solar orange), Mojave (focus orange), Lake-Her (legacy indigo), Denali Green (wild pine), Yosemite (purple), White Sands (cream white), Pynes (pulse lime) along with a signature Canyon print (camo print).

PARK TRAIL’s footwear elevates well-known IVY PARK classics while adding distinct newness. Taking cues from iconic styles from the adidas archives, PARK TRAIL footwear is thoughtfully transformed through the IVY PARK lens. The IVY PARK TT2000 basketball shoe makes its debut in this collection and is available in two exciting colorways. PARK TRAIL’s footwear is locked down by modern textures, exclusive prints, graphic modular accents, and vibrant colorways, ensuring you’re ready for the formidable journey ahead.

Accompanying accessories for the PARK TRAIL collection are elevated to a new level with transformative, stylish, and versatile pieces. Fully convertible backpacks, bags and hats are all beautifully crafted with utilitarian accents, including carabiners and fastenings that channel the great outdoors. A mixture of colors, prints, and finishes merge these statement pieces together, so you’ll stand out on the trail. Taking cues from the line’s signature adult styles, the IVY PARK kid’s collection features stylish and versatile sportwear, outerwear and accessories – all thoughtfully transformed through the IVY PARK lens.

Notes to Editors

The adidas x IVY PARK “PARK TRAIL” collection consists of:

Fashion highlights including the Camo Sequin Jacket, Camo Fur Coat, Camo Canvas Track Suit

Active highlights including the Circular Knit Camo Crop, Tight, Zip Hoodie

Foundation highlights including the Knit Camo Jacquard Sweater, Camo Hidden Pocket Crew Neck Sweatshirt

Footwear highlights including the IVP Top Ten 2000 (TT2000)

Accessory highlights including the Camo Reversible Bucket Hat, Camo Convertible backpack

Fabrics including camo cotton canvas and cotton twill, camo sequin, camo faux fur, nylon + stretch woven

56 apparel styles (including Inclusive Sizing), 12 accessories, 3 footwear styles (with one tyle, the TT 2000, in two colors)

Unisex Regular and Oversized fits

Men’s Regular and Tight fits

Women’s Tight, Regular and Oversized fits

Sizes from XXXS-XXXXL

Prices from $30 US to $600 US

KID’S COLLECTON

12 apparel styles, 4 kid’s accessories styles, 1 footwear style

[filthyneverdie]

dystopiancaveman.com

[edonisticdecadent]

Follow my page on Facebook if you like Trip Hop and Downtempo! My new album is coming!

http://www.facebook.com/SlyArtE

[rabbitechoes]

(repost because the original post was marked as NSFW) still trying to tweak a few things with this series. i think i will present the songs in an unranked fashion, but i will still note which song is my favorite of the month! every song will be linked below and i rlly hope y’all enjoy this month’s list. (i’m surprised i was even able to get this done because i’ve been playing Zelda nonstop lol)

also feel free to follow me on rate your music and twitter

‧₊˚✧ BEST SONG OF THE MONTH ✧˚₊‧

“Tears Can Be So Soft” - Christine and the Queens

◇ featured on Paranoïa, Angels, True Love - Christine and the Queens (not yet released) ◇ genres: trip-hop, alt-pop

To be completely honest, I’m not super familiar with a lot of Christine and the Queens work. I love his feature on Charli XCX’s “Gone” and I thought his 2020 EP La vita nuova was pretty decent as well, but other than that I’m pretty much clueless. Despite that, his latest single absolutely blew me away. “Tears Can Be So Soft” takes obvious inspiration from 90s trip-hop, but god it sounds so incredible. The wispy, dreamy vocals backed against a string arrangement sampled from a Marvin Gaye song is a combo that works extremely well. I absolutely love this song and its probably my favorite of this month. If his next album is gonna sound like this, I’m super excited.

“Babylon By Bus” (feat. ShrapKnel) - billy woods & Kenny Segal

◇ featured on Maps - billy woods & Kenny Segal ◇ genre: abstract hip-hop

Maps, the latest collaboration between billy woods and Kenny Segal, is probably the most standout album of the month. Many of the tracks on the album could’ve made this list, but I wanted to limit it to a single one. “Babylon By Bus” is the song I’ve revisited the most. Like a lot of billy woods’ work, this song has that eerie and off-putting feel that makes him stand out. The verses from woods are very strong, but so is the verse from rap group ShrapKnel. I hadn’t heard of them until this and I will probably listen to more of their stuff in the future! Excellent song and an incredible album that I highly recommend.

“Justify Your Life” - George Clanton

◇ featured on Ooh Rap I Ya - George Clanton (not yet released) ◇ genres: chillwave, baggy, neo-psychadelia

George Clanton’s previous single, “I Been Young”, was my favorite song of last month and his latest single is one of my favorite songs of this month. “Justify Your Life” follows the 90s nostalgia of the previous single and I love this sound so much. Judging by the art direction of these two singles, it seems like this sound is what Clanton is going with for this new album which is super exciting. This track sounds a bit darker than the last, but it still has one of those choruses you just wanna obnoxiously sing along to. This upcoming album has the potential to be my album of the year given how incredible these singles have been.

“AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” - Beyoncé & Kendrick Lamar

◇ genres: electro, pop rap

Breaking down this song and explaining why its good feels a little bit pointless. Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, two of the most important artists of our time, team up on a remix of a song from her excellent 2022 album RENAISSANCE. Obviously it’s great, look who is involved. Go listen.

“The Blades” - Squid

◇ featured on O Monolith - Squid (not yet released) ◇ genres: experimental rock, art rock

This new Squid album comes out in a few weeks and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve enjoyed the bands earlier EPs and Bright Green Field, but I think this new album could very well be their best so far. “The Blades” is yet another great single. The band has been playing around with added touches of different genres into their sound and it just keeps paying off. The little elements of krautrock are especially a nice touch. I have very high hopes for this new album and I can’t wait to hear it.

“Space Orphans” - Ichiko Aoba

◇ genre: chamber folk

I’ve been slowly working my way through Ichiko Aoba’s discography after adoring her 2020 album Windswept Adan. I wasn’t aware of this new single until after this post was published so I’m adding it in post. This new single is a gorgeous, spacey, chamber folk ballad that is very easy to listen to. The soft strings that occasionally accompany her voice and guitar are a very nice touch. Every time I dive into the world of her music, I am completely captivated. 

“Cops and robbers” - underscores

◇ genres: noise pop, indietronica

I absolutely loved underscores’ debut album Fishmonger and I have been anticipating whatever they were gonna follow it up with. Their latest single “Cops and robbers” builds upon the sound of their last album, but with a bit more polish. It has elements of hyperpop mixed with noisy instrumentation and a chorus that is clearly inspired by pop-punk of the 2000s. These all work together so well. Hopefully this is leading up to a new album.

“sulky baby” - yeule

◇ genres: dream pop, indie pop

yeule is an artist whose music I need to dive into further. I enjoyed a good bit of their last album Glitch Princess, but I couldn’t have anticipated how great this song is. “sulky baby” is one of the finest dream pop songs I’ve heard in a while. I absolutely adore the way the hazy guitar lures you into the track before everything comes to create this incredible burst of dreamy goodness. This is without a doubt one of my favorite tracks of the year so far.

“Zeitgeist” - Maruja

◇ genres: experimental rock, art punk, post-punk

Fresh off of dropping a really impressive EP, Maruja returns with another great song. If you liked their debut EP, I’m sure you will love this new single. One thing I love about this band is their consistently interesting instrumentation. The bass towards the start of this track is really cool and adding saxophone into a post-punk song is always a recipe for something great. This band is on fire right now and I can’t wait to see what they have coming up.

“Master P (feat. Big Sean)” - KAYTRAMINÉ

◇ featured on KAYTRAMINÉ - KAYTRAMINÉ ◇ genre: pop-rap

KAYTRANADA and Aminé joined forces to make a very good summer album. There are plenty of highlights across the project, but I wanted to shout out this track in particular. “Master P” isn’t the most summer-y on the album, but I think its one of the biggest highlights on the album. I think this track has some of Aminé’s strongest rapping in a while and when Big Sean’s verse comes in the track is elevated even more. Really loving this one.

“Infinity Repeating (2013 Demo)” - Daft Punk & Julian Casablancas + The Voidz

◇ featured on Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition) - Daft Punk ◇ genres: disco, electronic

It kinda feels like cheating putting this on here, but I feel like I have to mention it. The 10th anniversary edition of Daft Punk’s magnificent final studio album dropped this month alongside a handful of new demos and extra songs. One such demo is a collaboration with Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas. Daft Punk and Casablancas teamed up for the incredible “Instant Crush” which ended up on the album. I guess this demo was what eventually evolved into that song and I think it holds its own pretty well. If you liked their previous collab, I think you will find something to love about this demo!

[luuurien]

billy woods & Messiah Musik - Church

(Abstract Hip Hop, Boom Bap, East Coast Hip Hop)

Stepping away from expansive album concepts and looking inwards towards a narrative of heartbreak, politics and faith, billy woods' second album of 2022 explores a vulnerable side of him rarely seen in his expansive discography. It's a thrilling change for a rapper so often shrouded in such mystery.

☆☆☆☆½

Church is the most we've ever learned about billy woods on a single album of his, and that alone is something to get excited about. One of underground hip-hop's most elusive figures, everything about woods comes solely from his music, yet there's an emotionality and warmth to it all nonetheless: his explorations of Blackness and the African diaspora on this April's Aethiopes hid delicate personal moments in the densely packed writing of songs like Remorseless ("The chain say envy, but PTSD keep me countin', never spendin' / My accountant is a head full of bad memories and sad endings") and Asylum ("Downstairs I hear my mother breaking dishes, my father trippin' / It's been quite bad lately, high tension"), and 2019's Hiding Places found a similar balance as he reckoned with poverty and class systems through the cracked lens of Kenny Segal's production ("I'm the feelin' after you killed him and seen the safe empty / The weight lift like payday lendin' / Face twist at the memory," he rapped on the magnificent Speak Gently). In Church, he chooses to do something entirely unexpected from someone who has long been known for his lyrical mystique and thematic fogginess: write straight from his perspective. Though it takes on the same thematic complexity and rich imagery of his past projects, woods focuses here on a breakup which earns a larger role as the catalyst for contemplations on faith, family, and exploitative systems - all familiar themes for woods, but given a sharp personal bent through the lessons his own childhood religiosity taught him and how those memories persist in his world today. He's still a master of his craft, and the unorthodox viewpoints Church injects into his music prove vulnerability and warmth are as important to his work as any of its intellectual elements. Entirely produced by Messiah Musik, who's previously found himself in woods' orbit with his production for Armand Hammer, his murky boom-bap style provides woods' rapping more padding to bounce off of than the colder, emptier atmospheres Aethiopes used to put his storytelling at the forefront. While woods' rapping adds dimensionality and color to Church's world. Messiah's production is the album's beating heart, pushing him into sentimentality with Classical Music's gorgeous piano loop or sneaking in some discomfort with the warped, muted horns in the background of Fever Grass - it might feel underwhelming coming off the tail-end of Aethiopes' blend of dub and blues and 90's boom bap, but by no means are these beats poorly made, not in the slightest. woods also benefits from the smokiness Messiah's sampling style lends to Church, able to stay in his comfort zone of moody confessionals while never being face-to-face with you, Paraquat's dimly-lit halls following woods down roads of heartache ("Loved that girl, but knew we wouldn't work like Harden on the Rockets"), identity ("In DC they called me New York, I didn't correct it") and political allegory ("Whitey hit Hiroshima, then he doubled back / Black rain baptized, black skies / I'm always waiting on the thunderclap") that give greater insight into woods' internal workings without showing you how it all functions in one go. Church, despite its brief 37 minute runtime, unfolds strikingly slowly, patience and understanding rewarded with the same level of passion and gratification as any of his other projects. Hearing woods so stripped-back is an odd thing at first, but what it brings to the table is a level of radiance and expansion his emotional moments have never been treated to until now. There've always been undercurrents of trauma and mental hardship in his work, but it's always been put into the context of a broader idea: the dupes of capitalism, African identity, imperialism and revolution. Here, those ideas are slid underneath naked accounts of love and loss, Schism memorializing grief and artistic security as he flashes back to leaving a woman's sorrow out of his raps yet needing his music as a space of creative safety ("The shit I wrote, can't do it on a phone / ...The sadness in her eyes, I left it off the page") and Artichoke finding a similar kind of reminiscence as he drifts back into childhood ("It's certain things you can only learn from a fist fight / I used to use a toothbrush to keep my kicks white, it mattered that much") and then connects it to contemporary tensions between the long-standing harshness of hip-hop culture and its relation to LGBT communities, woods still aware of his music's inextricable connection to sociopolitical issues but emphasizing his personal intersections with them rather than the inverse. Detailed as ever, Church's fragmented framework of emotions and the real-world events that compound them helps to support what his previous album perfected, a companion piece for Aethiopes that explores what comes to the individual alongside widespread societal struggles. Desire and connection have never sounded so fundamentally to woods' music like it does here: even as he pricks the same veins as his previous projects, there's something infinitely more tender about hearing him remember where each chip bag was in the hospital vending machine or the innate discomfort of visiting his cousin's tumultuous home, opening up more directly than ever before and letting his emotions guide him in a way that's incredibly unguarded yet wholly confident. His skill as a rapper and storyteller will always hold his music high, Church an opportunity for him to try something new after a string of conceptually ambitious and technically marvelous projects. billy woods isn't trying anything too out of the ordinary, but he doesn't have to: the power of his words on top of rock-solid beats is more than enough to make every moment land with conviction and unending empathy.

[randomvarious]

Today’s compilation:

Agenda 22 1994 Trip Hop / Breakbeat / Downtempo / Ambient

Today we've got a sampler of a sampler, folks; three songs on a 12-inch record that were soon to be featured on an upcoming compilation of the same name from Dutch label Eevo Lute. How's that for good ephemera? Now, I was under the impression that there was to be techno on this thing for two reasons: one, although Eevo Lute would eventually become known for its abstract output, they initially started out by releasing Detroit-styled techno, and two, whoever was responsible for writing and editing the entry on Discogs for this specific release classified it as techno, among other things. But I'm here to tell you that, despite those two facts, there is actually not a single second of techno on here.

Instead we have trip hop, breakbeat, and ambient/downtempo. And since this is a pretty short comp, let's take each track one by one, shall we?

2000 & One's "Journey to Silence" is a slow and winding, lazy Sunday morning, 9-minute trip hop affair. This is actually a specific style of trip hop that's both sort of unobtrusive but also cinematic because of its lengthiness and all the different motifs that one can cook up on top of a simple hip hop-type of drumbeat. But whereas the drum groove is central to a lot of trip hop tracks, it's not so much the case for songs like these. A simple hip hop-type beat is enough to get the job done, but the real action is all the fluff that goes on top of it.

In fact, there's a terribly misleading name for this type of trip hop called ambient breakbeat; the ambient descriptor's applicable, but the breakbeat part isn't, because there's no sampled drum break, so it can't be breakbeat. It would be more accurate to just call this stuff ambient trip hop instead, but I don't think anyone actually really uses that term 🤷‍♂️. But since it's not actually breakbeat, I refuse to label it as such.

However, the next tune, "Sex and Lies," is breakbeat, and because of its lower tempo, it can also be classified as trip hop. This is by far my favorite song out of the three on this record. Eevo Lute co-founder Wladimir M delivers an awkward spoken-word Dutch-accent monologue over this psychedelically captivating backdrop that's loaded up with a ton of synth work, both beautifully dark and ambient as well as melodic. The infusion of the dusty drum break at the 1:40 mark is ultimately what makes this song so terrific though. Stunningly good track there.

And last is David Caron's "A Quiet Passing," a song that's good but not great. It's on a spectrum between ambient and downtempo, probably leaning more towards ambient because of its stress on its long synth notes above all else, even though it does have a drumbeat. This thing sounds like it belongs in a TV score for some crappy syndicated mid-90s action/drama 😅. Could go with a slow and steamy romantic scene or a setting in which the protagonist is quietly rappelling from a ceiling vent into a very secure room in the villain's lair. Ample for either type of scene like that, but it's not something I'm gonna go out of my way to try to learn about during a commercial break. It's definitely no "Crockett's Theme."

But yeah, this is a pretty sweet little electronic 12-inch from the mid-90s. Wonder if the rest of the full compilation that these songs eventually appeared on are like these too, or if there's actually some techno on it 🤔.

Highlights:

2000 & One - "Journey to Silence" Wladimir M - "Sex and Lies"

[vonnievic]

Hey everyone. This is Von Abstract from Connecticut. I’m a big fan of music. Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, Jazz, Dancehall, Reggae, Reggaeton (little bit), House, EDM & 90s Rock. I have a YouTube Channel named ‘Von Abstract Productions’ where I talk about mainly music topics. I also have a podcast called ‘The Von Abstract Podcast’ where it’s music talk, news, etc. Fill free to follow me on IG and Twitter (maybe) @vonabstactprod. Also fill free to follow me here and also tell a friend to tell a friend.

[lazyhousecarly]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Vintage 1960's Lavender Patchwork Maxi Skirt Retro Fabrics Funky Colorful Purple.