#young stoner life records

[august-sysex]

lil duke & young thug - to the moon (prod. distance decay) (2019)

[thugshordy]

🐍

[biglisbonnews]

Jim Jones Weighs in on YSL RICO Case: ‘Taking a Plea Is Really Not the Thing You’re Supposed to Do’ In an interview with DJ Univercity, Jim Jones offered up his thoughts on Gunna taking a plea deal in the sweeping Young Slime Life RICO case. https://www.complex.com/music/jim-jones-gunna-rico-plea-deal

[ueqekaz]

[slut4chriss]

piss off your parents.

(pt.1)

pairing: bad boy!chris sturniolo x fem!reader

summary: you’ve been a “good girl” all your life and you’re tired of it. so what do you do? you go to the worst kid in your school, chris sturniolo.

warnings: cocky!chris, stoner!chris??, flirty!chris, player!chris, eventual smut, only fluff for this part, suggestive-ish??, kissing at the end, arguing with parents

a/n: this was so fun to write omg! this is gonna be in multiple parts so yea! anyways, i love bad boy chris 😈😈. also the pic.. daddy?!? let me hit it i’m too lazy to color the dialogue sorry. italic are y/ns thoughts btw! proofread

word count: 1,803

— — — — — — — — — — —

you’ve always been a goody goody. perfect grades, perfect record, never done anything. but you’re getting tired of this act. it’s only for your parents anyways. they want you to be perfect and a star student. for a while you wanted to be too but after entering high school and seeing everyone, drinking, smoking and partying you want to too.

there’s this popular-ish boy named chris. chris is a “bad boy”. he’s always in trouble, drinking, smoking, partying. that’s exactly how you want to be. although it maybe be bad you still wanna try.

you wanna try and be friends with chris but you don’t know how that’ll go. what if he’s mean? or what if he doesn’t want to be your friend since you’re a “goody goody”?

— — — — — — — — — — —

it’s monday morning, 6 AM and you’re getting ready for school. today you decided you’re gonna talk to chris. he sits next to you in english so it shouldn’t seem too weird. it’s a hot, summer day and you decide to wear something a bit out of your comfort zone to look good. you put on a little make up and straighten your hair. you’ve never done this much for school but if you’re gonna become “cool” you have to look cool.

you walk downstairs ready to go and your parents both stop you. “what is that outfit, young lady?” your mom yells. you sigh, “i just wanted to look a bit more put together today.” your mom scoffs and your dad raises his voice, “put together?!? you look like a whore.” your eyes widen and no words come out of your mouth. your dad scoffs, “that’s what i though. go put on a jacket.” you sigh and nod, heading back upstairs to put on a jacket that you know will just be taken off. it’s 91 degrees in boston and they expect me to wear a jacket?!

you put on a black hoodie and go back downstairs. you don’t say a word to your parents you just grab your breakfast and head on your walk to school. it’s not a long walk, 2-3 minutes.

you arrive at school and go to first period. your first period is english aka the period where you sit next to chris. you open the classroom door and sit in your seat. the bell rings and your teacher starts teaching.

30 minutes later the door opens. everyones heads turn and you see chris walk through the door with a stupid smirk on his face. “where were you mr.sturniolo?” your teacher questions. he snickers, “the bathroom skipping, but i got caught cause of the fuck ass janitor.” your teacher shakes her head, “sit down, now. and watch your mouth.” chris laughs and sits down next to you.

you feel your cheeks heat up slightly and chris smirks. “what’s wrong, doll? why ya blushing?” you gulp and shake your head, “nothing.” he laughs, “thinking about me?” you sigh and nod, “yes, and how i need your help with something.” chris nods, “ooo some help? with what?” you smile softly, “well i’m tired of being perfect, i wanna be bad. bad like you.”

chris smirks, “oh yea? you wanna be like me, sweetheart?” you nod and he leans over, whispering in your ear. “let me take you out right now and i’ll see what i can do.” your eyes widen, “b- but we’re in school right now.” chris laughs, “you wanna be bad? skip with me.” you take a deep breath, “how? we’re just gonna walk out?” he nods and grabs your hand, “follow me, sweetheart.” you nod.

he stands up, “grab your backpack, let’s go.” you nod and grab your backpack. your teacher realizes what’s going on and yells, “hey, sit down, now! you’re not leaving, christopher. especially not with y/n.” chris scoffs and starts leading you to the door. he yells from the door, “suck my dick! she’s coming with me!” you laugh slightly and follow him out of the class room.

chris moves his hand to the small of your back and leads you to the front of the school. “so first, if you wanna be “bad” we gotta get you a new style.” you nod, “like what?” chris smirks, “like some baggy jeans and a tight top.” you nod again, “where should we go?” chris shrugs, “i bet you can find something in your closet.” you think for a second and smile, “i have an idea! follow me.” chris nods, “where we goin’, pretty girl?” i smile, “my house.” chris smirks, “taking me home with you already? alright.” you roll your eyes and laugh, “shut up.” chris laughs and follows you.

a few minutes later you make it home. luckily both your parents were at work so you could go through the front door. you lead chris to your room. he sits on your bed as you pull out some clothes from your closet. first a pair of baggy blue jeans. you hold them up to you with a smile. “how are these?” chris nods and smiles, “i like ‘em. now, what about that tight black top?” chris smirks and you shake your head, giggling as you grab a tight black top. holding up to you as well. chris nods, “i like it. now, go put it on.”

you smile and head to the bathroom putting on your outfit. a few minutes later you walk out, doing a little twirl for chris. chris’ eyes are glued to you, almost like he’s in a trance. you don’t mind it tho, honestly, you’re starting to like chris. he has a nice vibe and he’s really sweet.

you giggle and sit beside him. “seems like you like it?” you question, knowing the answer. he nods and looks into your eyes, “i love it.” you smile softly, “thank you, chris.” he nods, “no problem. now, let’s go smoke some j’s?”

your eyes widen. smoke?!? no way. you shake your head, “that’s bad for you though, can’t i get sick?” chris laughs, “don’t be a pussy, have some fun.” you sigh and nod, getting up. “fine, just this once.” chris smirks and gets up after you, “good girl, let’s go to the skate park, alright?” good girl?!? did he just really call me that?? i didn’t not like it but.. i- i don’t even know. whatever. you nod, “alright.”

he rests his hand on the small of your back again, leading you out of your house and down to the skate park. you guys sit on the edge of a skate ramp, lighting a j for you guys to share. he takes a big hit and makes it look so easy. he passes it to you and you look at him worried. he smiles and grabs it from you. “just suck in, hold it for a second then blow it out, okay? you got it.” you nod and do as he says. you cough a bit but you get the hang of it quickly.

you guys continue smoking and somehow he ends up with his head in your lap as you’re playing with his hair. i know it hasn’t been long but i love this boy. he’s looking up at you with the most loving eyes ever. he looks away and looks up at the starts above you guys. i can’t believe we’ve been out here so long it’s already dark.

he sits up slightly and smiles. “you wanna stay the night at my place?” he asks. usually you’d say no, especially since you barely know chris but you feel so tied to him, you can’t say no. you nod and smile, “i’d love too but i have no extra clothes.” he laughs and shakes his head, “don’t be stupid, you’re obviously gonna wear some of mine.” your face flushes slightly and you nod, “okay, that’s fine with me.”

he stands up, reaching his hand out to help you. you use his hand to help you up. he smiles and looks down at you, “let me piggyback ride you?” you nod and he squats down so you can jump on his back. you jump on his back and he starts carrying you to his house.

its dark and late. 2AM to be exact. you can’t believe your parents haven’t spammed your phone yet. they probably think you’re asleep in your bed anyway.

after walking for 5 minutes you make it chris’ house. he goes into his house quietly. you see his two brothers on the couch and you smile and wave to them. they wave back to you but don’t say anything. chris leads you to his room and sits you on his bed.

he goes over to his dresser, giving you a hoodie and a pair of matching sweatpants. “the bathroom is right down the hall. i can show you if you’d like.” he smiles softly and you shake your head with a small laugh. “i can find it on my own, i promise.” he nod, “don’t take too long, ill miss that pretty face.” you roll your eyes playfully and head to the bathroom. you quickly put on the clothes. his sweatpants are basically falling off of you but you tighten them the most they can go and it helps. once you’re done you head out. seeing you in his clothes makes him so happy.

when you enter the room he’s laying on his bed, on his phone. he smiles and taps a spot next to him. “come lay with me.” you nod, and lay next to him, leaving a little space to not make him uncomfortable. he laughs and grabs your waist, scooting you closer. “i don’t bite.” you laugh and lay your head on his chest.

he smiles and runs his fingers through your hair. the sensation is making you so tired, it’s crazy. he sees you trying to keep your eyes open and he leans down to whisper in your ear, “go to sleep, it’s okay.” you nod and smile softly, “thank you, i’m sorry.” he shakes his head, “i never wanna hear you apologize for being tired ever again.” you nod, “i’m sorry.” he groans playfully and shakes his head.

he decides to be bold and kiss you to shut you up. your eyes widen slightly but you immediately kiss back. the kiss is gentle and loving. he pulls away after a few seconds with a smirk on his face. “had to shut you up some how.” you snicker and close your eyes, “goodnight, chris.” he smiles and kisses your forehead, “goodnight, sweetheart.”

you close your eyes and find yourself falling into the deepest sleep. you feel like all your worries are gone when you’re with chris. this isn’t about being a “bad girl” anymore, it’s all about chris now. you want chris. you love chris.

— — — — — — — — — — —

a/n: sorry this is a bit long guys! it’s for the plot 🤫🤫. sorry i basically completely went off topic, i promise the next one will be better. the plot just wasnt plotting enough and i got bored and lost track. also chris technically wasn’t even “bad” in this part 😭😭. i just lost track and made it all fluffy i’m sorry. anyways, part 2 will prob be y/ns parents finding out she’s hanging w chris and them being pissed. and then like idk just chris and y/n getting closer! i hope y’all like this! it was so fun to write and yea.. idk! ily💓

xoxo, brookie 🪽.

[enam3l]

in my worlds, robin's parents are chill crunchy stoners

inspired by this!! by @steveshairychest we don't have enough robin lore. we need more.

So often children are the antithesis of their parents and no more so than in the case of the Buckleys. Two hippies who fell in love at a protest on their college campus, both black sheep in their middle class families. Now they're older, married and have a daughter but never grew out of the bohemian lifestyle. They one day got lost on the way back from Woodstock, finding themselves in Hawkins. Taken by the scenic forests and amused at its small town charm, they relocate with baby Robin.

An abandoned plot of land is cultivated into a haven of produce. Thus Buckley's Roots n Fruits is born, an organic, holistic grocery store. It raises the eyebrows of Karen Wheeler and her yummy mummy crew. Yet appreciated by the likes of Wayne Munson and Joyce Byers, the Buckley's being generous and offering freebies on old produce and accepting IOUs. Eddie never lets on he doesn't know Robin as the trumpet girl, but as the daughter of his best clients. Any community complaints fall on Hopper's deaf ears, in his eyes they take of people in need and let him in on a herbal hangover secret.

But to Robin, she is everything they are not. She's sick with nerves over exams whilst they tell her they're proud no matter what. She panics about the cost of college despite them telling her they'll always find a way. She threatens to call the CDC convinced she has Dengue fever but they choose to soothe her with folk songs and a herbal home brew. To them, Robin is an anomaly but they adore her for it anyway. They could never wish for her to change, only for her to stop letting anxieties dictate her life.

Then Robin bonds with Steve, drawn in by his mothering. She admires his grumpy moods and desire for control because he's everything she's wanted in her life. The best thing is, Steve is a constant because like his own, her parents can come and go. Gallivanting on strange retreats and experiences all across the country. But Steve always tries to explain, that unlike his, her parents care. She always knows exactly where they are, how to contact them and is left with enough food or money for the duration.

Steve loves her parents, his heart full when they call him an honorary Buckley. Even if their approach to life is strange to him, at least they're full of love. Not once do they bat an eyelid because he's always at their house. Never questions where they're going because they understand best friendship is sacred. They appreciate he cares for Robin in ways she believes they can't. There's always a seat at the table for Steve, a spare bed ready made, a present on his birthday and a little stocking at Christmas.

But there's one important thing that her parents never do. They never ever question Robin's relationship with Steve. No toe curlingly embarrassing moments of them calling him her boyfriend. They hope that telepathically, she'll one day somehow know that they don't care what she does or who she loves, as long as she's happy and a good person. That any secret is safe with them, they'll never shun their baby girl. Plus, they're not blind - they saw how as a young teen, Robin would ogle at their Carly Simon records.

[averseunhinged]

thanks to @garglyswoof, @purplesigebert, and @galvanizedfriend for tagging me! the game is first ten songs with my most played/on repeat on shuffle.

i feel like i should say something about at least one of them. so, if you're into folk noir/dark americana, the new son of the velvet rat album, ghost ranch, is very good.

(eta vague descriptions for everything, because i forget people might actually want to read my long rambles.)

vera sola - the colony (i usually describe her as nancy sinatra if she studied poetry at harvard. this song is from her older, more bizarre album. i like it as much the new one, but it might be slightly less accessible than the newer one. it's still weird, but it has more of that classic nashville sound.)

queens of the stone age - made to parade (i didn't get around to this album until recently and was surprised by how much i loved it. i'm a fan of qotsa, but lost track of them a little. mark lanegan's death made me revisit them more and they still have it. they are old and josh homme is a kind of a wreck physically, but the album is still stoner rock's more punishing cousin, and they still go hard live.)

caroline polachek - ocean of tears (not one of polachek's most popular tracks, but it's my favorite. it's so pretty and catchy and well written. art pop at its best.)

son of the velvet rat - bewildering black & white moments captured on trail cams (see above. also jolie holland's on a handful of songs on the album and she's always good.)

.grouptherapy - ...i changed my mind (a new song off the deluxe version of their 2023 album, which was one of my favorite albums of last year. they're young and talented and trying a lot of things out. it's been fun following their releases and hearing the big and little ways they alter things as the develop.)

vera sola - bad idea (obsessed. i am obsessed with this song and this album and this entire artist.)

emma ruth rundle - darkhorse (my user name is actually from this song. she's my forever favorite. she's one of the progenitors of doom folk, which is basically the denver sound when it's not at home, and sounds like emmy lou harris if she was really into metal.)

skryptonite - Притон (my favorite song by my favorite russian language rapper-producer. he's fucking huge in the cis, but not at all in north america. it's always so wild watching these huge, packed stadium, unhinged shows by performers who might book a small club in the states. the world is both very small and very big.)

shovels & rope - gotta get out of here (shovels & rope do the best covers. this one isn't super far off from the original, but it has a more sinister vibe than kevin kinney's plaintive recording.)

nick cave & the bad seeds - wild god (new bad seeds single! as typically good as nick cave usually is. i think his voice is sounding older and rougher these days, but that never detracts for me. the way singers' voices change as they age is fascinating. there's something so compelling about an artist's later in life albums, when their voice carries the weight of their age.)

because of ingrained weirdness about tagging people, this is a free for all. if you see this, i'm tagging you.

[bathoarchives]

On The Rise: A Conversation With Tefoffline

Tefo Kosie best known as Tefoffline is a 20-year-old rapper, producer, and upcoming mixing engineer from Kanye, Ga Maila.

With the release of his mixtape 'Tomorrow Might Be Too Late' last December, he has further solidified his place as one of the most exciting new-age rappers in Botswana.

Where did you grow up?

Well, I moved around a lot when I was growing up you know. Initially born in Kanye, I lived in Gabs for a good 8 years before moving to Mahalapye for like a year or so. Then I came back to the south, living in Molepolole for 4 years before moving to where I live now which is somewhere around the city.

How did you get into music?

I think I've always had a musical inclination from a very young age, mostly because of the music my parents was bumping. I was like 4 or 5 when I used to go into their room and play Michael Jackson and Johnny Mokhali CDs. In terms of Rap and Hip-Hop records, my uncles put me on man. During school holidays I used just get dumped at their places and these dudes was playing a whole lotta rap shit at the time. You know your Lil Wayne, Nicki, Drake and Rick Ross, those are the 4 niggas who properly introduced me to this Hip-Hop stuff. In terms of my rapping, I wrote my first ever rap at 9 while living in Mahalapye. But what had urged me to write a verse was the fact that me and my friends at the time had a thing we did after school where we'd rap and just talk about Hip-Hop stuff for hours on end before we all went home. We used to do like other niggas verse's you know like the stuff that was popular at the time and really just stuff we liked until one day i decided to surprise these dudes and rap my own shit that I wrote. It went as well as expected and I been kickin it since.

How did you come up with the name Tefoffline?

I went on a long ass sabbatical in like 2021 just to get off social media and get my mind right and tbh, that was most amount of work I did, music-wise and just life-wise. Basically, thats where it came from. I felt like I worked better off my phone and the internet as a whole, so I just merged that with my name. It just took me back to how I used to make music before I encountered phones and shit. Back then it was just my imagination, pen, and diary, and I was the most efficient working under those conditions. I think I was going through a name change type situation at the time and I just didn't want a regular name that everybody had or some typical white man's name like nah. I needed to bring it home as well. I like that I included my real name in there because it just added to the authenticity. Real shit.

When did you start releasing music?

I only started dropping music in 2021 and to be honest anytime I think about it I can't help but laugh. I was in the kitchen one morning at like 9am and I was like 'Yo kana I did this other joint yesterday, maybe I should drop it, and I did and it went crazy. I think that when I really decided to go all in after seeing all the good things everybody had to say about my shit.

How would you describe your style of music?

Right now I won't lie i'd say I'm making some real stoner music. Like stoner anthems fr but seriously I'd say it's like a mix of alt-rap with jazzy elements and the truth really. That's what I describe it as because it's really music about my life you know, the ins and outs, ups and downs, the weird shit, everything. I look at it more like confessions in a way.

What inspires the style of music you make?

A whole bunch of things tota. I like music combinations and rhythms that aren't conventional. The regular shit is hard as well but I never really wanna limit my references. Niggas like MF DOOM, Earl, and MIKE been inspiring and continue to inspire the music I been making to this point. If you look closely, all these cats have a thing in common: they produce and rap. So that's the school I came from. Tota hela anything goes with me. I'm a big house music fan as well so I'd say that inspires my shit too.+

What inspired your recent mixtape?

Life has a funny way of showing you who the boss is. I guess I was just going through that shit and decided to document it. Like I said I see it as billy would say, Truth Rap, so for me it was an easy thing to write the records. The hard part was outgrowing the tracks. It's like you can't get that first feeling on a track you've been working on for 2 years so it took me a while to get it done but all in all it was a good experience man. I went through some stuff and if you listen to the music you'll hear it. Everything is on the music.

How was the process of creating it?

Man, it was like any project to be honest. It's like you develop a new love for creating and you're almost always excited for the first few months. But then it becomes routine and it gets mixed up with other bad routines in your life prompting you to try to escape or change that. I ain't gonna lie that shit got me off course for a good while. Just focused on living my life. Writer's block became a hassle at a point and I was nearly like 'F this' but you know, that's how it be. I really had fun man but truthfully I've been over that project for a good while.

Vocal layering seems to be a common aspect in a handful of your tracks..would you consider that a part of your signature sound?

Yeah definitely. I used to make tracks without adlibs and backings cause I had a different perspective on what music should sound like. But you know, with time, you grow and learn and I just decided to incorporate all that into the records. I really love music with good backings and adlibs, not even just rap, so it was more of an 'I'm making the shit I like to hear' type of vibe. That's just how I move with my music. I know what I want in terms of the sonic direction, so I just do it myself. Even with the latest project where that kinda thing is prominent, I knew how I wanted it to sound like 2 years ago. I just had to practice and implement that knowledge. 

Is there anything you're doing apart from rapping?

Yeah, I'm a student currently about to get my bag, soon. I do a little music journalism for my school magazine focusing on music, but besides school, I have a couple of business ventures I plan to implement, especially this year. I'm a business dude at heart, even though I never studied it. I've always loved the fact that you could make money from your own ideas on your own terms, so I won't dwell too much on that but yeah. I also recently started officially heading a little label imprint called 4EVAFADED, which comprises the people responsible for the success of my tape and my music in general, my niggas idyllicsoul and Rxssi on production, as well as fellow rapper NovSon who's a young MC trynna make moves as well. I'm what you call a Renaissance man in a way, I just have a little trouble with laying out all the pieces because it gets messy.

Any local acts that you find exciting?

There's tons; I wouldn't even know where to start. My favorite rappers right now would have to be Nikky Dymondz, banzai, Jesonyana, Chrysus, OneTake 267, and my boy NovSon just to name a few. In terms of singers and vocalists, I have been messing with that Magadi single (Backseat Headrush), Sebaga got some really cool-sounding projects, Fourteen'O'Six is hard af, Courtney got that one track, and how could I forget spacerover and Chubbs (Lucas Chubbs). Oh I fuck with Pablo and Xortic as well. Them niggas is crazy like I won't even say much, but I'm sure I'll be able to experience most of these artists because I was privy to meeting some more amazing acts last year. So maybe my list will change in a few. I just had to give you a few because I can't really think of some right now, but I'm a huge fan of local shit. It really is my bread and butter.

Any thoughts on where the music game is going?

I really think everyone is getting to do anything they want especially sound-wise. I feel like we're not confined to doing what pleases labels or whatever so it's more of a whole group of niggas just making music they really mess with not because they have to make that stuff. So I think you know, with that kind of freedom, the landscape changes over time. I also love the fact that dudes like Saigo (saigotheeditor) have been able to do the photography stuff and shows to basically accompany the music, practically building aesthetics for the sonics, so a big shout to my guy Lerroy, that's my guy.

Do you have anything you're working on right now?

Yeah most definitely, but the stuff I'm making right now I wonder if they gon' like it, because it's some weird shit man. That's all i'm going to say for now. Oh! and I did a couple of features that I hope will be out this year with some amazing artists. Sometimes I don't even believe I did that but you know, I did.

Speaking of features, you are featured on 'The World Is Yours' by Nov Son, how was the experience of working on your first collaboration?

It was really cool. One of the easiest and laid back collabs I did. He hit me up and was like 'We need to get in the studio' and I was down fr. My nigga Idyllic was working with him as well, so it just made things easier but yeah he was recording some songs from his upcoming album and we knocked a couple out the park. Watch out for that project btw. That was also when I met my nigga Rxssi; they was moving as a unit back then so I just decided to mess with them and what they did because normally I just keep to myself and do shit on my own or with like 1 or 2 of the homies. It's a very personal thing for me. People probably think I hate collabs or something, but they're so hard to get done because of the different mindframes, schedules, and shit but I always try to make sure I work with other artists because I believe we work better together.

Stream Tefoffline HERE

Instagram: @Tefoffline

Facebook: @Tefoffline

[doomedandstoned]

Pittsburgh’s MELT Airs Astounding New Spin, ‘Replica of Man’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Armageddon, religion, technology, shame and greed -- here's a band dealing with some heavy lyrical themes, and doing it with excellence. It's prog-stoner metal trio MELT from the Steel City, and today they're giving us an advance listen to the upcoming album, 'Replica of Man' (2023)

The album opens with narration from an interview long past from the incredible age of Pandora's Box tampering that the 20th century was: "The concept of the thinking machine has been man's dream for centuries, also his nightmare." To accompany this roving commentary on creeping technocracy, the bass slaps out a wicked jazzy stoner groove with vivacity and conviction. By the time drums join in earnest, it feels like we're in Prodigy territory, with metal vocals and doomy riffs. Recording engineer Nate Campisi takes great care in capturing a lusty sound from all of the instruments, and this serves as a captivating vessel for the message:

It fulfills the prophecy Unstoppable technology Steel has seized the upper hand We concede as it commands It’s too late to intervene Mating man with machine No forgiveness for the damned Heed the replica of man

Indeed, we are several chapters deep into a fledgling Technological State and already the human animal is being stretched and contorted in ways that are alien to his nature, but somehow pleasing to the great labyrinth of circuits that make up our computers and smartphones. It's no longer fodder for fun sci-fi blockbusters like Terminator, but an urgent question for our time as to what makes us truly thrive as human beings and how technology can assist us toward that end, not hurt us. Obviously, the band struck a chord with me straight away!

"It isn’t passive music," remarks frontman Joey Troupe. "It has weight, inertia and leaves a mark. We are writing the soundtrack to global annihilation. That includes elements of destruction, despair, gratitude and sometimes, hope."

Elsewhere on the album, the band conjures Lucifer's Friend vibes on "Problem Child" and "Skeleton Girl" exhibits an infectious nu-metal energy -- both captured within a cocoon of fuzzy low-end and performed with all the vibrancy of the garage experience. "Swamp Water" is a good, old-fashioned swampy stoner romp that would make a good companion to Weed Is Weed's "Alligator Crawl." And "Shame" would fit in great with the likes of Mudhoney and Coal Chamber.

The album closer is bathed in dank, watery shadows, with a grungy, forlorn bass groove. It's called "Hive Mind" and lives in the neighborhood of Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard. The song is about how the secrets of life evade us because we're stuck in rigid mindsets ("Sacrament is our demise"), and struggle to find a meaningful role in this artificial maze of concrete and asphalt ("Disguised by life, destroyed by time"). At least that's my interpretation. As I said, the lyrics are thought provoking -- but there's no mistaking the last lines of the track:

We all seek a higher mind So take your breath and blaze a fire Take flight. Ignite. Leave them all behind

Melt's Replica of Man is a virtuosic blend of influences, captivating themes, and crisp, joyful musicianship. Out Friday, July 7th (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Snail, GoodEye, Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol, Null, and Deep Purple.

Give ear...

Replica of Man by Melt

SOME BUZZ

Melt is a Pittsburgh-based fuzz rock band formed by Joey Troupe, J.J. Young, and James May – three seasoned musicians with a diverse range of experience in the music industry.

Joey Troupe (lead guitar/vocals) has played in various bands around the city since 2007, including Blackbird Pie, The Electric Pear, and Paddy the Wanderer — which released several LPs and EPs, toured regionally, and had a song featured on a Netflix series.

J.J. Young (drums) has played in or appeared with over 10 different musical projects, including Fortune Teller, Daisy Chain, and his own solo project, BITE. He is also a co-founder of Steel City Death Club, a Pittsburgh music multimedia collective.

James May (bass/vocals) started Aberrant Kingdom in 2008 and has also played with Spare Arrows. In July 2021, Melt released their self-titled debut and performed live for the first time, quickly making a name for themselves in Pittsburgh music for their lively stage presence and unique extraterrestrial-inspired aesthetic.

Since, the band has headlined shows across the region, been named the WYEP Artists of the Week, held a featured spot on the Deutschtown Music Festival mainstage, and opened for Silver Synthetic of Third Man Records. Their second studio album, Replica of Man, will be released July 7, 2023.

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

[toksikk]

NEW MUSE

Name: Xavier Whittfield

Age: 22

Height: 5'10

Sexuality: Bisexual, male leaning

FC: Spencer Macpherson

Bio: Xavier grew up poor, alone and with a mom who barely provided for him. She danced nights and by the time she came home, he was off to school. He learned to steal at a fairly young age, often getting in trouble for it and has a long juvenile record. He was always a rebel and teenage chaos. He would constantly get into fights, especially in defense of his mother. He was a loner and turned to weed, hanging out with the older stoner kids. He's big into skateboarding and often spent his weekends at the skate park. He struggles with depression and anxiety and it comes out in the form of rage in his quick temper.

Now that he's older he works as a budtender at the local dispensary. He's highly educated in weed, having skipped college and gone straight into working. He moved out of his moms the day he turned eighteen and now lives in a small garage apartment thats covered with walls he spray painted and band posters. He's much more comfortable with men romantically than he is women but he does like both. He listens to alot of punk music, Green Day being one of his favorite bands. He knows how to play guitar, something he taught himself.

Xavier can be condescending and hes well known for making deprecating jokes about his life but thats how he copes. He's not in contact with his mom, having last heard she was arrested for solicitation. He doesnt trust easily and he's a thrill seeker. He likes older men cause he finds them easy to use but also searches for them to take care of him since he never knew who his father was. He uses Only Fans as another way of income, but what money he does make goes straight to his smoking habits whether it be weed or nicotine. He's impulsive, bad with money, has an attitude problem but also under the layers just wants someone to actually care about him.

[tomatoluvr69]

rob! atom heart mother - pink floyd? (full disclosure i know almost nothing about the album except that i bought it from a dollar bin when i was maybe 14 and really into cows and i was always curious to know a pink floyd fan thought!)

omg that's so awesome, i really miss the experience of being a young teenager and browsing physical albums and picking them based on cover alone! I used to go to the library and check out random CDs from my branch library's insanely small and honestly? kind weird music collection. Then I'd go home and rip them onto my ipod but I'd have to be sneaky about it because my dad was weirdly morally opposed to piracy and would tell me I had to buy it on iTunes....found some stuff I really liked that way, and way more stuff that was insanely mediocre.

It's kind of funny to think of you having no context whatsoever for picking up Atom Heart Mother; it's not exactly the most approachable of Pink Floyd albums, but it's at least slightly listenable? Better than if you were to have picked up certain other ones. But the thought of you putting the record on just to be confronted with the atom heart mother suite is really silly, i'm obsessed. It's not Pink Floyd's best 23 minute song, and it kind of sounds like the discordant weirdness my brother's untalented stoner friends used to put together with secondhand synths and royalty free samples, but better? ok im rambling big time.

Ok sorry for the preamble. Overall I like the album but I don't listen to it a whole lot, aside from the track "if" which is well suited to a very particular type of mood-- remember when we were all saying 'poor little meow meow' all the time? miss that. anyway, that one regularly makes my self-pity, sorrow, yearning (eye-roll emoji) and lugubriousness not otherwise specified playlists.

Opinion on cover design: as you pointed out, COW... it's pretty awesome and kind of confusing but I think it works. I'm in favor. kind o funny that it's not on the cover of Animals lol

Favourite song: If. For me it always kind of reads as certain regrets re: the band's interpersonal relations, which I won't get into here, but it speaks to me in regards to a very complex & bittersweet & deeply essential friendship in my own life.

Least favourite song: I actually really like all five tracks, even if I don't put them on that frequently. Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast (macrobiotic stuff!) and Atom Heart Mother are divisive but I love them.

Underrated track: honestly? each of these tracks is underrated amongst huge floyd fans (aka me, six other tumblrinas, and 80,000 boomers)

Overrated track: none of these really get rated at all honestly, there's so much other pink floyd people talk about much more

Rate: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 

thanks for reminding me about this one, I listen to If a fair amount but I think I'm gonna give the whole thing a spin ;-) sorry for the absolute length of this post, it kind of got away from me, and I hope your one dollar foray into pink floyd wasn't too offputting and strange :-)

send me an artist, song, or album!

[karinatheg]

Why Young Thug's RICO case is not about ending gang activity but something more profound.

Earlier this year, rappers Young Thug and his record label were arrested for their involvement in gang-related activity in Atlanta, GA. Many of their fans were upset about it because once someone gets charged with RICO crimes, it is over for them. That means that they will be in prison for many, many years. As a fan of the rapper, I was devastated when I heard he was looking at 50 to 70 years in prison. Young Thug has greatly impacted the rap community, from being one of the first "mumble" rappers to creating his iconic record label, Young Stoner Life (YSL). He paved the way for many rappers who would come out of the 2016 rap wave. Musicians like Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, and Lil Yachty all followed a similar style of music. Like many record labels, Young Thug helped out aspiring rappers with their careers, mentoring them and providing them with their careers. Although Young Thug has never been mainstream, he often collaborates with big-name rappers such as Drake and Travis Scott. Young Thug isn't only a musical genius. He is also a fashion icon because he breaks fashion boundaries in a very masculine industry.

The court is using song lyrics, fashion, and social media posts as evidence to convict him. To think that something such as an apparel piece can be used as evidence to indict someone for a serious crime, such as a RICO charge, is insane to me. When rappers write lyrics, they often rap about a time when their life was rough to cater to their audience who may be going through similar things. Not that racketeering and corrupt organizations are everyday things among rap fans. Rappers who were raised in a violent environment will often use their experiences to write their lyrics and paint a story. Fans will relate to bits and pieces of the lyrics and make that connection with the rapper. There have been other instances where rappers' lyrics have gotten them convicted of crimes such as murder to connections to gangs. The rapper YNW Melly was convicted of murdering someone, and his lyrics were used as evidence against him. When black rappers are arrested for a crime, their lyrics are used against them in court to look guilty. Young Thug touches base on how black artists will have their lyrics used against them in an interview with Hot 97’s Summer Jam. He says in the interview, “You know, this isn’t about just me or YSL. I always use my music as a form of artistic expression, and I see now that Black artists and rappers don’t have that freedom."

Black artists should have to change the way they want to express themselves creatively. Rap isn't a genre of music where they can be uplifting and positive 24/7 because many rap artists come from poor backgrounds with trauma that is unfortunately related to street violence. They should be able to write about their experiences and thoughts freely without having them used against them if they are arrested for crimes. I am not saying that Young Thug, YNW Melly, or other artists who have gone to jail for crimes are innocent, but we have to separate the art from the artists regarding serious crimes. Every state is different with laws and how they handle situations, but using black art to put black artists in jail is not something that should happen. Solid evidence should put criminals away, not their creations, that millions of people love.

[terraformblog]

#1 INTRODUCING TERRAFORM

I’m working on my first ever self produced collection of music, alongside my first ever short film music video. 

Terra is the perfect “messy cool girl”. She eats junk food, but she’s always fit and skinny, smokes weed, but not in a disgusting bum way, but in a cool “stoner girl” way, she lounges around in her sexy underwear, carefree yet perfect, always with a full face of makeup, but not too much makeup, even in the privacy of her own room. She’s the epitome of “cool girl”, the fantasy of every man… But is she?

She transforms right in front of our eyes, from the “cool messy girl” persona we know her as, into her true, yet unsettling disordered form. Showing the real side of her addiction, depression and eating disorder, she confronts the viewers expectations of “sexiness” and glorification of disordered behaviour in young women.

The projects name “Terraform”, considering the fact my name is Terra, is pretty self explanatory. In this EP, the true Terra is forming. I shed away my old musical persona of this fabricated “cool girl” I always aspired to be, instead embracing my raw true self. 

The word “Terraform” is my alteration of the word “terraformation” defined as “the process of modifying a planet, moon or other body to a more habitable atmosphere, temperature or ecology”. Although I probably could tie the process of transforming hostile planets and moons into inhabitable objects into the meaning of the EP, in all honesty, I just like the idea of using pre-existing words with “terra” in them as names for my projects. Terrabite, Terrarium or Terrapin are strong future contenders.

To me, being an artist has always been about constantly rediscovering yourself. Digging deeper and deeper into your core, scraping out the most vulnerable confessions and barring your soul on a piece of paper. 

Unfortunately, I think I strayed away from this belief the moment I got overwhelmed with my own success. The moment I signed my 17 year old self to a label my mind got clouded. 

For some time, it became just about the “image”. Cosplaying a “cool girl” version of myself that enjoyed long hazy nights out in the club, in the company of rappers and celebrities, endless nights spent drunk and high in the studio “working” on tracks that I never bothered to finish, interviews, photoshoots and brand sponsorships. The vision of fame and success consumed my soul and left me hollow. I went from writing songs in bed every night with my guitar in hand, recording and releasing two albums and four music videos in six months, to not being able to finish one full length project in two years. I swapped writing about my feelings to numbing them down and in the process completely lost my will to create. The feeling of being hollow never really left me. Even now, after I’ve completely changed my life, surroundings and lifestyle it won’t go away. 

Being a musician was all I ever wanted in life. So although there still are days I can’t even get out of bed, I refuse to be the person who stands in my way. To me, Terraform is about perseverance. I’m giving myself a fresh start at achieving my life’s dream, my way. 

[synesthesiac31]

     I have experienced synesthesia since I was a child, mostly while listening to music. It is said that less than five percent experience this phenomenon. I can't tell you where it comes from and why. I just know that it is normal for me to have these experiences. I actually wonder why most people do not experience music the way I do. I have read that there is research being done to explain this "condition." So, apparently it is being acknowledged.

I have always been a little different, I suppose. I felt that from a very early age. "Gifted" was the word used a lot in my elementary years and all the way through my high school years. I don't know that I would call myself "gifted." A little too in touch with my senses, maybe. The sound of music has always been my utopia, for lack of a better word. My earliest memory of music consisted of a particular bassline. I'll get into that at some point.

    Exposure to all different kinds of music was a constant in my life, even now. I grew up with my mother cleaning house to Sade, Carole King, Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Anita Baker, Stevie Nicks, and Tina Turner. On the weekends, she would record videos that played on MTV and VH1 on an old, clunky silver VCR. The "remote" you would flick the switch up to record, flick down to pause. She ended up with these mountains of VHS tapes containing nothing but music videos. I have probably seen just about every music video made all through the 80's and 90's. Maybe.

    My father played six-string and twelve-string guitar. He played just about anything but he also used to play music with my Tata (grandfather). I don't really know how to describe that music. I guess you can call it Mexican folk music? Mexican country? All I know is that I have never heard it anywhere, ever, except when my Dad played that guitar and my Tata played his accordion. Now that they are both gone, I know that music is gone with them. My Dad was also very eclectic. Growing up, I watched him blast Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Creedence, Mexican Banda music, Norteno music, traditional Native American music, just about everything.

    So when it came to me and music you can only guess the love I have for it. Music has always spoken to me. I learned to read and play music in elementary school. I played reed instruments. I don't anymore, but the reading of music has stuck with me. So, when I hear a song that changes time signatures, or a song is played in an odd time signature, I get all goofy excited because I actually know what is taking place as it happens.

    As far as the synesthesia part goes, I don't know how to fully articulate, but I am going to try. This has always been a natural thing for me. I don't understand how someone else isn't as blown away as I am when something awesome in the song happens. Upon hearing something totally beautiful, I usually associate it with something in nature, like the ways waves in the ocean are formed. Or the way the desert canyon smells sweet after a good monsoon rain. This is also music in a different form.

    Now, if you know who I am and know anything about me, you know I love me some heavy metal, and more specifically I love doom metal. I listen to many genres of music, but metal has my heart. This extends to space rock, desert rock, stoner rock, sludge metal, and psychedelic rock. I do hope you are familiar. More than anything I love the slower, groovier metal. I adore heavy bass riffs. The kind that groove back and forth like the ocean does. I can get lost in bass lines all day, every day, probably for the rest of my life, and beyond. The connections to this blog will all come together by the end of the series, at least, that's what I'm hoping for. I'll pick a song each time I plan to post and I will dissect it according to my senses. I will also include a link and time stamps. Maybe you will find you are a synesthete yourself. Or maybe it will give you a better appreciation of the piece of music. All I know is, I am truly captivated by music and the way I experience it. Maybe my kids will find these one day after I am gone, many, many years from now, and they will appreciate it. Or they can say, "Shit man, Mom was bonkers!"

    I will warn you though, some of these experiences of musical landscape were done with psychedelic assistance. A few, not all. All that really did was intensify what I already experience on a normal basis. I am not telling you to do the same. I am not here to preach anything either. Take it for what is is. I hope you enjoy these next however-many posts. Share when you feel the need, comment as you feel the urge to do so. But if your vibe is at all negative, you know right where the hell the door is...Thanks in advance for reading.

-A