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This is awesome, Tyler stopped by NPR to be a part of their Tiny Desk Concert series. He performs three tracks from his most recent album in an unplugged format. It works, it was a great way for Tyler to showcase his artistic ability while still having what looks to be a great time. On another note I really like the lighting in this video, it really helps with the mood established by the smooth sounds with the strong vocals of his background singers. 

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Virginia native and rocnation signee Levi Carter recently released visuals to go with his song XXL. He has been on tour with Cousin Stizz and Stizz himself makes appearances in the video. The video was filmed while on tour and features great use of color and many cinematic shots. It has a hazey vibe rich with other worldly color. It all fits with the swinging beat and smooth flows by Carter. 

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Gucci Mane released with the help of Migos a remix of the Kodak Black hit “Roll in Peace”. The song opens with the classic migos flow rich in adlibs. Gucci also has a good verse. Since his release from prison he has been living a new life topped off by his recent marriage. With a new album soon this is a good single to keep his hot streak going, also having one of the hottest groups right now in the Migos on his track always helps. 

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Meechy Darko, most familiar for being one of the three members of the Flatbush Zombies released this song as a single a few months back. I slept on it but upon rediscovery it grew on me. This song has a vibe that is super laid back which is accentuated by the reggae sample. This song sounds different than that of the typical zombies releases, but it is refreshing to here Darko flow over it. 

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New Track from A$AP Ant (YG Addie). This song has a super chill vibe matched with smooth lyrics from Ant. He has developed a style that this song is on line with. I enjoy most of his releases, this included. I look forward to new releases and I was happy to see this surprise single.

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Out of New Oreleans, Jabbar has released his follow up to out on bond with out on bond ii, this album is super raw and continues with Jabbars vibe. He has strong word play while also remaining incredibly real. This album in comparison to the last is more fast paced and has more features. The artists featured are all still up and coming like Jabbar, he has a sound that will probably catch on. 

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88Glam’s debut mixtape is a smooth, lucid chill album. With a great mix of vocals and bars it is an easy album to put on kick back and listen to start to finish. Featuring 88camino (mino) and Derek Wise, two Toronto rappers, as well as a feature from fellow weekend co-sign NAV. Wise is more of a rapper and mino is more the vocalist. Its a great duo and I look forward to them making more music together as well as solo tracks. 

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I really like some of the images in this series, I feel it is a very interesting concept that had great results. It also hits home as these houses are from my home state of Ohio, although it is a different region. Ian Strange has helped Virgil Abloh with his Off White Australia store and is excellent at designing a space. The photos of this gallery confirm his great skill, with mixed media and interesting displays the whole exhibit creates a consistent vibe and experience. This is a must see exhibit for me and I am very fortunate that it is showing in New York.  

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Back again with another banger, Smooky Margielaa delivers with the song “Not Right”. With production from Murda Beatz the budding canadian producer as well as a cause behind meek mill, smooky has delivered again. He has currently been on tour with the A.S.A.P. Mob and they have clearly helped with his productivity. Meek Mill has been imprisoned with a 2-4 year sentence for probation violations, and most notably a dirt bike ride though Harlem. With much backlash for this injustice, Smooky is one of the first to release a song in his support. 

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From the G.O.O.D. Music label, Cyhi the prynce finally dropped his debut album. Following the announcement that Kanye West would be executive producing the next albums from all good music artists such as Pusha T, Kid Cudi, and even Kanye himself. This album also features the song “Dat Side” which was originally released as a single, and is most notably Kanye’s first verse in a long time. Overall I feel this album has a classic vibe, featuring samples from a wide range of places as well as incredibly real verses. Cyhi also promised 3-4 new albums in the next year so fans have something to look forward to. 

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Continuing with the emoji trend comes Yung Jake, the rapper/designer who claims to be born on the internet in 2011 and is based out of LA continues to post these awesome portraits made entirely of emoji. This portrait of Lil Uzi is awesome. I look forward to his new work and like to try and decipher all emojis used. This is a great combo of graphic design through repurposing. 

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What may turn out to be YBN Nahmir’s breakthrough track that has quickly gained youtube fame, “Rubbin off the Paint” is a perfect example of the current music climate that has been helped by the digital age. A big result of this is that there has been a recent trend of new artists coming up quickly thanks to the ability to mass distribute music on a digital platform. Artists are now popping off from everywhere because to a degree they are centered on then internet. Nahmir being from Alabama, which not a historic music/rap hotbed, is a good example of that. 

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Cozy Tapes Vol 2: Too Cozy

The A$AP Mob follow up to Cozy Tapes 1 continues to reaffirm the mob as one of the premier rap collectives. With the ever growing and expanding world of the AWGE empire that began in music and now taps much deeper into the creative world dipping its feet in music, fashion and art. From a music perspective the album can to a degree be seen as a coming out for new AWGE signee Smooky Margielaa. The 15 year old bronx native initially met A$AP Rocky where he was set to perform with A$AP Twelvyy, but was kicked out of the club for being underage. Smooky Margielaa is arguably the best rapper his age and his deal is a testament to that. From a kid in the bronx to parties with Rocky and Kanye, the kid is going places.