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When I See It - Kanye West 

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SOPHIE - msmsmsm

SOPHIE’s new single, “msmsmsm” debuted a few days ago on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 radio show, and so far it is the third single off his upcoming debut album “Product”. This track is densely layered and has such beautifully textured synth sounds. It opens with what almost sounds like rubber being stretched taut layered over a synth sound, which flows into a metallic hi-hat. About thirty seconds in, the bass drops and you’re in another world. As the song builds to the halfway mark, with various layers being added and taken off, there’s a point around the halfway mark in which all layers save the synth sounds are taken off. The synth slows into the sound of an organ. This break in song structure is brilliant, because it simultaneously feels natural to the song, and foreign, as if it shouldn’t belong in such an up-tempo song. While I have never been especially partial towards electronic music that draws as much influence from pop music, I can confidently say that I am looking forward to SOPHIE’s debut album. He is just too great at not only creating textured sounds, but weaving them together and layering them. I really look forward to hearing more material like this from SOPHIE

Written by Faraz Rizvi Email: [email protected]

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Samantha by Toro y Moi

Download the free release here! Review coming soon :)

The 20-track dream chill pop/hip hop collection features  Kool A.D., Washed Out, Rome Fortune, Nosaj Thing +++ more

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Israel ( Sparring) - Chance the Rapper and Noname Gypsy

Chance the Rapper recently debuted a new track on Soundcloud titled "Israel (Sparring)",which features Noname Gypsy--a relatively unknown rapper. "Israel" sounds similar to many of the songs off of his recent collaborative album with The Social Experiment, "Surf"--the loose jazzy production that's been making a comeback recently, interspersed with Chance's introspective lyrics and flow. Lyrically, the song draws on the Biblical story of Jacob, who wrestled with an Angel. The story is used as a metaphor to explore the battles that Chance and Gypsy have both been through in their lives, and the toll that it has taken. The most impressive element of the song is the internal rhymes that he utilizes throughout the song: "Sparring is training/Chain snatching the slaves/But a rap song is a match in a cave/Dim lit, wet wick, wicked rapping its way…" That's just impressive songwriting. Personally, I find that Chance's biggest weakness is his songwriting, but this track proves otherwise. For those who enjoyed "Surf," this track is a must listen.

Written by: Faraz Rizvi Email: [email protected]

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Worth It by Clams Casino & Danny Brown

As part of Adult Swim's new singles, Clams Casino and Danny Brown have collaborated on "Worth it", a banging hip hop track featuring excellent production by Clams Casino and devastating bars by Danny Brown, a rapper associated with A$AP Mob, and in my opinion the best that A$AP Mob has to offer. "Worth It" begins with a synth beat, and Danny Brown's voice under the beat in the background, almost inaudible. The song begins slow, but speeds up when the percussion falls into line with the synth beat. The chorus sees Danny Brown crooning, "Is it really worth it for fast cars and ice?" Lyrically, the song probes the Faustian deal that being a musician can seem like. The production is expertly done, showcasing Casino's incredible capacity to not just produce amazing beats, but also his ability to arrange various samples and sounds under the beat, without intruding on the flow of the song. This ability to layer is so difficult to master as a producer, but Casino makes it seem easy.

Written by Faraz Rizvi

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“TV Set” by Spoon

Spoon recently unveiled an incredible cover of The Cramps classic punk anthem, "TV Set" on Conan. Besides the sheer insanity of the performance--watch the guitarist just go nuts right before the two minute mark--the song perfectly captures, the thumping power of the original, while maintaining their characteristic irreverent sensibility. In Spoon's hands, the rockabilly swing of the song is wedded so well to the killer guitar riffs. The guitars are pumped with heavy distortion which makes this union slightly eerie. This song, which was for the reboot of Poltergeist, takes the early discomfort with television and mass media, and updates it in an almost Menardian fashion. Interestingly, assuming this is a preview of what's to come, this is completely different direction from their last album, They Want My Soul. I think it's safe to say Spoon is the most underrated band.

Written by: Faraz Rizvi

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Where were you when you first heard TNGHT’s Higher Ground? I was at a really sad album release party in Hollywood for Kreayshawn. Before Kreayshawn's set, a few dj's had sampled some of TNGHT. At first, I wasn’t familiar with it, but the samples blew me away: needless to say, I shazamed it and my little trap ears were changed forever. Hudson Mohawke, one of the minds behind TNGHT, has finally released a long awaited album called "Lantern" and I posted the track called "Scud Books" from the album. This song is almost a victory lap, excellently produced with horns all over the place. It is powerful yet not too loud or obnoxious; which is totally different from TNGHT’s music. I can definitely see Sleigh Bells doing vocals on this track and  I have no problem with that. I really dig the direction that Hudson Mohawke is going in.

Bravo!