Out of Raleigh comes the next torch bearer of North Carolina’s hip hop scene, King Mez. The rapper and producer released his fourth project Long Live the King this week with a clear goal of setting himself apart.
Morris, which is King Mez’s first name, will be the first single for the album. King Mez understands that with success comes an opportunity to cover the scars of his past in order to blend in. He’s slow to embrace it, but still conflicted as he admits, “I want to graduate from his past but too afraid of new courses.” However, he refuses to get “comfortable with no record deal” because he aims to touch souls.
Flight is a smooth playful track with an old school 90s vibe but mix of modern vocals. As a producer, King Mez had fun with this track which includes child-like vocal adlibs and intergalactic themes. Swerve and Murda bite back with a grittiness that is more boastful than Flight. Surprisingly, they have more of a hype radio-ready sound that’s a lot catchier. As the two shortest tracks on the album they are a transition to the second half.
Tim Suby produced Past the Stars which is more ghoulish than the others. King Mez comments on women who compromise their bodies and souls to attain the dream of fame: “everybody light skin bleached with creme and hydroquinone.”
The rest of the album provides a diverse sound reflecting his mix of producers: Commissioner Gordon, Ishii, Tim Suby, Deputy, Illmind, Mark Marlo, and of course King Mez. Long Live the King is void of features from other rappers which clarifies the voice of the record. This album has mostly quality tracks with little fluff. Coming from the same state as J.Cole and Little Brother, King Mez’s Long Live the King solidifies him as the next contender.
Selena was such a great performer. In honor of the anniversary of her passing on March 31, 1995, here is a video of her performing one of my favorites.
No Frontin' Necessary: G-Eazy, Hoodie Allen, and OCD (Moosh and Twist)
Mainstream Hip hop has taken a confusing form in the last decade. On one end, the glorification of drugs, alcohol, and nudity is at its most extreme. On the other, artists who initially entered with a street or gutter edge have softened their delivery to appeal to a wider audience. For example, Lil Wayne’s change from hinting at gang affiliations to rocking jeggings and embracing skate culture reads as a manufactured attempt to crossover. He isn’t alone.
They are a collective of mostly college educated rappers who are marketing a seemingly less vulgar or positive message. Although some hip hop heads would dismiss them as frat row fodder, these artists would denounce these criticisms pointing to the packed theaters they headline, alone or the 700K+ Youtube views they receive regularly.
What about the music though?
G-Eazy
G-Eazy’s beats, which he produces himself, are polished headbangers and display a musicality that his rapping lacks. Some tracks possess a slight grittiness that alludes to his Bay Area background while others, such as Runaround Sue, have the levity of 50s pop tune. When he samples, he pulls from a mix of current pop and hip hop to 50s or 70s pop rock melodies. Beneath the conversational style and singing asides that scream out Drake however, his wordplay is void of the depth and metaphor layering of Drake. It is most evident on G-Eazy’s Been On.
Hoodie Allen
While Hoodie Allen regularly uses acoustic rock and pop in his music, they overlay the hip hop as opposed to combining fluidly. As with G-Eazy, he needs to add more complexity and meaning to his lyrical skills which he masks with punchline raps and singing.
While the quality of the music is less than innovative, there is something to be said about the hustle. Hoodie Allen religiously responds to his fans on Twitter and his blog. He has released 2 Mixtapes (Leap year and Crew Cuts) and an album (All-American) as a solo artist. In an interview with Sway in the Morning, G Eazy tells a story reminiscent of Hip Hop beginnings: he wrote and produced his own music, used Photoshop for the covers and passed them out at school. Since then he has been rapping and producing for 10 years and producing 3 mixtapes: The Outsider, Endless Summer, Must Be Nice.
Their careers are in its infancy but these brand of rappers are ones to keep your eye on.
G-Eazy Interview talking about passing out mixtapes in high school
Learn more about Hoodie Allen in this documentary and check out his music here.
G-Eazy is currently on the Things That Happen Tour and you can also check out his music here.
G-Eazy ft. Hoodie Allen - Lady Killers
OCD: Moosh & Twist (Feat. Hoodie Allen) - All That I Know
They try to continue on but the trumpet player drops thirty second notes that conflict with their steps. Before they could gather themselves the saxophonist begins to shuffle his feet in place giving a warning of the moves they are about to witness. As if James Brown himself had risen, the saxophonist kicks the air while keeping the time, of course. At this point, passersby become audience members cheering the wailing trumpet player as he basks in the transformation of Union Square station into the Blue Note Cafe.
Too Many Zooz is the name of the three piece experimental brass house band composed of Matt Doe, Leo P, and Dave ‘King of Sludge’ Parks. With just a baritone saxophonist, percussionist, and trumpet player, these three guys are creating a viral storm. In one day, they grabbed a front page headline on Reddit that crashed their bandcamp page and received a Twitter mention from Questlove reminiscing on The Roots’ similar humble beginnings.
Check out the video that created all the buzz below:
Questlove Twitter mention:
THIS is how @TheRoots got their start….minus youtube to spread the quicker word. http://t.co/j6RUqyGhrz peep NYC’s own @TooManyZooz
Graced with drum solos reminiscent of Nigerian rhythms and horns drawing up the bustling noise of New York City, Akuma has a mix of solemn and upbeat Latin and soul, infused jazz melodies. The song Deme has the characteristics of a pensive mood drowning into a dream-like state that is woken up by a playful electric guitar picking solo. Below is a trailer introducing the album. Listen and download Sly5thAve’s music on Bandcamp. It will be a solid addition to your catalogue.
A motley crowd of young and veteran Berklee students, proud parents, and off the street spectators file into Cafe 939 for a show featuring High Def. A subtle reverb of heads nod as the singer of the band, Brandon, catches the rhythm giving the mellow crowd a chant to guide their participation. The Berklee audience is notoriously a stubborn one.
High Def, the brainchild of rapper-singer Brandon and drummer Dylan, is a fusion of hip hop, jazz, soul and rock. The band, which has been together for only a year, is composed of mostly third year students from Berklee College of Music: Brandon(rapper/singer), Dylan(drummer), PJ(guitarist), Aiman(bassist), and Meri(keyboardist). The lead, Brandon, is a rapper and singer who hails from just outside of Toronto. Despite the smooth flow of Brandon’s singing which brings Musiq Soulchild’s coolness to mind, he was originally a rapper since the age of 16. He picked up singing while studying at Berklee.
High Def provides the perfect soundtrack to a kickback with close friends. They are currently finishing their EP, Milk and Honey, but take a listen to their newest single, Definition.gh
