Album of the Year 2016 #11: A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from here... Thank you 4 your service - HipHop | HipHop Channel

Pages

Album of the Year 2016 #11: A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from here... Thank you 4 your service - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #11: A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from here... Thank you 4 your service - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #11: A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from here... Thank you 4 your service

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 10:38 AM PST

Artist: A Tribe Called Quest
Album: We got it from here… Thank you 4 your service

Listen:
Google Play
Spotify
Apple Music

Album Background
A Tribe Called Quest formed in 1985 and grew to become one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time. Bursting out the gates with smooth jazz beats, proudly afrocentric bars and some of the most infectious MC interplay we've ever seen, they were 90's hip-hop's favorite weirdos. They're the guys that let many of today's greatest artists feel cool with being themselves. After years spent dropping influential classics that still bump to this day, the group fell prey to infighting and egotism. But after 17 years, they finally got back into Q-Tip's New Jersey studio to make an album. Unfortunately, Queens MC Phife Dawg passed away halfway through its recording. But they soldiered on. We got it from here… Thanks you 4 your service is the result of that work.

Review
It's a reunion and a goodbye. The pains and thrills sink a bit deeper.

When Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest ended with "A Tribe Called Quest has one album left on their Epic contract," it felt like a cruel joke. Q-Tip and Phife couldn't be interviewed on screen together. De La Soul hoped they'd never perform again. In a deleted scene, Ali Shaheed Muhammad asks the director if there will ever be another Tribe album. Apparently, he'd be the one to know.

Ego had driven a wedge between hip-hop's most infectious testament to the power of MC chemistry. Tip and Phife's childhood friendship gave A Tribe Called Quest its personable core. They were such flavorful compliments of one another. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. The Abstract and the Funky Diabetic. Music industry rebel and bodega corner sports hound. Salt and pepper. PB & J. You were party to an afterschool, communal vibe of ball busting, street sermons, and shit talking. Somehow, you felt part of that family. But then the chemistry dwindled. Then the break up. Then the reveal that Tip and Phife were on the outs. A dead friendship weighs heavy. Fond memories and inside jokes turn to baggage, locked away forever. The person they brought out of you, no matter who's at fault, is gone. Reconciliation may eventually come, but earnest forgiveness may not, leading to awkward echoes of past joys, forced in penance of what was. Knowing that Phife and Tip's seemingly eternally spirited friendship existed in such a joyless, torrid state really, really sucked. A slice of pessimism the world didn't need.

But then Phife dies. Months pass. Tribe announces a new album. Really? Even if Phife got some verses in, oh he did. Well shit man, there was such animosity between Phife and Tip, and for so long. Plus, Jack White? Elton John? Would Tribe really fall prey to that tasteless echo?

And then November 8th happened.

Few days later, Tribe drops We got it from here… Thank you 4 your service on a very troubled, hopeless culture. A man, drowned in a hissing grain, demands we stand up and deal with the "bigger insult, man. The heat… It's coming down hard, we GOT to get our shit together." Then…

It's time to go left and not right
Gotta get it together forever
Gotta get it together for brothers
Gotta get it together for sisters

The Midnight Marauders, Phife Dawg and Q-Tip, partners in rhyme to end all, in sync, smooth like butter gliding over a jaunty little keyboard. Is… Is Tribe back?

Word to Phifer
Gonna bring it to the overlord, drinkin' Cisco
Chilling with the gold microphone cords

They're back. HOLY SHIT TRIBE'S BACK.

It's all there man. The eccentric insights. The gentle woman wooing. The blasting off of fake ass rappers for their "ass cheek flows with bars sweeter than scones." But, most crucially, that feeling's back. The cuts that go for that classic familial Tribe vibe absolutely, downright kill it. Straight murder in your ears. The intoxicating punchline mic passing on the sunny reggae tangle of "Dis Generation." (I will never not chuckle at "Yo where Jarobi at?" and Jarobi popping up like a Whack-A-Mole.) Consequence's casually thorough bars giving way to Busta's scenery chomping black out on "Mobius" might be the Chev-Chelios-attaches-jumper-cables-to-his-nipples adrenaline overload of the year. And, no shit, the first time I heard "Tip and Phife in town" on "Solid Wall of Sound," it felt so organic, so acutely evocative of that Check the Rhime feeling I'd long ago assumed dead, that I, well, the room suddenly got VERY dusty. The chemistry on this record's so lethal it should come with a Surgeon General's warning. Hell, he should have his own drop.

But something's changed. "We the People" coasts in on an Oompa Loompa sample doubling as the illest Trump subliminal of the year before Tip lobs aural Molotov cocktails with a pissed off whine that'd stand toe to toe with any surly punk rocker. "Whateva Will Be" builds upon a reggae soul sample about welcoming Judgment Day with bleak verses of adversity and exploitation. The ease of addiction is bourn painfully clear on "Melatonin." Jarobi's only crime on "The Killing Season" is having melanin. It's easy in the thrill and catharsis of reunion to forget that this is Tribe's heaviest album yet. The crew often feels cornered, embattled on all sides by forces that seek to oppress and undermine them. Pain and strife isn't new to Tribe. Societal troubles were the context that complicated and broadened their afrocentric pride and jubilance. But on We got it from here… Thank you 4 your service, in 2016, the world's ills linger on the mind. They can't be avoided. This isn't the Tribe we knew. Well, it is, but they've grown to become more.

Phife was always the eminently lovable Five Foot Assassin, a scrappy underdog that'd already won. But now he's also a political firebrand, hurling uppercuts in the way of anyone worthy of blame. Tip shows himself to be the most willing of the legacy 90's Boom Bap producers to expand his sound, fleshing out the group's trademark crisp bass lines and pitch perfect snares with live instrumentation, warped vocal effects, and a versatile set of song structures. Jarobi, shiiiiiit, JAROBI. Who knew? The self professed "rarely seen, never heard" sometimes fourth member of the group leaves you pissed that he's been hiding this brawny, passionate gift for so long. He's basically the quiet kid that lurked in the back of class, you forgot he was even there, that shows up to the twenty-year reunion looking jacked as hell in a flaired, star studded tuxedo, smiling with your girl on his arm. Those that didn't switch up their styles reach career highs here. Consequence kicks back with a charismatic drawl that legitimizes his run as the temporary fifth member on Beats, Rhymes and Life. And I remain convinced that in 1991, Busta recorded his Scenario verse, got out the booth and promptly hopped in a time machine to journey here and save us from 2016. Every verse between then and now? A loosie.

It's the hottest block party of 2016. But the thrills of this record don't come just because Tribe's back. It's that, against the odds, they've grown, personally and artistically, with the time and knowledge that, god damn, it sucked being apart. This is the sound of reconciliation, advancement, excitement of what's to come and regret that it's taken so damn long to fix. And that's why "Black Spasmodic" hits so hard.

Black Spasmodic. Title that wacky had to be a Tribe song. The hook's a thrilling "We Can Get Down" style throwback. Phife spazzes with a feisty verse drenched with patois. You forget he'd ever been off the map. Trini Gladiator, hell yeah. The shot's cued for Tip to play his half with philosophical musings and record industry woes. Maybe some choice flirtations. But the Abstract pulls out the rug. He raps as Phife.

I'm leaving, but nigga you still got the work to do
I expect the best from you, I'm watching from my heaven view
Don't disappoint me, make sure that they anoint me
As the blue ribbon pedigree, the best of show, five-foot-three

Phife's dead. Don't forget, he's gone. This is it. The unexpected gut punch leaves you reeling. And it only teases the heartbreak to come on "Lost Somebody."

A loose bass stutters. Then a tender, skittering piano loops while distant voices call out "Phife." Tip does his best to parse through their troubled but vital friendship. They didn't pretend. Jarobi, who so deeply loved this man that he moved to Atlanta just to make sure Phife ate right when the diabetes got bad, never thought he'd be writing this song. But it's Katia Cadet's beautiful hook that seeks to remedy. "No more crying, he's in sunshine." The drums tear out of control, completely off rhythm in a chaotic thrash. But time passes. They settle. Then, on the words "No more crying" the track Sopranos cuts to silence. It's heavy. Vast. A guitar lick lilts back and forth. It builds. A chord slashes through. Pain mounts. Anxiety takes over. It's a virtuoso touch that evokes the overwhelming nature of confronting death and passing on. And nestled alongside the album's celebrations and societal laments, it's that much more affecting. This record's a raw, complicated listen man. As wide a swath of emotions as you're gonna get. Which is why it's nuts that the DJ drops, of all things, are what webs it all together into a messy but vital coherence.

But it sure as hell doesn't sound like that at first. In fact, on first listen, the DJ drops are straight up confusing. The sonics feel off, not mixing quite right with the album's other tones. They're warped, processed, almost ethereal. Odd vibes. And Tip picks really weird moments to drop the lady moan. (Kinda reminds me of Donuts, Tribe relative J Dilla's hospital bed beat tape.) But on second, maybe third listen, you catch that the beeping rounding out "Space Program" opens "Black Spasmodic." It drifts over "Whateva Will Be." The processed James Brown crew holler that ends Solid Wall of Sound ends Conrad Tokyo too and, wait, shit, Tip sampled that on Oh My God way back when. A brief clip of Jack White's Lost Somebody guitar solo pre-empts Ego, Tip's warning of hubris' destructive dangers, the same dangers that initially ravaged his friendship with Phife. Shit. And that god damn beeping, seriously it's everywhere on this thing, low-key ends the beat loop on "Dis Generation's" hook. Over time, these drops accrue meaning. Phife's impassioned rally cry on "Space Program" complicates his pessimism on "Whateva Will Be" because of the shared moan drop. "Solid Wall of Sound's" booming reverie becomes intrinsically linked with the neon lit nihilism of "Conrad Tokyo." This series of meaninglessly connected moments, co-existing alongside such raw, furtive emotions, take on meaning nonetheless. And it's in this continuity by association that the record fosters an evocative sense of life's complications.

We understand life and its process through a lens of memory and experience. Those experiences imbue each passing moment with power and context. Sometimes, those memories catch us in whatever moment we're living for no damn reason at all. Part of my very emotional response to Solid Wall of Sound's "Tip and Phife in town" mantra is how it reminds me of Bruce Springsteen's "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," a song that's damn right fundamental to my very being. Does that make sense, absent of context? Hell no. That track's a blast. But neither does crying at an ex's favorite song, or nostalgia for Full House, or being sent shaking by a jackhammer due to PTSD, or enjoying Fuller House (Basically, fuck off John Stamos.) But just cause it doesn't make sense doesn't mean it's not valid. That intangible, illogical moment of feedback is wonky and confusing, but so is the very process of being alive. The DJ drops lay that backwards texture of life and memories constantly lapping over one another in an inconsistent, convoluted mess into the album's essence. And once that clicks with the listener, it goes from a great Tribe album to a much more stunning statement.

But what's that messy ambiguity leave us with?

The album ends with The Donald. Constant DJ drops color the track. Busta rings in the proceedings with a cheerful Trini patois. Phife tears the final Tribe Called Quest track ever to shreds. He goes out like a motherfucker. It's his goodbye. Their goodbye. But the words "The Donald" warp back and forth in the background. Doesn't take a PHD to see what that's angling for. Then a melancholy, reggae tribute. There's been a lot of talk regarding what this song's actually about. Are we honoring Phife's final Tribe verse with joy or sadness? Maybe it really is about Trump. But then why don't the bars address our beloved President-Elect? Shit, what's the album as a whole even about? Is it Tribe's reunion or their farewell? Or a celebration of one of the most lovable, ferocious MC's to ever touch the mic? Or is it a Trump protest, or a condemnation of police shootings, or a cathartic lament of everyday atrocities, or, nah, they're just partying their way out of this fuckwad of a year. Or hell, maybe it's the grit of whatever's left in the pot when all this curds together. We got it from here… Thank you 4 your service defines itself with those very co-existent, often contradictory complications, those unresolvable quantities that populate our days and confound our lives. Can we overcome these political setbacks? Will black men, women and children ever be treated equally by a society that so often seems rigged against them? God bless, I got my friend back. Let's wild out. Why'd he have to leave? I'm supposed to just keep going? There's that beeping again. It's a reunion and a goodbye. When one of the greatest groups of all time caps off their career with an album thriving off such universally confusing forces, and does so with such excitement and musical acumen, it's one for the books. What a send off. Peace Tribe. Thanks for the service.

Favorite Lyrics by /u/theblanko

Word to Phifer Gonna bring it to the overlord, drinking' Cisco
Chilling with the gold microphone chords
And we grip our balls overtime we stunting' on tour

Q-Tip on "Space Program"

Are you amused by our struggles? The English that's broken?
The weed that I'm smoking' The guns that I'm toxin'? The drugs that I'm sellin'? No need for improvement. Fuck you and who you think I should be, forward movement

Phife Dawg on "Whatever Will Be"

The potent that I'm quoting will have you geeked like speed

Phife Dawg on "Dis Generation"

Leave a dent when drop with the flyness, fluent giant

Jarobi White on "Dis Generation"

In the church of Busta Rhymes, it's my sermon you're getting
Horizontal spittin', I'm the exorcist of your writtens
Don't interrupt me, nigga, sorry, that's a sin unforgiven
Like how we be skipping on beats like cooking crack in the kitchen

Busta Rhymes on "Dis Generation"

Ooo child, things are gonna get easier
Long as they get my page right on Wikipedia
Long as they say my name right in the media

Consequence on "Mobius"

(The entire god damn verse)

Busta Rhymes on "Mobius"

Now who want it with the Trini gladiator?
Mid finger to you haters you biters not innovators

Phife Dawg on "Black Spasmodic"

Winter in America, never knew white Christmas
'Cause L7 squares always making my shit list

Talib Kweli on "The Killing Season"

It must be killing season, on the menu strange fruit
Whose juices fill the progress of this here very nation
Whose states has grown bitter through justice expiration
These fruitful trees are rooted in bloody soil and torment

Jarobi White on "The Killing Season"

Trump and the SNL hilarity
Troublesome time kids, no time for comedy

Phife Dawg on "Conrad Tokyo"

Discussion Questions

  1. If you don't like "Mobius," why have you not yet sought medical help? Also why's it take Q-Tip to make the best Rza beat of the 2010's? : (

  2. Where's We got it from here… Thank you 4 your service fit in Tribe's discography? Does it manage to top either of the "classics?"

  3. Where's this album succeed that other hip-hop reunion albums (Wu Tang's A Better Tomorrow or Cannibal Ox's The Blade of the Ronin) have faltered?

  4. Favorite tracks? Favorite beats? Favorite Jarobi verse?

  5. What're ya hoping for from Q-Tip, Jarobi, Busta Rhymes and Consequence after this? Together, as a group, or whatever, maybe they'll all just spend the rest of their lives going out on picnics together.

If you managed to get through that MONSTER of a review, thank you! If you skipped to here, eh, I don't blame ya. Next, we'll have /u/TheRoyalGodfrey writing about Chance the Rapper's gospel rap celebration Coloring Book.

And if you want to check out past coverage, check out /u/fozzik and his review of Danny Brown's cacophonous, drug addled screed, Atrocity Exhibition.

submitted by /u/TheBlanko
[link] [comments]

2 Chainz Refuses Trump Inauguration Performance Invite: "I know they only doing this because they can’t get nobody else"

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 12:53 PM PST

Frank Ocean Tyler The Creator out in LA street racing

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 02:26 PM PST

Schoolboy Q falls asleep during a Kendrick Lamar freestyle

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 12:27 PM PST

Chip the ripper - Interior Crocodile Alligator

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 02:43 PM PST

Infographic: How 'Dragon Ball' Influenced A Generation Of Hip-Hop Artists

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 06:54 PM PST

Daily Discussion Thread 01/14/2017

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 04:36 PM PST

Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
  • general hip-hop discussion
  • meta posts...e.g. ideas for the sub

Thread Guidelines

  • Do not create a separate self post for these types of discussions outside of this thread - if you do, your post will be removed.

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

  • If a question has been asked many times before, provide a link to a thread that contains the answer.

Other ways to interact

There are a number of other ways to interact with other members of HHH:

submitted by /u/AutoModerator
[link] [comments]

[FRESH] Drake x Wizkid - Hush Up The Silence

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 08:08 AM PST

[FRESH] BROCKHAMPTON - CANNON

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 04:23 PM PST

Lupe Fiasco performs "Mural" in its entirety

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 04:56 PM PST

Sampha performs "No One Knows Me" on Fallon

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 04:24 AM PST

Meek Mill ft. Travi$ Scott - I'm Leanin'

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 01:28 PM PST

Freddie Gibbs Feat. 2 Chainz - Neighborhood Hoes

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 04:08 PM PST

Mac Miller - Dang! (feat Anderson .Paak)

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 09:56 PM PST

Rappers to Watch From Every State in 2017 #7 - CT, IA, ND, MN, NJ

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 11:26 AM PST

Clemson won the natty all y'all doubters and eat a fat one. Deshaun is the GOAT. Dabo is the GOAT. Please, Browns, don't take any players.

Also, still looking for artists for this list from Delaware, Kansas, New Mexico and Vermont. Let me know if y'all got some recommendations.

Who: OnCue
SoundCloud
Age: 27
Location: Newington, Connecticut / Brooklyn, New York
Recent Projects:
You Knew All Along (2016)
New New (2016)

Songs to Check Out:

In my ongoing crusade again Chris Webby I have decided to go with OnCue as the artist to watch from 2017, and I feel good about my choice. Looking at OnCue's new projects for the year (both of which share like 4 common songs so not a ton of music there), his new sound is significantly more marketable, cohesive, and seems to be getting bigger than anything he's released to this point. Don't sleep on Connecticut.

First thing that needs to be said about OnCue is that son works steady with JustBlaze which is wild, so you know the production on his music is going to be top notch, easily one of the best on this list. His new sound is really utilizing his voice, which is good because the man can throw around a hook pretty easily. On flow his voice is either lazy or gritty and he switches between them pretty well and easily. Another thing that's cool about OnCue is that you can tell he draws a lot of influence outside of rap as well. Artists generally say they gained influence from people like rock stars and other musicians, but OnCue is one artist where you can truly hear the sound from other genres in his – occasionally you'll hear what sounds like almost an indie or Fall Out Boy or Panic At The Disco or whatever else people played back in the early 2000s other than club songs vibe to his music. That is more true for his older music, as his new music is more consistent with the rap roots and utilizing the strong points of other genres in small parts.

The man seems to be getting his just desserts recently too, recently performing at Coachella. He may not currently be the biggest in his state but it's looking like he'll take the title soon and judging from the passion he shows for music and his career on social media and interviews, I don't think he'll stop at just biggest in his state. He claims he has big plans for 2017 so I'd keep the eyes out for his name and him potentially taking a G-Eazy type role in the future.

Who: Tey Campbell
SoundCloud
Age: 23
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Recent Projects: We On Music Pt. 1 (2014)

Songs to Check Out:

While it's been a minute since Tey released a full project, the man has released music as recently as two months ago so I'm going to include him considering son is talented and Iowa doesn't seem to be. Brother of the current #3 PG in the 2019 class, Tey is proud to be making moves into the spotlight with his family. His music is certainly heading in the direction of the spotlight too, with Tey picking up more pop-type influences as seen in "Last Man Standing" and "Do What I Gotta Do", rapping with a style and swagger that almost echoes Drake's NWTS.

Like I said, Tey's new music, and by that I mean like the last 3 songs, has taken noticeable influence from the more recent projects of artists like Big Sean, Drake, Bryson Tiller, and J. Cole. The production has improved as well since We On Music, and as a whole Tey's experimentation with new sounds is working out well in his favor. He shows his range of abilities from his singing on hooks in "El Chapo" to his fast rapping in "PLEASE BREATHE" and channeling everything into a complete song in "Say Woosah". Heading his #TWOM (The We On movement), Tey will continue to grow as he relocates from Iowa to Vegas to Tennessee and around, he has potential to not only rule a local area but make a name for himself on a major scale.

This all being said, Tey does have a few things he needs to work on before he gets big. First and foremost, he needs to release another project or at least music in general. Some guys get lucky and can release a few songs a year and strike gold with one of them, but Campbell will fair better as he continues to release. Secondly, Tey needs to continue working on his consistency – while nothing he drops is buns or anything, some songs are very noticeably better than others – this problem is less visible in his project We On Music, and has only really become visible as he has continued to experiment. This can be expected when trying new things, so I think as Tey continues to find a spot for himself and release music more, he'll set the stage for himself in a big way. Lastly, Tey needs to work on distribution or following or marketing or something, the dude is just way too talented to be getting how little exposure he does. His potential is high in my opinion, and I think if he focuses on it coming into 2017, he can make moves.

Who: Jantzonia
SoundCloud
Age:
Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota
Recent Projects: Raccoons of Chestnut Street (2016)

Songs to Check Out:

I want to go ahead and say I regret using my Mac Miller comparison already in this project. Out of North Dakota is Jantzonia, and while he may not sound quite like Miller, a lot of the beats he spits over are similar and much of his music is great for just sitting back and chilling out. A surprisingly nice artist in an otherwise devoid area, Jantzonia has proven that North Dakota isn't a complete wash.

Fun fact for those who don't know – Wiz Khalifa is originally from Minot, ND. Another fun fact, he reps Pittsburgh (where he went to high school), and as a result you probably know of virtually know North Dakota artists. Jantzonia and some other artists from around North Dakota tried to fix that, forming music group "Zen People", a collaboration of hip-hop artists from around North Dakota in order to pool available resources to make some dope music. This is a pretty common theme from many artists in small states and something I've noticed happen time and time again while doing this project. It makes sense, and works in this case, as some of Jantzonia's best songs are featuring other members of this group. The name is appropriate too, as all of them fit into the more relaxed vibes and often rap over very jazzy or mellow production.

Jantzonia definitely falls short in a few places, with the most egregious being his mixing. There are many times where his voice seems out of whack or poor quality or overall not fitting the beat like it should. I thought maybe this was just his voice and I'd have to get used to it but I found it was definitely out of place on some songs as compared to others, and if he's been doing his own mixing then that's something that will just improve with experience and added resources. Another area is flow. By and large Jantzonia manages to ride the wave of his songs well, however he has a tendency to go double time in order to fit in rhymes and it really messes with the groove of the song. It's not a constant thing but it definitely occurs and is something to work on.

As a whole, I'm not mad about Jantzonia. He's not going to be the next Drake or anything, and he probably won't be the next Wiz Khalifa either, but he's not bad. I drove around listening to his music at night time and actually really enjoyed myself, as he improves and works on his mixing and flow, I can see him making an excellent project and gaining some real followers. I expect 2017 to be a year of growth for him.

Who: deM Atlas
SoundCloud
Age: 28
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Recent Projects: MF deM (2016)

Songs to Check out:

Atlas is one of rappers on this list who has already made a spot for himself in the game, having been signed to record label Rhymesayers, now in the company of artists like Aesop Rock, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and MF DOOM. So it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone to see that he is a special artist. His music is a nice mix of reggae and jazz roots and has a bit of a retro vibe that is expected to come from an who has worked with the likes of DOOM.

If you're into very well executed mellow music, deM Atlas is another rapper to definitely look into. Not really in the style of Earl Sweatshirt or similar artists, but more of what you'd think the white dude with dreads from your high school listens to when he's not listening Bob Marley or Mac Miller. Especially in DWNR (2014), he shows that he generally likes to mold a song around his lyrics and vocal range. You'll often find pretty simple beats that let him get creative with how he wants a song to sound. This lends to a pretty wide range of music available in his discography, but I'd say he definitely excels in the more mellow type music.

deM provides a very accurate cross-section of a young adult, which is rare for many rappers. While people often generally trend towards either rapping about the negative parts of their life and their struggle or towards how they're on the come up and balling out; Atlas is just honest. He doesn't have a ton of angst or a ton of unbridled hope, he's just a guy talking about what happens in his life. It makes his music very accessible, which is great because he's another person who, in general, doesn't have a ton of radio appeal. He's definitely worth a look (obviously, otherwise he wouldn't be on the list), he's currently actively touring, so expect for more work to come out once he finishes.

In my interview with atlaS, we spoke about fellow artists from the Twin Cities area like Corbin, talked about his other artistic pursuits, and spoke on what the death of Prince meant to him and his city. You can read about it below. (soon, transcription still isn't finished.)

When I said I was going to do deM for this project, I almost immediately had a redditor reach out to me and talk about the kind of person he is. Here's what they had to say about the Twin City artist.

Yo,

I saw dem is on your list and I'm from St. Paul so I just wanted to tell you something that you may not find on the web.

Last time I went to a Dem atlaS show, afterwards he was sitting in the handicapped stall in the womens bathroom with a line of like 50 people outside of it all waiting to talk to him. People would just sit down and they'd chat for a while then someone would get up and leave and another person would take their place. He's a really down to earth guy who just loves making connections. I heard he does that at this really small art/rap cafe in the middle of Lowertown randomly as well.

None of this really comes as a surprise to me, when talking to him he seemed like an incredibly genuinely and down to earth guy. He took Prince's train of thought and talked about how he doesn't like calling people "Fans" but rather "Fam". He's a great guy and I would highly recommend checking him out and supporting him.

Who: RetcH (Retchy P)
SoundCloud
Age: 24
Location: Hackensack, New Jersey
Recent Projects: Lean & Neck (2016)

Songs to Check Out:

If you've heard the recent news about Heir Gang's artist Da$h, well, here's another one of theirs – RetcH. His ability to stay out of prison isn't much better, recently catch a case for armed robbery, but it looks like he's currently in the clear, at least until the thing proceeds. Outside of that, RetcH has done work with biggers artists like Action Bronson, Ab Soul, and Vince Staples, showing both his range and the quality of work he's capable of.

RetcH talks big game in his music and there's no reason why you wouldn't believe him. Sounding like a xanned out Schoolboy Q (also heard Roc Marciano comparisons here on reddit), RetcH wasn't that unbelievable when he randomly claimed he was signed to TDE. However, that wasn't always the case, RetcH does do more…experimental things with his voice. To understand what I'm talking about, listen to "Fuck Do You Mean". Son sounds like someone is choking him while he's trying to rap in those songs. I ain't even mad about it though because it still goes sort of hard, just gotta suspend your belief in reality while listening to it if you know what his voice really sounds like.

RetcH has already made a pretty solid name for himself, routinely pulling 200k+ plays on Soundcloud and holding down 35000+ monthly listeners on Spotify. It's not surprising considering the amount he was in the news in 2016 for legal issues and then the TDE thing, as well as his talent. Just like other artists, RetcH has some things he can work on, mostly his hooks; some of them are a little weak, but as a whole he's another one of the more complete artists on this list. How big his 2017 will be is very up to how his armed robbery case goes for him. If the charges get dropped he has potential to make a big year, and he's currently touring which might mean some new work is coming out once he's finished. He could be facing 10-20 years if he gets the book thrown his way so he'll be a name to look out for.

Just for bonus since I think RetcH is probably guilty as fuck, let's reminisce on one of the greatest videos ever created. If you don't follow RetcH on Instagram, you probably should. That shit is wild.

Hope y'all enjoy this one, I personally think this week's lineup is pretty strong. Like I said, still looking for artist recommendations from DE, KS, NM, and VT. Let me know if y'all know anyone.

Have a great weekend familia.

submitted by /u/Kaotus
[link] [comments]

I've been lurking here for a while and I've seen the same issue come up for a while... so I decided to help out by launching a free mixing service

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 05:04 PM PST

Goldlink - Rough Soul (Feat. April George)

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 07:46 PM PST

Quasimoto - Closer (feat. MF DOOM)

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 01:51 PM PST

MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 09:08 PM PST

SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD x DENZEL CURRY x CRAIG XEN - Unmask [Prod. By CaptainCrunch & DJ Patt]

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 04:07 PM PST

Lil B - Motivation (prod. Clams Casino)

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 01:13 PM PST

Migos - One Time (prod. Deko)

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 07:11 AM PST

Divine Council ($ilkMoney) - Dick In Da Dope

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 02:57 PM PST

Madlib announces new instrumental album, "Bad Neighbor", due 3-10-17

Posted: 13 Jan 2017 11:35 PM PST

Jay Rock - Hood Gone Love It ft. Kendrick Lamar

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 12:18 AM PST

Mozzy - Perk Callin (remix of Future's Perkys Calling)

Posted: 14 Jan 2017 01:54 PM PST
at