Finally 2012 is here, the year in which the world will be reduced to ash and civilization as we know it will cease to exist. It better be a good year for music then, right? Seeing as we're only four days into the new year I haven't listened to many 2012 releases, thus I would like to take the time to go back and highlight some 2011 artists/releases you may have missed.
Has-Lo - In Case I Don't Make It
I mentioned Has-Lo in my earlier 2011 hip hop post but I still feel he is being slept on. I've heard his music referred to as 'rainy day rap,' which I suppose is a fancy way of saying that Has-Lo makes chill, slightly melancholy hip hop. Here are a couple tracks from the album.
While I'm on hip hop, I should mention that if you haven't been paying attention to the Green Ova Undergrounds collective this past year you've been missing out. Aside from Main Attrakionz laying down 808's & Dark Grapes II we've got the Blackberry Kush EP, Chandalier, Squadda B's I Smoke Because I Don't Care About Death, and more. Here is "Swaggin' Hard" from the Chandalier EP, followed by "On Deck(Remix)" from the Blackberry EP.
My apologies for the huge contrast in material for this post but I haven't taken any time to mention Esoteric (the UK psych-doom act, to be clear). Last year they released the soul devouring The Paragon of Dissonance which is quite the addition to their discog. It's more of what you might expect from these guys but the quality and craftsmanship is unflinching. There is no doom band on the same level as Esoteric. I promise. Slow, monolithic walls of psychedelic, noisy doom.
Kreng is an artist I've been watching closely for a few years now. Although he has mostly done difficult to find music for many theater and dance productions, in 2009 he released L’Autopsie Phénoménale De Dieu and now in 2011, Grimoire. Excellent darker ambient that contains modern classical elements, maybe even a bit of free-jazz.
Next post I will continue to expand on music similar to Kreng, highlighting other great ambient/experimental/modern classical releases from the past year. Stay tuned!
Showing posts with label hip hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hip hop. Show all posts
04 January 2012
25 December 2011
dimlite
One of the great musical tragedies of the 00's is that Swiss beat magician Dimlite did not set ablaze the electronic/hip hop world. Perhaps it is better to say that he did set it ablaze, only everyone is asleep and have yet to realize the impending doom. Time to wake up people.
2006's This Is Embracing was and is a monumental release. I like FlyLo as much as the next guy but those who write off Dimlite as an imitation, as many have, are confused. Flying Lotus' album 1983 came out the same year, which musically is a few steps removed from Dimlite's "sound." It wasn't until a couple years later with Los Angeles that FlyLo started gravitating toward a similar, more nuanced, creative and cosmic style. Either way, for my ears, where FlyLo sometimes sounds forced Dimlite sounds organic and effortless. Not to mention his creativity is off the charts. But I digress...
After years of waiting and only getting an EP and a handful of tracks, Dimlite has returned in 2011 with Grimm Reality. Whereas Embracing was refreshing and new in 2006, this year Dimlite continues to do things his own way and dismiss more conventional approaches to electronic and hip hop. I'm not much into reviewing albums these days, thus I will merely tell you that Grimm Reality is fucking great and provide you with a few cuts from the album so that you can see what you think.
2006's This Is Embracing was and is a monumental release. I like FlyLo as much as the next guy but those who write off Dimlite as an imitation, as many have, are confused. Flying Lotus' album 1983 came out the same year, which musically is a few steps removed from Dimlite's "sound." It wasn't until a couple years later with Los Angeles that FlyLo started gravitating toward a similar, more nuanced, creative and cosmic style. Either way, for my ears, where FlyLo sometimes sounds forced Dimlite sounds organic and effortless. Not to mention his creativity is off the charts. But I digress...
After years of waiting and only getting an EP and a handful of tracks, Dimlite has returned in 2011 with Grimm Reality. Whereas Embracing was refreshing and new in 2006, this year Dimlite continues to do things his own way and dismiss more conventional approaches to electronic and hip hop. I'm not much into reviewing albums these days, thus I will merely tell you that Grimm Reality is fucking great and provide you with a few cuts from the album so that you can see what you think.
19 December 2011
Hip Hop 2011
Welcome! Since the end of the year is nigh I will begin this blog by taking a look at the music released in 2011. Starting in January I will begin posting on current music that needs your attention. No point wasting more time. Here's a look at some of the notable hip hop that came out this year.
Danny Brown - XXX
Danny Brown is a Detroit MC that has been hittin' the mic for years and yet this year XXX caused more of us to take notice. His eccentric and style shines through with his often hilarious lyrics that much of the time can be thought provoking as well. The variation in his 'hybrid' style adds a fresh dynamic, along with a more modern hip hop production. Excellent album following his other releases that had already set the bar exceedingly high.
Which is also to say, don't forget to check out the EP Danny Brown did with another Detroit producer and MC you should already know, Black Milk. The EP is quite simply titled Black & Brown
Has-Lo - In Case I Don't Make It
Main Attrakionz - 808s & Dark Grapes II
Main Attrakionz dropped so much good music this year it's almost overwhelming. This album is a great place to start but other releases such as the Blackberry Kush EP, Mondre's Dope Since '91 mixtape and the Greenova collective's Chandalier need not be slept on. Keep your eye on these fellas.
Which brings us to...
ASAP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP
Cyrus Malachi - Ancient Future
You won't see this MC on many lists this year. UK hip hop remains largely in its' own bubble despite gaining popularity. Cyrus Malachi shows why we need to keep an ear open for hip hop coming from outside of the US as well.
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - Lost In Translation
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
The Doppelgangaz - Lone Sharks
Danny Brown - XXX
Danny Brown is a Detroit MC that has been hittin' the mic for years and yet this year XXX caused more of us to take notice. His eccentric and style shines through with his often hilarious lyrics that much of the time can be thought provoking as well. The variation in his 'hybrid' style adds a fresh dynamic, along with a more modern hip hop production. Excellent album following his other releases that had already set the bar exceedingly high.
Which is also to say, don't forget to check out the EP Danny Brown did with another Detroit producer and MC you should already know, Black Milk. The EP is quite simply titled Black & Brown
Has-Lo - In Case I Don't Make It
Main Attrakionz - 808s & Dark Grapes II
Main Attrakionz dropped so much good music this year it's almost overwhelming. This album is a great place to start but other releases such as the Blackberry Kush EP, Mondre's Dope Since '91 mixtape and the Greenova collective's Chandalier need not be slept on. Keep your eye on these fellas.
Which brings us to...
ASAP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP
Cyrus Malachi - Ancient Future
You won't see this MC on many lists this year. UK hip hop remains largely in its' own bubble despite gaining popularity. Cyrus Malachi shows why we need to keep an ear open for hip hop coming from outside of the US as well.
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - Lost In Translation
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
The Doppelgangaz - Lone Sharks
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