Weekend Music Roundup (Pledge Allegiance to the Hip Hop Edition)

 

It's the weekend, and this week I'm presenting my long thought about Hip Hop Roundup. That means all hip hop records here, no filler. While some of the artists on here are all favorites of mine, many of them are new to me. Periodically over the summer, I would take chances on some things just to keep my finger on the pulse of one of the truly American art forms.  If you're one of those people who doesn't often attempt to broaden your horizons, then why not start now and check out some of these. Enjoy.

Lifeseeker - Heavy Mellow: The newest album from the alternative hip-hop band that has been keeping it real for decades. The style is one born out of the old school, but as Tricky once said, 'brand-new, you're retro." As always, this is album focused rather than single focused and keeps a consistant groove throughout. The freshest part of any Lifeseeker album is the psychedelic beats that blend perfectly with the flow to create a real hip hop experience. "Jackpot Werewolves," "Ninja Nightz," "Send It Boomin'" "With My Cailz On," and perhaps the most anticipated song for fans "Gone Guru II" are my personal favorites on this solid record. 

 

Nas - King's Disease: Back in '94, Nas blew up the NYC rap world with his hard core style that presented poetic views on the real world of the inner city during the height of the crack epidemic. For nearly 30 years, he's been true to himself, releasing albums that, while uneven, are never phony. He's always true to who he's always been. This is his first album in two years and it's solid. Certainly not his best, and the beats and samples are little too poppy for me, but there are moments where he shines. "Blue Benz," "Car #85," and "Ultra Black" were standouts for me. 

Dave East - Karma 3: Released in August, this is the Manhattan rapper's 16th mixtape since 2010. He also has two albums, but hip hop has been less about albums than mixtapes in the past several years, especially when it comes to the underground. This is doesn't have a traditional NYC sound, which is another development in hip hop over the past decade, the regional styles are blending together, borrowing from each other. This has equal parts Southern and West Coast influence as it does from Dave East's native Harlem. I was digging this.

 

CZARFACE - Every Hero Needs a Villain: Formed in 2012 by Inspectah Deck (Wu Tang), this trio has released 10 albums since. This 2015 release was their second, and my third vinyl purchase of theirs. Continuing the comic book theme that was started with the Wu, they take it one step farther. The concept plays throughout the album, but never feels like a gimmick. This is still abstract East Coast hardcore hip hop at it's finest. Of the three albums I have, this double LP is probably my favorite, though none have been a disappointment. 

R.A.P. Ferreira - Purple Moonlight Pages: Also known as Milo and Black Orpheus, the Chicago born Rory Allen Phillip Ferreira has been making consciousness hip-hop for years as members of various outfits. This is his first album under this moniker and it's pretty awesome. His abstract style incorporates jazz, but like the jazz that goes well with hip-hop the way Digable Planets did. It reminds me a bit Smino with it's mellow off-beat flow. Truly an enjoyable album. "U.N.D.I.G." "ABSOLUTES," "No Starving Artists," are among many standout tracks.  

sk8 - sk8sounds: The new EP from the Nebraskan rapper features Wiz Khalifa and falls into the same style of West Coast chill rap. The problem with this genre, for me, has always been that it all simply sounds the same. I like the way it sounds, but can't distinguish it from others. Every once in a while, it's good background music, solid beats, strong flow, but overall, quite disposable. Worth a listen, for sure, but not much more.