It seems fitting that, in the same week Danny Brown releases new single When It Rain, Friday hits with a triple-whammy of brilliant visuals to prove that ‘when it rains, it pours’. With names like Lil Wayne, Bishop Nehru and Joey Bada$$ making appearances — this is a welcome winter downpour.
Lil Wayne — ‘Skate It Off’
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLpkYHCKXHk]
Lil Wayne‘s love of the sport of skateboarding is well-known, and he wilfully allows it to come to the forefront for the video for Skate It Off, dancing and skating around a skate park with his crew.
In a way, it could be symbolic that Lil Wayne has released the visuals for Skate It Off only days after it was announced that a plane Weezy was on found itself forced to make an emergency landing due to the New Orleans rapper suffering seizures (now thought to be related to epilepsy). In a sense, with all the worry surrounding him right now, Weezy just wants to skate it all off!
Nyck Caution (ft. Joey Bada$$) — ‘What’s Understood’
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP-wQQKqlcQ]
Powerhouse producer Metro Boomin collides with Pro Era talents Nyck Caution and Joey Bada$$ for this tremendous track, and accompanying video. All in all, both the track and the visuals give good backing to the sentiments expressed in a recent statement by Joey himself, who said of Nyck Caution:
“Nyck is a one of a kind passionate type of artist. I feel honoured to have him apart of my camp and label as he is a true lyricist and visionary. I am very confident in Nyck being the next up from Pro Era because he offers something new to the table that is very exciting to watch.”
With collabs this good, we’re hoping a statement like that means many more to come.
Bishop Nehru — ‘Midnight Reflecting’
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMMJbhMi-Nc]
Fresh off of dropping his latest mixtape MAGIC:19, the man MF Doom calls “a young master” has released the new video for Midnight Reflecting, the closing track on Bishop Nehru’s latest mixtape.
With the 19-year-old MC expected to release his debut solo EP (having previously released a collaborative album with the aforementioned MF Doom, titled NehruvianDOOM) later this year, all eyes are on the young man The Fader referred to as “New York’s newest pride” and this gloomy, slow-burning track/visual for Midnight Reflecting is as good a reason as any other to prove why.
Image: YouTube
At 19 years old, Bishop Nehru is well on his way to becoming one of New York’s finest hip-hop artists, with a resume would put some hip-hop veterans to shame. He released his debut mixtape Nehruvia at just 16-years-old, which included production from DJ Premier, Madlib, MF DOOM and more, and as since recorded a full length album with MF DOOM as NehruvianDoom. It is no wonder that his debut solo album on Mass Appeal Records is to be executive-produced by the man himself, Nas.
While we wait for that LP, Nehru has dropped an 11 track mixtape, Magic 19. The mixtape doesn’t have any notable features on it, instead allowing Nehru’s own rapping and production talents to shine through – and shine, they do. While the majority of production has been handled himself, additional beats come from Tay $lay, Bilbo, and Ricky Reasonz and GRiMM Doza.
The first thing that comes to mind when listening to this album are the choruses; they feel somewhat unfinished and at times, admittedly feel like they detract from the immense quality of his verses. Although a small factor, it can make it more challenging to keep spinning after one listen. That said, you’re in for a real treat if you can look past the hooks – Nehru’s rapping skills absolutely stand up for themselves. The best tracks on the mixtape, Highs And Lows, Did I Find It and How It Goes (all produced by Nehru), come complete with more considered hooks, providing the full musical package.
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Nehru takes the listener through different corners of his mind, from just wanting to act his age and have fun in He The Man; to being a serious hip-hop student in the lead single It’s Whateva; to a dope lyricist exploring the realms of his mind in $acred Vision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk6twku3OS0
You would never know Nehru was only 19, and he shows no sign of immaturity or a a lack of expansive vocabulary. He even samples Batman Begins in Did I Find It, which came out when he was eight. The cover of the mixtape is a play on the Matrix, which came out when he was two – I suppose some cultural references are totally timeless.
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Overall, the mixtape is great. It is a solid showcase of what Nehru can do by himself; it’s important that he can stand on his own, and I think that this is what this mixtape is about. While it’s not without its flaws, just imagine what we’ll be blessed with a couple of years down the line.
More than just a rapper, the mixtape is also a display of what Nehru can offer from the production side. We all know Nehru can rap – he continues to prove it on everything he touches. While Magic 19 doesn’t push him to the limits, he’s already miles ahead of the competition.
Stream the mixtape below, and patiently wait his debut album on Mass Appeal Records coming later this year.
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Image: Soundcloud
Game of Thrones fans, batten down the hatches – Winter, finally, has come. Or to our US counterparts, summer is almost here, and in all honesty this has absolutely nothing to do with Game of Thrones. Instead, for this first day of our new season, this is the ‘Rap Wrap’. Not unlike Cling Wrap, this shit will stick. I can’t speak on whether any of the following will be of any considerable use in keeping your sandwiches from becoming stale, but you can be certain that all of the following will help your day from becoming stale. Day, or sandwich? You decide.
Smoke DZA, Beloved (Prod. Mac Miller)
The first to fall in to our winter’s lap comes from Harlem’s Smoke DZA, by way of his latest mixtape George Kush Da Button: Don’t Pass Trump The Blunt released to Soundcloud today. The track is produced by Mac Miller, who would appear to have stepped out from behind his Larry Fisherman moniker for now. A smooth offering, perfectly complementing both DZA’s subdued ‘weed’ rap flow, and Miller’s penchant for the psychedelic, Beloved is a laid-back offering, perfect for allowing the day to peacefully pass by and in to gentle oblivion. Or to light up a blunt to, it’s dealer’s choice, I should imagine.
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Bishop Nehru – Love What You Do
Bishop Nehru is a name which might still be unfamiliar to many – which is criminal considering how extraordinarily talented the nineteen year old New Yorker truly is. Still riding the high from his collaborative project with the esteemed MF Doom, NehruvianDoom, Bishop Nehru offers a chilled throwback to hip-hop’s Golden Era with Love What You Do. From the scratches to Nehru’s confident flow, the offering is further in the vein of the track preceding it, with a calm, laid-back presentation to see the day away.
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Hopsin, Die This Way ft. Matt Black & Joey Tee
Having apparently done away with all connections to former label Funk Volume, of which he was a co-founder, Hopsin has hit his stride with new label Undercover Prodigy – as evidenced by latest release Die This Way featuring Matt Black and Joey Tee. For an artist who has perpetually been extraordinarily hit or miss, Hopsin has let loose one of his strongest tracks in recent memory, comparable to his storied Ill Mind of Hopsin series.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be8nu4w-NS0]
Young Thug, Gangster Shit
Only two months removed from his brilliant Slime Season 3 release, Young Thug has let latest single Gangster Shit hit the web. Not one to remain quiet for long, Gangster Shit is another in a long line of tremendous releases by the trap phenomenon – whose popularity, to this day, continues to climb at a frenzied pace. Having collaborated in previous months with such artists as Chance the Rapper and Lil Uzi Vert, it is surprisingly comforting to hear Thugger returning to solid solo cuts, proving himself a competent and infectiously listenable solo artist. One would stop short of saying they hope to hear a full-length project from Thugger soon, with such a project almost guaranteed considering Young Thug’s admirably consistent output of projects. Nonetheless, if Gangster Shit is anything to go by as far as expectations for the next project go, keep your eyes peeled and your ears ready. Sliiiiiime.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7g5JADcrSo]
So tell us how you heard it, what’s the best track of the new season to beat the cold? Or compliment the heat? Or keep the sandwiches fresh? Or… what else did I say?
If two is better than one, eleven is definitely better than ten and such is the case for your beloved weekly playlist of top songs. Sure, one came out last week (looking at you, Cub Sport) but we can’t help that it was so good it still deserved a spot in this week’s cut as well!
We’ve got a lot of local flavours in this week’s list, with three acts hailing from Brisbane – the aforementioned Cub Sport as well as Emma Louise (who was remixed by Little Dragon) and Feki (who remixes Anna Of The North). We’ve also got some surf-psych jams from WA (Gunns), a couple of Melbourne acts (Hoodlem and Private Life) as well as Sydney’s Tigertown. Not to mention some international takes like a Louie Lastic remix of Kelela featuring GoldLink, some Bishop Nehru, a collab between Katy B and Kaytranada and not to mention a lit remix of Tory Lanez by Shlohmo and we have once again got you covered with the top songs you should have heard this week!
Gunns, Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog
WA darlings Gunns have a lot to be happy about right now. They’re about to join Albert Hammond Jr on tour (yes, the guitarist from The Strokes), they’re releasing their debut EP on February 12th AND it’s on the same label as a few fellow Western Australians like POND and that tiny band called Tame Impala. They’ve also shared a brand new single this week, titled Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog. Sounding like an Aussie version of Temples in the best possible way, this dreamy psych-surf band are bound for great things, and this song once again proves it.
Kelela, Rewind (Louie Lastic Remix ft. GoldLink)
Kelela was just in the country for a mindblowing whirlwind mini tour, and GoldLink is just about to touch down for Laneway. Although they didn’t cross paths in the literal sense, they certainly have in the sonic sense with this latest release. Jumping on a guest verse for producer Louie Lastic, the two have spun Kelela’s huge single Rewind into an old-school jam, complete with upbeat, bubbling synths, skittering beats, and a groove that just won’t fucking quit. It’s a total jam.
Anna Of The North, The Dreamer (Feki Remix)
Brisbane producer Feki has once again shown he really means business, and has remixed the hell out of Anna Of The North’s The Dreamer. We’ve had our eye on him for a while and each and every time he releases something, he sucks us in even more with his forward thinking, future-RnB production. He capitalises on the sad vibes and hones in on it, amping up the dark vibes and heaping on the emotion. Anna Of The North said it best herself when she told Nylon, “The Dreamer is already a sad song, but I like that Feki’s remix is darker. He makes it ok to cry at the club.” Damn straight.
Hoodlem, Kintsugi
Melbourne duo Hoodlem blew me away when I stumbled upon them at last year’s BIGSOUND in Brisbane, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Thankfully, they’ve finally released some new music this week, which earned them a spot in this playlist instantly. The duo are a powerhouse in a live setting, and have been bringing their A-game with each release since they dropped their tremendous single Through last year. Now they’re gearing up for the release of a new EP coming in March and they’re sounding better than ever. Kinstugi is the first taste of that record, and its glitchy, soulful vibes with their typically fantastic production skills makes for a very exciting release indeed.
Tigertown, Lonely Cities
Tigertown have an uncanny knack of making you think you’re listening to an unassuming indie track, but then catching you by surprise and blowing you totally out of the water with how great they sound. It’s a risky move but they always seem to pull it off, so why the hell not? The band return with their second single of the year, Lonely Cities, and it’s huge. Although the lyrics aren’t exactly celebrating the feeling of being lonely, they’ve juxtaposed them with some totally liberating, joyous and borderline euphoric singalongs, guitar melodies and sharp drums. If only all loneliness felt this good!
Bishop Nehru, Forever And A Day
You might know Bishop Nehru from his feature spot on Flight Facilities‘ excellent debut album, Down To Earth, on the track Why Do You Feel, but it is about time everyone knew him for his capabilities on his own as well. This song is a sultry, inviting, groovy number with some fierce verses and Nehru’s easy flow, he talks about his rise to fame and how his drive keeps him go. He doesn’t sound like he’s quitting anytime soon judging from this track, and that is some very good news for Nehru fans new, old and those still to come. It’s only up from here!
Katy B x Kaytranada, Honey
Anything that Kaytranada lends his hand to has a 99.99% chance of being amazing, and this latest track is no exception. Working with Katy B, this is a smoky and smooth number that shows B’s impeccable vocals and Kaytranada’s flawless-as-ever production. It’s the first taste from her forthcoming Honey LP (which has a tracklist that features everyone from Craig David, Major Lazer, Four Tet, Floating Points and more), and it’s impressive to say the least. It’s got a groove that is perfect for the bedroom, and Katy B’s sexy hook doesn’t go too bad either for the bedroom vibes. Thank us later.
Tory Lanez, Say It (Shlohmo Remix)
There was a time where Shlohmo was making some of the most experimental music of his career, and the days of him working with Jeremih felt like a bygone era. However, this latest remix is Shlohmo back to his RnB remixing best, as he takes Tory Lanez’ Say It, and makes it fucking lit. It’s still got his trademark dark sounds, and has an air of mystery about it, but it’s also got some token hip-hop drums, crashing cymbals, trap leanings and more to keep it dance-y and fun. Is this a sign Shlohmo is heading back towards his hip-hop roots?
Private Life, Dragon
Melbourne indie two-piece Private Life are fighting the good fight to make “pop” not such a dirty word anymore, and their latest track, Dragon is a perfect example of how well it can be done. Showcasing some huge vocals, crashing cymbals, a hook that won’t quit and some unpredictable production courtesy of Nicolas Lam (from Red Bull Music Academy), Private Life sounds like Australia’s answer to CHVRCHES with one less member and one hell of a knack for good songs. Dragon is explosive yet gentle, uplifting yet fragile, and seriously, SERIOUSLY impressive. We’re expecting big things from these guys.
Emma Louise, Underflow (Little Dragon Remix)
I mean, if you are going to get anyone to remix your comeback single, surely Little Dragon are pretty high up on the list of desired artists to do so. Brisbane artist Emma Louise has achieved just that, with the Swedish band stepping up for rework duties this week on her track Underflow. It was already an absolutely stunning single in its own right, so it’s only fitting that it gets an equally stunning remix, and it sounds like it was in pretty safe hands with Little Dragon. A racing almost-heartbeat like thump keeps the track running along as more and more is carefully poured into the mix. Splashy cymbals, vocal loops and subtle synths carry it along as Emma Louise’s vulnerable original vocals remain in tact. This marks the first remix in four years for the band, so if that alone doesn’t tell there is something great about this track, we don’t know what will.
Cub Sport, I Can’t Save You
Brisbane band Cub Sport fell off the grid for a while there, but towards the end of 2015 it was confirmed that their absence was indeed intentional as they returned to the fray with the release of Only Friend. Back on form, the band have now shared another brilliant track titled I Can’t Save You – another exciting cut from their forthcoming album, This Is Our Vice. A glimmering exercise in synth-driven indie-pop, Cub Sport are wasting no time in reminding us who they are, and keeping our excitement levels at worryingly high levels in the lead up to This Is Our Vice‘s March 4th release.
Image of Hoodlem via Facebook