Language is ever growing. From the earliest days of man, the way that people communicate has evolved in such intricate and complex ways that people have dedicated their entire lives to studying it. In the world today, there are roughly 6,500 spoken languages being practiced. With the invention of the written word, these languages were able to be shared more easily, and even more so with the printing press, and the internet after that. The internet in itself has spawned countless words that cross all language barriers. LOL, OMG, ROFL. All of these are understood by almost everyone in the world with access to the internet. Some of these words are now able to connote something more than simply a reaction, like that of a feeling or an experience. One of these, that should need no explanation, is 420.
Marijuana, has always had a relationship with music of all genres, particularly hip-hop. Rappers talk about weed all the time, smoke it in their video clips, and some even now have their own weed-related products on the market. On December 10th 2012, the private consumption of marijuana was made legal in Colorado, America’s 38th state. Weed culture has been booming there over the last three and a bit years, and this year, on the most holy of weed days, April 20th (04/20), there’s going to be a hell of a lot of hip-hop happening there too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlujizeNNQM
Denver’s Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Gothic Theatre, Herman’s Hideaway and many, many more will set the stage for a 420 that Colorado will no doubt ever forget. Kevin Gates, Future, Snoop Dogg, Tory Lanez, Flosstradamus, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Redman, Method Man, Afroman and tonnes more will be converging on the state to play gigs and, we assume, smoke a fuckload of weed. This is a night that smokers and non-smokers will simultaneously feel a huge amount of FOMO over, and we cannot wait to see what sort of fried antics get recorded and reported about.
Check the full list of people playing here.
Image: Jack Colquhoun for Howl & Echoes
Lil Kim is back with new single #Mine, featuring Kevin Gates, who just released a new album of his own.
In December last year, Kim announced that she was gearing up to release a new album in 2016. “I’m working on a new album for next year,” she told Hot 97. “I put up a post not too long ago; I was at my old record label. I’ve got a couple tours that I’m going to be part of.” The announcement came with the release of a new freestyle, That Bitch, a remix of Omarion‘s I’m Up.
While the freestyle showed promise, I’m not a fan of this new track at all, to be honest. Kim was at her best back in the day, and while I’m absolutely not suggesting she shouldn’t release new music or anything like that, it just feels like she’s trying way, way too hard to sound on-trend with certain current types of rap. The overdone autotune, the Young Thug-level inability to decipher most of the lyrics and the lyrics which you can hear, being just arbitrarily, unnecessarily hyper-sexual, kind of like she’s trying, but failing, to sound like Nicki Minaj.
Gates’ guest verse mentions he’s been listening to Future, but you didn’t even need the obvious lyrics; he’s not exactly being subtle about his influences. And that’s the most interesting thing I have to say about his verse. To me, it feels more akin to Hopsin‘s incredible parody track No Words than an actual song.
Perhaps I’m being a little harsh because I was such a fan of her earlier work. Listen below and judge for yourself:
It’s video roundup time! Once again, Howl And Echoes are coming in hot with the freshest, most eyeball stimulating music videos to be dropped by the artists you love and some of the artists you don’t know you love yet, of this week. We do all the dirty work and herd them all into one convenient web-based location for you to enjoy every Friday so that you don’t have to. Have yourself a good old gander at the latest offerings from:
Lostkeyz – It’s Funny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QogfYxdoySw
We first caught wind of Sydney rapper Lostkeyz last year with the release of his debut mixtape Organic Narratives, a record full of stellar production, clever rhymes over the top of smooth and jazzy backbeats. It’s Funny was one of the standout tracks from that mixtape, Lostkeyz’ uniquely deadpan delivery masking a rather upbeat song exploring the fluid dynamics of relationships.
The video depicts Lostkeyz taking what looks like a thoughtful stroll around what might be his native Bondi at dusk, a fitting visual effect for such a cool and breezy track. He’s a name to look out for in the future, and you can stream It’s Funny and the rest of Organic Narratives on his Bandcamp.
Beaty Heart – Flora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKE7agmaiMU
Travelling from Bondi to South London next, with trio Beaty Heart and their latest single Flora. Coming in the lead up to their second record, which is as yet untitled, Beaty Heart have crafted a deliciously dark electro pop song here, punchy beats and click percussion tangoing with staccato synths and muffled vocals, it’s an all-nighter that would work a treat with the lights down low.
The accompanying video is a mesmerising snapshot of after-dark London, dancing on urban rooftops and deserted basketball courts, the songs titular subject alluring the viewer and the band to what looks like their end, writhing along to the fantastic electronic soundscape. Also, look at that dog!
Mallrat – Sunglasses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJCEPE0IJ8Y
Keeping with the after dark vibes, albeit a lot more locally is Brisbane MC Mallrat. Sunglasses is the name of her latest single, held down by off-kilter trap beats and some jarring but cool production from frequent collaborator Tigerilla.
The video is about as lo-fi as it can possibly get, shot on an old VHS camcorder (Jesus, they’re still around) in a dimly lit backyard. Mallrat and co. look like they’re having a whale of a time, donning sunglasses and face masks and dancing up a storm. They’re doing more for Ribena than the last decade of its own advertising has too, drinking what looks like enough to fill a swimming pool and looking cool af doing it.
Another exciting young Australian artist to expect big things from in 2016, keep them coming Mallrat.
Peaches – Free Drink Ticket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZEtQTGtD-Q
Perhaps someone the aforementioned Mallrat may take some inspiration from is legendary electro-queen Peaches and her latest incredibly Peaches video. It’s for the newest single from her 2015 LP Rub. I shouldn’t even have to mention how NSFW the video for Free Drink Ticket is, but I will just in case.
There’s so much simmering anger below the surface of this almost darkwave-style song, which centres around a less than amicable break-up. Peaches described it thus
“…It was important to demonstrate that if you hold onto the bitterness you that you feel from a monster who has hurt you, then you will become the monster that you are trying to shed”
The video definitely gets that point across in as provocative a fashion as it gets, a naked Peaches going back and forth with some kind of monstrous pig snake uh… thing? It’s overtly sexual and confronting, which seems like exactly her intention. Totally badass.
Kevin Gates – Pride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUvcbT7-KCA
Coming out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the latest single from Kevin Gates. Taken from his debut album Islah, a record that ended up above Adele and just behind Rihanna and ANTI when it dropped last week, Pride takes a pretty harrowing look at life behind bars.
Starting off with Gates being arrested and dragged from a palatial mansion and his wife and daughter, winding up in a jail cell in an orange jumpsuit. It’s one of the more emotional tracks on the album, exploring themes of drug abuse, depression and anxiety, Gates weaves a tale of sorrow at having left his family to fend for themselves on the outside.
Islah is out now via Bread Winners Association/Atlantic Records.
Kool A.D. – Santeria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu2B-nMkuMM
From the bayou to Mexico we go next with Bay Area rapper Kool A.D.,who you may also recognise as a member of rap crew Das Racist. Featuring production from Toro Y Moi, Santeria is the latest single from Kool from his 2015 mixtape O.K.
That Toro Y Moi production, coupled with Kool’s snarky and snappy flow make for a fantastic partnership, but the real treat here is the utterly fun video. Before the first bar even begins you’ll be hooked, simply because there’s a dog riding a donkey that’s painted to be a zebra (I seriously thought this was just an Eastbound And Down joke but apparently it’s a real thing) and it’s awesome.
The rest of the video is a lo-fi and motion sickness inducing look at Kool’s new life in Mexico, where he is a new resident. The psychedelic lens through which simple things like walking the dogs or the arcade lights of the carnival are viewed is about 500% of your recommended daily eyeball stimulation in just under six minutes, but it’s all part of the charm.
Timbaland – Servin (ft. Blaze Servin and Tweezie)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoOx-7jL9hI
Coming off his Christmas Day mixtape King Stays King and in the lead up to his next album Opera Noir, producer king Timbaland has dropped a video for one of its tracks this week in Servin. Featuring a pair of up and comers in Blaze Servin and Tweezie, the track features beats of the thickest variety and looks like a return to form for Timbaland, who seems to be jumping all over the trap train that hit full steam in 2015.
The video is your standard hip-hop fare, alternating shots of different combinations of the trio dancing for the camera spliced in with shots at a club that unquestionably has bottle service. There’s plenty of fire as you can probably guess too.
Tyler, The Creator – PERFECT (ft. Kali Uchis and Austin Feinstein)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIqVCJWSoeE
Following a tumultuous year seeing the release of his long-awaited third studio album Cherry Bomb and his simultaneous banning from Australia, Tyler, The Creator is back with a brand new video landing this week for Cherry Bomb standout PERFECT.
It’s a split-screen duet between Tyler and featured artist Kali Uchis, Uchis surrounded by sunflowers, Tyler covered in Monarch butterflies. Los Angeles indie rocker Austin Feinstein eventually joins Tyler on the right to inject some laidback surfy guitars into what was already an eclectic mix of jazz and hip hop. It’s a simple concept but an effective way of visualising the very huge stylistic contrast between the artists.
See you next week!
This week’s been particularly big for hip-hop releases, especially on the mixtape front, so don’t expect too much variety with the reviews I’m afraid. Young Thug dropped another mixtape out of no where, OVO Sound signees Majid Jordan released their self-titled long player and Kevin Gates finally dropped his debut Islah, but it’s Future’s EVOL that comes out on top.
Kevin Gates: Islah
Kevin Gates has been releasing mixtapes of varying quality over the past 10 years, building a loyal and dedicated fan base that will surely expand with the release of his long awaited debut studio album Islah. Named after his daughter, the album is a comprehensive collection of songs featuring the Southern street rapper’s introspective lyrics over thumping beats that conveys the best elements of the talented Louisiana rapper.
Gates’ greatest strength as an artist is his chameleon rap style that’s plastered all over Islah. There are trap bangers (La Familia, Thought I Heard), personal tales (Pride), experimental rock tunes (Hard For) and Drake-like pop numbers (Time For That, Really Really), all infused with Gates’ lyrical honesty and “don’t give a fuck” attitude. The lack of big name producers or rappers might hinder similar artists, but it has the opposite effect on Gates, allowing his personality to shine through.
Verdict: Not only is Islah the album we’ve been waiting for Gates to deliver, but it’s one of the best hip-hop releases of the year so far.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiY_iKSpWLM]
Young Thug – I’m Up
While he promises Slime Season 3 is still coming, Young Thug has gifted fans I’m Up in the meantime. As you’d expect from Thugger, the tape is all over the shop stylistically and contains a varied list of producers and artists, but above all, is entertaining.
Short at just nine tracks, including the previously released F Cancer (Thugger at his best over a bouncy Mike WiLL Made It beat) and Hercules, I’m Up is full of positive vibes. Thug appears to be in a good space that’s reflected in his lyrics throughout the tape. “I feel special” he raps on the hook to the piano laced Special, while Family, featuring his sisters Dora and Dolly, has Thug letting us know “Only thing more important than money is family.”
The roll call of rappers is varied, with Lil Durk, Offset and Quavo just a handful of contributors. While they all add something to the tapes overall feel, you can look past Thug and Lil Durk’s Ridin, a track that cements the two’s chemistry as they trade verses over booming beat.
Verdict: He might be raps weirdo but I’m Up only furthers Young Thug claim as heir to Lil Wayne crumbling throne.
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Majid Jordan – Majid Jordan
Drake continues to build his OVO Sound empire with the release of smooth R&B pop duo Majid Jordan’s self-titled debut. Like their mentor, singer/songwriter Majid Al Maskati and producer Jordan Ullman ply their trade in soothing, emotional songs laden with R&B melodies and catchy hooks.
Ullman keeps the production minimal and tight with flashes of extravagance, allowing Majid’s sensual vocals room to explore the futuristic R&B soundscapes carved out. The majority of tracks are uplifting R&B pop numbers centred around big choruses, such as Something About You, Make It Work and Shake Shake Shake, but the two also show their softer side on the likes of Small Talk and Every Step Every Way. Drake makes his presence felt on the club hit My Love, but it’s the soaring King City, where Majid shows off his incredible falsetto, that’s easily the albums highlight.
Verdict: Majid Jordan have delivered an album that fits in well with their mentors sound without feeling restrained or too similar.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqJ-Shv3kEw]
Future – EVOL
No hip-hop artist is on a bigger roll than Atlanta’s Future. After 2014’s Honest failed to live up to the hype and his engagement to Ciara ended badly, things looked bleak for the self-proclaimed Future Hendrix. Then he dropped DS2 (Dirty Sprite 2) and all was forgiven. The sequel to his debut mixtape Dirty Sprite, Future laid bare his emotional pain over menacing beats with his familiar auto-tuned vocal delivery that became the first in a succession of successful releases (What A Time To Be Alive with Drake and last months absorbing Purple Reign mixtape).
Much like his project with Drake (were he overshadowed the 6 God), EVOL blurs the line between album and mixtape, being available to purchase on iTunes but more in the vein of a Purple Reign. Whatever its classification, the one word that will be associated with EVOL is fire. This is everything you’d expect from a guy who’s spent the past few years tweaking and refining his moody, drug-trap sonics, with Maybach, Fly Shit Only and Seven Rings offering the classic Future vibe. Once again he takes shots at former beau Ciara and current boyfriend Russell Wilson on the savage Photo Copied while lobbing subliminals at Young Thug on Lie To Me.
When not addressing his personal life, Future keeps things simple. Xanny Family, Lil Haiti Baby and Program all reference Future’s three favourite subjects; sex, drugs and his lavish lifestyle. The Weekend crops up as the only featured artists on the drug-sex themed Low Life, while beat makers Metro Boomin and Southside must take credit for cultivating the majority of EVOL’s dark and gritty 808’s heavy production.
Verdict: At just 11 tracks (including bonus cut Fly Shit Only), EVOL is on the short side but further solidifies Future’s trademark sound and position as a hip-hop heavyweight.
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