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Friday, November 9, 2012

Big Boi - "Lines" feat. A$AP Rocky and Phantogram


I. Can't. Wait!

Everything that Big Boi has released from the 'Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors' album has been insane. He continues to push the envelope creatively and this new release, "Lines", is another tick mark in his incredibly long hit list.

You've got to love that he can bring in a young new artist like A$AP Rocky and obscure to the Hip-Hop scene Phantogram and marry it all into something we've never heard. Something epic!

I don't see how we can have any discussions about Hip-Hop legends, Top 5, 10, 20, whatever without giving Big Boi his propers as one of the best in the game. The man has been flawless on all of his solo projects. He continually cultivates his sound to grow bigger and bolder than what we've heard before from him and doesn't seem to falter in any way, shape or form. Absolutely amazing.

Anyway, check out the new track "Lines" and look for 'Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors' on December 11th. 

Ciph Boogie - "Solemnly"


There are so many "would be" stars out there when it comes to music. If you let them tell it, the "haters" are the only thing stopping them from doing Michael Jackson numbers. In actuality, even those with incredible talent, they just don't know what they are doing when it comes to the business of music. At all. Especially when it comes to marketing and promotion.

There are so many finer points that are missed and one of the most prominent of those is how to properly work a record/album. Most of these "would be" stars just find a place to record, make music, load it to Site X and hope that people find it.

Ciph Boogie is an artist that understands more of those finer points. I know for a fact how long he's been working this record. I won't tell you because it doesn't matter. What matters is that he knows to keep working it! The result? It got picked up by ESPN's Friday Night Fights as a theme song and landed him a video interview on the network as well. That's WORK!

Check out the free stream of "Solemnly" below and the video interview as well. Ciph is a capable artist and the track is dope.



Thursday, November 8, 2012

AC - 'Courtesy of a Nightmare'


I was sifting through my mental Rolodex earlier today trying to figure out what I wanted to listen to on Spotify. Eric Sosa came to mind so I ran a search for him. Not much of his work came up. This 'Courtesy of a Nightmare' was in the search results so I clicked on it, pressed play and went back to work.

I listened to most of the first song and thought, "This ain't Eric Sosa but it's damn good! What am I listening to? Who dis?"

Meet AC. Apparently this dude has been operating at a high level right under my nose here in NY. Representing Staten Island, AC has clearly worked all kinks out of his game and is delivering all-star work. 'Courtesy of a Nightmare' is a fantastic project delving into a bevy of themes and ideas and it all works beautifully. The project is further strengthened by the production, handled exclusively by C4 Sinistah.

First impressions are extremely important and AC has made a considerable one with 'Courtesy of a Nightmare.' You will LOVE this album. It's rich in content, style and delivery. He's definitely gained a fan over here.

Check out the free stream below but you'll need to put up a little paper to take it with you. Well worth the purchase price. Dig in...


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Saigon - "The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2"


The album opens up with, "I hope you got what you paid for. I ain't even gotta say more."

This has always been Saigon's greatest ability: to say so much with so little. What's most amazing is that he has so much to say and manages to make it highly stylized, logical and accessible all at the same time. This is what the game has been missing. Dangerous Rap!

Saigon is in absolute top form on this project, released on independent Suburban Noize Records. I have never heard of this label but I am SO F***ING HAPPY it exists because absolutely no major would have the balls to release this album. It's too I'm-not-selling-you-anything-but-my-ability good. It's politically charged without being beat me over the head boring. It's gangsta without promoting violence and/or drug use/sales.

'The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2' is inspiring on many different levels.

As a grown man who has known pain, struggle and failure but remained true to self, this album speaks to me in all of those things and is by far the greatest success of Saigon's career. 18 tracks of pure unadulterated Hip-Hop. Thank you!!!!

I love this album. I implore you to support this incredible body of work/truth and buy it. Check the free stream on AOL below. I don't know if the stream will expire so check it out ASAP. Then buy it!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Hippie Sabotage - 'Vacant' Instrumentals


Reinvention is the key to sustained relevance in the music world. Especially when it comes to the ever changing sound and feel of Hip-Hop. West Coast producers Hippie Sabotage are giving fans a listen to their first metamorphosis. The result? A much more radio ready selection of instrumentals for MCs to trap and rap to.

I'm a big fan of Hippie Sabotage's instrumental albums and 'Vacant', while sonically very different, is still on par for what I expect from the team. It's official head nod material from start to finish. The beats are far more aggressive in nature this time around and that theme spreads across all 7 instrumentals.

Check the free stream and download below. If you're an MC and you think you have bars of note, I challenge you to record to "You Still Don't Get It" and submit it to submissions@roxfontaine.com. Legitimate work will be posted.

Enjoy!


Monday, November 5, 2012

Jerm - "Time"


"Time" opens up with a hypnotic 808 pattern that locks you in immediately. It has a down tempo mesmerizing feel like 2 Chainz' "No Lie." I've always been a sucker for this specific sound and "Time" is no different. Producer Billionaire Boyscout showed his ass on this one! 

Over the 3 minute span of the track, Charlotte, NC relative newcomer Jerm contemplates the depth and complexity of time in a Drake-ish styling that works perfectly. This is one of those off the radar joints that I play in my car and people are like, "WHO IS THAT!?"

Let Jerm infect you with the free stream and download below.