Exclusive: Aviant Redz - "Boudit Ambitions"

This track was difficult to listen to. Then I remembered that, often times, the most beautiful art expresses some of the ugliest truths. "Boudit Ambitions" is a dark tale of a girl who is sexually promiscuous for the sake of financial gain. While the approach is explicit, it's fitting and timely. While objectifying women is nothing new, it is further perpetuated in this age of reality TV. Many young women are objectifying themselves to meet the TVs standard of celebrity and sexy.

What made the track so difficult to digest was the fact that South Floridian artist Aviant Redz is just 16 years old. This is the cold reality that our young people live in today. So while the content is shocking, Aviant's awareness is impressive. He has strong ability and vision.

I first told you to look out for him back in February. Now I'm telling you that this young man is a true artist. I hope he has the right team around him to get him to the next level.

Check the stream below and remember where you heard it first...

Exclusive: Fev - "Bad Man's World" Music Video

The industry doesn't want you to hear Fev. It's too dangerous. If ever y'all stop diddy boppin' and twerkin', you might actually have a thought. You might have a thought that turns into action. That action might be rebellion. The "powers that be" can't have that so they keep the content focused on telling you that you're a minority in every sense of the word.

Fev has made it his personal mission to give you thoughts. He has his own brand of propaganda delivered as beats and rhymes instead of cleverly designed posters and quotes. His latest propaganda is the music video for "Bad Man's World" which he co-directs with Porter Vision. The thought here is, "What is good in a bad man's world?"

The Eastside Harlem MC's aggressive and staccato flow is perfect for dishing out the raw lyricism he has mastered over the last 4 years. "Bad Man's World" is a fantastic concept that plays beautifully in rhyme and in video form. The High Enterprise representative Red Inf sets the tone in the opening scene and his brief commentary throughout does a great job of carrying the narrative forward.

I love what Fev is up to and I'm super excited for y'all to see this joint! So hop to it....

Klaviar - "HealingPain" Music Video

In the midst of all of the chaos that has ensued since the bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon, there have been deaths, tears, pain and so many unanswered questions. It is times like these when art and music can sort of make some sense of the madness and help heal some of the pain.

Songwriter and director Klaviar is the first to touch on the subject publicly with this beautiful music video for the aptly titled "HealingPain." Clearly crafted before the Boston tragedy, Klaviar tastefully carries the theme of healing over and leaves a strong visual imprinted on viewers' minds that has you rethink the entire lyric.

Though not entirely new to my radar, I was unaware that Klaviar is a songwriter. He first popped up as director for Madison's "As the World Turns" music video. Now, he's flexing both skills (at the same damn time) and doing so with skill. This is a really strong work on both fronts and I'm really impressed. Fans of The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, etc. will really find something to latch onto.

You already know...


Klaviar - HealingPain (Official Music Video) from King Klaviar on Vimeo.

Neak - "A.M.N.R." Music Video

image via www.thewordisbond.com

The signature soul fueled sound of Chicago Rap is unmistakeable. It just has a certain "Ism" as GLC would put it. In the way of the major names in Rap from Chicago before him, Neak puts together his own take on pimpin' on wax.

With "A.M.N.R." Neak brings a little Trill to Chi City. The flow is laid back and he mixes up the cadence a ton to keep it interesting. I dig the production and visual on this one. No attachment to any project for this track so it's just a little joint to keep y'all going until 'Paura/Amore' releases.

Check out the video below and free stream and download afterwards.   

SK - "Somebody Tell 'Em"

 

The Philly beat bully SK is back already with another bar heavy joint called "Somebody Tell 'Em." No gimmicks at all here. Just stripped down grimey Hip-Hop.

Producer Pickee P was apparently trying to pop a speaker with this one. When the 808 hits it HITS! The vintage piano loop leaves the perfect amount of space for SK to talk that talk and let the world know that he's here. It gives me the image of a jook joint fight in the early 1900s. I'm talking throwing stools, smashing bottles and brandishing knives. I love the way SK blends old and new and keeps it all rugged.

For all of the tough talk in Rap on the radio, it SOUNDS like clouds and cushions. Props to SK for keeping that "straight no chase" alive and well. Free stream and download on deck. You know the drill...

SK - "The Jab"

The jab. The single most important punch in boxing. You establish a strong jab and even if you don't have incredible knockout power, you can still win on points by beating your opponent with an effective jab. SK uses this analogy brilliantly to compare the art of Rap with boxing on "The Jab." The comparison works perfectly as both skills are bloodsport. If you want to win, you have to beat the next man.

In Rap, you have the chorus, verse and bridge. In boxing you have the hook, jab and uppercut. Follow me for a second with this in mind...

The chorus is the punch that hits you from the blind side. A repetitive punch that is effective but still not as important as the jab. You hit somebody with a strong chorus and they will remember it. The verse is the meat and potatoes of rhyming. If you can't put together quality verses time and time again, you can't be great. Ask any champion. Then there is the bridge. If you've mastered a complete combination, the bridge will take your attack to the next level and put your opponent on his ass.

SK puts on for Philly with this track. I'm ALL IN on this joint! Stream and download below.

Bugatti Biggz - "Insanity"

Born Starz Entertainment is one of those insider things. Either you know or you don't. I liken it to other upstarts like, TDE, Odd Future or ASAP. Those who knew were just waiting. To everyone else, it seemed like they came out of nowhere. This is what I am expecting of BSE's Bugatti Biggz.

The Harlem born MC has been on my radar for quite some time as we lived just 2 blocks apart for years. His story is one that is best told from his own mouth and "Insanity" is a brooding track that gives the first public look at that story. A brief tale of his humble beginnings on 148th and Broadway, run ins with the law and trying to keep the pieces together in the present.

"Insanity" has the feel of a movie soundtrack standout from the '90s. It reminds of Tupac's "Starin' Through My Rearview" or Crooklyn Dodgers '95 with "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers." This is something old that's new again. I can't wait to hear what else Bugatti has in store for the masses. His sound is one to watch out for.

Check out the free stream...

Chrisette Michele - "Charades" Music Video

Since her debut, I've been waiting for Chrisette Michele to hit that Urban/Soul pocket. Through 3 albums, she hadn't quite settled into a comfortable commercial space that matches her talent. Now, I admit that I didn't listen to the 3rd album but that sort of reiterates my point. She is incredibly gifted but was marketed to the wrong demographic.

Chrisette Michele is arguably the most capable vocalist working today. You wouldn't really know that though unless you are a big time R&B fan and keep your ear to the street in that specific world. Though she's received tons of accolades, including a 2009 Grammy, it hasn't translated into a major breakout.

"Charades" is the first single, released exclusively over at StuffFlyPeopleLike, from her upcoming mixtape titled 'Audio Visual Presentation: Audrey Hepburn.'

THIS IS IT!

This is the urban radio hit she's needed. "Charades" is so smooth and sexy. Chrisette looks and sounds great, as usual, but it's all wrapped in a 808 laced syncopated dreamscape perfect for today's "Boss Chick." If this is the way the new project is going, I'm expecting her to really expand her brand this go 'round.

Enough of my yapping though. Get into the video below and look out for an in-depth interview from SFPL in the very near future.

Tristate Inventory - "Tristate of Mind"

In June of last year I brought you the "Tristate of Mind" Suite exclusively here on RoxFontaine.com. After some serious fundraising and a couple of performances with a full orchestra, Tristate Inventory has finally released the full "Tristate of Mind" composition.

The first original Classical Hip-Hop piece ever written!

Hearing the vocals on this, sung by Nicole Yazolino, really takes the movement to another level. You really have to sit with this from start to finish and SUPPORT the artist by purchasing it. This is an incredibly ambitious project. It deserves a physical show of appreciation.

Stream and purchase below. Spread the word. Hip-Hop is up to something....

Tia London - "Thinking 'Bout It" Music Video Premiere

Tia London is back with her second video from the critically acclaimed 'Love Junkie' album. Man, does she turn the heat up in this one! Sporting her signature hair style in a new blonde color, she drops smoky eyed and breathy bedroom vocals over another stellar Traxster production. "Thinking 'Bout It" is more than a follow up to "Nothing On You." This video is a one up.

If labels have any doubt whether Tia is ready for the big time or not, this video should dispel any such doubt. It's highly polished, radio ready and SEXY! Tia is proving that she can do anything she wants. Uptempo, downtempo, vocal, verbal ... you name it she's got it.

Breaking right here on RoxFontaine.com is "Thinking 'Bout It." Pay attention. Tia's a pretty big deal.