Exclusive: Bugatti Biggz - "Big Talk" Music Video

Harlem's best kept secret is stepping out from the shadows and looking to put a mark on the NY Hip-Hop scene. We first brought you the stellar release "Insanity." Now we have the music video for "Big Talk." 

Bugatti Biggz is something else. The sound, the aggressiveness, the beats... we haven't heard anything like this in a long time in NY. He sounds like New York and New York only! No crossover, trap, southern drawl or Cali swag here. Just the concrete and cold sound of Uptown.

This track knocks for real and Bugatti Biggz is a problem. Check the video out and keep your eyes and ears open for this guy.

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....

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...

Fev - 'Return Flight'

The devil is in the details. It has to sound right, look right and feel right. From those 3 key points, there are many branches as well. The total of them defines an artist and how that artist is received by the public. This is why so many capable artists miss the mark in one way or another. You miss a key detail and it doesn't work.

East Harlem representative Fev obsesses over the details. The public has known about his full length project 'Propaganda' for over 2 years but we've only been privy to bits and pieces of what's to come. 'Return Flight' is the latest look in the direction of 'Propaganda.' 8 tracks of new material clearly packed for brevity as only 3 of the tracks meet or exceed 3 minutes.

Though the run time is under 30 minutes, it's filled to the brim with Fev's attitude and flair. He's decidedly Harlem, well in control and DETAILED. He's better prepared and more refined than ever before for those who've been listening. For those new to his sound, he's going to be brash and exciting. "M.I.L.E." and "Pull Up" are two of the best examples of this.

The project is very well done for 98% of the play through. I really enjoy Fev's cadence and his ability to seamlessly hop between street and radio records. 'Return Flight' is definitely worth a download so hit the jump below and get it!

Download Return Flight

Rugz D. Bewler - "By Any Means Necessary" Music Video/Album

If you been keeping your ear pointed towards the DD172 movement, then you know at least a little bit about Rugz D. Bewler. I'm just getting hip to his music and the album is for sure one of those download, burn and throw in the whip immediately joints.

'By Any Means Necessary' is by far one of the most complete independent projects I've ever heard. Clearly conceptual from start to finish is how I like an album to sound and Rugz executed perfectly. I feel like this is what an Isaac Hayes record would have sounded like if he were a rapper. It's sharp on soul samples, heavy on the beats and bass and I'm going to dare say revolutionary rappin'.

It is crystal clear that Rugz D. Bewler is up to more than "Divas & Doobies" and the sequential follow-up "Red Bull & Guinness/The Hangover." Super dope tracks but clearly of the, I'm-not-all-serious-all-the-time variety. The rest of 'By Any Means Necessary' is about rappin' ass rappin' and progression. Is he hinting at the idea that he's the next Malcolm X? Absolute not. What he he is saying is that he's Harlem's next big deal. He's saying I have something you need to hear. He's saying he's going to achieve. I agree wholeheartedly with all of that.

With a double feature I bring you the music video for the title track as well as the entire project for download. The video, directed by Anthony Sylvester, is a fantastic visual. I absolutely love the transitions, warmth in color in juxtaposition to the obviously cold temperature and location scouting. Check the video and hit the download link below that.

Click to Download 'By Any Means Necessary'

'Girls Got Kicks' Book Launch

East Harlem sneaker boutique Goliath played host to the official launch of 'Girls Got Kicks.' The first stop of a multi-city tour that currently has release parties scheduled in Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto and even Johannesburg, among others! The book is an in depth look at female sneaker culture around the world. Covering everything from Tomboys and Girly Girls to Mothers and the "four letter word" ... pink. It truly is a fantastic work, in words and pictures, and author Lori Lobenstine absolutely nailed it.

Ladies featured in the book signed their respective pages and took pictures as guests mingled. I was very excited to see these every day heroines be superstars. As they are largely underrepresented in this sub culture and under-served by shoe companies, they took it upon themselves to show the world in a BIG way that they love this culture/hobby just as much as the next ... guy.

Check out a couple of photos from the event and hop over to the Girls Got Kicks website to learn more about the book and to purchase your copy. Definitely be on the lookout for GGK in your city!

www.GirlsGotKicks.com

Featured: @AtheGrreat

Author: @GirlsGotKicks with her gift from RoxFontaine.com

Featured: @NYCApproved

Featured: @Feeway730

Featured: @AirKarinaBX23

 www.femalesneakerfiend.com

"Don't sleep on the ladies."

Fev - "One Way" feat. Red Inf

 

I've been waiting for Propaganda to release since I retired Flight 115 from my car. That was months ago but Fev has kept me at the edge of my seat with audio and/or video releases here and there. This new track just hit the web featuring Queens MC Red Inf. I'm hoping this is an official leak from Propaganda.

Far too many NY based artists are afraid to sound like NY these days. This song gives me the same feeling that I had when Nas released "Nasty". I just want to put on some all black Timberland boots and a ski mask and go intimidate somebody.

Check it out. Play it loud!

Fev vs. Royce Castro

In the spirit of friendly competition, I'm trying this series on for the blog to pit hot indie artists up against each other to see who readers think had the better take on their respective covers, remixes and instrumentals.

In this first matchup, we have rappers Fev from Harlem and Royce Castro from Lawnside, NJ delivering rhymes over the instrumental to Mickey Factz' "Paradise".  I don't know what to call the series yet so, for now it's just Fev vs. Royce Castro.  Let me know who you thought had the more interesting rendition in the comments!

VS.

Meet Stro....

He's what the game has been missing.

Check out this footage from the iStandard beat battle last weekend at the infamous Scratch DJ Academy in NYC.  South Jersey native Incredible Stro is something like a phenomenon on the keys and this video shows how his sound completely dominated the competition.

His sound is punctuated by heavy drums, outlandish synths and complicated melodic patterns that blend together in an audible ecstasy that makes your ears tingle. Stro is currently signed to EMO (Elaborate Musik Orchestra), a Harlem based production house headed by Sidney "Omen" Brown. The team is responsible for several major label hits including tracks for Drake, Lil Wayne, Fabolous, Ludacris and many more.

I haven't been this excited about a producer since I first heard Ryan Leslie. I'm sure you that you will be intrigued as well. Turn your speakers up and press play! 

Stro on Twitter

More Stro Music
EMO Official Website

Kevin Durant at House of Hoops 2

With the World Basketball Festival still raging in New York, there are events happening all over to promote the basketball lifestyle.  One of the most important tools for any baller is his/her sneakers.  Nike is synonymous with top quality footwear and are now promoting their new Hyperfuse shoe.  It's advanced fusion construction process eliminates traditional stitching techniques allowing for a new level of lightweight and breathable shoes.

NBA Superstar Kevin Durant stopped by briefly to talk about the shoe as well as to encourage local youth to follow their hoop dreams.  The children were given free Hyperfuse t-shirts and a few lucky individuals won Foot Locker gift cards or Kevin Durant t-shirts.  They were super excited to be so up close and personal with such a big star.  I was truly moved when I overheard a young boy, no older than age 4, have this dialog with his mother:

Boy: "Mommy, who is that?"
Mom: "It's Kevin Durant.  He's an NBA player.  He's plays basketball on TV."
Boy: *Stares in amazement for a moment*
Boy: "Is he going to play with me?"

1st Annual Harlem Fine Arts Show

 Sir Shadow - One Line Art

Bring the renaissance back!  Harlem is doing it big for Black artists and today was the first day of the the 1st annual Harlem Fine Arts Show.  The event is being held at the historic 369th Regiment Armory in Harlem.  This armory was the home of the first all Black squad to serve overseas.  (World War I)  They were known as the "Harlem Hellfighters".

The event will showcase the works of over 60 artists.  If you have some time, definitely go over to support Black artists.

The Armory is at 2366 5th Ave. (between 142nd and 143rd Sts.) New York, NY 10037

Hours tomorrow, February 21st, are from 11 am to 7 pm.  Admission is $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for children age 12 and under.

More information on the history of the 369th Regiment Armory

Kevin Durant at House of Hoops

Yesterday, I won preferred entrance to a Kevin Durant meet and greet event at House of Hoops Harlem today.  There was a mini event held on Twitter.  I won by being one of the first 35 people to retweet a message from Nike Basketball.  I was super excited to know that I'd just won a chance to see my current favorite NBA player.

The event was supposed to kick off at 3:30 pm.  It didn't start until just after 5 pm though.  It was a bit too cold to be standing outside for an hour or more but I thought it would be worth the discomfort.

Once KD entered the building it was on and poppin'....or so I thought.  The event turned out to be a BIG letdown.  He answered no more than 3 direct questions and mumbled his way through those so much that it was difficult to even understand what he was saying.  All other questions were fielded by his teammates Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Jeff Green a.k.a. "Broingtons".

Russell Westbrook

James Harden

"Broingtons"

I brought my All-Star and Seattle Sonics colorway KD1 sneakers hoping that I might have the chance to have KD autograph them.  Didn't happen.  Which is fine in and of itself.  What ticked me off is that he only signed 8 basketballs, maybe 15 t-shirts or so and 3 pairs of the KD2 sneaker.  He signed the basketballs and t-shirts before he even entered the building.  He signed the shoes in the store right after they were won by 3 lucky attendees.

Following the raffle for the sneakers, he was presented with 2 pairs of lasered Air Force 1 low sneakers.  One white pair and one black.  They were lasered with the 2010 All-Star game logo and KD's stats.  They came in a big white acrylic box.  The box top was engraved with the KD logo and "Pure Dedication", if I remember correctly.  I wasn't able to get clear shots of the shoes or the box.  You know I got something though...

 

 
 

  

With me being a true Kevin Durant fan, I was honestly disappointed.  I was just disappointed that he didn't really say anything to us.  I understand that he travels a lot and has a super busy schedule but this event was just morose.  If you're tired, jet lagged or whatever; tell us.  Let us know how busy you've been and what you did the day before.  Share something with us that we wouldn't otherwise know.  Your teammates were just fine.  They spoke clearly, concisely and gave us some energy.  What the hell was wrong with you?  The only one we really came to see!

All of that aside, I got to see my favorite NBA player for free, I got a free Broingtons t-shirt and I had a blast taking pictures.  Not the worst day.  Below are other pics from the day:

Feeway of Female Sneaker Fiend 

Jadakiss

Peter Rosenberg of Hot 97

Broingtons Tees

Filling the Space