Brandon Rossi & Villa - "Friends & Foes"

These guys are sounding like the blueprint for cool. A truly original sound, creative lyricism and genuine camaraderie make for one of the most interesting independent duos in the game right now. Brandon Rossi and Villa are puttin' on for the ATL!

"Friends and Foes" is super fly. "Plair" as Villa would say. I've been covering these two for quite some time and this track really jumps out at me. Reason being, this is the first time I've heard Brandon's production devoid of his signature big pads full of reverb and/or super heavy 808 drums. This cut is perfectly quiet. Balanced and strong on groove.

As is par for the course, Villa talks super slick through the verse. I mean, only he could use crustaceans so effortlessly in a rhyme. Brandon Rossi gets his propers too. He swagged all over this with flow after flow. This is easily one of the best joints they've dropped ever.

I mess with this hardbody. Dig in y'all...

Villa - 'Pack Light, Travel Far' Repack

'Pack Light, Travel Far' is back. Yes, back... as in second time around. Repackaged and re-imagined. Almost double the amount of music and new art direction.

The sound is still a complete idea, which is expected since production is handled exclusively by Brandon Rossi, but much more detailed this time around. I'm loving the new bonus track called "Roses." It has the same ambiance as my favorite track from the first release, "Polos With No Logos." Not much has changed sonically since I first reviewed this project. Listeners are just afforded more opportunity to examine Villa as a lyricist.

This is the sound of New Atlanta. A futuristic blend of trap and trend. A dope effort and unique sound. Get the full stream below...

 

Villa - "Stackin Mansions"

Villa's brand strength steadily increases. I always know what to expect from him and producer Brandon Rossi but I never know how it will play out exactly and that's a great thing! The sound is stamped. The flow is perfected. The delivery is strong. That's all around win.

With his new single "Stackin Mansions" Villa continues on his retelling of his rise from obscurity to popularity and all of the pitfalls that come along with the new status. He has a slick way of talkin' that ish and then flipping it around to show that the "extra" is a byproduct of the work and not a goal.

Free stream and download below. Get some.

Brandon Rossi - "Places & Spaces"

I really really like what Brandon Rossi is cookin' up down in ATL. It's like gourmet chicken and waffles as audio. Soulful, fattening comfort music for 3 am romps after the club. Rossi's sound is super smooth and has a signature on it that all aspiring producers aim for. You know a Rossi beat as soon as you hear the first 4 bars.

This is the first track I'm hearing from Brandon minus Villa. I was already well aware that he could hold his own on the mic, but it's really nice to hear him run solo. On "Places and Spaces" he pulls his "playa" card and charges all that he can to the game.

Get into the track and listen to Brandon Rossi talk that talk to the ladies. It's a fun, laid back track for champion game spitters.

Villa - "Per Request"

What you know about that ATL slick talk?

Whatever it is you think you know, Villa wants to redefine it with his unique brand of vocabulary. After a brief hiatus, by his usual release schedule's standards, he's back with "Per Request" featuring producer/rapper Brandon Rossi. You know this pairing well if you're up on the 'Pack Light, Travel Far' album. If not, get familiar!

With "Per Request" the ladies are encouraged to dare a little and do something they wouldn't normally do. You know ... "just for me." I'm sure both Venus and Mars understand this well.

Villa will be performing at the A3C Hip-Hop Festival, so if you're in the Atlanta area you should definitely go check it out. Check the link below the stream for an opportunity to win a FREE ticket to the festival!



Click here for a chance to win a FREE ticket to A3C in Atlanta, GA.

Villa - 'Pack Light, Travel Far'

'Pack Light, Travel Far' is a brilliant mantra. I've always aimed to live my life this way even though I didn't know what to call it. It's so easy for people to get lost in the shuffle of living in America. We often plant our feet firm and cross our arms and refuse to open ourselves up to greater possibilities due to fear of the unknown. Villa's newest album explores those possibilities but how does it stack up to the previous 'Inertia' LP?

If I had to describe it in a word, it would just be ... different. Villa obviously found a comfortable creative space with producer Brandon Rossi. 'Pack Light, Travel Far' is entirely produced by the long time collaborator and the pairing works perfectly. They've both found their "it" thing and sharpened that skill into a complete theme. The project is dope! No two ways about that. I love Villa's work and this project is no exception.

For all that is right with this album though, there was still something missing for me: variety. Where 'Inertia' gave me different landscapes this project fell short of that. Villa and Rossi's "it" thing is so sharp and precise that it's almost sterile and that's not a good thing. The content is there. The craftsmanship is there. It's just too much of the same. I'd equate it to visiting Giza, Egypt. After the first couple of pyramids, you'll be kind of over it. That doesn't take away from their beauty or the effort given to craft them but there isn't much else to see after the first couple. They were all built the same. Most of 'Pack Light, Travel Far' is pyramids. Great structures on their own but less impressive standing next to each other.

The Sphinx among them is "Polos With No Logos." This was the track that gave me the most excited energy. Brandon Rossi leaves the boards to drop his own brand of delivery on it and it is the most standout moment for me.

Check the free download below, complete with album art and a 12 page booklet in .pdf format. Enjoy!

Click Here to Download

Villa - "Journey" Music Video

I was sitting on the couch eating my dinner. BBQ chicken breasts, baked beans and salad for anyone that cares. Simultaneously, I was flipping through facebook on my cell phone. I clicked on a video that I've been hearing buzz about all day and I damn near spit my food out on the floor.

What Villa is doing as an artist at this stage of his career scares me a little bit. If he's going to get significantly better than this, that's going to be insane to witness. On the flip side of the same coin, could he be peaking too early? Only time will tell, but I think there is more and I can't wait to hear it!

"Journey" is Villa's first visual release preceding the much awaited 'Pack Light; Travel Far' album. The album is a continuation of the brilliant 'Inertia' release from late last year. I love the way Villa ties in (e)motion in many of his projects. Now beyond the heartbreak of 'Inertia', he takes us to the next stage of his development as an artist. This transformed Villa is more extrovert than before. He's taken that signature ATL attitude and paired that with his own airy sound to create some ish that makes me feel like I'm the flyest dude in the room when I'm listening.

Look for 'Pack Light; Travel Far' on July 16th. You already know where to come and get it! Dig into this video until then...

Villa - "Opening Ceremony"

Villa is just a smooth ass dude. I never quite know what to expect from him as far as content and concepts, but I know that the sound will be right "in the pocket." "Opening Ceremony" is no different and has the Atlanta MC's signature all over it.

This dropped several days ago but I hadn't posted it due to my 9-5 trying to drown me. It works out to be a fitting revival of my regular (but not regular) posting schedule. Villa is always saying something slick and my favorite line out of this new track is, "We're never comin' from the house but from the barracks only."

Damn right, Villa. Soldiers up!