The west coast production duo (sometimes trio) known as Hippie Sabotage has consistently kept it fresh and original. Not only with their sound, but also with their promotion. Not content to just throw their work out there to sit in a pool of unknowns waiting for something to happen, they've taken a much more creative approach.
In addition to releasing now 4 instrumental albums, they have a signature visual element that accompanies their work. The latest showcase of their artistic vision is "Riding Solo" a very well done music video starring model Giza Lagarce. The production is top notch as usual. Heavy 808 drums and 303 snares drive the groove behind an eerie screwed Njomza sample. The joint knocks so crazy... it's ridiculous.
I hear a LOT of rappers and one of rappers' favorite thing to say is, "I'm working." What that usually translates to is, "I spend a lot of time in my friend's bedroom studio creepin' on a come up." It's terribly cliche and repetitive but that's what rappin' ass rappers do, so whatever.
Then there are rappers like F.Y.I.He is working. From performing at some of the country's biggest indie music festivals like A3C and CMJ to landing a spot on a reality TV show to being named a Top 25 Artist to Watch on URB Magazine; F.Y.I. is doing real work.
The newest showcase in his storied history is the single, "Incense" produced by LA based hitmaker Shlohmo. It's a cloudy tale of a lascivious late night told in a cryptic style that really sets F.Y.I. apart as an artist. There is a behind the scenes clip available from the video shoot and I can't wait to see it.
Now I need to find my damn incense. "We burning incense slooooowwwww...."
YES!! The West Coast has their own thing going on with Hip-Hop. It's always been that way. They keep it closer to the roots than the East Coast, to be honest. All elements of Hip-Hop culture thrive in a more robust way over there. Maybe it's the sunshine?
Noah came out of nowhere and quickly earned a place on the RoxFontaine.com watchlist. He even took a place on my Top 5 indie albums >/= Watch the Throne with 'The Wonderful Struggle.' I had a blast with that project and was looking forward to new material.
This is the first I've heard since "Supernova" and that was a long time ago. The up and comer has been working though. No doubt about that. He stated, "(I'm) withholding a lot of music right now, taking my time with this next project and visuals." I've always heard that good things come to those who wait. Not a thing wrong with getting your product right.
Check out this new release called "Namaste" that was dropped in my box. Signature Noah music and feels good all around. Free stream and download. Breathe easy y'all...
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.
The Jahfather of Soul Cal is back with another visual from the perfectly curated project I introduced you to here. Now working on a full length documentary, Real J Wallace gave me this early visual that will be included in the project which will also have a complete soundtrack.
I'm thoroughly diggin' everything he's dropped so far. The Diz isn't his sharpest video release but the music is all groove sauce. Check it out below...
"Everybahdy wuz Kun-Fooo Fye-teeeng!" Sorry. I couldn't resist.
You can't talk underground and West coast without talking about Planet Asia. For the last 15 years he's been a staple in underground Hip-Hop. Moving from indie labels to majors and back again, he's now set to release his biggest project to date. 'Black Belt Theatre' will hit stores on the last day of February. The album is absolutely loaded with old school players to new school fools. To go through the entire list of guest spots would overwhelm this post so I'm not doing it. To name a few: Talib Kweli, Raekwon and Camp Lo are some reps for the old and Paul Wall, Fashawn and Torae hold it down for the new.
This fresh leak from the project titled "Golden State" just went public and it's a great look into what to expect from the full project. Obviously, the theme is Kung-Fu and Blaxploitation films. Planet Asia says, "I wanted to make the album like a movie - something you would see in a theater. That's why it has so many features. All the guests feel like different characters in the movie."
Free from the constraints of stuffy suits and deadlines at major labels he was able to produce the project exactly as he envisioned it. "Golden State" is a blaring 70s soul sample fit for a thorough Afro-power-leather-jacket-epic-mustache-ass-kicking-fest. Dirtydiggs handles the production on the track and 9 others on the album for a total 50% of the production load. Sweet deal.
Check the audio and check for PA on the web at the links below.
Ooooooh weeeeee! Check out this video of one half of Hippie Sabotage, So Crates, working on an instrumental with Chase Moore. Out on the west coast, the spirit of collaboration is still strong and this video shows just how much teamwork changes things. So Crates sequences and layers the drums and Chase Moore chops the sample up.
The result is some hypnotic sh...HUSH YO' MOUTH! What? I was only talkin' 'bout this beat. Click and listen.
Pac Div has been tearing it up on the indy circuit for years now and they are now at the point where they are on tour with N.E.R.D. It doesn't really get bigger than that for a group that still isn't "mainstream". This new series, simply titled, "The Series" documents the groups life as they establish a more dominant place in the music industry. This first episode takes you briefly into their creative process and closes out with a short clip of a performance.
