Wassup y'all!
I might be naive, but I'd like to think open minded people are still the vast majority in France. Problem is we all once again got embarrassed by a handful of racist morons, islamophobic politicians and media representatives alike with yet another bullshit controversy, this time about a sports hijab. If you live in a foreign country and you're laughing at us right now for such outdated bigotry, I can't blame you, I'm actually joining you! Why can't we just make wearing durags or Scottish berets mandatory for anybody feeling uncomfortable at the mere view of a woman running with a piece of cloth on her head? Maybe they'll be more tolerant if they start looking as cool as those 2 legends above.
In the meantime, here's the music I've been listening to this week.
Hope you'll enjoy it! |
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ALBUM
Planet Giza - Added Sugar
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Is it a bit too far-fetched of a comparison if I say Planet Giza are the Canadian Warm Brew, simply because they're both young mixed trios who make hella cool music and don't seem to take themselves too seriously? But where the Ghetto Beach Boyz mostly draw their inspiration from DJ Quik and Nate Dogg's G-funk, the Montrealiens do so from André 3000 (circa The Love Below) and The Internet's smooth rap/R&B blend. By the way, having multiple OutKast references (the Kaytranada co-produced track "3 Stacks" which revisits "Prototype" or "Playerz Ball" which obviously refers to Dre & Boi's debut single) in your album is always a good thing. Since they decided to add sugar to their music, Tony $tone (lead rapper/singer), Rami B and DoomX gravitate towards a more polished sound than their previous works. Let's wish this evolution helps them finally receive all the attention they deserve. |
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ALBUM
Dee Cisneros - The Cards I Was Dealt
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Dee Cisneros is a norteño rapper from Sacramento signed to Big Tone's label Sav It Out Records. He released Son Of A Gangsta in 2013 and Mob Influenced with Big Tone in 2017. Yeah, gangsta and mob are obviously the keywords he was dealt, so you know what to expect on his very consistent and effective new album.
FAVORITE TRACKS:
"I'm A Real One", "The Cards I Was Dealt", "Young OG", "Till My Luck Is Up", "Family Sake", "Northern Cali Connected" |
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ALBUM
Mereba - The Jungle Is The Only Way Out
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When you're done swooning over Solange's new album, please do yourself a favor and listen to Mereba's one (which comes with a beautiful visual EP btw). Her self-proclaimed left-of-center contemporary R&B is like a jungle indeed: deep, mysterious, luxuriant and intricate. 6LACK, J.I.D and 9th Wonder (who produces the first single "Black Truck") are the only other forest people you'll cross paths with while following the Abyssinian Queen through her black and green musical maze.
FAVORITE TRACKS:
"Heatwave", "Black Truck", "Planet U", "Kinfolk", "Stay Tru", "Souvenir"
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PLAYLIST
Bay Area Rap Is The Best Rap Vol. 1
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The homie Davey Boy Smith, one third of the Southern Hospitality bloggers/DJ's collective, put together this self-explanatory playlist fueled with 20 slappers from the Yay hyphy and post-hyphy era (i.e. the last 15 years). You can listen to it on Spotify or Apple Music while reading this tweet over and over again like a mantra. |
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I've updated the R&B Diamondz playlist I'm curating for BackPackerz with 20 new gems (they're the 20 first tracks of the playlist, just so you know) by Dawn Richard, Marvin Dark, Isabelle Brown, XamVolo, Lorelle Howard, Daniel Martz, Elodie Rama, Shkyd, TeaMarrr, Rexx Life Raj, Enchantée Julia, Zacari, Ta-Ra, Nbdy, Lil Halima, Damar Jackson, Fuchy x Lahva, Kaleem Taylor, Celeste and Harriet Brown. Which one is your favorite? Tell me! |
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INTERVIEW
Nardwuar vs. Snoop Dogg (2019)
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What is Hollywood waiting for to produce a buddy movie with those 2, seriously? It's the 10th encounter between Schnoop and the Human Serviette since 2000 and it's still freaking hilarious and genius. This time, you won't necessarily learn any new golden little known fact, but you'll surely appreciate how Nardwuar is bringing a few unsung Westcoast rap OG's into the conversation.
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MUSIC VIDEO
Snoopy Badazz - S On My Chest
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Snoopy Badazz has the most unoriginal name for a Westcoast rapper ever! His gangsta rap is quite unoriginal too, but it's damn effective! Unlike the 2 OG's he borrowed his name from, he's from the eastside of CPT, not LBC, and rolls with the Bloods, not with the Crips. Like G Perico, he's an advocate for the return of the Jheri curl (no wonder why he cites Suga Free as his favorite artist). Cancer took his mother, the streets took his brother and several prison stints took too much of his time. His debut mixtaped The DonFather is expected sometime this year, with a few tracks already out besides "S On My Chest": "The Intro", "THHa Bigg Bad Wolf", "Stop Playin", "Pull Up" and "Not Snoopy".
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MUSIC VIDEO
Rucci - That’s Norf
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Rucci reps the northside of Inglewood (hence the track's title). Like Snoopy Badazz, he's Blood affiliated, Neighborhood Pirus to be exact, and has his own share of street life trauma: his father was a notorious gangbanger now deported to El Savador, his beloved uncle P-Funky is serving 35 years to life, his brother got shot in the head and his closest friend Sean Mackk was murdered on July 7, 2017. They were rapping together under the moniker MackkRucci and their 2016 eponymous mixtape gave a glimpse of how they could've been the red-flagged Daz & Kurupt of their generation. Failing that, Rucci is now on a solo mission not only to crown himself as the new King in the Norf, but to become West(eros)coast's next big thing. He owes it to his fallen partner. With 3 solid projects (Dawgystyle, El Perro and For My Dawgz) already under his belt and Mack 10, Boosie Badazz, Webbie, Snoop, Bone Thugs, Spice 1 or RBL Posse as his main influences, he's the more orthodox gangsta rap answer to such promising counterparts as Shoreline Mafia, Blueface, 03 Greedo or Drakeo The Ruler.
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MUSIC VIDEO
J Stone - 6 In The Morning
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A respectful nod to gangsta rap forefathers Ice-T and N.W.A. South Central L.A. rapper J Stone sure knows how to do it.
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MUSIC VIDEO
Iamsu! - Can't Make This Up
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When does an up and coming young rapper becomes a veteran in this game? If there's such thing as a turning point, this is it for Iamsu! The HBK Gang leader will never make the XXL Freshman list (*running private joke*), but fuck it, he's been active for over a decade now, with a solid resume to back him up. "Can't Make This Up" is off his latest album Blessed.
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MUSIC VIDEO
CML ft. Philthy Rich - Bustdown Touchdown (Remix)
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Sacramento rapper CML aka Cash Money Lavish aka King Lavish D aka Big Bank Hank links up with the East Oakland and Livewire Records ambassador for the remix to the single off his latest album The Mobb Would Like To Speak To You Pt. 2. That shit slaps hella hard! Too bad the visual's so lazy and quite weak, to be honest.
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MUSIC VIDEO
DJ Fresh x Beeda Weeda - Get Paid
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MUSIC VIDEO
Galaxy Atoms - Life Of A Outlaw
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You know you're getting old in this rap shit when the 21-year old rapper you're listening to is actually the son of another rapper who's himself barely 3 or 4 years older than you... Well, to be fair, Galaxy Atoms and his pops, San Francisco legend San Quinn, share the same precociousness, since they started their careers in 2008 and 1993, age 10 and 15 respectively. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, nor does good gangsta rap from Fillmoe.
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MUSIC VIDEO
X-Raided - It Wasn't True (Only God Can Judge Me)
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Talking about Westcoast rap legends, San Quinn hadn't even recorded his debut album when X-Raided was convicted for first degree murder. "It Wasn't True" is off his latest album (the first one since he got out) and tells the compelling story of why the Sacramento OG spent 26 years in prison. Self-reflection turned motivational gangsta rap at its finest!
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MUSIC VIDEO
Prince Waly - Doggy Bag
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Prince Waly's from Montreuil, but his badass new music video was shot in London. It looks like Trainspotting meets Crank: High Voltage and ends on a very useful moral: never steal a black man's fried chicken. His previous visual was top notch as well and his latest album BO Y Z is one of the best 2019 French rap releases so far.
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MUSIC VIDEO
Chilla - Dans le Movie #1
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Is this really supposed to be just a freestyle? Sounds like a fuckin' banger to me! The visual's pretty dope too. The French femcee seems to have matured a lot lately, let's hope her forthcoming album will embody this new direction. Also a collab with Capitol Music labelmate Shay would be such a good idea if you ask me, their style would match perfectly. Plus they could name it "Shaychilla" and shoot a video where they'd be rapping surrounded with chinchillas. I'm already regretting writing this, sorry.
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MUSIC VIDEO
Roddy Ricch - Down Below
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Surfing the wave of his London On Da Track-produced breakthrough hit "Die Young" released last summer and his more recent successful collabs with Marshmello, Meek Mill or Nipsey Hussle, which helped him join Post Malone's Euro Tour, Roddy Ricch is the new sensation straight outta Compton. He sounds just like he was straight outta Atlanta tho, as his melodic and autotuned trap lean much more towards Young Thug and Future rather than YG or The Game. I won't lie, I'm not really a fan of his style, with the exception of a few tracks, most notably "Down Below" thanks to its unstoppable sad sweetness (or sweet sadness?).
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MUSIC VIDEO
ELHAE - Hennessy
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North Dakota-bred, Atlanta-based R&B singer ELHAE just released his 3rd album Trouble In Paradise. Well, if Cuba makes a totally plausible paradise, then I guess the salsa dancing beauty he's chasing is called Trouble. He should rename the song Bacardi tho, would be more accurate.
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MUSIC VIDEO
TOBi - Sweet Poison
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I've already talked to you about TOBi (in Kick's Groove Issue 003). His new single couldn't have a better fitting title to define his music.
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MUSIC VIDEO
Kaleem Taylor - Not Alone
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Keith Sweat + Idris Elba = Kaleem Taylor. The North London vocalist comes up with an addictive slow jam for the melancholic sleepwalkers.
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MUSIC VIDEO
unperfect - Gots To Give The Girl
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Yeah, you can see it coming, all the publications about this refreshing UK quartet are going to begin with something like "they're bringing girl bands back!", lol. Which is exactly what I'm doing, I know... With pop wizard Brian Higgins (the man behind Sugababes and Girls Aloud's hits, among others) signing them to his famous label Xenomania, they're in good hands to accomplish such mission! Chloe, Siobhan, Soipan and Tiah went to L.A. to shoot a 4-video series setting the proper scene for their half laidback '90s esque R&B/half chillout funky, almost bluesy, vibe. If what's on the way is as joyful and catchy as their debut single, they shouldn't go unnoticed for too long. The dub-infused remix is pretty cool too, btw.
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It's all for now!
Couldn't find a gif with Snoop and Nardwuar, so I'm leaving you with the Interview God and the Based God instead:
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Don't forget to tell your friends to subscribe!
See you next week ;)
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