2015/11 on Da Hip Hop Place

Camp Dark

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

BANDCAMP: https://campdark.bandcamp.com/releases

Minneapolis based band Campdark has a splash of several different genres with a masterful conglomeration of unique sounds and dynamic instrumentation. This gives them a sound that has a modest kinship reminding you of monks chanting in a temple but also adds an edge that incorporates an eerie sound that’s quite frankly hypnotic. The electronics added in are very well placed that pop out at you as an unexpected surprise that at first feels as though it doesn’t belong but as you continue to listen, you realize that it is a brilliant ratio of creepy and whimsical.

Lobos Delivers Like a Pitbull

Thu, 26 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Lobos is part of the ElNEl crew and what he brings is a case of grit to the table. “303” sounds like a pitbull took the mic. There’s a strong sense of aggression in a calm setting. You never know if he’s going to bite, but his bark is quite intimidating. With “God,” that same sentiment is heard throughout. Only this one has more life to it. The beat allows more movement of the body while listening. ElNEl has a lot of great emcees under their umbrella but what Lobos brings is the muscle in the music. Check him and the rest of the ElNEl crew now. (https://soundcloud.com/elnelproductions)

D.P.: The Way Out

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Rap doesn’t have to be all about the bling. Some of it can be about something a lot more, like spirituality. That’s where artists like D.P. comes in with his album “The Way Out.” A decade old, the record is timeless. Each track stands out like a classic like “A Man.” It’s sweet R&B flare really tells a story while “Fill Me” takes us to a more hip hop side of the artist. In “Power in His Name,” soul, hip hop and belief marry one another to come together for a stunning, and beautiful track. “The Way Out” sounds like a song the whole congregation could join in during service. 15 tracks deep, “The Way Out” is a great album for those who like to listen to more uplifting hip hop. Check out D.P.’s latest now. (https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dphiphop)

Toni Hope to Leave a Legacy

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Toni knows how to balance the best of what he has. “B.I.G.G.I.E” is a funky song that has a sense of R&B to it, but it really sounds like when neo-soul was coming up through the rap spectrum. It has some aggression to the delivery but the music kept things going cool. Then there was “Successful.” This one was more hip hop based, like a freestyle of sorts. There’s more of story with this one. In “Legacy” it’s not as concise as the other two. This one could use some tinkering. What he did with the first song was what he did best. I really liked how he married a few elements rather than just sticking with run of the mill hip hop. That’s the path I hope he continues to follow in his career. If you want to check out a budding emcee, check out Toni today. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbg_kEJmt2F7arOmoDgcOwg/videos)

Uncovering Just the Tip of the Iceberg with Iigo Killin Em

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Iigo Killin Em really knows how to make a song that makes you get all lost in the music. At least that’s how we started out with “DaMonster” featuring Eeks Stevedrive. It doesn’t overdo things, and has an attitude to it that really makes it this swagger filled gem. With Kingtoot by his side, Iigo Killin Em goes into “Pressure” with his head held high and kills it. It’s also a great song that people can really dig their teeth into on a personal level. We ease up with “Have Some Fun.” It isn’t too different from where we began, but there is a lighter sense to the track. Going out with a bang, “Likes” is simple in title, but it brings it throughout. It’s laid back approach is stellar. You don’t have to get all cray to have a good time. If you’re a fan of hip hop that doesn’t pull tricks, check out Iigo Killin Em. He has more where all this came from. (https://soundcloud.com/mike-iigo-killin-em)

The Radio Hour

Wed, 18 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

The Radio Hour

https://theradiohour.com/

“The Radio Hour,” is essentially Chicago artist Tim Hort. He has been performing live either to Chair and event he has organized as a fundraiser for local and international benefit, or he performs at venues with proceeds to a designated charity or community service, which is announced at eash show. Hort’s extremely personal material brings its own brand to the term “loneliness” while using pop hooks to keep your attention riveted on the melancolic lyrics. The line-up includes not only Tim Hort on vocals and guitar, but additional performances by guitarists Joe Griffin and Jordan Maracus, with Natan Britsch on bass, Sean Burke on drums, also Andy Swindler and Yeater on B3.

Souleye - Shapeshifting

Sat, 14 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Souleye - Shapeshifting

URL: https://www.souleye.net/

Souleye’s fourth full-length album, Shapeshifting, represents a quantum leap forward for this respected artist and performer. In the ten years having passed since his 2005 debut, Souleye has garnered considerable praise for his lyrical and rapping skills, but despite the uniform quality defining his career, each new release felt semi-shrouded with the whiff of even greater potential. Souleye has stood among the vanguard of the genre for a number of years, but his latest studio album Shapeshifting creates some daylight between him and his nearest contemporaries. Never before has Souleye written, recorded, and released such a well-constructed effort with every nuance seemingly attended to and deliberated over before documenting it for the album. Make no mistake, however, this is far from a sterile, over studied affair. There isn’t a single song on the album that sounds composed. Instead, the eleven tracks sound as if they emerged, full born, from Souleye, a moment of ephemeral inspiration luckily preserved for posterity.

Finding the Balance with 2 Real

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

2 Real is a little Drake a little street. When hip hop meets that smooth R&B, it’s great. That’s exactly what I heard when I pressed play on Me & You." With a touch of romance, this one flowed on point from start to finish. We stick with the romantics as we head into “Kissing On Your Body.” Here that streetwise feel is gone and we’re left with strictly vocals and good ones at that. They sound even stronger here. With that, we head back to the hip hop thanks to “Gone Twerk.” It’s even a bit ratchet at times; very aggressive at the start. Flipping back and forth between the two genres and sometimes blending them seamlessly is what artistry is all about. If you like that blend, check out 2 Real today! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC46K8KykNtIqUnKRxnQ8KqA/videos)

Iceolated: Confidential Evidence 2

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Young G aka Iceolated dropped a new mixtape called “Confidential Evidence 2” and it’s as dope as could be. Right out the gate Iceolated does it up with “G Thang.” Sampling one of Eminem’s best, “What You Done To Be” pays homage to the classic with the beat and the aggression in the delivery is on point as well. You can hear that the emcee is passionate about every word he spits out. With “Pretty Boy Swag” I was expecting a lighter tone, but instead that same angry vibe is going on. Then with “My Best Friend” the tide changes with the music at least. All in all “Confidential Evidence 2” is a record that does not lack in the passion department. Iceolated is an emcee with a mission and he’s clear with it. Check him out now if you’re a fan of artists like Machine Gun Kelly. (https://www.datpiff.com/TG-The-Beast-Confidential-Evidence-2-mixtape.720276.html)

Looking Up with JLC

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

JLC is a good ol’ Texas boy who said goodbye to an education when he had to find work to help out his family. After running into some trouble, he found the lord and now he’s spreading the word through gospel rap. In “For My Brothas and Sistas” he brings it like the rappers you’d hear on BET’s “106 and Park.” Really, while it’s a gospel rhyme, you wouldn’t unless you listened very closely. Which the lyrics are great and help with JLC’s mission to move people with music. You never know where life is going to take you, and for JLC - it took him down the wrong path for awhile but he had since found his way and is giving back through song. Check him out and support now. (https://www.allaroundaag.com/)

MaC Dee: Kim

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

MaC Dee’s “Kim” starts with a traditional intro and then goes into “What?” featuring Noble. It doesn’t have a traditional flow to it. The rhymes come out in this unstructured manner but it works. As the chorus rolls through, it’s like a mixture of monologues and music. With “On U” we get a bit of a funky meets R&B vibe with the music and because of that, the words come through in a finer manner than the last. The title kind of makes you expect it, but MaC Dee and Vanhook’s “Magical Woman” does have this magical touch in the beats used. Almost a throwback to ’90s R&B for a second. Don’t adjust the volume when “Understand (Karma In Magnitude)” comes into play. It will start soon enough and when it does, you’ll have one of the best on “Kim.” In the end “Keep It Movin’” caps off the record with a ’70s feel that MaC Dee makes come full circle back to the present day with his delivery. If you’re a fan of hip hop that plays well with classic R&B, check out MaC Dee’s “Kim,” out now. (https://indy.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/35767/mac-dee-kim.html)

"Criminal" by Jerad Finck

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

“Criminal” by Jerad Finck

The first few notes of the title track “Criminal” by Jerad Finck were pleasant to listen to. Catchy enough to want to listen to more, the album progressed with intertwining, slightly ethereal sounds, and pleasantly refreshing introspective lyrics sung by a thoughtful and melancholic sounding singer and/or songwriter collaboration.

The matter of fact tone to the singer’s quest to find the “good life” encourages those around him to not believe that the “good life” is living materialistically. As the song progresses it sounds as though he has meaningful alternatives for him and anyone paying attention to what he has to say, to follow and to further explore what a “good life” is. Additional insightful lyrics sung with seemingly equal amounts of hope, encouragement and a little disdain for the superficial pursuits in life, provides a good amount of depth. It has a nicely flowing rhythm as well.