Review: "CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3" Album by Jaden Smith
Overall, “CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3” is in the running for @Jaden best project and it helps to put him in the category of “artist” instead of trapping him in the box of “rapper”.
Being the son of Will Smith has got to be tough. Being the son of Will Smith and trying to have your own rap/music career has got to be even tougher. That being said, I believe that Jaden has carved his own path and found his own unique sound. He’s even removed the Smith from his artist name as he just goes by Jaden now. Jaden follows up his projects “SYRE” and “ERYS” with the third installment in his Cool Tapes Series.
Jaden’s debut album “SYRE” is what made me a fan of his. It had a myriad of sounds and styles. He showcased his rapping, singing and even spoken word abilities. Since then, it has been hard to predict what a Jaden project will sound like. When I heard “Cabin Fever” (the first single that dropped for the project), I got a sense of what direction the project was headed. The next single “Rainbow Bap” confirmed it.
For the longest time, I felt that there was no way Jaden would be able to make an album that I’d enjoy more than SYRE. Being completely honest, I believe he's done that with "CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3". Although there is minimal rapping on this project (much less than SYRE), I truly don't think there’s a single skippable track. I’ve played this album several times front to back with ease.
The first thing that I appreciated was the track “Falling For You” featuring Justin Bieber. For those who remember Bieber’s “Never Say Never”, this song was a nice reunion and reminder of just how much the two of them have grown. Not to mention, the track is insanely catchy.
For me, there’s only one real way to describe this album. It’s a vibe. This project can be played anywhere while doing anything. I had it playing in my friend’s car while we were on a drive and it was the perfect background music. It feels like one long journey. Half of the time I couldn’t tell when one song ended and another began.
Something else I appreciated about this project is how Jaden shows how he’s grown mentally and emotionally. Some of the content on this album lets the listener know that he has matured since his younger years.
The rapping on the project, although there isn’t much of it, is good and it shows me that he’s been working on the craft. I picked up on more advanced rhyme schemes and more lyricism than in his previous works.
Overall, I think "CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3" is in the running for Jaden’s best project. I gave SYRE around a 7.5 out of 10, but I’d give this project at least an 8. My standout tracks are “Falling for You”, “Young in Love” and “Deep End”, although all of them are great. A project like this helps to put him in the category of “artist” instead of trapping him in the box of “rapper”. All in all, Jaden just makes very good music. I’m excited to see what he does in the next 5-7 years.
Stream and Share "CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3" on: Apple Music | Spotify
Interview: Pensacola, FL Rap Artist P33DI P Discusses His New Single "I'm Da Man"
Shout out to Pensacola, FL based rapper @p33dip who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to talk about his Evil G produced track “I’m Da Man”, which is featured on his album “Welcome to Floridiana”, and much more.
“It (I’m Da Man) will be on my album “Welcome to Flordianna”. I have two more singles coming, “Chosen One” and “Big Dawg”.”
How would you say that your Haitian heritage is reflected in your music?
I do it for my dad’s side of the family; they from Haiti 🇭🇹 so I gotta hold it down for prople. Family 1st.
Congratulations on the release of your new single "I'm Da Man". What inspired you to write the track and who produced it?
I got the beat from Evil G; as the beat made me bounce around I started thinking I was that dude so I went to Atlanta and recorded it at Evil G’s studio.
Can we expect a music video for the song next? If not, do you have a follow-up single in mind that you will be releasing soon?
Yes you can; I will be doing a video soon.
Will "I'm Da Man" be appearing on an upcoming EP or album? If so, what can you tell us about it?
It will be on my album “Welcome to Flordianna”. I have two more singles coming, “Chosen One” and “Big Dawg”.
How would you describe the hip-hop music scene in Jacksonville? Are locals supportive of homegrown talent there?
I actually stay in Pensacola but I’m from New Orleans but raised in Jacksonville. I can tell you more on Pensacola’s local scene.
it’s great talent around here and I get great support from Jacksonville, Pensacola, New Orleans, and my people in Atlanta and Dallas.
With 2020 slowly coming to a close in a few months, what would you say has been your biggest accomplishment musically this year?
Just the push I made the past couple months; I set a goal in marketing and Instagram ads help me reach new people. Y’all can check me out on there; that’s where I mostly be on instagram @p33di.
And putting Twisted City on the map.
London Rapper/Producer Lynx Cane Releases His New Album "At Your Wits' End"
20 year old London based rapper and producer @LynxCane just released his self-produced new album titled, "At Your Wits' End".
Introducing to DCWS is the 20 year old London based rapper and producer Lynx Cane. He recently released his new album titled, "At Your Wits' End", which follows "Gordian" from 2019, and is his latest project since the "Lynx 2" EP from December 2019.
The 8-track, self-produced album features Domtavlor, a rapper and producer from Leicester, and Chimezie, a rapper from Dallas, on the the song "Cleopatra".
Speaking about the “At Your Wits’ End”, Lynx says “The album is about me struggling and dealing with my insecurities, anxieties, inhibitions, and faith earlier this year, and how I was feeling when I was at my wits' end”.
Listen to this very DOPE new album right now, stream it on Soundcloud and Bandcamp and connect with Lynx Cane on his social media. Also, hang close to DCWS because our exclusive Q&A with Lynx Cane is coming soon.
Stream and Share “At Your Wits’ End” on: Soundcloud | Bandcamp
Singer-Songwriter/Producer Lenii to Release Her Debut EP "In All Fairness..." on September 24th
After releasing a string of successful singles, Irish-born singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, @Leniimusic will release her debut EP “In All Fairness…” on September 24th.
After releasing a string of successful singles, Irish-born singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Lenii will release her debut EP “In All Fairness…” on September 24th.
Currently the face of A Breath of Fresh Éire (Ireland’s leading Spotify editorial playlist), Lenii has independently amassed over 300,000 monthly listeners, has released 5 self-directed music videos and has charted on radio in both Ireland and the US (with the highest self-release on the Irish Airplay Chart for the month of May).
Her debut EP “In All Fairness…” will be released on September 24th and introduces Lenii as a force to be reckoned with. The EP is a brutally honest collection of six tracks, discussing the different mental health struggles and experiences of sexism that Lenii has faced as a female producer and artist in a society and industry that values appearance over everything. Lenii calls out both society and herself for placing more importance on “keeping face” and portraying false perfection over sharing genuine experiences.
“In All Fairness…” has Lenii’s satirical tone and distinctly Irish humor running throughout as she flips between cutting lyrics and soft melodies with undeniable personality. She addresses dark topics with a comical spin on things - showcasing her unique lyrical style as a witty and seemingly unfiltered, stream of consciousness. The listener is taken on a journey of self-empowerment, with Lenii ultimately ending the EP with her self-produced song “SLIP”. Drawing inspiration from Die Antwoord, Eminem, Ashnikko and Tim Burton; Lenii’s debut EP is a theatrical and evocative experience that couldn’t be further from easy-listening.
Be on the lookout for Lenii’s debut EP, “In All Fairness…” on the 24th, watch her “Black Bow” music video below and connect with her on her website and social media.
Stream "How Far We Roam...", the New EP by Dinothedondada and DONNY
@DonDapper0 and Dinothedondada have released “How Far We Roam…”, a ten track EP that melts down the 90s boom bap sample style production and drizzles it into the year 2020 with a new bounce and sparring back and forth reminiscent of Raekwon and Ghostface.
Either turn up your speakers or put your headphones on because we’ve got some real Hip-Hop music ready for you by music producers, DONNY and Dinothedondada.
DONNY and Dinothedondada met on the North Carolina Central University campus in Durham through a mutual friend and began to start collaborating on projects together strictly production. They have individually released a slew of beat tapes, instrumental albums and producing mainly for underground acts.
After discussing coming out with a project with them rhyming on their own beats, DONNY and Dinothedondada finally created “How Far We Roam…”, a ten track EP that melts down the 90s boom bap sample style production and drizzles it into the year 2020 with a new bounce and sparring back and forth reminiscent of Raekwon and Ghostface. The 10 track EP dives into a young black male’s perspective of life, navigating through negativity and life’s ups and downs.
Listen to “How Far We Roam…” right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with DONNY and Dinothedondada on their social media. Also, be on the lookout for our exclusive interview with the two producers, as well as our in-depth review of the EP, coming soon!
Stream and Share “How Far We Roam...”
Connect with Donny: Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Dinothedondada: Instagram
Marigolds+Monsters Announces Its Debut Album "Glow", Out Oct. 16th, and Share New Single "Falling Out of Rhythm"
On October 16th, Marigolds+Monsters will release its debut album 'Glow' and he's giving listeners a preview with the new single "Falling Out Of Rhythm", featuring Travis Barker and Tilian.
Matthew James Malpass is an American musician, producer, engineer, mixer, and singer/songwriter from Augusta, Georgia. He's also the mastermind behind his new solo project Marigolds+Monsters.
On October 16th, Marigolds+Monsters will release its debut album 'Glow' and he's giving listeners a preview with the new single "Falling Out Of Rhythm" (featuring Travis Barker and Tilian), now streaming everywhere.
Of the track, Matt says, "I wrote this song with Tilian a few years back while we were recording one of his solo albums. It sort of sat on the shelf because it never quite musically conveyed what I wanted. One day as I was working with Travis (Barker) on another project, I played him the demo and immediately he said "I know what this needs" and within 5 minutes he had laid down the drum track, first take, giving it exactly the life it needed. Travis and Tilian are both dear friends that happen to be insanely talented. I'm super grateful to have been able to do this song with them."
In his early years, Malpass worked alongside Platinum-selling producers Billy Hume and Matt Goldman. Malpass’ earlier discography includes projects with songwriting and production credits for a variety of established artists including Dance Gavin Dance, Issues, The Ready Set, Cartel, Manchester Orchestra, Tilian, Lydia, among many others.
Malpass moved to Los Angeles, CA to begin the next chapter in his career and began working as head engineer for platinum record-selling hitmaker, John Feldmann. During his tenure with Feldmann, Malpass earned songwriting, mixing, and production credits for artists such as 311, Andy Black, Atreyu, and The Fever 333. This lead to an encounter with legendary artist Travis Barker, best known as the drummer for Blink-182.
After a year of working under Feldmann, Malpass began working as head engineer for Travis Barker, which lead to multiple songwriting and production credits on some of the biggest records of 2019 including artists such as: Blink 182 , $uicideboy$, Lil Nas X, Vic Mensa, Nothing,Nowhere, Machine Gun Kelly ft Yungblud, The Fever 333, and Jasiah among others.
Listen to "Falling Out Of Rhythm" now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Matthew James Malpass on IG.
Stream and Share “Falling Out Of Rhythm
Connect with Matthew James Malpass: Instagram
Review: "All Heroes Are On Tapes" Album by Young Chaser and Killa Music
The “All Heroes Are On Tapes” collaborative album with Killa Music reveals @YoungChaser.519 to be a rapper of the highest caliber, showing off a lyrical mastery that feels unusually intimate.
Kitchener, ON based rapper Young Chaser offers chilled-out vibes with chill-out beats on the nostalgia-soaked spirit of “All Heroes Are On Tapes”. The samples here have a great poignancy to them, faded almost beyond recognition and giving them a lo-fi beats quality.
By far the highlight of the album comes from the passionate flows. Young Chaser’s vocals recall a life lived to the absolute fullest, for he neatly merges elements of storytelling and poetry into a coherent whole. Word choice is done with the utmost of care with balance placed on each verse. Refusing to speed things up, the atmospherics prove to be an essential element giving the entire trip an almost meditative quality. Much of this is attributed to the impeccable taste of producer Killa Music who brings a half-remembered quality into the fray.
The arrangements recall the audio manipulations of James Ferraro and Yung Lean. Akin to James Ferraro, the multiple layers are stretched and distorted. Rhythms are incorporated with great gusto as they morph into mutated hybrids. Melodies recall the eerie presence of Yung Lean’s “Unknown Death 2002” mixtape. So many different approaches are brought into the fray as the hip-hop and trap beats further emphasize the strange, surreal nature of the album. Every single track works off the last resulting a fully realized vision.
“Intro” sets the tone for what follows, featuring far-away loops that disorient and perfectly lead into “My Name”. Nimble beats skitter across “My Name” as the economic tempos work wonders. Delivery is pure fire on “Rap Game” where the morphed samples work wonders with the infectious, deep-set groove. Cryptic vibes tie the whole of the tense “The End”, featuring SwizZz.
Another highlight comes from the J-Dilla simplicity of “Truest” where the song has a glimmering sense of hope. A defiance defines the swagger of “Win”. “Outro” is actually not the concluding piece, yet offers a poignant insight on rap. Perfectly bringing everything together is another highlight, the fragile quality of “Cold North Anthem”, with Young Chaser’s brother Eloc.
The “All Heroes Are On Tapes” collaborative album with Killa Music reveals Young Chaser to be a rapper of the highest caliber, showing off a lyrical mastery that feels unusually intimate.
Stream and Share “All Heroes Are On Tapes” on Spotify
Verzuz With Brandy and Monica - The RnB Reunion That 2020 Needed
What’s the ultimate musical artist feuds from back in the day? @4everBrandy and @MonicaDenise definitely come to mind, as ”The Boy is Mine” starts playing in our heads. While some of these Verzuz battles have been disappointing, Brandy vs. Monica was the opposite.
What’s the ultimate musical artist feuds from back in the day? Brandy and Monica definitely come to mind, as ”The Boy is Mine” starts playing in our heads.
Verzuz Battles are the latest way for celebrities to prove their chops on line, providing tons of entertainment music lovers all over the world. It was created by producers Timbaland and Swiss Beatz as a form of quarantine entertainment.
It’s certainly surreal to be seeing your favorite artists live-streamed from your computer screen, as they battle each other for your affection and validation. While some of these battles have been disappointing, Brandy vs. Monica was the opposite.
New RnB queens like Snoh Alegra and Kehlani might be slaying in 2020, but where would RnB be at all without divas Monica and Brandy? The two of them represented a fleeting era of music that we’ll never get back. So of course when the two of them got back together, they broke the internet.
While many of us thought it would be a fiery shadefest (anyone remember when the two literally fought in 1999?) it was a gorgeous example of women supporting women. The reunion was a result of Missy Elliot working hard to get the two ladies together in the same room, and we thank the queen of hip hop for her adamance.
It had been a whopping eight years since the two were physically with each other. Monica told Brandy “I really do admire what you’ve done musically and what you have also had to endure personally.” With Brandy responding “I just need you to know I have the utmost love and respect for you as well. No matter the time where it seemed like I didn’t.”
It was a poignant reminder that women are often pitted against each other in Hollywood and by the media, and seeing the two of them hash it out in person gave us the feels. Further, Monica later admitted to Essence.com that the conversations had off camera were “bigger for me. You didn’t really get to see the authenticity of us having a real conversation as adult women.”
They each play fans 20 of their best songs, in a glorious and soul-feeding performance that felt cathartic for performer and audience. Watching these two songbirds jamming together side by side and cheerleading each other made us want to hop in a time machine ASAP.
And what did they finish off the Verzuz with? Their most famous duet of course: ”The Boy is Mine.” While her upcoming album “B7” was fire, we’re so ready for a future Brandy and Monica collaboration. 2021’s just around the corner - what do you say, ladies?
Review: "New Levels" EP by Amaru Muru
Throughout @lovemademuru debut EP “New Levels”, influences abound mostly from the new school of hip-hop. Forgoing speed, the clarity of the UK based rapper’s vision is akin to Kendrick Lamar’s patient, persistent flows.
Throughout Amaru Muru’s debut EP “New Levels”, influences abound mostly from the new school of hip-hop. Forgoing speed, the clarity of the vision is akin to Kendrick Lamar’s patient, persistent flows. The Southampton, UK based artist ensures that every moment is clearly crafted for maximum impact.
Verses are balanced too in order to give it a stream of consciousness tact, one that fits nicely with his lower register vocals. In terms of a mixture of the R&B and trap influences, the minimal yet effective arrangements recall the dexterity of Flying Lotus’s genre-defying aural mutations, forgoing easy categorization yet employing impressively thick grooves.
“Do It Again” sets the tone for the collection, with low-slung bass lines and skittering percussive elements starting to establish the groove. It does not take long for Amaru Muru’s distinctive voice to take command of the late-night atmospherics. Melodies waft up to the sky with a dreamlike aura. Stately keys give “New One” a massive approach. Volume is a must for the way that “New One” evolves lends it a sort of physicality, even an urgency. Pulling back a bit, “Level Up” offers a bit of self-reflection into the fray. Playfulness with the right degree of swagger runs through “Surfboard”. Here Amaru Muru displays a degree of confidence as the song rolls through.
Layer upon layer filters into the mix on the colossal highlight of “Round 2” deeply immersive experience, Amaru Muru embarks upon a meditative personal journey on the powerful “New Levels”. Lyrics rest in the very heart of all of it, nicely anchored by the intense trap beats that hit with sheer physicality. His flow never feels rushed he takes his time in creating something that comes straight from the heart. His storytelling abilities are unparalleled as elements emerge from a life lived to the absolute fullest. Closing the collection off, “Round Two” is a joyous celebration, one that is full of so much love.
The genre-jumping tour de force incorporates pieces of hip-hop, R&B, and trap into a singular coherent whole. The production has a polished perfection to it courtesy of Ken McKay’s deft touch.
“New Levels” shows off Amaru Muru’s highly unique style resulting in a wild swirling sonic universe.
Stream and Share “New Levels” on: Spotify | Bandcamp
Interview: Young Chaser Discusses His New Project "All Heroes Are On Tapes", Produced By Killa Music
Major shout out to Kitchener, ON based rapper @youngchaser.519 who connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to talk about his newly released collaborative project “All Heroes Are On Tapes”, produced solely by Killa Music.
“My goals for the rest of this year are to just keep improving and perfecting my craft because even though I’ve come along way, I know I still have many things I could be doing better and I always look forward to seeing where I’ll be in a few months. ”
How did you connect with Killa Music and what led to the decision to create a collaborative project?
Me and Killa First linked up about a year ago; I was introduced to him through my brother and fellow artist Eloc (shout out to him by the way). Me him and Eloc all worked together on our debut project “Chazzers” and since then we’ve been mad close and one day just thought about how everybody is worried about the “state of hip hop” and how it’s just trap music and no longer people rapping about the life they’re living so with this project we wanted to show everybody there’s still hope with artists like us and how much we have improved since our debut.
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new project "All Heroes Are On Tapes"; it's very dope. Describe for us your creative process for the development of its songs and what you were looking for from a production standpoint to write to.
The way I like to write is I’ll play the beat 2-3 times while I smoke a joint and just start brain storming ideas then after I smoke I start by writing the hook and just build the song off that what I write or rap about usually depends on what’s going on in my life that moment and how I’m feeling about it.
Can we expect visuals for any of the songs on the project?
We don’t intend on dropping any music videos for the project, but what we’re in the midst of doing is filming a documentary based around the project and how it all came together. I personally think it’s going to be super dope to show people mine and Killa’s process.
In what ways, besides being totally produced by Killa Music, would you say that "All Heroes Are On Tapes" is different from your "Untitled" EP?
It’s very different in just about every aspect from the way I was writing songs to the recording process. “Untitled” is not my best piece of work but it’s good because people can listen to that and then the newest project and see the improvement in not only my confidence and rapping ability but the improvement in how my vocals are mixed and how well the beats are put together.
I think “All Heroes are on Tapes” is an amazing project and wouldn’t have been what it was if it weren’t for my homie Killa Music and all the work he puts in from producing to mixing and just helping me evolve as an artist. I don’t know where I’d be right now without people like him so I’m truly thankful.
Tell us about the rap music scene in Kitchener, ON. Are locals generally supportive of home grown talent and are there a lot of venues to perform at?
Kitchener Waterloo has a very diverse music scene and has some very promising talented individuals. There’s a decent amount of people who show love to their city’s artists, but to be completely honest, our main problem is big cities like Toronto have such a huge influence and everybody here wants to talk and sound like their from Toronto when we should be paving our own lanes here and having our own unique sound and style that represents Kitchener.
There are a decent amount of venues here that welcome music like bars and shit but very few venues in the Tri city support hip hop artists let alone local hip hop artists. Now Waterloo has a dope new club called “Erb and Culture” which I support a lot because it’s a spot that embraces the urban vibes.
With "All Heroes Are On Tapes" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2020?
My goals for the rest of this year are to just keep improving and perfecting my craft because even though I’ve come along way, I know I still have many things I could be doing better and I always look forward to seeing where I’ll be in a few months.
I also want to build up my image so that people can know who Young Chaser is and be able to relate to what I’m about.
Interview: Southampton, UK Rapper Amaru Muru Talks About His Debut EP "New Levels"
Big ups to Southampton, UK based rapper @lovemademuru who we connected with for an exclusive interview to discuss his newly released debut EP “New Levels”, and much more.
“The goal for 2020 will just be to keep promoting online and building my fan base like that and hopefully have some live performances ready for 2021. ”
Congratulations on the completion and release of this EP "New Levels"; what are some things that inspired your creativity during its development?
Since this was my first time doing a whole project involving auto tune, I listened to a lot of artists that heavily use it. That definitely inspired me when going through the writing process.
What about Ken McKay's beats attracted you to them and made it easy to write to?
I've worked with Ken McKay plenty of times and his beats always just resonate with me. I just find his drum patterns unique and energetic.
Were there songs that you recorded for the EP that you decided not to include on the track list? If so, why not?
No, every song I recorded I kept on the EP.
“Surfboard” almost did not make the cut but then I realized how much it fit in with the other tracks.
How would you describe the hip-hop scene in Southampton? Are locals supportive of homegrown talent and is growing a fan base easy or difficult there?
The scene in Southampton is definitely growing and people are starting to pay attention to the artists.
A fan base is difficult to build but I think in the next 2 years the scene will be striving more.
With the EP now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2020?
Well because of the Corona virus it will be difficult to have any live performances lined up. The goal for 2020 will just be to keep promoting online and building my fan base like that and hopefully have some live performances ready for 2021.
Stream and Share “New Levels” on: Bandcamp | Spotify
Connect with Amaru Muru: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Review: "Detroit 2" Album by Big Sean
“Detroit 2” is symbolic of @BigSean long musical journey towards adulthood over the past decade. His past works (though just as fire) felt more adolescent…
“Detroit 2” is symbolic of Big Sean’s long musical journey towards adulthood over the past decade. His past works (though just as fire) felt more adolescent. A youthful perspective that still had some more wisdom to gain. Just like the other albums, there’s a wordy stream of consciousness in every track that covers all the puzzle parts in the Big Sean autobiography.
Here, Sean is a deity in his own universe, and he’s pretty much perfect the art of the humble-brag. The intro track “Why Would I Stop?” is a cocky and relentless answer to his own question. From the first few lines alone, we can tell that he’s been working on his ever-evolving vocabulary, and we’re hype about it. That vocab stands up against a glitchy and bassy trap beat - the production on practically every song is flawless, and stitches a story when strung together. By the end of the first track, it’s clear that his serpent tongued metaphors and messages for the haters have improved vastly since IDFWU.
“Lucky Me” reveals health issues discovered at a young age, and unexpected solutions he found, like Eastern medicine. This track has more of an old school beat, but around 2:10, he switches up the flow, the key and the whole vibe of the track, speeding it up with a quick delivery that Twista would be proud of.
“Deep Reverence” ft. Nipsey Hussle is a haunted time capsule that does the late rapper justice and explored how Sean dealt with the aftermath and the hate that’s bred from nothing in his own community. He reflects, “After what happened to Nipsey, I reached out to Kendrick / It wasn’t even no real issues there to begin with / Lack of communication and wrong information from people fuelled by their ego.” He also tackles the mental health struggle for Black men with “In high school, I learned chemistry, biology/But not how to cope with anxiety” This line, along with the others that explore Eastern philosophy and spirituality, show dimensions of Big Sean in a light that African-American men in rap aren’t usually portrayed in.
Baby-maker track “Body Language” lightens things up, in a combo hip hop and bedroom track that gets even steamier when bae Jhene Aiko starts to croon, followed up by a syrupy Ty Dolla $ign chorus. It’s a dedication to the naughty queens who want some “Body to body, cheek to cheek, soulful moaning” but it’s equally a dedication.
On of our favorites track was “Harder Than my Demons,” the #blackboyjoy masterpiece which he dropped as the album’s first single, and is filled with more of the rapper’s dizzying metaphors and rhyme patterns.. Prioritizing positive vibes and self care, this anthem is also a triumph above his mental health struggles, or inner demons. If you put in the work like Sean, you can too.
Like many of the songs on this album, it’s a fast track at 2:21 minutes, but we wouldn’t call it short - this man can fit a lot of words into a tiny time frame. He manages to chill out a bit with “ZTFO,” where he drawls, “laid across the couch I’m zen the fuck out,” doling out advice to not feed comparisons, or worry what others think about your life.
As he ruminates on the lessons he’s learned over the years, he plays with genres. “Guard your Heart” is a departure from the heavy hitting hip hop production and explores a more soulful vibe, while “Lithuania” experiments with indie percussion, warped guitar, and a rock n’ roll feel.
In glimpses of tracks, we learn about the artist’s childhood, aversion to Western medicine, and spirituality, among other things, as he navigates life through his third and fourth eye. It doesn’t fit the template of formulaic rap albums nowadays, with seemingly conflicting aspects that merge harmoniously. We don’t know if it’s Aiko’s influence or that CBD he’s writing about, but “Detroit 2” proves that 2020 really is is Big Sean’s year.
Stream and Share “Detroit 2” on Spotify
Young Chaser and Killa Music Release Their Collaborative Project "All Heroes Are On Tapes"
Check out the newly released project “All Heroes Are On Tapes”, a collaboration between rapper and producer, Young Chaser and Killa Music, both out of Kitchener, ON.
DCWS is ending summer on a high note with the newly released project “All Heroes Are On Tapes”, a collaboration from a rapper and producer, Young Chaser and Killa Music. The two Canadians are based in Kitchener, ON, a tri-city with a lot of music talent.
The “All Heroes Are On Tapes” project broadcasts the message that for hip hop to continue to grow, the older generation, the ones that were on tapes, would need to pass the torch and share their knowledge to the new generation. The project mixes new school hip hop with old school hip hop in both the production and recording.
Features on the project include another local artist Eloc, who Young Chaser and Killa Music have been working with since the beginning of their careers, as well as Funk Volumes’ SwizZz, who appears on the track “The End”.
The eight track project represents the two artists' styles and origin very well. Young Chaser is an artist who has been making music for 8+ years now and Killa Music has been producing for 6+ years. The duo comes from humble beginnings with similar influences as you will hear in the project.
Check out the very DOPE “All Heroes Are On Tapes” project right now, connect with Young Chaser on his social media, and be on the lookout for our in-depth review and interview coming very soon!
Interview: Rapper/Producer Kevlar Kevin Talks About His New EP "I.Ta"
We connected with North Carolina based rapper and producer Kevlar Kevin for an exclusive interview to discuss his new EP "I.Ta", and much more.
“North Carolina is where I started my life and the idea behind the EP is I will always try my hardest no matter how hard it gets.”
What are some things that inspire your creativity when working on new music?
Listen to what the most people are creating and never create that. My only concern is to make sure what I record to the beat is something I 100% feel and have passion for.
Would you say that there is an overall theme or concept to the "I.Ta" EP?
North Carolina is where I started my life and the idea behind the EP is I will always try my hardest no matter how hard it gets.
Who provided the production on the “i.Ta” EP, and what were you looking for sonically for the beats you selected?
I created all but two beats on the album, which were created by my co-producer Stokez who is a beast by himself. S/o Stokez and thanks for helping to bring this project to life.
I noticed everybody uses a stair step melody you can impose on any drum and bass and wanted to stay away from that for the most part.
With the project now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2020?
To work on my marketing and the best way to go about it. Learning the first hand way how much it cost to promote and how much of a all the time task it is for Independent artist. Also a stroke of my own neglect put me behind about a month and a half but that just means I have to double time it on the album. About to start writing the album that's untitled at the moment.
Connect with Kevlar Kevin: Facebook
Review: "Limbo" Album by Aminé
Aminé shows that he has grown as an artist since 2016/2017 and that he’s much more than a one hit wonder. I feel that there is at least one song on the “Limbo” album for every type of Hip-Hop fan. I’m proud of Aminé and I’m excited to see what this album does for his career.
In March of 2016, Aminé made a big entrance into the music industry with his song “Caroline”. The song and video went viral and were on repeat for the rest of the year. In 2017, he dropped his debut project, “Good for You”, and he also made the 2017 XXL Freshman list. Needless to say, Aminé started off his career on fire.
One negative thing about having a song such as “Caroline” is feeling like you may never top it. There’s also the issue of feeling like you can’t make any songs that don’t sound exactly like that one. I felt like Aminé’s debut album was average. I don’t believe he experimented much sound wise and to me, it felt like he was trying to make more Carolines. Fast forward to 2020, and after releasing a couple singles, Aminé has now dropped his sophomore album, “Limbo”.
Off the bat, I will say that this project has put Aminé in a different light for me. With a song like “Caroline”, he was in instant danger of becoming sort of a one hit wonder. This project is well rounded, experimental and really just good.
“Limbo” has a lot of different elements to it. I appreciate that Aminé made it clear that he can truly rap as well as sing. There are several tracks where he raps over boom bap beats and it shows me that he takes rapping seriously and that he’s good at it. Songs such as “Burden” and “My Reality” prove this.
Aminé does a good job with feature selection on this project. Whereas on his last project, I felt like some of the features were more for the name and didn’t really fit. Artists such as JID, Young Thug and Summer Walker not only have the names to draw attention, but their sounds are perfect for the songs they were used on.
There are songs on this project that won’t just get a lot of replay, but are also quality records. The tracks “Compensating”, “Riri” and “Easy” are all songs that can and will get major play on the radio and even in clubs once the world opens back up. I believe each of these songs achieves the goal of outshining “Caroline”.
Aminé touches on several topics such as love, happiness vs. materialism and even how he feels about his mother. One specific person, however, is brought up throughout most of the project. That person is Kobe Bryant. Aminé makes it clear through both bars and skits that Kobe had a big impact on his youth and that his death affected him tremendously. RIP Kobe.
Overall, I really enjoyed this project. Aminé shows that he has grown as an artist since 2016/2017 and that he’s much more than a one hit wonder. I feel that there is at least one song on this album for every type of Hip-Hop fan. If I had to give it a number, It would be about an 8 out of 10. I’m proud of Aminé and I’m excited to see what this album does for his career.
Stream and Share “Limbo” on: Spotify | Apple Music
North Carolina Rapper Kevlar Kevin Releases His New EP "I.Ta"
North Carolina based rapper Kevlar Kevin has released his first EP of the year entitled “I.ta”. Listen to this DOPE new project now.
Kevlar Kevin is a North Carolina based rap artist who has released his EP entitled “I.Ta” aka “I Try Always”. Speaking about the project, Kevlar says “It is designed to give an inside glimpse into the stories, fights and struggles i have overcome as a person and an artist. The beginning intro to very detailed and heartbreaking stories from my past I just now have found enough focus to share. My attempt to prove emotion and complex ideas still can exist and function even if the music landscape becomes more down hill daily. The beats are majority custom designed by me to exactly fit my mood at time of recording and for the most part are as unique as you can get in this day and time”.
The “I.Ta” EP is comprised of six DOPE tracks that we guarantee that you will have on repeat over and over, especially if you are a fan of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, or Eminem. Listen to the EP now, connect with Kevlar on his FB and be on the lookout for our exclusive interview with him coming soon.
Connect with Kevlar Kevin: Facebook