They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but it runs deeper than that. Imitation is a form of skill development: it involves using observation to attain competency. If you’re a budding guitarist aspiring to be one of the greats — or at least to perform at eminent local festivals like Waking Windows — a solid strategy to reach your goals is to copy those … Continue reading Four Iconic Guitarists and How They Achieve Their Sound
Emmavie ~ What’s a Diamond To a Baby Producer, songwriter, and singer, Emmavie, delivers a sensual and riveting body of work on her latest EP. From top to bottom, each track displays an originality that is so bold and refreshing it has the listener questioning “what’s next?” The production of this album meshes perfectly with mazes of contemporary sounds, each note wrapped in a blanket … Continue reading 4 Short Albums/EPs Perfect for Your Library
Planet Giza — Don’t Throw Rocks at the Moon Planet Giza’s follow-up to debut album Added Sugar is eclectic and bursting at the seams with talent. The Montréal group can take on a variety of different sounds within hip-hop and R&B, and flex their dynamic skills on Don’t Throw Rocks at the Moon. If my words aren’t enough, know that KAYTRANADA believes in them. Their latest … Continue reading 4 Short Albums: Planet Giza, Q, Steve Lacy, Tank and the Bangas
Kaelin Ellis — Kaelin Ellis Finding fame through innovative beat videos on social media, a collaboration with Lupe Fiasco, and some of the best hip-hop beats you could find on the internet, Kaelin Ellis is one of the most exciting young producers in the game. His self-titled album is appropriately ear-grabbing, with varied instrumentation and head-nodding drums throughout the project. Terrace Martin — Soul Juice Released early … Continue reading 4 More Short Albums Worth Daily Replays
Falling in love with a piece of art takes repeated appreciation, and given the recent trend of bloated tracklists, it can be hard to find an album you can return to day after day. But with a little digging, it’s not hard to find plenty of albums in the 10-to-30-minute range that pack the punch of a full-length production. Ric Wilson & Terrace Martin — They … Continue reading 4 Short Albums Worth Daily Replays
For hip-hop heads that grew up in the internet age, radio freestyle videos have been an unavoidable part of the culture. With nationally syndicated stations like Sway in the Morning and Funk Flex accruing hundreds of millions of views annually on freestyle videos, performing on air has become a rite of passage for young rappers, and an outlet for legends to flex their muscles. Fortunately … Continue reading Top 15 Greatest Radio Freestyles
Some of these artists left a strong mark on neo-soul in the 2010s, and others have yet to realize their potential fanbase and impact. But some things hold each of these artists together — a deep sense of soul’s past and present, a pitch-perfect voice, and the swagger it takes to amass a wide audience. Ari Lennox — Key album: “Shea Butter Baby” Her 2016 hit … Continue reading The Leaders of Neo-Soul’s Bright Future
While many fans are quick to compare their favorite artists to a great chutney recipe or ice cream flavor, I’m here to say that Pokémon are far better comparisons. What else can match the artistic output, creative flair, and personality of these legendary music-makers? Here are some of my favorite artists paired with their appropriate 8-bit comparison. Kaytranada — Gardevoir Often likened to the Ice … Continue reading Modern Artists in Pokémon Emerald
No matter what the reader’s opinions may be, it is obvious that Jay-Z is one of the elite hip-hop legends of all time. With so many projects across such a long period, Shawn Carter has fully advanced rap music for generations and his influence across all musicians and music fans is unrivaled. This article aims to rank the studio albums released by the GOAT, and … Continue reading Appreciating the GOAT: Ranking Jay-Z’s Top Five Solo Albums
Since the creation of rap music at the end of the ‘70s, the genre has undergone immense development. While MCs have gone on to craft discographies of different magnitudes and directions, all intend to make some impact on the evolution of hip-hop. Of all the periods in rap music, the ‘90s stands as the decade of heightened creativity and innovation, giving way to some of the most … Continue reading The ‘90s Women Who Built Hip-Hop
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