Tanya Morgan released a free EP last year called “You And What Army” and here they are with a music video for the track called “Rock The Bells”. After that go and BUY the EP!
Monthly Archives: March 2012
7vnseal – Cry In The Wilderness
Sean Born “Behind the Scale” Review
I thought I knew everything about the Low Budget crew and then Sean Born came along. I heard about this project a while back and heard Kev Brown was producing the project and knew I had to listen. More times than not at least with Mello Music Group the emcees in the group have had projects beforehand but as far as I know this is Sean Born’s debut. I went into the “Behind the Scale” without hearing the samples off Itunes and only reading the reviews from Potholes in my Blog. Let me tell you what I found.
One thing I’ll let you in on right away is the fact that this is a very cohesive project both with the production and with the lyricism. “Grandeur” kicks off the album and it gives you the perfect vision of what’s to come with the rest of the record. Now usually I would pick out my favorite tracks and throw them in this review, but the tracks are so closely related and the concept of the album is so closely knit it’s really hard to do that.
Now I should warn you, not to take this album for face value (though the fact that you’re reading this probably insinuates you wouldn’t do that) this album is more than just an album saying, smoke weed, have sex with women and get drunk. It’s actually a really nice commentary on what inner-city members have to go through. And in fact touches on topics like black masculinity and more, but in an indirect way.
I have a couple of favorites on this record including “The Quartermaine” Sean throughout the whole record kind of goes through this push and pull with the life he has/had in the inner-city. You see him do the whole tough guy thing, but at the same time know he has to avoid the cops. He talks about women and drinking and what not but not in the context that you would hear on a radio single. Like I said if you take this album for face value you’re completely missing the point of this record.
Another track I wanted to touch on was “Bullshit” which features Hassaan Mackey from the other dope record “Daily Bread”. Now I mention this track because Sean Born was featured on “Daily Bread” with the track “The Trenches”. And this track is more of the same, both have been through and seen a lot and all of that is depicted through this track. After hearing both “Bullshit” and “The Trenches” these two really need to do a record together with beats by Apollo Brown and Kev Brown, it would be dope.
Sean Born is nice on the mike, you can hear his confidence as he depicts different pictures for the listener. While he’s more or less speaking on the same overall concept, he does take numerous approaches to it, and it’s not all bad, tracks like “Lights On” and “Pour Out Liquor” the former showing that he’s simply trying to make it to the next day and survive. The latter in some ways is his anthem to his life in the inner-city and the people in it.
Anyway “Behind the Scale” is real dope record if you take the time to actually analyze and think about what the Low Budget emcee is saying. My only real gripe with the album is that it can get kind of repetitive in that you know where the next song is going. At the same time though this record has been getting a lot of play and a lot of repeats on my end. There’s really no reason for you to not pick up this album. Kev Brown handled most of the production on the project but the other producers (Quartermaine, Kenwood and Oddisee) all stick to the sound that Kev Brown implemented while still bringing their own style, which I found impressive. I’m not really sure why people have been giving this album just an average marking, but I thought this was a great album.
Rating: 8.3/10
Cas Metah Verse Sale
Cas Metah of Scribbling Idiots is doing a special verse sale for all you emcees wanting to get a talented artist on your latest project make sure you hit him up at casmetah@scribblingidiots.com I personally will be getting him on my project, you should do the same!
Insufficient Funds “Choose Your Battles Wisely” feat. LMNO
2008 was when the trio Insufficient Funds made up of Benjamin D, Sinai and TruthBTold released their debut album. Coming off their supergroup Gallery Drive release the trio has leaked the single to their sophomore album. “Choose Your Battles Wisely” features Visionary emcee LMNO. Peep game.
Aquil + Yahzilla – Re-Introduction
“Re-Introduction” is the latest single from Aquil + Yahzilla‘s collaborative EP called The Bright Lady Sessions. The EP was recorded in North Carolina at 9th Wonder’s studio (Bright Lady Studios). Yahzilla also handles the visual work for this video
9th Wonder supplies the lyricists with his signature soulful sound. This is the first time that I heard music from Aquil and Yahzilla and I have to say that I am impressed. Good music. You can download The Bright Lady Sessions below.
Conquest – KONY (Killers Of Nationwide Youth)
*NEW* music from my man Conquest…here’s what he has to say…
This song was written almost immediately after watching “KONY 2012″, a 30 minute clip directed and put together by JASON RUSSELL in association the group known as INVISIBLE CHILDREN as part of their campaign to promote the charity’s ‘Stop Kony’ movement to make indicted Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony internationally known in order to have him arrested him in 2012 for crimes that include leading his army known as the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) towards extreme atrocities they commit against civilians, including murder, mutilations, rape and in some accounts even cannibalism. After watching this viral clip I was disturbed to the point I starting writing down my thoughts on the subject that now has morphed into a full song that you can hear and download now. SEX SLAVERY with minors and kids being forced into military action is sadly nothing new, but now we have an actual face associated with in the form of JOSEPH KONY, who’s been able to exist under the world’s radar for way too long. This song is my contribution in the fight to make this criminal known to the point that he’s quickly brought to justice and also…shed light on the fact that they’re many NAMELESS AND FACELESS CRIMINALS who destroy our communities from the inside out who currently roam freely. THOSE ‘KILLERS OF NATIONWIDE YOUTH’ need to be exposed as well.
Top 5 M.C.’s You Should Know…#1…Emcee Nemesis
This brother is an ill lyricist with a real mc flow and crazy wordplay skills. I been checking his music for a minute and never been disapointed…this year he opened the vaults and released his back catalog of music for free…so if ain’t up on him..GET UP NOW!!!!
PEEP THE *NEW* VIDEO “GHETTO GOSPEL”
http://emceenemesis.blogspot.com/ * http://twitter.com/emceenemesis
Sean Little “VS” Last Lyricists
As Sean Little prepares to release his brand new album “VS”, we caught up with him for a little one on one.
So first of, for the people that don’t know…who is Sean Little?
I’m an independent emcee, husband, student, teacher, & a host of other things irrelevant to this interviewIf you’re interested in Sean Little, check my blog athttp://www.iamseanlittle.me/blog
You made a very dope collaborative album with Wonder Brown last year. How did you meet Brown and how did you guys decide to do a whole album together?Well thank you for your kind words regarding a love aPhiliated, I really enjoy that album as well. Wonder & I met through mutual friends in Cincinnati, OH several years ago. As our acquaintance became friendship, Wonder approached me about doing an album together. Our friendship grew deeper through the following seasons & a love aPhilaited is the result.As a side note: I have a lot of friends who rap. I’m not saying this because Wonder Brown is my friend. Wonder Brown is one of the illest emcee’s I have ever known & possibly one of the illest emcee’s I will ever have the pleasure of working with. If you haven’t heard Wonder Brown’s raps, stop reading this interview, forget about Sean Little, & go Google Wonder Brown.Now to what this interview is really about. You have a brand new album coming out March 6th and it is titled “VS”. What is this album about?VS is about me, my humanity & my hope. A collection of my thoughts & experiences.How did you come up with the name “VS” for the album?My wife & I would listen to early renditions of the album, which, for a long time, didn’t have a title. So, she started calling it the Vintage album (referring to Vintage, the album’s producer). As I approached a creative conclusion & considered an album title, I contemplated including Vintage’s name, but decided against it because the word vintage is too packed with meaning. Folks here that word & think of a myriad of things, that have nothing to do with the feel, heart, or intention of VS. I arrived at VS because of it’s simplicity & significance. I encourage you to consider the album to arrive at why the album is named VS.You mentioned the album is entirely produced by one man, and that one man is Vintage. A lot of people got their real first experience of hearing Vintage one Theory Hazit’s “Lord Fire”. How did you guys hook up?Theory actually connected me with Vintage, years ago. I’m talking a couple/few years before Lord Fire was released. On the strength of Theory’s connection, Vin & I began communicating & eventually, working together. My a love aPhiliated album was the first complete project that I did with Vintage. VS is the second.What can the listeners expect from hearing “VS”?Honest, authentic, excellent emceeing.What is your personal favorite song? Why?Phew. What an intense question. It’s challenging to separate a song from the body of work it’s included in. And, it’s challenging to choose only one. So, how about three? Sunshine, I Do, & Moment. Why? Because I said so, that’s why! Now go to your room. To answer the question, I feel like I captured something unique, vulnerable, authentic, & excellent in each of them.I had known about this album for a little while (because you had mentioned it to me) but other than that, you were very secretive about the whole process. Most people tweet or post about what they have been working on, but not you. Why were you so secretive?Secrecy wasn’t the motive. I just didn’t want to talk about it for months on end. So, when the pieces were in position, I announced it. Less than three weeks will pass from the day I announced it, to the day I that I release it & I like that there doesn’t have to be too much talking before people can experience VS for themselves.You are touring for this album, where can people try and catch you on tour?I’ll be touring throughout 2012 to promote & perform VS. The Spring leg of tour kicks off Friday March 2 and in 9 days I’ll play at least 7 shows. Throughout the Spring I’ll play nearly two dozen regional shows. Between the end of Spring and the beginning of Summer, I’ll most likely head to Europe for a 10-14 day tour, which I’m absolutely thrilled about. In the Summer, I hope to tour on the East & West coast. But, I go where I’m wanted, so if you want me in your town, you can book me at http://www.iamseanlittle.me/contactWhere can people buy or download the album?All of my music & merch can be purchased through my website (http://www.iamseanlittle.me). In addition, my albums can be found on iTunes and http://www.sphereofhiphop.comWhat is next for Sean Little after “VS”?More of the same: life, marriage, school, work, & musicAny final thoughts?I appreciate anyone giving me the time of day. I hope that I’m an encouragement & refinement. If you dig my work, please purchase it.
Shadow of the Locust- “In The Name Of”
YEAR of the LOCUST!
It is an exciting time in the fields of Hiphop! A plague of Locust has been sighted, inspired by the harvest fields. With them, they bring Offerings to the Masses! Every Month in the Year 2012, we will be offering free NEW music. Not previously released! Featuring the talent, skill and inspiration of SOTL members! For more info on this new and fresh movement of Shadow of the Locust, visit www.locustfist.com and pass the word around! Look to the sky ! Heed the warning the Shadow is coming, the Shadow is coming!
