Latest Posts

Yung Lean Announces Release Date for Debut Album

September 3, 2014

Swedish cloud-rap sensation, Yung Lean, has come back from his first-ever tour with big news. In the cryptic video below, the commander of the Sad Boys reveals that his debut album, Unknown Memory, is coming later this month on the 23rd. Unknown Memory is the follow up to Unknown Death 2002, the mixtape that made waves last year with it’s beautifully spacious production, ridiculous flow and lyricism, and some of the funniest music videos in recent memory. Lean is the yung face of one of the biggest movements in the hip-hop subculture, an artist that be perceived as a joke and a legitimate talent at the same time. Can he take another leap with this album, jumping from internet darling to a recognizable name? Probably not, but perhaps. RiFF RaFF went with Katy Perry to the VMAs after his debut album, Neon Icon, this year, so who’s to say we won’t see Lean sitting[...]

The Weeknd – “King of the Fall

August 29, 2014

Weeknd season is here! The often-mysterious new age crooner is back with another X-rated RnB jam, now complete with a truly Weeknd-esque video. Abel walks without emotion through the streets of Toronto, likely in pursuit of the drugged out models that are featured in nearly every video of his. Being that it’s his second new video in a week, the Weeknd seems to be scheming towards some kind of release before the year concludes. He made waves with his hilariously vulgar feature on Ty Dolla’s “Or Nah,” and right now his relevancy may be even higher than when he dropped his solid, but disappointing studio album Kiss Land around this time last year. “King of the Fall” hopefully hints that the Weeknd will own the season’s sound waves in a manner that he did in 2011, back when his whole aura was still a mystery. That’s one of the things that’s interesting[...]

Maurice – “Wxcked Girls”

August 27, 2014

RnB’s newest face comes from Ottawa, Canada. Emerging onto the music scene with a popular YouTube channel of covers, Maurice has the talent to be considered contemporaries with the likes of Frank Ocean, James Fauntleroy, and the rest of the biggest names in the genre. “Wxcked Girls” is one of three new tracks released by the 17 year old in conjunction with a feature on Noisey. On the track, Maurice alternates between pure singing and a hybrid rap with veteran skill, evidence of the artist’s original dream of becoming a rapper. It’s also revealed in the article that Maurice is a high school football player that fits his basement-studio recordings in between practice, school, and homework.  Without the music even being Maurices’s sole venture, the product is already there. Take this as an introduction to a young artist already ahead of the curve.

Action Bronson – “Easy Rider”

August 22, 2014

Always one to impress with music videos (see “The Symbol” and “Strictly 4 My Jeeps“), Bronsolino dropped a video of the year candidate this week. It’s a perfect ridiculousness, as the humor that Bronson displays in his rhymes transports to the video. Ironically modeled after something like a Tarantino film, Bronson rides through the desert on his motorcycle, fighting bikers, evading the coppers, and rocking out the closing guitar solo. The song also features the diss of the year, “I hear your bitch still wear Etnies.” Watch Bronson ride into the sunset below.

PG: A Female Rapper with a Golden Era Steez

August 20, 2014

The Roc is in the building! Rochester’s own PG is a female emcee with a dope flow and a knack for storytelling. On “Brooklyn Girl,” the femcee narrates an encounter with a fly chick on the train tracks of NYC. It’s an old school-styled song that’s refreshingly focused on songwriting, that which PG s already very good at. We’ve all been there, wanting to talk to that cute person, waiting for that moment to actually speak while your nerves build. The song touches on that feeling we’re all familiar with. As PG actually tracks down the BK girl, the song doesn’t lose any of it’s honesty and relatability. Check it out, it’s a great introduction to a promising new femcee.

J. Cole Releases Track in Response to Events in Ferguson, MO

August 15, 2014

J. Cole is the first big activist coming from the world of hip hop regarding the tragedies outside of St. Louis. This past Saturday, an unarmed black teen was shot to death by a police officer. Facts are muddled. The police say 18 year-old Michael Brown was assaulting an officer, reaching for his gun. Witnesses say Brown was running for his life from an officer who started the interaction with his gun drawn threatening to shoot. Some people of Ferguson reacted honorably with events like candle-light vigils, but others complicated the problem recklessly looting stores and vandalizing property of their own community, a community that already had big-enough problems at hand. It’s a tricky issue. Four nights of clashes between police and protesters followed, including the use of rubber bullets and tear gas. In the last couple days, tensions have settled and it looks as though the community will try[...]

Chae Hawk Releases Cinematic Vid for “Dinner Plates”

August 13, 2014

Love is complicated. Break-ups are complicated. Relationships are complicated. Continuing with that theme, Chae Hawk releases this 7 minute epic music/movie video for “Dinner Plates.” There’s a hawt Penelope Cruz lookalike, a couple of scorned lovers murdering each other, some pseudo-zombie action, and an impressively cool Chae Hawk back tat. Featuring beautiful black and white cinematography, this has got to be one of the highest quality local music videos we’ve seen in some time. Coupling that with a typically dope musical release from the Team Radio emcee, this is a vid you’re sure to enjoy.

The Importance of Young Thug’s TV Debut

August 8, 2014

Last night on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, we saw perhaps the most meaningful performance in recent rap history, as it was the coming out party for a certain Thug. Young Thug has been making waves with some of the best party songs of the last two years, as well as being the new go-to hook man in the scene. So what makes this artist’s appearance particularly interesting? Well, we might end up looking at him as a trailblazer. Kanye was weird when he was wearing pink polos and backpacks in the early to mid 2000s. He was stylistically a standout, the first mainstream rapper in forever with the preppy, intentionally not-gangster image. It would mark a shift in what was popular in rap, a move towards non-violence, humor, fashion, and so much more. He first appeared on the Dave Chapelle Show alongside Common, and has never left publicity since then.[...]

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Harold’s”

August 6, 2014

Simplicity is one of the characteristics that turned Piñata (AKA Cocaine Piñata) into one of the consensus, best rap releases of the year. Freddie Gibbs’ raps were simple, hard gangsta talk. Madlib’s beats were usually no more than a simple, buttery loop on repeat. One element was destructive, and the other beautiful. The contrast of the two formed an album that was easy to appreciate. “Harold’s,” the latest song to get the music video treatment, is simply an ode to the chicken place Gibbs refuels at when he’s taking a break from the hood life. “A plate of chicken with the bread stuck to the bottom/Fuck my enemies what you looking for bitch I got ’em.” The video continues the straight-up theme of everything Gibbs’ does. It’s at a Harold’s, and Gibbs raps. We see the Kanye’s and the Kendrick’s, where every lyrics means something deeper. We see the Drake’s where a lot of emotion[...]

Issa Gold – Conversations with a Butterfly

August 1, 2014

Issa Gold (formerly Issa Dash) is a Flatbush rapper who joined fellow rapper AK in forming the Underachievers. The two are members of the Beast Coast collective along with Pro Era (Joey Bada$$’ crew) and the Flatbush Zombies. The Underachievers identify themselves as  “Indigo Children” based on their experiences with psychedelics and their inherent ability to be  cooler than everyone. It’s no lie to say their indigo subject matter can tire pretty quickly, but they do have a very good project in Indigoism to get behind. Conversations with a Butterfly is the first solo release from Issa, who is often looked at as the lesser rapper of the two. Issa is a pretty interesting guy if you follow him on Twitter as well. He shares his vast wisdom with his legion of Indigoians (new word), and is never afraid to talk about how smart he is. He even reads books! The[...]

Ezamädi Releases New Fire Following Performance at Teamwork 2014

July 30, 2014

Back on the 20th, he performed with Chae Hawk and Nameless at Teamwork 2014, and earlier this week, Buffalo rapper Ezamädi released the new track, “Coltrane.” Just the second song we’ve heard from him on his soundcloud,  Ezamädi’s baritone voice speculates on philosophy and human interaction on an understated jazzy beat. Featuring lines like “I could paint a picture so vivid that you could live up in it, and I don’t like you looking in that’s why my soul is tinted,” it’s got the lines that will make a rap head go “Sheesh,” and the lyricism that can get respect from fans of all music. Complete with a dope beat switch up halfway through, this song is  can’t miss for one of the city’s up-and-comers. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/160274547″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Common – Nobody’s Smiling

July 25, 2014

Longtime G.O.O.D. music signee and legend in his own right, Common, is an interesting player in the rap game. His career started a couple decades ago under the name Common Sense, and his song “I Used to Love H.E.R.” is looked at as one of the greatest achievements in rap music history. He has a host of Grammy nominations, and a couple of wins. He’s also a successful actor, currently starring on the T.V. show Hell on Wheels, a Don Moretti favorite. He’s got borderline classic albums like Be (executive produced by Kanye, those were the days) and The Dreamer/The Believer, but he’s also had a few duds on his discography, especially when he tries to go instrumental like with 2008’s Universal Mind Control. Whenever Common sticks to the script, you can count on a thoughtful, poetic effort from perhaps Chicago’s most lyrical emcee ever besides maybe Lupe. Black history, activism, and Chicago social commentary plus a[...]

Chill Ali’s Dope Debut before the Debut

July 23, 2014

There are so many different styles in hip-hop, but there’s always refreshing about songs that take a personal, narrative approach. Buffalo hip-hop artist Chill Ali flexes his empirical muscles on T H R O W A W A Y S, a mixtape of tracks that didn’t make the cut for his upcoming album #FREEYAMIND. One of the standout tracks, “Shit on You,” is Ali’s description of his special relationship his boo. Over a chill instrumental, Ali talks of how superior she is to the other ladies. It’s honest and genuine. He even goes as far as saying he wishes for her every night at 11:11, which is not only a cool bar, but also pretty damn meaningful because there’s so many things to wish for. “Fake 1z” is a gripping story about chasing success and avoiding betrayal. No spoilers, but it’s an impressive feat in songwriting and a track that I can’t[...]

Shlohmo and Jeremih – No More

July 18, 2014

I stumbled upon this unlikely duo a little over a year ago when they released “Bo Peep” and the accompanying NSFW video that made my whole body feel funny. This project was originally slated to drop back in February, and after a few more quiet months, it was unsure if No More would ever drop. Shlohmo had previously remixed Jeremih’s “Fuck U All the Time,” but the two took step forward in their musical careers when they began to work together. Shlohmo is an electronic musician who’s been releasing music since 2009, and Jeremih is the artist behind “Birthday Sex.” As weird as it is to believe, this collaborative is perfect parts electronic/catchy RnB with a really creative vision. Shlohmo seems to be the mastermind behind this project, and he really is brilliant in his execution. Jeremih’s contributions are excellent, but the project really shines in the atmospheres Shlohmo creates and the way[...]

GOH vs. Sugarstarr feat. Redman and Method Man – “I Used To Be”

July 16, 2014

Hip hop’s favorite stoner emcee duo is back on a track together, and it’s a body mover. Meth and Red dropped the platinum Blackout album in 1999, starred alongside each other in cult stoner flick How High in 2004, and then released a sequel to their first album in 2009. The two have stayed relatively active in the rap game for the last 20 or so years, but it’s always special when they get behind the mic as a duo. They’ve given us the GOAT high school basketball warm-up track in “Da Rockwilder” and had a couple high charting singles with “How High” and that song with Toni Braxton. Besides their musical talent, they’re also two of the most entertaining figures in rap. Anything new by them is worth a check out. The dance-y beat crafted by the German DJs listed in the title turns this into something to casually enjoy as well.[...]