Latest Posts

Short Moscato Releases Debut Full-Length Whatever / Forever

September 30, 2015

Short Moscato has been fervently involved in the Buffalo hip hop scene. Whether it’s showing other acts love on Twitter, or collabing on tracks with some of the city’s other great artists, the Good Hueman remains ever-present and dedicated. His full-length debut Whatever / Forever is a fine testament to city and craft, boasting a whose-who of features and great new Buffalo music. The feature list is really something, with appearances from Dr. Ooo, Komorebi, Hitch Burney, Gaines, M-A, Illusive, WZA, and Truey V. The Dr. Ooo-assisted “Swishers” is a project highlight as Ooo’s signature jazzy flow pairs perfectly with the gruffness of Moscato’s voice. “Face It” with M-A is the project’s banger, as Moscato and the MileHigh rapper take exchange frantic flows over a knocking beat. Though packed with impressive features, Moscato’s solo tracks stand as some of the project’s best. Opener “Steady” sees his wordplay on full display, with clever[...]

Chill Ali Drops New Track “Free Energy”

September 23, 2015

Buffalo rapper Chill Ali is an artist who has the ability to keep his flow “chill” at all times. His latest track “Free Energy” is a testament to that, as Ali takes on real life hardships while still committed to the style that we’ve come to love. While speaking of friends and family who are users (“you give em what they’re asking for, but now they’re coming back for more.”) and watching other rappers stretch the truth (“a bunch of actors, how you play that tough?”) Ali’s flow is composed as ever. It’s one of his realest songs to date, and an exciting hint at future material from one of the city’s coolest. Keep an eye out for a Chill Ali project in the near future, and check out the track below.

200 Kids Outside Drop AutoPilot Project

September 2, 2015

200 Kids Outside is an alternative hip hop duo from Buffalo consisting of rapper/vocalist Neetchy and producer/mixer Minel. Their latest project AutoPilot is an impressive collection of melodic, cloudy tunes of varying styles. Neetchy brings a unique blend of melody and rap to the group, while Minel serves forth instrumentals that draw elements from many different genres of music. Their production value is top notch, even though they’re self-described as “bedroom musicians.” Though unconventional, Neetchy’s singing shines throughout AutoPilot, particularly on the unification track “Needle,” essentially a ballad vocally. Layered, mechanized vocal tracks are characteristics of the duo’s music, and their use puts the music over the top sonically. This is most apparent on project standout “Stranger,” where Neetchy’s melodic ear creates a track thats hummable from the very first listen. The production on this track is great too, centered around some guitar strums that could be straight out of a King Krule,[...]

Edwang Releases 333 Remix Album

August 26, 2015

As one of the city’s most creative hip hop producers, Edwang’s output is always worth checking out. He’s cooked up original songs with rappers and also done some great remix work, the latter of the two being the inspiration for this post. Ed’s taken on remixing duties for some tracks off of The Tortoise and the Crow, an album from LA/Hawaii duo the Grouch and Eligh in a project called 333.  The Grouch and Eligh present a nice canvas for which Ed to work on. Eligh usually comes through with the faster of the flows, whereas the Grouch has a gruffer approach to his rapping. It gives Edwang more variety with how he wants to attack his beats. The first minute and a half of “All These Lights” is centered around some nice piano keys and then the beat is turned on its head as it evolves into some crazy post-dub electronica. Its[...]

King Midas Releases “Take a Trip” Video

August 19, 2015

“Take a trip, make it flip.” Its not a complicated formula, but its absolutely working for Buffalo rapper and Loot Boy King Midas on his latest track “Take a Trip.” With youthful exuberance, Midas flips and whips over a playful instrumental remnant of the ringtone era of rap music. Catchiness has been the law of the land in rap, and Midas is certainly doing his part with this head-nodding chorus and digestible verses. The beach-vibe video maintains the fun summer sounds. The track serves as the second single from Midas’ upcoming project Midas Touch, and the Loot Boys are cooking up No Free Loot for release in September. Give “Take a Trip” a watch below.

Mic Excel and L-Biz Release Unsettling New Vid

August 7, 2015

Oktoberfest is in stores, so some Halloween-y, horrorcore-inspired hip hop from Buffalo’s Mic Excel and L-Biz couldn’t be more welcomed. Though not quite horrorcore in the vein of artists like Gravediggaz and Three 6 Mafia, “What’s Under Your Bed?” is certainly on the creepier spectrum of rap music. On the track, Mic Excel delivers an emotionally manic verse, and L-Biz follows it up by discussing his demons as well. Framing the verses is a crooning hook from Angelica R, who begs the question of the track’s title. The track, produced by Angie M. Conte (aka Sparklebomb), includes funeral organs and running dialogue of what sounds like a taped phone conversation between a serial killer and a sex hotline worker. This is definitely a video that will be getting some plays back for the upcoming Halloween season, as it includes occult imagery, some demented barbies, and a Psycho-inspired shower scene. Turn a[...]

Valor Shines on “The Grove”

August 5, 2015

Buffalo rapper Valor is a fun listen. He flirts between serious and nonsensical, and his sound seems purposefully lo-fi and one-takish. On “The Grove,” Valor rides the beat with a pacing and bounce emulative of something form the New Atlanta scene. It seems unorthodox at times, but always remains where it wants to be. Valor also has somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek subject matter, evident by the opening words of the chorus, “Wake up in the morning and I piss sunshine.” Buffalo producer melisahasagun came through with a great, versatile beat that could be flowed over in numerous ways, and the way Valor chose to attack it has me excited for his beat choices down the road. Give it a listen below.

MileHigh Muzik Drops Track Each Day of July

July 24, 2015

Buffalo’s MileHigh Muzik crew has been producing quality, versatile tracks for a minute now. The great thing about MileHigh is that when they release these songs, they do so at a frenetic pace. As a Christmas present to their listeners, MileHigh dropped a new song every day of December in a series entitled #JUUGcember, and six months later they’ve brought it back for July. #JUUGly is the consistent dopeness we saw in December, if not at a higher level. Milehigh’s ability to cross rap subgenres ensures that each track feels fresh, and contributes to a project that touches on so many sounds. There’s the gothic bangers “Replacement” and “Don’t Worry,” which combine melodic verses with cloudy synth lines and heavy sub bass a la Travi$ Scott. The instrumental from MileHigh figurehead M-A on “10 Chains” is somewhere between the work of ATL’s Zaytoven and Erick Arc Elliott of the Flatbush[...]

ASLaaVeNaMeDot Releases “Sacrifices”

July 15, 2015

Buffalo rapper ASLaaVeNaMeDot, or A Slave Named Dot, is a grinder, and he’s trying to get his smooth flow and reflective bars some recognition. His latest track “Sacrifices” discusses that chase. The thoughtful construction of “Sacrifices” makes more that just a struggle-rap song. The hook “I guess I gotta die to get my shit played” can be interpreted as a double entendre referencing the hard work that goes into “making it,” along with the unfortunate phenomenon we see in music (and hip hop in particular) of romanticizing fallen artists. Recurring gunshot ad-libs create a sense of hype that pairs perfectly with the mellowness of the song’s primary horn sample. This is a pretty cool song, effortless where it could be forced, dynamic when it could get stale.  Peep the song below, and check out ASLaaVeNaMeDot’s Lets Play mixtape, released earlier this year.

Tonight: Homeboy Sandman

July 3, 2015

I first became aware of Homeboy Sandman when he appeared on an episode of the MTV’ Made in 2010. On the show, he taught a awkward teenager how to become a rapper. I hadn’t heard of him at the time, but around then he started making huge strides in his career. Soon after his MTV appearance, he signed with Stones Throw Records, a haven for rappers with serious lyrical and rhyming skill, and the perfect place for Sandman. His songs and flows evoke poetic vibes, and the complexity of the subjects he takes on in his songs (the American dream, Illuminati conspiracies) leave no word wasted. Homeboy’s latest album Hallways was released in the fall of last year to critical acclaim.  Homeboy Sandman will be back in town tonight, in a last minute, holiday edition of the Public Presents. The show starts at 11pm at Hardware, and for just $5 bucks, it’s[...]

MileHighMuzik Drops Visuals for “Smile”

July 1, 2015

The MileHighMuzik crew is always releasing something. The rap workaholics closed out last year with “Juugcember,” a stretch of 31 song releases for each day in December. In the half year since, they’ve been giving Juugcember tracks like “Red Carrera” video treatment. Their latest visuals accompany “Smile,” a track loaded with some great verses from the crew, a killer chipmunk sample in the beat, and a smooth neo-soul effort from Teddy Bear Casanova. As always, new MileHigh is on the way. Group leader M-A is already working on tracks for the group’s upcoming project Juugly. Check out the vid below and stay tuned for more from the hip hop group.

Chill Ali Drops Video for “Misguided”

June 26, 2015

Buffalo rapper Chill Ali is an artist whose sound is a perfect representation of his name. His songs are expected to feature smooth flows and an overall calm and relaxing vibe. On “Misguided,” Ali’s effortless presence on the mic makes the song a nice head-bobber, but the heavier lyrics take this track to the next level. “Misguided” is Ali’s description for the youth that are forced to grow up without good parental figures, or parents at all. Their lives without guidance can lead to mischievous or even criminal behavior that could’ve all been avoided had they had someone in their life to point them in the right direction. When they’re left to fend for themselves, morality unfortunately can be thrown out the window. It’s a great message, and one that should always be remembered when you hear about young people acting up in the news. Ali is a good enough rapper[...]

Toneyboi Drops Lead Single from Leaders of the New Kool

June 17, 2015

The summer of EV III releases is getting into full swing with the debut music video from Koolie High’s Toneyboi. “Guacaroni & Cheese” is the first single off of the rapper’s soon-to-be released album Leaders of the New Kool, produced entirely by Neckbone Rollins. The street banger’s production is an awesome effort of bizarro grittiness, over which Toneyboi lays out bar after bar. The Malt Disney-directed video sees the rapper and accompanying squad ball out on some courts, do some skating, and post up effortlessly around the city. Toneyboi is headed down south to finish school, but this Saturday the crew is throwing an album release/going away party for the rapper at the Waiting Room. The album is available physically at the party, and online the day after. Peep it below.

Chauncey Tails Links with Ultra Doux for “Otra”

June 10, 2015

Buffalo beatmaker Chauncey Tails has been noted in the past for his strong remix game and his lush, multifaceted production on original tracks. For “Otra,” Tails unites with NYC songstress Ultra Doux for some melancholy electronic R&B. The instrumental features an array of whistles, blips and Chaunce’s signature pitch-shifted vocal samples. The longing of the beat’s sample provides the perfect undertone as Ultra Doux sings hauntingly of regret, drugs, and contemplation. Give it a listen below.

mdnt and YLXR Team Up for “Baptize”

June 5, 2015

The pairing of Rochester electronic R&B artist mdnt and Buffalo bass artist YLXR is almost too perfect. The two have a knack for creating music that evokes or comes from a place of darkness, and YLXR”s past production hints that he’d be a great compliment to someone with the vocal characteristics of mdnt. Both artists also use abbreviated names, so that’s pretty perfect too. On “Baptize,” the creative forces unite for a song that deserves any and all acclaim. The mystique of mdnt”s drowning falsetto is paired beautifully with the dips and drones of YLXR’s futurebass production. The imagery in mdnt’s songwriting also deserves specific recognition, as the “reborn” theme of the track puts the picture of something like a water phoenix in the brain.  “Baptize” is the lead single from mdnt’s forthcoming debut EP VII Labors, due out in August. Give it a listen below.