Latest Posts

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.

Sammus’ “Three Fifths” to be Featured in Independent Film Rodney

June 3, 2015

Music that comes from a place of social action is often some of the best. Amid a couple of years of perceived police brutality and persecution of African Americans, Ithaca rapper/producer Sammus releases “Three Fifths” for use in the forthcoming independent film Rodney. Sammus made the track to remind us “that black people are whole even though they are often treated like three-fifths of a human by law enforcement.” The “three fifths” element is in reference to the 18th century legislation that equated the lives of slaves to three fifths of a free man when determining representatives in Congress. Her message is represented in the lyrics of the chorus, where she raps “I wonder how much y’all judge is the worth of my soul? I seem to round up three fifths to a whole.” Sammus’ already-impassioned flow resembles that of fellow rapper-activist Kendrick Lamar when she approaches screams on lines[...]

Dr. Ooo Drops “City Man” Clip

May 29, 2015

Each release from EKL’s Dr. Ooo is an immediate must-watch/listen. One of the city’s finest emcees, Ooo is a favorite of the blog and last appeared when he dropped the visuals for “Fuq Dr. Ooo.” Today Ooo comes back with a creative vid accompanying his track “City Man.” The D. Thomas Magee-directed affair doesn’t actually star Ooo, but rather a female substitute because “the rapper has been changed to protect his identity.” The video features some visually fantastic cultural fashion, as well as some really cool animated effects that remind me of Iamsu!’s video for “Only That Real.” The song itself features a nice sing-songy chorus, and as with any Ooo track, the bars are top-notch and prevalent. Dr. Ooo is also set to perform at the Deep Thinka Records Herd Fest Showcase on Friday, June 19th at Duke’s. Watch that vid below. Dr. Ooo ‘City Man’ from d. thomas magee[...]

Short Moscato and Truey V Team Up for “Aaliyah”

May 22, 2015

Buffalo emcees Short Moscato and Truey V are two of the city’s most talented, and one month before their appearances in Herd Fest’s 2015 Hip-Hop Showcase presented by Deep Thinka Records, they’ve teamed up for a great collab. Taking the name from the late turn-of-the century RnB goddess, “Aaliyah” begins with a mystical beat of which Moscato remarks “Sometimes I wonder why all my songs sound like intros.” His verse goes on to be bar-rific with shoutouts to a young Batman (who he cleverly calls “Lil’ Wayne”) and “girls that do power squats” before he hands the chorus and second verse off to Truey V.  V’s verse starts off with the line “Sometimes I rhyme slow, sometimes I rhyme quick,” an allusion to the oft-referenced 1991 hip-hop classic “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” from Nice & Smooth. It ends up being something of a guideline for his verse, as V’s flow becomes[...]

Frigid Giant Releases “God Loves, Man Kills” Video

May 15, 2015

Hip-hop has been a platform for social commentary for the entirety of it’s existence. From Kurtis Blow through Ab-Soul, uncovering society’s hidden truths has remained a theme in rap everywhere. On “God Loves, Man Kills,” Buffalo’s Frigid Giant takes on the calculated glorification of drug trafficking, and that which relates to it. “They promote rappers to glorify the crack rock,” he says as the video depicts deaths and paraphernalia associated with drug use. It’s heavy, eye-opening stuff from the Polar Nation Originals emcee, and it needs to be discussed more. The track features some great cuts and chops from DJ Blacklisted and a menacing beat from the hands of Fresh Kils. “God Loves, Man Kills” comes off of Giant’s full-length project From My Cold Dead Hands. Give it a watch and listen below.

My Rap Name is Alex Unites with Cove, Hooizzy for New Track

May 8, 2015

Buffalo rappers My Rap Name is Alex and Hooizzy have dropped an anthem about making it through the inevitable struggle of being broke, young and independent. Titled “Broke as F&%K!,” the song conveys a sentiment that I think we’ve all felt one time or another. Alex’s imagery is great, if not too real when he drops lines like “I been saving the boxes from the cereal I eat, and usin’ em to build a wall to hold in the heat.” Hooizzy and Alex’s chemistry really makes the track as the two energetically exchange short verses and couplets. The music for the track is provided by the infallible Cove of EVC, who’s crafted a masterful beat that evolves and devolves throughout. “Broke as F&%K!” appears on Alex’s new mixtape Collage Radio alongside 19 more quality tracks. Alex is also appearing at PorchFest at 5:00 tonight on 147 Bryant St. Peep the track below.

BROTH3RKING and the Loot Boys Release “1000”

May 6, 2015

Buffalo’s Loot Boys are a collective of rappers consisting of King, KT, BROTH3R, and $kanks that have been teaming up with each other to produce some quality, catchy street anthems over the last couple of months. Among the crew’s recent standout tracks is “What You Need” from KT, “$cumbag” from $kanks, and “1000,” the featured track from the unified BROTH3R and King. Built off of a jovial flute sample from producer Code One, “1000” is something like a melodic banger. King and BROTH3R exchange verses featuring sparse words, effectively building towards the boom of the chorus each time. King’s ad-lib game also needs shouting out, particularly after the line “On the game I take two shits (What?).” Check out the Loot Boy’s impressively expansive collection of tracks on their Soundcloud, and peep “1000” below.

Tonight: Atmosphere

April 29, 2015

Though its often thrown under subgenres like conscious, emo, or backpack rap, Minneapolis’ Atmosphere is a pair of luminaries of hip hop as a whole, and the group will be at Town Ballroom tonight. The duo of rapper Slug and producer Ant have made waves with their allegorical, thematic music for 20+ years. Atmosphere is also two of the founders of the powerhouse independent hip hop label Rhymesayers, which they started in 1995. A live band supports the group on tour, bringing a jazzy, improvisational feel to one of the more composed hip hop artists out there. Expect songs from 2014’s Southsiders as well as some classic stuff from albums like God Loves Ugly and Seven’s Travels. Supporting the group is noted slam poetry artist, rapper and political activist B. Dolan, as well as fellow Rhymesayers MC deM atlaS.Tickets for the show at the Town Ballroom are available for $25 at the door, which open up at[...]

Mic Excel and L-Biz Team Up for “Clouds”

April 24, 2015

The smoothness on Mic Excel‘s latest release hits you from the moment you click the play button. After a four count, the EVC rapper jumps immediately into a melodic chorus of “da la das” that meld perfectly in with a creamy beat from the hands of TheProgrammer. Truth and awareness is the subject of the verses in the track, as Mic and  I.S.B. Music’s L-Biz talk up the importance of keeping your head out of the “Clouds.” Amid more thoughtful lyrics from Mic are some real great one-liners, particularly “I handle bars like a playground, you handle bars like a unicycle.” L-Biz’s standout featured verse draws off of experiences with women that try to break his invulnerable fidelity. “Clouds” is intelligent, catchy music from two talented Buffalo emcees. Peep it right down here.