Los Angeles

Baby Keem - The Sound of Bad Habit /  by Alex Young

Baby Keem via Baby Keem

Baby Keem via Baby Keem

Baby Keem brand heats up as days go on and people discover his music online. Watching his Instagram live from Pittsburgh where InTheRough’s caught the Los Angeles rapper with questions, Baby Keem said he has more success with streaming platform Audiomack over SoundCloud. His newest mixtape, “The Sound of Bad Habit” amassed 10.6 thousand plays in 14 days on Audiomack alone. “I woke up and hit the lotto,” he raps in “Opinions.” The line is such a mood for how the Internet age can affect the popularity of rappers.

One blog reported a Tweet that said, “Baby Keem gave CPR to the hip-hop game.” Save yourself and stream “The Sound of Bad Habit.” It’ll have you “shaking like strippers,” former Taylor Gang producer Cardo says in the “Gang Activities” track. Cardo Got Wings production and influence juices Baby Keem’s product. You may be familiar with Keem’s work from “Redemption Interlude” from “Black Panther The Album.” I know you heard Jay Rock’s “Knock It Off,” yeah, that’s a Baby Keem beat.

With cosigns from prominent hip-hop actors, like those aforementioned and even notable A&R Brocky Marciano liking Keem’s pictures on IG, the rapper’s music is what makes his stock rise.

Baby Keem produced four songs on his “The Sound of Bad Habit.” He touched “Xmen,” “Miss Charlotte,” which he just released a music video for, “Check Please” and “Extra.” Cardo gets credit for beats on the album too.  The hard bass kicks and cool lyrics make this Baby Keem record something to share with your friends. “I like having fun,” he exclaims on the project. Listen and read good lines from his music below. “Next project coming 2019. We on,” Keem finished.

Good Baby Keem Lines

  1. “I don’t have time for trends. Dare I say it.” - Wolves

  2. “Gang, gang, gang it get chippy where I live.” - Check Please

  3. “I can’t fuck in the dark. Either you’re real or you’re not.” - Vicious

VibeRotation 25 /  by Alex Young

Here is a playlist dedicated to InTheRough staff's experiences that we've had and the songs that we've heard over the last few weeks. The kids' energy has been crazy at parties like Bounce 4 at Spirit Lodge in Pittsburgh or the 4.20 theme banger we threw in D.C. The time we've spent with young rappers like Blackboi and Zolo of the 'Burgh's Sanguine team put us in touch with new music. The communities' consistent creative outputs inspires us to find new artists to enjoy.

In VibeRotation 25, the music reflects ITR's D.C., Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh locations. The scene in D.C. is diverse with different moods that still hit on contemporary hip-hop. The genre-bending nature of the city influences the music. Pay attention to rappers SIR E.U in his song "Navy Blue coupe," as well as lineformation (M.I.L.F.). Across the coast, kids in L.A. and elsewhere listen to Chicago native WARHOL.SS who gains national attention as a parallel to Chief Keef. JR also wants people to be aware of guitarist Steve Lacy who has credits on Kendrick Lamar's new "DAMN." album. Pittsburgh remains relevant with the help of rapper Slicky Williams and his pleasant tune "Me You Us." Slick always comes through with something catchy. Also, become familiar with more Sanguine members, like Ant Windu.

Listen to the playlist below and click on the artists' SoundCloud profiles. Explore new music more.

Get to Know the FairRose and Sussioty Collectives /  by Alex Young

Orian Villa x Prezident at The Observatory, Santa Ana, Calif.

Orian Villa x Prezident at The Observatory, Santa Ana, Calif.

In the sub-cultures of hip-hop, plagued by monotony, standing out amidst the sea of young, energetic rappers is no easy feat. Los Aneles rap collectives FairRose and Sussioty have managed to set themselves apart from the pack with a perspective and level of versatility, few-- if any of-- their peers possess.

Cohesively, the L.A. crews integrate, some of the artists have dual memberships to each collective and other bands. The FairRose members are as follows: Apollo, Cereal Witness, Gigi Envy, Nile Villa, Frankie Jax No Mad, and Xae. Whereas DJ Amack, Orian Villa x Prezident, as well as Nile Villa x PyramidKid represent Sussioty, pronounced like "suss" in suspects or suspicious and "ioty" like in society.

Essentially, collaboration is a core value for both FairRose and Sussioty. While Nile Villa creates music within both camps, he and Xae were previously in a punk group together called The Hungry Eyes. Cereal Witness and Gigi Envy are a separate duo called The Stonewvlls. Apollo and Frankie started making music three years ago, and they set the foundation for FairRose together last year. Nile founded Sussioty.

Both music entities are staunch symbols for the enterprising and candid spirit that fills L.A.'s air. "The name FairRose comes from the cross streets Fairfax Avenue and Melrose Avenue," Apollo says, which have to be among the coolest streets in the country due to the sub-cultural consumerism available in the district. "We represent a culture that is viewed as suspicious by the general norm," Orian says of Sussioty.

The groups float from show to show throughout Los Angeles, and they have established themselves as the go-to opening acts for some of your favorite rappers. "Opening up for the Suicide Boys at the Novo DTLA - That shit was banging," Sussioty writes to ITR in an email. FairRose recalls their experience opening up for GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan at The Novo as one of their most memorable shows. They fit the bill with other artists like Warren G and they can heat the stage for the underground elites like Xavier Wulf, who FR and Sussioty opened up for at The Observatory in Santa Ana, Calif. and another time at The Novo.

Moreover, give credit to FairRose and Sussioty for their many opening acts because they show that the groups' music can entertain eclectic audiences.

Further, their authentic and positive approach provides more performance opportunities. It would be hard not to feel welcome at a FairRose and Sussioty function when they "encourage free-thinking, independence, and creativity," Orian says.

Currently, the two hip-hop groups have the skill to establish themselves as premier entertainers with dynamic and expanding music catalogs. FairRose explains their style saying "Imagine if Common, Madlib, Fugees, Wu-Tang, Black Moon, MF Doom, and Atmosphere made a baby," and no one explains it better than that. Sussioty delivers a contrast citing Rob Banks, Xavier Wulf and Three 6 Mafia as comparable artists.

Coming soon, FairRose and Sussioty will both release group projects in the form of E.P.s and L.P.s, and they will continue to perform and collaborate together throughout the L.A. area and beyond, like Austin, Texas where Sussioty will have a performance at SXSW on March 16.