InTheRough Style - "Listen To The Kids, Bro!" (Playlist)

Photo by Alex Young

In an effort to represent the new age of hip-hop, R&B, soul, electronic-house and pop InTheRough Style delivers its latest playlist, "Listen To The Kids, Bro!" The collection of music, appearing on SoundCloud, draws inspiration from Kanye West's famous 2015 VMA Vanguard Speech. West says,

“I’m confident. I believe in myself. We the millennials, bro. This is a new mentality. We’re not gonna control our kids with brands. We not gonna teach low self-esteem and hate to our kids. We gonna teach our kids that they can be something. We gonna teach our kids that they can stand up for theyself! We gonna teach our kids to believe in themselves!”

While some found his declaration for presidential candidacy in the speech absurd, his words capture an "impossible is nothing" type attitude. When he exclaims, "Listen to the kids, bro!" it is a call to action for youths to do anything and everything they set their minds to.

Contemporary artists in the mix like Justin Bieber (Journals > Purpose), Choo Jackson, Mick Jenkins and Cal Scruby are testaments to the fact that millennials are self-made go-getters. Plus, thanks to platforms like SoundCloud and Bandcamp, more young artists are able to showcase their work to large audiences.

New flavors from lauded artists, like 50 Cent's "Too Rich," reminds the youngsters out there to respect their elders.

ITR also continues its spotlight on London rap including Piers James and Adian Coker. Both artists recently debuted projects, Green Screen In-Visible View - EP and Time Out of Mind - EP respectively.

Explore and enjoy new music under "Listen To The Kids, Bro!"

lineformation (M.I.L.F) presents 10 Beers Deep

Cover art by Israel Acosta

The DMV music scene is more than the commercial success of Wale, GoldLink, Shy Glizzy, and even  Fat Trel.  For whatever reason, the music propagating from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia has remained just that--regional.  A new wave of sound and artists are coming though, it's only a matter of time.

Washington D.C. has a rich culture of subgenres of music that have come to define our Nation's capital and its people. Take for example, a subgenre of funk, Go-Go music, which emerged in the mid 60s to late 70s.  The unique regional fusion of percussion, horns, and R&B that has been a staple on District street-corners and block parties is representative of the diverse African and African American cultures and communities that take a back seat to the Federal operations of the Capital.  Straight Up Go Go, a documentary produced and directed by Shuaib Muhammed Kedar and Shuaib Mitchell explores the roots of the music while providing a different perspective on the recent history of Washington, D.C.  I recommend watching this film not only for the historical context, but also because it encompasses what the music of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia embodies--movement, expression, and soul. 

The hip hop music that is being created within the region is reminiscent of the Go Go style not necessarily because of the sound, but because of its enthusiasm and impulsivity.  Listen to lineformation (M.I.L.F) and you'll understand the kind of energy I am referring to.  You can't just stand there and listen. 

Mitch, Phlegm, Avi Twat, Big Trees, Tedy Brewski, Mexico, and The Sleaz, AKA "Lil' Boogie",  make up the ensemble that is lineformation (M.I.L.F), a rap group based out of Washington, D.C.  Operating on SoundCloud and Bandcamp, these guys just keep creating new projects after another.  In the past four years, M.I.L.F has produced twelve major EPs or tapes, some focusing on a single member of the group, like M.I.L.F Mitch: Pink Panther EP, while others illustrate the sonic range of the entire team.

The description of M.I.L.F's most recent project, 10 Beers Deep, claims that the mixtape is, "a culmination of drunk songs," but I believe this to be an over simplification.  10 Beers Deep is a conceptual piece of music about the Navy Blue crew's hedonist lifestyle of sex, drugs, and rock & roll.  You might ask, 'What's so novel about a tape that sensationalizes those types of activities, especially when every other song being played on the radio is regurgitating the same topics?'  10 Beers Deep distinguishes itself from these other songs because of its varied approach.  Typically when you hear a turn-up song, there is a common thread of production: the rapper shouts over the very heavy bass while the trap twists and reverbs fill the background.  These tracks are called "bangers" for a reason; those consistent booms and bangs are relentless.   lineformation (M.I.L.F) essentially discusses the same things, but sonically they are not one-dimensional. 

One thing you'll note about 10 Beers Deep is the level of melody and chanting that is prevalent in songs like "This Guy That Guy", "Thottie Juice", and "Global Guts".  The repetition of the phrases and individual words--"Guts, guts, global guts..."-- creates a rhythmic flow that evokes the same infectious swaying that you'd experience with a song, like "Sloppy Toppy" by Travis Scott. Moreover, the hollow sounds of "Cocaina", produced by RobSmokesBands, is an appropriate representation of the kind of empty euphoria one might feel under the influence of drugs.  

The group's range and musicianship is evident in two of the mixtape's most radical songs, "10 Deep" and "Pussy Was Tight", produced by Trip Dixon/Gucci Luey and Maada respectively. The saxophone, which begins "10 Deep", is a refreshing addition to the heavy bass and snare hits, enabling the track to balance on moments of melody and much colder, hard-core moments where you can envision the mosh-pits in full affect.   In no other song is M.I.L.F's drunkenness more apparent than in "Pussy Was Tight."  The funky chords and pleading/droning you hear in Tedy Brewski's voice are evocative of the drunken motivations that creep up in your mind during the wee hours of the morning. 

10 Beers Deep is effective because of the collaborative efforts lineformation (M.I.L.F) heavily believes in.  In twelve tracks, six different artists were heard against the production of ten different producers.  Multiple minds are greater than one.  M.I.L.F's ability to play off one another's lyrics and beats as well as solicit input from outside creators yields a final product that is unique and dynamic, no matter how trivial a topic.

Check out lineformation's 10 Beers Deep above, and it can be downloaded along with their full discography on Bandcamp. 

Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran, Big Sean & Vic Mensa - Lay It All On Me

Via teddysphotos

Listeners may have heard "Lay It All On Me" upon its debut on BBC Radio 1 back on Sept. 24, 2015, or on Ed Sheeran's album, X (Wembley Edition). With Sheeran as the song's feature artist, it gave UK band Rudimental plenty of exposure and air time on radio waves across the world.

"Lay It All On Me" served as a promotional single for Rudimental's third studio album, We The Generation. Now that the album's October release is behind us, rappers Big Sean and Vic Mensa deliver a refreshing remix to "Lay It All On Me." Rudimental supplied The FADER with a statement:

“We did a remix for Big Sean and when he was next in London we hooked up a session. We wanted to collaborate on something and he really felt ‘Lay It All On Me’ so we changed the beat a bit so it suited a rapper. Vic Mensa is one of our favourite up and coming rappers so we got really excited when he agreed to jump on for a verse and felt like a good fit with Big Sean.”

Listen to the new version of "Lay It All On Me" below.

Source: HYPETRAK

Pusha T - Crutches, Crosses, Caskets & 'Darkest Before Dawn' Tracklist

Pusha T via Flaunt Magazine

After being named the president of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music record label, rapper Pusha T prepares to drop his album, Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude.

"When it comes to albums and things like that, I have a very manicured process in which I get to take my time and I think he [Kanye] sorta respects that I get to take my time," said Pusha T in a Billboard exclusive. The president-rapper aims to put excitement back into the art of music.

For King Push's upcoming album he adds a flare of artistic integrity. The first single he released, "Untouchable," premiered on G.O.O.D. Music's website and only played as long as listeners clicked and held the image of flying doves. A coinciding music video for the track aided in Darkest Before Dawn's promotion.

On Apple Music Pusha shows fans the patient process of making his new album. Video clips of studio sessions for singles "M.F.T.R." and the latest, "Crutches, Crosses, Caskets," appear on his Connect profile.

There is no pressure during Pusha T's creative process and that is why he has the luxury of time to deliver a solid body of work.

When the time is right everything will come to fruition. Precisely, that time will be Dec. 18 when DBD: The Prelude releases. The project's tracklist shows album credits by Timbaland, Diddy, Kanye West, Kehlani and many more.

Listen to Pusha T's newest single, "Crutches, Crosses, Caskets," and let the anticipation build.

Pusha T – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude (Tracklist)

1. Intro
2. Untouchable (prod. By Timbaland)
3. M.F.T.R. (Feat. The-Dream) (prod. by Boi-1da and Frank Dukes)
4. Crutches, Crosses, Caskets (prod. by Diddy)
5. M.P.A. (Feat. Kanye West, A$AP Rocky & The-Dream) (prod. by J. Cole)
6. Got Em Covered (Feat. Ab-Liva)
7. Keep Dealing (Feat. Beanie Sigel)
8. Retribution (Feat. Kehlani)
9. F.I.F.A. (prod. by Q-Tip)
10. Sunshine (Feat. Jill Scott)

Amir Obè - 'Happening In The Grey Area' EP Stream

Photo by jxdirect

"My parents never even knew I was making music 'cause I'd only do it privately. I was really into sports -- that was my passion first. I was trying to play college basketball," said 25-year-old singer and rapper Amir Obè to Billboard in an interview.

Now, the product of Detroit and Brooklyn upbringings, Obè centers his focus on music. As a frequent collaborator with OVO affiliates PARTYNEXTDOOR and even Drake on "Star67" from IYRTITL, Obè gains national attention from the working relationship he has formed with the Toronto crew.

A year after releasing his "Detrooklyn" mixtape, Obè releases his new EP, Happening In The Grey Area. The project is preceded by lead singles "Truth For You," "I'm Good," both featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR, and "Just Know," which some may have heard on Soulection Radio.

The artist calls his music "very conversational," and his relationship with OVO "Not anything official." However, be alert for more OVO x Amir Obè music and listen to Happening In The Grey Area below.