Nappy Nappa's "+RAWDOGRAWLOVERAWGOD+ part 1: Ascenshun" Out Now

Listen to Nappy Nappa's seven-track EP available on all streaming platforms.

The Southeast, D.C. rapper cemented a momentous and prolific last four months with the release of his new project “+RawDogRawLoveRawGod+ part 1: Ascenshun” on Tuesday.  The EP was dropped following a recent trip to the United Kingdom, an appearance on Adult Swim’s Blood Feast Livestream in Atlanta, 19 original gems on SoundCloud, and an opening act for up-and-coming New York emcee, Wiki, at Songbyrd Music House just last week.

Featuring cover art that is an abstraction of Notorious B.I.G’s classic Ready to Die album cover, Nappa’s project veers towards the sonically abstract, too. Distorted, computer-sounding bleeps and bloops are common elements throughout the RawGod’s production, including songs like “1w” and “Boost Project,” a track that was first heard on In Studio Live.

In “Ascenshun//Intens Anticipation,” Nappa sings a chorus that sounds cathartic for him, blocking the “wickedry” in the world as he puts it.

“I raise my head from my pillow.  That’s when I live my dreams.”

Napito is focused on his music, although it doesn’t always come off that way.  At his show with Wiki, he was turnt all the way up with fellow LADS Auto Lola and Marty Heem Cherry, who also appear on the project. During the Blood Feast Livestream, he and mentor Sir E.U started scrapping on the floor, mid-broadcast because E.U interrupted a moment of silence prompted by Nappa himself.  These instances of chaos, choreographed or not, do not cloud Nappa’s earnestness to deliver a trademark set.  “I was sent to earth on a mission, so like Moses or Martin, I’m not the most perfect person, far from it, and I may not make it to the Promised Land, but we should see to it that as many people/generations/babies [as possible] can make it,” he wrote over email.

Nappy Nappa on set, Blood Feast Livestream

The project takes a funky turn with “MPH//Bend’n Forc’z,” which is sure to maximize Nappa’s energy on stage.  It’s reminiscent of Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps,” albeit way groovier and synthed out.

From the Kangol hats to the Nike Blazers, it feels like Nappy Nappa is an old head at heart.  He feels it, too, writing “#oldcity” in his SoundCloud bio in reference to the District as a once “Chocolate City,” and he signs off his tape with the bars “Southeast, South, Southeast” in an ode to Boogie Down Productions’ 1987 classic, “South Bronx.”

“I’m blessed to be from D.C.,” he says.  “I feel as though my energy/spirit to be aware, selfless and active comes from [D.C.], but it’s bigger than me and where I’m from.”

You can listen to Nappy Nappa’s “+RawDogRawLoveRawGod+ part 1: Ascenshun” on all streaming platforms now.

Look out for Nappy Nappa in volume two of the ‘Sounds of D.C.’ playlist coming soon.

Ta Ta For Now, Ahsé

Local Pittsburgh Rapper Michael Ahsé Moltz Moves to Los Angeles

Matt LeBlanc, Roach, Ahsé, Rio, James Perry | Photograph by Alex Young

Like most kids, Ahsé (Awe•Say) walks around in a T-Shirt, jeans, and Jordan brand sneakers. Though as he sits for interview, the 19-year-old dons a white, fur trench coat and platinum grills on his teeth.

His Hollywood, and classic rapper aesthetic prelude the rapper's forthcoming move to Los Angeles where he will pursue a job with Universal Studios.

Before he departs, Ahsé shares memories in the studio he's recorded past songs and with his friends who've experienced life with him. Matt LeBlanc, a producer who tasted viral success with the track "Damn Daniel," sits in front of the desktop Mac. Shakkur Thomas, a.k.a. Roach, one of Ahsé's best friends, sits on the floor with his knees to his chest. "I can feel 2Pac's emotions," he says. James Perry matched Roach on the opposite side of the room. Both Roach and Perry join Ahsé in the Lokal Foreners rap crew along with Hippy Swizzy and Que Dafoe.

Matt plays a song he made with Ahsé called "Fanny Pack." "Recording this shit was fun as hell. This is my favorite verse you did here," Matt says.

Suddenly, "bring that cypher," Matt says. "James you tryna get in that freestyle," Ahsé asks. James agrees to rap.

"How shallow is you? Step out of your body for a little," James says. "Open those eyes and let you walk with me," Ahsé adds.

The room is pleasant, kids having fun listening to music. "What I saw was the energy [from Ahsé]," Matt says.

If Ahsé isn't rapping, he's on his skateboard. "I definitely skated before I rapped," he says. He remembers walking from his home in Penn Hills to the Duff Skate Park and then walking to the Timebomb streetwear shop in East Liberty where he met the owner, Brick. "We got paid to skate and slap stickers around. Brick sets up the opportunities."

Additionally, Ahsé rode for the Daily Bread lifestyle label. They gave Ahsé and his We're Not Free skate crew free clothes.

Growing up, "the only way I could express my emotions was through art," Ahsé says. He started making music when he was 15-years-old. Ahsé's family put him onto good music. His mom gave him vinyl records by Prince, Anita Baker, Tina Turner, and Al Green. His brother, Nick Moltz, played him Kid Cudi's "Man on the Moon" for the first time.

A post shared by InTheRough (@intheroughstyle) on Oct 26, 2017 at 1:05pm PDT

"My older siblings are my guidance to somethings," Ahsé says as six of nine Moltz children. He values his friends too. He carries on the life of his friend Todd Dye, who was killed by police brutality in Colorado Springs, Colo. in 2015. The phrase "If you don't have a target, you'll always miss" is something Todd told Ahsé and it's a tattoo on his arm now. "If not for We're Not Free and Todd, everything would be different," he says.

While Todd's life drives Ahsé, the rapper has yet to release a mixtape. He has solid collaborations with Lokal Forener mate Hippy Swizzy and another local rapper named Bossy. Currently, Ahsé wants to "build up" for the release of his debut project, "Age of Aquarius." The tape's title plays on Ahsé's spirituality, sense of self, and zodiac sign. He calls himself a buddhist. "The higher power has been in yourself the whole time," he says.

“If you don’t have a target, you’ll always miss.”

— Todd Dye

As Ahsé gets ready to board his plane to L.A. and start life in a new place, he says he'll be back in the 'Burgh soon, and to his friends, "stay golden," as Todd would say.

ROUGH SAMPLE

We've been busy archiving plenty of music for 'Rough', InTheRough's debut event at Uptown Art House.  On October 27, D.C. will be the scene for a mixed media music and art show celebrating youth and its creative communities.  Tracks receiving national attention like Brockhampton's "Swamp" and the posse-cut "Walk on Water" from A$AP Mob, are just a swab of the sounds guests will hear at 'Rough.'  Favorite songs from the night's live performances including District-artists Sir E.U, Tedy Brewski, and Rob Smokes feature in the playlist.

Get right and we'll see you at the party.

Rough

October 27th @ 7pm

Uptown Art House

3412 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008

Linwood and Sierra Sellers Deliver Mood Music

Some artists consistently execute moods, like a tranquil hit sensitive enough to talk about love and experience over raw beats.

Musicians Linwood Randolph and Sierra Sellers represent that balance here. Their dynamic created a beautiful collaboration in the song "She Tried" produced by Zach Healy and observed by Connor Duddy. Linwood's on a roll since his "Let's Not Wait Til Summer" E.P.

Plus, Sellers premiered a tender new song of her own called "Gimme." To attain love, commit.

Enjoy the mood set by a local Pittsburgh cast.

The Tedy Brewski Interview

Words from rap's underground veteran.

Tedy Brewski photograph by Maxwell Young

Tedy Brewski didn't appear in InTheRough's VibeRotation playlist until late 2015 when the DMV-based rapper featured prominently on a few tracks of D.C. family lineformation M.I.L.F's tape, Ten Beers Deep.  His song "Global Guts" was an instant favorite as his rhythmic chanting evoked infectious head-nods.  Brewski has since released four solo projects, his most recent the Platinum Beach EP, and a number of singles through SoundCloud.

He moves with ease over boom bap beats and adds his twist to the generation of 'mumble rap' on songs like "My First Time" and "Blue Dream" found in The Tedy Brewski Playlist.  But it's also not rare to hear him align his tone to emo grooves and rage.  Originally from Chicago, Tedy Brewski is an internet rapper in the sense that his songs cover a variety of sounds, but also because his ears are tuned to the developments in hip hop.

"Man I listen to everything," he says.  "I'm influenced by everything...some shit is influenced by me and some shit influences me.  I will listen to everything that's coming out: Rich the Kid, Lil' Pump, Famous Dex, you know?  And a lot of my new songs are inspired by that kind of shit.  In some ways I wanna keep up, but in some ways that shit is hot.  I wanna make what's hot, man."

Brewski started rapping at age 13 due to influences including A Tribe Called Quest, Talib Kweli, and Kanye West's "The College Dropout" album.  "I just remember being like, 'Oh, word.  I don't have to be gangster to be a rapper,'" he said reflecting on his formative years.

Now at 27-years-old, Tedy laments that he's a bit old in terms of "rapper years."  He broke down this sentiment further saying, "The people who get the deals and stuff or the people who are chosen are like 18, 16, 18...19 [years old]."

Perhaps more of a commentary on the music industry than his own progress as a rapper, Brewski doesn't seem to take anything too seriously.  In fact, it is this unfiltered, nonchalance that adds to the intrigue of Team Brew.

“The thing about me, I’m not necessarily forcing anything.  When you force this shit it gets fucked up.”

Before publishing the "Platinum Beach" E.P. in August, Brewski was relatively quiet on streaming platforms--ten months he went without new music.  Instead, he proliferated his Twitter and Instagram accounts with entertaining and personable content.  Catch him manning the grill in a custom 'Chef Brewski' apron or posting a series of "sexy sultry" photos of a "local pussy cat."  Anything goes for the skinny swag emcee.

Brewski's comedic quirkiness translates through his tone and lyrics, too.  His voice is liable to go from high-pitched to 'hefty-bro' in a matter of bars.  And much like Eminem layered tracks on "The Slim Shady LP" with multiple characters, Brewski also integrates different characters into his songs such as "Woke Boi Freestyle."

"I probably got the quirkiness from West Hartford, Connecticut," he says.  "I lived in West Hartford for the majority of my life--from ten to 18.  Just being a fucking suburban-guy, like being a city kid who goes to a suburban school that's mostly white people.  You end up with like a whole mixture of all this bullshit."

I JUST QUIT MY JOB FREESTYLE OMG SO RAW SO REAL STRICTLY 4 THE HARD WORKERS OUT THERE. all good we got plenty of opportunities. stay blessed pic.twitter.com/2jSGM3cp7v

— Majin Brew (@TEDYBREWSKI) September 19, 2017

---

ITR: Can you walk me through your "Woke Boi Freestyle"?

TB: Oh yea, man.  "Woke Boi" was originally called "Broke Boi Freestyle," but then my internet friend, Kemet Dank, I don't know if you've ever heard of Kemet Dank.  He's like another Based God disciple, but he was like 'Yo, this is woke.  This is a woke boi,' and then I had to change the name.  When I was in D.C. there was a Playboi Carti show at 9:30 [Club]...no it wasn't 9:30 it was one that got closed, but I forget what it was called.  That shit was mad fun.  I was just jumping around and shit, just like 'Damn, I gotta evolve my style to do some other shit.'  But that sound is influenced by André 3000.  When I came to college at UMD, Lil' Wayne was the shit.  He had 'Da Drought', 'The Carter', the 'Dedication' tapes...But with ["Woke Boi"] I wanted to freestyle, you know, ball all the way.

ITR: Is [mumble rap] hip hop music to you?

TB: Definitely, man.  I think at the end of the day that stuff was influenced by 'snap rap' and 'snap rap' was influenced by 'gangsta rap' and 'gangsta rap' was influenced by 'boom bap' I would say.  It's like a long heritage of shit that I try to keep up with.  Like Lil' B's new tape, he really went all the way back to the 80's that was funny.

ITR: That was awesome.  I knew about Lil' B, but I wasn't really listening to him whenever he put out his last tape.  So ['Black Ken'] is my understanding of Lil' B.  it was kind of like a synthesis of decades.

TB: Yea, it's great because he produced the whole thing.  I've got whole tapes I produced, too.  'Typical Black Punks,' I don't know if you've heard that...that shit is crazy.  I try and jump between sounds because I wanna cover everything that is affecting me in my life.

ITR: What kind of relationship do you have with M.I.L.F?

TB: I moved out to D.C. in 2015, chilling with M.I.L.F--good friends.  We've been through our bullshit, but I've known them since 2009.  M.I.L.F was created by M.I.L.F Mitch and Phlegm.  They went to Howard together.  One of my boys who I went to high school with, Noah, he went to Howard for a couple years and met those guys.  We linked through that because I went to UMD.  But M.I.L.F is their creation, and M.F.K--Marcy Mane is working with Goth Money in Los Angeles and shit--he was a big part of M.I.L.F back in the day.  I just wanna preserve their legacy, you know?

TB: I put up the M.I.L.F Mansion documentary on my YouTube last week.  The footage is from a year and a half ago.  I was on U Street two weeks ago, just chilling, and nobody knows what we were doing at that time.

ITR: I noticed you put out videos that were filmed years ago.  Is that on purpose?

TB: It's not on purpose.  Going into them it was like, 'I got to do this right now,' but things come up: there's personal conflict and my own struggles, so maybe I'm not fully comfortable putting out a crazy-ass video at this point.  It's not about figuring it out.  It's just when it works it works, you know?

ITR: That makes your fans want more.

TB: I'm working with my boy who lives in Brooklyn.  I met him when I was in film school maybe like 4 or 5 years ago, his name is Aaron.  We've got a cool video.

ITR: What's next?

TB: I got the thing called Team Brew, you might have seen the logo.

ITR: The merch is fire.

TB: I'm gonna bring back some of the merch, like 'Typical Black Punks' merch and 'Space Cowboy' merch.  I'm also gonna make the Team Brew shirts.  I feel like once it all comes together it'll make sense.  I just got started with Photoshop.  That's what I've been doing recently.  I've been making memes and stuff, just because memes rule the world...the meme war is coming soon, man, be ready.