My Favorite Color featuring Pet Zebra - Voices

Photograph via My Favorite Color's Instagram | Question & Answer between ITR and My Favorite Color

Hip-hop product, My Favorite Color readies to release his debut album, "Go!". Smartly, the rapper offers a single to start his catalog off strong. The track "Voices" hits cooly with fun references like "Ruby Tuesday on a Thursday," while dismissing a psychosis happening in the hook, "I keep hearing voices, yelling at me silently about my choices," My Favorite Color raps. Pet Zebra boosts the track with a verse too.

This music output has a local Pittsburgh touch through My Favorite Color, Pet Zebra, and the production credits to One800 collective. Look out for the "Go!" album on Feb. 9, 2018.

NAPPYNAPPA and MARTYHEEMCHERRY Share "BACK2ATLANTIS" Music Video

Thank you NAPPYNAPPA and MARTYHEEMCHERRY for taking us back to the golden age of music videos.

By now, InTheRough readers should be in-the-know about NAPPYNAPPA, the bourgeoning rapper from the District of Columbia. If not, read up about his latest endeavors here.  He and fellow LAD MARTYHEEMCHERRY have released visuals to their song "Back2Atlantis," which is a single off Nappa's latest EP "RawDogRawLoveRawGod part 1: Ascenshun"

Reminiscent of Eiffel 65's pre-millennium hit "Blue" or the Backstreet Boys' "Larger Than Life" anthem, the three-minute video features an intergalactic trip through space and time.  On their journey, Nappa and Marty are joined by brother Auto Lola to defend the nation's capital from an extraterrestrial invasion, or so we think.  Perhaps it was all a game as the Emre Yagci directed video ends with a vintage arcade console siloed in a dark street alley between garbage dumps and empty liquor bottles.  Check out the video above and stay tuned for more content from NAPPYNAPPA. 

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