Nappy Nappa Joins The Bop Wave

NAPPYNAPPA's music has a spacial vibe to it.  Whether that be the reverb and synths paired with his trademark echo, making you feel like you're adrift in the galaxy, or his crashing 808s and "T'd up" rage taking you through reentry—his sonics are not of this earth. 

However, yesterday’s release was an exception, a return to orbit.  Drawn in by the Millennium generation's gravitational pull, his latest song, "\+YENE FRIKIN+/," joins the bop music wave.  Produced by BASEDCHINK, the two-minute track has hints of those 8-bit video game sounds that have proliferated hip hop music over the last two years.  What's more is that Nappa's voice is auto-tuned, rapping about Rick Owens, Nike checks, and his "OFF WHITE soul."  This is both surprising and welcomed to hear, as the Southeast, D.C. rapper often waxes poetic on more abstract and dense topics.  It shows he's listening to his surroundings at the very least--never conforming and equipped to hit the mainstream should it come calling.  Listen to the track above.

Forehead Kiss III Is For The Lovers

For all lovers of love and lovers of music.

Mix cover designed by The Kufi Smacker.

Thomas, better known behind the ones and twos as "The Kufi Smacker," is likely to out aux chord you if you're about afro beats and grime music.

"I've been listening to grime since 2003," he said at Uptown Art House, running through b-sides from the pre-Skepta grime scene.  This is when the United Kingdom's garage genre by groups like The Streets still presided over radio waves.  "The first artist I heard was Kano or Dizzee Rascal."

Thomas is really just trying to dance.  FHKIII is representative of that fact, and it's just in time for you to catch the groove with your significant other on Valentine's Day.

"[Forehead Kiss] is the one kiss you give a girl that means she's the one.  You don't give them jawns out to anyone," he said about the inspiration behind his latest mix.

At 41 minutes, Thomas interlays a whole host of futuristic bounces to some familiar songs, new and old.  He covers the afro beat base with a remix of Juls' "Skin Tight," while later transitioning to a version of Masego's 2017 hit, "Navajo" that potentially sounds better than the original.  Around 22 minutes though, TKS hits this irresistible pocket remixing "Do For Love" into a perfect club joint.

Listen for yourself here, and if you're in D.C. don't miss him at 9:30 Club's Backbar on February 23.

Listen To Dreamcast's SoundCloud Bests on The Lost Tape

All those hits from Dreamcast Burymeinamink vol. ii & vol. iii are now thankfully in one place.  Download The Lost Tape today.

Davon Bryant AKA "Dreamcast" had a momentous 2017.  He found himself exploring the streets of London and Amsterdam thanks to the warm reception of his vinyl release of two funk, soul tracks "Liquid Deep" and "Summer Love."  D.C. based label Peoples Potential Unlimited, an esoteric record company focused on 80s funk preservation and discovering some of the best underground boogie, funk, and dance music, was responsible for the distribution of the seven inch.  Good luck trying to get your hands on the novelty, though--Dreamcast's record sold out.

"Primarily because the scene--this future funk, Dam-Funk, Sasac sort of style--never really had had a vocalist on the whole scene.  That's a shit load of producers who do it but don't have a vocalist and so "Liquid Deep" just sprouted, which is fun," he said in his Uptown Interview.

To cap the year, Bryant also found himself in a spotlight feature by The Fader.

His latest project, an LP called The Lost Tape, is a long-awaited compilation of tracks that Bryant had teased on SoundCloud to only leave listeners disappointed who came back to his page finding certain grooves missing.

DB: I like to experiment with a track...were you listening to that second project, Dreamcast vol. ii?

ITR: Yea, man.  Why the fuck did you delete "Devil's Red Dress" from SoundCloud?

[Laughs]

DB: I want to put it back because I've gotten backlash from taking that shit down.

"Devil's Red Dress" is an ultimate rock ballad produced by Fat Kneel that Bryant said just sort of happened after a night of libations.  You can't go wrong with any of the ten tracks off The Lost Tape, honestly.  It opens with a chopped version of Three 6 Mafia's "Sippin on Some Syrup," while "Lonely Hearts Club," "Do You Wanna Go," and "Locked Up" allow Dreamcast's soulful vocals to shine through.

The Lost Tape is available for purchase on Bandcamp.  Let this release tide you over until Dreamcast's debut album set to drop later 2018.

Watch Jenna Camille's Roseanne Inspired Video for "Up & Down"

Jenna Camille plays a deflated wife vying for her husband's lust in the new video for her single, "Up & Down."

"I got this idea of writing this song about a working-class couple whose still trying to find the time to keep the spark going," she says in her upcoming 'Uptown Interview.'  "The video is inspired by Roseanne where Dan, her husband, is having dreams about another woman, and she's trying to figure out why he's not into having sex with her anymore...and trying to find ways to make their sex-life work."

Art work designed by St. Clair Castro, CMPVTR CLVB.

Davon Bryant AKA Dreamcast, who's been featured in the Sounds of D.C. playlist and most recently in The Fader, plays disinterested Dan.  Both Camille and Bryant are consistent supporters of one another's artistry; find them in attendance at each other's D.C. shows, but perhaps there is an ulterior motive behind this collaboration.

"I feel like this is a question that could get me in trouble..." Camille said when asked why Dreamcast was the subject of choice.  "Well, one because to be honest--Davon--I feel the most comfortable with him as a leading person.  And two, because...don't make me answer that!"

"Up & Down" is now available on Bandcamp, where you can also download an exclusive Michael Jackson outro performed live at 9:30 Club.  Watch the video above.

Free, Jenna Camille's next album is on the way, stay tuned.

Late Bloom Radio on Full Service Radio

Sir E.U and Nate G on the bill for Episode 5 tonight.

Tune in every Wednesday at FullServiceRadio.org

The LINE DC hotel in Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C. has a real boutique, crunchy-granola vibe to its interior.  Its exterior shell is the redeveloped First Church of Christ, Scientist, which sits a short walk away from a McDonald's and the best diner in D.C., The Diner.  On the inside, though is this nouveau riche hotel lobby with Moroccan pillows lining the steps, a crooked full-length mirror, and three restaurant bar spaces with nouveau riche-type names, like 'The Cup We All Race 4,' 'Brothers and Sisters,' and 'A Rake's Progress.'  Undoubtedly they serve five dollar hot chocolates and $17 gin and tonics with locally sourced and farm-raised foods, which this mouth will never consume.

Situated amidst all this zhushing, encased in a glass box for the viewing pleasure of all the happy hour yuppies, is Full Service Radio.  You can't miss it with the pop art-styled, repetitive "ON" neon lights emanating from the deep blue wall.  The Station is truly something locally grown.  Founded by record producer/sound engineer/disc jockey, Jack Inslee who launched Heritage Radio Network in New York City, Full Service Radio has amplified the voices of 30 local hosts with 24/7 online streaming that hotel guests also have access to in their rooms.

One of these shows is Late Bloom Radio, co-hosted by quintessential D.C. artists Jamal Gray and St. Clair Castro--the maestros behind Ctrl Space CMD that occurred in the spring of 2017.  Four episodes in, Late Bloom is a mix of new and rare music spanning the genres of future soul, psychedelic, experimental hip hop, house, electronic, and ambient.  On Wednesday's from 6pm-8, the show features extended mixes, in-studio performances and interviews with artists and activists representing the DMV community.  It's very much the sonic version of the late 1970s exploratory show, 'TV Party' as a whole roost of creatives move in and out of soundscapes.  Join us tonight when we talk to Sir E.U fresh off the release of his new project Some Friend You Are and Uptown's native son, Nate G.