The Weekly Dip 11/19

I’d say this weekly dip is more of an ice skate considering the weather we’re having, it is winter after all. That being said, if you aren’t careful, these tracks are heavy enough to break through those thin sheets of ice, at that point you will be taking a dip so make sure you’re able to withstand the cold before gliding across the surface with these records!

King Khali - Winter Must Be Early

Khali has had a very active year & I could sit here & plug everything he’s done this year but that’s up to you to do your research cause at the rate he’s been going, you should already be more than familiar. Khali only speaks when he has something to say so whenever he drops, you know it’s important that you heed the gems littered throughout these introspective numbers of his. Khali has had an interesting last couple of years & those experiences have made him grow a lot more colder in terms of being determined enough to continue chasing his dreams by all means necessary. Khali is fully invested in himself now after spending so much time catering to others in his life, he’s been through too much doing so for him not to feel the need to be selfish for once. What a single to cap off another great year for Khali, who I’m sure is now only plotting an even bigger takeover for next year. His name is one everybody will soon know all too well if they don’t already cause nobody & I mean nobody here in the city rhymes at this level, especially in terms of introspection. You can always count on him to have at least a few powerful words that you may need to hear at that moment, at least that’s the case for me, plus, he just raps better than everybody & I’m not sorry that I’m not sorry to say that, debate your reflection.

Andria Rose - Telenovela

Andria Rose has come a long way since her days of “Blue”, the coloring this time around is a deep red to really exemplify the fervorous passion exuded throughout her music. That Lo-Fi sound she’s become known for is expanded on this EP, it’s almost like a warped sense of Jazz these soundscapes have & her songwriting is the best we’ve heard from her yet, it’s no wonder “In The Abstract” has gained the notoriety it has from people like the good folks over at Billboard. The lounge like vibes of “State Of Mind” show where her mental state is & it’s almost one with the wind, her voice is like your subconscious speaking to you, lulling you into a false sense of reality that you won’t wish to escape anytime soon. We even get a little versatility from her on the Spanish number “Para Siempre”, which I’ve never heard a Spanish record sound this left of field, it’s just different, even records like “Solita”, which has these subtle R&B undertones will have you daydreaming, possibly sleepwalking throughout the experience of it. She’s also the only person who could get my allergies to not be triggered by “Pollen”, her subtly sultry voice makes me feel sweeter than a little honeybee, just buzzing around flowers. Wrapping things up with the title track, I’d say this is just the start of a real intriguing “Telenovela”, a first season if you will, 1st seasons are usually this concise so we can’t wait to see what screenplays this writer has for us next season!

Heartless the Monster - Electromagnetica

TBH, I’ve never, for whatever reason, bothered to sit with this man’s music, I knew of him from his affiliation with Quentin Arispe & Shilxh so I knew he had to be the real deal & that he is cause what a pleasant introduction to him with this EP. This concise EP is the perfect fusion of electronica, R&B, even got some dancehall, sorta House Music vibes scattered throughout here but it’s the songwriting that just brings everything to life. Instantly, I feel so in sync with what he’s speaking on, I recently got out of a situation where as I grew more & more closer, they grew more & more distant, it made me wanna pull up like Heartless here to simply entice her back into taking my hand once again but like Heartless here, I don’t think she’s ready for the love me or him have to offer. The best music always comes from a personal place in my opinion & although I’m not familiar with Natalie, she clearly has left her imprint on his heart so while they can call the relationship whatever they please, you can’t rename the feelings, they shall remain. These songs are just so mature, I’m used to love songs being a bit more naive but he don’t sound desperate, he’s just telling it like it is, he’s not gonna force anything but he isn’t just gonna sit back & allow his love to just give up so easily. Whether detailing getting lost in the shine on “Between L.A & Heaven”, my favorite groove on here by the way, it’s quite the subtle floor stopper & the astral travel of “Closer To The Moon”, “Electromagnetica” is a warped yet heartwarming experience & in just under 15 minutes, he’s managed to force me to delve deeper into his music, that’s how great this EP is.

Cush With A C - TALK KRAZY

Cush With A C has had a hell of a year, well with the release of his stellar debut “Nothing’s Perfect” followed up with “Here Goes Nothing”, Cush continues to sharpen his pen on “TALK KRAZY”. Now if you’ve been keeping up with him, you’ll know what he’s capable of in terms of the rhyme, he just has that hunger in him, every track I’ve heard, he’s just rapping his heart & soul away, even when he’s just rapping for the sake of it like on this record, he still slips in those gems to heed, it’s not just braggadocio, though he swings it at you with the utmost gusto & I for one am excited to see where else he’s able to push his pen to next cause it seems to me that he has lyrics for days, this shit is really nothing to him & besides that, his ear for production is top notch so not only are the bars just coming at you but it’s still an easy listen.

Bryce Vine, MOD SUN - Empty Bottles

If I’m not mistaken, our leader Frank recently did an interview where Bryce’s name was brought up & it made me smile cause I’ve heard many many hits from this man & it appears he has yet another one of them ones on his hands with this Power Punk/Pop smasher with none other than MOD SUN, who’s another artist at the forefront of this alternative resurgence we’ve been seeing. Records like this are just so simple, they’re just such a burst of nostalgia & remind me of my adolescence, just that angst that comes with being a rebellious kid, even now in our adulthoods, that kid can show up in many different ways like it has here for them. I can recall me acting out too when my heart got broken so I feel them but like he said, don’t pity us, they made their own beds & now they’re sleeping in them.

OhGodDC! - Sunshine

Now forgive me DC, I fell off personally when it came to your music, not that I never believed he’s one of the best producers we have, he still is but I wanna take this time to shine light on this particular track cause it’s probably the best record I’ve heard from him & he’s actually performing on it! His production on here is so gorgeous, I know a Neo-Soul number when I hear it, it’s one of my favorite subgenres & I just find it amazing how he’s been able to touch my soul with this nostalgic little number. Even what he’s discussing on here, he’s been through a lot of adversity, just like many of us have & is waiting patiently for the sun to shine down on him for once. I recall many moments where this man wanted to give up but he never did & to see just how much the sun has been shining over him as of late, even in his most darkest moments is beautiful. Don’t act like you don’t hear his girl, Paula Cortez on those background vocals either, what a power couple these two are & I hope we get more records with the two of them on it cause they clearly have beautiful chemistry & it’s also clear that, although this record came out a few months prior to now, it has had a ripple effect & managed to make waves all the way to the point of meeting us & that just shows how timeless what he does has the potential to be.

Y2 - Demon Diamond Saint

I’ve heard many intriguing MC’s my time so far on earth but Y2 is probably the most intriguing, I mean who rhymes like this, it’s so peculiarly complex & I would’ve never guessed his music & style of rhyming was this intensely avant-garde upon first hearing him on the hook to Tech N9ne’s “No Reason”. Listening to him is quite the out of body experience but it’s still hard hitting in terms of production, which is also as all over the place as his rhymes are & on his latest album “Demon Diamond Saint”, he only continues to warp my mind with his undeniable skills as a lyricist. His music is not something I can simply sit here & dissect for you, it’s something you have to sit with & try to pinpoint meaning to for yourself & when you do, it’s gonna trip you the fuck out as much as it does for me cause it’s just boggling to me how he’s able to rap this way, it’s just so different from anything you’ll ever hear & this album alone will force you to go back & really study this madman cause with each record, his style grows more & more insane. You too will be asking yourself “what the fuck am I even listening to?”, but you can’t stop listening.

Treylen, JP The Avant - Tha Block Party

It seems everybody has been utilizing the artist behind these covers we’ve been seeing a lot of lately & I don’t know about you but I love seeing that. Everybody’s favorite hood hippie is back with some more of those foggy tales on his latest block party he’s hosting here so I’d BYOB before jumping into this if I were you. JP the Avant is handling the production here & he’s doing a helluva job giving Trey the bed he needs to weave these tales over. On “Mouse Trap”, Treylen details the rat race towards the cheese & how a lot of us wound up stuck in the trap that it is, luckily he’s someone who’s made it out but he could’ve easily been susceptible to it, thankfully he was very observant of his surroundings enough to be vigilant & intuitive enough to maneuver through the trap cautiously. “Woop” finds him attempting to keep his paranoia under control as the boys in blue are creeping around every corner, just waiting to catch him slipping & we know he be smoking plenty so that anxiety is only heightened & JP does a great job at capturing that feeling with his ditsy production here, definitely another one of them hood anthems many can relate to. Now I don’t drink but I’ve had a couple of good “Brewz” in my past, I can see why people enjoy it so much, I’m more of a marijuana connoisseur myself but I don’t mind a nice, cold brew after a long day, especially if I’m meditating to a record as such. That paranoia comes creeping back up though on “Norfside” cause where he comes from, there’s usually always something going on that forces you to be alert & aware of your surroundings, it’s a real ominous track yet still a vibe so you can get jiggy with it, party the pain of reality away if you will. Ending the block party with the A.J. Bray assisted “Street Doctorz” which finds these two gentlemen operating at their very best, just straight braggadocio, their music is that medicine to help you navigate through this life of ours so come & get yourself right & cut a deal with them, one hit of this fine dope they’ve pushed out for us will alleviate you, at least for the time being, until the next block party.