Category: hip-hop

Throwback: The Roots “I Am a Slave”

A Juneteenth history lesson from The Roots.

Live Footage: Common and Pete Rock Perform “Dreamin” ON Vevo CTRL

Common and the legendary Pete Rock are teaming up on what may arguably be one of the most anticipated hip-hop albums of the year — if not the past five years. The Auditorium, Vol. 1 is slated for a July 12, 2024 release through Loma Vista.

The album will feature guest spots from Jennifer Hudson, Bilal, PJ, and De La Soul‘s Posdnuous.

The album’s second and largest single “Dreamin'” features a lush, classic yet subtly modernized Pete Rock production anchored around a regal, reverb-soaked horn sample, skittering and swaggering boom bap and a highly-touted sample from Aretha Franklin‘s “Day Dreaming,” off 1972’s legendary Young, Gifted and Black. Simply put, this is real hip-hop at its best — and at its most necessary: a real lyricist spitting bars on a dope, soulful production.

“For me, this all started with A Dream,” Common wrote on Instagram. “A Dream to let the world know I’ve been here. A dream to be a part of Hip Hop. A Dream to MC at a level where De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One and Ice Cube knew who I was. It’s been a dream of mine to work with the LEGENDARY @realpeterock (on more than just one song). I’ve been Dreamin’ my whole life.”

New Video: Trvy & The Enemy Shares Woozy and Funky “Matthew McConaughey”

Athens, GA-based hip-hop outfit Trvy & The Enemy has received attention locally and regionally for fearlessly crafting a boundary-blurring sound that blends elements of trap music and psych rock while captivating audiences with their high energy performances and daring musical experimentation.

Leading the group is Trvy, a solo artist, who over the past few years has cemented a place for himself in Georgia’s underground hip-hop scene with several self-released albums that display his skillful lyricism. Along with a captivating stage presence, the Georgia emcee has earned a dedicated fanbase and widespread recognition across the state’s scene.

Back in 2021, the Georgia emcee wanted to record a Tiny Desk-styled home concert with a live band, seeking to expand his sound within backing tracks while reimagining his sound. This lead to the formation of his then-newly minted backing band The Enemy, a trio of childhood friends, who share an uncanny musical simpatico.

Drawing from an eclectic array of genres including funk, jazz, punk rock, hip-hop and Afrobeat, the members of the outfit engage in perpetual experimentation and improvisation, pushing the boundaries of their collective sound while ensuring that lyrics remain prominently at the forefront.

Last year, saw the release of their self-titled, 5-song EP, which featured two reimagined tracks from Troy’s solo work, along with three songs written collaboratively by the band. Building upon a growing profile, the outfit’s recently released sophomore EP Choose Your Enemy follows extensive studio sessions dedicated to refining their sound. The EP’s material continues to showcase their diverse range and adventurous experimentation while offering listeners a glimpse into what lies ahead for them musically and creatively.

Choose Your Enemy EP’s latest single “Matthew McConaughey” pairs Trvy’s dexterous and swaggering bars with a trippy pimp strut of an arrangement featuring reverb-drenched and arpeggiated keys, Funkadelic-like guitar riffage and boom bap-meets-jazz inflected drumming. Sonically, “Matthew McConaughey” recalls North Mississippi All-Stars‘ mind-bending and forward-thinking Electric Blue Watermelon Screwed and Chopped EP, a lysergic and narcotic-fueled remix of material off Electric Blue Watermelon — but rooted in a nasty, grimy funk.

The video follows the Athens-based emcee on a wild booze and presumably hallucinogen-fueled adventure.