JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Tupac Shakur’s 53rd birthday.
Tag: hip-hop
Throwback: Happy Belated 55th Birthday, Ice Cube!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms belatedly celebrates Ice Cube’s 55th birthday.
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.
Throwback: Happy 60th Birthday, DMC!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Run DMC’s DMC’s 60th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 53rd Birthday, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 53rd anniversary of the birth of TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
Throwback: Happy 49th Birthday, Jadakiss!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Jadakiss’ 49th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 49th Birthday, Andre 3000!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Andre 3000’s 49th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 55th BIrthday, PMD!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates EPMD’s PMD’s 55th birthday.
Madlib is an acclaimed and legendary producer, musician and artist, who’s widely hailed for his groundbreaking contributions to hip-hop, jazz and experimental music. As a producer, his production style is marked by a love of eclecticism while drawing from jazz, soul, funk and world music. His use of unconventional sampling techniques and his knack for creating immersive sonic soundscapes have earned him a devoted following among music lovers and his fellow artists alike since his early days with Stones Throw Records in the early 2000s.
Beyond his acclaimed solo work, Madlib has collaborated with Kanye West, MF DOOM as Madvillain, J. Dilla, Freddie Gibbs and Erykah Badu among a lengthy list of others. His production credits span across a wide range of genres, showcasing his versatility and artistic vision.
Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn-based acclaimed and rising emcee Your Old Droog emerged into the hip-hop scene a decade ago, initially cloaked in mystery and anonymity. But he quickly earned a reputation for his sharp, punch lyrics and gruff delivery. Some speculated on who the man was behind the sophisticated wordplay. But with the release of his eponymous debut, Your Old Droog body stepped out into the spotlight. And since then he’s been remarkably prolific, releasing eight albums and 10 EPs, which have cemented his reputation as your favorite emcee’s favorite emcee — and as a emcee, who’s about to explode onto the mainstream.
Your Old Droog’s forthcoming 11th album Movie reportedly sees the Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn-based emcee in a new era, where he’s received countless co-signs from some of the genre’s greatest artists — and taking his place among them.
Last year, Madlib worked with Talib Kweli on Liberation 2 and DJ Muggs and Meyheim Lauren on Champagne for Breakfast. 2024 marks several major anniversaries for Madlib: the 20th anniversary of 2004’s Madvillainy, which also reached Gold status and the 10th anniversary of his collaboration with Freddie Gibbs’ Piñata. Along with that, Jahari Massamba Unit, his group with the equally acclaimed musician, producer and artist Karriem Riggins released YHWH is Love.
Madlib’s latest single “REEKYOD,” a collaboration with Your Old Droog and Black Thought continues an enormous and productive period for the acclaimed producer, musician and artist. Not only is the single the first bit of new Madlib material since 2021’s Sound Ancestors, it’s the producer’s first release on the acclaimed artist’s new label Madlib Invazion. Anchored around a dusty and woozy bit of funky soul, the production is roomy enough for two great emcees to effortlessly spit dexterous bars full of insane wordplay and braggadocio. Simply put, it’s a celebration of what real hip-hop is: dope beats, and legendary emcees pushing each other and challenging each other in true verbal jousting.
Madlib will be embarking on a run of tour dates with Freddie Gibbs celebrating the 10th anniversary of Piñata. Tour dates are below.
Madlib Live
May 10, 2024 – BOSTON *
May 11, 2024 – NYC *
May 19, 2024 – CHICAGO *
May 24, 2024 – LONDON *
May 26, 2024 – LONDON (SOLO DJ SET)
May 30, 2024 – BARCELONA *
*with Freddie Gibbs
Throwback: Happy Belated 53rd Birthday, Fredro Starr!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms belatedly celebrates Onyx’s Fredro Starr’s 53rd birthday.
Zimbabwean-born, London-based emcee Rhyme Assassin is a grizzled vet in the game, starting his career in earnest back in 2000 doing rap battles and performances in his native Zimbabwe before relocating to the UK in 2002. Since then, Rhyme Assassin has appeared on a number of compilations and released a handful of mixtapes, including 2021’s Side Barz.
HIs forthcoming, highly-anticipated full-length debut, Dedicated to Self will feature production from the likes of Buckwild, True Master, DJ King Flow and a list others, as well as guest spots from Ras Kass, Masta Ace, dead prez‘s stic.man, Saigon and Keith Murray. Dedicated to Self‘s latest single, “Run Em Up” sees the Zimbabwean-born, London-based emcee trade mosh pit-inducing bars about running up on the competition with M.O.P. and Ruste Juxx over a bruising and menacing Preemo-like beat from The Arcitype.
The Arcitype beat inspired Rhyme Assassin to reach out to his collaborators. “I could only hear M.O.P. on the instrumental,” he says, adding that it didn’t matter how many times he listened to it, because he only could hear the Brownsville bullies on the beat. Then, when he needed a third verse to close it out, he reached out to Ruste Juxx, who “complemented M.O.P.’s energy and vibes,” Rhyme Assassin says.
Throwback: Happy 54th Birthday, Redman!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Redman’s 54th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 60th Birthday, Biz Markie!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 60th anniversary of Biz Markie’s birth.
Throwback: Happy 46th Birthday, Robert Glasper!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Robert Glasper’s 46th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 51st Birthday, Pharrell Williams!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Pharrell Williams’ 51st birthday.
