Following the critically acclaimed "Pillars" EP with MindsOne, Kev Brown teams up again with Ill Adrenaline Records, this time collaborating with fellow Low Budget Crew member Hassaan Mackey to bless listeners with "That Grit".
Both the Landover, MD based producer-on-the-mic and the Rochester, NY emcee are longtime members of the prolific artist collective and have previously worked together various times, but this mini-album marks the first time the two embark on a full project. Most boom-bap enthusiasts should already be well acquainted with both Kev Brown and Hassaan Mackey: double threat Kev Brown already showcased his skills on microphones as well as production boards on countless releases and has been dubbed "king of basslines" by fans worldwide. In addition to his solo recordings Kev's credits include beats for heavyweights like Busta Rhymes, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Jazzy Jeff, and Marley Marl just to name a few, as well as handling entire album production for LMNO, Kaimbr, and Raw Poetic. Hassaan Mackey released a string of albums, including a full-length LP with Apollo Brown, and appearances on releases by Oddissee, Kaimbr, The Left and L'Orange.
Recorded during a series of impromptu bus and train trips Hassaan took from Rochester to visit Kev in Washington, "That Grit" was created with a spontaneous approach, reflecting both Mackey's freestyle background and Brown's proven "random joints" formula. Entirely produced by Kev Brown and featuring his signature bassline-driven and raw but soulful sound, "That Grit" consists of an intro, eight full-length tracks and six instrumentals. Hassaan and Kev share mic duties on most of the songs, inviting close friends/frequent collaborators Kaimbr, Toine, yU, Kenn Starr, Eye-Q, Asheru (of Unspoken Heard) as well as the Younger Soul Brother Grap Luva along as feature guests, turning the record into a true family affair.
Website:
www.illadrenalinerecords.com
kevbrown.blogspot.com/
A-Class is a battle rap veteran who has consistently provided a stream of exceptional music, even before he stepped on the battle scene. In the Grind Time and KOTD rings, he has faced the likes of Dizaster, Rone, Madness, Tantrum, and Sonny Bamboo. He remains a fierce opponent in the battle circuit and continues to travel the world squaring up with some of the scene’s best.
The composition of the Nightwriter EP primarily documents A-Class’s experiences on the road and in between battles, much of it having been written during about his expeditions, as well as about them. The progressive emcee continues to develop his customary free-flowing rhyme construction and unconventional flows around some catchy hooks, which is largely deviant from the unorthodox structure of Class’s previous recorded work.
Tom Delay Beats’ phonic background for the 7 song EP is expanse, ranging from bass heavy joints like “Bitch What You Talkin Bout” and “Kenny Lofton” to the funky-sounding sampling found on “Bus To NYC” and true school bangers like “Super Fat Laces”. Tom Delay structures the overall sound of Nightwriter with clean, addictive melodies and heavy drums that allow A-Class to display his rhythmic abilities.
Devine Carama's Thoughts on Believing In ForeverFollow the madness: twitter.com/TheMadBloggers_
"Believing In Forever is a motivational speech to young MCs coming into the game. In this instant gratification generation that often forgets it's linage and those that laid the path before them, this album is a reminder to them that integrity wins in the end. The theme of this album goes beyond the scope of just a rapper's plight. We all often struggle between our passion and getting paid, what we love and making a living, our purpose and our priorities. Just trying to balance it all out. But at the end of the day if you stay true to your culture, your craft, your purpose, and give your all you WIN regardless of the outcome. This album is about not investing in things that are temporary but rather believing in forever."
Though it's not spelled out as a conceptual album, How Gardens Grow was put together in a way that illustrates the growth a person goes through from early 20's through early 30's.
The Pittsburgh, PA collective known as Bilderburgh consisting of Crumb, Blender, Traxx, Raspy and Rambo are set to release their debut album, Speak Easy, on 11-11-14 courtesy of RBC Records. The five-man collective consists of past War Veterans, Blue Collar workers and Underground Hip-Hop aficionados whose tracks reflect their personal and group trials and tribulations through stories of combat, interpersonal relationships, alcoholism and their never-ending admiration for Hip-Hop culture; that binds them all both in and outside of the booth.
Speak Easy features an eclectic blend of some of the groups primary influences representing the factions of the Wu-Tang Clan, Army of Pharoahs, Slaughterhouse, Gold Chain Military and more with guest contributions from Canibus, Planet Asia, Timbo King, Reef the Lost Cause, C-Lance and Crooked I.
Crooked I joins Bilderburgh for the album’s lead-single, “Written Agreement,” which is produced by C-Lance.
"Today the fresh team of Apollo Brown & Ras Kass are joined by a legendary cast of Royce The 5’9”, Xzibit, & Bishop Lamont. The new single, Giraffe P*ssy, brings together the distinguished MCs to showcase their abilities over sixteen bars a piece. The vocalists get high over an Apollo Brown beat, who’s filtered tone and syncopated bounce will have your head nodding as high as..."
"I live in a gentrified part of Brooklyn, I eat out several times a week, I travel the world sampling the best that cities across the globe have to offer. Do I live in a penthouse loft? Am I dinning in five stars restaurants? Can you only find me in the most exclusive areas? Do I own a jet? The answer to all the above is most certainly no. I’m just a regular man from Prince George’s county, Maryland that figured shit out.
I discovered that I can make a career in an arena dominated by artists that sell false dreams. I realized that although the masses may not know of my body of work, it doesn’t take the whole world to have the world I want. Tangible Dream is a mix-tape dedicated to the deconstruction of our traditional ideas of success & shedding light on the possibility of a sustainable rap life.
These rhymes were written in economy class seats, these beats were produced on long bus trips & these songs were recorded in airbnb apartments. All I want to do is make music for a living so that I can live to make music. The only dreams I’m interested in are the ones I can grasp. It just so happens that anything you want bad enough can be obtained. Perhaps the world may never know of my accomplishments but accomplishments they are nonetheless."
Available on iTunes: "Tangible Dream"
Available on Vinyl LP: "Tangible Dream"
Available on CD Digipak: "Tangible Dream"
Oddisee Social Media:
@Oddisee
FB: OddiseeMusic
IG: Oddisee
