It’s not quite the British Invasion of the 60’s but UK acts are still making waves in the states from The Arctic Monkeys and Charli XCX to Hudson Mohawke, James Blake, and SBTRKT. Lil Silva may soon be in the mix. The Bedford-born producer just released his EP, Mabel which brought him from behind the boards and into the spotlight as a vocalist as he continued to show off his brooding and immersive sound. On “Don’t You Love” Silva teams up with frequent collaborator Banks. Both singers gently croon over the wobbly bass as it slowly intensifies. Their voices and earnest but short lyrics make for an ambiguous emotive impact that can easily be labeled as contemporary RnB…or whatever you want to call it.
Month: September 2014
“Slum Beautiful”-OutKast
JamsThis song, the 22nd on the Atlanta duo’s legendary 24 track Stankonia, is a good portrait of the duo in just 4 minutes and eight seconds.
When the beat first comes on, it’s funky. So funky, in fact, that you may find yourself wondering how anyone is about to rap over it. And then you remember that Andre 3000 and Big Boi are not just anyone.
Hunger of the Pine – alt-j (∆)
JamsAfter the release of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick famously said that if you understood the film completely, then he failed.
So, with that in mind, here’s the thing about Alt-j: even if you get it, you feel like there’s something you’re not getting. You have to suspend disbelief a little bit, like you’re watching New Girl. A key difference: Alt-j doesn’t suck. Seriously, I hate that show. You have to swallow the vomit and suspend disbelief that Zooey Dickchannel hasn’t been slapped.
“The World Is Ours”- Rick Ross, Pharrell, Meek Mill, Stalley
JamsThis track, the 17th on Ross’ excellent Rich Forever mixtape, features a clever, snare-heavy, drum section and bright horn sounds. As the title suggests, this is one of those songs meant to be thrown on when you’re feeling on top of the world.
Ross’ first verse features a line where he raps that he’s “the Geechee Liberace/ I put diamonds on everything,” which is one of those lines that you have to smile at because it’s clever and ridiculous at the same time, shrug, and just kinda accept.
“Dope”- Jeremih & Shlohmo
JamsI’m pretty sure Jeremih is still best known for his birthday presents, but over the last year couple of years he’s been making a quiet resurgence by popping up on the radio hits here and there while releasing mixtapes. “Dope” comes from the collaborative EP No More with L.A. producer Shlohmo behind the soundscapes. The concept of a lover being addictive like a drug you need a needle for isn’t new but it’s usually effective. This is another one of those cases. Distorted background vocals follow Jeremih’s yearning lyrics across the sparse beat for a little under three minutes. By the end of the song it sounds like a lonely creepy obsession but the guy happens to have a sly voice with a falsetto hook. An unsuspecting victim of when the good good is too good.
“Don’t Wanna Dance”-Elle Varner ft. A$AP Ferg
JamsYes, that’s the sample of the Jimmy Castor cover of “I Just Wanna Stop” that was sampled in Kanye West’s “We Don’t Care.”
“Mary Jane”-Rick James
JamsI thought the first time I heard this was a few weeks ago in Michael’s car. I felt the feeling of the funk inside of me. It’s a wonderful thing. I had to Shazam to find the name of the song because most of my Rick James knowledge comes from Charlie Murphy.
“Peace Keeper” – Bear Hands
JamsA friend of mine really likes this band, Bear Hands, and hasn’t shut up about them the past few months. I mean that in the nicest way possible, because I can definitely understand bugging people about a band you love until they finally give in and admit you were right.
“I Lived” – One Republic
JamsI have a station on Rdio specifically for music that addresses anxiety. This song by One Republic always stuck out from the crowd because it specifically touched self-ownership.
Hope when you take that jump you don’t fear the fall. Hope when the water rises you built a wall.
For me, these lyrics thump a resonating balance between my greatest moments and my greatest hardships. The water eventually rises on all of us and the only control we have is in reacting.
“Backyard” -Travi$ Scott
JamsYou’ve heard Travi$ Scott even if you don’t recognize the stylized name. He’s produced on Cruel Summer, Yeezus, Magna Carta Holy Grail, and smaller albums in the past few years. Now he’s moving from behind the scenes again after dropping his second mixtape Days Before Rodeo. “Backyard” lifts the second half of the tape with rag to riches rhymes over a driving bass heavy instrumental. It’s also an example, along with other tracks, of how the XXL Freshmen can adopt different styles (this could’ve been a Kendrick or A$AP song) and flows while keeping a distinct sound. Expect to be hearing more from the Drake approved Scott when he puts out his LP Rodeo later this year.
You can download both of his mixtapes below.
Daily Phat Jam 