Micah Williams' Visual For 'The 27 Club"

Micah Williams paid homage to his favorite legendary artist, Andy Warhol, in this short visual entitled "The 27 Club", directed by Marc E. The concept of "The 27 Club" came from a film Andy Warhol was apart of called "66 Scenes of America". In part of the film Warhol sat down and an ate a burger from Burger King in complete silence. 

In the video Micah mimicked Warhol but added his own elements into the video. Micah ate his burger and smoked his cigarettes while track produced by Mars Flowers played in the background. The song and the video differed but are similar in many ways. The record, "The 27 Club" was basically how we as humans do things that might harm us like smoke cigarettes or eat fast food, but we still do because it satisfies our every need. The video just gives us a simple visual of that. Listening to the lyrics of the song while watching the video can really make a person start thinking about how some of our daily routines are actually bad habits.

The 27 Club video: http://youtu.be/yXErLn_HkeU

Micah Williams' SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/micahwilliamsmusic

'ZNO' Mixtape Review

GRWYF$ teamed up once again and delivered a well produced and lyrical mixtape entitled, "ZNO". The mixtape featured a number of talented, soulful singers who made this mixtape even more enjoyable to listen to. Through intros, interludes, and outros the listener will get a new perspective of GRWYF$.

"Dreams" ft. Kayla Davion, Sydney Jay, Bk Bambino, and Young 99 

-"Dreams" was a great introduction to the "ZNO" mixtape. It started off with vocals by Kayla which was just beautiful. This track is just about dreaming big and reaching for the stars. Between the musical instrumentation and amazing vocals by Kayla Davion and Sydney Jay, I couldn't get enough of it. The production was just classic. Of course the lyrics from BK and Young was on point, I was so focused on the  vocals for the two female soul singer.

"Show The World" ft. Jabari and Bk Bambino 

-"Show The World" was a real chill song...it's a love song about how the couple could show the world how much they care and love each other. This track gave me Jade De LaFeur vibes and maybe a little bit of Solange Knowles too. I love this track....I really don't like love duets, especially with rappers and singers but I love this record.

"Sole" ft. Young 99

-"Sole" was more of a lyrical piece. The beat. The hook. The lyrics. Without all the components this song would of failed. Even though I'm still trying to figure out what this song is about,  it doesn't really matter. I did enjoy some parts of the song..... I dont know how many times I replayed and listened to that "Automatic onomatopoeia" line. Now that's how you use a poetic device! (Take notes). Overall, "Sole" just seems like a poem that was said out loud to an amazing beat.

"WWAR" ft. Bk Bambino, J-Hop, and Kayla Davion

-The beginning of "WWAR" was basically a club banger, but then it turned into a more enjoyable song. It started to sound more like a war song. With autotune throughout the record and soulful vocals from Kayla Davion, the track seemed more complex, eccentric, yet mysterious.

"NuLuv" ft. Shawnee Day  

-I really really really really really really enjoyed this R&B interlude. Shawnee graced us with this soulful track on a dominant Hip Hop mixtape. And this track was a perfect placement for this mixtape I must add. As I digress, Shawnee sung about her new love, and how she is taking a new approach to this new situation. The production was simple...just perfect. CHVRLESLVUSTE sampled Musiq Soulchild's "Love" for this record. At this point I don't know what else CHVRLESLVUSTE (Charles Lavuste)  is capable of. 

"Forbidden" ft. Bk Bambino and Jabari 

-"Forbidden" is my favorite song of the mixtape, hands down! Bk Bambino rapped about a rare female he is interested in. This rare female is more of a forbidden fruit than a cherished fruit. She's so bad, but so right to have...tempting. Jabari sung as the forbidden female. She's confident and independent...controls every situation. The production was great of course! It was very mysterious and complex.

"The Influence" ft. J-Hop

-"The Influence" is my second favorite song on the mixtape. CHVRLESLVUSTE sampled the Notorious BIG's "Party and Bullshit" for this record. In this record, J-Hop rapped about being under the influence of a substance. "The Influence" was a very playful track. Enjoyed the ending narration as well. 

   

"If I die ft. Shawnee Day and Jabari Rayford   

- This is the best song on this mixtape. Shawnee Day and Johari Ratford beautifully graced this record with their heavenly angel like voices. The fusion of the spectacular vocals and radiant instruments just blessed my ears. I was very disappointed that "If I Die" was only 1 minute and 36 seconds long because it was worthy of more. How did I know this song was over? Well Femdot began to rap on the same beat and I then knew my glimpse of heaven was shattered. 

"Lord Save Me" ft Femdot

-"Lord Save Me" was the most thought out song on this mixtape. Not only was it storytelling, it was poetic. I enjoy Femdot expressing how thankful he is for being alive because he has experienced and witnessed a lot of tragic in Chicago...how the most peaceful story can easily turn into a tragedy. I can personally related to "Lord Save Me" so this song is just a reflection of the life I have lived. The concept of the song is very complex; it discusses religious, violence etc. Femdot had a metaphor or simile for evey situation he rapped about in this record. "Lord Save Me" was another well executed poetic piece that Femdot can put on his Lyrical Resume.

                  

"Failure" ft Young 99 and J-Hop

-I wish that the outro to "Failure" was the entire song because I didn't really enjoy the first 4 minutes of the song. The outro to "Failure" had one of the best beats on the mixtape. Everybody's flow and lyrics were on point! I enjoyed J-Hop and Femdot, but I think Femdot owned "Failure", his metaphors and similies were poisonous. 

Overall I enjoyed "ZNO"; the vocals and the production were the key components that were memorable for me. Getting to hearing the producer, CHVRLESLVUSTE, switch from lyrical pieces to a club banger, to soulful R&B  records was very intriguing. This project was an absolute success.

Link:   https://m.soundcloud.com/chvrleslvuste/sets/zno

Micah Williams's 'Tree House' Visual

  Rapper, J-Quiz who is now going by his real name, Micah Williams, released a visual for his LP "Tree House. Directed by Marc E., the video took place in rural Frederick, Maryland where Micah Williams is cherishing the time he is having with his friends. The lyrics go along with the video, so it all does go together. BUT I can say that some parts of the video were hard to watch. Parts like the green screen behind Micah, which was poorly edited. I also wished that the video was chopped better...some parts were not needed. Overall, I would definitely give Micah an A for effort. For his age, he definitely has a lot of talent and I respect that.

Link to Tree House visual: http://t.co/0vIpqEnQjh

Link to Micah Williams's Soundcloud: https://t.co/FsS80KL30M

'King Dilla' Mixtape Review

Femdot released a well produced, complex, and thought out mixtape entitled "King Dilla' before the year was over. The theme was set for this mixtape; being a king and ruling the rap game.

Antebellum  -                  
"For girls who said I was too dark, I guess by status didn't give me light."
I thought Antebellum was a great and strong start to this mixtape. Femdot was clever on word play with his track ; rapping about getting ready for war hence the song title, Antebellum. The production and lyrics were on point. Femdot emphasized his brilliant bars on this well produced track by, DJ Chi. "Antebellum" showed that Femdot is versatile. Not only can he spit on a soft tempo beat, but he can spit on a ear bleeding, bass lit beat. 

Sovereign - 
   I enjoyed the second track, "Sovereign" as well. Again, Femdot's word play is brilliant: he's repetition of King Dilla through this track, which is the name of his project, and the definition of sovereign means ruler.  The production which was produced by DJ Chi, was great as well.

Kinglish -
" I'm the man nigga, King Dilla gotta ring to it. This that don't give a chick a ring music"
"Kinglish" which I think is a made up word, is one of my favorite songs on this mixtape. When I say the lyrics are on point....It's on POINT! Femdot went off for 40 days and 60 nights. Femdot spit numerous amounts of bars on a DJ Chi produced beat. To the flow, to lyrics, to production, "Kinglish" was well executed.

Top Gawd-
"Top Gawd" was the first single of the mixtape. I remember when this track came out, I didn't like it at all. The record kind of grew on me but it's definitely one of my least favorite songs on "King Dilla".

Energy-
..... I really didn't like "Energy"......I just love how Femdot tried something different. He showed a little bit of his singing ability and he gave a little harmony during the chours. A+ for effort Femdot.

PSN-
"I know you gotta roommate, hit me up when she not there."
Now "PSN" was my favorite song on mixtape. He gave me PartyNextDoor vibes and lord knows I LOVE PartyNextDoor. Definitely a big shout out to DJ Chi! I knowed Femdot's vocals on his song, then I did on "Top Gawd" maybe because it didn't seem forced. His vocals on "PSN" were very subtle. I was vibing out to this song so much that I wish it was longer. I also wished Keturah, female member of GRWYF$ , was on the track. I would of loved a female rapper to be on this track to flip the script on it.

Crossroads-
"I just graduated, at graduation I spoke
That was around the same time I had graduated to coke."
This track so so deep! DJ Chi produced this soft tempo beat which Femdot killed. It was my second favorite record on this mixtape. Femdot rapped about selling drugs while he was in high school and how it effected his personal and family life.

http://soundcloud.com/femdotmusic/sets/the-king-dilla-ep

J- Hop's New Single, 'NW2'.

Member of GRWYF$, J- Hop,  releases a bomb of metaphors in his new track "NW2". "NW2" is a track showing Hop's growth in his music. He's first solo track was called "New Wave", so "New Wave 2" shows a more matured J- Hop. Produced by one of my favorite producers in Chicago,  DJ Chi gives a 90's production that DMX would of loved to be on.  Beautiful piano keys play while J- Hop spit sour faced bars: "You guys couldn't ball like Lebron if I locked him in the basement and amputated his shooting arm." Overall, this was a great track; hopefully making us anticipate a new mixtape soon.

Link: http://m.soundcloud.com/jhop-4/nw2-prod-by-charles-lauste/s-5kGi8    

Cozz's "Cozz & Effect" Album Review

South Central rapper, Cozz signed to J. Cole's label Dreamville earlier this year and soon later put out his first album,  "Cozz & Effect".

Dream -
Cozz raps about when he was on the come up and how he always had dreams of being rich. He spits, "on that 9 to 5 job shit fuck that, I rather go comic and go to Gotham and eat with Batman and start robbin".
                                                   
Come Get It -
This track is about the fact that he is a soulful rapper and a soulful person but has gone some regeting things in South Central. He raps, "Pray like I hope there's soul inside of me, not like the sole of my feet when I stroll through the streets". I really like this track because he wants people to know I'm a "deadly poet". He is more that the streets and he is more than rap.

Cody Macc -
This track is a self titled song about Cozz really. He is making a debut as a established rapper on Dreamville. He feels like he has already made it in life and in the music industry. Cozz raps, "Got the whole world waiting for a nigga, got the city going crazy for me". I am one of many who wants to more about Cozz as a rapper and Cody Macc as a regular person. I hope to hear more music like this from him.

I'm Tha Man -
Sort of like Schoolboy Q's "Man Of The Year" single, this track is about how Cozz succeeds in everything he does: women, money, rapping, etc. He repetitively raps, "Cuz I'm the man, you should ask around".

Knock Tha Hustle -
Cozz's first single off of the album is about how Cozz grinded so hard to be in the position that he is in today. Nobody can knock is hustle because he was been struggling for way to long. He raps, "Been patiently waiting can't wait too long. I've been broke for way too long. No hot water for way too long.  You can't knock the hustle it's way too strong". Once a person reaches a point where they feel as though they have achieved their aspirations then they feel like nobody can bring them down.

Western Ave. Slaves ft. Enimal -
This track is about how a particular female being a "Western slave", meaning that she is a trying so hard to make ends meet. Cozz raps, "Over here you better have brains or be a Western Ave. Slave......she don't look to a god, it's a man that she worships cause the man keeps her afloat,  as it they were ships." This track has a lot of metaphors and personification describing females and how they word so hard in this world. This is a very positive song for females and I hope they got the message.

Murda -
This track is about Cozz being a killer, not on the streets but in the Hip Hop industry. He is killing everybody with just a pen. He raps, "I belong in some imprisonment,  no regards for the innocent. Undisciplined,  I'm sinnin with a pen....What would I do if I wasn't lyrically thugging?" I also love the word play in this song. People think that he is rapping about being an actual murderer, but please listen carefully!

BKBU (Interlude)-
This has to be my favorite song on the album! The acronym "BKBU" means "Dont Know Bout U" and Cozz is basically rapping about sipping liquor and telling us how much he loves it. Cozz repeatedly raps, "Tell me ya smoke, sippin juice....But I don't know about you. Yeah, me and my niggas we get loose". The production is what made me fall in love this this track!

LSN ft. Free Ackrite -
"LSN" is short for "Light Skin Nigga". This this track Cozz raps about how being light skin has its advantages. He raps about how he likes light skin females and how light skin females like him. Free Ackrite sings, "Careful, really keep it blushed out what she really wants is that light skin nigga. She really wants that light skin nigga He even questions his statements saying, "I dont know, it's so racist....". Will being light skin really get you far in life? No seriously will it? I see females bleach their skins just to "fit in". At the end of the day, humble yourself and you will get far in life.

I Need That ft. Bas-
This tracks is about how pussy, weed and liquor are Cozz's life essentials. Cozz raps, " I need that. That pussy I need that. That real shit I need that....Yo feed backs don't need that...."

Ya Know That -
This track is about basically knowing that facts are facts and it is what it is. He expresses, "Bros can be bros and ya know that...hoes can be hoes and ya know that". This track is short, sweet and straight to the point, even though the tracks fades out in the middle of the song while Cozz is rapping. I actually wanto the hear the full version now.

Knock Tha Hustle ft. J. Cole [Remix] -
I actually like this version of "Knock Tha Hustle" because you can hear the similarities of both Cole and Cozz. In my opinion, Cozz is the West Coast J. Cole; they are practically twins hah!....the Cold C's. Of course Cole went ALL THE WAY IN on this track like he always does on any song. He glamours us with metaphor and unbelievable word play! Cole raps, "My nigga moving state to state running late watch em. Tryna avoid state troppers, that's the weight watchers. Run this dope set cake till they say 'Gotcha'. Or till the fat lady sings, and nigga hate operas. And Oprah hates niggas, make no mistake thar we know the stakes still, we hope make over eight figures. Slim chances, but niggas bet against the odds and who am I to criticize how you play your cards dog".

Overall I enjoyed "Cozz & Effect" from beginning to end! The metaphors, similies, and rhyme scheme made me fall deeply in love this Cozz as a rapper. For his first album, he went harder than some of these rappers in the industry. I love to hear a West Coast rapper rap like a East Coast rapper. Signing to Dreamville is the best decision of his life! Cozz seriously is a great, positive, and amazing reflection of Dreamville. I want to hear Cozz and Kendrick on a track? And may be even up Jay-Z on it? Nas can get a couple bars too.....I can go on and on.

Buy Cozz's album "Cozz & Effect":  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cozz-effect/id924546422

Untitled Opinions

Hip Hop is supposed to be the culture of change. But is it just a culture with restricted boundaries?

Hip Hop's sound has changed from when it originated, and that's fine and great. BUT let's talk about when up and coming rappers put out new music and are being told, "it doesn't sound Hip Hop" or "it's not a club banger", well then what should the new artists do? Lose their identity for some dollars? Of course not! I would say just do you and make music for your fan base and yourself.

From the outside looking in, people don't know that in order to be in the "Hip Hop circle" you have to dress a certain way or an artist's music has to sound a specific type of way just to fit in. Hip Hop is somewhat like a high school cafeteria in my opinion. And if you love Hip Hop and understand the content of Hip Hop then you know exactly what I'm talking about.....For example, I remember having a conversation with one of my followers on Twitter about this exact topic. I tweeted out, "Childish Gambino is a better singer than Drake. #FACT". One of my followers said, "Drake can sell a R&B album and it can go straight to number one". I said that might be true, but Gambino can still sing better than him. And then my followers said, "Nobody knows Childish Gambino, he is not even on the radio". Long story short, all my follower did was list all of Drake's accomplishments and how popular he was. I never said Gambino was more talented or popular then Drake. I actually don't care how popular both of them were to be honest. All I wanted to know was if he sing better than Childish Gambino.

People don't even see how talented Childish Gambino or Tyler The Creator really are because they don't dress a certain way, talk a certain way, act a certain way, or hang out with the top rappers in the industry. But does that make them different or "lame rappers"? When artists like Tyler or Gambino are being casted out it makes me ask myself,  why is it that a powerful and influential culture (Hip Hop) won't accept rappers like Tyler The Creator? Hip Hop can make Miley Cyrus twerk and Wolf Blitzer dougie but if a rapper doesn't rap about urban things he/she are cased out.

There are rules and regulations to Hip Hop, and a lot of dos and donts. People want Kanye West to stick to rapping and producing and not focus of designing clothes because designing clothes "is not Hip Hop". What kind of logical thinking is that? Let the man design and rap because we are ALL going to buy it! We bought the Yeezys didn't we? Why should the individuals in Hip Hop be abel to put people in a boxes? The more boxes there are the more people are not going to care anymore.

Hip Hop is bigger than what it really is. If people noticed how much influence and power it and stop putting artists in boxes, Hip Hop could be only ONE genre of music.

Even though I'm upset about the restrictions some artists go though, I will always love Hip Hop to death. In my opinion, Hip Hop is so strong that not a genre of music anymore. It's clothes, the way an individual talks, a social status, and etc. Hip Hop dictates what's in and what's not. Hip Hop is Pop culture.