Following the Kenny Koller directed video for his RetroHash opener “Parties At The Disco”, Asher Roth released today the video for “Last Of The Flohicans”. Also directed by Kenny Koller, the video presents the same style with vintage filters, negative inverted effects, and quick cuts. Watch below.
Experimental hip hop group clipping. are truly one of a kind. There are plenty other experimental hip hop groups out there (RIP Death Grips) but none of them really do what clipping. does. Between their dark imagery, and their industrial influences, clipping. live and stay on their own island. “Story 2” is a standout track from their recent Sub Pop release CLPPNG. It’s bleepy, it’s bloopy, and it tells a hell of a story. The video involves a mans feet continuously repeating actions and starting over pertaining to the beat of the track. Watch below.
In the drug fueled party video for Vic Mensa’s “Feel That”, Vic wipes away sweat from his forehead with a stack of cash. Something that I believe I’ve never seen done before in a hip hop video. This all out banger from Mensa’s Innanetape Mixtape features a cameo from Chance The Rapper, Girls dancing, girls dancing, and girls dancing. Watch below.
It’s 9:00 AM and I just woke up. I’m squinting at my computer, sipping on black coffee, and listening to Goya’s latest EP on Indelible Niche Collective “Producing Monsters”. My mind immediately scans for possible influences and inspirations in relation to the style of the first track Knock Em Dead. The production style, the flow, and the lyrics are all reminiscent of the nitty gritty roots of hip hop. Some may perceive it as what hip hop once was, but with “Producing Monsters”, Goya proves that the core essence of hip hop is still relevant today. He really stands out to me, becoming one of my most recent favorite MC’s.
Goya (of Intelligent Quotes) is a hip hop artist out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He’s influenced by underground hip hop, the energetic liberty of punk, and the technicalities of metal. These influences meld into the very unique, yet appreciable sound of Goya.
Out of the eleven tracks on this EP, eight of them are produced by INC’s own sLanguage. And as we all know, sLanguage never lets us down. I’d like to put a spotlight on Faustian Blues. The sample immediately grabs your attention. A traditional blues guitar riff, twangy vocals, followed by Goya going in right off the bat. Goya’s talent for storytelling in his writing functions flawlessly in this track. The title, Faustian Blues, refers to Faust: A magician of German legend who enters into a compact with the devil. In the track, Goya puts his own spin on telling a tale of a wanderer who encounters the devil. This, along with sLanguages production, make Faustian Blues a true blues/hip hop hybrid tale.
Per Mission To Speak features a very impressive and grandiose beat from Teddy Roxpin. The pitched up vocal samples are present all the way through, along with a slap in the face snare. Goya’s dark, humorous, and raw lyrics fit the production perfectly. This track is full of clever punchlines. Illuminate The Undergroud is an ominous toned track. sLanguage’s production sets the mood off right before Goya comes in with: “Lay awake and wasted. Eight hours straight listening to static between radio stations. Where did all the time go?”. Goya’s knack for painting a picture with words is more present than ever in this track. The dark subject matter could or could not be relatable to a listener, but that doesn’t entirely matter. It’s impossible to not go through the motions of the protagonist in this song as you listen to it, and if it is relatable than Illuminate The Underground could be a gift to you.
Dipped In Gold is a passionately raw ode to the good ol’ days of hip hop. sLanguage’s abstract piano production moves along smoothly under Goya and sLanguage’s verbal jabs at whack MC’s. My personal favorite line from this track (and possibly from any MC ever) comes from Goya: “Apex predator. Apparent in each bar I’ve written. Knock you out the game like an act of social darwinism”. Incredibly smart, clever, and simply dope lines like this are what really makes Goya stand out to me. He knows what points he wants to get across and he’ll do it in the least expectable way, leaving you dumbfounded. Another detail ofDipped In Gold that I love is that Goya and sLanguage quickly bounce off one another entirely throughout. My favorite line from sLanguage is: “Style dipped in gold, cause to the old school I am grateful, so even if you’re platinum our skills still outweigh you”. This line captures the essence of the track. sLanguage and Goya are about skill, talent and their craft. Trivial things aren’t as important as simply just being a dope MC.
I love the turn that Producing Monsters takes toward the end with production from Rythum and Jublet. Both are very talented, experimental producers. The track produced by Rythum, Street Light Flicker, is a slow, off-tempo groove that’s layered with all sorts of soothing sounds. The track produced by Jublet, Sleep Of Reason, is very (for lack of a better word) trippy. It begins with a pitched up voice singing over a demonic sounding piano. Forgive my ignorance, because I don’t know the sample being used here, but whatever it is, it’s highly effective. The track continues with the demonic piano under a quick boom bap. Definitely one of the most unique and abstract beats I’ve heard in some time.
Producing Monsters is big and small. It’s explosive, yet humble. It takes it’s time to make you feel comfortable only to hype you up the next minute. Goya and his collaborators came out with a VERY well rounded EP. A collection of hip hop that serves as higher quality than most hip hop we hear today. I don’t know Goya personally, but if I had the pleasure to meet him I’d ask him about his goals and where he sees his music career going in the next ten years. Then, I’d tell him that I see him doing big things in the name of real hip hop in the future.
Listen and download “Producing Monsters” over at the Indelible Niche Collective Bandcamp
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