SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 166:

Another quick Hip Hop set with two favorites at the top of the bill, one a Philly rapper with a love for Jazz and the other a promising young band out of Chicago. Joining the headliners are a trio of unique rappers that show the diversity of styles at SXSW. Highlights:

Louis Logic (6) – Louis Logic is a rapper, singer, and a pianist that writes smart brutally honest tracks. He’s had a unique career trajectory and a colorful release history but every album has been interesting and entertaining. He’s working on a new album for 2013 so he should have some new tunes for Austin.

N.E.P.H.E.W (6) – Fast flowing Chicago rapper N.E.P.H.E.W. has a engaging head nodding style. His beats are mostly deep trunk rattling bangers with a musical catchiness.

Phranchyze (6) – Austin rapper Phranchyze has a slow conversational flow and his beats have an electronic element to them that sets his style apart from other Southern rappers. His idealistic introspective bars are message heavy without being preachy. Standout track Exodus talks about organized religion, homophobia, and skittering beat that shows a willingness to incorporate whatever musical style fits the track.    

The Kid Daytona (6) – Bronx rapper The Kid Daytona has an easygoing buttery flow and raps over old school leaning laidback beats.

Lushlife (10) – Lushlife’s brand of spacey rap has one foot in raps past and one firmly planted in its experimental present. His organic production is driven by Jazz samples and dark piano lines.

Kids These Days (9) – Kids These Days are one of my favorite new discoveries this year, their impeccable production from Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy shines alongside vocalist Macie Stewart serene voice and rapper Vic Mensa’s polished delivery.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 164:

The marathon posting continues with this hip hop set headlined by one of hip hop’s most celebrated new stars and one of the genre’s biggest newcomers. Filling out the set are a mix of acts with strong production and lyricism, though not always both. Highlights:

Emilio Rojas (5) – Emilio Rojas is a rapper out of New York with a varied flow, sometimes attacking the beat in beast mode and others slowing his flow down to a crawl from R&B leaning tracks.    

iNDEED (5) – iNDEED are Ricky Fontaine and Walt Live, an Atlanta rap and production duo that build funky polished beats that sometimes overshadows their lyrical content. The production on their newest mixtape iNDEEDface makes it a solid listen front to back.

Harry Fraud and Friends (6) – Brooklyn producer Harry Fraud seems to be working with half the rappers at SXSW, his audio drop “La Musica De Harry Fraud” has appeared on infectious tracks from Action Bronson to Rick Ross and everyone in-between. It’s not clear who all makes up his …and friends, regardless his solid production should be a solid backdrop for whoever joins Harry on stage.

House Shoes (6) – Detroit DJ and Producer House Shoes has toured with an extensive list of top tier acts, for almost two decades he has been a major contributor to the signature drum heavy Detroit sound. His 2012 album Let It Go featured a who’s who list of artists including Oh No, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Danny Brown, and Chali 2na amongst many others.  

Jay Rock (6) – Rapper Jay Rock has a scratchy voiced flow and a hard punching delivery that calls back to classic 90s California rap. He’s also a member of the Black Hippy collective with Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and ScHoolboy Q.      

Joey Bada$$ & Pro Era (8) – Joey Bada$$ is young Brooklyn rapper and a leader of the Pro Era collective, his tracks have a old school vibe and focus on lyricism. 

Kendrick Lamar (10) – Kendrick Lamar’s spotlight blew up after the release of one of last year’s most critically praised albums in any genre, good kid, m.A.A.d city. The album featured a strong narrative, without veering into corny story album territory, over polished production.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 161:

There’s a lot to like in the remaining hip hop acts to review before next week. Tonight’s set is headlined by a trio of impressive rappers, and two aren’t yet old enough to buy a beer down in Austin. Filling out this group are three acts that share a focus on solid lyricism and polished production. Highlights:

Curly Castro (6) – Curly Castro is a rapper out of Philadelphia that spits intelligent bars over production from some of indie raps best producers. On his newest mixtape Fidel Castro’s focus is on lyricism and cultural issues.    

Danny! (6) – Columbia South Carolina rapper Danny! Has been releasing popular mixtapes for years and recently found a partner in ?uestlove label Okayplayer Records to release his anticipated latest album Payback. Danny! is known for his soulful polished beats and bars that poke blog buzzing rappers in the chest.

The Doppelgangaz (6) – New York rap duo The Doppelgangaz trade relaxed flows over self produced melodic beats that feature jazzy production, the group is readying their newest album HARK! for a March 12^th release.

DyMe-A-DuZin (7) – Rapper DyMe-A-DuZin is a member of the Phony Ppl collective and he raps with a slick flow over polished musical beats on his newest mixtape A Portrait of Donavon, which is free to download over on his official site.

Deniro Farrar (8) – Charlotte North Carolina Rapper Deniro Farrar has a deep baritone voice that pairs perfectly with the chilled out electronic production he raps over. His smooth flow stands out on his storytelling tracks.    

Earl Sweatshirt (9) – Odd Future rapper Earl Sweatshirt is one of the most talked about rappers on music blogs at the moment, he’s prepping a few albums for release and his material to date features an impressive stream of consciousness flow that adds weight to the anticipation.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 156:

Tonight’s hip hop set is headlined by two of the biggest hip hop draws at this year’s SXSW. Joining the two well known acts are two groups from Denver, a young rapper from the Burgh, and a Black Hippy affiliate. Highlights:

Boaz (5) – Boaz is a rapper out of Pittsburgh with a sharp but casual flow that rides his dynamic soul sampling beats. There’s a lack of depth to his lyrics but his delivery is authentic and engaging.    

Ab-Soul (6) – Ab-Soul is a member of the Black Hippy group, with Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Schoolboy Q, and has a slick delivery that pulls you in to his storytelling flow. He has a classic 90s feel-good sound that makes you want to turn the radio up and roll the windows down.  

BLKHRTS (6) – Denver Rap trio BLKHRTS have an ominous sound that incorporates dark production and eclectic music junkie winking samples. The rappers, King F.O.E, Karma The Voice, and Yonnas “Yo” Abraham, put their three distinct voices together in a way that intensifies and builds the group’s driving sound. Check out their free album CHRCH over at Bandcamp.

Air Dubai (6) – Air Dubai is also from Denver but a world away stylistically from their fellow denizens BLKHRTS. The band started as a duo and expanded to create a more organic sound for the founders, and dual lead vocalists, Julian Thomas and Jon Shockness. The full six-piece band mixes genres and creates a vibe that is bright and poppy.

Big K.R.I.T. (7) – Rapper Big K.R.I.T. from Meridian Mississippi has quickly climbed the hip hop ranks on his solid, often self provided, production and smooth soulful flow.    

Captain Murphy (Flying Lotus) (9) – Flying Lotus raps under the name Captain Murphy, Captain Murphy raps with a menacing hypnotic flow over dark production.  Initially Flying Lotus kept his identity a secret when rapping as Captain Murphy, only dropping enigmatic hints about his true identity.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 151:

R&B has been one of the most inventive genres of this year’s SXSW group of artists and this set highlights just a few of the reasons why. Joining this mostly R&B set is an electro-soul reggae group. Highlights:

The-Drum (5) – The-Drum are a production duo from Chicago that lay down layered spaced out electronic tracks on their full length Heavy Liquid from last year. The tracks on the album are predominantly instrumental deep bass slow churning electronic R&B songs.    

Autre Ne Veut (6) – Autre Ne Veut hails from Brooklyn, his recently released album Anxiety is filled with dissonant glitchy electronic R&B highlighted with emotional singing. He creates an intimate atmosphere in his live shows that should really play well to the SXSW crowd.

Esprit de Corps (6) – Esprit de Corps are an electronic reggae soul group made up of producer Fred Card and vocalist Shock Mama Cherry, aka Cherokee, from Los Angeles. The group chooses to incorporate reggae elements into their unique sound instead of faking Jamaican the way a lot of contemporary groups do. Card’s open inviting production serves as the perfect base to Cherokee’s soulful smoky vocals. 

Andy Allo (7) – Prince protégé Andy Allo plays guitar with New Power Generation and recently released her sophomore album Superconductor. The album pulses with funky rock and soul production provided by Prince that shines a new light on Allo’s style. Her prior album, Unfresh, was a hip hop leaning neo-soul album that featured collaboration with LA rapper Blu.

Evy Jane (8) – Evy Jane is an experimental R&B group from Vancouver made up of singer Evelyn Mason and producer Jeremiah Klein. The group’s wobbly otherworldly production is mishmash of genres that floats behind Mason’s ethereal voice.    

Charles Bradley (9) – Charles Bradley is a vintage R&B soul singer whose songs are highlighted by his gut-wrenching vocals and funky backing provided by The Menahan Street Band. 

Robert Glasper Experiment (9) – Robert Glasper Experiment is a group of skilled jazz musicians that create songs that interpret hip hop through a jazz scope. Glasper has a midas-touch when he pairs with some of the biggest names in hip hop. The group is able to inspire moments of musical greatness and challenges singers and rappers with their compositions.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 147:

This Hip Hop and R&B set is another coast to coast group led by a legendary lyricist, a Canadian rap collective and two talented Sothern rappers. Highlights:

Souls of Mischief (6) – Souls of Mischief and the Hieroglyphics collective they are part of have been influencing indie hip hop since their seminal album 93 ‘til Infinity. The album’s title track is one of hip hop’s most recognizable songs, it’s been sampled by J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T, and Kanye West among others. The group’s signature laid back production sound is still intact on their most recent album, the Prince Paul produced Montezuma’s Revenge.    

T Bird and the Breaks (6) – T Bird and the Breaks are an Austin Funk group that’s evolved with each release. Their sound is influenced by Southern funk and their songs are fun high energy songs designed to shake your ass to.

Tara Priya (6) – Tara Priya has a dynamic range and soulful vocals. Her songs incorporate a number of genres from jazz, rock, pop, and even twangy country. It’s an interesting mix and her songwriting is catchy and poppy, sometimes overwhelmingly so. Priya’s voice sounds best when she’s singing slow jazz leaning songs.

Third Root (6) – Third Root is a politically minded duo with a focus on connecting communities and education. The group is made up of Easy Lee, of the criminally slept on Mojoe, and rapper Mexican Stepgrandfather. The group’s DJ, DJ Chicken George, provides jazzy production for the two MCs to trade bars over.   

Skewby (7) – Skewby is a rapper from Memphis with a storyteller’s flow. He raps positive lyrics, without sounding cheesy, over soulful beats. 

Sweatshop Union (7) – Sweatshop Union is a hip hop collective out of Vancouver Canada. Their tracks are lyrically playful and full of clever pop culture references over layered musical beats.

Tito Lopez (7) – Tito Lopez is a fresh hip hop voice out of Gulfport Mississippi, he has a sharp clear flow and smoothly spits biting bars. He has the talent and skills to be the next big Southern rapper.

Talib Kweli (10) – Talib Kweli is the proverbial “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.” From his influential solo albums to his group collaboration with Yasiin Bey as Black Star he’s earned the title for his deft lyricism and signature delivery.

35 Denton Friday - Hip Hop, Etc.

The 35 Denton hip hop and R&B acts this year are some of the best the festival has had since its inception. The headliner for this set and a big draw for the Denton crowd is rapper Astronautalis, joining him is Killer Mike who had an amazing 2012. The group is filled out by indie electro R&B star Solange, 35 Denton favorite A.DD+, and poetic rapper –Topic. (Kevin’s Note: I added a grab bag of artists to round this one out) Highlights:

Astronautalis (10) – Astronautalis is first a storyteller and second a rapper, a fucking excellent rapper at that. He’s constantly touring and moving as an artist, at each show he performs a freestyle based on topics, with a few rules to keep it unpredictable, suggested by the audience. 

Doug Burr (10) - For my money, Burr is the strongest songwriter to come out of Denton since the boys from Midlake broke out, layering his songs with grace, honesty and spirituality.  His performances are often mesmerizing, hushing the crowd with his emotional vocal tones only armed with minimal acoustic instrumentation. 

Killer Mike (7) – Atlanta rapper Killer Mike has a brash in your face style and spits socially conscious bars that never alienate hardcore aggressive rap fans for fly by night fans. He paired with indie pioneer producer El-P for his newest album, R.A.P. Music, which finds Mike at the top of his game.

-Topic (6) – -Topic is a rapper from Dallas who writes poetic bars and he’s front and center on his tracks with jazzy backing beats that never drown out his intricate wordplay.     

A.DD+ (6) – A.DD+ are a Dallas hip hop duo who are creating a buzz around the DFW metroplex for their high energy live shows and contrasting styles. Paris Pershun raps with a deep voiced slow flow, stretching words, while Slim Gravy raps faster packing bars with words or sings the group’s hooks.

Solange (6) – Solange is an R&B singer from a musical family in Houston, her newest release an EP titled True is a quirky mix of electronic indie pop songs that feature her charismatic warm vocals and danceable beats.

Chambers (6) – While Denton’s Chambers lives mostly within quiet and windless rooms on their initial tracks, the chamber pop band has an interesting way of layering sound with an eye towards complex and challenging harmonies.  This is a nice break-off from expected minimalism, so hopefully this full sound will inform Chambers’ directions in the future.

Madisons (6) – Austin folk rock band Madisons has a well-formed sound, heavy on handclaps and down-home Americana roots.  While these songs come across as relatively minimal and straightforward on their record Desgraciados, the band can expand to 12+ members live, so hopefully they bring plenty of friends to their 35 Denton showcase a week from tonight.  The song “Sweetwater” should hold some special significance that weekend, as the title not only reflects songwriter Dominic Solis’ hometown, it is also the name of the venue Madisons will be gigging at.

A.M. Ramblers (5) – Local Denton bluegrass/Americana band A.M. Ramblers have a rootsy and loose sound, the kind of music friends make around the campfire.  Musically, A.M. Ramblers have a strong sound, focused on laid back solos and traditional harmonies.

Daniel Francis Doyle (5) – Singer-songwriter Daniel Francis Doyle takes a minimal approach to pop music, though his sound ranges from terse, acoustic ballads to eclectic fuzz rock at different times.  Of note are Doyle’s off-kilter rhythmic elements, allowing his songs to dip into disparate breaks that break Doyle’s music from the expected.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 134:

Next week’s SNL musical guest and all around hottest act in hip hop, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, lead this Saturday set. The duo are joined by Sinkane, a Funky electro-R&B performer, and filling out the biggest Hip Hop and R&B set yet are three rap and four R&B acts. Highlights:

Menahan Street Band (5) – The Menahan Street Band are best known for its members other groups and MSB serves as somewhat of a musical passion project and instrumental indie band super-group. The group’s laid back funk and soul sound draws disparate influences from across the musical spectrum from funk and R&B, to smooth soul, and hip hop.     

Mykki Blanco (5) – Mykki Blanco is a transgender rapper out of NYC who is attacking stereotypes and stigma through music. Without the issues of sexuality Blanco would still have an audience. Though cross-dressing and the confusion of identifying Blanco as “he” or “she” is what separates her from a million other rappers spitting bars about sex and drugs over bass-heavy electronic-leaning beats. Mykki’s music captures the struggles of being gay in America and especially in rap, which is slowly progressing from the dark ages of inherent homophobia. Blanco’s tracks are hit or miss, but the bright spots in her music are fascinating because they are informed by the most necessary element for good hip hop, struggle. 

Miloh Smith (6) – Atlanta R&B leaning singer and rapper Miloh Smith finds power in her smoky vocals and punchy hip hop beats. She’s young and her music reflects it on her Suite 404 mixtape but the album overall shows she’s a promising new artist that deserves listener’s attention.

Res (6) – Res has been releasing albums for well over a decade but her progress in building a fan base has been hampered by battles with labels sitting on releases and influencing her sound. Her most recent large scale projects have been collaborations with Talib Kweli, as Idle Warship, and his Blacksmith collective and Javotti Media label. Res’ strength lies in her soulful vocals and ability to experiment and hop in and out of genres.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (6) – Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are purveyors of vintage R&B and Jones’ powerful vocals shine over the bands classic tracks. The Dap-Kings make up a large part of Menahan Street Band (above) and their driving horns and guitars propel the excellent songwriting displayed on Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ records.

Serengeti (6) – Serengeti like many of the acts that make up the current Anticon label roster is part of raps more experimental wonderfully weird sardonic side. His newest album C.A.R. was produced by indie rap mainstays Odd Nosdam and rapper and DJ Jel, together the trio created a truly unique spacey album.        

Sirah (6) – Sirah is best known for her collaborations with Skrillex on the title track of his Bangarang EP. Her free C.U.L.T. Too Young To Die album sounds very current and features dubstep leaning production that is musical enough that it doesn’t drown out Sirah’s biting lyrics.

Sinkane (9) – Sinkane is multi-instrumentalist Ahmed Gallab, when he performs live he’s joined by Jason Trammell on drums, Mikey Freedom Hart on guitar and keyboards, and Mike Montgomery on bass. His newest album Mars is filled with funky grooving tracks that pull from every end of the spectrum from African rhythms to classic soul, smooth R&B, and rock vocals.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (10) – Perennial OEB favorite storyteller MC Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis have seen their star rise dramatically since we last covered them thanks to their proper full length debut The Heist and the viral sensation single Thrift Shop that has everyone from preteens to hip elderly music fans shaking their ass to tales of digging in thrift shop bargain bins.  

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 133:

Leading this pack is one of Seattle’s sharpest tongued rappers and a DC rap band carving out a lane for their super local sound. Joining them is a throwback soul act, and three smooth flowing relatively new to the scene rappers. Highlights:

Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics (5) – Ruby Velle has a smoky voice that sounds like vintage Southern R&B and soul music and The Soulphonics lay down super funky music. The group’s strong songwriting sets the group apart from the growing throwback R&B genre.    

Rockie Fresh (6) – Rockie Fresh is a Chicago MC that raps over spacey chilled out production that incorporates many electronic bells and Whistles. While his tracks aren’t introspective lyrical masterpieces he raps with conviction. His newest mixtape Electric Highway is available as a free download on his site. The albums solid production pairs perfectly with Rockie’s smooth flow.

ScHoolboy Q (5) – ScHoolboy Q is a member of the LA Black Hippy collective that has gained acclaim for member’s solo work, notably Kendrick Lamar’s celebrated 2012 release. Q gets better with each release and his upcoming album Oxymoron has the potential to be a major step forward. ScHoolboy Q is a rapper to keep an ear out for in 2013.

Roc Marci (6) – Roc Marciano has a real slick delivery and his flow rides the beat with precision. His newest album Reloaded is made up of soul sampling beats under Roc’s strong clear delivery.

RDGLDGRN (7) – RDGLDGRN is a rap rock group out of DC group that pairs rapping and singing with a go-go drum beat to create a refreshing poppy mix of hip hop, funk, and rock.         

Sadistik (8) – Sadistik is a Seattle rapper best known for his sharp quick flow and his introspective lyrical style. His recent album is produced by some of the most consistent producers in indie hip hop. Emancipator, Blue Sky Black Death and Kno from The Cunninlynguists all provide tracks on the deeply personal Flowers for My Father which was released this week. 

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 128:

This Sunday afternoon hip hop and R&B set is headlined by two distinctly different, talented young bands out of New York, filling out the set are emerging and established hip hop acts from coast to coast. Highlights:

Passalacqua (5) – Passalacqua is a laid back rap duo, Mister and Blacksmith out of Detroit. Their lyrics are introspective and the mcs trade bars effortlessly back and forth with a slow deliberate flow.    

The Pharcyde (6) – The Pharcyde are a classic indie hip hop group from California, their albums are classics among backpack rap fans. The group has gone through some personnel changes over the years but the remaining members still bomb stage after stage with soul sampling beats and spacey delivery that has influenced a generation of rappers.   

Propain (6) – Houston rapper Propain is a classic Texas lyricist that raps with a thick Southern drawl. His honest bars, like on the introspective single The Note, and soul infused beats have been garnering him attention from fans and labels alike.

R3venge Of The Nerds (6) – R3venge of The Nerds is an L.A. R&B group that collaborated initially just for fun and their light hearted lyrics reflect that beginning. The group has a smooth developed sound that could make them a huge group as their songwriting matures.

Ray C (6) – San Antonio rapper Ray C.’s sound is informed by the Texas rappers whose style he is influenced by. His flow is polished and his songs have a carefree demeanor highlighted by his soulful rock leaning production. His Loose Change mixtape is a solidly cohesive album from beginning to end.       

Ratking (7) – Hip hop group Ratking captures the gritty style that defined NYC indie rap in the 90s while adding dark ominous production that separates the group the artists that preceded them. From the material to date, Wiki and his sharp nasally flow is the standout of the group which also includes fellow rapper Hak, and producers Ramon and Sporting Life. The EP seems to just scratch the surface of what the group has to offer, look out for the group’s upcoming full length.

Phony Ppl (8) – Phony Ppl are a young collective of artists, the group pairs hip hop and soul on their newest album Nothing Special and their music conveys infectious creative energy.