27.5.13

Dr. Quandary - "Can't Go On Without You"

In the past 48 hours, Dr. Quandary pulled two surprise moves: he formally resigned from World Around Records, and he dropped this hypnotic gem, Can't Go On Without You. Clearly we can expect something fierce & new from this free agent before the year is out. This cat was a hard worker and a smooth manager and WE SALUTE YOU #DAUG.



7.5.13

Fortune 5000 - "The Lifestyles EP"

COVER ART BY NICK WASMER



SO PSYCHED TO HAVE THIS DROPPING TODAY...IT'S BEEN A LONG EMOTIONAL JOURNEY, THO...WE MADE THIS TRIUMPHANT MASTERPIECE UNDER SPIRITUALLY ADVERSE CONDITIONS BECAUSE FRIENDSHIP IS DOPE...SLICK NICK AND JUSTIN RHYMES, ASHEVILLE TO BURLINGTON RAP-STRAVAGANZA OLD SCHOOL FREAKOUT-ATHON, WHAT?...BUT REALLY, WHAT, THOUGH...WE STILL RAP THE RAPS AND RHYME THE RHYMES NO MATTER WHAT, FORTUNE 5000, WE GOT A LOT MORE RAPS IN STORE...WE SAY BROTHER BUT NOT BRO, BRO...WE LIKE FORESTS AND ANIMALS, PEOPLE ARE COOL, TOO...WE JUST WANT TO ROCK BEATS AT YOUR PARTIES, BOOK US TO PLAY RAP SHOWS AT YOUR PARTIES AND WE WILL COME AND DO THAT...THIS EP IS MADE TO BE PLAYED LOUD AT PARTIES OF ANY SIZE, AND OUR RAPS ARE CRAZY SERIOUS! FORTUNE 5000, THAT'S THE NAME!

6.5.13

THE INBOXXX: The Paradigm - "Bad News"

Hump Jones: Greetings, Earth Humans, welcome back to THE INBOXXX. We're gonna share the whole pitch on this one...and remember, your email is always a pitch, cuz it's all a performance, daugs & daugettes:

The Paradigm: This is a song I Wrote and recorded 4 days ago, its political and some what rebellious I think the message is strong and think it should be shared and put out for others to here so they can wake up
cheers from the paradigm.




DJ Squid: Like the beat, it's got some bounce, covers all the bases. And oddly enough it doesn't get boring, even though the melody doesn't go anywhere.

Hump Jones: Yeah, the hook is solid, too. I can't fully understand but it's dope and catchy. This attempt at fast rap, though...not so much, not so much.

DJ Squid: Can we talk naming conventions, though? I do have to mention, if I had come here blind I wouldn't be entirely sure if Bad News was the artist or the song title. It's one thing when your name is, like, JOE THA RAPPER...

Hump Jones: I can't even remember what that first verse was about now. Is this actually a political song, daug?

DJ Squid: God damn, artists should seriously never write their own copy. Is this what I sound like when I write to blogs?

Hump Jones: You do that?

DJ Squid: Good point. I don't. He should have practiced more, done more takes on the fast rap.

Hump Jones: Yeah, maybe it could have connected, but I don't think it was written right, I don't know if more takes could have saved it. The rhythm just wasn't there, you gotta practice your rudiments to solo on a snare.

DJ Squid: Yeah, true, he has to rush to catch up a few times. This third verse, though...

Hump Jones: Best yet. I always approve of rapping about sodium fluoride, too. Bonus points for a dope outro.

DJ Squid: In the end, I enjoyed this? It wasn't hugely memorable or anything but I would check for Paradigm again. The only really bad part of that submission was the copy. I wouldn't like, actively check for him again, but there is potential there. I'd give it 7.5/10 Pangboche Hands.

Hump Jones: Wicked Meh. I'm giving it a flat seven out of ten Ocular Cavity Searches, since the hook and beat were the best part to me.

DJ Squid: Well, you look like a real asshole right now. This has been yet another exciting edition of THE INBOXX, brought to you by REAL YETI RAP™ – Wendi-going gets tough, get Real Yeti Rap!™ Rap name Benadryl Italics. All day.

"Watching Rome Burn from Aventine Hill" - Louis Mackey



Art by Dr. Quandary for Memetic Supply Co

5.5.13

THE INBOXXX: $kala - "Get Up ft. Savannah Teller"

Hump Jones: Welcome to the first edition of The Inboxxx, where me and DJ Squid offer up some realtime reviews of submitted songs. Fuck a blurb, right? Real feedback.

DJ Squid: Actually, motherfucker, the correct spelling for this feature is THE INBOXXX. Drop that shit.



Hump Jones: Sweet Christ, that is officially Too Much Compression, daug. Hook is meh, her voice is great, though.

DJ Squid: Hella overcompressed, you can tell the beat has been double-overcompressed ...vocals are too flat, way in the back. Savannah Teller has a dope voice and complements the track well. These raps aren't bad but they're hella forgettable.

Hump Jones: Delivery is too friendly, flows are too simple. Does that matter? Probably not. In real life, if you bought beats like this on the regular, you could rap what the fuck ever for 16 bars, get a Savannah Teller in the booth for a hook, and go on tour before 2014. Speaking of which...

DJ Squid: Yeah. This beat is Evil Needle's One for Kennedy. We could probably spend 20 minutes on the question of whether or not he had, like, permission. Except you know he didn't.

Hump Jones: I'm always baffled when people submit music to us at all, man.

DJ Squid:Savannah went a little off key at the end there on the harmonies.

Hump Jones: Yeah, you're a dick. Compression was so out of control on those hooks, on a literal and technical level. Overall, I'm not sure if this was an improvement upon the instrumental. Does it matter that he's legally underage, daug?

DJ Squid: I gotta say, man, I am instantly put off by any track intro that involves the artist's age. If we were on a 10-point rating system I might give it a six, you know? Six out of ten Pangboche Hands.

Hump Jones: Whalam. Explain, daug.

DJ Squid: Aight, bitch. Highlights: Excellent beat by Evil Needle, beautiful hook vocals, positive track vibes/message. Lowlights: uninspired lyrics and vocals, terrible mixing, hella overdone sound/premise. Clear enough?

Hump Jones: I agree with six out of ten Arbitrary Signifiers, two young kids with strong potential making a practice track. Who should also mix their vocals and their stolen beats on a separate bus so they don't have to squelch their drums all to fuck.

DJ Squid: Let me finish, tho. This has been THE INBOXXX. Send your emails to this hippie, not me. PEACE!

Hump Jones Says Read More Books

4.5.13

"Singapore" - PremRock



This was a tight & funny piece of work. Check out Mark's Wild Years - visionary rap music, we dig it.

2.5.13

Shottie - Akhenaten



I really, really dug this shit. Shooting in a blizzard is also a great call. Solid fucking work right here, shouts to TeV95.

1.5.13

Acid Reign - Synergy



These cats are always pushing the envelope just right. They are the rightful heirs of the Freestyle Fellowship lineage, to my hick ears, but this shit is far from a throwback purity ring. Definitely best enjoyed in altered states.