Tag: hip-hop

OUT TODAY: Check out Ez Mil’s video for track, ‘Podium’

Philippines-born, Las Vegas-based multi-faceted musician, EZ MIL, who both raps and sings, shares the official music video for track ‘Podium’ out today. The tenacious, versatile deluxe version of his second album, DU4LI7Y: REDUX, out everywhere now following his recent signing to Eminem and Dr. Dre’s Shady Records/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records. Mil joins the likes of 50 Cent as only a few of the artists signed directly to all three labels.

Ez Mil’s latest music video for ‘Podium,’ directed by Alexey Figurov, is an ominous, dark visual shot in black and white that accompanies his relentless, haunting flow. On the track, Ez Mil begins to process his new role as a rising rapper–someone others might look up to–and the mix of fear and excitement that comes with it. Though Ez is used to directing and editing his videos, he enjoyed letting Figurov help create his vision. Ez Mil says the video, to him, is raw, adding, “It is an unfiltered reflection and a glimpse into my artistry.” Figurov says the video aims to, “recreate the complexity and versatility of the human personality. To explore our negative sides and a person’s craving for self-destruction.” The video’s black-and-white color scheme complete with red accents was a creative suggestion from Eminem himself.

Ez Mil shares the song is, “dedicated to the powers that be. It sheds light on how rappers or writers sometimes feel like politicians with the truth behind what they say and the fear they feel of what might happen as someone in a position of influence.” Aware of his role as someone with a platform and a microphone, Ez Mil hopes to make friends and family proud as he propels into the next phase of his flourishing career. Check out the video for ‘Podium’ below…

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Illerstate come through with rampant joint ‘Mirroring’

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    With the heavy, grime-esque bass running riot from the start of Manchester’s hip-hop collective ILLERSTATE‘s new banger, ‘Mirroring’, it’s hard not the take notice. The rampant bass is immediately topped off by the raw, razor sharp flow, which makes it so satisfyingly good.

    Illerstate’s distinctive mixture of aggressive melodies, heavy bass and metal guitar has hailed them as legends in the Manchester’s hip-hop scene. They’ve also gained a solid fan base throughout the UK, receiving support from notable music makers such as DJ Semtex.

    ‘Mirroring’ was released yesterday (8th September) via Mr. Jone’s label, Manchester Music Group. Mr. Jones was previous featured on the blog with tracks, ‘You’, ‘Brand New’ and more recently, ‘Laid-back.’

    Check out ‘Mirroring’ below…

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    Rapper MeRCY drops track, ‘The Artist’.

    “Lessons of life be the sketches I write/deep depression/seek perfection/not reflection I like” – spits the lyricist known as MERCY as he introduces us to his latest work of art titled, ‘The Artist’.

    Backed by a beautiful canvas of production provided by Lebanon Don, MeRCY goes to work detailing portions of his life that have made him who he is today. Each bar and rhyme blend together perfectly like when mixing colors to create another, as the artist takes us on a trip through his mind & past self. He grabs a mic that acts as a paint brush in order to create the picture of MeRCY. From seeing his older brother deal drugs, to run ins with the law but also trying to avoid disappointing his mother even while being out in the concrete jungles, it all plays a part in the ever growing picture of ‘The Artist’.

    MeRCY starts off the second verse by saying “The artist who drew the hardest of hardships/with my tears on the canvas/bloodstains on my garments/written in blood no kisses and hugs”. Merc’ doesn’t mask any pain but shows it off in full because in his words “This is God’s work from all the hard work/beauty is pain my n***a/I’ve made it artwork”. Truly embodying himself within his raps is how we find the Florida native on this record, not being afraid of showing vulnerability but embracing it in order to create a special track that serves as the first single to his upcoming album ‘Michaelangelo’. If the single wasn’t already great, Tone Spliff adds some scratches throughout to top it off and ensure the greatness of ‘The Artist’. Have a listen below…

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    Arlo Maverick unveils video for track ‘Night Shift’ ahead of album

    Canadian hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK‘s video for new single, ‘Night Shift,’ offers a portrait of a person wrestling with the increasing demands of getting by and fulfilment, and positions Maverick as a chronicler of modern day working-class woes. The tune will appear on his upcoming release, Blue Collar, set for release on 20th October.

    On the track, Maverick ponders the tension between balancing making ends meet and material success, and the overwhelming sacrifices made to reap the rewards. The video, co-directed and edited by Maverick and featuring emcees KazMega and Just Moe, depicts various people – a labourer, an office worker, and a janitor – grinding through a day of work.

    “We wanted the video to be an honest representation of what sacrifice sometimes looks like for people hustling to get ahead,” says Maverick. “Being able to share the fruits of that labour with family is what makes it all worthwhile.”

    Through a succession of buoyant, march-like beats, the track mirrors the monotony of work, while Maverick delivers the bleary-eyed refrain, “Working that night shift/I just want to go home/I just want to go home/I just want to go home.”

    “This song shows the impact of shift work on your health and happiness; how you miss important moments in your family’s lives, and how these typically dead end jobs offer no possibility for advancement,” Maverick adds. “The dilemma we face in trying to live our best lives and make our families happy is often more overtime and less time together.”

    Much of the themes on Blue Collar revolve around a universal pursuit of purpose, prosperity, and happiness, from the disillusionment of the job market after graduating from college to the gratification of indulging in material things to being undervalued at a 9 to 5. It’s an album that tries to capture the seemingly endless balancing act to meet our personal needs, satisfy our wants, and get ahead in an economic environment that makes it harder and harder to do so.

    ‘Night Shift’ is out now, with more to come from Maverick as he preps the release of his second full-length solo album. Check out the video for the track below…

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    Chicago Producer Jason Griff Join Forces With MC Zilla For Latest Project, ‘Stacking Chips’.

    “Yo, hacky sack liberal college rap, we don’t f*ck with that,” Zilla Rocca emphatically proclaims in his opening line of ‘Don’t Panic,’ which should be bold text on a welcome mat with this album cover on it.

    ‘Stacking Chips’ is the long-overdue collaboration between Philadelphia MC ZILLA and Chicago producer JASON GRIFF. The two are long-time friends, having met on MySpace in the mid-2000s, yet had not collaborated on a full album until now. This project, however, was definitely worth the wait. Featuring hardheaded, bass-heavy car music that salutes the influence of 90’s Queens and Southern bounce, with juicy hooks and incredible guest verses from artists such as SolarFive, Defcee, ShrapKnel, Milc, and even the great SKECH185.

    Zilla and Griff set out to make an album full of end-of-summer bangers, and did just that. From the banned-from-streaming ‘Frank Castle,’ which questions American police officer’s love of The Punisher logo to the vibrant and bouncy, Andrew-assisted ‘Barkeep.’ The album consistently toes the line of aggressive and lighthearted at the same time as Zilla can flip between tales of canceling a date to watch a DOOM interview to dreaming of catching up with potential car thieves.

    The album title is an homage to longtime friend, collaborator, and co-founder of Insubordinate Records, Lorde Jones Scorcese, whose voice can be heard throughout the album including his trademark acronym “Stacking Chips on Record Crushing Every Single Enemy,” among other resurfaced dialogue. The album concludes with a heartfelt tribute song ‘No Question’ featuring Alex Ludovico.

    Stacking Chips also features guest appearances from Ace Cannons, Jesse the Tree, Alaska and ZeroStar. The album was mastered by C. Money Burns. Check it out below…

    Must Listens: Nine Fifteen, A Note To Potential Car Thieves, Scott Summers

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