Mixtape Monday: MH The Verb, RSXGLD, DJ Rahdu, Devonwho + More
Real life rap is the order of the day this Mixtape Monday with tapes from MH The Verb, RSXGLD, Too $hort and Chuuwee up first.
They cover everything from manhood and social anxieties to street life and afrofuturism. Rising producer JRSwiftz takes the baton with the Corner Bodega tape, which takes listeners on a trip down the block. Baltimore’s own J. Robb provides the sound of tomorrow with Soulection White Label: 021.
Max I Million and DJ Rahdu explore the best tunes and artists at the intersection of hip-hop and jazz. While Rahdu highlights the artists responsible for the "new jazz sound," Max I Million drops a guest set for Beats of All-Nations. Mistah Rapsey and Gideon are back under the 4THSUNN moniker to round things out with II.
MH The Verb - Afronaut
MH The Verb teams with Buscrates 16-Bit Ensemble on the follow-up to the 2014 Balloon Guide LP, entitled Afronaut. The 11-track project also features appearances from Dolio The Sleuth, Stewie, GR Stone, Rich Quick, Gene Stovall, Kuf Knotz and Hayley Cass.
The Afronaut is a conceptual multi-media project based on a Black sci-fi heroine from the future who travels back in time to our complicated present day to inspire and empower the artists and youth of our world. Helmed by rapper MH the Verb and developed by the multi-media hip hop/soul collective known as ArtHouse95, the album features MH's timely, impassioned lyrics over funky grooves, progressive arrangements, and entrancing beats entirely produced by Buscrates 16 Bit Ensemble. Expanding the project with various contributions from ArtHouse singers and vocalists, the album blends jazz, hip hop, and funk/soul with the organic production values of today’s electronica.
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Devonwho - Betaloops
Devonwho follows a string of loosies with the effervescent Betaloops instrumental tape. The 42-track release is comprised of songs made on the West Coast between 2014 and 2017, using a DSI Prophet 08 and Roland GAIA.
"These were just tracks I made in San Francisco, and transitioning to LA life. Bits & pieces that never turned into full songs, but a part of me and my growth that I wanted to share."
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RSXGLD - RSXGLD
Ro Spit and 14KT follow He’s The Driver, I’m The Shooter with the self-titled RSXGLD project. The 12-track release finds both MC and producer stepping well outside of their comfort zones. While Ro Spit gets real about manhood, 14KT shakes things up behind the boards on the Maschine.
This is a true, social experiment. This is music made from the soul that encompasses every aspect of the human experience. This is how you push beyond your limits.
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JRSwiftz - Corner Bodega
Producer JRSwiftz follows the ‘98 tape with his latest project entitled Corner Bodega. The cinematic release is a trip to the corner store complete with loosies, lottery tickets, discount chips, rap ciphers and dice games outside on the block. The 11-track project is packed with the dirty drums, vinyl static and soulful chops that Golden Era aficionados know and love.
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Too Short - Hella Disrespectful
Rap legend Too $hort puts on for The Town ahead of his forthcoming album The Pimp Tape with the Hella Disrespectful: Bay Area Mixtape. As one might expect, Too Short spits plenty of game across the 22-track project. He is joined in the mix by a grip of collaborators, including E-40, G-Eazy, Mozzy, IamSu, Mistah F.A.B. and KillaFresh.
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Chuuwee - Sabbath
Sacramento MC Chuuwee takes a break from the weighty subject matter of his three-part Dystopia series to drop the 17-track Sabbath tape.
It’s a lot of pressure and even more madness going on in America right now and as I stated before I want the album series to start getting really really dark. But before I turn the lights out completely, I wanted to give people something fun and light to go in with. Part 003 is going to be very very dismal
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J. Robb - Soulection White Label: 021
Baltimore producer J. Robb combines future beats with throwback r&b for Soulection White Label: 021.
His music style capitalizes on the duality of pretty and gritty, creating another layer of listening to R&B and Hip-Hop that feels both new and natural at the same time. With a classic feel and contemporary blend, this series will undoubtedly be on repeat time and time again.
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4THSUNN - II
The dynamic duo of Gideon & Mistah Rapsey aka 4THSUNN follow the Kowboy Bebop split tape with the second installment of their collaborative series, entitled II. The 48-minute tag team mix includes gems from Moses Sumney, Devaloop, Seven Davis Jr, Photay, Kamasi Washington, Smino, EARTHGANG, King Krule, Sonder and more.
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Max I Million - Beats Of All-Nations Radio #22
Stockholm representative Max I Million follows the Beats, Mines & Life instrumental tape with a sixty-minute guest set for Beats of All-Nations.
This my take on World Music. But the common denominator is undoubtedly Jazz. I wanted to demonstrate how all urban music styles have their roots in Jazz by merging styles and blurring the lines between the genres. If I'd describe this mix with three words, it would be "Unity", "Love" and "Timeless". Music brings us all together and Jazz, as well as Hip Hop, has always been in the forefront of music that brings people together, no matter of age, race, nationality or background. That's also the essence of this mix. You'll hear music from every continent on earth, stretched over time, 1950's to 2017, and even a couple of exclusives from myself that nobody has heard before. I loved putting this together, and I hope to spread that love to all of you. Enjoy!
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DJ Rahdu - Some Jazz 22: The New Jazz Sound
DJ Rahdu pays tribute to the jazz cats innovating across music and changing the face of hip-hop with the latest installment of the Some Jazz series for BamaLoveSoul entitled The New Jazz Sound.
I remember picking up Robert Glasper's In My Element and being surprised to hear the Hip Hop, soul and elements of other genres dispersed throughout the album. Although, already a Jazz fan, I was elated at hearing my generation's music represented in an art form that was previously, largely guarded from exploration and breaking form. It seems from that moment until now, as the 2010s come to a close, Jazz has reversed its position and also permeated itself into the prevalent genres of music. Glasper aside, Jazz musicians have become the new rock stars...
Karas Lamb writes and digs for tunes you haven’t heard yet. She actually wants to listen to your mixtape. Follow her on Twitter @karaslamb or Instagram @blamblamkaraslam.