stefanoneder Album Reviews, EP

Just FLow and MaV – The Water Break EP (2012)

Artist: Just FLow x MaV

Album: The Water Break EP

Source: Artist

Tracklisting:

1. Timeout
2. The Combine
3. Joey Crawford (Referee)
4. Cheerleader
5. Showtime
6. The Press
7. Heartless

Note:

The best part about HHD is finding and supporting a winner and that’s exactly what’s happened by helping to spread the word about Just FLow and MaV.   These guys appeal to commercial and underground audiences alike with a universal sound and good wordplay.  The emcees feed off of each other’s energy throughout the release.

Continue reading “Just FLow and MaV – The Water Break EP (2012)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

JR&PH7 x St. Joe Louis x Brokn.Englsh – My Favorite Demons (2012)

Artist: JR&PH7 x St. Joe Louis x Brokn.Englsh

Album: My Favorite Demons

Source: iTunes

Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. My Favourite Demons
3. Scandalous
4. Lost In Love
5. Take A Walk
6. Forgot To Forget
7.New High
8. Try

Note:

Hip Hop needs a little diversity.  Individual projects need a little variation.  Both are achieved with My Favorite Demons.  JR&PH7 are a production duo out of Cologne, Germany.  Over the last two or three years they have worked with countless dope artists for their projects and have established themselves in the hip hop community.  St. Joe Louis and Brokn.Englsh are groups out of New Jersey comprised of three emcees each.  Each group has contributed dope hip hop music over the course of the last few years.  For this project, they join forces and craft a very focused, yet dynamic release.

Continue reading “JR&PH7 x St. Joe Louis x Brokn.Englsh – My Favorite Demons (2012)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Rozewood – Neon Paradise (2011)

172924 1303676689857 1768701083 541889 3816041 o

Artist: Rozewood

Album: Neon Paradise

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

  1. Asian Nights
  2. Pandorum
  3. Midnight Run RMX
  4. Dimenstions
  5. By The Grace Of God
  6. Get Well Soon
  7. You Say That You Love Me
  8. Whats You Poison
  9. Gods Grain (ft. Hus)
  10. Midnight RUn
  11. Horrorville Block
  12. Pain
  13. Love With A Stranger
  14. I’ve Been Drinking
  15. Just My Mind Again

Note:

I first became familiar with Rozewood a little over a year ago when I heard the cut, Prelude To A Funeral, off of his 2012 release.  I really loved that cut and I have been listening to this emcee ever since.

Now to project at hand:  Neon Paradise is a unique project because I feel like the the production and the emcee are divergent.  What I mean by that is for the most part, the production throughout the album is laid back, subtle, and sometimes muted.  Typically you would think that type of style would favor a laid back emcee, but Rozewood bucks that notion.  He has a powerful delivery that is reminiscent of KGR.   The production and the emcee really wind up gelling well on the album. He bodies the beat numerous times on this album.

Continue reading “Rozewood – Neon Paradise (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Goldini Bagwell – Chainsmoke (2011)

Artist: Goldini Bagwell (of Sandpeople)

Album: Chainsmoke

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

01. Intro (Unfiltered)
02. Bagwell
03. Lets Grow
04. Tenure (Feat. Iame)
05. Wmn Vs. Wrk
06. More Than High (feat. OnlyOne & Illmaculate)
07. Chainsmoke
08. Speed of Life
09. Words to Live By
10. For Nothing (feat. Reva Devito)
11. No Sucka Revisited (feat. Epp, Destro Destructo & Illmaculate)
12. Prelude to AU (Aye You)
13. Outro (Exhale)
14. Bagwell (DaiN Remix)

Note:

In preparation for the end of the year accolades posts, this will probably be my last album review…probably.  And because I am reviewing Mr. Bagwell’s, Chainsmoke, you know it has to be good or else I wouldn’t waste my breath on it.  Not only, is it good,  it’s outstanding.

Continue reading “Goldini Bagwell – Chainsmoke (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Unknown Prophets – World Premier 2 (2011)

Artist: Unknown Prophets

Album: World Premier 2

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

1. Take It Back
2. Nowhere
3. Higher Ground
4. Louder
5. Everyday
6. Ready For Whatever (ft. Fatima Lily)
7. What You Make It
8. Food For Thought
9. Don’t Do It the Same
10. Patriots
11. Both Fists Up
12. New Day

Note:

I am finally getting around to writing about this fresh album from the Minneapolis duo, Unknown Prophets.  I just recently started listening to their material.  Big Jess’ solo work was instrumental in leading me through their back catalog.  I am impressed with what they have done in the past, but I think World Premier 2 is their best work to date.

Continue reading “Unknown Prophets – World Premier 2 (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Passalacqua – Zebehazy Summer (2011)

Artist: Passalacqua (Mister x Blaksmith)

Album: Zebehazy Summer

Source: Artist

Tracklisting:

1. Better Made
2. Lovers Leap
3. Rapraprapraprap Pt. 1
4. Ms. Washington (Bridge Card Hustle)
5. Sirens
6. Beverly and Duane
7. High Anxiety (ft. Ben Miles)
8. Rapraprapraprap Pt. 2
9. Sunset City
10. Own Thing

Note:

I must admit, I was not expecting a Passalacqua full length this year. As many of you know, I reviewed their sensational, self titled release,  earlier this year.   That release is a hard one to top and it took me a while to give Zebehazy Summer enough spins to appropriately differentiate the two.  The main difference is in the production.  Dr. B produced their first release and I thought it had a more straight forward hip hop appeal.  Erno the Inferno really brings the funk and soul out in the tracks.   It took me a moment to digest this new flavor.  But with that being said…Mister and Blaksmith take this new style and really lay claim to each track.

Continue reading “Passalacqua – Zebehazy Summer (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album, Album Reviews

Forbidden Dialect – Orange Sessions (2011)

Artist: Forbidden Dialect

Album: Orange Sessions

Source: Artist

Tracklisting:

1. Peoples
2. Eat my WOrds
3. Good Shite
4. Claymore Cafe
5. Long Tail
6. 40 Mules
7. Sueño del Carajo
8. Walk with Paris
9. Cycle Logic
10. Aopkhes
11. Sad City f/ Scrap Iron Jame
12. DMZ
13. Traffic Jam
14. Monumental
15. Scat Song
16. Small Favors

Note:

Give me something different.  Something unique.  Give me…some more music from Forbidden Dialect! I reviewed their first joint, More Than Your Money’s Worth, more than a year ago.  I found it on my own, web surfing and thought it was refreshing.  This time Forbidden Dialect sent me the link to their new album.   I thought to myself, “What are the chances that this album is as good as the first?”   I was incredulous, but to my pleasant surprise, Orange Sessions, is probably better than their first effort.   If More Than Your Money’s Worth is initially fresh, then Orange Sessions is consistently vibrant.  It simply follows in the footsteps of it’s predecessor and expands upon that foundation.   When you have six (count them) talented artists, with diverse backgrounds, then it is inevitable that you are going to get a very unique album.

Continue reading “Forbidden Dialect – Orange Sessions (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album, Album Reviews

Awthentik – Foreclosure (2011)

Artist: Awthentik

Album: Foreclosure

Source: Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

1. Take A Bow
2. The World Isn’t Yours
3. A Nobody (ft. Laelo Hood)
4. It’s My Job (ft. Kutta)
5. The Real Awthentik
6. #FUCKACOSIGN (ft. Kutta)
7. Purified Madness
8. Cereal But No Milk (ft. Kutta)
9. Don’t Do It
10. 6AM Rap (ft. Incwell and Sleepwalker)
11. Beat The Cat (ft. Ethan Spalding)
12. Cigarillo In My Pocket (ft. Laelo Hood)
13. Morning Motivation
14. Lifetime’s The Right Time (ft. Alison Carney)
15. Pour Out A Little Liquor

Note:

An artist who produces and emcees is usually great/good at one and subpar/mediocre at the other.   This could not be further from the truth with Awthentik, which is why his project, Foreclosure,  is being mentioned on HHD.  I am really impressed with his ability to write and emcee as well as his ability behind the boards.  He is accomplished at both crafts, hence this release is full of gritty bangers and above average lyricism.

Continue reading “Awthentik – Foreclosure (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album, Album Reviews

Praverb The Wyse – Professional Hobbyist (2011)

Artist: Praverb The Wyse

Album: Professional Hobbyist

Source: Artist

Tracklisting:

1. My Journey
2. Professional Hobbyist
3. Blue Collar (ft. Don Streat)
4. Everlasting Struggle
5. For My People
6. The Critic
7. Nothing To Gain
8. I Pray (Fall To My Knees)
9. That’s How It Is (ft. Don Streat)
10. November 11th
11. The Critic (Smimooz Remix)

Note:

Lets face it, we live in a world where people are just not honest with themselves and others.  Artists portray themselves often times as something that they are not.  It happens everywhere but is extremely prevalent in the music industry.  It is especially, true in a convoluted independent music environment when so many people are vying for exposure.  In walks, Praverb The Wyse, who with his album, Professional Hobbyist, bucks that trend.

We have talked about Praverb before as a member of the collective known as The Brainstormers.  What separates him, and makes him noteworthy?  Well part of that is just being genuine.  He speaks from his own experiences and not that of someone else.  The second element that makes him worth talking about is that God given ability.  Lets face it, not everybody has a voice to be an emcee.  You can’t teach that or coach that. Praverb’s voice and flow command respect and attention.  Professional Hobbyist is the culmination of that honesty and talent that everyone will be able to appreciate.

Continue reading “Praverb The Wyse – Professional Hobbyist (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

MadKem – Charles Workman (2011)

Artist: MadKem

Album: Charles Workman

Source: Elementality

Tracklisting:

01 Dayz of Rot (prod. Madwreck)
02 Hawking’s Cortex (prod. Madwreck)
03 To Be In Love (prod. DJ K.O. & Madwreck)
04 Ms. Badu (prod. Darren Paul)
05 Victory (prod. Beatnick Dee)
06 Holy Mackerel (prod. Analogic)
07 Bacon (The Main Ingredient) (prod. Madwreck)
08 Frank Muller f. Jered Sanders (prod. SeeMore)
09 How We Do (prod. S. RAW)
10 Malcolm Browne (The BQE Remix) f. Skyzoo (prod. DaveNotti)
11 The Moon (prod. Madwreck)

Note:

‘These are the dayz of rot!‘, the words resonate as you begin listening to MadKem’s first album, Charles Workman.  The track (Dayz Of Rot) has a tribal, yet funky feel to it.   It starts of with what sounds like some tribal chant, then hit you off with some bongo drums, and then the finger snaps.  The track has a feel unlike any other that I have heard in 2011.   The use of vocal samples and a very organic production make this a track that you will remember.  MadKem drops lyrics that put the listener on to what brought him into the rhyme game in the first place and where he is going with it.  Everything about this track is exceptional.  Madwreck definitely deserves props for his work behind the boards on this joint.

Continue reading “MadKem – Charles Workman (2011)” →