L.A native Miguel continues his pusher-man approach to music, announcing via SPIN that he has decided to release his sophomore album in three parts. The first two releases will be 3-track extended players Kaleidoscope Dreams: Water Preview & Kaleidoscope Dream: Fire Preview, followed by a full long player titled Kaleidoscope Dream. These releases succeed Miguel’s critically acclaimed Art Dealer Chic trilogy and again identifies him as one of the more audacious major-label signed artists around.
The first EP features the previously released ‘Adorn’, along with 2 other prog-R&B additions that indicate where Miguel’s head is at for these upcoming releases – pay particular attention to ‘Don’t Look Back’. Production credits across all three releases will include Salaam Remi, Pop & Oak and Jerry Wonda.
A$AP Mob (in this case A$AP Rocky & A$AP Ant) release their first official (collective) single ‘Bath Salt’ featuring another fast rising New York rap group, Flatbush Zombies. Despite the fact that the Mob consists of a number of hard bodied emcees and that both Meechy Darko and Zombie Juice employ their own impressive skill across ‘Bath Salts’, the single does reiterate why that Pretty Mother’fucker in-particular has become such a break out star. P On the Boards’ production pushes everything in the right direction – a dark and menacing beat that seems to ignite fire up the arses of all those involved.
The Zombies also recently released quite an interesting debut mixtape in the form of D.R.U.G.S., listen to that here.
Canadian indie duo Crystal Castles are back with a new single ‘Plague’, set to feature on their third album out on Fiction this September. ‘Plague’ is charging track with wailing sirens, warped vocals and coursing synths and wastes no time in rising to a thrilling crescendo. If this is anything to go by then Crystal Castles’ third album could be quite an offering.
Bodhi - featured here before with a remix of Shadow Box’s ‘AM‘ – are back. This time giving The xx’s ’Angels’ a re-touch. Replacing the original’s more morose rhythm section with a bouncier, but still rather sullen, garage feel, they refurbish the track perfectly for those lazy beach party vibez.
Taken off their forthcoming debut album Other Worlds, ‘Dreams’ is the blissful new video/single from Taken by Trees – a recently formed band fronted by former Concretes singer Victoria Bergsman. Their breezy upbeat Pop aesthetic is interpreted by director Amanda Marsalis who filmed it’s accompanying visuals on the islands of Hawaii.
In tribute to her 26-year old brother who last week lost his battle to cancer, Def Jam signed singer Jhené Aiko releases an emotional new song titled simply ‘For My Brother’. Taking to her tumblr, Aiko explained:
“I wrote and recorded this myself on my lap top, for my brother…. Miyagi . this song was really just intended for him to hear….. but i thought it would be nice to share… i was so nervous to play it for him myself, so when i left to San Francisco on Thursday I had my TT play it for him… She said his breath got calm as he listened and i know he heard every word… later that night he became the angel he was born to be and i am so grateful that he got to hear this before he left on his infinite journey… now i hear him telling ME , what i was singing to him… to not give up… i love you SO much Miyagi!!!! Everything x2 now. Everything for you now…”
After managing to rope Dr. Dre and Jay-Z onto ‘3 Kings‘, Rozay leaks two fresh ones as Three Stacks continues his guest featuring assault on the Rap world. Better yet, the introspective ‘Sixteen’ just so happens to have one of the most satisfying appearances the iconoclastic emcee has made in the last year. With producers J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League cooking up their brand of lush, boat-shoe, nose candy instrumentation, it shows the Bawse universe in top form.
The second leak ‘Diced Pineapple’ featuring Drake on the syrupy hook follows in the footsteps of ‘Aston Martin Music’ with opulent piano keys, filtered drums and wifey rhetoric. In relation to his seizure last year and the tracks origins, he recently explained to MTV “…the doctor told me, ‘You gotta eat some more fruit, drink you some water, eat fruit and just relax for a little while.’ My fruit of choice was pineapples. For the next three weeks, I woke up every morning and ate diced pineapples, and I put the concept together. Drizzy came in, as well as Wale, and it’s kinda like, ‘She could be my diced pineapple. This special lady, she could be what I wake up to every morning and help me get by every day.” Awww Ricky ya cuddly bastard.
We recently featured their work by way of Le1t and his cutting single ‘Wut’ and now Cali production duo 5kinAndBone5 return with their own offering. ‘Do You Really Know Me?’ is a seasonally appropriate nod to UKG and classic R&B, it’s also another pleasant reminder of how far our home grown sound has come. This is vibes, hol’ tight them visuals too…
Expect a new EP with frequent collaborator Siden soon.
Crikey, this is a bit much. Although the song itself has floated around the web for sometime, it’s only recently received a visual treatment. British producer Atjazz’ nouveau R&B arrangement manages to be thunderous and delicate all at the same time with low ends that seem to reach for miles. It’s all elevated to the nth by featured songbird Amalia’s persuasive lullaby vocals. Her melody in parts baring semblance to Janet Jackson’s ‘Would You Mind’.
Following the release of his debut album Raw Money Raps this week and his Flying Lotus directed music video last month, Brainfeeder’s latest signee, Chicago emcee Jeremiah Jae reveals his new single ‘Cat Fight’.
As with anything touched by Steven Ellison ‘Cat Fight’ is complex piece of sample-warped music that could easily standalone as an instrumental; But credit due to Jae who successfully manages to ride the dramatic soundbed with a confidently-cool nonchalance.
