Red Bull Sound Select: Blue The Misfit

Today I had the pleasure of attending Red Bull Sound Select in Dallas featuring the upcoming artist Blue, The Misfit. For those of you who don't know, Red Bull Sound Select is an initiative that is "part artist development program, part event series, part digital product, part partner network, all working together to bring artists and fans closer together to break music." Basically, it works to connect the dopest new artists with the people who are going to push their careers forward.

Tonight's Sound Select featured Blue, The Misfit, a Dallas-based producer and rapper. Ten years ago, Blue began his music career as a producer, and since then has composed tracks for top artists such as Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and Mac Miller. Over the years, Blue also began channeling some of his creative energy into songwriting, eventually leading him to produce an EP and his first album, Child In The Wild, which will be released next week on May 7, via RedBull.com.

Sound Select held an exclusive preview of Child In The Wild which features artists like Ab-Soul and Paris from A.Dd+. The beats have a very West-Coast sound, similar to members of Black Hippy, while Blue's flow is on par with artists like Big K.R.I.T and even A$AP Ferg. The production, mostly done by Blue himself, is incredible, and, in my opinion, distinguishes Blue from other rappers in the game.

The album features Ab-Soul, Paris and Slim from A.Dd+, Tony Williams, Sam Loud, Xavier, J.T. and Snow Tha Product. His entire concept focuses on living life how you want to as an individual, being reckless, and being a rebel, all while keeping childhood within yourself.

Currently, Blue is not touring, but is hoping to work on an album-release party with Red Bull. He will do his first post-release show at Gumbofest in Denton, Texas, on May 11, and will also be featured on Child In The Wild takeover on "Life from the Underground" with Jay Wil.

After the preview, Blue gave me some time to sit with him and ask a few questions:

Q: Who are your primary influences as a producer and a rapper?
A: I've always been influenced by a lot of producers. Timbaland is the producer that made me want to make beats in the first place, and of course, Kanye West. Kanye West has dropped two albums that have changed my life completely, the first being 808s and Heartbreaks and the second being Yeezus. Dangermouse, who did the Gnarls Barkley albums, also changed my life. As an artist, currently Childish Gambino has been a real influence, as well as Kid Cudi. I would love to at least co-produce an album with Kid Cudi--that's a dream of mine.

Q: What do you think about Kid Cudi's new music compared to his older work?
A: I'm not the biggest fan of Indicud...I mean, I love Kid Cudi and I always will, but Indicud is the first album he produced himself and it didn't really come off the way he wanted it to, I think. His newest album [Satellite Flight] is better. There are a lot of instrumentals that I could do without, but the songs themselves are really great. Kid Cudi is unique and original, so I will always admire him regardless of what he does.

Q: Any other influences?
A: I listen to a lot of different music, so people like Crystal Castles are an influence, and Portugal, The Man. I listen to a lot of different music.

Q: Do you get any inspiration from rock & roll?
A: Definitely. Another band that changed my life is System of a Down. They are probably the best hard rock band I have ever heard in my life. Lincoln Park changed my life early on, but not as much now. I liked them when they first came out.

Q: In the future, who are some artists you would like to work with?
A: I want to work with the people that influence me: Kid Cudi; Gambino; Kanye would be a dream, [not only as a collaboration] but also as a mentor. I'm doing my own thing now and finding my own sound, but anything Kanye does, for me, is perfect. He's always changing his sound and knows how to be versatile--he knows how to switch it up and be fresh at the same time, and I would like to do that long-term as well. I would also love to work with Danger Mouse, Cee-Lo Green, The Gorrillaz, even though they're done, because Demon Days changed my life. There are a lot of artists, but those are the main people I can think of off of the top of my head that I think I need to work with. Oh, and also Travis $cott, because I feel like he is to Houston what I am to Dallas--he's unique and different for Houston and I'm unique and different for Dallas and I would love for us, as the new age in Hip-Hop, to collaborate.

Q: You worked on your album for two years. What all went into creating the album?
A: It was producing and writing, but mainly producing. Producing starts everything; as I produce I come up with ideas and think, "oh, this concept would fit perfectly with this beat," and, "this line could fit here." I have full control over everything once I start producing. Over the two years, I had a lot of different concepts for the album, some that worked and some that didn't work. It was a whole progression between then and now, and it was a lot of hard work. I put all of my energy into it and I'm really proud of how it came out. I almost shed a tear tonight because this is my baby. I don't want to do anything in life but make music and tour, and for me to go from where I started, making crappy songs, to progressing and becoming a better rapper and producer, has shaped who I am today. This album reflects the growth that I've had since my first EP. It has been a hell of a ride, but it's been amazing and I'm happy with the album and where I am as a person. It's been fun.

Q: The concept of the album is about being rebellious, but I noticed your mom is also here and is clearly a big supporter. Typically, rebellious children don't have a good relationship with their parents, so what has your relationship been like with your parents and how has that influenced your work?
A: My mom listened to a lot of slow jams. She used to listen to Anita Baker, Sade, Tony Braxton, Tony! Toni! Toné!--all these R&B, soulful acts--and I think because she liked those acts so much, I kind of rebelled against those. My dad always played hard rap--Dr. Dre's The Chronic and Snoop Dogg--and I always wanted to hear something hard. My dad was born and raised in L.A., so he knows L.A. My mom was born in New Orleans, so she knows soul. But I found a way to embrace my dad's hard side and my mom's soft side.

Q: I definitely hear that in your music because it's not necessarily hard, but it's not mushy either. You can hear the emotion in your music.
A: Exactly, and I wanted to make sure that came across in my music. My music is really reckless and wild, but if you listen to it deeply, you realize there's a lot of heart-felt aspects that go into it. I was willing to put myself out there. I have a track called "Another Day" with Ab-Soul and Paris from A.Dd+ that talks about how my mom thought I was a failure for not finishing college and my dad thought I was a failure for not finishing sports. I'm letting myself out there emotionally, but at the same time I'm having fun. I'm not hard, but I'm not soft.

Q: I think staying true to yourself is important in being successful. Would you agree?
A: Yeah, definitely. I'm having fun, I'm embracing myself, and I'm comfortable with myself. I'm letting everybody know that I'm comfortable with myself and there's nothing they can tell me to do differently. I don't care what people think about my sound, it's me. Lyrics, too. I don't care what people think about my lyrics, they're me. You should stick to what you're comfortable with and what makes you, you. Whatever your influences are, make that a part of who you are and then promote what you like. That's what makes you special, and that's basically what the album is about.

Q: You worked with Ab-Soul and Kendrick Lamar. What have you learned from them?
A: The first thing I learned from them was if you have a hot song, release it. Never hold anything back because a lot of artists think, "This is a great song, I'm going to hold onto it and release it when I'm great." If you ever have anything great, release it so that the world can know. Then you can build your buzz. Second, if there is anything I ever learned from TDE [Top Dawg Entertainment], it is consistency. Be comfortable with yourself and show the world whatever you feel like you're great at on a consistent level because people will respect that. If I show that I'm original and dope on a consistent basis, people will respect that. If I do one sound one day and another sound another day, everyone will be confused. I feel like consistency is the key to any success story.

Blue was one of the most humble artists and people I have ever talked to. His music in combination with his character are going to bring him to the top. Listen to some of his music below and be sure to look out for his album on RedBull.com, dropping May 7!

Artist Spotlight: Isaiah Rashad

In February, a friend of mine showed me Isaiah Rashad's EP Cilvia Demo. Usually when I listen to mixtapes, I sample parts of each song and I can honestly say, especially of random rap artists, I'm not usually impressed. Typically I have to sit down and listen to the songs all the way through, allowing them to grow on me, before I can say I like them. However, Isaiah Rashad is the exception. I immediately liked the songs and couldn't help myself from listening to them full out. To give you an idea of how talented he is, he toured with big-name rappers including Juicy J, Joey Bada$$, and Smoke DZA on the 2012 Smoker's Club Tour before he was even signed. That's an incredible feat.

Rashad hails from Chattanooga, Tenessee but is influenced by rappers from all over the map. When he was younger, he had ambitions of becoming a preacher until his stepbrother gave him a copy of Outkast's ATLiens in junior high. From then on, his sights were set on rapping.

He didn't start taking his rap career seriously until he was a sophomore in high school an began recording with his friends on their laptops. After high school, he went to Tennessee State University where a friend of his introduced him to another friend with a recording studio. As it turned out, the other friend happened to be Rashad's cousin, and he allowed Rashad to record for free. After a while, Rashad stopped going to school and started living wherever he could record.

His career began when he started making connections in the industry, some of which include Max Pete from Djbooth.net and Jeff Weiss, a writer for Rolling Stones. Once his music began circulating, he was offered a spot on the Smoker's Club Tour, and eventually record labels giving him attention, although he showed no interest in any.

In March 2013, he was introduced to Top Dawg, the CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment, home of rappers like Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock (collectively Black Hippie). He secretly signed with the label that March, however neither he nor the record label announced it until September that year. Following the signing, Rashad moved to Los Angeles where he lived and recorded at the TDE Red Room Studio.

In October of 2013, Rashad performed alongside his label-mates at the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards show. Despite the high pressure he was under, Rashad performed incredibly, gaining acclamation from XXL Magazine for his verse. Closing out 2013, HipHopDX named Rashad runner-up for their "Rising Star of the Year" award...pretty impressive for how little time he's been in the game!

Rashad released Cilvia Demo in January of 2014 as a free digital download. The EP debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold about 8,500 during the first week of release. Currently Rashad is on an international tour with ScHoolboy Q promoting Q's third studio album Oxymoron. They play here in Dallas on Sunday at the Southside Ballroom with fellow rookie Vince Staples, and I am so excited to be going. I can't wait to watch all three artists perform, especially Isaiah Rashad.

Rick Ross Album Review

Rick Ross's sixth studio album, Mastermind, dropped today, and as someone who hasn't been a fan of Rick Ross since the song "Hustlin'," I can say I am thoroughly impressed. The album features collaborations with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Scarface, Z-Ro, Big Sean, The Weeknd, Future, Meek Mill, French Montana, and Jeezy. Many of the instrumentals are reminiscent of rap instrumentals in the early 2000s, sampling female ballads and incorporating a jazz-like symphony. Here are a couple of my favorites from the album.
 
This is probably my favorite track on the album. The song begins with some soulful vocals from Betty Wright, then Big Sean comes in with his hook over a piano instrumental that eventually gains a small bass line. Kanye goes in first and drops a hard verse that includes my favorite line "God sent me a message, said I'm too aggressive / Really? Me? Too aggressive?" which I find humorous due to his recent attack on a paparazzo. Rick Ross's verse is pretty good. He has some good lines like "Soldiers all in gators, new Mercedes for cadets / Balmain uniform, you know Donda designed the vest." Overall, the song is just catchy. I have a feeling it could be a radio song.
 
My next favorite song is "In Vein" featuring The Weeknd. The song sounds like some The Weeknd's older sounds, which I love. It pretty much is The Weeknd featuring Rick Ross, because he has the majority of the song. His haunting vocals sound great over the slow beat, and he delivers a catchy chorus. Rick Ross comes in hot at 2:19 with his flow. He proves his rapping talent by swapping out his typical grunts and elementary lyrics with some great lines.
 
My third favorite song is "Thug Cry" which features Lil Wayne and is the album's final track. The track samples Souls of Mischief's "93 'Til Infinity" for the beat. The song does the title justice; both Ross and Wayne have real lyrics that are kind of like ghetto poetry. It's a good song to listen to while relaxing or hanging out with a small group of friends. It will definitely make your head nod.

ScHoolboy Q Album Review

This week, Compton rapper ScHoolboy Q released his much anticipated debut album Oxymoron. Q rose to the rap scene with the rap group Black Hippie, which included Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and the extremely well known Kendrick Lamar. I had the fortune of seeing him at the House of Blues in Dallas in November 2012 when he toured with Danny Brown and A$AP Rocky. He has released numerous mixtapes and has been featured on countless songs, but this is Q's first studio album. From what I have heard, critics have had mixed reviews, and I understand why. While I personally think it's great, I can see how it's not for everyone. Compton has definitely had a large influence on Q's music. This can be heard in his instrumentals, which are reminiscent of classic L.A. rap (largely due to the fact that Dr. Dre, who is from Compton, produced many of the beats for the artists with Death Row).


Like those classic rappers, Q tells cautionary street tales, most likely derived from his life of drug dealing and his association with gang members (though Q himself is not known to be in a gang), as well as remorseful woes. The album earns its name when Q turns from these cautions and woes to a celebration of partying, with songs like "Collard Greens."
 

It is songs like these (his "radio songs," if you will) that allow Q to gain popularity and make a name that is known by mainstream hip-hop fans. These are the catchy songs that everyone enjoys listening to, however, his other songs are much more honest and genuine, and show where he is from. Overall, I greatly enjoy Schoolboy Q's album, but I don't think mainstream music listeners would enjoy every song on the album.

Preview and buy album here.

Concert Review: DJ Snake

Last week I saw DJ Snake play at Lizard Lounge here in Dallas. When I first heard about the concert, I had no clue who DJ Snake was, but almost any college student should be able to recognize his song with rap star Lil Jon, "Turn Down For What." After looking further into it, I realized I knew a couple of his songs, including "Bird Machine."

The show started at 9 PM and I got to the venue around 10:15 PM. The first opener, a DJ named Johnny Funk, was still playing, and he was very good. The next performer, however, was a DJ called "The Hi-Yahs." He was fantastic. Unfortunately, his computer broke right before his set, so he had to play his songs off of a USB flash drive rather than play them live, but his music was still great. He performed for about 2 hours and got the crowd incredibly pumped up for DJ Snake to come on.

Once The Hi-Ya's were done, DJ Snake finally stepped onto the stage. In all honestly, his appearance and demeanor made him look and seem like a complete d-bag...his music was good, and he played a couple good new songs for us, but he definitely had an ego that was bigger than his music, and I think the two performers before him were better than he.

Listen to some of their songs below:

DJ SNAKE:
THE HI-YAH'S:
JOHNNY FUNK:

Skrillex Plays New Collaboration With Chance the Rapper

At his show in Brooklyn on Feb. 10, Skrillex surprised the audience by unveiling a collaboration in the works with rising Chicago artist Chance the Rapper. The song has no title or expected release date but fans can only wonder if this is what the two were up to when producer Mike WiLL Made It posted a photo of the three entertainers to his Instagram. In a recent interview with XXL Magazine, Skrillex also mentioned that the three were "all working on projects together."

 
  Photo via Instagram

 The untitled song begins with Chance singing a melody over synth instrumentals. Chance raps to build up to Skrillex's drop, and takes from Notorious B.I.G. with his hook "Ask you what your interests are/ Who you be with?" While Chance keeps his normal rapping/singing flow, the song differs from both his typical hip-hop and Skrillex's typical dubstep beats, instead adopting a smoother, electronic and jazz instrumental. Listen below.


 Since Skrillex played this live, I have reason to believe that this is not the way the actual song will sound when it is released. However, either way I am both excited for the release of this song as well as for the release of future collaborations between Skrillex, Chance the Rapper, and Mike WiLL Made It.

Best Hip-Hop/Electronic Collaborations/Remixes

My absolute favorite kind of music is rap with an electronic instrumental. I don't know why I love it so much... probably because there's no way I'm not dancing when I hear it. Hip-hop EDM is on the come up (even Katy Perry has jumped on the bandwagon with "Dark Horse"), but it's still not always easy to find. I've spent a lot of time searching for songs I haven't already heard or that have been remixed with a trap beat, but everything I find is just awful. After looking at "10 Dubstep/Rap Collaborations That Don't Suck" and realizing that they actually all suck, I decided I would make my own list.

 B.o.B - Ray Bands (Kush Trap Remix) This remix is not well known at all, but it is great. People always enjoy it wherever it's played. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of B.o.B because he's too mainstream rap, but on this remix I love him. It's extremely different from the original and allows you to enjoy the lyrics and give him credit for clever lines. He should get rid of the original completely and only use this remix.

 Reflex - Body So Tight ft. Childish Gambino If you don't know, Childish Gambino is the stage name of Donald Glover, an actor and writer for the show "Community." In my opinion, Glover's greatest strengths in his lyrics are his uses of assonance, consonance and allusion. For example, one of the first lines in this song is, "Gambino Aveeno, that ashy to classy." It's so catchy and goes so perfectly with the beat that you have to sing along to it. Not to mention, once the bass drops on this song, you have to dance. Props to Reflex, whoever you are. 

Danny Brown - Dip Danny Brown is one of the artists who is pioneering the EDM/Hip-hop movement. He toured with record producer/trap DJ Bauuer last year, and will now be touring with the extremely famous A-trak. I had the fortune of seeing him in November 2012 when he toured with rapper A$AP Rocky and he was an incredible performer. This is a song off of his most recent album, Old... No comment on the subject matter.

 Action Bronson - Get Off Me (ill.Gates & Wick-it Remix) I recently found this song on Soundcloud and love it. Action Bronson is a newer rapper who has a tradition/underground feel to his music, which means he's typically downtempo. Remixing and Action Bronson song can be difficult, but ill.Gates and Wick-it killed it. I would expect an Action Bronson/Dubstep collaboration would be extremely awkward and terrible, but the beat goes perfectly with Bronson's vocals.

 Drake - Come Thru (James Blake Remix) This song is different from the rest in that it is not an upbeat, dubstep dance song but instead is just an electronic rework of Drake's "Come Thru." James Blake is a British electronic song, and honestly his music is weird, but for some reason I like it. Not everyone is a fan of this song because the beat doesn't necessarily match the vocals, but if you're a fan of James Blake and his kind of music, you will love this. Blake even throws on some of his own vocals, which are beautifully harmonized.

A$AP Ferg - Work (Mati Festival Trap Bootleg) Remixing this song seems like it would be easy since the original already has a great bassline...it seems like the original was just sped up and a drop was added (although I know that's not all). Still, I almost like this version better and now feel like the original is too slow. It's not a dance-y song since it's so...gangster...but I like it because it makes me feel hood when I listen to it.

JSTJR - Money and Bass ft. Charlie Bars JSTJR produced the perfect beat for Charlie Bars' rapping style. Bars typically likes to play with his vocals, changing pitches randomly throughout his songs and repeating words or lines over and over again... I guess in a way he mimics electronic instrumentals. I can listen to this song whenever, and I especially like to work out to it. I would absolutely love to see both of them perform.

Danny Brown - #ExpressYourself (Prod. by Trampy) I'll close out this post with this classic. Trampy produced this beat without Danny Brown in mind, but it was absolutely perfect for Brown. It plays into the twerk movement, encouraging girls to "express" themselves via shaking their asses. Even I try to twerk when I hear it. I call it a classic because people who follow trap or Danny Brown closely have to know this song.

Disclosure

I am so happy to say that I just bought my ticket to see Disclosure at the House of Blues this Saturday. The British duo is currently up for four BRIT awards and will be joining forces with Grammy winner Lorde for a special performance at the show on Feb 19. I'm not normally the biggest fan of electronic music, but Disclosure's sound is hard to hate. They combine an uptempo synth beat with jazzy-pop vocals, which are, refreshingly, not auto-tuned! Music is currently in a weird phase where artists are both moving toward and away from technology, and Disclosure nails this style in their music. "Latch ft. Sam Smith" is one of the duos more popular songs. It begins with a synth-y baseline and almost immediately introduces a smooth, soulful male vocal. After the first verse, the instrumental becomes more trance-like for the hook. Finally, the vocals are reintroduced for the chorus, but this time they are high-pitched and sharp and sound similar to the synth instrumental. Every time I hear this song, I can't help but dance and sing along, so I can't wait until they play it this Saturday.