Day 374: HBK Reppin' the Bay - Azure with "Psychedelic" (Music Video)

I've always been a supporter of Bay Area rap music (being raised in Cupertino), and it's been a minute since I've heard of any buzz over there recently until I started getting familiar with the HBK Gang (aka HeartBreaK Gang). It looks like IAMSU! has been holding it down for a while and has been the face of the crew with help from Jay Ant, P-Lo, and others.

I really just wanted to shout out their DJ, Azure, for the main reason I've been doing research on their crew and getting hooked on their music. I'm rooting for these guys to blow up and put Bay Area rap back on everybody's radar. Let's hope they can build a scene.

Check out IAMSU!'s recent track he released featuring 2 Chainz & Sage the Gemini (the newest HBK member) after the jump...

Day 373: Banks x Shlohmo collab on her new song "Brain" (Audio)

Can't wait to see Banks again at the upcoming Coachella Music Festival.

s/o to Shlohmo on the production tho. He's a dope beat producer & has some sick remixes. I highly recommend you get familiar (check his soundcloud here).

Day 372: All she needed was some.. - Childish Gambino x Chance The Rapper (Audio)

I wasn't really feeling Childish Gambino's recent album Because the Internet but there were a few songs that resonated to my ears (like this one "The Worst Guys"). I never really got into Gambino's music much before but this can be a start. His overall sound just isn't doing it for me right now, but I'll keep listening and be open-minded about his music.

I also liked the song "Telegraph Ave" which you can stream after the jump.

Day 371: Just Now Listening To - Tycho with "Dive" (Audio)

I wish I had found out about Tycho's music before. Man, I missed out on a few festivals he was at and that I was there too; so oblivious to his set at the Treasure Island Music Festival in 2012 (back then I was hyped up about AraabMuzik & SBTRKT).

Anyways, his music provides some very mellow listening with different kind of soft synth melodies mixed in with some upbeat drums and smooth baselines. He really doesn't even need any vocals; the instrumentals are fine as they are.

FYI, he's coming out with a new album, Awake, set to be released on 3/18/14. You can pre-order it on itunes here.

Stream the rest of his past album, Dive, after the jump.

Day 370: Just Heard - Submotion Orchestra with "1968" (Audio)

Chorus:
"And this light,
Won't shine so bright;
But there'll be,
Enough to see right."

By now, we all know the majority of new & emerging music comes out of the UK as that's been the testing grounds for experimental kind of music. With that, hailing from the UK is Submotion Orchestra. So, I checked them out from a friend's reference and instantly became attached after hearing the song, 1968, which is the title of their recent EP too (released in Nov 2013). They got this new-age jazz sound to their music.

First off, I'm typically a beat type of guy and I'm also very drawn to good singers/vocals, so this song really matches my kind of tune. What draws me is the dreamy synths, mixed of drums patterns, great use of reverb overall, and the women with the vocals who has a such emotion & smoothness with her voice (sorry, I don't know her name!). Gotta put this on repeat right now.

Check out the rest of their EP, 1968, after the jump, as well as their recent music video for the song "Hard To Stay".

Day 369: Currently in my playlist - "Operate" by ASTR (Music Video)

Just recently heard this track "Operate" by the NYC duo ASTR, and am really starting to dig their sound. They have a sort of dark pop feel to this song.. I wanna say they also have an 80's influence with their style of music.

In any event, I need to hear a bit more from them but I like where they are going with this. I'm also really on another track called "R U With Me", which has a bit of a happier tone to it.

Listen to their remix of Eric Hassle's track "Talk About It" after the jump. This is how I found out about them.

Day 368: Have you heard? Right Thing EP by Rosie Lowe (Audio)

Hailing all the way from the London and with no wikipedia page up (yet), it makes it difficult to research & find out more about Rosie Lowe. I forgot how I even stumbled on her music, but I'm glad I did.

Lately, I've been in a downtempo/hipster/alternative R&B type of mood, researching up-n-coming artists like Banks, SOHN, JMSN, and others. I'm happy to see there are such great emerging artists rejuvenating & re-inventing the R&B genre. I don't think I ever really cared to listen to much R&B the past few years b/c I was on this hard rap/hip-hop phase, but then I heard the Weeknd who really brought me back & opened up my ears a bit.

Back to Rosie Lowe though.. stream & listen to her recent EP called "Right Thing" after the jump and let me know what you think.

Day 367: Black Dave ft. Bodega Bamz - Wadadadang (Music Video)

This shit go haaaard. Bodega Bamz is sick with the rhymes. That is all.

Day 366: Now listening to Kilo Kish (Audio)

Through browsing & reading all these year-end recaps of best albums & mixtapes of 2013, I luckily stumbled upon the mixtape, K+, by Kilo Kish and gave it a listen. After hearing 'creepwave' for the first time, I immediately embraced her style of music and checked out the rest of her mixtape. Overall, it's produced very well and has a dope sound if you're into that ambient-sounding style of rap music (sort of fused with some spacey beats).

With all these new emerging artists fusing different genres together, I'm going to do my best to learn how to describe what I hear better to help you understand where I'm coming from. Right now, I'm just in the zone of researching new music and finding all kinds of styles I'm taking a liking to, so bare with me for now =)

Take a listen to Kilo Kush's mixtape, K+, after the jump.

Day 365: Fabolous with the Soul Tape Mixtape 3 (Audio)

- diggin the Lonnie Liston-Smith sample on this track (**classic**)

Fabolous doesn't need to release any albums to make his name known in the rap world since he's been killing it with these Soul Tape mixtapes. He's very quietly staying relevant in the game and giving his fans what they want: quality hip-hop. New York stand up!

Stream and download The Soul Tape Mixtape 3 after the jump.

Day 364: Vic Mensa with "Crazy" + INNANETAPE Mixtape (Audio)

Just heard this recent track "Crazy" from the Chicago-native Vic Mensa, and just want to say it's so freaking ill & fresh. Wowzas.

I've heard his name on-n-off this past year but never really got into his music much until now. He sort of has a J. Cole type of rap style & sound. Check out his recent mixtape released earlier in 2013, INNANETAPE after the jump.