Hey Friends! I ended up in the hospital this week for a few days after battling a nasty stomach virus (which was ultimately defeated by plenty of Zofran and IV fluids). So unfortunately, I wasn’t able to spend the amount of time I would like to normally work on Tuned In. However, I do not want to let Tuned Up’s faithful readers down, not when there’s so much good music that dropped yesterday! So, this is a Tuned-In Extended Play, a short but sweet, all killer no-filler rundown of the best releases from the last day in September.
Hip-Hop
Yesterday was surprise-Christmas in the Hip-Hop world. Some in the Twitterverse have called it The RAPpenning. I’d also call it The Great RAPture. Any way you slice it, an unbelievable amount of QUALITY projects dropped yesterday.
First up, billy woods, who already dropped the Album of the Year contender AETHIOPES earlier this year, surprise released Church. Like its predecessor, Church is an incredible artistic statement filled with intelligent lyricism and experimental beats.
Griselda newcomer Rome Streetz put out Kiss the Ring, which was produced by Cypress Hill’s own DJ Muggs. This project continues the barn-burning run of releases that Griselda has put out, positioning themselves as the new Wu-Tang Clan. On Kiss the Ring Rome Streetz drops some fire bars over captivating, head nodding production from the very capable hands of Muggs.
Boldy James teamed up with Canadian producer Nicholas Craven for another bangin’ album with Fair Exchange No Robbery. Besides the beats and bars, which are immaculate, the album cover deserves to be blown up and framed. A street twist on a Norman Rockwell painting. (album image at beginning of article)
Mr. Mothafuckin’ ExQuire put out the fun and verbose I Love Y.O.U Cuz Y.O.U. Ugly Vol. 1. And Atlanta producer and DJ Sol Messiah dropped his first project for Rhymesayers, GOD CMPLX, chock full of turntablism with great guest spots from emcees like Sa-Roc, Murs, Evidence, Slug, and Aesop Rock. Real life gangsta Freddie Gibbs also released his long awaited $oul $old $eperately which features some A-list producers and guest verses.
And Strange Daisy Records released their sequel to last year’s Haunted House Party. Haunted House Party Pt. II is an instrumental hip-hop Halloween album equally inspired by Vincent Price and Scooby Doo. My vinyl copy came in this week, and I can vouch that it is the perfect soundtrack for spooky season.
There are also new releases from Bladee, Planet Asia, Kid Cudi, YG, and DaBaby (if that’s your sort of thing). Along with a slew of others I didn’t mention. It’s really more than can be taken in in one weekend. Hence, The RAPpening.
For up-to-the-minute coverage on the best of new hip-hop releases, be sure to follow CROWNTHEM on Twitter. And clear out your schedule to listen to some of these incredible projects. Look for my rundown of Hip-Hop released in September for a full list of the best albums of this last month.
On a final, sad note, the Hip-Hop world lost Coolio this week. Rest in Peace King. Lots of white kids (including myself) came to you through the backdoor with Weird Al’s cover of Gangsta’s Paradise or the Kenan and Kel theme song. But any way we got there, you left an impression and legacy on the rap world.
Rock, ETC.
Friday was a great day for legacy acts in the rock and pop arena. Bjork released another critically acclaimed record with Fossora.
Three former Riot Fest headliners released new albums. Yeah Yeah Yeahs dropped the subdued but hypnotic Cool It Down. Pixies released Doggerel, their fourth album since the 23-year hiatus. Admittedly, I haven’t been very excited about the Pixies releases post Tromp le Monde. But on a perfunctory first listen to Doggerel, this is one that I am looking forward to returning to with more attuned ears. And finally, Slipknot put out The End, So Far.
The surprise favorite for me among the legacy acts has been City of Caterpillar. I was completely unfamiliar with the term Skrams or the difference between mall-screamo and “real screamo” until some fellow Tuned Up writers set me straight. And one of the examples they gave to me of real screamo was City of Caterpillar.
Coming 20 years after their first and only full-length release, Mystic Sisters brings the same dissonant fury that made this band legends in the underground. City of Caterpillar found their new home on Relapse Records, which is one of my favorite labels for left-field metal music. If you like the harsher elements of more mainstream artists like Thursday, do yourself a favor and check out City of Caterpillar.
And if more low-key independent, emo-rock is your jam, be sure to check out Allen Odell’s Full Hearts, Empty Places.
That’s all for now, thanks for reading and hope to be back to a regular Tuned In format next week.
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