Tag: hip hop
Method Man & Redman: Observations in the Key of 90’s Nostalgia
Jessica Moncrief
February 10, 2017
Southern California was blessed with a flurry of great Hip-Hop shows last week! With acts such as Run The Jewels, Warren G, Method Man & Redman, we were exposed to some of the best of what hip-hop has to offer. Redman and Method Man want you to know that they are still all about that 90’s shit. It seems to be their mantra. Talk about keeping it old school, legendary DJ Dice of Das EFX joined them on turntables along with DJ Allah Mathematics, the designer of the OG Wu-Tang logo. Inspectah Deck was once quoted saying “The logo shows how the group is now bigger than any of the individual members.” That sentiment seems to still run true as they paid homage to their loved ones passed and dropped some ODB in honorarium. The loyalty these guys show for their friends is part of what I love about them, they never forget where they’ve come from. Considering how dynamic the pair are as a unit, it would have been nice to see them more in the zone as the “Funk Doc and Mef Tical” duo rather than one part of Wu-Tang. As expected, they busted out plenty of Wu-Tang
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Annual Low End Theory Festival Spreads L.A. Wildfire Into Shrine Auditorium
Danny Baraz
July 25, 2016
A radioactive, orange, spherical fiery orb in the sky hung just below a thick, impenetrable blanket of ash and dust from the sand fires burning the Angeles National Forrest, just 30 miles outside of Los Angeles. The distant wild fire choked my lungs and burned my eyes as I navigated the streets of South L.A. to enter the Shrine Auditorium for the third annual Low End Theory Festival in 2016. But even with the safety of distance from the flames, the most important beat collective in the world gets LIT af everytime they get together to dance and blaze and spark the imagination by pushing the envelope of sound, rhythm and rhyme. Whether you are a regular at Low End Theory’s home base on Wednesday’s at The Airliner in Lincoln Heights or you attended the festival because Wu-tang MC’s Ghostface Killah and Raekwon were at the top of the bill, you were a part of a movement that is shaping the future of music. It was clear, immediately, that attendance was down from the previous year’s sold out festival but it is no commentary on any type of waning influence. Last year, Low End Theory booked widely respected and beloved cross
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Janky Smooth’s Top 20 Artists to Watch in 2016
Danny Baraz
January 15, 2016
In identifying Janky Smooth’s Artists to Watch in 2016, there were a number of factors to take into consideration. There are different levels and plateaus musicians can ascend to in their careers. There is the release of their first EP/7”. There is the release of their debut album and of course, the all-important sophomore LP. Any predicted success after those milestones is hardly a prediction unless it involves a comeback. When we define our artists to watch in 2016, it is using any and all of these criteria to identify buzz worthy bands. We want to help our readers get the jump on artists before corporate money corrupts their artistic process too much. While there are bands in this list based in cities other than Los Angeles, LA is our home base and seeing these bands live is a part of the process of selection. If you can’t do it live, you can’t do it! This is Janky Smooth’s List of Artists to Watch in 2016 20. Cavanaugh- Collaboration between Open Mike Eagle and Serengeti Time & Materials by Cavanaugh (Open Mike Eagle & Serengeti) 19. So Pitted- Punk/Post Punk Seattle Group on Sub Pop Records neo by
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Year in Review: Top 10 Songs of 2015 Rated by Contributors
Danny Baraz
December 15, 2015
Every year has a song or songs that define it. That song that will always remind you of the best summer ever, the worst summer ever, the year your child was born, the year you graduated high school, the year you dropped out of high school. A song that paints a picture in your mind. Songs you love. Songs you hate. Both can be just as powerful. This is Janky Smooth’s list of the Top 10 Songs of 2015 as rated by our regular contributors. Rating the Top 10 Songs of 2015 is much more difficult than rating the Top 10 Albums of 2015. Masterpiece albums are much more rare than the single flash of inspiration required to create one, catchy 3-5 minute arrangement. Top 10 Songs of 2015 Justin Cornwall- Author: Top 10 Songs of 2015 Beck- Dreams Tame Impala- Let it Happen Chemical Brothers ft. Beck- Wide Open Robert DeLong- Long Way Down RATATAT- Cream on Chrome Bob Moses- Tearing Me Up Best Coast- California Nights Romare- Love Song Kendrick Lamar- King Kunta Disclosure ft Lorde- Magnets Top Post: Sylvan Esso Moves the Fonda for Day 3 of 30 Days in L.A. David Evanko- Photographer: Top 10 Songs
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Year in Review: Top 10 Albums of 2015 Rated by Contributors
Danny Baraz
December 14, 2015
10 years from now, we might look back at the Top 10 Albums of 2015 as the year the “new music industry” became a viable business model. As the battle rages to fine tune some of the sticky points around streaming services, vinyl sales soar at the same time bands and artists offer free downloads, surrendering the traditional model and entrusting their legacy to future generations. With so many different ways to deliver musical products to consumers, our Top 10 Albums of 2015 list will include LP’s, EP’s and Mixtapes. We are not a hive mind at Janky Smooth so you will find albums we didn’t publish favorable reviews on in our contributors top 10 list. We here at Janky Smooth feel blessed to stand on the precipice with you and gaze upon the vast landscape of music that is exploding from all corners of the world. Top 10 Albums/EP’s/Mixtapes of 2015 Johnny Ramos- Photographer: Top 10 Albums of 2015 Tame Impala – Currents Beach House – Depression Cherry Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color Death Grips – The Powers That B Toro Y Moi – What For? Turnover – Peripheral Vision Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love Hot Chip –
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Vince Staples Talks Trash and Spits Fire at El Rey for 30 Days in LA
Danny Baraz
November 27, 2015
I had a thought Tuesday night as I was watching Vince Staples do his thang at The El Rey Theater for day 24 of Red Bull’s, 30 Days in L.A.– right now might be the most exciting time in hip hop since the 90’s. The underground is exploding with talent and style. MC’s are pushing the lyrical envelope and producers are bangin out beats that are generating kinetic enthusiasm from the West coast to the East. The old beefs have been replaced with a collaborative spirit and respect and the result is fucking epic. Long Beach’s Vince Staples is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Staples had no long term plans to ascend hip hop mountain but folks like Earl Sweatshirt and Mac Miller believed in his skills and encouraged him enough to get in the studio. 2 mix tapes, 1 EP and his first LP, Summertime ’06 later, he is one of the most talked about up and coming rappers in the country. And for good reason. If you’ve seen Vince Staples live you know that it’s common for his DJ, Westside Ty to cut the beat, sometimes for an entire verse, as Vince Staples kicks it
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Camp Flog Gnaw 2015: Beats, Beefs and Building Your Brand
Danny Baraz
November 17, 2015
As I entered Exposition Park for the next annual installment of Camp Flog Gnaw, I was consumed by visions of khaki’s and polo shirts. Many attendees resembled prep school students more than the stereotypical image of hip hop fans. There was very little evidence of “hip hop past” and it’s baggy clothing, ironed creases and crisp snap backs. Rapper, producer and entrepreneur Tyler, The Creator continues to create the entire Camp Flog Gnaw world in his own image, with a tireless output and an ever evolving sound and aesthetic, fans are buying in; big time. But to say that it’s “all about the music” would be disingenuous. If the contemporary artists’ financial success were solely based on their music then Tyler wouldn’t be such a standout powerhouse (being the best isn’t enough). With streaming music services and P2P sites making album sales almost irrelevant, acts like Tyler, the Creator and indie bands like The Growlers with their “Beach Goth” festivals are at the forefront of building the new music industry. No, even with artists like Snoop, Atmosphere and Living Legends on the bill, this festival was not about the past. This festival was not about the future. This festival wasn’t
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Run The Jewels Release Meow The Jewels. Cat Ladies Rejoice
Danny Baraz
September 25, 2015
You know when you’re really high and you have this “great idea” that seems so genius that the world may never be the same? The next day, you open the Notes section of your phone that you used to remind you of said idea and you just stare at it and laugh and say to yourself, “What the fuck was I thinking?”. Enter Meow The Jewels, RTJ’s remix of Run the Jewels 2 made up entirely of cat sounds and samples. One fan. One dab. One kickstarter goal of $45k and 2,828 donations later and the total donations for the project have peaked at over $65k. The end is surely nigh. I’m sure El-P and Killer Mike never thought with all the need for altruism in this fucked up world, that people would come together and organize to insure this very important album get made. I take comfort in the fact that all the limited edition vinyl that is sold will go to various charity’s benefiting those who have been victims of police brutality. El-P took to Twitter “we did it for you, Mike Brown and Eric garner.” You can download the album here Meow The Jewels: 01 Meowpurrdy [ft. Lil Bub,
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Passion Of The Weiss 10 Year Anniversary at The Echo
Paige Vreede
September 13, 2015
The Echo was transformed on Sunday when prolific music writer, Jeff Weiss, held a ten-year anniversary party for his blog, Passion Of The Weiss. The event was far different from the indie shows that are typically hosted at The Echo. From 4pm to 2am, rappers from all over the country came almost as quickly as they went off The Echo stage, spitting lines over fat beats. The lineup included both already established and up-and-coming artists, as well as three “secret guests”. Gone were the beards and tattoos normally associated with The Echo and in came the overuse of cologne and the term “pimp.” I am not a hip hop head but I have big respect for Jeff Weiss. I walked into The Echo and felt like I walked into a scene out of 8-Mile. People were swaying and head bobbing slowly to the beats that were pumping through the sound system. The atmosphere was intimate and full of energy. Jeff Weiss, who is editor of Passion Of The Weiss, a columnist for Pitchfork and LA Weekly, and co-host of hip-hop podcast Shots Fired, organized a lineup full of stupendous talent. Dr. Millionaire, Red Ferguson, Kweku Collins, Jordan Raf, The Outfit
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Take This: Passion of The Weiss Fest Ticket Giveaway
Danny Baraz
September 2, 2015
Jeff Weiss has established himself as a clear and respected voice in music journalism and a barometer of hip hop. His popular blog, Passion of the Weiss is celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary on Sunday, September 6th at The Echo with a music festival that features artists such as Open Mike Eagle and M.C. NOCANDO. We are giving away 2 tickets to one winner to check out Passion of the Weiss Festival. There is also an incredible amount of buzz surrounding a Special Guest who cannot be announced due to agreements surrounding a headlining gig in November. Other artists performing at the Festival include Boogie, Saba, Chester Watson, Delroy Edwards, Nadastrom and The Outfit from Texas. Tickets start at $23 and can be PURCHASED HERE Contest Rules: Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Share this post on Facebook OR Twitter and then leave a comment directly on this post on the website with your guess as to who the special, headlining, super secret guest is that has their own headlining gig in November. We are also running a separate contest on Instagram so enter there to have a better chance of winning! Winner will be announced on Saturday, September 5th
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It’s Better Than Drake: Kanye West Becomes Filler at FYF Fest
Janky Smooth Central Command
August 22, 2015
As you may have heard, Frank Ocean is no longer playing FYF. None other than the gawd, Yeezus, has filled the spot. My fervor for the church of Yeezus is well documented. Yet, I feel cheated by this turn of events. My malevolence is as much a shock to me as to many of my friends, “But you love Kanye,” they say, “Remember when you fell through the roof because you were jumping, singing “Touch The Sky” at that party?” They ask. “OMG, when Kanye came out with the Weeknd at Coachella? You were crying!” They remind. Do I love and have I done those things? Yes. Very much yes. But it doesn’t change how I feel. Am I over Kanye West? I don’t think so. I think it might just have to do with redundancy. A word I never thought would survive on a page discussing Kanye. (The fact that I wrote it and lightening hasn’t turned me to dust reminds me of the first time I texted a friend on the Sabbath) But, yea, it feels played out. “Kanye West: Have Mic, Will Headline.” “Need to add a price surge to your event? Hire Kanye West!” “It’s hard
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Low End Theory Festival Wobbles The Shrine Auditorium
Danny Baraz
August 12, 2015
When The Gaslamp Killer commandeered the decks at The Shrine for his set at Low End Theory Festival, I instantly started peaking. The interesting thing about that is that I wasn’t on any drugs. Something about how the visuals on the screen behind him were synched to the music in his set wobbled my eyeballs and made me question reality. That is what good art is all about. When Low End Theory convened for the very first time at The Airliner in Lincoln Heights on a random Wednesday in 2006, there is no way founders could’ve predicted how far reaching it would become. Even as dreamers dream, the reality of the waking hours and empty rooms is a deterrent that slows most people into a “it wasn’t meant to be” mind frame. But even the inconceivable becomes a minor afterthought when all you care about is shaking walls and windows and the impulse to entertain yourself and your friends as much as entertaining strangers. The second annual Low End Theory Festival at The Shrine Auditorium this past Saturday was a far cry from the empty rooms of the Airliner 9 years ago. 5000 people packed The Shrine to pay homage
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