Str8 from the Underground

This post is for all my people who love dope lyrics and hard rhymes. Some of the MC's below were considered underground in the beginning of their careers, and as time progressed they became excepted by the mainstream. 

I'm a fan of all types of music from commercial to avant-garde, but my favorite is underground Hip-Hop. Its the one style of music that still speaks for the hungry, disenfranchised artist trying to get their music heard. In allot of ways it can be considered the pulse of the street and heart of Hip-Hop. 

Below is a video by one of my favorite members of D.I.T.C. (Diggin In The Crates) A.G.. He is one of those MC's who, year after year keeps spittin sickness like he has a virus. For those who don't know D.I.T.C. was also home to Showbiz, Big L and Fat Joe. There are also videos from Pace Won, The Grouch & Eligh, Film Skool Rejekts, Crooked I, Jus Allah, and DU from the Outsidaz.

Tyger Vinum Live @ Acud Cafe

I'll be performing live this Friday Nov. 18th @ the Acud Sessions Cafe with DJ Marcaba. For all my German fans and people in Berlin who want to see a Hip-Hop show, come through and party. Here is the website Acud and address are below. 

Alternativer Kunstverein ACUD e.V.

Veteranenstraße 21
10119 Berlin-Mitte
Tel: 030 - 44 35 94 98

Brand New Muzik

"The seas of time flow endlessly. Each life no matter how majestic or important is a mere pebble. Shining briefly in the sun before being carried away by its waves." 

I often think of the passage of time when listening to music lately. Hip-Hop has evolved so much since the days of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five "The Message". It was once a medium to breakdown social barriers, raise awareness, and ignite social change.

Now mainstream Hip-Hop is a means for artists to promote their newest venture. Media hype to sell a phone, liquor, clothing or accessory. I miss the variety that 90's Hip-Hop had. There was hardcore, conscious, gangsta and even horror Hip-Hop courtesy of the Gravediggaz. What the 90's had that is almost non-existent today is variety. There was a diversity of elements that made Hip-Hop a musical genre like no other.

Now I can listen to hours of music and have 80% cover the same subject matter Cars, Money, Drugs, Guns and Girls. Don't get it twisted, that is part of the foundation of Hip-Hop but back in the day, the people rappin that lifestyle were actually living it. Most of the catz rappin about that lifestyle now have only seen it on their television. I'm not hatin... I just miss the diversity. 

After searching through numerous artists and videos I posted some brand new muzik by up and coming as well as established artists. What I like is the return of the cypher. Tracks with 7 or 8 MC's so the listener gets a feel of how different styles can compliment each other over a beat. Check out how DJ Diamond Kuts puts it down for Philly.

Cajun Jumbalaya

I've been cooking up hot music in the kitchen like a pot of Cajun Jumbalaya. There's my new song posted below Redlight City which talks about all the things you see in Amsterdam on a Saturday night. Along with several other songs from my upcoming album Tha Audio Bully.

I also have a show August 16th at the CC Muziek Cafe. Its going to be raw, uncut, Hip-Hop so if you're around come hangout and party. Last, there's new music from a diverse group of artists. Check it out!

Redlight City by Tyger Vinum

Album Reviews

Summer is here, the weather is HOT and the music is even hotter. I never review music that I don't like, cuz I don't believe in giving bad press. If you're familiar with my previous posts you know how I grade music. If you're unfamiliar here's the scoop. I rate in a five star system 5 being the highest 1 the lowest...lets get it in. 

Random Axe - Random Axe **** (4.25)

Is what you get when you put three dope lyricist into one super group. Sean Price, Black Milk, and Guilty Simpson combined their talents and put out a solid first album. All the production was done by Black Milk and although a few of the beats were minimalist style like J-Dilla most of the tracks are banging. Black Milk and Guilty Simpson are from Detroit. Sean Price is a Bucktown, BK veteran and half of the Iconic group Helta Skelta. Combining their sounds and rhyming like their competing against each other make each track a competition of who can spit the dopest verse.   

EDO.G - A Face in the Crowd **** (4.25) 

EDO.G is a Boston legend. one third of the group Special Teamz he's been putting out music since the days of Big Daddy Kane. Although ED is a industry veteran he still rhymes like a hungry new cat spitting fire every verse. Boasting head nodding production and collabos with Made Men, M-1, Bishop Lemont, Special Teamz and a few others. This album is definitely worth listening to if you like hardcore east-coast lyricism.

Tech N9NE - All 6's and 7's **** (4.50)

Tech N9ne is a Kansas City spitter who came to fame as a member of The Regime. Now he has a label Strange Music and a roster of artists from all over the map. This album is more of a group album featuring most of his artists on each track. The album has several standout tracks like Pornographic featuring E-40 but it has to many skits. Regardless the KC MC has consistently put out dope music and this is a fine addition yo his catalog. If you're a Tech Nine fan I definitely recommend going out and buying a copy.

Curren$y - Weekend at Bernies *** (3.50)

The Baton Rouge MC has been building his buzz slow and steady with singles and videos. This album has production reminiscent of 90's west coast music. The flows are tight but most of the songs stick to the same subject matter. Women, weed and money, which is normal in Hip-Hop but it would've been nice to hear Curren$y diversify his subject matter on a few tracks. This is a good album and Curren$y spits some hot bars on a few songs, but overall its one dimensional and leaves listeners waiting for something different. 

Killer Mike - The Pl3dge **** (4.50)

Killer Mike is a Atlanta lyricist with a strong delivery and diverse subject matter. This album is in a word "dope." The production is on point, the flows are tight, and the albums filled with an assortment of content. Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga touches on serious subjects like the presidency, welfare and the plight of black people in these times of war. He does it all with wit and top notch lyricism. Standout tracks Ready Set Go, American Dream and Burn show that Killer Mike is in touch with current issues, and isn't afraid to voice his opinion.

 

Creative Minds Art

Another artist whose creative mind and unique style of work inspires me is Belgian painter Rene Magritte. He was famous for creating detailed and thought-provoking paintings. The intention behind his style was to challenge the observers' preconditioned perceptions of reality and force the viewer to become more aware of their surroundings.

René François Ghislain Magritte (1898 – 1967) was an incredible surrealist artist. Little is known about his early life. His mother committed suicide by drowning herself in a river when he was 13 years old. When his mother was found, her dress was covering her face, an image that has been suggested as the source of several of Magritte's paintings in of people with cloth obscuring their faces, including famous piece Les Amants (The Lovers). 

Later in life his style was influenced by Futurism and Cubism which was popularized by French artist Jean Metzinger. He also began sculpting using a variety of mediums such as bronze and plaster. Posted below are some of his more colorful and eye catching pieces.  

 

 

 

Dutch Hip-Hop

One of the benefits of living in Holland is I'm in the mecca of cultural diversity. I know allot of people would argue that New York is that place but the Netherlands used to own New York. Which is why NYC has cities named Harlem, Brooklyn, Rotterdam and Amsterdam because its origins are here.

Although Holland is a tiny country it has enormous talent! Dutch Hip-Hop is a mix of US and European influences blended and twisted into their own style. Most of the older rappers here spit in English because they grew up on US Hip-Hop. The younger generation tends to spit in their own language (Dutch) so their people can relate.

Over the years I've worked with numerous Dutch artists and have shot video clips for MC's DJ Nemo and Gekke C (Crazy C). You can watch their clips under the videos tab or go to youtube. Below I posted clips from a few artists spitting in both languages. SugaCane aka Redlight Boogie, Mr. Probz, Deams, K.V. (Kleine Viezerik which means little pervert in English) and the group Opgezwolle. All MC's with talent and their own unique style. Check 'em out!

The Renaissance Man Art

There are few notable figures in history that have been as talented as Leonardo da Vinci. He wasn't just a painter although he is considered one of the best to have ever lived. He was a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist and writer. 

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was a renaissance man. A man whose unquenchable curiosity was equaled only by his powers of ingenuity and invention. Da Vinci painted the The Last Supper, Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Man. The Vitruvian Man painting has become a cultural icon being reproduced on everything from the euro to text books, posters and t-shirts. He also created blueprints for a helicopter, tank, calculator and numerous military weapons that have been built and tested to function.

Dan Browns 2003 bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code explored his past involvement with secret societies. Below are some paintings and sketches by a true renaissance man whose genius and passion for creation have spawned inventions still in use today.

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