With Africa on My Sleeve
I feel like this playlist is best represented by the song “Magnificent” by JD Era, the third track here. It’s clear, concise lyricism over beats that complement by matching the intensity of the rhyme slayers. These songs made me pay attention to what was being said; the slick shit, the witty lines, capped with...
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Welcome to March folks. I hope all of us are taking the necessary precautions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In any case, I’m back with another edition of a much needed Smoke x Mirrors; after all, as 2Baba says, “We must groove“. And with this I’d like to express my enthusiasm for...
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The video for YBN Cordae’s “Thanksgiving” came just in time for me to put this together! By now, for those that observe this American holiday, I’m willing to bet that you’ve stuffed yourself with banana pudding, collard greens, turkey with extra cranberry sauce, and all other decadent dishes that got you laid up on...
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If I can make a wish about this playlist, then I’m hoping that the elated mood that took hold of me while I was making it will permeate your spaces. It came from artists like 2 Chainz, Dave, Giggs and Octavian that recently put out compelling projects. It came from the ever-addictive vibes from...
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For months now, week after week, I get to cull from increasingly copious amounts of new — but more importantly dope — music. Here, I’ve tried as much as possible to capture some of the tendencies I’ve noticed for a while....
Just last week, I was salivating for the dope music to come as we close out 2018. And they were so many reasons to be hyped. First off, a new Dom Kennedy project, Volume 2, has come out. I’ve been a huge fan; he’s a big part of the soundtrack to my L.A. days;...
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If you count his work as part of the duo The Shin Sekai, Dadju has been raining hits on us for two years straight! His solo debut album (Gentleman 2.0) was a clear highlight of 2017. His new single, “Lionne” is the first track off of that album and I’m surprised this great ode...
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Top Dawg Etertainment, home of Kendrick Lamar and SZA, recently added Reason, a Carson CA rapper, to their quality-loaded roster. Along with the announcement, Reason released an intro-of-sorts titled “The Soul”. We lead off with that fiery one and some of the lyrics (quoted below) justify why....