Humble Opinion: MC Tia

For those heads concerned with the paucity of fem-cee voices in the hip-hop cosmos Mc Tia might be a listen in the right direction. For those heads concerned with the musical absenteeism in much of contemporary hip-hop, Mc Tia, is a breath of what's fresh, cause her whole swagger says fresh like a Kangol and rope chains. It recalls an aspect of hip-hop many underground dwellers concerned with conscience and depth have forgotten in their zeal to politicize the genre; that Hip-Hop can be fun. Given this reviewer’s humble opinion, the title of a work like “Revolutionary Poetry” might be misleading given the levity of its production. The track says chill, on the ‘lounge and trendy drink” tip, and doesn’t really do much to inspire radical insurgency, despite her seemingly lyrical brush with introspection. In regards to flow she is undeniably gifted, even if her content, and lyrical sophistication, at times could leave something to be desired. Does that mean you’ll feel it any less? Probably not. Her cadence is music, and her punctuation is compelling. Don’t get it too twisted though, she will hit you with a little gutter such as the oeuvre to the offering “Project Dubplate pt.2”, and can at times display some of that acrobattery we demand from emcees, such as her second verse in “Today Was a Long Day.” On the comprehensive, I give her a “hip-hop” seal of approval. She weds vocals with beats quite nicely, and on occasion will impress you. Is she a revelation? No. But then again she’s more than what we hip-hop heads have apparently been asking for, or receiving as of late, and could very well grow into the emcee mantle like a fitted.

-Shaos

Photo from MC Tia's Myspace
Photo by Signe Emma Kristjansen
MC Tia is featured in the Encore Status Mixtape "Melange" (Track 17)

Maiysha...

If you're an eclectic music listener, check out self-dubbed "Progressive Soul" singer, Maiysha. Her new album, "This Much is True" combines almost every musical element imaginable. On her album, she has successfully included drum and bass, rock, neo-soul, funk and some classical sounds to name a few. One track that particularly stands out is "Wanna Be". With its rock band guitar riffs and hardcore drum line on the hook, you wonder how much more fantastically well rounded an R&B singer can be.
In addition to her open-minded approach to music writing, Maiysha has incredible control over her voice. While it is clear which type of groove singers should stick to, she is able to sing up-tempo dance tunes ("Orbit") as well as full out ballads ("Over my head") without the voice faltering. This vocal quality will allow her to dip in and out of many musical genres.
Maiysha guarantees for a satisfying musical experience, especially if you're in the mood for, well, everything!

Listen to Maiysha here: Maiysha Music

-The Foxi One

Encore Poll:Track of the Week?

I have to out-right say that the DJ King Midas The Stendhal Syndrome Mixtape featuring Ill Eagle (the Anti-Rapper), is one of the best underground mixtapes I've heard this year. There was only one other mixtape that I've EVER listened to from beginning to end and enjoyed myself enough to listen to it multiple times (That would be Rhymefest's Man in the Mirror). With that being said, I could be smoking basil or telling the truth...you be the judge...Track below...Take the Encore Poll.
-PURE madness

Learned It From C...

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Sumkid = Encore Status + Crazy man with a mic in his hand

If you think you've got this Hip Hop thing down you to a science, you haven't heard of element SumKid. Member of Vinyl Junkies Recordings since 1995 and noted to be one of Talib Kweli's favorite emcess, he is in a class of his own. This wildly smooth emcee fuses pop culture and killer vocab in every line. This is Hip Hop with a twist of Blues, so you'll be hard pressed to resist the emotion in this piece.
Allow him to introduce himself around the two minute mark on the track "Trans-Am". Laugh at the hilarious wordplay in "Naked With A Cape On." Now your acquainted, take a road trip with him on "Dude More Blue" before you party on the Shady-esqe "Cooler Fulla Brews."
Production on some of these tracks isn't the greatest... but you'll get over it. You'll rewind the first time just to catch what was said. The second might be to laugh with a friend about a line that hits a little too close to home. Any time after that is a tribute to this organized chaos. Sumkid's upcoming album,"The Bone Mustache Combe," promises to be a grade-A off the wall lyrical roller coaster. Click below to hear, "Chuck Norris On Drugs" a single off the album...as well as "King Kong in A Suit".

Buckle your seat belts and listen to those Sumkid tracks here.

Sample two of his tracks on our Mixtape on the right panel. When you think you're ready, head over to his spot on ReverbNation for thirteen brow raising, gut busting, and emotionally gripping tracks.

- J.Nastie

(Picture from Sumkid's reverbnation profile)

A Tribe Called Fresh

Those familiar with the mixtape circuit may have heard of Daytona(Loaded Lux /Aces), or maybe his single with Jim Jones "Homeboy What You Lookin At." A Tribe Called Fresh presented with Cipha Sounds however, is bound to make a better first impression. Daytona has a Busta Rhymes sense of comedic lyrical timing with a constantly twisting rhyme scheme -- all done with an effortless play boys demeanor. If this sounds like a "wtf" moment then its safe to say you need to listen to this mixtape.

A Tribe Called Fresh is an ode to the legendary A Tribe Called Quest. It uses beats from their various works and even reinterprepting the beat for the classic "Stressed out" featuring Estelle and CNN. It is an unlikely pairing indeed, but when the break down comes in and Nore and Capone trades verses, you feel like its the 90's again. The updated "Lyrics to Go" featuring the ever consistent Joell Ortiz and Kardinal Offishal among others is definitely a treat. These two songs alone remind us all that the east coast is in need of more posse cuts.The explanation alone of the inclusion of "Ten Fresh Commandments" a flip of the Biggie "Ten Crack Commandments" is worthy of a listen.

The standout track on the mixtape is the J-dilla "Working on It" because Daytona makes you believe the beat was tailored for him with his precise delivery. There are enough quotable lines on this mixtape to actually make you rewind but there is unfortunately little depth to Daytona showcased on the tape. This is a solid first impression but hopefully his next impression will leave something a bit deeper.

By-Shoot The Messenger

Download: A Tribe Called Fresh

Tyga...

The past few years have been fairly quiet for West Coast rap, an unlikely occurrence for a place so influential in hip-hop’s beginnings. Now hails an artist from the same Compton streets as NWA, although this young guy was born in 1989, just as the group had reached their prime. Nicknamed for what his mother saw as his striking resemblance to Tiger Woods, rapper Tyga’s vision of hip-hop is as far away from NWA’s gangsta rap as should be expected in a two-decade time span.
With the June 10^th release of No Introduction on Decaydence Records, rapper Tyga may still need some introduction, but odds are he won’t for long. For one thing, he’s already enjoyed early success such as being named MTV artist of the week (6/30/08), a performance at MTV’s Video Music awards in 2007 and 2008 BET Awards. His work has already been favorably mentioned in New York Magazine and the New York Daily News.
Sampling Brooklyn-born musician Harry Nilsson’s "Coconut," the first single, "Coconut Juice," is an up-tempo instant hit, both because it’s a guaranteed club-banger and because it will probably be on many playlists this summer. But there’s more to this album than one hit. For some it would seem intimidating to rhyme behind one of the most popular rappers in the game right now, but Tyga manages to do just that on his collaboration track with Lil Wayne. While it’s usually difficult to like a song that consistently tells you how great it is, "Exquisite" is ultra-contagious without managing to be annoying, and gives the listener the best idea of Tyga’s lyrical skills.

Those skills may in fact be limited, and his style can’t really be defined as West Coast. Despite his many references to L.A. in his songs and video, Tyga is more St. Louis (think: Chingy) than The Game. When asked the one song he would be honored to rhyme over, he cites Nas’ "If I Ruled The World." He credits Busta Rhymes and his “double-time” flow as his major influence, but Tyga’s flow is too slow and too packaged to be comparable to these New York legends.
The album is a bit too poppy for many hard-core hip hop heads to really enjoy, with its many pop culture references to AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and MySpace on the single AIM and references to BET, MTV and last year’s hit "Wipe Me Down" on "Diamond Life." In fact, there isn’t much depth to his lyrics, less because of his young age, and more because he just seems to shine more on tracks meant for a little head-bobbing and a whole lot of hip-shaking, rather than the mid-tempo, trite "2 am," where he gives a snoozer of an auto-biography of his 18 years. Perhaps Tyga said it best himself, “I always believed in rap about what you know…I ain’t never killed nobody so I don’t know about that.” Straight from the source, who knows he’s at his best when he’s cranking out club-bangers.

www.mypspace.com/tyga

(photo by: drivenbyboredom)

Brick = Encore Status + Popcorn

Rarely does a DVD come along that does so much at once that you have to watch it again. No, not for comedic value or to memorize the lines but because you actually missed something. Brick is such a movie. A neo-noir set in a suburban high school.The title is a slang term for a unit of heroin,which resembles the shape of bricks. Brick has all the hallmarks of a hard boiled detective saga(femme fatales, earnest protagonist, dark villains) mixed with a traditional high school movie(entrenched social cliques, annoying teachers and parties).

For some the stylized language is going to be an immediate reason to turn it off but for those willing to wade out into the verbiage a great film will unfold, centered around missing drugs and mysterious murder of our heroes ex girlfriend. This one is worth the time and money. The film has captured a handful of awards including:

• COFCA Award- Best Over-looked film (2007)
• COFCA Award- Best Original Screenplay (2007)
• Cognac Festival du Film Policier - 'New Blood' Award (2006)
• San Francisco Film Critics Circle- Best Original Screenplay (2006)
• Sitges -Catalonian International Film Festival -Citizen Kane Award for Best Directorial Revelation (2006)
• Sundance Film Festival- Special Jury Prize (2005)

by-Shoot The Messenger