Dead End Hip Hop

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Michael Stover

Action Bronson: “White Bronco” [Album Stream + Music Video]

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Action Bronson just released his first independent album in years, White Bronco today and he’s in a GREAT place right now – being a creative on many different levels, he’s making music and cooking, but also painting a shit ton (all the artwork for the singles and cover were done by him). He’s also been focusing more on his career in acting, he’s in a stable relationship, traveling, finishing his second book, and happy!

White Bronco is Bronson’s first independent release since he parted ways with Atlantic Records earlier this year, he just wrapped the third season of his show Fuck That’s Delicious (the last season it will be on VICE) and he has a role in the upcoming Scorsese film, The Irishman (out early 2019). He also recently launched an alcoholic beverage line through Sweetwater Distillery called Action Bronson’s 7000, has (very seriously) taken up painting as a new artistic endeavor – he actually painted the cover art for his new album.

I can’t front I’ve missed OG Action Bronson and “White Bronco” is a return to form. Featuring production from Harry Fraud, Knxwledge, Party Supplies and more, this is the project we’ve been waiting for from Action. You can stream the album HERE.

Phlow: “Asuai” (Vol. 2) [Music Video + Album Stream]

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The visual for Phlow’s Asuai (Vol. 2) is a 4 act show that depicts Phlow as 4 different individuals. It’s set in a classroom which acts as a motif throughout the 4 song playlist. She is gradually learning and growing in every scene as depicted by the different characters she portrays. From the naive “Stephanie”, cynical “Asuai” to the devil may care “Phlow” and finally the matured “Ms Eyime”.

As Phlow tells it, each instrumental helped shape the theme of each track, which subsequently led to the greater vibe of Asuai (Vol. 2). It’s a musical trip back to her younger days, to a time where life was simpler and filled with hope (opener “Callow.”). But it was also a time of realization (“On Your Own”) and reflection (“Musing/Reverie”), ultimately leading to her answering the question of “What advice would you give your younger self?” on closing track “BYOH (Be Your Own Hero).”

The Unknown: “Medicine” [Music Video]

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The Unknown is getting set to his release his album “Healthy” here in a couple weeks. To get everyone ready for the project The Unknown plans to release a string of visuals.

The first one being “Medicine”. Now hearing this joint before it’s clear we’re going down a dark road less traveled, but that’s what has me most excited for “Healthy”. “Medicine” directed by Kye Saunders and edited by Yugi, the video really puts a strong trippy, visualization on the insecurities of the mind and what we do to cope. The video doesn’t really mince the message either, this ain’t feel good music folks, let’s hop into the rabbit hole. The Unknown’s album “Healthy” drops November 14th.

Warhol.SS: “With Ease” [prod. by Cashmoney AP]

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Chicago’s Warhol.SS is one of the most skilled rhymers of the Soundcloud era, combining immersive trap-style beats and energetic ad-libs with an old-school sense of songwriting and slick lyricism. Chest Pains finds the 20-year-old coming to his own, unifying his experimental ideas and his commercial ambitions. Though the album boasts gorgeous production and infectious hooks, Warhol.SS imbues the project with heavy symbolism–with a title referring to his rough upbringing in Chicago and an album cover featuring bumble bees, reflecting Warhol’s status as the “last of a dying breed.”

It’s off his upcoming album, Chest Pains which will be out 11/14 via EMPIRE and features appearances from Trippie Redd, Hoodrich Pablo Juan, Rico Nasty, UnoTheActivist, and Lil Duke, with production from the likes of Murda Beatz, Kenny Beats, Cashmoney AP, Harry Fraud, and more.

Roc Marciano & DJ Muggs: Kaos [Album Review]

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I’m not going to mince words with you here my friends, Roc Marciano in my humble opinion has beyond proven that he’s the best emcee to exist this year. Before you get your Twitter fingers ready let me explain. Roc has released two other albums this year in “Rosebudd’s Revenge 2: The Bitter Dose” and “Behold A Dark Horse”. Both albums incredible in their own right (and I’ll be reviewing those too, because I will NOT let you sleep on this history being made here) however when Roc & DJ Muggs (of Soul Assassin & Cypress Hill fame) announced their team up that immediately jumped to my most anticipated release of the year. Despite this being Roc Marciano’s third project of the year, this could be his best.

“Kaos” comes in at 10 tracks, a little under 40 miuntes and it’s all in the words of Dart Adams “unadulterated fire” and I couldn’t agree more. Before we jump into Roc’s vocal contribution, let’s talk about Muggs. Hot damn, it feels like every single vibe is covered with precision on “Kaos”. “Dolph Lundren” has a chill feel to it with a jazzy guitar in the background laid out for Roc to begin this 10 track journey on.

My favorite on “Kaos” is “The E Train” Muggs lulls us in with a beautiful flute sample that you can’t help but be whisked away by. Meanwhile Roc Marciano does what Roc does. Now I can’t pretend that I understand every single reference that Roc Marciano makes, however lines like “Life’s a b*tch, but I’m not the type to marry” when delivered by Roc is just perfect. I truly believe Roc Marciano can make any beat sound fantastic, when paired with top notch production like this from Muggs, it must be appreciated.

Back to the different sounds and vibes Muggs provides on “Kaos” the next track after “The E Train” is “Aunt Bonnie” and good Lord it’s guaranteed to back your back (both my phone & my bluetooth speaker melted due to too much heat). Just in time for Halloween, Muggs provides a haunting backdrop fit with organ and choir. Who better than the god Roc Marciano to come through and slay the beat to shreds. I could be imagining this but there are points in the track where Muggs will muffle the beat to really emphasize what Roc is saying. Specifically I think of the [2:06] minute mark “They gentrified the game, that’s when the God came in Cartier frames/I sprayed your frame, you changed body weight”. Like come on fam, who’s doing it like Roc Marci? Further the track “Caught A Lick” is a trap joint that crushes in the whip. The brother Fly Anakin told me there was a trap track on here and I can’t front I was worried, but I’ll be damned if I don’t see this track performed live.

Listen, Roc Marciano is the emcee of 2018, I think he’s one of the best of all time. “Kaos” is dark, it’s relaxing, Roc Marciano makes it look too easy, when in fact there isn’t an emcee touching him. Seeing two legends in Muggs & Roc Marci come together and create something even more legendary is what I live for when it comes to hip-hop. No guest verses, no BS, just two artists collaborating together to make something that will be etched in time forever. If you haven’t listened to “RR2: The Bitter Dose” do it. If you haven’t listened to “Behold A Dark Horse” do it. “Kaos” is a classic that I’ll be listening to forever.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have to order vinyl editions of all three of these records.

Illsamar On Her Debut EP, Mental Health & Creating Content As An Indie Artist [Interview]

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California emcee Illsamar dropped her debut project “Foreign” at the end of last month. Eight tracks of covering everything from mental health and the “Voices” that come with it, to a beautiful acoustic remix at the end. On the day of the EP release, Illsamar hosted a listening party for the project. While I wasn’t able to attend the album release party I was able to ask her some questions about the album, creating video content of her journey and more.

Dead End Hip Hop: For those who still don’t know. Who is Illsamar?

Illsamar: I am Iliana Isamar Pardo by birth. Born in Michoacan, Mexico but raised in La Puente, California. I was brought to the states at 2 so I don’t have any relocation of Mexico. I am a proud Mexican but the country I know is America. I am based out of Covina, CA. Just 20 min outside of Los Angeles.

DEHH: Now I’ve only been to California once, but through storytellers like Jurny, Prop, Earl and more you quickly learn California while a beautiful place isn’t one to be completely romanticized. Can you talk about growing up in Cali for a bit?

Illsamar: California is such a long state that every region is very different. I am from the Los Angeles county. A small city east of the city called La Puente. I am currently living in Covina. What I love most about southern california is the diversity. You get to learn and experiences many cultures through art, music and food. La Puente is majorly a town with Latino folks so growing up that’s really all I knew. As I grew older I started to travel out and see new places. It’s also really awesome knowing that Southern California birthed so many great artists. It’s like you feel that you are a part of the musical history. What locals know about California is not what you see on a broadcast. It’s not all Hollywood and bright lights. As a matter of fact, Hollywood might be one of my least favorite towns. You don’t run into celebrities, those great “LA Parties” that you hear are secluded and the city continues to grow in tourists and people who move out here to hopefully break through. It’s more than that. It’s visiting the smaller towns that show you culture. It’s taco stands on every corner, street vendors and BBQ’s every weekend. It’s not perfect but the weather is great!

DEHH: When did you make that turn from a fan of hip-hop to “I need to be creating hip-hop”?

Illsamar: It all happened indirectly. I was hanging out with a few friends who were talking about starting up a band and they were still looking for a co-front man. One of the guys asked if I would join. I joked and told him that I don’t sing. He said, “But you can rap!” I mean I dabbled with freestyles but I never wrote a song. I agreed to it. We dismantled within 6 months, too many creative differences. From then on I knew i wanted to continue making music. The love I use to have for writing re-kindled and I really loved being on stage. I started making Hip-Hop music and haven’t stopped since.

DEHH: Who are some of your influences in music?

Illsamar: They vary. And when you say influences I don’t know how to answer that because I feel like I need to directly be influenced by them or sound like them. But I do have artists that inspire me and I got back to for a quick lift. Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Logic, J Cole, Atmosphere, Common, Kings of Convenience, Jack Johnson and Asaiah Ziv.

DEHH: Ok, let’s talk about “Foreign” where did the idea come from? You had been releasing music before that, why a project at this point in your career?

Illsamar: I knew that I was long overdue to release a project. I had a couple mixtapes and some singles but nothing that was cohesive. I wanted to give my fans and supporters a project. Aside from that I felt like I was ready to create something cohesive. A short project that can prepare me to create a nice full length. Originally the project was going to have a different concept and a different name. But in the time of writing and recording a couple unexpected events occurred with the people in my life. A very close friend attempted suicide and over dosed a couple times. Three times we thought we lost him. Then another friend was admitted into a mental institution and doctors till this day could not figure out what was wrong with him. I myself battle with depression, used to have had suicidal thoughts and I am a recovered substance abuser.. Mental health has ALWAYS been around. It’s not made up like some twitter posts like to mention. It’s just now we have the internet and people are using their socials as diaries. With Foreign I wanted to bring awareness to mental health and those who battle with it daily. I called it Foreign because I feel that someone who is going through it feels foreign to society. We don’t feel like we belong. Foreign is also how I feel as a Christian in society and as a person in the Church. I’m not your typical Sunday Christian so I always feel alienated.

DEHH: “Voices” hit me like a bag of bricks. I feel some are just now becoming comfortable talking about their mental health. Can you talk a bit about the importance of discussing your struggles on the record?

Illsamar: If you are going through it and you can voice your thoughts. Just do It. Is what I say. I know some cannot talk about it and I don’t blame them. Its really hard, feelings of being rejected or not understood. I make sure to be a voice for those who are silent. So people don’t feel like they are in this alone. That there are many people like them and that there are people who truly want to help.

DEHH: Nowadays I feel like it’s rare for emcees to take musical risks in their music. If you aren’t ripping every verse you’re doing it according to the majority. But I absolutely love what you did with “Gold In The Sky” how did that joint come about?

Illsamar: Gold In the Sky is actually an acoustic remake of a song produced by Germmanii called Sunrays. I released it a few years a go on a mixtape. We use to always perform the acoustic version and I thought it would be a great idea to include it. If i’m not listening to Hip-Hop I am usually listening to folk, acoustic and singer/songwriters. It’s my first love. I don’t want to be limited to one genre and I love that Germmanii is an artist with many tastes. We came together and recorded out live acoustic version of Sunrays.

DEHH: When people are done listening to “Foreign” what do you want them to walk away with?

Illsamar: Truth and clarity. I want people to be completely honest with themselves and not be afraid to be vulnerable. I want those who are battling with mental health to know that they are not alone and that there are people out there who can help or at least be a friend that is just willing to listen. I also hope that it stumbled the ears of those who don’t quite understand what it is to battle with mental health. And I hope that they listened with open ears and be more receptive and understanding to others.

DEHH: Now you had an album release party last month for “Foreign” can you tell me about the work that goes into planning an event like that and how did it go?

Illsamar: The turn out was great. A nice crowd with people chanting and rapping along. It was a bit surreal to know that people sincerely came to see you perform. The planning was stressful. A lot of investing into a show with no cover charge. I didn’t want to have it at a bar/venue where the age limit would be restricted so with a help of a couple friends, we came together and leased a private loft for the night. It was not cheap but well worth knowing you didn’t have age restrictions. I also didn’t want to charge at the door because I didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to not come. I know I wasnt going to make a profit from attendees but what really matters is people coming and see what I can do. I budgeted and created a sheet on how to save for a couple months and I made it happen. I was super broke for the month of September but it all came together. One thing I also learned is to not be afraid to ask for help. God put someone in my path that made the event happen. This dude I connected with provided sound, a DJ and even brought a stage to the event. You just never know how many people are willing to help until you start asking around.

DEHH: You’ve been doing a vlog series tracking the progress of the project and just your life journey in general. What is the importance of creating content like that and what has it been like recording your journey thus far?

Illsamar: As an indie artist it’s super important to have consistent content. Fans become invested in the music and want to learn about the artist personally. I love to show people what goes on in the back scenes and allow them to be a part of the journey with me. People tell me that they feel like they know us for a really long time just off the vlogs. I love that the director Amalia Sepulveda can really grab the eyes and ears of those watching make them feel like they are there with us. It’s important to make it as personal as possible. It also helps when there isn’t any new music coming soon. Keeps the fans around while you work on something new. Recording behind the scenes is not always fun. Some times I am having days where I don’t want the camera in front of me specially when I am feeling depressed. But I always push through it or do my best to show what I am currently feeling.

DEHH: 2018 is almost over but what can we expect from you in 2019?

Illsamar: More new music. I expect to release a couple more music videos for foreign and then after I have some collabs I am already in the works on. I also have some singles that I want to release I am also going to be putting on this bi monthly pop show around Southern California called Back Around. Going to hit as many cities as possible. Hopefully gear up and start writing for my first full length.