Jake Milgate, Author at Dead End Hip Hop

The Bandcamp Beat: December 2018 Edition

January 2, 2019 By Jake Milgate

Here are the seven Bandcamp selections for December of 2018. Happy New Years bitches.

The Way Through by Deca

I’ve always had a sweet spot for artists not only spit bars, but produce their own work as well. Deca is one of those artists. Originally from Denver, CO, Deca came up as part of the LIFE Crew- a collective of rappers, graffiti writers, and DJs that were seminal in helping to shape the local scene throughout the 2000’s. He spent some time in Los Angeles before settling in NYC where he released his first fully self-produced 2011 album, The Veil. The Way Through really grabbed my attention. The bars are personal and insightful, and the beats are crispy as fuck, and incredibly soulful. This is really a hidden gem…peep it.

Purchase The Way Through here

Follow Deca here

SANCTUARY by Sleep Sinatra

Sleep Sinatra has become one of my favorite new emcees that I’ve become in tune with in 2018. His full length project, [D] A R K A N G E L, slotted out at #45 on my top 50 end of the year list (which you can check out here). SANCTUARY is simply another demonstration of why Sleep Sinatra needs to stop being slept on (pun intended). It’s produced entirely by notable underground beatmaker, August Fanon. Like title implies, Sleep toys with the idea of finding a place of refuge, or a sense of safety, to deal with his stresses. It’s another solid edition in his catalog. Peep it.

Purchase SANCTUARY here

Follow Sleep Sinatra here

23 by Realname

Realname is an experimental rap artist who hails from Melbourne, Australia. 23 is his debut album…and its a doozy. It’s incredibly bassy and abrasive and radiates raw energy. For such a loud and obnoxious album, there’s surprisingly some very pretty samples used throughout it’s entirety. Props to the producers Teether (he also raps on two of the tracks) and Stoneset for managing to capture this interesting vibe…they produced a majority of the tracks on here. Realname has a good sense of flow and matches the energy of the production, while also managing to have a sense of humor too (definitely gives me Wiki vibes). Peep this one…it’s a slapper.

Purchase 23 here

Follow Realname here

Gather Alone by TheWolvesDen

TheWolvesDen is a Jamaican beatmaker who resides in Baltimore, MD. His latest project, Gather Alone, is quite an emotional journey. The introductory track opens with a message to an old friend of his from high school, someone he used to cherish, and misses still. The rest of the project captures the emotions of seeing that person and the intimacy the relationship once had. Gather Alone also ventures through the emotional spaces he’s experienced over the last two years. The production does an exceptional job of translating that emotion throughout the entirety of the album. Truly a solid instrumental album…peep it.

Purchase Gather Alone here

Follow TheWolvesDen here

TAPE 3 by NAHreally

NAHreally is an emcee out of Brooklyn…and goddamn can this dude flow. TAPE 3 is short and sweet, and also beautifully produced by G Mills, floridomi, and Flavors. I LOVED every track on here. Every single one. This dude embodies the Brooklyn style and it truly captures you and holds your attention. Fans of Pro Era will definitely dig this. Highly replayable…HIGHLY dope. Definitely make sure to check this project out.

Purchase TAPE 3 here

Follow NAHreally here

Somnos: An Exercise In Existential Ennui by YCG

YCG (a.k.a. Yung Clapped God) is an emcee from Lagos, Nigeria. His deep, thunderous voice carries a ton of weight on his latest project, Somnos: An Exercise In Existential Ennui. YCG discusses everything from his mental health, learning to be comfortable in his own artistry, his relationships with family, the codeine crisis in his home country, and his qualms with religion. The production is booming…matching the intensity of the Clapped God’s raps. “RIOT!” is an incredibly energetic track and most certainly blow your speakers out. Somnos is a dark, yet insightful album. Don’t let this one slip by you.

Purchase Somnos: An Exercise In Existential Ennui here

Follow YCG here

Hell if I Know by Imp

Imp is an emcee and producer who hails from Atlanta, GA. Hell if I Know is very atypical of most rap music coming out of Atlanta…and is one of the reasons why it stands out amongst all others. Imp is skilled on the mic and delivers quite a bit of socially progressive content. He also had his hand in on the production of a majority of the tracks. Hell if I Know feels like a descent into the inner-workings of Imp’s thoughts on society and the “system”. His lyrics are detailed and poignant, and it makes each track feel like a dissection of the topic he chooses. Imp is a surgically precise emcee, and you should definitely check out his project.

Purchase Hell if I Know here

Follow Imp here

MILFENCE’s Top 50 Rap Albums of 2018

December 31, 2018 By Jake Milgate

To say 2018 was a great year for rap music would be an understatement. In reality, I feel like most years are pretty decent music-wise as long as you have your ears in the right places. However, 2018 felt different. The underground scene in particular really showed out this year. Several artists dropped multiple quality albums this year, which honestly is a hard thing to do. Sometimes multiple projects can mean less effort, but with these artists this was certainly not the case. Roc Marciano dropped RR2: The Bitter Dose, Behold a Dark Horse, and KAOS with DJ Muggs, and each one held their own. ANKHLEJOHN and Vic Spencer are some other examples of rappers who dropped multiple quality albums in 2018.

I’ve never been super big on top tens, especially when the amount of music I listen to is increasing every year. It just doesn’t sum up the sheer talent and amount of quality emcees that exist within the genre. Truthfully, there’s just too much great music out there…and it should be acknowledged. Honestly, this tweet from the legendary journalist, Dart Adams, sums up how I feel about end of the year lists:

There are 52 weeks in a year. A top 5, 10, 20 or 25 list for an entire year is narrowcasting & if you think a list of 50 or longer is too much for reader’s attention spans given the sheer amount of excellent music released this year then you’re part of the fucking problem…

— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) December 16, 2018

With that being said, I give you my top 50, along with a list of honorable mentions. Let’s get one thing straight though: I enjoyed EVERY album I’m about to discuss, regardless of where it is on the list. Out of the hundreds of albums I listened to this year, I was able to narrow it down to 109 albums that I enjoyed. I derived the top 50 and honorable mentions from there. Also remember…this is my OPINION…so don’t act like a bitch if you feel like your album isn’t ranked high enough…or ranked at all (sorry J. Cole fans…spoiler alert).

Although I listened to quite a bit of music this year, I still didn’t get to all the albums I wanted to listen to this year…my apologies to Chris Crack (Thanks Uncle Trill), Cavalier (Private Stock), and Tierra Whack (Whack World). There are others as well, and I apologize. I’ll probably fuck around and make an article about the albums I missed and drop it early in 2019…but for now, let’s just get to this fucking list.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

AAAAGGGHH – The Doppelgangaz

A Smile Killed My Demons – Vic Spencer

ANKH NASTY – ANKHLEJOHN

Acrylic – Leikeli47

Akira On Acid – al.divino & Estee Nack

Apologies In Advance – Sylvan LaCue

Bad Decisions – Termanology

Being Woke Ain’t Fun – Chris Crack

budding ornithologists are weary of tired analogies – Milo

Czarface Meets Metalface – Czarface & MF DOOM

Diamond Dust Shoes – $auce Heist & DirtyDiggs

Dogfood – AA Rashid

Drug Politix – Precyce Politix & D.R.U.G.S. Beats

Edgewood – Trouble & Mike Will Made It

Elcamino – Elcamino

Everybody Is Food 2: Eat What U Kill – Conway

Grimey Life – Big Twins

Hitler Wears Hermes 6 – Westside Gunn

In Celebration Of Us – Skyzoo

Just Gimme a Minute – Chris Crack

KAOS – Roc Marciano & DJ Muggs

KLAP GAWD – Tha God Fahim

Kommunity Service – $ha Hef

Kool 4 Thought – ToneyBoi & Camoflauge Monk

Magnetic Memory – Hprizm

Mi Vida Local – Atmosphere

Nostrum Grocers – Milo & ELUCID

POISON – Swizz Beatz

Punken – Maxo Kream

Pure Beauty – SHIRT

Son Of G Rap – 38 Spesh & Kool G Rap

TA13OO – Denzel Curry

The Freedom Papers – Verb Tec & Vanderslice

The Lost Tapes – Ghostface Killah & Big Ghost LTD

The Pain Collector – Vinnie Paz

The WAVO EP – Hus Kingpin

The Widow’s Son – Apathy

Two Headed Monster – Blueprint

Vacation In Hell – Flatbush Zombies

Weapon OX – Big Kahuna OG

1st Baptist – Pac Div

50. The Best Album Money Can Buy – Vanderslice

A really solid producer album with some great features. Nothing much more to it. But that’s the beauty of it…there doesn’t need to be.

49. Everything’s Fine – Quelle Chris & Jean Grae

A self-aware album about modern hysteria with a great sense of humor. Beats are unusual but pack a punch…and Jean Grae is still a fucking beast on the mic.

48. Everybody Is F.O.O.D. – Conway

One of three albums from The Machine this year. “Slapbox” and the Pete Rock produced “Piper” are standouts in particular on this one.

47. DROGAS WAVE – Lupe Fiasco

A lot to unpack with this one. It’s not often you hear an album make several detailed references to the Atlantic Slave Trade. Tracks like “Jonylah Forever” will leave an impact on you for sure.

46. Streams Of Thought (Vol.1 & 2) – Black Thought

Yes, I grouped both together even though they’re produced by two different people (9th Wonder for Vol. 1 and Salaam Remi for Vol. 2)…and yes, Black Thought, after having no previous solo material, gave us 2 EPs this year. Do yourself a favor and go fucking listen to these projects if you haven’t yet. God-tier lyricism.

45. [D] A R K A N G E L – Sleep Sinatra

Perfect example of an underground gem. Sleep Sinatra brings socially conscious lyrics over well selected lo-fi, jazzy instrumentals. Never heard of Sleep prior to 2018…but I’m most certainly in tune now. Definitely check this one out.

44. Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club

I have a feeling this album is gonna grow a lot more on me as time passes by. In reality, this is a beautifully composed jazz album and, quite frankly what feels like a self-help book. Tom Scott’s storytelling is vivid. The jazz combined with the visceral lyrical content makes this a very unique album…PEEP IT.

43. A Breukelan Story – Masta Ace & Marco Polo

Masta Ace doesn’t drop shitty albums…like ever. He continues to prove my point with this Marco Polo assisted project. Masta Ace’s clever wordplay and creative song topic ideas never get old.

42. FLINTLOCK – Knowledge The Pirate

FINALLY we got a fucking Knowledge The Pirate solo album. After hearing this guy so much on Roc Marciano projects I was looking forward to hearing him hold his own on a solo venture…FLINTLOCK doesn’t disappoint.

41. DiCaprio 2 – J.I.D.

The most exciting emcee on Dreamville drops a quality follow up to his debut. There’s smooth joints, off-kilter joints, and just straight slappers. There’s something for everybody on here.

40. DUCK CZN: Chinese Algebra – Mach-Hommy & Tha God Fahim

Mach-Hommy is a national treasure. He and Tha God Fahim go together like a bread and butter. Tons of quotables on here.

39. Timeless – Dark Lo & V Don

This album makes me wanna slap motherfuckers. Enough said.

38. STUPID – Vic Spencer

One of four releases from Vic Spencer this year. Beats provided by Motif Alumni & Kas. A short, sweet, and to the point project from The King Of Living himself.

37. Consumers Park – Chuck Strangers

One of my favorite Pro Era representatives finally released a solo album. The city of Brooklyn shines through on this album. It feels incredibly sentimental…and I’m not even from Brooklyn. Great debut.

36. Book Of Ryan – Royce da 5’9″

Royce’s most personal album to date, and arguably one of his best. It was really touching to hear Royce reflect like this. Songs like “Cocaine” and “Boblo Boat” hit me hard.

35. No News Is Good News – Phonte

Phonte dropped a solo album AND reunited with the other members of Little Brother onstage for the first time in a decade in 2018. What a fucking year. This album is incredibly mature and Phonte proves that he is still an incredibly potent emcee.

34. Portraits – Chris Orrick

I always end up finding myself relating heavily to Chris Orrick’s (formerly Red Pill) content. This hasn’t changed at all with Portraits. This album is heavy and very depressing, but it’s also an album that really helps me get through a bad day. Highly recommended for those who struggle with depression.

33. 13 – Evilldewer

I didn’t listen to nearly as many instrumental projects as I wanted to this year, but goddamn am I glad I found the time to check this one out. Each beat transitions beautifully into the next. If you’re a fan of beat tapes you NEED to check this album out.

32. Mona Lisa – Joell Ortiz & Apollo Brown

Apollo Brown albums get automatic listens from me. His catalog speaks for itself. His latest collab with Joell Ortiz is another strong addition to that catalog. Joell does a great job reflecting on this album while also saving some cuts for his signature, sharp tongued lyricism.

31. Oil Change – Trapo

Trapo weaves his coated, introspective lyrics with some very jazzy, sometimes neo-soul, instrumentals, discussing his frustrations with the industry, being independent, and everyday life situations. Even though it’s just a prelude to his next solo album, it still manages to hold its own and makes for a solid project.

30. or more: the frustration – Mick Jenkins

Yet another prelude to a future album…and yet I still come back to it. There’s some great lo-fi production on here, and it fits Mick’s soothing voice perfectly. Short and sweet.

29. Duffle Of Gems – Vic Spencer

My favorite Vic Spencer project that dropped this year. Dude had one hell of a 2018, but I feel like Duffle Of Gems his most cohesive and poignant project that came out. Fourteen tracks with no features. Grimy bars for days…gotta love it.

28. Backyard Boogie – Fly Anakin & Ohbliv

Stop fucking around and start paying attention to Mutant Academy out of Richmond, VA. Nothing but dope material. Backyard Boogie is an example of that material. It’s an incredibly funky record that garners replay value. I can’t wait to hear more from Fly Anakin in 2019.

27. Monumentality – al.divino

This album is a fucking trip. It feels like I’m joining a cult. The production on this album is some of the most abstract shit I’ve heard all year. al.divino’s voice carries a lot of weight and is a big part of the reason this album works. His delivery mixed with mentions of Egyptian archaeological sites and sorcery are what really tie this album together.

26. Aguardiente – CRIMEAPPLE & Big Ghost LTD

Ever since I started listening to CRIMEAPPLE I’ve a had a serious urge to start taking Spanish classes. But on the real, this Jersey native can rap his fucking ass off. Just play “Palo Santo” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Big Ghost LTD takes control of the boards on this one. Aguardiente is one of three full length projects Big Ghost has produced this year. He paints a great landscape for CRIMEAPPLE to flex his lyrical muscles.

25. Behold A Dark Horse – Roc Marciano

Roc Marciano dropped three albums this year. Let that sink in. He most certainly has a case for rap MVP of the year. Behold A Dark Horse was the second of the three to drop. Roc keeps the bar level high, and brings in some incredible guests along the way (Black Thought and Busta Rhymes to name a few).

24. Afrikan Folk Music From Out the Diaspora – Estee Nack

I saw Estee Nack’s name all over the place in 2018. From his collab tapes with al.divino, to the countless times he was featured on someone else’s track, Estee really put on quite the show. Afrikan Folk Music From Out the Diaspora is a great showcase of his lyrical ability and braggadocios personality. The dope production and well selected features make this project worth returning to multiple times.

23. Blakk Tape – Conway

This album literally sounds like a dark alleyway. Conway dropped three albums this year but Blakk Tape was easily the most haunting out of the three. Most of the beats are handled by Griselda Records‘ in-house producer, Daringer, which would explain the cohesiveness of the album. Want dark, gritty street raps? Listen to Blakk Tape.

22. Pieces of a Man – Mick Jenkins

Yet again, Mick Jenkins has delivered us another solid, well thought out album. It was refreshing to hear Mick diverge from the topics of water and “the healing component”, and tackle something much more broader and vague. Pieces of a Man covers several different topics, ranging from consensual sex, today’s youth, and his place within in the music industry. It’s a solid listen from beginning to end.

21. Room 25 – Noname

Noname is one of the most engaging and poetic emcees we have today in rap music. Her quiet delivery is incredibly calming. On Room 25 she explores the exploitation of black stereotypes and delves deep into self reflection. It’s quite the project to unpack, and lyrics require some deciphering…but at the end of the day, Room 25 is a gorgeous, and vulnerable, album.

20. The Yellow House – ANKHLEJOHN

ANKHLEJOHN became one of my favorite emcees this year. His savage delivery separates him from most other rappers. The Yellow House is an album inspired by a fast food spot on Minnesota Ave in Washington DC. It’s a musical manifestation of ugly elegance. Great project.

19. Million Dollar Mink – Codenine & Paranom

Lynn, Massachusetts is where it’s at. Add Codenine and Paranom to the long list of current buzzing emcees and producers coming from the area, most associated with the Tragic Allies crew. Million Dollar Mink, much like the title itself, is incredibly luxurious. It feels like every bar is flex and all I can picture when I listen to this album are chandeliers and champagne. Gorgeous album.

18. Street Farmacy – Rome Streetz & Farma Beats

Street Farmacyis legitimate musical heroin. The hard knocking, vile production from Farma Beats provide an appropriate canvas for Rome Streetz’ narcotic-twined bars. It’s a short but sweet listen that will satisfy the cravings of any starved fan of mafioso rap. Rome raps very raw, yet sounds smooth as ever as he dives into tales of his upbringing and street life.

17. Medellin II: Don Fabio – SmooVth & Giallo Point

This album sounds like a blaxploitation movie. SmooVth raps smoothly and callously on this project, with Giallo Point providing a cinematically crime influenced background. There’s also some incredible features on here.

16. Some Rap Songs – Earl Sweatshirt

Once I heard Earl started fucking around with Mach-Hommy, I knew exactly what kind of artistic direction he was heading in. Some Rap Songs is the product of Earl spending quite a bit of time with underground rap artists. As a result, he made an incredibly personal album and arguably his most sonically challenging yet.

15. Pressure Cooker – Daniel Son & Futurewave

This album is straight filth. These Futurewave beats are fucking fantastic and Daniel Son is a force to be reckoned with on the mic. It’s an album that can be somewhat glitchy, even electronic at times, yet is made within the same vein as a Mobb Deep project. Truly a unique album.

14. RR2: The Bitter Dose – Roc Marciano

The sequel to his 2017 release, Rosebudd’s Revenge. The samples selected for this album are immaculate, and the way Roc spits his game over them is brilliant. It’s glorious pimp music, and it never gets old.

13. FEVER – Black Milk

Black Milk still hasn’t lost his touch after all these years. In fact, FEVER might be one of his best releases ever, and considering the quality of his discography, that’s saying something. The production on this album is absolutely divine and takes you on a beautiful journey every time you put it on.

12. Walking On Water – Elcamino

When people mention the Buffalo rap scene, names like Westside Gunn and Conway tend to be brought up. It’s time to start mentioning Elcamino within these convos. Walking On Water is a story of triumph, and includes some of the grittiest street raps released in 2018. Definitely give this project a look.

11. Fetti – Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Arguably the most well composed album of 2018 (props to The Alchemist). Shit sounds like a movie. Each track blends right into the next. It’s a great example of how keeping simple can pay off in dividends when it comes to the final product. Everyone involved gave their A game. This is one hell of an album.

10. Jericho Jackson – Jericho Jackson (Elzhi & Khrysis)

Established North Carolina producer and Jamla representative, Khrysis, and legendary Detroit emcee, Elzhi, linked up to bring us an album that truly embodies the meaning of chemistry. Khrysis and Elzhi mesh beautifully on Jericho Jackson. The traditional boom-bap, and sometimes funky, production provides Elzhi with tremendous flexibility. Thus, the final product is a rap album that covers a variety of topics while embodying the core principles of rap music.

9. VAN GHOST – ANKHLEJOHN & Big Ghost LTD

Big Ghost LTD is an great example of a producer that values this idea of chemistry. His album with DC native, ANKHLEJOHN, is arguably the most finely tuned out of the three collaborative albums he’s curated this year. The lyrical content delivered in VAN GHOST is haunting. “The Yellow House” will forever be ingrained in my brain and is one of the most sinister and thunderous songs I’ve heard in a long time.

8. DAYTONA – Pusha T

Although not labeled as a collaborative album, DAYTONA is certainly within the same vein as one, considering Kanye West produced the entirety of it. It’s the shortest album on my list, but it packs one hell of a punch. Pusha T’s brick raps never get old to me, and his rhymes on DAYTONA are nothing short of mafioso excellence.

7. Supreme Blientele – Westside Gunn

We can’t talk about rap music in 2018 without bringing up Griselda Records. Westside Gunn continued to build on his already strong resume. This is a braggadocios, yet elegant, display of the culture, or to put it simply…FLY SHIT. The beats are excellent, the features are memorable, and Westside Gunn serves as an excellent host. Loved this album.

6. Tana Talk 3 – Benny

Benny finally dropped his first official album on the Griselda Records label. Tana Talk 3 is hard-bodied, technical display of skill and stories about moving weight. It righteously represents Buffalo, NY to the fullest and captures the essence of the city. Production is handled exclusively by Daringer and The Alchemist, allowing for peak cohesiveness. I can’t get this album out of my head.

5. CARE FOR ME – Saba

Great albums evoke emotion. Something pretty much all of the albums on this list did for me. However, CARE FOR ME, may have taken me on the most visceral emotional journey out of all of them. Saba’s story-telling is captivating, and the way he unveils the story of his late friend and fellow emcee, John Walt (R.I.P.), is incredibly heartbreaking. It’s an incredibly beautiful album and a must listen for any fan of rap music.

4. 9 Roses – Codenine & Mr. Rose

Sometimes an album can move you just from the lyrical ability demonstrated on the tracks. This was the exact scenario for me when I listened to 9 Roses. Codenine is an incredibly underrated emcee. Both he, and the album’s producer, Mr. Rose, hail from Lynn, Massachusetts (if you haven’t figured out Lynn is worth paying attention to by now, you need to get your shit together). Codenine rhymes so smoothly on 9 Roses that it almost seems effortless. I got to this album later than most, but goddamn did it leave me floored.

3. Weather Or Not – Evidence

The Dilated Peoples representative calmly destroyed every track on his latest album. He spit game, he was introspective, and he picked incredible beats. Weather Or Not was truly an album that embodied hip-hop. Knowing the pain that Evidence was going through making this album only makes it that more meaningful and significant. Fantastic album that lacks any bad tracks.

2. Paraffin – Armand Hammer (billy woods & ELUCID)

Armand Hammer (ELUCID & billy woods) seemed to pick up right where they left off with their 2017 release, ROME. Chaotic, cryptic, impoverished raps over wildly eclectic production. Paraffin immerses you immediately into it’s dark world and leaves you with chills down your spine. Multiple listenings will be required…but it’s fucking worth it. Christ, I loved this album.

1. Orpheus vs. The Sirens – Hermit & The Recluse (KA & Animoss)

Ka is easily one of the most gifted lyricists we have in rap music today. On Orpheus vs. The Sirens, he uses various aspects of Greek mythology as metaphors for street life, as well as himself and his rap career (Ka = Orpheus). The amount of quotables on this album is truly astounding. Every sentence and word means something…you feel privileged to hear every syllable. Animoss provides a profoundly cinematic background to Ka’s poems, making Orpheus vs. The Sirens, without a doubt, the best rap album of 2018 (in my opinion, of course).

The Bandcamp Beat: November 2018 Edition

November 30, 2018 By Jake Milgate

Bandcamp is an incredible source for music nowadays and truly requires the attention of music listeners of all genres. Many rap artists and producers, such as Knxwledge and Ohbliv, have heavily utilized the music outlet to the point where it has become the main (or only) source for their releases. This series aims to highlight talented independent artists who provide quality music to the outlet. In this digital world where we are constantly flooded with the luxury of new music, artists like these tend to get overlooked, when in fact they should be getting just as much respect and attention.

Here are the seven Bandcamp selections for November of 2018:

Celestial Mechanics by Dr. Khil

Space. Full of wonders, and often leaving us with more questions than answers. On Celestial Mechanics, Clifton Park native, Dr. Khil, provides us with a beautiful navigation through the dark abyss…with one planet on his mind in particular: Jupiter. Each track is named after 16 known moons surrounding Jupiter. All the moons together provide balance to the planet, which Dr. Khil compares to his relationship with music. The drums in particular on Celestial Mechanics are very crisp. The variety of samples on this project (from flutes to pipe organs) highlight the creativity of Khil.

Purchase Celestial Mechanics here

Follow Dr. Khil here

POP SONGS DON’T KILL PEOPLE, I DO by Reg Mason

Boy, oh boy. When I say POP SONGS DON’T KILL PEOPLE, I DO is a wild album….I mean this is a WILD album. Union Township, New Jersey native, Reg Mason, certainly knows how to entertain…while also poking fun at the current state of the mainstream music industry. POP SONGS DON’T KILL PEOPLE, I DO is a project that can be sonically abrasive for a portion of the running time, and then immediately melodic the next. I can’t help but hear JPEGMAFIA influences in his music. Nonetheless, it’s a great listen with PLENTY of bangers and will definitely peak your attention.

Download POP SONGS DON’T KILL PEOPLE, I DO here

Follow Reg Mason here

Summer Zilla by Teck-Zilla

Although winter is upon us, some us are still fiending for those rays of sunshine and warmth that the summer brought us. Summer Zilla is a perfect project to put you back in that summer state-of-mind. Teck-Zilla is a member of the str8buttah collective located out of Lagos, Nigeria. His warm, vibrant production on Summer Zilla is something everyone needs to hear. He picks great vocal samples and often accompanies them with some groovy guitar licks. Vibes vary from energetic to relaxing and calming…..there’s something for everybody on here.

Purchase Summer Villa here

Follow Teck-Zilla here

7 by Glass Cannon

Lo-fi hip-hop is a hot commodity these days, so if you’re looking for some quality chilled out vibes, 7 is the project for you. Glass Cannon is a beatmaker who hails from Indiana. He’s been putting out music under the Glass Cannon name for about a year and a half and has several beat tapes out on Bandcamp, as well as SoundCloud. The project is only seven tracks long (like the title), and clocks out at barely over ten minutes. Nonetheless, it is short, sweet and very enjoyable. Check it out.

Download 7 here

Follow Glass Cannon here

Balance Vol. 1 by Ronesh

Chicago native (now residing in Oakland), Ronesh, has a great presence on the mic. His personality shines through on each track of Balance Vol. 1. In connection with title, Ronesh navigates through finding balance in his life. A variety of topics are covered on Balance Vol. 1, ranging from morality, alcohol, and relationships. It’s a mixed bag, but a cohesive one. The project is entirely self-produced by Ronesh, and also has a standout feature from the one and only Psalm One.

Purchase Balance Vol.1 here (all proceeds go to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)

Follow Ronesh here

Icantsweem by Mouse Sucks & The Dream Band

Ontario, Canada native, Mouse Sucks, and London production duo, The Dream Band team up for a fun, melancholic EP. This project certainly has a sense of humor (the tracklist ultimately spells out “How Many Ways CAN You Cook Asparagus). This combined with Mouse Sucks’ great blend of singing and rapping make the EP memorable and worthy of further listens. The production from The Dream Band is certainly reminiscent of BROCKHAMPTON. “How” in particular is a standout track that has an incredibly catchy hook, and highlights Mouse Sucks’ sly personality.

Purchase icantsweem here

Follow Mouse Sucks here

Follow The Dream Band here

ATLIK by ATLIK

The album artwork of ATLIK alone is enough to peak the interest of a curious music listener. Luckily, the music lives up to the anticipation. ATLIK’s rapid delivery stands out above all….which is ironic because some of the production on this self-titled compilation is quite smooth. He even includes two beats from the legendary Nujabes (R.I.P.). Still, ATLIK manages to throw a curveball or two, one being a remix of 88GLAM’s, “12”. He makes each track his own and is certainly a potent MC.

Download ATLIK here

Follow ATLIK here

A Short Guide to Westside Gunn’s “Hitler Wears Hermes” Series (1-5)

November 1, 2018 By Jake Milgate

Prominent Buffalo MC and Griselda Records chief, Westside Gunn, decided to give us all a treat on Halloween by releasing the 6th installment in his Hitler Wears Hermes series. Gunn is fresh off his release of Supreme Blientele, an album that will most certainly be in the “album of the year” talks at the end of 2018. Hitler Wears Hermes is a series of projects that ranges all the way back to the beginning of Westside Gunn’s career. He’s dropped a new installment in the series almost every year since 2012 (aside from the year 2013).

The running controversial title of the series was intentional, according to Gunn, and served as a metaphor for the grimy, yet luxurious, feel of the music he makes. Here is Gunn’s reasoning behind the title, pulled from a mini documentary:

“The whole Hitler Wears Hermes, you know the title, man, was just, I wanted to come with, you know, some of the grimiest but flyest shit I could come up with, cuz like, that’s basically my whole style, you know. Just the grimiest, flyest shit I could think of, so. You know, everybody was already used that Devil Wears Prada, and I’m just like, you know I want to flip that right there. Like that was something, I just wanted to come with somebody that soon as you hear it, you be like, ‘Yo that shit’s crazy, but fly at the same time.’ So that’s how I really came up with it.”

So, in honor of the release of Hitler Wears Hermes 6, (which you can purchase here) here is a short guide of installments one through five in the Hitler Wears Hermes series!

Hitler Wears Hermes

Released: 2012

The original (OG) installment of the Hitler Wears Hermes series. It is also the shortest out of all the installments, only including six tracks. It also features only two tracks containing original production. However, Westside Gunn does a hell of job making those tracks his own, one track in particular being “Rayful’s Plug”, which includes the beat from Wiz Khalifa and 50 Cent’s, “Telescope”, produced by Harry Fraud. If you’ve never heard any of the Hitler projects, feel free to start with this one and work your way up.

Hitler Wears Hermes 2

Released: 2014

This installment is my personal favorite of the Hitler Wears Hermes series. It includes several memorable songs, including the first track representing the iconic duo, Hall & Nash (Westside Gunn and Conway). The production from Gunn’s in-house producer and right hand man, Daringer, is stellar. The way he flipped “Sleepy People” on “City, Sos & Me” will forever be ingrained into my eardrums…it’s quite beautiful. Do not let this one slip by your ears. Don’t believe me? Take KA’s word for it.

Hitler Wears Hermes 3

Released: 2015

This is easily the longest of all the installments (17 tracks), and also includes some of the most potent features of the bunch (Sean Price, Benny, Skyzoo, Durag Dynasty and Vast Aire). The Vast Aire (member of Cannibal Ox) feature on “Rixh Lord Poor Lord” in particular is quite a standout. Aside from Daringer handling business as usual on the boards, fellow Buffalo producer, Camoflauge Monk, takes the opportunity to shine on this project, producing tracks such as “Dear Winter Bloody Fiegs” and “Oil Base”.

Hitler Wears Hermes 4

Released: 2016

Around the time this project was released, Westside Gunn (and Griselda Records in general) began to get a lot more attention (shown through the “Combat Jack Speaks” sketch on the project…R.I.P.). He was fresh off his release of FLYGOD, which had dropped earlier that year (check it out here). Like usual, this is yet another solid installment in the series that not only showcases Gunn’s talents, but his label mates as well. Conway’s verse on “The Cow” is easily one of his most emotional and memorable verses he’s ever done…and it’s the VERY FIRST verse you hear on the album. Conway also appears on the track “Nitro” alongside fellow Griselda representative, Benny. The chemistry between all the emcees of Griselda Records is undeniable.

Hitler Wears Hermes 5

Released: 2017

You could argue that Hitler Wears Hermes 5 may in fact be the grimiest installment of the series. The first two tracks, “Hebru” and “MAC 15’s”, strongly support this statement. Also…shoutout to Buffalo poet, Keisha Plum, who has appeared on every installment of Hitler Wears Hermes (as well as FLYGOD and Supreme Blientele). On HWH5, she appears on “Hebru”. Her dark, chilling vocabulary is extremely fitting with the aesthetic of Westside Gunn’s music. In fact, a Westside Gunn project without her presence wouldn’t feel quite right. Conway and Benny once again make appearances. Conway in particular makes an appearance on “R.I.P. Bobby” and glides with Gunn over a beat produced by The Alchemist. The beat includes a gorgeously flipped sample of “I Can’t Stay Away From You”.

Hitler Wears Hermes 6 is available exclusively on Westside Gunn’s website. It will be available on other streaming platforms on November 9th.

Jake Milgate (@MILFENCE) is a staff writer for DeadEndHipHop. He resides in Rochester, NY.

Elcamino – Walking On Water [Album Review]

October 10, 2018 By Jake Milgate

If you haven’t gotten in tune with the Buffalo hip-hop scene as of yet, you’ve seriously been missing out on some great music. The emergence of Griselda Records and their artists (Westside Gunn, Conway and Benny) have placed a spotlight on the city, something that Buffalo, along with the rest of Western New York, as not seen in regards to their music scene. Elcamino is also one of those emerging artists. After coming off his strong self-titled solo debut, which was released earlier this year, Camino has graced us with yet another project entitled, Walking On Water. Following a similar grimy tone to it’s predecessor, Walking On Water is yet another example of why the Buffalo scene is worth paying attention to.

Walking On Water is an album of triumph. At the end of the day, Camino is using his music to separate himself from his drug selling past. The “walking on water” concept is employed as a reference to Jesus Christ performing miracles. Camino believes it is a “miracle” he made it out of the streets of Buffalo alive. On the title track, he shares this sentiment: “The shit that I witnessed, you wouldn’t believe…”

The album cover itself, as well as the “Outro”, also pushes the concept that Camino is performing a miracle. Of course, he’s not the first rapper to turn a bad situation into a good one.

So what makes Elcamino’s music stand out amongst others?

Camino is very straight forward when it comes to his raps, something that can become a crutch. However, within the scope of Walking On Water, it works to his advantage. The simplicity and straightforwardness of Camino’s speak feels necessary for the raw content he is speaking on. His scratchy vocals and his “no bullshit” demeanor are enticing.

The production on Walking On Water provides a beautiful canvas for Camino to paint and detail his tales of drug slanging and braggadocio. A handful of the tracks on here, including “Coke” and “Rayful Bag”, are produced by Shay. Other producers that make appearances on here include Rick Hyde, IceRocks, and common collaborator, Boodeini, who produced the entirety of Elcamino’s solo debut.

It is the mesh of the two aspects I just mentioned that make Walking On Water so enjoyable. The beats are grim and stripped down, and they compliment Camino’s similarly grimy lyrics and mafioso content. It’s as if you’re kicking it with Camino himself in a dark alleyway and he’s telling you these stories face to face. It’s a perfect aesthetic for those who are fans of gangsta rap.

One track in particular that highlights this aesthetic is “Peter in a Porsche”, which has a sample of a Lil Boosie track in the beginning; a shoutout to Camino’s Baton Rouge origins. The track then swings into a slow guitar-lead beat with a near desperate sounding soul sample moaning, “Standing on the corner….somebody please…” Camino’s savageness rings soundly on this song:

“I’m having evil thoughts,

Walking ‘round in the dark

Choppa in my hand

I think somebody gettin’ walked

I’m layin’ in your bushes

I think somebody gettin’ stalked…”

It’s as if Camino almost wants someone to test him to prove that he really means everything he says in his lyrics.

There is, however, one instance on Walking On Water where Camino speaks from a more vulnerable state. On the track “Rosemary”, he reminisces his late grandmother and the impact she had on her life. It’s nothing overly complex…but you can hear the pain in his voice. The Al Green sample in the instrumental adds another wave of sorrow to the song. “My heart gone ain’t no replacing you…” Camino states as he recounts the moment he learned of her death:

“My baby sister called me crying,

And said Granny not waking up

I swore that she was lyin’

Yo, I wish that she was lyin’

I’m just sittin’ there silent…”

There are plenty of gangsta rap bangers on here that will almost certainly catch the ears of those who are fans of likes of Mobb Deep, Ghostface Killah, and Raekwon. In fact the song “Coke” shares the sample used on a Ghostface track called “Purified Thoughts”, from his 2010 album, Apollo Kids. The biggest standout banger on this project is “Rayful Bag”. The deep, cavernous piano used on the beat is menacing, as Camino pulls in his fellow Buffalo collaborator, Benny, for one of the most hard knocking thug anthems I’ve heard all year.

This album is a must for those who are fans of the Griselda movement, as well as those with an ear for gangsta rap. Walking On Water is yet another strong entry in the Buffalo, NY hip-hop scene, which continues to grow stronger every year.

Grade: B+

***

Jake Milgate is a Staff Writer at Dead End Hip Hop. You can tweet at him here.

Ten Slept-On Rap Albums You Should Listen to Before the End of the Year

October 2, 2018 By Jake Milgate

2018 has been an amazing year for rap music on all ends of the spectrum. With so much content being thrown at us on a daily basis, it can be real easy to let some gems fly by our ears, especially when it comes to the underground.

Many have spoken on the album run (“The Wyoming Sessions”) that Kanye West made this past June, but have overlooked the string of Big Ghost LTD collaborative albums that have been released this year, including: VAN GHOST with DC native, ANKHLEJOHN, and Aguardiente with Jersey MC, CRIMEAPPLE. Big Ghost’s incredible year will be capped off with a collaborative album with the one and only, Ghostface Killah, entitled The Lost Tapes, set to drop on October 5th.

Instead of playing “catch up” at the last minute, I’m gonna try and help you guys get a head start. Here are ten albums (aside from the two I mentioned above) that your ears need to hear before the year is out. [Read more…] about Ten Slept-On Rap Albums You Should Listen to Before the End of the Year

Jake Milgate