WeCraveNewness: Its the Don in 3D...

Willie B has been a producer to watch out for this last year and in 2012 he is not slowing down on his rise to the top. The producer behind some of LAs latest and greatest talents (All I need to say is Kendrick Lamar - Rigamortus) he is carving his niche out in this industry. Besides being a very talented producer he is quiet the artist himself. He won me over with his lyrics and production to his song 

"To Be Real"

The line, "Passports no such thing as too far" still makes me smile when I hear it.

Recently though he dropped his long awaited instrumental LP 

"Ichiban Sound in 3D"

20 tracks varying from Hip-Hop and Rap to R&B and Soul available to you for $9 ! 

 

He is amazing in his craft so I advise you check him out.. Linking you to a great before the title has been bestowed upon him. We Crave Music Here always putting you on LIKE YESTERDAY. 

Follow: @LetsGoWillieTDE  on twitter

and Facebook

and check out

IchibanDon.com

WeCraveNewness: Baaaaaad Giiiirlllls! M.I.A.?

"Fast die young, Bad Girls do it well"

I have always been a fan of M.I.A. she got me with "Bucky Done Gun" and "Galang".. Then of course "Paper Planes" was EPIC. Her unique sound and flow and the INSANE beats she lays them all over have found their way into my collection. So after last remembering her as a super pregnant lady singing on stage to the "Swagga Like Us" Remix in spandex I was excited to come across a new single from her

"Bad Girls"

True to her form it is catchy with an eccentric beat. Explaining her bad girl ways. Check it out.

WeCraveNewness: Road to Reality with Deme Dman

Lynk Fam Inc: Presents Deme Dman "Road To Reality" 

off the upcoming Mixtape  

"Welcome To The Lion's Den" hosted by Dj Jazzemoto

Follow: @lynkfaminc @Demedman1

Check the Facebook 

And all the music HERE 

Who got beats? Toujours De L'Argent.. MONEY ALWAYZ!

IF you are serious about your career in music it is a must that you invest in yourself and your art. This can be an expensive task BUT sometimes someone who loves creating their music as much as you do wants to see others excel. 

Such is the case with Money Alwayz of EvenOdds. 

He is one of thee LIVEST producers coming out of San Fransisco, California right now! 

To help those with passion for what they do he has recently started to LEASE BEATS via Toujours De L' Argent. French for.. Money Alwayz! (I love me some French)

On Lease 4 Cheap Vol.1 each beat can be leased for.. 

$25 !

His #MoneyMondayz movement he has been releasing music every Monday for sometime now. Lease 4 Cheap Vol.1 was dropped Monday January 16th and contains eight hip-hop, rap, and R&B beats for your choosing. 

He is also offering the tracked out version of beats for $100. These deals can NOT be beat. The quality of his production is worth so much more so if I was you I would take this opportunity and run with it.

Toujours De L'Argent - "Lease 4 Cheap Vol.1"

Stay tuned for "Lease 4 Cheap Vol. 2" dropping February 6th.

Be sure to follow @ToujoursLargent 

@MONEYALWAYZ  @DEO415  @EVENODDSmusic

check out MoneyAlwayz.com

and pick up Evenodds latest album "The Revision"

These fellas are talent at is finest. Wink.

WeCraveExclusive: The art of painting.. B Creativity

I have always felt like self-expression is art. Now how you choose to express yourself is up to you, but that is the beauty there are so many way in which you can. I write and I dress, those are the two ways I have been blessed to find easily to get my point across through. But when I am doing either 9 times out of 10 I am listening to music. Three arts connected. The arts blend so well together, designers find inspiration in paintings, musicians find inspiration in books. I have also learned a lot of painters listen to music while they create these amazing paintings that may turn into prints that may become a dress that a girl puts on to go out and meets a guy who then writes a song about her that gets used as a reference in a book. You never know.

"Monroe" Street Pop Art

 

I recently came across a painter that could very well spark this kind of inspiration. Sharing his new Street Pop Art Collection with We Crave Music Here he also took the time to answer some questions about music and art. 

Meet Isaiah Perkins aka @BCreativity

We got right into some music because.. 

WeCraveMusicHere and this is a We Crave Exclusive

Q: I have always felt like all the arts are closely connected so when you paint do you listen to music, if so what kind and do you find inspiration in the music?

Music has to be playing at all times when I paint. But it really depends on my emotions, subject matter and what music I'm feeling. I like listening to creative artist like Kanye and N.E.R.D who experiment with different sounds. Lately I've been listening to this all production project (Potpourri) from Delano Taylor. No words with mix genres of music, so it gives me time to think about my next brush stroke.

Q: I know some artists like to have unique showings so have you ever incorporated music into a viewing or live exhibit or would you like to?

Yea I debuted my "Obama" series in conjunction with a music and fashion show (Shout out to Steve Francois, my mentor who made it happen). I had a great time and people loved the work.

Q: When I think of the arts I think of music, fashion, painting, and theater. With fashion the correlation between music and fashion is very evident in that musical artist need an image and really though, what a runway without a rhythm? What is your opinion on the correlation between your arts of painting with the other arts mentioned?

I think they need it more than they think. A lot of music artist are going back to real art for album covers (Wale: Ambition, 9th Wonder: The Wonder Years, Kanye West: My Twisted Dark Fantasy). A lot of it is even mention in lyrics. Rick Ross "John" song says "Red on the wall Basquiat when I paint". So it’s evident that they know who they are and love what we do.

Q: Being that you’re into music, what kind of music do you like?

I like all kinds. You can find Paramore, 30 seconds to Mars, Jay-Z and the Beastie Boys all on the same playlist in my iTunes. I'm a fan of music so I’ll listen to anything once.

Q: I know you also manage indie artists and such what made you decide to take that on as well?

I run a management group for indie artists bcreativity.com and I help them with marketing and branding. It was more a calling than me saying "I'm about to start managing artist". I got my last degree in graphic design and advertising so I would get calls and text messages for flyers, logos, website and so on. A few people knew I had some local connections with photographers, venues, press and so on because I've done design work with them. So I would do some booking, call press for shows, contact writers for interviews and so one. One day a music artist says in a laughing tone "you hooking me up with all of this stuff you might as well be my manager" and the rest is history.

Q: What is your first memory of painting and when did you fall in love with the art?

My first memory I would have to say me being the 3rd grade - we had to add our own spin on a traditional painting. I did "Whistler's Mother" with a gold chain and baseball cap haha.. but I really fell in love with art in high school. I was that guy always drawing and doodleing on the back of text books. I really knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life when I was living in Tampa working at a gallery.

Q: What has painting meant to you?

Lately everything. Before and still now, its been an easy escape from life and problems. Its my way to express myself with no repercussions. I've always enjoyed painting now I can pay some bills with it.

Q: What do you want people to get out of your paintings?

All my paintings interpretation is up to the viewer. With this new series I want them to feel like this is something classic but has a style of different movements. I want them to understand a painting doesn't have to traditional to be considered art.

Q: Where do you find most of your inspiration?

Our culture. I research on what fashion trends are in, icons that have changed our culture and what's marketable in our time period. At this point I'm only pushing out stuff the masses will love. The Street Pop Art series is something marketable that could be found in your local coffee shop or HSN (Home Shopping Network).

Q: How have you developed your technique?

A lot of it has been trial and error. Not trying to be like a certain artist, while at the same time being inspired by that artist but I didn't want to be compared to them, if that makes sense. I would also take elements from design, art, fashion and music to combine them into on big ball of creativity for my canvas.

Street Pop Art

Q: You have a very Pop art avant garde technique a la Andy Warhol and I notice you’ve used some of the same muses. Has he been an inspiration to you?

(Laughing) Yeah Warhol was dope I've always been inspired by his work and thoughts behind the work. The "Street Pop Art" series was inspired by him and a couple of his muses.

Q: What other artists inspire you?

Quite a few well know artist Basquiat, Pollack, Shepard Fairly (the dude who did the Obama stuff) and local artist that I've worked with like Mike Houligan, Efren Rebugio and David Rothman. Those guys right there are true artists to the "T" and I'm always amazed when I see new work as well as what they've been up to.

Q: Does your art end with painting or do you create pieces outside of painting?

I still dabble in T-Shirt designs so ill get a couple orders for shirts. I would like to get into metal work, sculpture or something just really off the wall. I've experimented with insulation art but you really need a big space for that.

Q: Do you have any upcoming events or showings?

Add caption

I have a couple coming up, today (1.29.12) I have a live painting show at a church in downtown Dallas. I have a two day gig at one of the wealthiest malls in Dallas (Willow Bend Mall) for an event. I’ll be selling enhanced prints of my "Street Pop Art" series and live painting some new ones. Oh and you can catch me on your local corner live painting. I randomly will post a time, date and a place Il’l be at where you can catch me live painting.

Q: What is your ultimate goal in this world of art? 

Ultimate goal is to be able to do what I love and make a comfortable living from it. That is it. I don't want to make billions off my art (it would be nice) but I want it to get to people who have never seen my art before. I also want people to be inspired by my work. I post a lot of my stuff on Facebook and I would get tagged in posts reading 

"Isaiah Perkins just made me wanna break out my airbrush, or finish this canvas". 

That's dope to me.

Check this video made right after Isaiah LIVE PAINTED "Audrey"

"John" Street Pop Art

WeCraveExlusive: Save the Indie..

After several weeks of #CraveMusic chats revolving around others opinions on what it takes to be a REAL artist on the indie scene and in general the consensus is that I am not alone in thinking the masses still celebrate the basic watered down music over quality lyrics and topics. 

When I approached our @WeCraveMusic followers with the question of:

“Is the Indie route becoming flooded with mediocre artists like the main stream because of easy access?” 

The general opinion was that too many people without passion were in the game because they have access and desire the life that is portrayed to go with it on TV. 

It is as if when the less talented artists started taking over the mainstream airways we still had the TRUE independent artists who do this for the love of creating music and self-expression. I am not just talking Hip-Hop either. There was a time when chicks like Kesha or Taylor Swift would never have signed a deal. NO offense if you like their music, I am just saying they could use a cup or two more of talent to the mixture.  As I was saying though, the INDIE artist was the relief, underground sound that was not trying to fit the mold of the masses. It was raw and unpolished; everything was hands on for them from lyrics, beats, to finances.

 Yet now these days that title of INDIE artists is being applied to any person who used their friends makeshift studio to record a few songs over either a simple basic beat or over another songs beat and up load them to some online file sharing site and then taking to twitter, facebook , myspace, and all these other social network sites and calling themselves an ARTIST. Taking a flip cam video or iPhone video and creating a youtube account to follow their lives and show their “music videos”. Then Llc. A name and call themselves a label. Add a few more friends, I mean ARTIST to the mix and boom INDIE Artists/Label owner/Manager.

Riiiiiiiight.

Now to clarify that I am not just being biased because I have a solid preference in what my artist should be like. I then asked the @WeCraveMusic followers

“How do you all feel about the title of "INDIE ARTISTS" being placed on any independent music makers, talented or not?”

Again I was greeted with replies similar to how I felt. It takes talent and skill in what you are doing in order to call yourself an ARTIST of it. I feel a big part in this is the INTERNET, as great a tool it is, the easy access to “Brand” yourself has made it so easy to portray yourself to be something you are not. The worst part of that is when a lie continues and builds some people start to find it to be fact. A person books a few club shows, has thousands of followers, thousands of youtube views, and a few pictures with REAL artists and now my association and popularity they are an Artist themselves. In my opinion, this is not the case.

At the same time for those who DO have talent this is a great outlet to reaching the world and getting their art out there. People with lyrics that touch you and voices that soothe you, things you can vent off too and others you can zone out to. Often these people know that it takes more than a virtual influence to really make it somewhere so they also invest in their careers by whom they work with, how they present their music, and when asked of a course of action and reason they have one.  Its bigger then the glitz and gold for them.

So see I really just wanted to shed light on the fact that the INDIE music scene is flooded with people who have no right to be called artists, BUT if you dig and weed through you will find some jewels still. I hate to see people claim the title of artist when they have no skill in any art other than perpetrating but I more so appreciate the platform that INDIE music is.

WeCraveNewness: Azealia Banks "Need Sum Luv"

As you can read a few posts down this new female rapper Azealia Banks has the blogs hawking her to see when, if, and whom might sign her. (Ahm.. Kanye)

She recently released this new track 

"NEEDSUMLUV" 

 on Aaliyahs Birthday, and ironically the beat contains a sample from "One in a million". Going a bit more radio friendly with a R&B influenced flow.

At first listen it sounds type sweet and poppy but with a closer ear to the lyrics you hear her speak on being the other woman in a affair and she seems quiet content in that role.

As we all await to see where this young ladies talents take her I hope to hear more little jewels from her.

Follow: @AzealiaBanks

WeCraveExclusive: Get familiar with ImaniRose..

 Hard at work on her EP "Unapologetically", Imani Rose is steadily doing shows to promote her newest singles "Killa" and "Sleeping With the Enemy", and staying a constant factor in the Houston Texas scene. She came back home from her years in the big city NYC and has hit the ground running. Bringing a whole new scene to the south with her #Rough&Reckless TRUE Hipster ways she is a blend of the Arts. Focusing on Imani Rose the LoveChild, she took some time to do an interview with WeCraveMusicHere about what music means to her and what she wants to mean to music..

Q: What is your earliest memory with music? Where did the love affair begin?

I don't think there ever was a "beginning" with music &I...music always
lived inherently in me. My parents were huge music heads. My mom saw Michael
when she was pregnant with me and Prince was my first concert as a
human. It was written that I was to be this way.

Q: Before “Clothes Rack” had you written music before? 

 Oh yea I have journals and journals of songs, I used to lock myself in my room as a kid
and make up songs on my keyboard. It’s kind of crazy looking back like wow why
were my thoughts that deep at 10 years old? I’m Almost intimidated by
younger self sometimes.

Q:  I know you have a background in theater, how do you feel this has

Help in forming your identity in music?

It’s definitely aided in my every
aspect of forming my music, my whole process. The character of Imani Rose,
the Lovechild. My lyrical content, I'm always dropping Shakespearean refs
in there just by habit ...my visualization of my music. It is incredibly
dramatic!

Q: What led you to using music as a new outlet for your expression?

I just felt it had to be done I was always remixing songs and freestyling at my
parties and with my cousins I was so comfortable that space I wanted to
really respect the craft and work full throttle.

Q: What do you hope to bring to the industry with your music?

Freshness. Authenticity and femininity of a fully prismatic artist. I want to blur the
labels that the industry is so comfortable with. I want to cut up the
boxes.

Q: In your blog you list things under Love and Fear. Can the same be said

of the music you are creating?

YES. I learned from Greek philosophy that all
human emotions come from either fear or love and that always resonated with
me, and all my music reflects, that, those needs and questions and
explanations are all of love or fear.

Q: Take me through your creative process?

I can't we'd have to have a Whoopi /Demi moment. I'd like to see what
those who've witness my madness would say. I journal a lot, I name every
journal Michael & green hold unapologetically. I usually deviate from my
blueprints & freestyle certain sections.

Q: What artist would you like to collaborate with?

Definitely my friend Moxiie, she's incredible. No Doubt, Djws, Diplo and
of course Kanye & Bun B.

Q: You often refer to yourself as the “Love Child”, who is the infamous

“LoveChild” in your words and does she make records too?

She's a mess! She’s fearless and bold boy crazy misogynistic in the only acceptable way. She
hates the frailty of women and gives no fuck .she's so comfortable in her skin in the world there's no filter or second thoughts with her! She's all "fuck you", where Imani is " love me?" And bathes in estrogen They usually collab on most tracks, but “Lovechild” & “Killa” is clearly miss
thang's where “Carrie&Big”, & “Sleeping with the enemy” are Imani Rose. If that helps.

Q: How has putting together this EP made you feel?

Rad, it's been incredibly cathartic and trying at times but it’s definitely
keeping me sane and giving me a huge sense of pride!

Q: What do you want people to get out of this EP?

I want people to fall hands over feet in love with themselves! I want
people to laugh and cry and think!

Q: When can we expect the release?

She's a coming! I'm like 8months pregnant with it. I'm a perfectionist so I've been focusing on delivering a product that will be the best reflection of my artistry at this point in my life. I suffered the loss of 6 family members during the course of recording so that put a pause on my timing but its coming.

Q: Outside of this EP, what else are you working on, and where can the
people lookout for you to be next?

I'm working on me man! Besides I'm always on twitter ( @itsIMANIrose ) so they can track me there! I'll keep everyone updated on gigs &appearances! Thank you for taking the time to pose these awesome questions! 

Love i.

WeCraveNewness: XV - Squarian !!!!

The title of XV latest release rang "Aquemini" in my head (One of my fave Outkast songs)

Another song to tithe us over till the Kansas City natives EP finally drop.

 "Squarian Anthem"

(ft. Sez Batters)

Im a huge fan of XV and he is who I will be keeping tabs on in 2012.
Preparing to embark on his "Midwest State of Mind Tour" I see 2012 being a good year for XV with several mixtapes under his belt and one album its his time.

If you haven't, go cop that "Zero Hereos" mixtape and get familiar.

WeCraveMusicHere will most deff be keeping you up on the moves of this man so stay tuned.

WeCraveNewness: Azealia Banks.. Bank on her

During Kanye West DJ set on NYE he spun a "212" from Azealia Banks..

In no time here youtube videos were gaining crazy views and I'm sure google was having a field day with her name. But besides a major co-sign in Kanye saying she is " the future of music" she also placed 3rd on BBCs who to watch in 2012.(Of which Frank Ocean was placed #1)

Knocking the Nicki comparisons:

“She’s only had one album, and she’s only been famous for a year, so she doesn’t have that big of a legacy for me to be the new her. She’s her and I’m me.”

As well as calling the likes of Kreayshawn out via twitter for her lack of talent and skills. (I appreciate that)

Previously working with producer DJ Diplo of Major Lazer and British producer Paul Epworth ( Adele, 21) their have also been rumors surfacing of her possible having signed to Kanye West's  G.O.O.D music label. 

I like the girls flow and sound, plus you hear the electro influence in the beats and hooks so I'm looking forward to what else will come from her.

Check out her latest songs:

"212" and "Liquorice" 

(Click for links)

Follow @AzealiaBanks on twitter 

and stay tuned for more..

WeCraveNewness: Natalia KILLS her BF

 About few months ago I came across a couple tracks from a new girl Natalia Kills.. noted as a songwriter and singer I dug up her album Perfectionist instantly I liked her. But with this new video for "Kill My Boyfriend" a sweetly sung song of murderous plans to off her man instead of breaking up with him for her lover, sealed the deal.

The fashion freak in me loves the styling in this video so I heart her even more now.. And look forward to a lot more work from her. 

Follow her @NataliaKills on twitter.

Facebook: Natalia Kills

and click her name at the top of the post for her website

Behind the Beat..

I  recently wrote an interesting piece for DaMatrixStudios on DJ|Producer Khardier Da God..

"I tend to be at DaMatrixStudios on average two or more days a week. Every time I walk in it’s like being immediately submerged in the world that is music as an art. Though there are many shows broadcasted from the studio in between those times I often find myself hovering over some ones shoulder soaking in all aspects of music 

I remember one night in particular after a day of shows I decided to stick around and hang out with the fellas for a little bit. Whenever there are no shows to be recorded or sessions engineered you can find the guys either on the turntables spinning or rummaging through the crates and crates of records for something to sample, or making beats. On this night I was observing Khardier playing all these different sounds, similar, but slightly different tones and pitches. So I ventured over to peek over his shoulder, he was going through lists and lists and lists of sounds. Just one sound! No longer then the length of snapping your fingers.

It started with one sound, a sort of ticking sound that he chose after listening to at least two handfuls of sounds in the same spectrum. Then he started playing with the keyboard to make a sequence of sounds. Tick tick ticking. Playing and replaying the sounds to form a type of rhythm I zoned out. Listening to this repeat each time with a slight change, be is slowed down, sped up, or more intricate.

My attention was focused again when a new sound dropped in, a guitar of sorts. Then the guitar started changing and yet another folder of lists was pulled up and put away to pull up another several times with varying guitars playing for a quick second before he found the one his ear was apparently searching for. Blending this in with the ticking noise he added a new layer and quickly was onto another. Layer after layer built up till there where ticks, guitars, drums, horns, and clashing of all types forming a melody.

Then the editing came, well I’ll call it editing. He started cutting up the beat and pasting it in different orders. Adding sounds in on certain parts and then adding different ones for other sections. Then dropping the majority of the beat out for a pause.. .. and bringing it all back together with a BOOM of the bass.

Watching this process for literally hours I was stuck in amazement at the talent it takes to hear this beat in your head and find all the components to bring it to life. I had so many questions, where did the inspiration come from? Did he hear the whole beat in his head or did he elaborate from one distinct sound he was hearing? As he builds the beat was he composing a melody, did he already hear a song being formed for the beat in his head?

I can only imagine it takes quite a while to finish a beat in its entirety and before I knew it Khardier was being put to a challenge to make a Pop beat, and then a Reggae beat. So the present one was abandoned for the time being and he was swiftly moving along to new creations. With ease I might add, it seems that any genre you threw at him he had an idea for and would start to go to work.

I’m sure some could careless to know the details and tedious work that goes into the creation of a song but I am utterly enthralled with every aspect of the process. When I hear a really good song I am listening to every piece of it. From the how the beat starts and the words drop in to the breaks in the beat and how the lyrics conform to every high and low you experience. There are times where I have to restart a song or seek out the instrumental to just hear the changes in a beat. To really feel the emotion of the song, sounds can convey feelings just as much as words can.

If you really think about it, this is literally where all the music we love starts, with a beat, without a beat lyrics would simply be poetry."

 Follow @Khardier_Da_God on twitter

And look out for him on DaMatrixStudios.com for one of his LIVE DJ sets

Classic Covers..

The other night in and insomniac mood I was up at the wee hours of the morning watching movies.. Cinemax premiered the movie "SuckerPunch" so I found it on demand to watch as I waited for the sandman to find me.The cinematography is amazing in this movie.

The opening scene to this movie plays a classic song "Sweet Dreams", originally by Eurythmics, forgetting how much I love this song I went straight to google to find the movies soundtrack to see what version it was they were playing. Come to find out it was a cover by Emily Browning who plays the main character "Baby Doll". In fact all the songs from this soundtrack were covered by the actors and various artists.
The director said having covers of songs gives more personality to the scenes.

In one of the fighting scenes he uses a cover of  "Tommorrow Never Knows" by Alison Mosshart and Carla Azar. I always remember this song from the movie "The Craft" so I looked the song up itself to see how many covers there are.

In this search I kept seeing that the song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.. it took me looking up several covers before it hit me.. This was a Beatles song.

As much as I love music I've never delved into the legends that are "The Beatles" so to find out a song I have loved for years from various artists is a LSD creation out of Lennons head amazed me. Maybe I need to give them a few spins. My anti ways have always deterred me from falling into the beatles trap.. but with this new found knowledge I may have to give in.

Following in this 70s Acid-LSD-Cocaine high song soundtrack I was loving the cover of Jefferson Airplane - "White Rabbit" by Emiliana Torrini as well. This movie is a must watch if your into the arts because its all around experience.

WeCraveExclusive: Gnarly stuff from the Left Coast..

AirBorneINTL artist Cam Gnarly of the Left Coast, West Coast..

Just released a new single at midnight.. (3am for a #BayGirlInNYC)

"Cant Argue Wit 'Em"

Off Cam Gnarly's upcoming mixtape  Cam Meets World to be released the end of Feb 2012. This song is really worth your time, the beat draws you in and then a unique flow starts and if your LISTENING you hear some word play thrown around and a topic everyone can relate to.


The Santa Monica born Cam is kicking off 2012 running. Snagging an opening spot for Curren$y and Dom Kennedy on the 13th in Pamona, Ca. As well as several shows with French Montana and 2 Chainz.

Check out the link for the song and be sure to follow to stay up to date:
@CamGnarly
@AirBorne_TY
@AirborneINTL

WeCraveMUSICExclusive.. you really need to follow because.. TRILLS. We crave music.

We Crave Exclusive: Preparing for take off ! J.Bles newness..

My boy J.Bles just hit me up with a little new info.. he is currently working on his EP to be titled "Reckless Endangerment"

On a mission to own 2012. Check out his  

Preparing for takeoff Vlog: J.Bles - Making of Reckless Endangerment

Filmed by: Chris Scales

The first single off the EP has just been released..

J.Bles - "Flier"

Produced by: Traxx Spinnas

WeCraveMusicHere so we will deff keep you all up todate on this mans moves in 2012.. Look out for a new interview soon.

#CraveMusic: Lets reflect a little bit..

This week on #CraveMusic chat I wanted to reflect a bit over the positive things we got out of music in 2011 and to see what artists’ people noticed and will be on the lookout for in 2012.

A lot of people feel as if we didn’t really have any improvement because the main stream was still flooded with watered down hip-hop, lackluster singers, flash in the pans one maybe 2 hit wonders, and the radio played the same 5 songs all day. 

BUT... on the low we had what I feel to be a very positive shift in music. I noticed more indie bands getting noticed, more lyrical rappers popping up on the blogs, techno infusion into Pop music, music getting back to being enjoyed for the technical aspects of it from the new sound in beats and the lyrics being spoken.

If you’re a true music junkie you don’t listen to the radio for new music to add to your collection. One, you have the songs already if you even like the artist. Two, most of the artists are not exactly your cup of tea. So instead you must frequent the blogs and music sites to find new jewels. From there you go to google and research an artist, find songs, mixtapes and listen then judge. I did this with a lot of artists this year and to my surprise I found quite a few I like. Most I had heard of in 2010 but through 2011 I saw a growth and grew to like them. Seek them out. A few got a notable cosign for themselves. (Yealwolf, Stalley) Others just showed consistency and so im looking for them in 2012. (XV, Skyzoo, Gambino)

This was also a year with a few classics for hip-hop. J.Cole. Three years in the making from the first time I heard a mixtape from him. “The Sideline Story” was a great freshman album. Then Kanye went off twice! but with jay-Z on watch the thrown, lyrically, sickening.

We saw the rise of the indie bands. A lot of indie pop, indie rock, surf punk from the underground scene mad light. For example Best Coast, an indie noise pop band I was following them for a while and then they got noticed by Drew Barrymore who directed their “Our Deal” video. From there they became a semi notable indie band, not mainstream but on the rise.  Same can be said of Foster the People and Wavves as well, two indie pop surf type bands that had a good run in 2011. The return of the indie band is something I’ve missed in the new millennium. Yes they have been there but the indie band culture has been hidden since the 90s’s. On a techno, house, trance culture tip. 

Also, peoples taste in music was expanding. People I knew that use to hate the different genres I played were starting to appreciate the different sounds of music there are in the world, though it was usually through an infusion of types. 

Take “The Weeknd” the new raved about musical genius that Drake brought to the light. Though he is not the strongest singer his unique sound and lyrics have captivated people to build him a strong following.  When I listen to him I hear an indie pop meets trance meets R&B. Hence the unique sound. This is appreciated. 

( Download "The Weeknd"- EchoesOfSilence)

Which brings me to the cross over, so many artists this year found influences in other genres of music. Hip-Hop of 2011 was really a Hip-Pop, Trip-Hop. The electro influences in the beats and format of hip-hop songs in 2011 sounded like Paul Van Dyk or Milo remixes.  Listening to the production on songs such as “Mr. Nice Watch”  and “That’s my Bitch” to see what I mean. Or “New Day” also off Watch The Throne, which is very trip-hop jazz. Then Lady Gaga gave us everything from electro to pop to blues over the past 2 years. I say blues if you’ve listened to the new gift she gave the monsters with “Stuck on Fucking You”.  Rihanna went total trashy-euro-pop, which I love. Love.   

These mainstream artist exposing their fans to other sounds will hopefully inspire a genuine eclectic ear so people will seek different music on their own. WeCraveMusicHere will be here to help with that. Wink Wink.

I could write for days and days about this topic but to sum this up..

2011 brought us a subtle change in music that has opened the door for the underground again and is beginning to expose people to genres outside of their comfort zone. So in 2012 let us make this a genuine experience, I loathe a poser.