Name Your Price on Bandcamp

Now some hip hop from across that big ol’ pond we call the Atlantic. I just stumbled across these dudes yesterday and I have to say, their new 4-track EP is totally fun and awesome. But you say “Nate, what else can I expect from this duo? Your use of ‘awesome’ isn’t much of a descriptor.” You know what I say to that, you’re wrong, it is the only way to describe their sound (not actually true, but it is just that awesome).

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: Great Scott – Everything I Do Goin’ Be Funky

This is a duo from Vancouver, they have a song (featured here) that is awesome, and that is just about all I know of them. Hey “The Say What Rights”: what gives? Holla at me and then make more music. The world deserves to hear such a unique sound.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: Juan Deuce & Falside – Guts

It’s almost bizarre seeing a rapper of this stature addressing a concern that I hold dear to my heart (aka global climate change). Not only that, but do rap it over a sick Buddy Peace beat. Don’t be a sucka, listen to this track, then go green.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: Matlock – Days I Remember ft. Wes Restless

As only The Coup are capable (with the help of Justin Sane from one of my favorite punk bands Anti-Flag), they make anti-establishment anthems fun, upbeat, and completely enthralling. And even more awesome is the fact that they successfully combined two genres which have very little in common in the sonic sense (punk and hip hop). Aesthetically they come from a similar place (i.e. disillusionment), but yeah, I definitely never thought this combination could work. I think The Coup are probably the only ones capable of it. In other news, here’s the latest controversy in hip hop: legendary rapper Aesop Rock and progressive folk singer/song-writer Kimya Dawson teamed up on a project they call The Uncluded. I thought this would be a good post to include it in since they also attempt to combine two unlikely genres: hip hop and folk. It has really divided hip hop fans. I, for one, really enjoy it but apparently hip hop heads around the world are shocked! What do y’all think?

This is a track from easily my favorite hip hop record in a looonnggg time. Seattle duo Art Vandelay (taking their name from Seinfeld’s George Costanza’s alter ego which in itself deserves huge points) put together this really progressive yet still accessible record. Totally unique, totally enthralling, totally tubular. This track fits that criteria.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: Art Vandelay – Let My Meat Hang / Eye 8 The Crow / So What?

On first listen months ago, I didn’t like it. On second listen a few days ago, and third, and fourth, and fifth, and sixth, etc listen, I’m hooked. The dudes from Chicago have done it again. What’s weird is that anytime I listen to a new song, I typically hear only the beat (or rather, that’s what I typically care most about) and with this track, I definitely prefer the flow over the beat.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: The Palmer Squares – Everyday

Sometimes you need to speed things up, by slowing them downnnnn. And what I mean by that is that this is love-makin’ music right here. And yes, this is some instrumental ish for you, a rarity here on Catchy Hip Hop. That’s how much I’m enamored with this track. So grab your guy or lady friend and find yourself enraptured in this sonic intimacy.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: The Herbaliser – Can’t Help This Feeling ft. Jessica Darling

Free Bandcamp Download

As you can tell, I’ve been a bad blogger. What’s new? But I’m not solely taking the blame for this. Hip hop sucks right now. How can I make such broad, sweeping generalizations? Because I listen to an metric asston of it and there is very little, even less than there normally is, good, listenable hip hop coming out the past couple of months. But along comes these little diamonds in the shitty, rap rough. And Phantom Balance is just that. What is even more amazing is that not only does the genre they are a part of suck at the moment, but they have managed to overcome being artists in a city like Sioux Falls, South Dakota which is like the equivalent of being a coal miner in Beverly Hills. Good on them, these dudes are awesome.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: Soulcrate Music – Take It To The Sky

Ahhh, Swollen Members…can’t ever go wrong with these dudes. Actually, that’s not true. They kind of started doing some more commercial sounding rap for awhile there that I didn’t find too great but I’m glad to see they are returning to old form with their newest album Beautiful Death Machine.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: Swollen Members – Too Hot

Can’t say I know much about Snak The Ripper but that will have to change! His name makes me immediately think of Dunk-A-Roos, those little snack-packs of crackers and frosting. I want some of those right now. I want to eat them while I dance to this song.

If you enjoyed this track, you might dig this jam: Konfidential – Get Em ft. Snak The Ripper, The Scale Breakers, Evil Ebenezer