Tagged: The Mearablog
The Mearablog – Mixtape: Rome Clientel – The Empire 2: The Battlegrounds EP
Recently we’ve been anticipating the release of Rome Clientel’s, The Empire 2: The Battlegrounds EP.
So far we’ve covered two singles leading up the release of the project, “Free” & “One Life to Live”. The Elmira, NY emcee kept the same feel all of the way through. The Empire 2 represents the metaphorical battle that emcees have to take part in when they’re coming up in the game.
Rome spends a lot of time speaking on the idea of confrontation and its consequences, many of which can be felt by the common person.
Rome goes for a handful of different sounds on The Empire 2, “One Life to Live” and “Troubled Child” have more of a smooth, soulful sound, while “The Glass House” and “Free” are more confrontational. While juggling these different sounds, he still manages to stay true to his own.
Nonetheless, every track on the project sparks thought on issues like overcoming struggle and fighting to find your place in the world. Things that everyone can find a way to relate to.
Features on The Empire 2 include Rav.P, Alias, Devon Wright, and REKS. Production contributions come from ATG, Kount Fif (of the Swashbucklers), Chaundon, and more.
Videos to go with the project are expected to come sometime in the near future, so keep your eyes open.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Watch: 7th Floor Villains – “ELITE”
Our recent post of Black Zheep DZ’s single “Platnum” feat. Soduh got a lot of traffic and was very well received. It’s only right that we put you on to a recent single that was dropped by 4 out of 6 of the emcees that call themselves the “7th Floor Villains.”
“ELITE” features OG Dutch Master, Black Zheep DZ, Butch Dawson, and BuffaLo, who are all members of 7th Floor Villians, a collective of emcees based out of Baltimore. One reason this group is dope because they’re gritty. They know it, you know it, and they know that you know it, but they keep reminding you anyway.
This track is also dope because it was done in the style of a cypher and was used for LL7FV to show how they have what it takes to be a part of the game. Everyone featured on the track did their thing and properly handed the mic off to the next emcee. This track showed that they are, in fact, elite.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Listen: True 2 Life – “Hot Baby”
I don’t know about you, but it’s been a while since I’ve heard something new a legitimate hip hop group. Just for the record, a bunch of established solo artists deciding to do a couple of songs together doesn’t make them a group.
It was kind of refreshing to hear “Hot Baby”, the latest single from the Brooklynites, True 2 Life Music. The track includes a sample from “Sitting In The Park” by Billy Stewart.
True 2 Life Music consists of Brooklynites K-Words, Concise, and Slangston Hughes. Each of these emcees held their own on “Hot Baby” and no one stole attention away from the rest of the group. That’s one of the aspects of being a hip hop group that a lot of people seem to forget about.
–Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Watch: Hollywood Adom – “Figure Me Out”
The last thing Hollywood Adom does in the video to “Figure Me Out” is laugh and say “Had to bring it back, man.” That’s exactly what he did. Right off the bat I recognized the sample, A Tribe Called Quest – “Electric Relaxation”, which you can definitely tell inspired parts of Hollywood’s video.
Many artists sample classic beats, but that can easily go wrong by sampling a classic beat/instrumental and underperforming, that wasn’t a problem here. This track seemedATCQ-ish enough to do the beat justice but Hollywood’s flow definitely stood apart from Q-Tip and Phife Dawg.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Watch: Lolah Brown feat. Jerrreau – “Maybe”
Below you’ll find Lolah Brown’s video to “Maybe”, a single off of her latest album,Black Lily, featuring Jerreau of Fly Union.
Brown has worked with the TGTC camp in the past with her upbeat single, “Here I Am“, produced by Mnkey Wrench of Fly Union. The Lolah Brown–TGTC connection seems to be very prosperous for both sides, let’s hope that there’s more to come.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Listen: SDotBraddy – “City Drive” and “Can’t Love Em, Can’t Trust Em”
SDotBraddy lets his music speak for itself, which is understandable when you take a chance to listen. The Miami, FL emcee takes a real in depth look at his life and uses his experiences to create a vivid picture over jazz-inspired beats.
SDotBraddy’s lyrics in “City Drive” give a short summary of his life so far. He speaks about when he caught his father cheating, how he was a misunderstood teenager with an interest in skateboarding, and observing his friend’s relationships.
“Can’t Love Em, Can’t Trust Em” goes right along with that “we don’t love these….” stages that people can often fall into. If you’re going through one, or ever have, this track should be real relatable.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Listen: Adam Reverie – “Well Do Dat”
A native to Detroit, MI, Adam Reverie released, “Well Do Dat”, a single off of the upcoming project, Michigan Autumns: Ballad Of Adam Reverie, which is due for release this November.
Reverie uses “Well Do Dat” to speak on his frustrations of being let down by those in the industry that constantly sell dreams and promises. Instead of waiting for everyone to come through on what they say they can do, Reverie responds by saying “well… do dat.”
This track was produced by Detroit’s based producer Wyle Hunnit’s.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Mixtape: Chuuwee – Wild Style
After 5 years of work and the release of a handful of singles, either on purpose or through leaks, Chuuwee’s anticipated mix tape Wild Style was released this morning.
The 20-track project follows with the theme of previously released tracks like “40oz and 40 Sacs/Beastie Boy“, “Pissin Me Off” and “Float On” to stand as a tribute to 90’s hip hop.
Sometimes Chuuwee can be hit or miss with me but Wild Style hits, and it hits hard. The fact that a lot of those who grew up with 90’s hip hop are taking over the target audience of the industry, myself included, will help this project do well.
You can download Wild Style here.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
The Mearablog – Watch: A.V. Rockwell – “Open City: TREY (Interlude)”
You may remember us doing a post on “Open City: Heist” by A.V. Rockwell a couple of months ago. From what you can see above, the official artwork for the“Open City” project was released today.
“Open City” will serve as a sort of visual mix tape that aims to tell a few of the eight million stories that can be told about life in New York City. Everything on the project is scored or inspired by popular music.
To help get an idea of what to expect from the project, check out “Open City TREY: (INTERLUDE)” below.
This portrait was scored by Dominic Lord’s “Old English.”
The Mearablog –– Listen: Chuuwee – “Float”
I originally wasn’t going to post this track and just wait to review Wild Style, as a whole, when it drops in a few days, Oct. 9th. I played it for a while and realized that I had no choice.
“Float” is another track off of Chuuwee’s upcoming mix tape, WIld Style, that someone apparently leaked after getting a hold of the preview. Chuuwee just decided to go ahead and tweet the link to the video anyway.
– Keith Reid-Cleveland
(@kreid_c)
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