Recent posts: Interviews

As I begin crafting my “Best of 2015” music lists, I think of all music that made me stop and take notice. What caught my ears’ attention and never let go? One such stand-out album este año was Mexican artist Natalia Lafourcade’s ‘Hasta La Raiz’. When I heard the title track, I knew the record was special. The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences agreed, showering Natalia at the end of November with four Latin Grammys including ‘Record Of The Year’ and ‘Song Of The Year’. She’s also received mainstream Grammy recognition with a nomination for a “Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album” Grammy this week!

A Tribe Called Quest needs no introduction. Anyone listening to rap during the cherished 90’s era STILL knows all the choruses and verses by heart. Jumping on each other’s tracks within the Native Tongues collective blew our minds. When “Sometimes Y” member Chef Jarobi White ventured to the West Coast for his Eats, Rhymes and Life events with his culinary company during Labor Day Weekend(where fellow ATCQ member Ali Shaheed Muhammad provided music poolside), I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask the in-depth questions Tribe heads have always wanted to ask.

Blessed to live in a city that provides great live music choices all the time, it takes something special to move a crowd and pack a venue to sweaty capacity hours in advance. Red Bull Sound Select’s latest monthly showcase which featured Jurassic 5’s Cut Chemist (who just recently wrapped a European tour) and Basecamp provided such an opportunity. Held in the legendary Del Monte Speakeasy steps away from Venice Beach, LA repped full force.

Almost everyone would agree it’s never a bad thing when artists you admire, connect, their worlds intertwine and dope collabos happen. Each brings out the best in each other and it’s a win-win for all involved. Any knowledgeable West Coast hip-hop fan knows about The Low End Theory events and artist/producer Free The Robots’ left-of-center electro psychedelic jazz hop contributions within this scene. When I heard about his recent project with Souls of Mischief’s Opio ‘Sempervirens’ and viewed their set at this year’s Hiero Day, I knew it’d be a must-listen.

For anyone who’s followed California duo Moonshine Bandits’ careers, several things come to mind. Living comfortably in the country/hip-hop intersection, these dudes rep for the backwoods boys who work hard, play hard and enjoy their liquor even harder. Road warriors for years, they’ve built a large Shiner nation fanbase that continue inspiring music for the pair. Touring to support their latest effort ‘Blacked Out’ which debuted high on iTunes and Billboard charts, they joined forces with renowned producer Ira Dean and brought collaborators like Demun Jones, Colt Ford, Sarah Ross, Bubba Sparxx in tow this time around.

In a sea of groups who achieve success and flame out, hitting the milestone of 15 years together in any genre is rare. Achieving this accomplishment while releasing their fifth album ‘El Mismo’, Latin Grammy winning and Grammy nominated trio (consisting of husband and wife team Tostao and Goyo along with Slow Mike) Chocquibtown shows no signs of slowing down el “ritmo violento”. Teaming up with acclaimed producer Andrés Castro (who’s worked with Prince Royce, Carlos Vives and Thalia) for their latest effort, their multi-genre mezcla reflecting their beloved culturally blended Colombia, shines through like “oro”.

As July draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on a great music festing year thus far. Blessed to travel into the mountains, desert, city and country for the love of live music, there’s nothing like it. Putting my list of fav fests together in my head, The Art of Cool (AOC) Fest in Durham, NC automatically gets a spot. Even while experiencing opposite spectrums of weather during the weekend, I enjoyed every minute. Checking out Anthony Hamilton’s latest video with Teedra Moses released this week, I fondly remembered my group chat with Grammy Award-winning AOC headliner Anthony earlier this year who graciously chatted with us, press folk, in the pouring rain (when I say pouring rain, I mean POURING RAIN). Warm, down-to-earth and talented for days, our talk cemented my genuine fandom.

For any experimental soul music lover, these two past weeks have felt like Christmas in the summertime. Among the incredible releases dropping, Bilal’s ‘In Another Life’ puts an exclamation point on a broad, bold discography and provides the perfect holiday traveling soundtrack. I stopped by Red Bull’s monthly Sound Select show last week which drew enthusiastic soul and hip-hop fans to The Echo for $3 (can never beat that) for a dope line-up featuring Bilal, which drew the likes of Queen Latifah and Adrian Younge, the album producer joining him onstage, offering a rare live experience, bringing the new album to another level. The night mixed the right amount of chill and hype.