On the eve of my 31st trip around the sun, I sit here and gaze out into the smog-filled sky of Cincinnati. I’ve come a long way from days of wondering how I’d get into the “industry” but now I realize a good portion of this is smoke and mirrors. The attitudes, beliefs, commitments, and investments all seem to be quite frivolous. But hey, I’m here for the music and thats what keeps us coming back for more.
Nkosi Bourne – Final Form
Nkosi is back on our pages and it’s not for some sort of fluke. This man provides some of the best fundamentally sound rap that the world has to offer. And this also is on top of the stop-motion style video for “Final Form”, a cinematic, nearly one minute and twenty seconds of life. From enjoying a solid sandwich to delivering the gospel in the park, Bourne was born to shine in this realm. The soulful sample filtered behind his reckoning tonal prowess is something special, to say the least. Get hip to the wave above.
Tunda – Tundra’s World
Tundra has been on our radar for a bit, but with his newest project Tundra’s World, we are shown another side of his artistry. In just seven cuts we are taken through a showcase of diverse stylings and sides of storytelling. This project is filled with skits and all sorts of creative quirks, but the music stays at the forefront. Cuts like “C8”, “Smoove” featuring NCognita, and “Juice” all catch my ear through the first listen. Though not one cut lags behind the other, this project is worth the time, get hip.
Sundiata – Cardinal Sin
Sundiata just makes great music and that’s the short end of it. It makes you feel young and the passion it provides allows a deeper look into your memory ducts. “Cardinal Sin” is just a warm, yet brutal look at the world. The rough, yet stellar guitar rifts paint an already ominous feel, but Sundiata creeps along with vocal precision. Usually a bit out of left field for my taste, but this one sticks.
Mother Wata & WADE08 – Song Cry
This reminds me of that west coast bounce from a few years back but incorporated with a modern flair. Mother Wata and WADE08 link up for a magnificent bop called “Song Cry” but this one doesn’t bleed a sad emotion. Instead, it gives off energy and a freeing sense of not worrying about the outcome. Yeah, you might have to let some relationships go because of the nonsense that occurs, but at the end of the day, you’ll be better off. That’s what this song feels like.
Joey Aich – Brown Liquor
Joey has been a name in Columbus for a while and he’s back with his video for “Brown Liquor”. This man is a purist when it comes to the game of rap, but his skillset backs that up the buzz. With direction from Jeffery Grant Jr., these simple, yet clean edits allow Aich to deliver his sermon to the congregation. Joey can rap, but we’ve known this for a while now, keep going, bro.
Pastel Blank – Shareholder
Pastel Blank makes their first appearance on our pages with “Shareholder” a lively, vivacious cut to enjoy. The technicolor notes melting around in the night sky are something special. The vocal approach reminds me of yesteryear, but still enthuses me enough with a twist from the future. Pastel Blank is anything but that, blank. The colorful transfusion of sounds is a treat for your ears to devour.
