Hot Jam of the Day: Post Malone, “Too Young”

Posted on May 7, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Post Malone
“Too Young”
Digital Single

Though it’s easy to write Post Malone off as a flash in the pan thanks to his white boi cornrows and the viral success of debut single “White Iverson,” it’s getting more and more difficult to ignore his steadily growing catalogue of impressive singles. His fourth single, “Too Young,” continues along the same druggy, Soundcloud-friendly lines of his early work. The young Texan emotes over the spare keyboards and machine-gun hats of the in-form Atlanta production duo, Fki, and songwriting vets, The Mekanics. Regardless of where Malone goes from here, his delivery and passion are arresting, especially when he pushes his auto-tune-washed vocals into the upper register.

Images & Words: Kehlani, “You Should Be Here”

Posted on May 7, 2015 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Kehlani
“You Should Be Here”
You Should Be Here (out now)

While there’s a lot to love about the rising Oakland singer’s debut mixtape, Kehlani Parrish’s ability to simultaneously exude confidence and vulnerability sticks out the most. There’s real stakes to her music, but she refuses to let them overwhelm her. Her voice has the power and bombast of a Ariana Grande with the world weary, lived-in melancholic tinge of someone like Dawn Richard. Lyrically, she tells piercing, fractured loved stories that are heavyhearted and self-critical, while maintaining an eye toward a brighter future and undying belief in the self. Compositionally, her music is direct enough to be radio-friendly, but nuanced and versatile enough to blaze its own path. Basically, its a hell of an achievement for anyone, let alone a 20 year-old artist who is still getting started. I can’t wait to see where she goes from here.

Images & Words: Ciara, “Dance Like We’re Making Love”

Posted on May 1, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Ciara
“Dance Like We’re Making Love”
Jackie (out 05.04 on Epic)

The second single from CiCi’s long-awaited sixth LP does what it says on the tin. Joining a rich lineage of tracks about late-night, back-corner-of-the-club dry humping (see: “Love in this Club,” “Too Close,” every Jodeci song ever), “Dance Like We’re Making Love” is a surprisingly restrained slow-burner at the perfect BPM for drunkenly rubbing your jeans against someone else’s. The Atlanta native’s vocals are the star of the show, glacial and decisive, flowing to fill the ample negative space left by veteran producer Dr. Luke. Frankly, I’m not convinced this will hit like “Body Party” — as it seems intended to — but it’s a solid follow-up to the excellent, “I Bet,” and it certainly doesn’t make me any less excited to hear the rest of Jackie.

Hot Jam of the Day: Sasha Go Hard, “All I See”

Posted on April 30, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Sasha Go Hard
“All I See”
Nutty World 2 (self-released)

Sasha Go Hard is back, and she wants her shit. One of the best tapes of the year, Nutty World 2 finds the Chicago native in ruthless form, effortlessly ripping through a lean 13-song set. Though it’s been floating around unofficially for a while, “All I See” is a standout, featuring production from one of drill’s early architects, DJ Kenn. His nimble keyboards and rolling hi-hats offer a commanding canvas for Sasha to go in on. Happy to oblige, Sasha delivers a pair of electric verses and an undeniable chorus, reminding everyone what her name is and exactly what it means.

Hot Jam of the Day: K-Major, “I’m Single”

Posted on April 29, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

K-Major
“I’m Single”
Category V (self-released)

I haven’t written yet written about the Kendricke “K-Major” Brown’s phenomenal new LP, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been listening. The young vocalist is involved with Terius “The-Dream” Nash and Tricky Stewart, and his evocative, heartfelt R&B recalls some of Nash’s most restrained moments. There are plenty of standouts to choose from, but the swelling, sparse “I’m Single” is hitting a particular chord with me at the moment. Over undulating synth washes and a careful piano melody, the Cartersville, GA cries the tears of a Lothario, explaining the fear and lack of trust that keeps him from being real with somebody. It’s a disarming, deeply human admission from a fascinating young artist. Hopefully, Category V is just the beginning of his musical story.

Stream the whole album, here.

Hot Jams of the Day: Turnover, “Humming” // “New Scream”

Posted on April 28, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Turnover
“Humming” // “New Scream”
Peripheral Vision (out 05.04 on Run for Cover)

You can take the boi outta the burbz’, but you can’t take the suburban ennui outta the boi. The pre-release singles from the Virginia Beach outfit’s Sophomore LP has got me sipping on some seriously angsty nectar, and let me tell you, it is fucking delicious. These two singles continue where the taut alt-rock of “Cutting My Fingers Off” left off, framing Austin Getz’s warm vocals with angular guitars and shimmering melodies. What the group lacks in sonic uniqueness and virtuosity, they make up for in efficient, evocative songwriting. Each instrument serves a melody that will stick in your head, and each voice sharing a sentiment aimed for your heart.

Images & Words: The Square, “Lewisham McDeez”

Posted on April 26, 2015 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

The Square
“Lewisham McDeez”
Digital Single

Though the South London collective dropped this song late last year, the delirious crew cut finally gets a proper release and some Macky D’s-heavy visuals. Novelist may be the biggest name in the Square, but each of its members brings the goods here, lacing memorable verse after memorable verse over staccato hi-hats and an earworm bassline. No word on whether “Lewisham McDeez” will be a part of a follow-up to 2014’s mixtape, The Formula, but it’s yet another window into the group’s bright future.

Hot Jam of the Day: Wet, “Deadwater”

Posted on April 23, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Wet
“Deadwater”
Don’t You (out this summer on Columbia)

If you read me in 2013, you’ll know how taken I was with the Brooklyn trio’s disarming self-titled debut EP. So unsurprisingly, I am delighted by the news of their impending first LP and enchanted by its lead single. “Deadwater” begins as a brutal post-mortem for a relationship that collapsed on top of its participants, leaving vocalist Kelly Zutrau to dream of a world in which she had legs long enough to carry them out of an interminable rough patch.

Ultimately, it’s more than that, though. It’s about reminding oneself that there’s always a way out of the current-less “dead” water that a slowly metastasizing relationship can leave you trapped in. Her voice never falters when she says “there are better things for me,” and based upon where Wet look to be going, you can’t help but believe her.

Hot Jam of the Day: DJ Rashad, Nick Hook & Machinedrum, “Understand”

Posted on April 22, 2015 by TP1.COM in Featured, Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

DJ Rashad, Nick Hook & Machinedrum
“Understand”
Movin’ Forward (out 04.24 on TEKLIFE)

A few days before the one-year anniversary of footwork legend DJ Rashad’s tragic passing, Machinedrum (né Travis Stewart) releases this gorgeous collaboration with the late DJ and Nick Hook. In the press release, Stewart wrote about the difficulties of finishing the songs he had worked with Rashad on, explaining that they “seemed impossible to finish after he passed.” Fortunately for us, the North Carolina native was able to complete them, and they’ll be released on a tribute album for the great man next week. A year on, Rashad’s influence and legacy remains stronger than ever, highlighted by excellent work from rising artists like JLin, DJ Earl, and Machinedrum himself.

“Teklife to tha next life.” RIP Rashad.

Hot Jam of the Day: Samantha Urbani, “1 2 3 4”

Posted on April 14, 2015 by TP1.COM in Featured, Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Samantha Urbani
“1 2 3 4”
Digital Single

The first line of the Soundcloud blurb for the ex-Friends singer’s new single reads “written, arranged, performed & co-produced by Samantha Urbani.” Assumedly, this was meant to avoid the shadow of her boyfriend Dev Hynes, whose figure looms ubiquitously over nearly every act he produces (Carly Rae Jepsen, Solange, Sky Ferreira etc). While the 80s pastiche and funky bassline are decidedly Hynes-ian, “1 2 3 4” is punchier than many of Hynes’ moody, occasionally overcooked arrangements (see: Jepsen’s sleepy, “All That”), and it bangs in a way that only his best work does. Over a buoyant synths, Urbani channels peak Benatar and early Madonna, delivering sticky verses and a devastating chorus with the blasé confidence of a seasoned pop star. It’s the rare pop song that is light as a feather, yet hits like a (shit)ton of bricks. More like this, please.

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