Come and join us as I chop it up wit the king of Nerdcore cybernetic storytelling, Alpha Riff. We delve into the new album, his rap origins, and shout-outs, of course…which somehow lead to a mini-rant! Enjoy the interview and go and cop Alpha Riff’s new album, Mors Aeterna, at alphariff.bandcamp.com
Music heard during the interview: (in order played)
Between the Buried and Me will be performing their most recent album, Coma Ecliptic, in its entirety on this tour. This will be the first time the album will be performed live in full.
The tour will stop at your favorite venue on September 29th. Tickets will are now on sale, beginning today at 10:00 am local time online or through local venue ticket outlets. See below for all dates!
Between the Buried and Me tour dates
May 22 – Columbus, OH – Rock on the Range
Between the Buried and Me tour dates
w/ Devin Townsend Project, Fallujah
Sept. 9 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
Sept. 10 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm **
Sept. 11 – Orlando, FL – The Plaza
Sept. 12 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
Sept. 13 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Sept. 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre Of Living Arts
Sept. 16 – New York, NY – Playstation Theater
Sept. 17 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Sept. 18 – Montreal, QC – Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre
Life is a constant whirlwind of events that control our most intimate surroundings. The strange part about it is, we don’t have much individual control over the things that shape our personalities.
It’s a rare occasion when we, as human beings, are so focused we can literally see the finish line at the end of the tunnel.
Australian singer Emmaline has found a way to maintain that focus.
Born in Australia, the singer came to America to further her career. While in Atlanta, she came to a crossroads of sorts. It was time to choose a path. Despite the roadblocks and shady industry people posing as friends, she kept pushing.
After you hear her music, you too, will be glad that she did! Emmaline is hoping that her audience will be so glad, that they will push her right over the top!
Emmaline
How long have you been singing?
Mannnnn! I was singing as a toddler. At the time, I was just feeling it out and mimicking what I heard. I’ve been really singing and pursuing this full time for about 5 or 6 years. I’ve always sang, written, and done gigs. I never took it seriously until my dad passed. So…yeah 6 years as a solo artist.
Sorry about your Dad, Em. So, your Dad was a huge influence on you becoming serious about your craft I assume? Did he sing too?
He was a big influence on me. He really introduced me to his passion of music, which in turn showed me how wonderful it is. He could sing, but he never pursued it. He showed me the importance of music and introduced me to so much diversity! I guess I just grew up thinking everyone was like that.
It sounds like you were a daddy’s girl.
I really wasn’t (laughing), my sister was. When it came to music, right up until he passed, I looked up to him. He knew so much!
Do you play any instruments?
Haha. No, I do not. I tinker on a piano and make a fool of myself on the guitar from time to time, but no.
Do you pretend to play while the REAL Joan Jett is behind the curtains?
No! I never play in public, hell no. I leave it up to the professionals! I just use both from time to time, if I’m struggling with where to go melodically on a song I’m writing.
Speaking of melodies, does the beat play a role in your songwriting process? Or, do you write without music?
A bit of both. I can be laying in bed, or in the shower, and get a melody out of nowhere. I can be just messing around singing to my friend’s dog and catch a melody. I guess I mostly get them from beats. I find melodies in the strangest places, now that i think of it.
See, I’m making you think (laughing)! You’re probably listening to the rhythm of the keys typing to come up with a melody. You could be the pop version of Twista.
Wouldn’t that be something!
Right! Let’s switch gears for a bit and talk about your home for a bit. What is Australia like, other than Winter is in July and the toilets flush in reverse?
Australia is like a big, huge country town compared to America. It’s just a slightly slower pace compared to here. It’s super cool, don’t get me wrong. We have our big cities, but it’s nothing when compared to America. We have space, mate…so much space. Our population is small. Traffic is nothing compared to America. I remember driving on the 75 in Atlanta for the first time like ohhhh OK this is traffic! It was so stressful. I mean, we also drive on the other side of the road and on the other side of the car. Can you imagine the mind tricks in play for me? I constantly have to be focused on where I am, all the way down to which car door to get into! Even crossing the street is a battle when your overseas.
I’ve always wanted to visit Sydney though! Are you more of a country girl or a city girl?
I think everyone sees me as a city girl, and I am, but I grew up out in the country. So for me, im definitely all city, but I love to just be out in the quiet to unwind. I love animals, all animals, so I love to be out where there are bunches of them and no city noise. I don’t think I could ever handle it for long periods of time.
You definitely seem comfortable navigating the city in your new video, “The Path”.
Yeah, Edgewood Avenue is one of my favorite places in Atlanta. There is so much historic significance. Martin Luther King’s house is right there, as well as all of the old clubs from back in the day. It’s so cool
The Path is one of those songs that make you reflect on yourself and think, “Do I actually have a focus on my own path in life?” It kind of seems like you’re at a crossroads in your life. As if you’re questioning yourself while weighing your options.
I think I was when I wrote it. I question myself at all times. I know where I want to be now, but at the time i was really confused. I had way too many decisions to make that had no obvious solutions. It was a truly awful time for me, and the song doesnt resolve itself either. I think even that in itself says how all over the place I was at the time. I had no real idea of what the hell it was that i was doing. It was scary, because I didnt want to get out of bed. I don’t suffer from depression, but I really just didnt know how to deal with alot of things
So what made you gather yourself and focus on the path ahead?
I was on a path that didnt work out, so I couldnt see the new one, let’s put it that way. However, I’m a fighter! I might get beat down from time to time, but I will get up! I dont give up. I want more from myself than that! I owe myself more.
Against odds you continue to push yourself no matter what. A lot of people give up instead of changing strategies. A lot of artists could learn from you Em!
It’s either that or I’m just crazy, Al! Theres that view too lol! I just love music so much! Even when it had me homeless, I didnt give up. Why should I now? I just dont want to do anything else. Nothing else matters to me like this does. I didn’t learn to sing, I just could. I didn’t learn to put melodies together, I just did. It comes from a place that I didn’t choose, so I have to do right by it. God gives us all a gift to pursue. This is mine. Music never gets boring. I am constantly learning! It’s always changing and I can’t think of anything more exciting than that!
I love your passion! Tell me about the people behind your music. What role do they play in shaping your sound?
I work with a lot of people but I have a few core producers that I would call part of the team/family. Its a collective thing. We talk about where I’m trying to go with my sound. I love working with Gee Streets, Team Strong, and the Democratz mostly. They really get the movement. I also work with this amazing producer named Ism too. His music is so thematic, like movie sounding music. His stuff gives you pictures in your mind. There’s also this guy in Canada too, Ty Butler. It’s always a group-effort to shape my sound. The trick is to always stay true to yourself while trying out different styles of beats. You have to keep your originality. I wrote to a trap beat, and still sang like me on it. Somehow, the song really works! I think shaping your sound is the most important thing, and not every producer gets that…or what you’re trying to do.
Sounds like you’re just as much of a producer as your producers!
Yeah, lol. I guess I am.
So, after The Path EP, what can we expect next from the great Emmaline?
The album is next. I need to get out there and tour! I’m just really getting back into doing gigs, since I’ve got that bug back. I want to concentrate on putting a band together and getting out on the road! I want to do more features and concentrate on a larger body of work.
I’m sure you are going to make a lot of noise, Em! You have a fan here. Thank You so much for this interview and your time!
You’re welcome! Much love and thanks for your time too!
What is the first thing we think of when we hear that word?
Many of us see the stereotypical image of a skinny kid with oversized glasses, a LOTR (Lord of the Rings, sheesh…norms!) pocket protector clipped onto a sweater vest, and a Star Wars Edition X-Box One controller hanging out of the side pocket of his cargo pants.
What if I told you that, at some point in the last 20 years or so, that nerds evolved? In fact, nerds not only evolved, but society finally realized that being a nerd was about more than fandoms and quirky kids with eccentric habits. Being a nerd was also about having your own unique identity and interests.
It also helped that those same nerds revolutionized the technology that began to define our world. Now, just like the Borg from Star Trek, which is often considered a “nerd show”, we began to assimilate the citizens of Earth!
In that case, Nerdcore artists, Ish1da and The Epitome are residents of The Cube.
Hailing from Kansas City, MO, the rappers are both hardcore anime fans. Don’t let that fool you though. Ish1da spits some serious lyrics and gets gangsta on Ojii-Sama. He even shouts out deceased Kansas City rapper Fat Tone:
“I’m a tell you like Fat Tone told me/
Everything around me, ruled by Ojii”
This song destroys the image of Nerdcore as a lightweight & outdated sub-genre. Nerdcore is obviously here to stay, and it’s also obvious that it’s “lit”.
You guys have heard about my streak of finding “feel good” music right?
No?! Well, I have a story to tell…like to hear it, here it goes!
I’m just kidding (sort of…)!
Don’t worry, I’m not going to send all of my positive vibes your way. However, I am going to tell you about an artist I found named Space.
I’m also going to tell you why his new song, “Alright“, is going on my “Dr. F. Good” list.
First things first, Space is from the 509. For those of you who don’t know, that’s Eastern Washington State to be exact. His influences read like a “real hip-hop” playlist: Jay-Z, Common, Nas, Eminem, B.I.G., and the Wu-Tang Clan.
In other words, #lyricsmatter to Space.
Alright is the first single from Space’s upcoming album, “The Manhattan Project”.
We used to have an “official” category for songs like “Alright”. It was called the “Get-the-party-started” category. This includes songs like, Johnny Kemp’s “Just Got Paid” and more recently, Usher’s “I Don’t Mind”.
Space knows this also:
“I know where the party at, let’s ride/
I live like a fool long nights, fast living but it’s cool if you at my side/
You don’t need to trip ’cause you ain’t gotta worry ’bout shit”
I have a feeling that everything’s going to be alright.
This is the Reasn that my faith in music hasn’t wavered. In this age of blatant piracy, monotony, and unfiltered bantha fodder, it’s refreshing to hear music that has meaning and depth.
It’s even more fulfilling when the Colombia, MO artist behind that music is starving. Yet, he craves to feed the hungry audience even more than himself.
This is no small audience, either. Trust me, this dude is going to fill arenas one day. His music is an unreal fusion of blues, rock, hip-hop and soul that is magically translated by a voice from another era.
As I listen to his song, “Blue Flame” on my PC, I think about how unfair it is for music with such depth to be converted into the zeroes and ones that represent the binary code of my computer.
Then again, if Reasn’s music sounds this good in digital form, there is no need for the red pill anymore.
The Matrix has a new savior, and his name is…
Reasn
Hey, what’s going on bro? How are you doing?
Reasn: Hey what’s up man. I’m in the studio right now, trying to do some work. I’m happy we got the chance to do this, I appreciate the love, bro.
Oh man it’s no doubt bro. I have to tell you, I was sleep on your music. I’m not gonna lie. When I first saw your press release, I was thinking, “OK, he has the image of one of today’s artists”. So, understand, my mind was prepared to hear a sound similar to today’s music. I listened to your song, “Blue Flame” first. When I heard your voice I sat up and was like, “Whoa!”. No lie dude, your voice took me back to a better time, which is a good thing.
That’s what I’m trying to do bro! Take it back to the old way, when music & lyrics meant something.
All of your music sounds that way and your lyrics are very powerful. You know for some reason, when I first heard your voice hit those high-pitch notes like the old-school singers, and your name is Reasn, the first thing I thought about was Earth, Wind, and Fire’s song Reason.
(laughing) I used to come out on stage to that song.They’d play that song before I came on the stage and then I came out.
Really?
Yeah, so it’s funny you would say that.
Seems like you have a lot of soul in you! You know one complaint I hear from my readers, they complain about the monotony and the lack of unique identities in today’s music. When I listen to your voice, it makes me wish I had more plugs in the industry, so I could be your publicist and get you out there! Then I see your videos and I’m thinking, “No way this guy only has 84,000 views!”. Seems like there should be way more.
You know man, I used to think about that type of stuff. When you’re trying to do something new, it takes awhile…but when it hits, it hits. So when it hits, I think it’s going to be all worth the wait.
I’m sure it will be! I wanted to ask you, your song “Killer”, it’s attached to your “70 West” EP right?
Yeah.
So, if I remember correctly, and I remember driving through Missouri, I-70 West, that’s toward Kansas City right?
Correct. That’s the truth. I spent a lot of time going up and down I-70, but then I flew west. That’s when things started happening for me, on a bigger scale. That’s why I named it “70 West”.
Everything seems to be “Out West”. I’m also from the Midwest, in Chicagoland. It seems like everyone who pursues a career in entertainment goes west.
Yeah, it’s like being a big fish in a little pond. You gotta prove you’re legit. When I came out here I saw there were even more talented people than where I’m from. I’m alright out here though. I’m gonna be alright, you know?
I hear you. So who was your biggest influence? Who helped mold your sound?
My Mom. I listened to her sing my whole life growing up. Even when I didn’t want to sing, she was the choir director so she made me do that. I listened to a lot of older singers and I always tried to listen to diverse stuff. I liked Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, people like that. Also, not listening to the radio a lot. That helped shape me into being my own person.
Your Mom sings too?
Oh man! Yeah, she goes. Whenever I come back to town, no matter what I do, I’m still second to her. I could get a Grammy and I’m still her son (laughing), but I’m OK with it. I see you’re from Gary, IN. I hear it’s pretty rough there.
Yeah, the old industrial belt. A lot of industrial jobs were lost here. When jobs go, you know what happens next.
I feel you man because, being from outside St. Louis. I see the same thing.
>Speaking of St. Louis, man, I’m trying to get to Sweetie Pie’s! That line on TV is just ridiculous though. Everybody wants that good cooking.
Right! Now, I’m trying to lift weights and get ready for this tour man. I’m eating all of this salad and stuff but, you know, I sneak over there every once in a while.
Man, you’re gonna have a problem with all of those lady fans who are gonna want to take Reasn home to cook for him.
You’re right man!
You’re going to have to let them know up front that you’re trying to maintain your weight!
(laughing) Yeah…everybody’s already shared that with me.
Speaking of women, let’s go back to your song, “Killer”. When I first heard that song I was taken back to my 20’s, the age of naive youth. There were so many women out there like the woman you’re talking about on this song. This song sounds personal. Is this based on a personal experience?
I can tell you one thing, and I hope it stays true for my whole career. Everything I say, has either happened to me, or I’ve seen. Yes, that is a person I was seeing. This happened when I first came to L.A.. I came out here with a group-sorta thing. I was 19 and went to my first big mansion-type of party. It all just went bad from there. She sold me on the lights. She was a Laker Girl but, she wasn’t talking about sh** obviously.
Seems like we’ve all been through that!You area fan of all music. What do you think about the industry today and how fans respond to your music?
Well, two things. There is a new wave coming. I’m seeing people like Jack Garrett and Anderson Paak…there are people trying new things. That’s the hardest thing about the industry today. You have to understand that it’s ok not to be a robot. Like, I shot a video with these little kids, and I dressed different. The kids are asking me, “Why don’t you have Jordans on?” I answered them by telling them because I’m not a robot, and I do what I feel. That blew their mind. In a wrap-around type of way, that’s how the industry is. Everybody has to sound like Drake. Everybody has to sound like Lil’ Wayne. It didn’t use to be like that. Everybody tried to find them and make it their own. That’s what I think left the industry.
Seems like we have a lot of clones and drones in the industry these days. It seems like it’s a lot more sheep than wolves.
That’s true. You know, I’m just a ‘lil different. It’s hard for me to adapt to L.A. a little bit , because of all the talk and not as much action. It makes sense where the industry is because Hollywood is the place where everyone wants to be. The way everybody tries to fit in by saying they were at the big party and everything, it makes sense. It all comes together if you think about it why music sounds the way it does, if that makes sense.
I know exactly what you mean. One thing I love about AltWire is, we don’t charge for reviews or to publicize independent music. A lot of blogs charge. As a journalist, I live to discover new things before every one else, to be the first to let the world hear your music.
I’m glad that people are still taking the time to do that. That shows that you really love music and we need that these days. It sounds like you love music more than views, which is hard to find these days.
Thank You! To me, views are OK but, gaining new fans is the most important thing. I’d take five real fans over a thousand views any day.
I argue with my friend about this all the time. He’s like an internet guru. He does music, but he doesn’t really care about it. He’s always telling me, “Look at my views, I got 500,000 views.”. I always tell him that even with those views, you’re not touching anyone. I’m not even sure if any of those people will go to his show.
I think it’s unfair that the first question a major investor will ask you is, “How many views do you have?”
Right! These people who wanted to work with me, this happened a couple of times, first thing they ask me, kind of shuts me down a little bit. I would hope that the first question would be similar to the first question you asked me. Something like, “What is your influence”.
I know your DM’s have to be crazy! Do you personally answer the people who want to know more about your music?
At first, I went through an “I’m not answering anybody” stage. Then I went through a stage where I’m trying to answer everybody. The people that you think are normal turn crazy real quick. Some people will ask you questions about your music and you’ll answer, and everything seems cool. Then the next day the same person is in your inbox asking why you aren’t answering them! I’m like, “Wait a second, I thought we were just talking about music!” It gets kind of crazy. Me, personally, I’m a face-to-face person. If I could speak to anyone face-to-face, it would be a dream. However, I’m trying to find a middle ground and respond to a certain amount of people per day.
I’m not going to hold you up to much longer because I know you’re ready to get back to work in the studio but, how does your summer schedule look? Are you going on tour with anyone?
Yeah, I’m doing this tour with B.O.B through 48 cities. I’m blessed to have any opportunity. I’m trying to branch into a more alternative crowd, but it’s easier to get onto urban tours when you’re still “coming up”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m blessed to be doing anything but, when you go to an urban setting, you have to prove yourself before they start rockin’ with you. The alternative crowd is ready to rock with you from day one.
Well, you have a fan here and I am going to try to bring you even more fans. When you make it huge and start doing shows in Dubai, don’t forget my free tickets! (laughing)
Oh no man, I never forget the real ones! I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. It was great talking to you bro.
Reasn will be on tour with B.o.B starting April 27th in Omaha Nebraska and ends June 24th in St Petersburg, FL. Click the flyer for dates & more info.
When you listen to Lou Anthony’s music, you can hear “The Struggle”.
Yes, The Struggle is a proper noun.
The Struggle consists of people, places, and things. This demographic is often ignored when we speak of urban America. Sure, urban music glorifies the foreign cars, exotic women, and piles of money that seem to be the sole dream of young urban dwellers.
The Struggle contains the untold stories of the people who died trying to reach that pipe dream. It also contains the stories of the survivors. The survivors who escaped, moved on to better blue-collar jobs, or in rare instances, actually achieved phenomenal wealth.
Lou Anthony is a product of this struggle. As you read his words below, you will understand his drive to achieve better. You will get a glimpse into the mind of an artist, whose family and community is a big part of his motivation to build an empire. The other half? Well, as Lou says, to paraphrase 50 Cent…
“Get rich or die trying.”
Lou Anthony
Lou Anthony what’s good! You’re from Philly and you are following some really iconic rappers: Freeway, Beanie Siegel, and Gillie Da Kid, and most recently, Meek Mill. How do you step out from the shadows of these rappers to becoming the dope, new emerging artist…the next big thing from Philly?
I grew up in the era of Beans, Freeway, the whole Roc-a-Fella movement so if you were from Philly, that’s just what the hip-hop scene there was about. You respected the Roc-a-Fella/State Property clique because they were from where you were from. They made it and now they’re putting on for your city. Then guys like Gillie, Cassidy, and Reed Dollaz started a newer millennium in the way that I saw Philly rap. Those are the guys that drove me to wanna make music. At first, being a 4th grader, I soaked up everything I heard from them – violence, gunplay, sex – and I wrote about that. As I got older, I realized that I couldn’t rap about those things anymore because I wasn’t doing those things. So today, I step out of their shadows by being me. Rapping the way I wanna rap, about the things I wanna rap about, singing melodies, etc. I’m from Philly and I respect my pioneers but I get inspiration from lots of other artists from all different backgrounds and genres and I think that’s the key to being a great musician/artist. Then, they can’t classify you as just a rapper because you’re much more than just that.
You are an actual lyricist in an age where it seems like lyricism isn’t important in hip-hop. I can almost don’t need my crystal ball to tell me you came from humble beginnings. I can tell by listening to your music and recognizing the accent of poverty. Was it your surroundings that made you start rapping? How much of an influence did your environment have on your music?
I definitely would say it was my surroundings. I grew up in a house dominated by women. My mom, grandma and aunties, with my sister and girl cousins. So as a young kid, all I knew was Gospel and Shirley Caesar. Then, as my older brother started to be home more, I got into his rap collection. I heard Nas, 50, Jay, Pac, etc, and I never turned back. Junior High only put the nail in the coffin. Everybody was tuned into the Reed Dollaz & Meek Mill beef. We all used to go to computer class and completely disregard assignments to watch them two guys spit diss freestyle videos on YouTube. All the attention they were getting from my peers inspired me, because I felt like I could put a few words together too and get the same kind of love. However, as I got older, my environment inspired my music in another way. Philly was the murder capital of the country for a while, man, and all the violence and murdering that was happening just wasn’t OK. I saw families get torn apart damn near everyday. Something clicked in my head as to tell me, “Stop promoting this! It’s too much of it going on already, rap about something else.” So, I don’t rap about murder and guns and stuff like that anymore. Sometimes I do have to remind people with my lyrics that ain’t nothing sweet about me. I may drop a couple tracks, or even a whole album for the ladies… or even of me, “in my feelings”, but I still handle mine. I don’t say that to promote violence, but sadly people look at you as a punk when your music is different from everybody else’s.
What is your motivation in the present day? What drives you to keep pushing?
I wanna be rich. My family…we struggled for too long. I saw my mom cry too many times. We went too many days without true meals, you feel me? We deserve this. I GOTTA make it. I’m so far along that I only have two options: Get rich or die trying, like 50 said. A normal life, a Nine to Five, is out the question for me now.
Let’s talk politics for a second. Alot of younger people aren’t involved but, you made it clear on “Do What I Want” that you don’t like Donald Trump. Do you support anyone in this Presidential election? If so, who?
I love Bernie. Bernie is the man. I’m in love with his spirit, his character, and his plan to do something about these college loans, man! I do like Hilary too, but Bernie is the top guy. Regardless of what anybody say, Obama is the G.O.A.T.. It was gonna take more than 8 years to fix what Bush did to us and people give my guy Barack a hard time for that.
What is your main goal as an artist?
My main goal is to speak to my people. I wanna show the kids that dreams come true, that there ARE educated and sensible artists in hip-hop. I wanna be like Pac. I wanna do for my people in the 21st century what Pac did for his people in the 20th century. Music is my platform to do that. Feel me?
Who is your favorite emcee out right now? Of all time?
My favorite artist right now is J. Cole. Phenomenal talent, phenomenal swag, he’s just him. He’s natural and he’s a real dude. That’s what him and my favorite artist of all time, 2Pac, have in common. They are real n*****. Kids think being a “real n***** means being violent, having no remorse, being down for whatever, or having all the ladies. Nah. To me, being a real n***** means you stay true to who you are, where you came from, and trying to bring others up with you. Also, taking care of your family and your business. That’s a real n*****. Cole and Pac are some real n*****. That’s why I love and respect them without limit.
Every artist I know has a studio kit. Whether it’s bottled water and a blunt or a 6 piece wing. What are your necessary items to take to the studio with you?
When I hit the studio up, bro, I need at least 2 blunts and a pizza menu, because the munchies are no joke. After that, I’m in my zone!
It seems like these days, more and more artists are bucking the record labels. Artists like T.I. and Kanye are opting for distribution only with companies like Tidal. How do you feel about this independent revolution?
I love the independent revolution. Labels take advantage of guys. When I was younger, I would have died for a record deal. Now, I wouldn’t go near a record label unless my lawyer gives me the go-ahead. Labels suck, man. It’s so many schemes they run to try and get over on people. That’s also when artists have to change their music styles and images, [to please the company]. So, this independent movement, I’m in love with it.
If you had to pick a song to be the soundtrack for Lou Anthony, what song would you choose?
It’s great that you ask that because the whole album, “Forever 20”, is the soundtrack of my life. That whole album is me. It’s where I come from, it’s who I loved, it’s what I learned, it’s ME. If I had to pick one song…I’d go with “Love Me For Me”. It’s the last song on the album and it illustrates my progression as a person and as an artist.
When is the next mixtape/album coming out?
I don’t know when the next project is coming out just yet. I’m always working on something, I’m always active. All my previous releases can be found on my website louanthony.webs.com. The fans who follow the site and my Twitter know I post updates as they come. I like to drop singles and freestyles every now and then to keep my supporters well-fed, until a new project emerges.
Royce 5’9″ (He will always be Royce da 5″9 to me!) is taking a short break from the supergroup Prhyme, which consists of himself and DJ Premier. The Detroit emcee, who famously said that fellow Slaughterhouse emcee Eminem couldn’t be beaten in a battle, is releasing a new solo mixtape, Tabernacle: Trust the Shooter. This is the first mixtape that Royce, who is known for his lyrical prowess, is releasing under his new imprint, Bad Half Entertainment. Tabernacle has features from: Styles P, Smoke DZA, Westside Gunn, and Kid Vishis. The impressive producer line-up includes: DJ Premier, Araab Muzik, S1, Mr. Porter, Jake One, Nottz, and Jahlil Beats.
You can download the entire Tabernacle mixtape by clicking here.
Royce’s upcoming album, Layers, will be released on April 15th. In the meanwhile, you can enjoy the first music video the Slaughterhouse emcee is releasing from Tabernacle, “Universe”, directed by Rik Cordero. Watch it below!
If your music is going to be filthy, you may as well be the king of it right?
King Filthy let’s us know that he is royalty when it comes to expressing the filthiness on his mind as soon as he begins the barfest on “10 Toes”:
“Well them hoes say I’m a lil crazy/
Well pop me a straitjacket, pop the tag and let’s get it baby/
Dirty Dancing call me Patrick Swayze/
Stephen King in this thing, pennywise…you a penny saver
Scrap Paper Films did an excellent job of making “10 Toes” appear to be an old-school horror flick. The first thing I thought of when I saw this video was Stephen King’s, “It”. The video is set at an abandoned carnival and even has a spooky clown in it! I probably should have said this before but…
NOTE: If you are afraid of clowns, DO NOT watch this video!
King Filthy