Off Top Episode 1: Smoke DZA [Video]

Cinematic Music Group has teamed up with vintage clothing connoisseur Top Shelf Premium to usher in a series highlighting the essence of hip-hop, lyricism. In “Off Top”, we grab some of today’s most promising artists, throw a beat on and let them flex. Filmed in full VHS, the aesthetic takes it back to the day most of us fell in love with just the music. For the first episode we introduce the KushedGod, Harlem’s own Smoke DZA hosted by Peter Rosenberg.”

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Klassik – Seasons [Album Stream]

The string of seasonally-themed EPs released since the top of the 2015 come full circle with the release of the SEASONS LP from Milwaukee’s Klassik. Much more than a repackaging of the EPs, SEASONS is the full realization and culmination of the themes set forth by its predecessors. Whereas each EP on the surface was a soundtrack meant to evoke the emotions of a particular season, this album uncovers the true underlying motif: the coming and going of people in our lives, and how that affects our own growth and understanding of human nature. The SEASONS LP pairs a few selections from the EPs with brand new, unreleased material, together painting a breadth of emotions and experiences that, although directly reflective of the artists’ own life, are a part of everyone’s story. Familiar themes of love and loss, acceptance, triumph and defeat, abound throughout the album, weaved together with the lush and musically-rich production that the multi-instrumentalist/songwriter has become known for. Crafted to be enjoyed equally played straight through, or by choosing your own musical adventure from any spot in the album, find your own story through the experiences shared here. “They say people in your life are seasons, and anything that happens is for a reason” – Kanye West

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Snowgoons & N.B.S. On Rap Is Outta Control [Video]

German producers Snowgoons joined us at Rap Is Outta Control recently to talk about their latest collaboration album, “Trapped In America”, with Boston hip hop duo N.B.S. Sicknature explained how he initially connected with N.B.S. over the Internet many years ago, even before meeting DJ Illegal. Illegal and Sicknature talked about the Snowgoons process on producing beats as a four-man team. All members produce their own beats, but they meet often to brainstorm ideas and share samples with each other. Collectively they have 1,000 unused beats archived. Purchase “Trapped In America” here.

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