Kendrick Lamar
Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale And The Big Steppers
The thing about Kendrick Lamar albums is that they become, in their own way, cultural touchstones. To Pimp a Butterfly immediately became regarded as one of the best albums, certainly rap albums, of all time. Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City became enough of a force in its own right to be recognisable by an acronym. Damn., …
Soundtracks of our lives: Athens based rapper Linqua Franqa picks us her most important records
Athens based linguist/rapper Mariah Parker, aka Linqua Franqa, has her debut album The Model Minority released today via HHBTM Records. As expected from someone with a masters degree in linguistics, the record covers a range of topics includingemotional instability, self-harm, depression and the like with skill, insight and a poetic sense of the real life. …
See: James Blake releases new track / video for ‘If The Car Beside You Moves Ahead’, plus European tour dates
Thing with having your own Radio 1 Residency is it’s the ideal place to premiere your own material, which is exactly what James Blake did last night. It’s another surprise following his atmospheric reworking of Don Mclean’s Vincent that he dropped on Christmas Eve. It’s introspective, blurring electronic soul, Blake’s vocal obscured and altered giving …
Feature: Best Hip-Hop Tracks of 2016
Last year for the first time we put together our favourite hip-hop tracks of 2015. With 2016 being an equally strong year for the genre, it only seemed right that we do another year end round-up. It seemed clear from the offset that we couldn’t possibly pick one favourite, so in no particular order, these are …
Feature: Top 20 albums of the year – Backseat Mafia staff pick
How do you judge what were the best albums of the year? Well, here at Backseat Mafia its a collaborative affair, where everyone that writes for us has as much of a say as everyone else (how did I let that happen?). Happily, in line with the widely and wildly varied nature of our ethos …
Feature: Top 20 Hip-Hop Tracks of 2015
2015 has been a great year for hip-hop music. With the so many legends returning to the game, it was inevitable this was going to be a strong list. But it’s not just the older players that make things up. New and emerging acts have also come along to put their own twist on things. …
Album review: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Writer: Carmen Efferson Compton’s native son delivers a sound riot revolution with a backbeat and a message to young black males the ghost of Mandela hope my flows they propel it let these words be your earth and moon you consume every message – Kendrick Lamar AND JUST LIKE THAT…in one massive broad stroke of …
See: Flying Lotus releases new video for Never Catch Me feat. Kendrick Lamar
It would be fair to say that Kendrick Lamar’s new single ‘i’ has been controversial, with many seeing it as Kendrick’s play for the radio. That the Kendrick featuring ‘Never Catch Me’, off of Flying Lotus’ new album ‘You’re Dead!’, came out just a week or so beforehand probably didn’t help matters. Whilst both tracks …