It’s been quite some time since I posted any new Music on here, mostly because searching for music videos has become a pain in the ass in Germany (thanks GEMA!). However, I think it’s time to give you a heads up on some artists that I’ve been listening to the last couple months. Some definitely won’t be new to you since they have already been making waves for a while, but others might provide a great new listening experience for some. So let’s kick this Music Check edition off right away with no further talk.


Kendrick Lamar:

Kendrick Lamar - Poetic Justice (Explicit) ft. Drake from BooDiLAND on Vimeo.
Alright this one is a sureshot as Kendrick Lamar has gotten so much media attention since the release of his incredible “Good Kid m.a.a.d city” album that you must have lived under rock if you haven’t heard of this guy! I have really gotten into his music around a year ago when I had his mixtape “Section 80” on constant repeat and afterwards basically got my hands on all his previous releases. His music provides the perfect blend of classic old school hip hop and modern rap soundwaves which already makes for a strong combination. But it’s essentially his lyrics that take his music to another planet! He has lyrical depth without coming off as a corny backpacker, he tells extremely authentic stories and is able to provide different perspectives to his storytelling by alternating his voice and sound. As I have already mentioned a lot of this in a previous post, I won’t go into further detail but to urge you to get his album asap! The songs I picked out are a selection to show his versatility not only as a solo artist but also as a feature guest.


Rhye:

Rhye - Open from Rhye on Vimeo.
I really don’t know too much of this band, except for the fact that I heard their breakout song “Closer” a couple months ago and was blown away by the sound and the intimacy that it provided. I kept desperately checking for more songs without any success until they finally released a full album. While sounding quite different than closer in some parts, the album is already one of the this year’s standout releases and the versatility makes the band that much more interesting. I already predict that this will be one of this year’s most remixed bands as their songs are perfect for adding some upbeat drums and synthies to them.


Joey BadA$$:

This kid is crazy good, I mean he came onto the scene at the tender age of 17 and has been turning heads ever since. Even though he still is quite young, his music is reminiscient of an era in Rap music when snares and a nice bass were enough to create a backdrop that served as a canvas for the artist’s rhymes. Ijust love how this kid is able to mix young and bragging rhyme schemes with more thoughtful lyrics and you can’t deny the fact that he really know the craft of rhyming. Everyone should definitely check out his mixtape”1999” which shows why even Hova is taking quite the interest in this kid.


XXYYXX

Same age, different genre: In contrast to Joey Bada$$, Marcel Everett, better known under his moniker XXYYXX, produces incredible dreamwave electronic music with hints of hip hop and other influences. The soundscapes that this kid creates are very unique and definitely showcase a talent for hearing and producing sounds that very few people have. He blends in soundbites of Beyonce or The Dream so well into his songs that you don’t even really realize it for the first few times you listen´to them. In addition to all that praise, Everett has already put out quite a few releases so be sure to check out some of his Mixtapes and EPs because each one provides a new mixture of genres and sounds you haven’t heard before.
Miguel:

Miguel "Adorn" from JASON BEATTIE on Vimeo.
Now back to an artist that has been around for a little longer than most of the others on this list: RnB singer Miguel. I’ve heard him as a feature artist on so many rap records that he always had some sort of Scarlet letter to me as being the guy who sings good hooks. Well, I realized that I was far off with my assumption when I first heard his newest record “Kaleidoscope Dream”! The Grammy awarded album features quite different facets of RnB music while leaving out the played out Techno-RnB sound that we have become so accustomed to. Songs like “Adorn” and “Arch and Point” are exactly what RnB needed these days and I am happy that Miguel gets the attention he deserves!