Late in 2017 Keep the Feel released their stellar Next Up 2 Bat sampler, with songs from Abstract Rude's handpicked roster of up and coming talent. With songs from Jroz, Joaquin Daniels, Woes, B.Squid, Namek and more, the eclectic vibe is heavy yet the compilation coheres in its offering.
Jroz's "Graffiti Anthem 2.0" buzzes with youthful energy. North Star is a contemplative melody from Rude with meditative bars from Daniels, Namek reuniting with Malathion. B.Squid's "Thousand Winters" brings a creepy pop sensibility to the forefront along with her unique lyricism. Both Misleeding's "Love Starved" and Jaeda & Rude's " Sloww Burn" showcase sophisticated and novel music poems on sexuality. Woes oozes wisdom on "The Only Constant Is Change". Wisdom and earnest respect for the process of art are apparent and consistent themes and through lines on this meaty and diverse record.
Rude himself blesses an EP's worth of songs on the album but never overshadows his artists. The album crescendos with the KTF roll call and winds down with pensive but epic tracks like "On A Clear Day" with Daniels and Mozaic and the bluesy "Time As We Think" single by Rude and Squid.
A slammin' compilation of top-flight hip-hop about wisdom and the love of the culture, don't miss this one.
His first album in about a decade, Joaquin Daniels’ Well-Traveled
LP returns to and expands on some of the themes of his classic Keep the Feel
debut EP Endure. These themes are perseverance, mastering your arts, and the
value of honest communication between grown folks. The record has truly fun and
raucous tracks like “Highest Degree” and “Breaking off Styles” which is an
insane Project Blowed posse cut that also happens to include what is probably
the best 2mex verse on a technical level…ever. It also has epic and profound
meditations on love and life like “Red Note Chemistry” and “On A Clear Day”. It’s
the same guy but the writing is more mature; more cynical but still positive about
life while spitting original yet relatable bars about life experiences with
music and friends. The beats are a pristine and undeniable delight. Production from Elusive, Namek, Spok, Rokem, E.Q. and DJ Fat
Jack give Joaquin bangin' platforms on which to poeticize for the listener- the Keep the
Feel team rallied to give this album a full sound flavor palette and a message
worthy of sharing- one of enduring your travels and never letting the trials of
life dull your spark.
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