Ribs: Beatmaker edition with Asend & Dope Kid Danny

I was thrown for a loop with Asend’s new album Nobody Cares dropping because I thought it would be among his first projects to showcase his more modern-pop style that I’ve seen him use lately- hi-hats and trapbeats with a blending of his boom-bap sampling roots but I was pleasantly surprised when the album turned out to be a clearing-out of golden-era style beats from his archives that for whatever reason didn’t come out with his last projects. While I look forward to a tape that puts together his own take on boom-trap (hat-tip to !llmind) it really takes me back in a fresh way to hear all these unreleased Asend boom-bap beats. 

What can be said? Despite being young as hell, Asend is a master at this style. He has such a great ear for melodies, drum-swings and chill thoughtful moods. You can always vibe or freestyle to his work, smoke or meditate: it’s multi-functional-music. These beats sound like waking up on a Saturday morning in Spring and taking your time to blaze and make breakfast as you let the sun hit you through the sliding glass door. They have a darkside too…those same vibes can turn into a malaise but that his beats walk the razor’s edge of wonder and melancholy is part of their deceptively simple charm. The album to me is about meditation, but there’s some undeniably sad commentary to the quote at the end that reiterates the project’s title: “nobody cares”. A lot of younger beatmakers have the tendency to delete their folders when the mood strikes so I am truly thankful that Asend decided to let the fans have the choice- the choice to care.

The intro to Gelid, Dope Kid Danny’s new beat tape, “Celebrate” is a beautiful opener for this clean and chillactimous beat-tape. Off the bat, this “celebration” isn’t your regular turn-up sesh but something more thoughtful and melodic- the album follows suit. “What I want” has a simple and hypnotic melody/ “Under the Street Light” plays with an easy-going trumpet during the chorus while the bass and the bells lays the foundation of the cut.  8^thWonder is simultaneously experimental and pop-hit ready. The “Medicate” Interlude is chill, catchy and eastern-tinged in its melodies and instrumentation. Danny’s beats sound placement-ready: the kind of tunes you might see in a new Netflix show or cannabis documentary. 2 AM on the Highway reminds me of the set up to a thriller or horror movie while also being exactly what it sounds like. Cocaine has tinkly piano layers, sick drums and melancholy expressions of an addict’s pain. 

  For me, Kryptonic Justice is the album’s highlight- thunderous bass, spidery guitar and key melodies, simultaneously ominous yet majestic, it truly could be a Superman theme for the modern-era. The outro is also a regal banger with extended horn notes and stop-start drum knocks. Danny is growing ever into a more polished and professional beatmaker with tracks ready made for pop-stars to be or grimy spitters or just people who just need beats to chill out too. Though he’s in Minnesota, these beats remind me of the west coast freeway and how I fill my time on it.

Tristan "Tanjint Wiggy" Acker is staff writer for JooseBoxx, a youth hip-hop and poetry tutor, and member of the Inland Empire nerdcore hip-hop group the West Coast Avengers. Catch more of their work at westcoastavengers.com, follow Tristan on Twitter @Tanjint or e-mail him at tristanacker@gmail.com

Recent Video Round Up with Notiz Yong, Kill C Rey, Greaseball, Hvlloween, Theez, Pak, West Coast Avengers, Asend, Monocle and more

                              FTP by Notiz Yong 
                              Produced by Notiz Yong & Theez
                              Video by Chris "Kill C Rey" Reyes

             Fresh State fam killed it on this strident little ditty- peep that Theez co-production credit too!
                                  

            

Alligator King by Greaseball
Video shot and edited by Alexis Reynoso of Monoclecollective

Greaseball is a Hunter Thompson meets the Kingpin in a Wes Anderson directed horror movie and the Monocle Collective just keeps upping their cinematic skills game- don't miss this!

                      Ment to Be by Hvlloween
                      Produced by Ac3 Beats
                      Video by New High Filmz

Hvlloween gets more personal and real in his work all the time- this song about counting on yourself continues that trend with  tuneful production from Ac3 Beats and relatable smart writing.

                      Metamorph (Up in the Head) by Pak
                      Produced by Sinima Beats
                      Video by DJ Wunda                       

It's refreshing to see this style done so earnestly- the nice vid by Wunda doesn't hurt! Nice message and flow here from a cat I am just learning about this year Pak.

                    Saison by West Coast Avengers
                    Produced by Asend
                    Video by Alexis Reynoso for Monocle Collective

Monocle Collective helped WCA promote the American Airror mixtape earlier this year with this collab!

Tristan "Tanjint Wiggy" Acker is staff writer for JooseBoxx, a youth hip-hop and poetry tutor, and member of the Inland Empire nerdcore hip-hop group the West Coast Avengers. Catch more of their work at westcoastavengers.com, follow Tristan on Twitter @Tanjint or e-mail him at tristanacker@gmail.com

MUSIC MONDAY WITH FAIMKILLS, KID PRESENTABLE, ASEND, DOPE KID DANNY, ZOEN AND MORE

SMART WENT CRAZY BY TOM G / PRODUCED BY ASEND

Tom G smartly snatched up this Asend cut from being taken for granted by too many cypher MCs to turn it into a nice introduction to both artists.

WHIP BY FAIMKILLS / PRODUCED BY DOPE KID DANNY / MIXED BY CA$HONLY

"I be on that tikka masala"

Hit the avenue with some heat as you bump this late summer slapper from Faimkills with help from Dope Kid Danny and Ca$hOnly.

TEMPTATION BY KID PRESENTABLE / PRODUCED BY ZOEN

Do you miss the old Atmosphere? Bump this recent Kid Presentable gem, full of personal bars and nice flow with a gorgeous Zoen production you'll be thinking it's 2003 with an I.E. twist in no time.

Tristan "Tanjint Wiggy" Acker is staff writer for JooseBoxx, a youth hip-hop and poetry tutor, and member of the Inland Empire nerdcore hip-hop group the West Coast Avengers. Catch more of their work at westcoastavengers.com, follow Tristan on Twitter @Tanjint or e-mail him at tristanacker@gmail.com

Music Monday with Noa James, Guccidamus, Asend, Calligraphy, OhGoshLeotus, and Notiz Yong

The flip side to the February "Phone Rang" single, an original and sweet mood expressing stoner serenade, spark one to this.

Some crazy new beat sounds from the homie Guccidamus and his collaborator Infinity- take a walk into darkness if you dare.

                                    Chilltastic new instrumental from the I.E. vet Asend!

Speaking of I.E. vets, Calligraphy has always been a distinctive quirky and intellectual voice in the community and I am happy to hear this OhGoshLeotus produced gem of a single recently dropped to add some flavor and rhythm to your winter nights. 

I love the double meaning Notiz employs here as he figuratively journeys his way to fatherhood on the track- peep the blood vessels on this self-produced piece.

Tristan "Tanjint Wiggy" Acker is staff writer for JooseBoxx, a youth hip-hop and poetry tutor, and member of the Inland Empire nerdcore hip-hop group the West Coast Avengers. Catch more of their work at westcoastavengers.com, follow Tristan on Twitter @Tanjint or e-mail him at tristanacker@gmail.com

RIBS (Reviews In Brief) for the week of 9/16/2015 ft. Asend, Kordisepz, Mr.Sham, Belzar, RasJosh Beats, Kaine

from staff writer Tristan Douglas’ week

1.

Asend Beats – After Hours EP

Asend is an MPC-wielding boom-bapping funkmaster who keeps a doobie lit. Don’t miss his soothingly melodic and chill first release, the After Hours EP

http://soundcloud.com/asendro/sets/after-hours

2.

Kordisepz- Infekt & Rejektz beat tapes

Both of these whole tapes are dopeness… Kordisepz knows hip-hop but he sounds destined to score crazy films in my opinion. His music will challenge and entertain you.

https://soundcloud.com/kordisepz/sets/infekt-beat-tape

kordisepzbeats.bandcamp.com

Rejektz was put out by Us Natives, Peep them at usnatives.bandcamp.com

3. SoundCloud Overview: Mr. Sham

                  

                  Mr.Sham is the artist that not only got me more into poetry and spoken word but also got me into the melding of the two. As one of the main MCs in West Coast Avengers, he provides fun nerdcore paintings in verse form but as a poet in his own right he is one of the most formidable image-machines and expressers of the heart that I have ever come across. His recent works with RasJosh Beats “Prowlin’” (co-produced by GL Kool) and “Robbin’” are dark and spacious in their booming post-society yet urban sound. Others with RasJosh such as “Geronimo” incorporate nerdcore and uptempo bass for a fun and still slick product. As West Coast Avengers (full disclosure: my group!) enter the half year point of promoting their latest LP (The Inland Empire Strikes Back), expect more leaks from their individual members like this… https://soundcloud.com/seanbobo/geronimo

4.

Kaine aka NoEnd MC - "Ramen & Tacos" Teaser & Bad Chemistry EP

      NoEnd Emcee AKA Kaine of Institute Esylum is one of those dudes who has crazy bars and when you stop and listen to his work you realize it’s an incredibly cynical and razor sharp perspective on society, human nature and institutions. Check out his Bad Chemistry EP for some ear candy and peep his new “Ramen & Tacos” teaser and get hyped for his hella IE-repping project coming soon. http://soundcloud.com/kainetheinsane/bad-chemistry-unbroken-chain

5.

true life- Belzar Beats

Just listened to all of Belzar's beats. He has a ton of bangers, check him out!


https://soundcloud.com/belzarbeats/true-life#t=0:01

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Tristan “Tanjint Wiggy” Acker is a staff writer for JooseBoxx and member of the Inland Empire’s West Coast Avengers. Catch more of their work at westcoastavengers.com, follow Tristan on twitter @Wiggism or e-mail him at tristanacker@gmail.com.