Videos:
Jidenna — “Classic Man ft. Roman GianArthur”
This was the best video to drop this month, acting as the premiere single for Janelle Monae’s artist Jidenna. I love the aesthetic, concept and execution of the entire video. The song is fantastic, too.
Fashawn — “Guess Who’s Back (prod. by Beewirks)”
Before YG and Kendrick Lamar took the throne out west, Fashawn ushered in the new wave of West Coast talent along the likes of Blu and Pac Div. After a layoff, Fashawn is back with a great comeback video and song. Great to see him back making solid music.
BJ the Chicago Kid — “Strawberry Bubblegum”
My current favorite R&B artist put out a Belly-themed music video for one of the standout tracks off of The M.A.F.E. Project.
Roosh Williams feat. Scarface — “Deep End”
The new wave of Houston connects with a legend of H-Town in this video depicting industry sharks in downtown Houston. The cool thing? This video was edited and animated by Oklahoma’s own Kyle Van Osdol.
Vince Staples is one of the most slept-on guys in rap right now. He’s an incredible talent out of Long Beach and dropped one of the best projects of 2014, Hell Can Wait.
A$AP Rocky — “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodeye 2”
The leader of the A$AP Mob dropped the visual for the follow-up to fan favorite “Pretty Flacko,” the second single from his upcoming album.
Songs:
Kendrick Lamar — “The Blacker the Berry”
Music needs Kendrick Lamar and this track serves as a perfect reason why.
Action Bronson is in a lane of his own and one of the most refreshing voices in hip-hop. Repping Queens, he has long been prepping his new album, Mr. Wonderful; “Terry” serves as the third offering from it. His digital cooking show, Fuck, That’s Delicious, just got picked up by Vice on HBO, and he’s managed by Eminem’s former manager — two pieces of information that should drive you to want to listen.
Danny Brown — “Fresh Off the Boat”
Don’t think hip-hop is relevant or influential? Think again, as Danny Brown’s “FOTB” serves as the theme song to Eddie Huang’s new ABC sitcom of the same name. It’s only a minute long but still incredibly cool for someone as progressive and innovative as Danny Brown to have a theme song on ABC.
Juvenile is one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop. He has the same penchant for hit-making as he did with his end-of-2014 track “Sho Love.” This follow-up is grimier, but classic Juvy nonetheless.
Snoh Aalegra — “Emotional (prod. RZA)”
I’m fortunate enough to have a little brother who puts me on to greater music than I could ever hope to find. Snoh was an artist he showed me toward the latter part of 2014, and she’s been a favorite ever since. Having collaborated with Common and Run the Jewels, this RZA-produced track may just be my favorite of hers.
One of the most thoughtful new voices on the come up out of the West, Boogie makes incredibly poignant music that causes a lot of self-reflection. His track “Bitter Raps” is one of my most favorite in recent memory, and this song takes the news clips speaking about the death of six-year-old Tiana Ricks and posits his narrative to demonstrate how common stuff like this actually is.
Kevin Gates creates some of the most vivid imagery in music today. His rawness, passion and intelligence make for a lethal combination that has culminated in him emerging as the true voice of the South right now.
Artist to Watch: Pell
Why you should listen: He’s like if Kid Cudi never stopped making enjoyable tunes and inaudible melodies, but combined with quirks of Chance the Rapper. He’s currently carving out his own genre (dream rap), and his song “The Never“ was on the season premiere of Broad City this year.
Where to start: “Eleven:11” and “The Never”
February Oklahoma Spotlight: Ronnie Harris
Ronnie is a multifaceted ambassador for the Oklahoma hip-hop scene and does as much as anyone to try and further the movement and its message. Ronnie embodies the bridge between the old-school mentality and new-school resources. He is a talented producer that provided the soundscape to Oklahoma rap in its toddler stages and has helped nurture and grow that sound to be a staple around the state.
He’s also a hell of a rapper, but he stands out most as a battle rapper. As the creator of the battle-rap series School of Thought, he is affectionately referred to as The Dean. Lately, Ronnie has emerged as one of the premiere photographers on the scene and has established a name for himself on Instagram with his innovative portraits, which have essentially created his own lane: Rontography. Keep up with him and his journey on Twitter and utilize this incredible resource in the hip-hop community.
