Since it’s catastrophic rise in popularity as a genre, house music has held a consistently strong international vibe, incorporating different sounds from all over the world into a global dance party of sorts. On his new single, LA-based producer Tony Quattro and featured guest Nani Castle bring a Latin vibe to “Fuerza”, recently released on a compilation from Skrillex’s OWSLA, entitled “HOWSLA”. The song is actually political, in response to the 2016 election, but the lyrical content doesn’t detract from the party-ready sound that the track has overall. With that in mind, you can be socially conscious and turn up at your next party all in one moment by playing this track. Check out “Fuerza” below:
Tag: California
DC The Don Featured in Lonzo Ball’s Big Baller Brand Sneaker Ad
Even if you don’t really care about Lonzo Ball’s ridiculous $495 Big Baller Brand shoes, there’s a connection to the local hip hop scene, as Milwaukee born artist DC the Don’s track “Everything 1K” is featured in the commercial. The track kicks in just as Lonzo unveils the shoe, and while we can’t say we’re rushing out to buy the kicks anytime soon, the track is already taking off, and will likely be more popular than the shoe in the long-term. Check it out at the 1:34 mark:
DC The Don is listed as living in Chino Hills, California on Twitter, and we’re assuming he either attends UCLA or is friends with Ball. The video for “Everything 1K” is out, and at last look has already amassed 25,000 plays. You can check out the video in full below, and hopefully DC continues to represent his one-time home city in the future:
Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch Presented by JBL Professional: May 2017
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation. Click here to submit music to be one of our Five To Watch Presented by JBL Professional.
As the weather warms up, we’re already looking for some of the artists that have potential to make a name for themselves this summer. We’ve combed through thousands of submissions, and have found five artists definitely worth being early additions to your summer playlists. Here’s who to check out:
Halo the Human (Fresno, CA)
Hip hop is among the hardest genres to break out and make a name for yourself within. That being said, those who do things a little differently are most likely to shine. Hearing Fresno to San Diego artist Halo the Human is like a breath of fresh air; the combination of electronic music elements with hip hop isn’t necessarily new by any means, but it’s done with incredible expertise on his track, “Look Back”. Halo’s first mixtape came out in 2009, and over time, he’s crafted his sound into his own blend of unique, powerful music, and you’ll hear that as soon as you press play:
Talk Louder! (Reading, PA)
There’s a certain formula to crafting an indie rock hit; plenty of bouncy energy, a gripping back beat, and the build up to a roaring chorus are all boxes that it would be helpful to check if you’re looking to create a smash. Reading, Pennsylvania natives Talk Louder!, however, aren’t just a “check the boxes” type of band. The group have a bona fide hit on their hands with their single, “10:06 (Mid-July)”, and it’s definitely one you need to check out if you’re a fan of bands like The Strokes, Phoenix, and The Kooks:
Crystal Clayton (Kansas City, MO)
Kansas City native Crystal Clayton released her first EP a little less than a year ago, and has another release planned for summer 2017. If it’s anything like her single, “Blinding Lights”, she has some enormous potential to make this year her breakout. Rooted in a big, layered mainstream pop beat, there are minimal effects and touch-ups on her voice, unlike some of what you hear on the radio today. Clayton is a natural talent, with the components to make a name for herself in the coming months. Get your introduction with “Blinding Lights”:
Skrizzy (Los Angeles, CA)
With a combination of hip hop swagger and pop music appeal, LA artist Skrizzy has a single that could generate a buzz on both the college scene as well as mainstream radio. “Sofas” fits the criteria of most hip hop hits, and if was performed by a more established artist, it would be charting very high this summer. This, however, sounds like it could be Skrizzy’s breakthough. He cites Drake as an influence, and you can hear the same determination in his delivery on the track as some of Drizzy’s early material. We all have seen how that turned out. Check out “Sofas” here:
The Run Around (Chicago, IL)
Hardworking, Midwestern ethics and the angst of living in the middle of the map, where it’s cold for way too long help create the drive behind Chicago punks The Run Around. Their high energy and raw power draw comparisons to another notable Windy City punk band, Rise Against. On their single “American Dream”, the band shows that they’re more than just power and speed, there’s also some strong songwriting involved as well. The band could definitely cut it with any band on the Warped Tour, and you can hear that below:
AUDIO: Toyko – “Like What I Like”
If you’re into precision-crafted, multi-layered contemporary pop, the new single from LA band Toyko is perfect for you. “Like What I Like” may start on the slow side, but the track builds up to create an anthem-ready chorus. Warm synths and bright keys create an atmosphere on this track, and a passionate performance turns the song into the ultimate social outsider clap back. “Like What I Like” is the second single from the duo, with a debut EP set to drop in summer. If you’re feeling like the world doesn’t quite get you, sing along with Toyko on “I Like What I Like” below:
AUDIO: King Fantastic – “Expats”
Ever since I was introduced to King Fantastic’s music, shortly after their “Finger Snaps and Gun Claps” album dropped, I’ve been eager for more and more music from Troublemaker and Killer Reese One. The duo have slowed down in some respects, but a new mixtape featuring remixes, edits, and blends of the tracks that helped develop their following is very much appreciated. Troublemaker put together a half hour set that gives their music new life, with snippets from both of the group’s albums, their EPs, and assorted singles spanning their career so far. This is very much a party mix, with a distinctive West Coast feel that King Fantastic embrace to the fullest. Check out “Expats” below:
Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch Presented By JBL Professional: April 2017
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation. Click here to submit music to be one of our Five To Watch Presented by JBL Professional.
It’s April 1st, and we’re not fooling when we say that we have five more great artists for you to check out this month. We’ve waded through thousands of submissions, and while it’s a difficult process for us to pick only five selections, we’re sure that you’ll enjoy what these acts are up to. Here are your Five To Watch Presented by JBL Professional for April:
Wild Sons (Palm Springs, CA)
This indie pop quartet from Palm Springs have made clever songwriting and catchy hooks their calling card, with songs that will stick in your head for hours, if not days on end. Mainstream comparisons for the band would likely include Maroon 5, which the band has also previously covered, as well as John Legend and Nick Jonas. Their single “Echo” screams summertime radio hit, and from the opening notes, you’ll hear what we’re talking about.
The Vellas (Sheffield, England)
There’s something about the combination of buzzy guitars, a speedy backbeat, and gang vocals that draws people to European bands like The Vellas. All three of those elements are present on the band’s song, “Run”, which in a little over two minutes, can completely sell you on the band. If you’re a fan of bands like The Fratellis and The Kooks, this one is for you. The Vellas have the ultimate “indie cool” factor down to a science, and will leave you bouncing for more.
Jesse Montana (Los Angeles, CA)
With contemporary pop music becoming an ever increasing manufacturing process, true vocal talents are becoming more of a commodity within the genre. Los Angeles by way of Missoula, MT pop artist Jesse Montana is definitely a vocal talent, with a command over tracks like his single, “Patient”. While still mixing in the club-ready elements of today’s top 40 singles, Montana’s vocals put things over the top, showing incredible potential for the young artist.
Quis Christ (Roosevelt, NY)
When executed properly, New York hip hop is timeless. Plain and simple. Quis Christ is smooth, lyrical hip hop straight outta Long Island, and hip hop heads should take notice. Quis already has a debut EP out, and is in production of his first full album. With opening slots for some of hip hop’s biggest names, including Talib Kweli, Pete Rock, and more, Quis is making the most of living in the mecca of hip hop, and the world will soon see what he’s developing in NYC.
Mojave Nomads (Ogden, UT)
Utah, much less the town of Ogden, Utah, is probably the last place you’d expect to discover a blend of indie, funk, and psych music. However, enter Mojave Nomads, an indie quintet with an outsider’s mentality to crafting catchy songs. The band is carving out their own space in their local music scene, while making music worthy of creating waves nationally. The band is entering their third year of making music together, and already have garnered a buzz behind their early releases.
Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch Presented By JBL Professional: March 2017
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation.
With over 3,300 music submissions, the task of picking just five artists to watch for the upcoming month is never easy. We received tons of different styles of music from all over the world, and of that pool of submissions, we’ve chosen some artists that we think stand a very good chance at being the next big thing. Check out our Five To Watch Presented By JBL Professional for March:
The States (Ocala, FL)
If there’s such a genre as “arena indie”, that would describe the sound of The States very well. With tracks that build up around pulsating kick drums, and powerful choruses full of emotion, the band demonstrates that they’re ready to play the big rooms, and you can hear that on their submitted song, “As Cruel As Youth”. The band actually are planning for new music in the near future, as well, as they are set to release their EP, “Cathedral”, with presales beginning next week Monday. Until then, get hooked on the band with “As Cruel As Youth” below:
Altre di B (Bologna, Italy)
Cue up your latest FIFA video game, because Altre di B have a sound that fits hand in hand with the game. Hailing from Bologna, Italy, the band have a punk rock energy about them, with an indie sense of overall cool. The end result is synth-accented, high energy power pop that you can’t help but get hooked on. If you need an example, their track, “Sherpa” encapsulates everything that’s fun and exciting about indie rock in one song. Dance along to the track below:
Kris Angelis (Los Angeles, CA)
Sometimes, you hear certain songs and tones that are so commercially viable that you ask yourself, “how is this not a major record already?”. A ptime example of this is Kris Angelis’ track, “Built This House”, which feels tailor made for Top 40 radio. Angelis has already seen some decent success, though, as she’s put out an album and an EP, played several major festivals, and has previously premiered music on Ryan Seacrest’s website. One listen to “Built This House”, and you’ll be calling up your local radio station to ask them to put it into rotation. Listen to the enormous potential of Kris Angelis below:
Glass Mansions (Columbia, SC)
If you like your pop music with a healthy dose of synthesizers, and just a little pinch of southern twang, Glass Mansions is your band. The band has everything that you want to bring a room to life; powerful drums, bouncy songwriting, and an energy to their music that can get crowds jumping up and down. At the core of this, however, is clever songwriting, chock full of catchy melodies and jangly pop elements. Their track, “Nightswimming”, is enough to sweep you off your feet. Check it out below:
Speaker Minds (Portland, OR)
The feel of a hip hop collective is infectious at it’s core. In a way, it’s the most truly hip-hop experience possible; built out of the days of getting people together in one spot to just kick rhymes with (and off of) one another. Portland’s Speaker Minds have that sensibility to themselves, with harmonic vocals reminiscent of groups like the legendary Jurassic 5. With a modern take on the hip hop collective style, the six-piece band also incorporates live instrumentation and a healthy dose of funk and house influences. Experience the flavor of Speaker Minds with their track, “Act Like” below:
AUDIO: The Wild Wild – “Alright”
In a less-than-perfect world climate right now, sometimes it’s just a necessity to hear that everything is going to be alright. In the case of California indie pop act The Wild Wild’s new single, “Alright”, they take that mantra literally, which is, frankly, alright with us. The track is inescapable indie pop with a retro flair, and could definitely find its place in indie radio rotations in the near feature. If you combine the innocence of Vampire Weekend, with the pop sensibilities of bands like Bleachers and BØRNS, you’ve got the formula that makes up this synth-heavy gem. If you’re having a bad day, definitely check out this track. It’s uplifting from the moment you press play. Check out “Alright” below:
VIDEO: Point North – “Dearly Departed”
It seems like it’s been entirely too long since another great emo band has popped onto our radar, and trust us, we’ve been looking. Enter Point North; a LA-based band that reminds you of the glory days of hard-hitting pop punk dominating the early morning TV airwaves. The band’s most recent single, “Dearly Departed”, captures the spirit of so many bands that will have you digging through your CD collection. Throwback comparisons aside, the track is well-crafted, with all of the qualities that will have you singing along by your second listen to the song (as I might have done, but you’ll never know). Point North’s debut EP, “A Light In A Dark Place” comes out on Sony imprint Dark Kingdom in the near future, but you can get hooked on the band with the video below:
Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch: December 2016
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation.
Every month, we keep getting blown away by the amount of talented artists that submit music to us. It’s never an easy decision, but we’ve selected five more acts that need to be checked out immediately. Here is Breaking And Entering’s Five to Watch for December:
Carrie Lane (Montclair, NJ)
Carrie Lane is a triple threat, at the minimum. She is a pop artist, video creator, and also a nationally represented model. In addition to that, she also writes her own music, which is a tough task in its own right when talking about the pop genre. With a sultry, jazzy voice, Lane is making a name for herself behind her most recently released single, “Drowning”. She has also put out two EPs in the past, and is in the process of recording new music, as well. “Drowning” has enormous mainstream radio potential, and you should check out the rest of her body of work, as well.
Hatchling (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago)
With a mixture of indie, pop, and alternative, Hatchling is futuristic sounding dream pop that makes you feel inherently cooler as soon as you start listening to it. While the band may hail from an unlikely source for slick indie music, you can hear the influence of contemporary acts from around the world all blended into their sound. The group is beyond a traditional band, but more of a creative collective, fronted by multi-instrumentalist and producer Syam Nath. This is the type of music that you can be hooked on easily, as you’ll hear from single “16 Pixel” below:
Young Scrap (Los Angeles, CA)
The story of Young Scrap is actually much more than you’d imagine. Growing up in LA, he developed his nickname from his tendency to be a fighter, but was also trained as a dancer. In fact, he appears on a DVD from famed street dancer Tommy The Clown. By 2009, Scrap was signed to Universal Music Group for a single, entitled “Melody”. However, currently, Young Scrap might be making some of his best music yet, as evidenced by the 2015 single “Better Work For It”. With a long tenure in the music business, Young Scrap is still a name to watch, and you can hear that on the single below:
Luke Potter (Bristol, United Kingdom)
Luke Potter is a singer/songwriter from the UK with a tremendous amount of potential. With a sound comparable to a certain redheaded English mega-star, Potter has his own style of indie pop, combining both acoustic ballads and club-ready electronic tracks. He currently is splitting time writing between England and Sweeden, though he has previously made appearances stateside, as well. As he continues to progress, pop stardom seems almost inevitable, provided that it reaches the right ears. Get ready to meet a potential teen-pop hearthrob with his track, “Something More”:
Da Tribe Inc (Palm Bay, FL)
Florida has had its share of successful hip hop artists, but the combination that makes up Da Tribe Inc is a refreshing throwback to backpack-era flows, along with other geographical influences. The group’s members have roots in not only Florida, but also New York, Michigan, Boston, Ohio, and the Carribean. Somehow, the collective all touched base in Florida, and brought their respective sounds with them, which you can hear on their track, “Earn What I Got”. With an eclectic makeup, each member brings their own skills to the table, and ultimately have been creating posse cut-style tracks for over a decade. Get to know Da Tribe Inc with “Earn What I Got” below:
AUDIO: Matt Costa – “Call My Name”
Earlier this year, Director William A. Kirkley released “Orange Sunshine”, a documentary about the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, the spiritual hippies and surfers that populated California in the 60s and 70s. The group collectively became the biggest suppliers of LSD, and were very influential on the psychedelic movement. Matt Costa created the film’s soundtrack, which is due out on Varese Sarabande for release on November 11th. The soundtrack’s first single, “Call My Name” is perfect for the southern California vibe that the film gives off, and also incorporates elements of 60s era pop music. The lo-fi style of the recording gives off the vinyl effect, and takes you back to that era almost instantly. Keep a lookout for the full soundtrack, but take in everything that Costa offers on “Call My Name” below:
AUDIO: The Only Ocean – “So Shy So High”
California quartet The Only Ocean’s latest single, “So Shy So High” is simply an glistening indie dream. With elements of psych and pop mixed in, the band’s second single from their upcoming “Too” EP is a mellow track perfect for almost any setting. This track is definitely radio ready, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it finds its way into your favorite alternative station’s playlist in the near future. With big, echo-y choruses and a chill back beat, this is everything you want indie rock to be. “Too” is set to be out in the near future, and based on what The Only Ocean have given us, it doesn’t look like it will dissapoint. Check out “So Shy So High” below:
AUDIO: T$poon Featuring Larry June – “Big Money”
If we had some sort of banger alert to set off every time we heard a hot hip hop track, we’d have to hit all the bells and whistles on this new track from Portland’s T$poon and Southern California’s Larry June. With a dizzying beat from Nonstopdahitman, this is probably the end result of constantly turning up without a need to slow the party down. This is certainly a track to break the subwoofers on your car to, and it wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprising if that’s already occurred by now. No matter when you’re hearing this, it’s time to get extra hyped, and you’ll see what I mean from the second you press play.
Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch: August 2016
As a Milwaukee-based music blog, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation. Click here to submit music to be one of next month’s Five To Watch.
Welcome to our initial edition of Five To Watch for August 2016! In a little under a month, we received over 1,500 submissions via ReverbNation, and heard a literal crapload of different artists from all over the world. There were some tough decisions to be made, but ultimately, here are our first five acts to make the cut.
Iakopo (Miami Beach, FL)
The story behind reggae artist Iakopo is absolutely crazy. Born to a Mormon family in Utah, he was taken to Samoa when his parents were sent to a correctional facility in the country. After a year in a hostile environment. A counselor removed Iakopo (whose artist name is the Samoan translation of his given name), and immersed him in the Samoan village life. This ultimately led him to the discovery of reggae music, which has taken him on a journey around the world. His single “Touchdown” features international reggae icon Shaggy, and that song is only the introduction to the potential of crossover success that Iakopo has.
View Iakopo’s profile on ReverbNation
Jessica Meuse (Birmingham, AL)
I feel compelled to note that submissions were judged merely on the song that was submitted to our ReverbNation artist opportunity. I don’t watch American Idol, and had no idea that Jessica Meuse was a contestant, let alone a finalist in season 13 of the show. That being said, Meuse has the potential for gigantic country success. Her single, “Done”, carries all of the attitude of artists like Elle King or Miranda Lambert, and more importantly, Meuse has the vocal chops comparable to those aforementioned artists, as well. It’s easy to see why Jessica Meuse has already received a notable amount of success from her work, and if the right label or promotional team gets behind her, there’s no stopping where she might go from here. Listen to “Done” and see for yourself:
View Jessica Meuse’s profile on ReverbNation
LWin (Los Angeles, CA)
View LWin’s profile on ReverbNation
Ships Have Sailed (Los Angeles, CA)
If there’s ever a genre called “stadium indie”, it should include bands like X Ambassadors, Imagine Dragons, and LA’s Ships Have Sailed. Consisting of frontman Will Carpenter and bassist Dan Hange, the duo specializes in creating diverse, textured indie pop that has a massive appeal to it. Their single, “Drive” should already be in top 40 radio rotation by now. With well spaced, well crafted production, and Carpenter’s powerful emotional vocals leading the charge, the song has the “it” factor that many songwriters work so desperately to achieve. You know it’s a hit the second you hear it. See for yourself below:
View Ships Have Sailed’s profile on ReverbNation
Big Little Lions (Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada)
View Big Little Lions’ profile on ReverbNation
Be sure to check out all of these artists on ReverbNation, and look for big things from them in the near future! Keep checking back with Breaking And Entering every month for the next Five To Watch.
AUDIO: CAPTIONS. – “Bearfights”
With a touch of grit and a pinch of shimmering style, the latest single from Ventura, CA band CAPTIONS. is pure indie-pop bliss. From the moment you press play and hear the opening notes, you know that you’ve got an indie song with some heat on your hands. The track is full of the low-tech, beautifully simple sound that defines the genre. “Bearfights” is from a forthcoming project from CAPTIONS., and if this is only the first taste of it, this will be an album worth keeping an eye out for. Have yourself a little indie dance party to “Bearfights” below:
AUDIO: Libretto – “Gangsta Jazz 2: The Album”
Now here’s one from Portland’s Liquid Beat Records for the hip hop fans. “Gangsta Jazz 2: The Album” is a smooth release from California emcee Libretto. The sequel to his “Gangsta Jazz” EP, this project was written entirely while incarcerated, and is Libretto’s first project since his release. If you’re a fan of artists like Jurassic 5 and De La Soul, this is a project for you to check out immediately. With some authentic West Coast sample-based beats, and a natural delivery to every verse, Libretto made this album into a jam from front to back. You can thank us later for this one. Check out “Gangsta Jazz 2: The Album” below:
REVIEW: Blink 182 and All Time Low at Summerfest
On Tuesday night, it officially became the Mark, Skiba and Travis show. Blink 182 brought their new lineup to the Marcus Ampitheater, along with openers All Time Low, and local support Direct Hit!. Although the date was not officially part of the California Tour, the show acted as a precursor of things to come, as well as an ample warm-up for the Blink guys, now featuring Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio. With a little bit of pressure on the band, they certainly didn’t disappoint.
Any concern over the iteration of Blink 182 that hit the Marcus Ampitheater stage stopped the moment that Mark, Travis and Matt stepped on it, to roars from the large crowd on hand. They calmly took center stage, fist bumped one another, and launched into “Feeling This”, a song that now features Skiba singing most of the lead parts. That theme continued for the night; Mark Hoppus, though still very present, didn’t have to carry any extra heavy lifting for the band at all. This was, in many ways, a not-so-subtle way to show that Matt Skiba was in it for the long haul with Blink 182, and is just as much of the band as Tom Delonge once was.
Blink 182 was quick to show that they were very much the same band without their former guitarist and co-lead singer, too. Right after “Feeling This”, they went into the profanity-laced “Family Reunion”, as featured on live album “The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show” in 2000. 16 years later, the crowd was still enamored, as they later were with “Happy Holidays, You Bastard”, a 42-second song played completely in the dark.
One of the big surprises of the night was that most of the set didn’t feature material from “California”, the album that came out a few weeks ago. In fact, single “Bored To Death” and the 14 second “Built This Pool”, were the only tracks from “California” to make the set list. The majority of the night was built around the classics, with singles spanning from their most popular studio albums, and even a throwback to fan favorite “Carousel”. The irony is, however, that “Bored To Death” was one of the moments where Blink seemed to have the most chemistry on stage. While they played off of one another all night, including Skiba exclaiming “That’s my guy!” when referring to Hoppus, there was still just a little bit of Blink 182 that was rough around the edges, due to this being one of the first shows in the “California” run. For a large part of the night, though, everything clicked as it otherwise would have.
Most of the slip ups came early, which could perhaps be attributed to nerves. Skiba, sporting a Cubs hat (a bold move in Milwaukee) sang the second verse to self-titled album single “Down” twice. It also seemed like there were slight moments where things didn’t gel as well as they could. Miscues here and there didn’t seem to affect the crowd, however, who were excited to see Blink on stage again in any form.
Individually, Blink 182 was still on point. Mark Hoppus sported his usual energy, making frequent visits to the opposite side of the stage from where he normally stands, and even more frequently heading up to the front of the crowd next to Skiba. Travis Barker was phenominal, which has become his calling card over the past decade. Skiba played his role so well that the crowd was chanting his name after a few songs into the set. While the pieces might need to come together just a little better, as pieces, they were fine on their own.
Openers Direct Hit! gave their set everything they had, and All Time Low did a great job of warming the Ampitheater crowd up, as well. It was interesting to note that there wasn’t the overwhelming reception that was expected for All Time Low, but that could be due to the time that the band escalated to pop punk stardom; just a few years after the average Blink 182 fan might’ve been busy Going Away to College. Both bands got the responses that they deserved from the crowd, but it was obvious that Blink 182 were the main attraction.
Tuesday night’s show at the Marcus Ampitheater was the Milwaukee stop of the welcoming party for Matt Skiba into Blink 182, and it will likely be that way for the rest of the tour. Luckily, he’s a very able candidate to replace Tom Delonge, and he’ll only get better as the shows go on. The night was one to remember from start to finish, and while most of the crowd have taken new appreciation to the line “work sucks, I know” from “All the Small Things”, for a night, Blink 182 made everyone feel like giddy, anxious teenagers again in the best way.
VIDEO: Tope – “Better Place”
It’s all sun and games in the bay for Tope’s latest video, “Better Place”. The Portland rapper recently moved to Oakland, and has prepared his “3 AM In Oakland” project, set to come out later this year. In addition, he has an extensive West Coast tour coming up, and undoubtedly some new material from that to follow. However, in “Better Place” Tope keeps it in San Francisco, spitting bars as he makes his way through the city. Be on the lookout for more from Tope in the near future, but in the meantime, vibe along to “Better Place”:
AUDIO: Cheat Codes – “Adventure”
If you’re looking for one of those summer songs that get stuck in your head for hours on end, yet stay fun to listen to, you’ve come to the right place. Enter California trio Cheat Codes, and their new track “Adventure”. With a mixture of elements including 8-bit, contemporary pop, and tropical house, this track featuring Evan Gartner is an earworm. Between the hook, and the dizzying synth/sample work throughout, you’re guaranteed to get at least part of it stuck in your head at some point. Listen at your own risk, below, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
VIDEO: The Swellers Live at Chain Reaction (Full Set, Final US Show)
The Swellers are in the midst of their final “Call It A Night” tour, in which they’re saying goodbye to some of their favorite cities to play as a band. While there is a European leg to the tour, Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA, a punk rock staple, was lucky enough to get the final US Show from the band. Luckily, video of the whole set with some great sound off of the board is available below. If you’ve been a fan of this band for some time, you know this is bittersweet. But it’s worth checking out. Watch below:
VIDEO: Best Coast – “California Nights”
California duo Best Coast have announced that their new album, “California Nights”, will be out May 5th on Relapse Records. To go with that announcement, the band unveiled a series of tour dates in support of the record, and the video for the title track. This is a little bit of a departure from the sound that their last releases, 2013’s “Fade Away” and 2012’s “The Only Place” had. This time around, the band sounds more mature, with a more melodic sound to boot. However, this is just the first release from the album, so we’ll have to see what the rest sounds like in May.
AUDIO: Rich The Kid Featuring IAMSU! – “She Wit It”
Confession time: I will always dig new music coming out of the Bay Area, as I have a secret love for all things even remotely hyphy. So naturally, when Rich The Kid & IAMSU! put together “She Wit It” with a bouncing beat from KE On The Track, I had to give it a spin. Feel free to bounce along with me to this one. I have a feeling plenty of rappers will be looking to get on this beat. Also, if E-40 does anything over, send that to me A$AP. Thanks.
