TheUrbanian.com » Music

Chris Webby’s Mixtape Release Party

Carissa Rossi — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:27:48 +0000

“The Chris Webby Mixtape Release Party was off the chain,” said Anthony Ando, Founder of The Kick Back Movement.

Chris Webby’s Mixtape Release Party at Marquee in NYC was packed with lines out the door the entire night. Many loyal and passionate fans came out to support their favorite white boy rapper.

Webby’s private table was flowing with bottles all night, but he spent most of the night making his way around the club to greet his fans.

“Just when things really started to pop off, Chris Webby turned it up a little. He rocked the mic with a much anticipated performance of some of his hottest fan favorites. The dancing crowd cheered and sang along with the drunken rapper, who somehow still managed to spit out every word of his lyrics with vigor,” said Anthony Ando.

Some said the sound quality could have been better, but when everybody in the crowd knows the words, it’s barely noticeable. What people learned from this party: Chris Webby was born to do this……..

Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival 2010 by Rob Groulx

Bradley Kevin MacDonald — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:31:59 +0000

Our videographer Rob Groulx made his way out to Brooklyn’s prolific Hip Hop festival this month for a brief shoot. Above is clean take on one of the Big Apple’s best music events. To inquire about video work, you can contact Rob at robgroulx@gmail.com or see more of his work at http://www.robgroulx.com

BROOKLYN HIP-HOP FESTIVAL 2010// from Rob Groulx on Vimeo.

Jarrod Gorbel Urbanian Exclusive

Bradley Kevin MacDonald — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:11:48 +0000

The Honorary Title’s Jarrod Gorbel sits down after a show at the CroFoot in Pontiac, MI to get us up to speed on his upcoming solo album. Stay tuned for Gorbel’s new album dropping on August 31st, Devil’s Made a New Friend.

Soulja Boy Eyed for Plagiarism

Kenny — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:43:03 +0000

Years ago, when Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and spending an uncomfortable portion of your life in front of a screen wasn’t a concern, and you were wrapped up in high school busying yourself with after-school sitcoms, Nelly, and smoking in your car – one show reigned supreme, Malcolm in the Middle. Barring nostalgic conversations with friends and family, Malcolm has nearly fell off the face of the Earth, that is until now.

Having caught pieces of Soulja Boy’s Pretty Boy Swag on the radio, and in passing by, it wasn’t until tonight when I reluctantly listened to it through that I realized someone was plagiarized. Initially I wrote the track off as Soulja Boy simply just recording a track while winded from fleeing his mindless fans, but then it struck me - it was Malcolm in the Middle’s Stevie Kenerban.

Stevie was the very essence of America’s favorite wheel-chaired, quick-witted, sitcom star. Nearly always suffering from hyperventilation, Stevie coined the breathy technique delivery as his own. Soulja Boy simply repackaged it, and resold the world what he knew they’d already love – Stevie. Don’t believe us? It’s triggered a slew of YouTube videos dubbing the breath-technique back where it belongs, with Stevie.

Watch below. Reject Soulja Boy, reject plagiarism.

Neon Hitch Covers Mike Posner & Sia

Bradley Kevin MacDonald — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:18:13 +0000

Upon arriving home from work on day that started at 5 a.m., I generally do a quick scan of things I may have missed on the computer for like 10 minutes before hitting the bed for a well-deserved nap (golf course work is tiring stuff people). Few things usually catch my attention and excite me enough to skip the nap and make sure I post immediately. This happened today when I saw Neon Hitch make a cover out of songs by two of our favorite artists on the site.

Neon Hitch sings the lyrics of Cooler Than Me to the production of Sia’s Breathe Me; a song that skyrocketed to popularity after appearing in the Six Feet Under finale.

The final result is a more mellow and piano-driven Cooler Than Me.

Audio MP3

Curren$y “Pilot Talk” [Album Review]

Bradley Kevin MacDonald — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:53:26 +0000

Buried within a year of hip-hop mega releases – Recovery, Thank Me Later, Teflon Don, Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (and there’s still a large chunk of 2010 left), we find Curren$y’s Pilot Talk.

The New Orleans rapper more known for his mixtape work (he put out eight mixtapes within two years), officially released Pilot Talk on July 13 under Damon Dash’s BluRoc.

Besides for one song on the 13-song LP, the entire album is produced by Ski Beatz. Using mainly one producer definitely benefited the young rapper, as he easily flies through the funkadelic production present.

One of the big highlights on the first half of the album comes with Seat Change, a song featuring Snoop Dogg. A Snoop Dogg feature isn’t quite like it used to be, but Snoop delivers on this one – possibly making up for his involvement on Katy Perry’s California Gurls.

Another monster track is The Day, which also features Jay Electronica and Mos Def.

Pilot Talk is a consistent flight of funky, mellow, music. This is an album with no filler. For those new to Curren$y, this is probably the best starting point.

Curren$y may be very hung up on all things weed, however that doesn’t mean those whom pass on the drug use can’t enjoy the album. Between the great production, Curren$y’s relaxed flow, and the list of guest spots, this is a great listen.

When thinking about the best hip-hop albums of the year don’t be afraid to throw in Pilot Talk amongst the heavyweights.

Listen to The Day

Listen to Prioritize

Ra Ra Riot – Boy [SINGLE]

Kenny — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:20:39 +0000

Team Ra Ra for life. The NY pop orchestral pantheon that is Vampire Weekend’s equivalent of Jacob (never seen a Twilight, but for topicalities sake) continues to chug forward in their plucky refined approach to poppy goodness. Boys marks the two year mark since the band’s LP, and slated on 8/24 is the release of The Orchard – their follow-up LP. Feel good, summer music en route.

Mike Posner – Please Don’t Go [NEW SINGLE]

Kenny — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:25:23 +0000

Here it is, Mike’s stellar second single off his new album 31 Minutes to Takeoff. After listening through, Mike’s growth as a musician is abundantly clear. It’s hard to compartmentalize Mike as a set genre; but if there was a executive spot for the birth of hip-pop visionaries, he should have his name etched in stone.

If you followed the One Foot Out the Door series, you’ll recognize this as the track that was teased on the intro and outro. But, I won’t describe the track too much, I just want to get to posting, and for you to get to listening, and to purchasing. Support Mike, support Michigan, support good music.

Mike Posner – Please Don’t Go [Buy @ iTunes $.99]

Drake & Coldplay: “October’s Very Cold”

Carissa Rossi — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:42:58 +0000

“The process of creating the remixes was entrancing. It was less of a mission to create a remix album and more of a straight addiction to mixing these artists songs together with my particular style of drums and percussion,” said Chi Duly, Producer.

The Urbanian: When did you begin this project and what inspired this collab?

Chi Duly: This project began in October of 2009 and progressed over the last 8 months as new Drake vocals became available. Some of the Coldplay songs were drastically stretched and pitched to the point of becoming near unrecognizable noise. Other Coldplay songs dropped into the Drake melodies so easily i wondered if there may have been a pre-existing conspiracy between Drake and Coldplay about this seemingly unofficial collaboration.

“Forever La Vida” was the first track produced, actually 9 months ago, without the intention of a whole project. I made it for my internship at Oregon State. Specifically it was created for the OSU Football Video dept to use in a short highlight video (i had a weekly quota to turn in two tracks). They didn’t end up using it for any videos and i just forgot about the track. Feedback starting coming back on it from other directions so i made more.

TU: What was the most interesting part during the production process of this mixtape?

CD: It was interesting creating an entire project where i played no keys, bass, or guitar of any kind. I am not a sample-based producer. I rarely sample anymore, in fact two vows i made in 2008 were to get out of the bullsh*t mixtape business and also stop sampling in tracks.

DOWNLOAD OVC HERE:

http://www.hiphopleak.net/audio/mixtapes/750-drake-x-coldplay-octobers-very-cold

OR LISTEN AT:

http://www.octobersverycold.com/

Carissa Rossi

Underappreciated Artists: Novel & 88-Keys

Bradley Kevin MacDonald — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:18:03 +0000

In an easily oversaturated place for music, lots of superb artists get discarded. It’s not that they aren’t respected; it’s more that they’re underappreciated and not fully recognized for the material they’ve put out or what they’ve accomplished.

The two artists who first come to my mind when thinking about this issue are 88-Keys and Novel.

Both 88-Keys and Novel are multi-faceted in music. Production, song writing, performing – they do it all.

88-Keys is the man behind the booth for artists such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Macy Gray, and others. Novel is behind plenty of songs from chart-topping artists such as Leona Lewis, Joss Stone, David Guetta, Alicia Keys, Kelis and many more.

What surprises me the most is these two should be more popular, considering there’s been an influx of their styles into the mainstream.

Thanks to Drake, Kid Cudi, B.o.B, and among others, the singing rapper is the hot ticket item lately. Novel possesses the R&B dynamic that’s allowed Drake to shoot to the top. In fact, Novel may do it better. What’s the biggest difference between the two? A Lil’ Wayne co-sign. Put Novel in the same position as Drake – being able to collaborate basically with anyone of his choosing – and we have a star bigger than Drake.

Another trend we’ve seen is the diverse and alternative hip-hop artist take to the charts. Kanye West kind of paved the way for the non-stereotypical rapper. Fashion designers and sampling indie rock bands became major relevant things in hip hop due to this alternative explosion.

88-Keys is one of Kanye’s best friends. In fact. Kanye is godfather to one of 88’s daughters. Would it be that big of a stretch to assume 88 has had some kind of impact on Kanye and his music?

88 has quite the unique taste in music. While he’s a bonafide hip-hop head, he’ll manage to recommend to you some great bands like Ra Ra Riot and The Morning Blenders. And, when it comes to fashion, you won’t ever see 88 not rocking the Ralph Lauren lifestyle.

So if you haven’t really heard much about 88-Keys and Novel before, you obviously don’t visit this site enough. But seriously tune into these guys, and you’ll like what you hear. If you have heard of these fellas, then listen a little more closely and really appreciate what they’re doing. And most importantly, support them and cop their music – legally.

Listen to 88-Keys featuring Colin Munroe, Wake Up Call.

Listen to Novel, Mad World (Remix)