PROJECT: Blue Magic 2 EP [Download]
Southern Hayze, the duo of Shango & Pharoah, is a new school Hip-Hop group with an old soul residing in Florida. Revisit their 2014 visual release of “Vertigo,” from their Blue Magic 2 EP, which you can download here. Southern Hayze is soothing audiences of all different races, genders, and philosophical beliefs with groovy Southern melodies. Immerse yourself in the struggle. Immerse yourself in the honesty which is Southern Hayze. Check out “Vertigo” above.
WRITTEN BY: Stephen Schuyler
I don’t even know WTF happened, but I just saw a Vine of someone throwing a stack of Meek Mill albums in the garbage and that Drake has come under fire for ‘ghostwriting’. Let me start off by saying I don’t really know or care what Meek said, because 1. He probably yelled it, 2. This has been on my mind for a minute.
Collaborative writing, trading off lyrics, using someones lyrics/poetry WITH their permission, bouncing shit back and forth in a studio. None of these things are equivalent to ghostwriting. Any line/lyric/phrase/hook that Drake DID NOT write with thine own holy hands was properly credited, and most likely hand picked by Drake himself for specific reasons. Sharing an artistic vision is a beautiful thing. Any time artists can contribute to each other, we as consumers usually benefit. In any case his collaborations have usually (I can’t imagine it not) helped the other artists. Drake often uses his influence to provide a platform for music/artists that HE likes. HE explicitly mentioned the poet on his project himself, because it was a collab he was proud of and someone he wanted to shed a light on. We haven’t heard a full fledged project from any new OVO artist yet, but both PartyNextDoor and Majid Jordan’s EP’s were two of my favorite projects in a long time. He also has solid, long standing relationships with those he works most closely with. With out sounding preachy, Drake is doing a lot of good in the industry. If Future is #1 right now, Drake is a very close 2nd. To be honest ( don’t flame me Future-hive) ONE COULD ARGUE that Drake MIGHT have that number 1 spot MAYBE. (I didn’t say it.)
I’ve been a Drake hater in the past, but one thing I can’t argue is the musical contributions he’s made over a relatively short period of time. Yes Wayne cosigned him, yes he was Wheelchair Jimmy, sure he might be kind of goofy and his songs might be a little soft. But he’s more honest (with his content) than most other artists on his level, and he’s CONSISTENTLY delivered top tier music since 2008. He changed the whole hip-hop/rap landscape in a couple years. Plenty of people wouldn’t have a foundation to stand on if Drake hadn’t shown people the soft side of rap and how good it is. I don’t think the man could live with himself if he had ghostwriters. He’d feel like Lance Armstrong should have felt after winning however many tours on roids.
DIRECTOR: Roberto Mario
PRODUCER: Caleb Stone
UPCOMING PROJECT: Rich Slut
RELEASE DATE: July 25
We’ve been patiently waiting the release of C9’s Mike Dece’s album Rich Slut. Well, the wait is almost over! The album is set to release in two days on iTunes and Spotify on July 25th. Directed by Roberto Mario, the video finds the South Florida artist showing off his guns, the women he’s fucking like Marilyn Manson, crib, and his other luxuries. Enjoy the new visual above and be sure the check back Saturday for Rich Slut.
ORIGINAL SONG BY: Future
UPCOMING ALBUM: Traffic
After debuting the cover live at Pitchfork Music Festival this past weekend, Vic Mensa officially liberates the studio version of his Future-inspired “Codeine Crazy” cover. With the whole production reworked and an original verse from Vic, this gives the Future single a breath of fresh air, not that we’re not still bumping this song. Look for Vic Mensa‘s debut studio album Traffic to drop later this year.
Reesyro drops his new 13-track full length offering, appropriately titled NrTH FLawda DaYZe. The tape was created with the thought of giving a person not from North Florida a glimpse into a day in the life. A view into the realities and situations people from North Florida experience. Reesyro addresses issues ranging from love, turning up and religion to name few. A bulk of the production was handled by FrostTheWaveGod, in addition to Eddy Braveaux & Abbott. Stream the new mixtape above.
Currie’s newest project, 1 On 1 With My Kindred, is a thick and dirty portrayal of the raw life experiences and interactions that have shaped him into who he is today. With extremely honest and emotional raps that illustrate every facet of Currie’s real life, he flexes in a sense that most rappers would be embarrassed to. With a number of subtle regional influences but no definitive sound from any, he creates a very unique platform for his themes to resound on. This is most evident in the fact that every song was produced by a different producer, but the project still manages a cohesive sound from start to finish. It’s definitely not Future-esque [DS2 tho..], and you might not find any ‘bangers’, but give the whole thing a good thorough listen by yourself at home or on a long drive/flight, and try to tell me you don’t have love for the kid. I’ve laughed, cried, and thrown out my neck banging to this project.
Favorite Tracks: It Was Written…, Up, Black Sheep, 24
ARTWORK BY: Trapghanistan
COLLAB WITH: DailyChiefers [Site]
Connecting with our good friends over at Daily Chiefers, we curated a dope 18-track playlist consisting of some of our tracks coming out of Florida. The first installment of ‘CITRUS DETOX‘ including bangers from the likes of Pouya, Cashy, Yung Simmie, Denzel Curry, theeHof, GABRL, Wifisfuneral, SolomonDaGod, J $tash, Teddy Blow, Kenny Turnup, Relax Rekords and much more. If you’ve been sleeping on Florida rap, here’s a good chance to catch up. Stream the new playlist above.
