Hip-hop pioneers Gang Starr have been resurrected with a new track, ‘Family And Loyalty’, featuring J. Cole. The new song marks the much-respected crew’s first new material in sixteen years
Though they never “officially” disbanded after the release of their last project (The Ownerz in 2003), Gang Starr duo DJ Premier and Guru still remained infinitely connected to each other even as they embarked on solo paths. In the interim, fans clamoured for more music from Gang Starr. Though there have been whispers and murmurs, the possibilities seemingly grew more remote as the years passed by. After Guru tragically passed away in 2010 the hope seemed to vanish altogether. Today, however, that all changes!
The one person who never gave up hope was DJ Premier. “I never lost faith, or wavered. I still felt it inside of me, it just happened to be nine years later (after Guru’s passing)” Premier commented. “We all want the things we want right now, but I am a patient guy. I hung in there and I just kept believing.”
“Diamonds are forever like family and loyalty” Guru proclaims on ‘Family and Loyalty’, the first new Gang Starr single in sixteen years. The instant the scratches and instrumental hit and Guru’s voice soars, it’s as if time has stood still; and the past is prologue. “This record means so much to me. It’s a continuation of what I never wanted to end” Premier states.
“It’s a very foreign place for me and very emotional. I get happy, sad, excited; my feelings are kind of all over the place. But predominantly, just very happy to be making music with Guru again.”
Though Guru passed away nearly a decade ago, ‘Family and Loyalty’ is quintessential Gang Starr. Collectively, Premier and Guru have always functioned as a connective tissue between socially conscious and street. ‘Family and Loyalty’ is cut from the same cloth; as Guru deftly pivots from the things that can’t be bought (love and respect), infinite thoughts and knowledge of self to fly girls who hold heat.
If hearing Gang Starr resurrected wasn’t enough, Premier and Guru welcome J. Cole into the Gang Starr family and he puts an exclamation mark on ‘Family and Loyalty.’ Cole contemplates an out of body experience and how it feels to rhyme alongside an artist who may no longer be with us in physical form; but (like diamonds) who’s influence has no expiration date “
“J. Cole, who’d a thought you woulda been, rhyming with ghosts, Guru flows forever.” “When it comes to this generation of emcees, ones that are lyrically on the level that Guru was on and someone that he would want to work with; Cole is that guy” Premier confidently asserted. “When Cole heard the record he got the chills and knew it was a classic.”
‘Family and Loyalty’ is a thank you from Gang Starr & J. Cole to fans and the culture that raised them.
Read the rest of this article at U Discover Music
According to a press release, Herring and Segal first worked together on 2015’s So The Flies Don’t Come, the second studio album from milo. Segal produced that album in full; Herring guested on the second song, “Souvenir.” The two met soon after when milo’s tour came through Baltimore, and they started working together soon after.
“Me and Sam just had a moment where we clicked and I started sending him beats and around [2016] he started recording some demos that went on to become the backbone of this project,” Segal said in a press release. “Whenever he was in L.A. we would hang and record and we probably did six or seven songs during that initial period. Then life got in the way, as life tends to do, he had a new Future Islands project that they were touring for… I was working with [Ruby Yacht] and Billy Woods and others, and the project laid dormant through 2017.”
The bulk of Back at the House was recorded at Segal’s home studio in mid-2018, though a few vocal takes were lifted directly from Herring’s laptop demos. Check out the album art and tracklist for Back at the House below.
Read the rest of this article at Fader
As New York’s Black Marble gears up for the release of new album,Bigger Than Life, the eclectic artist has dropped a new single in the form of the pulsating-ly fun “Private Show.”
A melodic ’80s synth influenced foot-tapper with a slick bassline and additional guitar work from Emily Edrosa, this is a gorgeous synth-pop tune. Speaking on the track and the accompanying video show at a rodeo, Black Marble mastermind Chris Stewart had this to say:
‘Private Show’ strongly reflects the themes of solitude vs. community and counterbalancing the desire for personal recognition against the feelings of safety and anonymity derived from surrendering to something bigger than oneself. The characters of “Private Show” all have a choice to make, whether to be fully themselves at the expense of their community or seek the embrace of the group at the expense of their agency. In the end the narrator feels destined for the path of solitude yet makes an effort to find another kindred spirit for the journey.
Read the rest of this article at Indie Shuffle
Having recently announced his new EP ‘Jeté’ is set for release October 25th via PRAH Recordings, emerging London via Margate composer, producer and multi instrumentalist Raven is sharing his new single “Floss“ from the record.
Raven has collaborated with many well-respected artists including Kate Tempest, Paul Weller, Mica Levi, Kwes and Bullion. His music upholds a balance between the orchestral and electronic, abstract and conventional. Parallels can be drawn to the artist Arthur Russell, in terms of their diversity, creating tracks you can dance to, but also songs and music for reflection.
Drawing inspiration largely from the people around him, Raven explains “I find people really inspiring, it’s amazing what can happen after a good conversation, it can give you a different perspective on things. I guess I’m always trying to get a new perspective in one way or another, I find that really creative.”
Combining this with an interest in dance as an art form and movement, Raven came to create Jeté. Having recently worked with some incredibly talented choreographers and dancers, Raven looks to explore the creative freedom, emotion and human connection within dance with his new record; the EP title Jeté literally translates as the French for “jump” and the cover art was a photograph taken by Raven’s father of dancers back in the 80s.
Read the rest of this article at Gig Soup
Obsessed with vintage synthesisers and 80s beats, Mind Enterprises (aka Andrea Tirone)has released his brand new single Monogamy.
Creating a sound which is somehow both forward thinking and nostalgic at the same time, the track follows the released of the electronic artist’s recent singles S.H.A.K.E, Gemini and Ballare.
Think Italo Disco meets retro dance, with razor sharp modern production, and you’re half-way there. Monogamy, coupled with it’s 80s style VHS video is designed to make your feet move and your heart long for simpler times. Its irresistible groove and disjointed vocals are as instant as they are idiosyncratic.
Mind Enterprises said: “I am a big fan of the Chemise song ‘She Can’t Love You’ and took inspiration from that idea of someone being unable to be monogamous. I made this bass driven dance floor tune, and in collaboration with Jack Barraclough we made the video reflecting the idea of a femme fatale, for whom one man will never be enough!”
Read the rest of this article at Frame Magazine
