Friday's = No Doze/New Music

Notch isn't really new. Remember Born Jamericans? I'd post an mp3 but all my Born Jamericans music is on Tape. Lol. Man I used to love that group. Well, the lil lightskinned dude? That's Notch. He's from a mixed heritage background with fam from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Portugal, and African Americans as well. Ain't that a mixed bag? Well, he's taken that cultural gumbo and applied it to his music. And it's working. He's had hits for the past few years with Reggaton releases. What's funny is I rediscovered this artist driving down the street to work a few days ago. I turned on the radio and heard a dope dancehall riddim. I kept it on that station,and bam here comes some reggaeton on top of it. It was Notch. Never heard that sort of thing before, and that's why he is starting off this No Doze for this week. Check it for yourself and see what you think. New Album is in stores NOW.


Notch- Ay Que Bueno

Based out of Austin, Gourds is a really intersting sound. I like Jimmy Buffett. Didn't figure me for a parrot head? Well, I did matriculate at Georgia Southern University during the late '90's, people. You were'nt going to party and not eventually hear some Jimmy Buffett. This is just feel good stuff, man. When I put this on I feel like I should be either dancing on a dusty dance floor with a cold one in one hand and the waist of my lady in the other or dangerously keg standing on someone's deck out back behind their 2nd floor apartment. WHY did we do shit like that, honestly? Because it was fun. Fun is what you'll get with Gourds. If you turn your nose up to folky/rootsy damn near country inflected music this MIGHT not be for you. As for me and mine? We'll be dancing in your stead. If you like what you hear they'll be playing at Smith's Old Bar in Atlanta tonight.


Gourds- How Will You Shine



Never heard of the label Audio Dregs? Neither did I until I stumbled upon this video on Cool Hunting. Cool Hunting has been a favorite site of mine for some time now (they are linked up in the blog roll). Always good for some new material, and E*rock is no exception. Enjoy.


You MIGHT have heard this cat on a few of my mixes. Obeah has been working with the likes of Social Espionage alot lately. This MC/DJ/musician has been on the scene here in ATLanta via Columbus, Georgia for a few years now, and he's talented as you'll see from the MP3 I'll provide you. The Substance Theory Project he's got going with Social Espionage shows some promise, and if you like raw hip hop you'll probrably love this.

Obeah-Raw life (rework)



We've talked about B.O.B before, but never mentioned him in a No Doze segment. The man is Dope. He's doing what shoulda been done along time ago. He's spitting true over classic Southern Bass Beats. His style is accessible for party goers, and southern rap connoisseurs but without comprimising his flow. If you haven't seen him mentioned in XXL, if you haven't heard him on mixtapes such as his CLOUD 9 mix on DJ Smallz Southern Smoke series I seriously have to ask you where you've been. The song I'm going to share is getting some play here in Atlanta on mainstream radio. Please support artists like this that bring skill and artistry to the table. Call your local station and request "Haterz"! Remember. LISTEN to what he's saying. Wes Fif isn't the lyricist B.O.B is on this track, but he holds his own.

B.O.B- Haterz (feat.Wes Fif)

Lastly, we'll close this with ATL's Psyche Origami. Everyone in ATL has heard of this hip hop group. We know what they bring. They bring a GREAT live show, they bring two djs and one dope emcee. What trips me out is that with the critical success of Collective Efforts, IDD, and other Arc the Finger label mates how noone outside has never heard of Psyche Oragami. Let's remedy that...

Can never get too much Jay Electronica.

Love this cat. Ever since I first heard "Hard to Get". I been a fan of Jay Electronica. This brother from New Orleans is on some other-other. Props to FWMJ over at Rappers I Know for blessing the net with this latest offering from Jay as well as everything else Mr. Miller does for Music. If you haven't seen his site then you have been missing out on FREE and LEGAL downloads of exclusive and FRESH shit for the past few years. Don't do that. Go pay him a visit. While you do that, enjoy this jawn. You know if Badu and Just Blaze messing with him, he gotta be a genious.
"Act 1 Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)"

Friday's = No Doze/ New Music.

If you haven't picked up the Lovework album by Gabriel Teodros, you're missing out. It's just good quality hip hop. This cat is out of Seattle Washington, and I don't remember exactly how I got put onto him. I was looking for a mix on a random blog one day (as perusing blogs has become a favorite hobby of mine) and I saw an article on him. Ah yes, I remember now. I was looking for a mixtape of some old Felt (Murs & Slug), you know. I had to replace a jawn I was given at a party and never once listened to after I recently heard rave reviews of the mixtape. BAM. There was the Lovework album article with a few snippets. It's not avant garde. It's not MINDBLOWING lyricism. What Lovework is, however is just plain ole good music. BUY it.

Gabriel Teodros- "Beautiful"

I think we'll stay on the Left Coast and talk about Blu. You know who Blu is, or at least you should. The very first entry on this blog was about Blu's project Johnson & Johsnon replete with a video performance. If you haven't picked up the Lifted EP, then chance are that you have no idea who this man is. He's dope is all you need to know. Soulful hip at it's finest but with a west coast flare.
You know what? I'm not going to try to convince you. Listen for yourself to this cut off the Lifted EP. Go cop that Below the Heavens album! Support quality Hip Hop!

Blu- "Soul Amazing"

I'ma be real typical here and talk about The Cool Kids. For real. I know what you are thinking. You're thinking I'm riding the buzz. I am. And what of it? I like to party. These guys make party music and whats more is that they are funny as shit. "A little Bit Cooler" makes me laugh. On the real, alot of that hipster bass driven stuff is annoying to me. If I hear too much Uffie or Bennie Sings I am liable to tear my eyes out. It's just not me. This shit got a swagger to it, tho. Plus they rock their fitted brims ATL style. Check out this video and see if I'm lying...And btw, they'll be performing Live at MJQ for the Sloppy Seconds birthday bash July 3rd. Be there or be lame as shit.



Listen. Seems like Alot of y'all that come here for No Doze aren't from Atlanta. Fine. I love it. That means I can put y'all onto some ATL music. Rising Sons is one of those groups I'd like to introduce you to. Day to Day, the 2006 album from Rising Sons could have been a classic. It would have been a classic had anybody heard it. When you hear the tracks off this album it doesn't sound like some underground bullshit. It sounds polished, well thought out. The skits are hilarious, the intro is on some Big Rube shit with Sphinxx representing on the Spoken word tip. Here's my ultimate compass with the shit. My wife literally stole the album from me and took it to work so she could enjoy it on her lunch breaks. It's that good. Listen to this jawn they did with Da Backwudz

Rising Sons-"In and Out"


For the life of me I can't understand why more people don't know who Social Espionage is. EVERY time I've seen them take the stage they've blown people away. The first time I saw them was at the 2006 A3C. It was the end of the night.
Everyone was ready to head for the doors. Unannounced, it seemed, comes this ill Daft Punk sample and a lil blonde headed kid starts belting out staccato braggadocio into the microphone. It caught all of us off gaurd. I turned around and looked at my friends and we all shared a collective WTF moment. The music was dope, the prescence was there. You could hear the murmur of people asking "Who is this band?" I had to buy the album right there and then. I was compelled to book them for NorthernArc's Darien Brockington/Nicolay/Tanya Morgan show as well. I HAD to. I didn't have a choice. My spirit would not let me leave without speaking with them. Well, it's been a year since then and they had the same effect on the audience at the Darien Brockington show as well as anywhere else I see them perform. They simply KEEP TAKING FOLKS BY SUPRISE. Fuck that. I'ma spread the Gospel. This group is hot. They got a nice band, they do their think really crisp at shows, and they are just overall good dudes. They never get mad at me for missing their shows because I work nights. I think what gets more more than anything is their range. They do alot of different kinds of music. They can go from some Linkin Park shit to some Collective Efforts shit seamlessly.



Meet the new kid on the block. Spree Wilson is one of the most talented cats I have the pleasure of knowing. What instrument Doesn't he play? What style is he not familar with, what genre? The dude is under the radar still, but that is by design. He has a new mixtape and album soon coming working with heavy hitters such as former Rawkus artist and current D.A.R.P producer Novel, and frequent collaborator with Chicago Rapper Common, No I.D. Do I need to tell you how serious this cat is? There aren't many that can take you from a Beatles sound to Stax Records, and THEN to the Native Toungues. There just aren't that many artists left out there are are true artists. You aint up on him?
Okay, let me help you with that.


Spree Wilson- "It was all a Dream"

Friday's= No Doze/New Music.

Clutchy? I think his myspace url states the question on my mind right sucintly...Who is clutchy Hopkins?
I got no clue. None. I've scoured the internet and the only thing I found is that noone knows who he is. There are rumors. There are tales, there is fiction. There are no cold hard indisputable facts about Clutchy other than he is Dope.
Right here is usually where I share one mp3 with y'all, but seeing as I did that yesterday with his take on UGK's "International Players Anthem", I aint fittna do that again. Buy the album.

I already know what you are going to say. Don't say it. Don't even think it. I'ma speak on what I like, dammit and this new T-pain album, I like.
Why? Call me crazy, but I'ma southern boy. This album reminds me of some of the Bass'n B music made so popular by the So So Def All Star albums of the early '90's. My wife and I were exiting Qtime over on Ralph David Abernathy before it turns into Cascade road and curiousity got the better of me. I haven't been into Big Oomp records for a long time, and I decided to check up on what my homeboi from College The Black Bill Gates might have out right now. When we walk in, the DJ plays T-pain's "Bartender"and it was on. I mean, my girl got that sway in her hips going, I started to two step right there and I had to ask who/what they were playing. Y'all know I don't listen to the radio so I came off looking like a lame not knowing that was Tpain's new shit. I listened to the album today as my Last.fm page will tell y'all...Dawg. I like it alot. Big up to mister Tigallo Pain (c) Phonte from Little Brother (who by the way will be in town on Saturday and again on Wednesday for the Scion Jawn). Lol. I really do like this record and it took a random occurance like this for me to give it a chance.

Try as I might, I'm no music critic. Actually, I'm not going to front. I don't try to be a music critic. Looking for flaws in music is not fun, not my forte. Recognizing this, I'm not certain what to call this music. It's just good. Kathy Diamond is just another UK import I've fallen in love with musically and like the Lo Fi, Grime, and Quantic-esque music before her I'm simply blown away with the beauty of it. The soul of it. I think the best way to describe this music to you is for you to hear it yourself...Kathy Diamond- "Between The Lines"

I like new shit. I like to be suprised. When I came across this Stockholm Jazz Beat Project album I didn't expect much. I never really heard of them. Then I pressed play and the CD hasn't stopped spinning. I've been playing this in the car more than anything else. It's one of those albums you want to ride to. It's good Jazz, it's good fusion. It's Divine. Stockholm Jazz Beat Project- "Divine". By the way, don't get caught up in this track thinking it's indicative of the album. It's not. It's more soulful than jazzy, but it's still one of my favorite tracks.

And now for ATLANTA. I guess T-pain being from Tallahasee doesn't allow him to count as an ATL artist even though he spends alot of time here and is on a label based here in Atlanta, Akon's Konvict Music. Well dammit this is MY blog and I do as I damned well please so I'ma break my OWN rules and count him as an ATL artist anyway. I'm tired, dammit. I want to go snuggle up next to wifey. Have you heard of Anthony David? Sure you have. Well it just so happens that this next artist wrote "Georgia Peach". That's one of my favorite songs from Mr. David. This Artist has also written for Sleepy Brown. In fact, I'll stop with the trivia. Ed Garnesdid a nice write up on Coup De Ville Theory. I've been in love with this man's limited myspace offerings for about a year. Coup De Ville Theory- "'82 Malibu"This is some sit on the front porch with a sweet tea and a soft breeze shit.


You haven't heard of Eugene IV (Eugene the fourth)? Maybe you have and you just haven't realized it. I mean the man has performed with the likes of Shawn J. Period, worked with ATL House/Soul/Bossa band Jiva, and just a few weeks ago I saw him at a show at Apache Cafe (Again, shout out to J Sevens and what those folks are doing over there) playing with Aloe Blacc, Buff1 and ATL's own Dillon Maurer. What a show. What. A. Show. Unfortunatley I don't have any tracks from Eugene. I didn't buy the album as of yet. What you should know is that he has positive lyrics, and although he does mention God alot, I don't think he's overbearing with it. As a Muslim I know I wasn't offended. Great, great music. The man plays sax live at his shows too. A live band and the whole 9 yards. If you get a chance to see him perform, make sure you do that.

And with that, I bid you adieu. Bedtime for the FireBrand. I got Jummah in a few hours. I need it. I'ma bad, bad man. But y'all already knew that.

Friday's = No Doze/New Music.

Matthew Dear is dope. The first mixtape I ever made had an Audion (one of his known aliases) Track on it. This Texan living in Ann Arbor makes two Ann Arbor transplants I've talked about on this blog making good music (the other being Buff1). This single I'm making available for DOWNLOAD is called "Dog Days". He made this back in 2003 and it reminds me alot of the Audion tracks I used to love. I'm not going to get into all of his aliases and his prolific body of work in such a short amount of time. That's just too much work and I'm lazy. His newest release is called Asa Breed . What can do, however is leave you with this: Matthew Dear- "Dog Days"


Okay, okay. Fine. I know it's weird. I know *I* am weird. I'm a relatively young man, still in my 20's. I'm a Jamaican-American and I don't listen to alot of Dance-hall. Sue me. I was raised on a steady diet of Roots-Rock Reggae. In my family we broke bread in the morning with records of Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and of course Bob Marley spinning in the backdrop. I still gain sustenance from that sound. I love some Gregory Isaacs with my toasted breadfruit on a Saturday Morning waiting for My Dawgs come on the tube. Every now and again a Dance-hall artist like a Capelton comes along and changes it up for me. This time it's Mavado. If you are into Dance-hall or Reggae and you haven't heard this VP recording artist's name ring out recently, you've prolly been under a rock. If you missed out on the mixtape prequel to his Album bearing the same name "Gangsta for life" you missed out. However... we still believe in seconds chances here at NorthernArc. You're welcome. Buy the album.

Y'all heard of the Procsussions, right? Well damnit this ain't about them. Okay, it sorta is. I wanna speak about this new mr. J Medeiros album "Of gods and girls". It's his solo debut, and I gotta say that it's the hotness. It really is. I mean, as soon as I put the album on I was in love. In fact, allow me to help ya'll share in the feeling. This is track #1 of the new album from mr. J Medeiros- "Amelie".

Enough for out-of-towners. Let's get back to the A. We've mentioned Le Castle Vania before on this blog. The man is doing his thing. Be sure to check him out at his Monthly Event over at the Drunken Unicorn on First Thursdays. The event is called Fuck Yesss, in case you were wondering. Dylan has an EP out, if you didn't know. Here's a track off of it. Le Castle Vania - "Tigertron"


Real quick I'ma speak on a young cat by the name of Atypik. This Atlanta based artist is originally from the Bay area. I know y'all haven't heard of him yet, but y'all might have seen him around. How did I run across him? We go to school together over at Clark Atlanta (CAU!). Yet another AU center artist, yes. This cat is talented, and he'll be on the "Brew House" mixtape coming Late Summer from Dj Unknown. Can't wait that long to hear new shit? Atypik - "Hold that pose".

I'ma close this out with Jahi Kearse. I mentioned him last week when we talked about Days Ahead. This man is talented. We know how deep the Atlanta Soul scene is and this brother has been on his grind in that scene. You might have seen him perform with Donnie, you might have seen him perform solo but I promise you that if you are into Soul (Like I am) You've never seen him and been disappointed. Word on the street is that he's got a Demo he's shopping. Enjoy this little jam from him...
Jahi Keare - "You're Beautiful".


That ends our No Doze segment for the day. I MIGHT be back to talk about some events this weekend. Lots of parties. The F'in Socialites have Slush(Featuring Matt Roan) planned for Saturday, The Decatur Social Club has an event featuring The Glamour over in East Atlanta (I'm assuming) tonight. Can't forget to mention that Dj Mafioso's Sazon will be going down at Apache as well for those that want to get their dance on.

Friday's = No Doze/New Music

What can you say? The man is hungry. Jax been making moves in the A since like '97 and what a better way to celebrate his tenth year going strong in the A-town than with his 5th Solo album "Sharper Images". This Queens, New York transplant has been making records and performing with Binkis Recs for a minute. For more on the history of Jax, Binkis and
interesting tidbits like how DJ Drama came up in their camp check out Mosi Reeves' article in Atlanta Creative Loafing about the new project. There was a time when I felt like we need to push the old heads and the memory of that old scene out of the way to make room for the new artists. A reasonable person should have known better. I remember talking to a few brothers about this about a year ago and they gave me the gas face. I'll take that L. That was a bad look. The truth is that Binkis is an integral part of the fabric that makes the art and music scene here in Atlanta. Without pioneers like Binkis, Lyrical Giants, P.A., Micronauts, Hemisphere, Mass Influnece, etc, there simply would not be a hip hop underground in Atlanta. Binkis is still involved performing at shows, showing support for artists new and old. You can't go to a show or art event in Atlanta without running into these cats. ATL should be grateful for them, and show love every time one of these cats touch a mic. Show some love and go pick up "Sharper Images".

Jax "J A Xperience"


Well these cats are new on the scene. Apparantly they are still unsigned, but these cats are making moves. You can check for them at the Loft tomorrow night Saturday, June 9th. The Atlanta fusion/electronic/rock scene is really on fire of late with many bands landing on the scene- most of them are signed to Stickfigure Recordings. It will be interesting to see what The Futurists do in the up coming years.

The Futurists "One of us"


Jewl Anguay is fine. I probrably need to stop mentioning this first when I'm bringing up female artists. I probrably also need to stop stating the obvious, but again, this is blog. MY blog. I'ma talk about it. This beauty is an artist on Cee-Lo's new Radiculture label. Between her and Tori Alamaze? The man has got a solid start. When you hear her voice you just know. You know she will be a star. Just beautiful music. You can hear more of her music on her myspace page, but you know I couldn't let y'all go without tasting a lil sample.

Jewl Anguay "I found you"


Deep Cotton is signed to The Wondaland Arts Society. What is, who is the Wondaland Arts Society? I'd be lying if I said I know. What I can say is that Janelle Monae is an artist working with them, and that they do have a blog Well, whatever the hell it is they are doing, they need to keep on doing it and do MORE of it. I love their style, their swagger, their music. Deep Cotton is abit of an enigma for many right now, but if you check out this remix they did of "The Mighty O" off of Outkast's Idlewild soundtrack you might begin to get an idea of what these cats are about.

Deep Cotton "At the Deep Cotton" (The "Mighty O" remix)



Days Ahead is dope. The Duo has been doing their thing for about 4 years now. But for some reason alot of folk have never heard of them. I keep getting people calling me and telling me about them as if they came out last week. I first saw them at Apache Cafe 2 or 3 years ago performing with another ATL talent Jahi Kearse. They were tremendous. Somehow this group has managed to fuse together Soul, Rock and Jazz seamlessly. Of course I'm going to give y'all a sample, but you really need to see them live so I thought I'd inlcude this youtube of them performing earlier this year at The 5 spot.


Days Ahead "Love is love"

Heavy Mojo. I love these guys.

I did an interview for them on our NorthernArc site a few years back before we had our first crash (thanks porn bots!) and like a dumbass I didn't back up my audio or save my text so the interview was totally lost. It's funny. Because when I met B Dirty out at Greenbriar mall for the interview I really didn't know who they were. I had an IDEA. El Pus had just dropped their new album, and I was really just understanding how deep the talent pool in Atlanta was when I ran across their myspace site. I kept calling 'em Danger Mojo. I know he was mad as shit. Prolly even more mad their interview got lost. lol. This is back in the day when Myspace was Friendster's little sister. Well, times have changed...

3 years later here they are still doing their thing in a scene where we've witnessed alot of ATL acts come go, or just fade away. Looks like they just released a new video for "Radio" which is dope because I love that song. It reminds me alot of "Gangster" by B.O.B in that it shares the same subject matter. Noone more than ATL musicians know the pain of what it is to be marginalized by Big Media. I see y'all, fellas. Do your thing.

I'd feel weird if I didn't include an MP3 for y'all so here is "Streetz" from Heavy Mojo. If I can somehow dig up that audio, I'll post that shit later. Meanwhile, go cop that album, folks!