This is a promise that this time next year I will be in Austin, TX engaging in some 2010 SXSW action. I will skip all other festivals next year to ensure this happens.
I am missing out on so many good shows this week it makes me want to cry. Punk rock, hip hop, metal, country…
Just check out the SXSW schedule. There is enough live music to last me for the whole year.
Aside from the live music there will be film and other interactive entertainment not to mention a handful of awesome friends who live there. For more info check out the SXSW official website.
So yes, 2010 will be a SXSW year. Who is joining me? Anyone going this year? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
To all the awesome record labels and marketing companies I deal with thank you so much for the many invites. I promise you I will take you up on those offers next year.
I know my last blog was about P.O.S. and I feel I am starting to sound like a super fan, but when artists release videos like this…
…you have to talk about it and share it with others.
I’m not sure if you read my review of the P.O.S. CD Never Better but I did state how organic sounding the beginning of “Optimist” was and how I thought it was cups. I had no idea he created the beat from the game that combines cups and stacking skills…very original!
I was lucky enough to receive an email today on how the song was actually created:
P.O.S. describes how “Optimist” was created:
I made the beat to this song after my friend Alegra taught me how to play a game she learned when she was young. Based off of taking a few upside down cups and tapping on them and swooshing them around. The main rhythm of the beat was made by setting up some mics and playing the game. (You see it clearly at the top of the video) I added the organs and pads to kind of soften up the hard noise of the clapping and cups. I wrote the words while listening to the beat in my car, driving around mpls (Minneapolis) trying not to sweat how it came out. This was one of the last songs I wrote for the record and I was just not about feeling any pressure. Not from the label, not from my fans, no pressure no stress. That’s where the inspiration came from for this song I think. Not worrying about what anyone has to say about anything, ever. Doing my own thing and expecting the same from everyone else. That’s where the refrain comes from, “We make our own and if they don’t feel it, then we are not for them”.
I loved the idea of this video as well as how P.O.S. created the song and just had to post it here. I hope you all enjoyed it.
P.O.S., born Stefon Alexander, is a hip hop artist from the city of lakes many refer to as Minneapolis. P.O.S. can mean a lot of things, but in this instance it is an abbreviation for “Pissed Off Stef,” something he was referred to long before the days of his hip hop career. Growing up a punk rocker, P.O.S. was not originally a fan of hip hop until he learned it was more of an alternative form of expression over a glorified music genre.
Recently putting out his fifth release, Never Better,once again on Rhymesayers, P.O.S. produced over half of the CD himself. The album was also released in a limited, custom, do-it-yourself edition, featuring 16 solid picture inserts with six plastic overlays, allowing the owner to create their own cover art combination. I admit to having some fun with this prior to checking out the CD.
Taking his love of punk rock, P.O.S. chose to try a new way of expressing himself and soon was creating rhymes and beats that elaborated into a style of his own. It’s hip hop fueled with punk rock suggestions, personal journeys, and accomplishments, making for a striking release.
Already making a name for himself in the underground hip hop world with Doomtree, P.O.S. is slated to be touring a city near you this summer at the Van’s Warped Tour. Keeping himself occupied until then, P.O.S. will soon will be appearing with label mate, Atmosphere, in the Spring for even some live shows before the Summer kick off.
“Sorry I took so long” is stated by P.O.S. on the beginning track “Let It Rattle.” This introduction track really proved P.O.S. has something to say with an array of statements fornicated into a rap track with excellent intense drumming. My first taste of P.O.S. was exactly what I was expecting.
Following the impressive opening was even more insane drum heavy track “Drumroll (We’re All Thirsty)”. Accompanying P.O.S. was Doomtree making for a thrilling collection of words and beats. In addition to this track a video that blew my mind accompanies it. The video is like watching an urban war with people running for their lives while being attacked by… well I think it would be best if you just checked out the video for yourself to come to that determination. I have my own ideas.
Continuing the CD was the intriguing “Savion Glover,” with P.O.S. taking a lyric from Fugazi‘s “Five Corporations,” and adding it to the already heavily referenced track that seemed like a non-stop expression. “Purexed” really had a Sage Francis flow style throughout leading up to even more impressive drumming backing the chorus. I loved the energy and personable, friendly feel throughout the track. “Graves (We Wrote The Book)” was a little more urban hip hop sounding mixed with some guitar jams. Again, choice words added together with clever rhymes kept me entertained throughout the song.
“Get Smokes” was a freestyle of sorts, with P.O.S. stopping and laughing for a brief moment here and there in between his determined flow, speaking out on everything from Iggy Pop to the disturbed nation. The beats backing him were a unique mix of funk, and even at times had a record-scratching Kid Koala resemblance. “Been Afraid” was a little more serious than the previous tracks, speaking of the misfortune of a girl caught up in a violent relationship.
“Low Light Low Life” stood out with the catchy beats, accompanied by horns and keyboard, with the sweet female flow of Dessa from Doomtree adding to the excitement of the track. This song not only was one of my favorites on the CD but will get the party moving for sure with amazing RJD2 like beats and Blueprint reminding flows.
The CD seemed to start mixing things up with “Optimist (We Are Not Meant For Them),” as it started out very plain and organic sounding, with beat produced by slapping hands on inanimate objects, perhaps cups. P.O.S. concluded with a screaming and hollering refrain of sorts.
“Terrorish” mixed the rapping some more with a little hard screaming, courtesy of Jason Shevchuk of None More Black. The quick bass line kept me rocking my head along to the quick track, with P.O.S. spitting out words as fast as he possibly can. Can you say freestyle group sing-a-long lyricism?
“Never Better” continued with a stray away from the hip hop and more so an indie rock, alt rock approach, reminding me of Cooper Temple Clause mostly from the highly distorted guitars, as well as Judah Nagler, of The Velvet Teen, lending his calm dreary singing. Closing down the CD was “The Brave And The Snake,” a track that left me wanting more – and thanks to a secret track, I got my craving. The secret track was a stunning bonus and seemed to calm me down after such an exciting dose of a real hip hop release.
Never Better really grew on me throughout as I listened to the CD. It was like during each track I was reading a Choose Your Own Adventure book because I had no idea what was coming up next. The genre combination, especially the punk rock and hip hop, kept things ever so interesting to the point where I have listened to this CD over and over.
P.O.S. does not sound like he is full of himself at all during any of the tracks, and when you add that to his amazing beat creations and genus writing skills, I have nothing bad to say about this release or P.O.S for that matter. Drums, bass, a constant flow, and a serious widespread talent for expressing himself make me a fan of P.O.S. and I am pretty sure it will for you, too, if you appreciate expression and real hip hop.
-Need something to do? Head over to Make It Better, a do-it-yourself album cover maker. The site was inspired by the DIY Never Better CD artwork concept. You can also check out the entire album while messing around with the fun little program.
-Are you wondering waht the DIY CD artwork is all about? Check this out:
-Check out the powerful video for “Drumroll” – seriously, this video is insane:
In celebration of the re-mastered, re-packaged, re-release of Atmosphere‘s God Loves Ugly, an email was sent my way…
With today’s release of the re-issue of the Atmosphere classic God Loves Ugly we thought we’d give you an opportunity to show off your own ugly mug at www.youresougly.com. Upload a picture or take one with your webcam and just like that you’ll have your very own God Loves Ugly cover. Share it with your friends, add it as your social networking profile picture or print it off and use it as a brand new cover for your repackaged, remastered and uglier than ever God Loves Ugly CD. Now get over to www.youresougly.com and start uglying up the place!
I admit it is a humorous concept idea giving fans a change to emulate their own face where Slug‘s originally is, but I just couldn’t do it. I did find a few that were posted on the site that humored me though:
If you have not heard of Atmosphere I do want to let you know they are a surfacing one time independent underground hip hop duo. If you are not into hip hop then you should just move on, but if you do like hip hop they are an act you should know about already.
I have adored Atmosphere since I first checked out God Loves Ugly when it debuted. At the time I worked at an underpaying under appreciated record store and a copy was put in front of me by a co-worker. He told me to take it home and listen to it. I was hooked immediately and have loved every release by the duo since.
With there independent success Atmosphere had a high underground fan base. It was almost a treat of sorts to know who they were and to be a fan as they were unknown in the mainstream. That soon changed for them as they were just that good.
Many former fans fell off the bandwagon as the duo achieved stardom with their slick beats and intelligent lyrics. Soon former fans were calling them sellouts and boycotting their future releases, I myself did not have a problem with their success and remained a fan. I was even fortunate enough to catch them at the 2006 Bonnaroo. I must say their set that day was a highlight of that hot, humid day.
They continue to be an impressive act to follow and show no signs of slowing down with their 2008 release When Life Gives You Lemons…You Paint That S@#t Gold. Again, there were some folk calling them sellouts and saying how terrible the album was compared to their underground material, but to each their own. I like the old and the new.
Now that God Loves Ugly has been reissued you have a chance to see what they used to sound like before the spotlights took aim.
