Category: Hype-worthy
Stream Mykki Blanco’s New “Acid Punk Rap” Mixtape – Cosmic Angel
Mykki Blanco is somethin’ else. The word “spectacular” comes to mind. She’s a 25 year-old, New York City dominating Queen of “acid punk rap” who has two self-proclaimed sides: “cute and criminally insane.”
As the alter-ego of originally born, Michael David Quattlebaum Jr., Mykki Blanco (as stated in Pitchfork’s article: We Invented Swag: NYC’s Queer Rap) is breaking down traditional hip-hop identities.
“We’re living in a time where the mediocrity of mainstream pop culture is at an all-time high… Who gives a fuck [about being mainstream]? I’m not trying to be in the 40/40 Club popping bottles while rappers throw hundred-dollar bills on strippers. I’m just out to make my audience happy, fulfill my creative vision, and be successful on my own terms, which is doable.” – The Multiplicities of Mykki Blanco, Interview Magazine.
Blanco isn’t just a “teenage girl rapper” though. Quattlebaum and Blanco as one is a multi-faceted emerging artist with an impressive resume, adding performance artist, actor, fashionista and poet to the list. As a result, Blanco’s independent, artistic hip-hop femme fatale persona and fresh sounds rule our ears, reign our attention and result in obsession.
Mykki Blanco‘s also been working fast and furiously having just dropped a bouncin’ 15-track mixtape, Cosmic Angel: Illuminati Prince/ss. The mixtape includes an impressive collaboration of producers like Flosstradamus, Le1f, Gatekeeper and more. Addictive tracks like “Wavvy,” “Haze.Boogie.Life,” and “Fuckin the DJ” have placed Blanco in our minds and on our maps… and luckily for us, she’s just getting started.
Stream Cosmic Angel below, on SoundCloud or download here and watch the new video for “Haze.Boogie.Life” now:
Mykki Blanco – Haze.Boogie.Life
New Dreamy Synth-Pop Side Project! Meet: Limited
Okay, wait. I have to get something out of the way first… I’m kind of amused by the number of people who Google the word “jizz” every day, and therefore receive coco stereo in their search results. This of course is all thanks to the goofy crooner, Mac DeMarco and his self-proclaimed “Jizz Jazz” music that I so obsessively like to write about. I suppose if I stopped writing “jizz” so many times in my posts (this one’s already a doozy), I’d have less jizz-loving Googlers looking for a good time. So, If you happen to stumble upon coco stereo after Googling the word “jizz,” 1) That’s hilarious, interesting and kind of gross, and 2) I hope you enjoy the music! (sorry there aren’t any actual jizz related pics/videos on here for you… maybe later?)
Now onto new music…
Limited (LTD) is a new dreamy, 80s vibing, synth-pop side project from Alex Craig of Big Troubles. The New Jersey native’s boyish vocals mixed with “noise-gaze” guitar layers and bursts of synth are exquisitely addictive. Limited (which performs as a three-piece live) recently released a 7″ via New Images – A label created and run by Matt Mondanile of Ducktails and Real Estate. The 7-inch includes two tracks, “New Day Rising,” (which I’ve been obsessively playing since first listen), and “You Must Be Dreaming.” While you wait in anticipation for even more synth-pop superbness, give Limited a listen, stalk or follow on Bandcamp, Tumblr, or Twitter.
Limited – New Day Rising
Limited – You Must Be Dreaming
New Hype-Worthy Band: Pale
Don’t you love it when a brand-spankin’ new hype-worthy band lays down a glorious electro pop track (that hits the ground running), yet you don’t know a God damn thing about them? NOT REALLY. I mean, there is that ‘mystery’ factor that falls into play, but come on, give us something, yeah?
Pale is the latest, and mysterious electro buzz band that, according to their SoundCloud, hails from London. With just one addictive track, “Too Much,” Pale is already intriguing the ears and minds of many.
Follow Pale on SoundCloud and Facebook, and wait in anticipation with the rest of us for more releases. Until then, have a listen to their smooth, hypnotizing electro-pop debut, “Too Much,” and watch the insanely captivating music video:
Pale – Too Much
FRESH NEW TRACKS: Prince Rama, xxyyxx, Diplo, Jhameel, Satin Jackets
Prince Rama as Hyparxia
I’ve discussed Prince Rama‘s bizarro but super cool new LP concept before, (Top Ten Hits of the End of the World is a compilation of jams by Prince Rama channelling fictitious mega superstars who’ve died in a supposed apocalypse). The Brooklynites’ LP is due 11/6 via Paw Tracks. The notion may be out there, but I can’t wait to hear the LP in its entirely ‘cus the jams released thus far have been apocalypse worthy. Here are two new tracks:
Prince Rama (Channeling Hyparxia) – Welcome to the Now Age
Prince Rama – Those Who Live for Love Will Live Forever
Orlando, Florida’s Marcel Everett, aka xxyyxx, is one of those producers who makes you feel like saying, in typical Wayne/Garth fashion, “We’re not worthy!” Why? ‘Cus the kid’s only 17! He produces these experimental, down tempo, chillwave beats out of his bedroom, in boredom, and they’re masterpieces. His full-length, self-titled LP was released in March of this year, and he continues to crank out new beats on a consistent basis. “Lay Down” is his latest creation:
xxyyxx – Lay Down
This is kind of a guilty pleasure, but damn, it’s GOOD. According to Pigeons & Planes, Jhameel, our Berkeley hailing pop-crooner asked fans to choose a song, and he’d cover it. Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” was apparently the winner, and we’re all grateful, ‘cus it’s poppy, lustful and fun:
Jhameel – Thinking About You (Frank Ocean Cover)
Satin Jackets is smooth, electro-funk guru and German producer, Tim Bernhardt. He’s also making humble waves in the blogosphere with his self-proclaimed “glossy music” and new track, “You Make Me Feel Good.” Check him out on SoundCloud and Facebook.
Satin Jackets – You Make Me Feel Good
How did Diplo make it on my blog again? Regardless, this slower than typical Diplo jam featuring Jahan Lennon (of the now-defunct PO PO) has gotten some serious repeat action. “About That Life” is the first single from Diplo’s first full-length LP in 8 years (!), which is expected sometime in early 2013. Diplo and Lennon have also made an appropriately trippy, hippie video to accompany:
Diplo – About That Life feat. Jahan Lennon
Sexy Songs Alert! Chad Valley ft. Twin Shadow + HAERTS + When Saints Go Machine
Welcome to listening pleasure power hour. This is your sexy songs alert with jams that amp up the heat so high, they make you wanna get doooown.
Okay, but also, Treasure Island Music Fest was meh. So I don’t have much to say other than I was most thoroughly and highly impressed by the ever-so-funky group, The Coup, SBTRKT and of course, Grimes. Going to music festivals also gives you perspective as to why one can seemingly and absolutely love a particular band, yet will quickly become turned off by said band once they reach a certain ‘mainstream’ festival headlining status. The reasoning? OTHER PEOPLE… and there are a lot of these ‘other people’ at music festivals; you know, the tank top donning dubstep bros and the ‘alternative’ faux hippie Urban Outfitter clones that make you roll your eyes, laugh in confusion, and unwillingly give dirty looks. Festivals are weird, so let’s get back to sexy songs:
Woahwoahwow Chad Valley & Twin Shadow… you can def hurt my feelings if you keep producing sexy gems like this. “I Owe You This” is a catchy, dreamy, tender-hearted electro jam off Hugo Manuel aka Chad Valley’s upcoming LP, Young Hunger available October 30th via Cascine.
Chad Valley – I Owe You This (feat. Twin Shadow)
Nini Fabi, lead singer of the brand spankin’ new Brooklyn band, HAERTS, has an entrancing and magnifying voice that romanticizes the catchy beats produced by band mate, St. Lucia. The combo creates a unique blend of pop, folk, and beauty making this a sharp needle in a haystack of Brooklyn bands. “Wings” is HAERTS‘ debut jam, which is making serious waves in the music blogosphere:
HAERTS – Wings
Wow. “Mannequin,” the latest hauntingly beautiful release from Danish electro-pop group, When Saints Go Machine, is simply incredible. Lead vocalist, Nikolaj Manual Vonsild, once again blows minds with his unbelievably delicate, crooning falsetto voice of gold that leaves you wanting more:
When Saints Go Machine – Mannequin
Worth the Hype – Meet New Electro-Pop Songstress: MØ
Isn’t it a wondrous phenomenon that while basking in the discovery a new, magnifying musical gem of stunning indie-electro-pop proportions, you suddenly receive an email from a homie recommending the ‘new dame,’ and your news feed instantly floods with blog posts calling your glorious ‘diamond in the rough’ the “next new Grimes.” In that moment, you realize that while, in that nano second of bliss in which you were only beginning to discover the magnitude of a new potential electro-pop star, there will always be someone one step ahead of you. This can either be A) really fucking annoying and/or depressing or B) reaffirming in that your musical tastes/choices may also have potential.
So with that, I, a homie via email, and a bunch of other blogs present to you a new electro-pop sensation hailing from Copenhagen: MØ. The talented 23-year-old songstress, Karen Marie Ørsted, graces us with two electro-pop gems, (Pilgrim, and Maiden) full of soaring vocals and just enough synth to keep us on the edge of our seats while she records her debut album.
MØ has officially taken seat on the hype throne, now we wait… unless you’re a lucky bastard and live in Brooklyn. MØ is playing at the Yours Truly CMJ Music Marathon party at Glasslands October 19th, and again later that night at the Danger Village Showcase. This music marathon and these lineups are so ridiculous that if I continue to talk about it, I might cry. So join in on the hype and see MØ in The Big Apple, or find her on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud and/or Tumblr for a stalk, follow, listen or two.
MØ – Pilgrim
coco stereo 