.idk. featuring Pusha T - "LiFE 4 A LiFE"

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Photo by Isaac Barnes

The rap renaissance of 2025 is continuing in 2026, and one of the releases we're most looking forward to is the upcoming mixtape from .idk.. For his latest single, he's enlisted Pusha T. "LiFE 4 A LiFE" is a chill but completely intense new song. It takes everything we first loved about hip hop in the golden years of the late 80's and early 90's, but instead of sounding like a throwback, it's moving the genre forward. And then there's .idk.'s flow. As soon as the vocals start, you're completely engrossed in everything he says. He's simply one of the most engaging new artists we've discovered in a long time. "LiFE 4 A LiFE" is a killer song that's going to work for fans of both classic and modern underground hip hop.

.idk. says of his latest single:

“'LiFE 4 A LiFE' speaks to a way of thinking shaped by survival, retaliation, and inherited codes, not to justify it, but to illuminate it. I’m observing a mindset, not endorsing it, and showing that perspective and growth are possible even for those shaped by the harshest environments. The goal is awareness, empathy, and the belief that more people can learn to see beyond that cycle.”

You can listen to "LiFE 4 A LiFE" below. Even the Devil Smiles is due out January 23, and is available for pre-order here. For more on .idk., check out the artist on Instagram.

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Monday Mix: Newport Folk Festival 2014 Must See Bands

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With this weekend's upcoming Newport Folk Festival, we thought we'd highlight some of this year's can't miss acts. We're focusing on the bands playing smaller stages and earlier in the day. I mean, you're obviously going to see Ryan Adams and Jack White. Instead, these are the acts worth getting there early for, and seeking out the smaller stages. Phox Friday, 1:50, Quad Stage Phox hails from Baraboo, WI, the winter home of the Ringling Brothers' Circus. I'm not sure if that is connected to their music or not, but Phox has an otherworldly charm and a magical feel. They come across as a more grounded St. Vincent or a less intense version of early Tori Amos. Their music is simply beautiful and uplifting.  Reignwolf Friday, 2:55, Quad Stage Truly pushing the boundaries of what can be considered "folk" are Reignwolf. Reignwolf is Jordan Cook, who sounds like a mixture of The Black Keys and Queens of the Stone Age, mixed with just a lit...
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Minibeast - "High Sea"

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Somehow Peter Prescott of Mission of Burma and Volcano Suns has another band that I never knew about. Minibeast already released an album that I completely missed back in 2012, and they are currently at work on the follow up, Free Will. Based on a track from the upcoming album, "High Sea," Minibeast shares some common sonic ground with Mission of Burma, but with an added emphasis on the groovy side of things. It's basically the noise and dissonance of Burma but heard through a 60s surf groove, as if Frankie and Annette were punks. You can listen to "High Sea" below. Minibeast currently have a Kickstarter to help fund the final production of Free Will. You can get more information on that here . It should be out sometime in June.
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The Cairo Gang - "Be What You Are"

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Photo by Rachel Cassels The Cairo Gang is mostly Emmett Kelly, who recorded most of their upcoming album, Goes Missing,  on his own while travelling. "Be What You Are" is pure pop gold, reminiscent of British invasion bands like The Kinks and The Zombies. It features jangly guitars and some of the most infectious layered vocals you've heard in years. Luckily the beauty of this style of music is that it never quite sounds dated. It might sound like it's from a certain era that happened 50 years ago, but everything you've ever listened to since then borrows so heavily from it that it always sounds current. It's the kind of music you wish you hadn't missed, only now you haven't. Goes Missing  is due out June 23rd on God? Records. You can pre-order the album now, and be sure to check out The Cairo Gang's Facebook . Listen to "Be What You Are" below, and below that are tour dates, many opening for Mikal Cronin. Sat. Sept. 5 - Portlan...
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