If It's Too Loud...

After watching some wild speculation the last few weeks on Reddit, Boston Calling has announced their 2025 line up, and, dare I say it... it's pretty great! The headliners are Luke Combs and Megan Moroney on Friday, Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne on Saturday, and Dave Matthews Band and Vampire Weekend on Sunday. Personally, I'm most interested in Sunday's headliners, more out of curiosity than anything else. After that, we've got quite literally something for everyone with legends like Sheryl Crow, TLC, The Black Crowes, Sublime, Public Enemy (!!!!!), Tom Morello (playing the same day as Public Enemy, so I think we need a collaboration...), and Spin Doctors, along with newer favorites like Thee Sacred Souls, Lucius, and more. Once again they've outdone themselves with local bands that include Latrell James, Megan from Work, Battlemode, Rebuilder, sidebody, Pinklids, and Vivid Bloom! This is the strongest Boston Calling line up in years, and we're thrilled for th...

Photo via Facebook Bringing you a new song featuring Chuck D every Monday is a tradition we can get behind. This week sees a new single from Skyzoo featuring the legendary Public Enemy MC. "Courtesy Call" is the perfect style of song to feature Chuck D. It's a little smoother and less raw than classic Public Enemy, but it does have an edge to it that classic PE had. I'll take Chuck D doing anything, but we'd be thrilled to bring you "Courtesy Call" even if it didn't feature the living legend on the chorus. Skyzoo has created this perfect classic sounding hip hop song that still has its footing planted right in 2024. Skyzoo says of his latest single: “The idea behind 'Courtesy Call' came from the energy of the beat itself.  The track, produced by The Dagger, out of Michigan, is bare-boned and layered all at once; between the subs and the 808’s going neck and neck with the breakbeat drums.  It’s sort of a double entendre in its own right, and t...

The latest single from Consequence features Chuck D of Public Enemy, and it might be one of the most unique hip hop songs ever recorded. "What Has America Done" is a rap song without beats. Musically, it's quite sparse. It's mostly piano and a capella harmonies behind the verses for much of the song. The song is somber and never boring despite (or perhaps because of) its refusal to follow traditional hip hop tropes. "What Has America Done" forces you to pay attention to Consequence and Chuck D's lyrics, since those are at the forefront of the song. This song is an absolute must listen. Consequence says of his latest single: “The results of the 2024 Presidential Election are a reflection of who and where we are as a nation.  Like it or not, especially if you’re African American, we must continue to pursue our equalities and make sure we do everything in our power to level the playing field as best we can. In doing so, we can forget where we’ve been and wh...

Chuck D named his 2016 album The Man in Black , so it shouldn't be too shocking that he's covering the Johnny Cash song of the same name, but it still is. The Public Enemy frontman covering anything even remotely country wasn't something I expected to hear anytime soon, but since I'm a huge fan of both I'm definitely in. What is truly shocking is how perfectly it works. Chuck D's version of "Man in Black" is more of a spoken word song with hip hop beats paired with country/blues guitar licks. This is perfect for those of us that "Old Town Road" never clicked for. I expected this cover to be interesting, and I was hoping it wouldn't be horrible. I didn't expect it to be this great. You can listen to Chuck D and Bob Log III covering "Man in Black" below. It will be included on JR Vol. 3: A Tribute to Johnny Cash . The album will also feature covers by Left Lane Cruiser, Charlie Parr, and more, and is due out November 4 on Hill...

Photo via Facebook I know, I know. At this point we're all having election fatigue at this point, and just want this over. But, for those of us that grew up in the 90's obsessed with hip hop, the latest from De La Soul is a complete dream project come true. "Remove 45" is obviously an anti-Trump song, but, aside from that, it features Styles P (The Lox), Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Mysonne, and Public Enemy's Chuck D. From that line up alone there's no way I'm not going to bring this song to you. Plus, it's a great song. A lot of times a song with eight MCs with a message can be an overbloated mess, but everyone keeps this song under control and on focus. Each rapper gets a verse, interspersed with sound bites from the subject matter. In fact, "Remove 45" might be the best thing that everyone involved has released this century. You can listen to "Remove 45" below. You can find the song here . For more on De La Soul, check out their...

Nothing is Quick in the Desert was originally scheduled to come out on July 4 as a free surprise download. Last weekend, news of the album leaked and earlier this week Public Enemy confirmed the album. Yesterday, Public Enemy released the album early. Public Enemy is one of my top three bands of all time. This is based almost completely on their first four albums. It's not that anything they've released since Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black  has been bad, but I tend to listen to their newer albums once or twice, and then just go back to the classics.  Nothing is Quick in the Desert  is a return to form. Maybe it's because Public Enemy have a lot to be angry about now. While their recent releases have edged into the R&B chorus trap or having references to their earlier work that seemed a bit to cutesy. Listening to a Public Enemy album shouldn't be a fully pleasant experience. Public Enemy should be a bit discordant, like the Sonic Youth of hip hop. ...

Photo via Facebook Last year, I had a very confusing relationship with Prophets of Rage. Combining Rage Against the Machine with Public Enemy and adding B Real of Cypress Hill in the Flava Flav role might have been the most exciting thing that ever happened to my inner teenage self. Unfortunately, the reality of that didn't live up to the expectations. First there was the tour with pit tickets selling for multiple hundreds of dollars (face value, not even through scalpers). Sure, they had $20 tickets, but those were waaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back. They gave a lot of the money raised on the expensive tickets to charities, but having the people that can afford those prices right up front seems contrary to the whole point. Hell, I knew Trump supporters that took a limo to go to the show. And then there was the whole virtually unlistenable EP they released last year. The worst part of it was that, in the 2016 political climate, Tom Morello and Chuck D couldn't write a song, and ju...

Filled with surprises and whimsy! Album of the Week Artist : Jason Isbell Album : Something More Than Free Quick Description : Jason Isbell's (formerly of the Drive-By Truckers) latest solo offering Why You Should Listen : Jason Isbell has a modern alt-country/roots sound with a classic country sensibility, and the two match up better on this album than anything he's worked on previously. Overall Thoughts : This is my album of the week for a reason. It's a little less polished, a little more raw, and it just works . Feels like an important, killer album by someone who is really hitting his stride musically. Recommendation : A wholehearted required listen this week. Artist : Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell Album : Sing Into My Mouth Quick Description : An album of covers from Iron & Wine and Band of Horses's Ben Bridwell. Why You Should Listen : You enjoy cover songs and softly-sung folk music; you think the world needs more Talking Heads covers. O...

Hip hop pioneers De La Soul and Chuck D have teamed up for this new track, "The People." For musicians that have been around for almost 3 decades, this track is unbelievably fresh, with jazz riffs and an almost uncomfortable, disjointed feel which comes across as free form and abstract. It's about what everyone faces as human beings, and wasn't planned to coincide with the Ferguson decision, but feels like it was. Originally scheduled for June, it was delayed until Black Friday. Currently you can download "The People" off De La Soul's website . Also, they have updated their merch section , with proceeds going to aid business owners affected by the Ferguson protests. Regardless of where any of us stand politically, I think we can all agree that's a great cause.