If It's Too Loud...

Producer Real Bad Man has become a leader of collaborations as of late, releasing collaborative albums with Boldy James, Pink Siifu, and Kool Keith. His latest is with Blu. I couldn't say that the duo's new single, "Aladdin," is an old school hip hop song, but it's not not old school. Blu's flow sounds innately like classic hip hop, but Real Bad Man's production isn't quite classic. Instead, it seems to borrow from the early 90's more edgy pure hip hop period, the late 90's when R&B started to poke in, and a more modern style. "Aladdin" has an oddly timeless quality, which is not something you typically get in hip hop. You can watch the visualizer for "Aladdin" below. Bad News  is due out September 1. For more on Blu, check out the artist on Instagram . You can find Real Bad Man on Instagram here .

Photo by Alysse Gafkjen You might know Aaron Frazer as the drummer and co-lead vocalist in Durand Jones & The Indications. Frazer is striking out with a solo album, and the debut single will work for any fan of Durand Jones & The Indications. "Bad News" fits into the classic soul through a modern filter that we love about Frazer's band, but doesn't just sound like an Indications's b-side. It's a gorgeous song that will suck you in despite its laid back vibe. In fact, it almost lulls you in before you realize how intense it truly is. The song is laid back despite its serious subject matter. Aaron Frazer explains the meaning behind "Bad News": “I wrote ‘Bad News’ last November, originally as a song about climate change - a threat that feels so big, so existential, that sometimes it's easier for us to just look away.  But today, I think it's taken on a new meaning. It's become a song that gives voice to the things everybody i...