If It's Too Loud...

...and a bit of July, but don't tell anyone. Artist : Cheekface Album : Podium Quick Thoughts : Cheekface is prolific, unique in their sound, and still somehow puts out winner after winner. This album actually does mess with the blueprint a bit, with some different vocal choices and some sonic additions (like the record scratches in "Hostile Street"). Overall, though? Another great listen from your favorite local band. Songs of Note : "Hostile Street," "MFT," "Black Site, "U Can't Do It," "I Decline" Artist : Homeboy Sandman and Jack Splash Album : Resonance Frequency Quick Thoughts : I generally enjoy what Homeboy Sandman does, but this collaborative listen is likely to become one of my favorites of his catalog. Lots of interesting samples compliment his flow perfectly and it creates a really fun album that's worth your time. Songs of Note : "TWENTYFOURSEVEN," "Weed Stores Everywhere,...

Oakstop Alliance has a compilation album coming out this Friday to showcase artists from Oakland, CA. The latest single features Homeboy Sandman, A-Plus (Hieroglyphics), and Michael Sneed. "Look at the Rim" throws back to the 90's when there were roughly a million hip hop songs about basketball, although this doesn't sound anything like the 90's. It may have the vibe of hip hop from that decade, but "Look at the Rim" sounds much more like 2022 (at least the underground hip hop of 2022). It's a fun song that could easily be included on an NBA Live soundtrack. You can listen to "Look at the Rim" below. Royalty Summit is due out December 23 and also includes tracks featuring Fuze, Ovrkast, Tone Oliver, and more. The album can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp . For more on Oakstop Alliance, check out their website . Royalty Summit by Oakstop Alliance

November 11 : Artist : Smut Album : How the Light Felt Quick Thoughts : Smut is the sort of comfortable indie rock that I love, where it's not doing anything particularly revolutionary but is still doing what they do better than anyone else in the moment. Don't overlook this listen, there's a lot of great music to love in here. Songs of Note : "Soft Engine," "Believe You Me," "Morningstar" Artist : Delivery Album : Forever Giving Handshakes Quick Thoughts : This album has a lot going for it, and its refusal to conform to any specific genre is a benefit when many acts could treat it as a drawback. This album won me over right away, and will likely win you over, too. Songs of Note : "Poor-to-Middling Moneymaking," "Baader Meinhof," "No Homes," "Good" Artist : A7PHA Album : II Quick Thoughts : I wanted to highlight this because it's great, but also because it reminds me a lot of when Tric...

Photo by Misshattan We've been fans of Homeboy Sandman for a while, and that's going to continue with his latest single. Back in 2021, the New York based MC teamed with producer Deca on "All Because of You (Infatuated Duke)" which had fans asking for more from the pair. Because of that, Homeboy Sandman and Deca have a full album coming out, and we can hear the first single from that collaboration. "Satellite" is just what we want from Sandman. It's a laid back hip hop song that has an old school feel without being a throwback. Plus, Deca adds a jazzy track giving "Satellite" some Guru vibes. This is one that's going to have some staying power for us. Homeboy Sandman talks about his new single, which was inspired by his 2014 song "Stroll": “I love it but I felt I could improve upon it. I felt I could write a song that had way more depth and way more commentary and insight rather than just things I see when I walk around. 'Satel...

Homeboy Sandman just released Anjelitu in August and already has a follow up EP to be released later this month. The first single off There In Spirit , "Keep That Same Energy," has a modern take on old school hip hop vibe. The song is propelled by a cinematic sample of strings. It reminds me of early Wu-Tang Clan, but uplifting instead of gritty and foreboding. The grit for "Keep That Same Energy" comes from Homeboy Sandman's vocals. It's a track where the listener is implored to just be yourself, which is much more in tune with the conscious hip hop of the early 90's. You can listen to "Keep That Same Energy" below. There In Spirit is due out February 25 on Mello Music Group, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Homeboy Sandman, check out the artist's Facebook . There In Spirit by Homeboy Sandman

When you first see that Homeboy Sandman has a song called "No Beef," you would assume it's the Urban Dictionary definition of "To fight or Scrap with another person." Instead the song is about Homeboy Sandman being vegan. In fact, it may very well be the best song about being vegan ever recorded. "No Beef" is an off-kilter alt-hip hop jam. Musically it doesn't quite sound like any other hip hop out there despite being purely hip hop (even without the sample from "La Di Da Di"). It's an interesting song that branches hip hop off into a direction it doesn't normally go into. Homeboy Sandman says of the new song: "I had psoriasis all over my body. It was driving me crazy. I asked the doctor “could it be something I’m eating?” She looked me dead in the eye, straight faced, “food has nothing to do with it.” Thank God for the intuition to disregard her “treatment plan” intended to make me a lifetime customer of the medical industry...

For his upcoming album, Homeboy Sandman paired with Quelle Chris for production. The second single released from the album proves this is even more of a dream pairing than we could have even hoped. "Extinction" isn't meant to be a top 40 hip hop hit. The new song is perfectly awkward. The production has an awkward and uncomfortable feel to it that you rarely get in modern hip hop. It's quite minimal, but in an almost hypnotic way. It's a mellow song, but this production keeps the tension up. For a genre that has been far too repetitive over the past two decades, "Extinction" is the rare song that breathes a freshness into it without trying to reinvent from scratch. You can listen to "Extinction" below. Don't Feed the Monster , the upcoming album from Homeboy Sandman, will be out October 9 on Mello Music Group. You can pre-order the album via Bandcamp . For more on Homeboy Sandman, check out his Facebook . Don't Feed The Monster by ...

The latest from Homeboy Sandman is far more confessional and raw than anything I've ever heard in hip hop before. "Trauma" is about exactly that. It details Homeboy Sandman's childhood of abuse and how it has impacted his entire life. While most rappers are focused on sounding tough and is filled with bragging, "Trauma" shows an intense vulnerability that gets deeper and deeper as the song goes on. The Quelle Chris produced song provides a perfect backing track, allowing the listening to focus on the lyrics while matching the tone of the song expertly. You can listen to "Trauma" below. Don't Feed the Monster , the upcoming album from Homeboy Sandman, will be out October 9 on Mello Music Group. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Homeboy Sandman, check out his website . Don't Feed The Monster by Homeboy Sandman

New York's Homeboy Sandman is back with a new single, "West Coast." "West Coast" is a perfect summertime song. It's fun and laid back, even though it has a surprising edge for a laid back song. Plus it's a pure hip hop song. There's no R&B chorus. In fact, there's virtually no chorus at all. For nearly the entire 2:38 length of the song it's just Homeboy Sandman rapping in an almost stream of conscious way. Plus, there are a few shout outs to hip hop classics sprinkled in. You can listen to "West Coast" below. The song is currently available as a single from Mello Music Group via Bandcamp . For more on Homeboy Sandman, be sure to check out his Twitter and Facebook . West Coast by Homeboy Sandman

Of course, anti-Spotify band Radiohead has a new album out. Since paying $13 for a digital album feels like a fool's errand in 2016, we'll cover that when it becomes more widely available, but for now, "Burn the Witch" is my favorite Radiohead song in a decade and "Daydreaming" is not. Album of the Week Artist : Shit Robot Album : What Follows Quick Description : A great, classic-sounding electronic album. Why You Should Listen : It's really the opposite of the band's name. Overall Thoughts : As a human being trying to curse less in daily life, this brings me to my favorite album this week by Shit Robot. I won't lie - the only reason I went to listen to this was because the band's name made me giggle, and when I found out how much I really liked this album, well... I understand this won't be for everyone, but if you have any sort of soft spot for mid-1990s European techno music, you want to give this one a spin. Recommendatio...