I was looking for a little funky jam. New Music from Grieves is A-Okay by Jen Love

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I've been down with Grieves since before Rhymesayers days. He does emotional, poetic rhymes (although sometimes seriously silly and out there). Some of his songs have helped to get me through some of the hardest times in my life and so of course they hold a special place. I may be inclined to like anything he puts out because of this emotional bond with the music. 

But I have to admit I was worried when the first single from his newest album "Running Wild" came out. It's entitled 'RX', it's got a trap beat and that new age rhyming style in it and I thought oh no not Grieves too. I may have even given up on him then, and switched off without fully listening. But I should have known.

Then I had to listen when another new video came up last week, though I was hesitant. It's hard to watch something you love become something you don't care for. And it has happened far too many times with music recently.

And then I listened to 'A-Okay' and I was instantly relieved, almost from the first few notes. I should have known Grieves wouldn't disappoint.  

It's a feel good summer song I can imagine blasting from low riding beach cruisers driving slowly down palm tree lined streets.  It's got soul and the lyrics perfectly describe his attitude- just do you.  

Seriously, in music and in life just do you.  Trends will come and go, you can experiment with them without losing who you are- so try everything! Experiment with different styles, but keep your essence. If you are authentic and real then people will eventually get it. 

I went back and listened to 'RX' again too and guess what, I get it.  Here's 3 different videos from the new album all in really different styles but all authentic Grieves, enjoy.

Love it or hate it? Comment below and let's chat!

<3 Jen

Get your a** to the show! P-Smurf LOCK OUTLAWS New Music Sydney December 2017 by Jen Love

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Newtown representative P Smurf is back like he never left.  With two mixtapes, an EP, and a 7” under his belt so far he is now tackling his first solo album ‘Playing the Blues’ due out in April 2018.  This second single 'Lock Outlaws' addresses the major problem facing Sydney city and inner west suburb Newtown- lockout laws are killing the nightlife and the live music scene. The casino is cashing in and everyone is too busy getting fuckedup to pay attention to the fact that we are losing our culture.

I don’t mind the Latin flavour beat, and the chorus is definitely catchy.  Only issue I have is the non-stop double time rapping makes it a little bit hard to follow, so it takes a few listens to catch all the fantastic lines he’s spouting.  A change up in flow could really bring some of those points home.

 

Overall I’m a fan of the man, and great vid.

 

Like it, love it? Get involved by commenting below.

<3 Jen

 

 

PS are those the dancers from the Thundamentals ‘Paint the Town Red’ video?  And Smurf wearing a suit jacket?  This is something I’ve never seen it IRL before!

Making J. Cole Proud by Jen Love

I thought these were supposed to be weekly, what happened to that?? Yeah well life's crazy, so let's try this again...

First single from Nardean- No Effort Required (J. Cole remix)

First off I have to say I love everything about this.... besides one or two things but we'll get to that.  I love the lyrics, the flow, the energy, the video, just everything about her- the whole package.  You can tell she really believes in what she's doing and it comes across as this super sexy confidence.  And it's not just positive music, it speaks truth and I dig that. We need music like this in a world oversaturated with bullshit. 

But all that being said...

The one thing I hated was the beat. 
Don't get me wrong, I love J. Cole to death.  In fact he's one of my favourite emcees in skill, lyrics, and flow. 

Ok, you know what it's not even the beat, J. Cole's beat works for him, and though I don't really think it quite suits the style of this song, she makes it work for her too in her own way, and that's fine. I salute people who take a chance on being different. There's just one problem still, it's J.Cole's beat. 

I don't like cheap tricks. 

I don't like when people use marketing in a way that assumes its audience is dumb. 
J. Cole worked hard to get where he is, and early in his career he didn't have anyone helping him, still he did everything himself. He made his own beats to rap over.  Not everyone has the talent, equipment, or opportunity to create all their own beats or music.  Still you think J. Cole would be proud that you put a beautiful song over a jacked beat? 

Let’s assume he doesn’t care either way.  Are you proud?  Did you give it your all? Did you utilise all the people around you who could have helped you to create an original song?  Sure, there will be original songs after this, of course there will. I just think with all the effort that’s gone into it to create such an incredible video, you should be using it to show us what YOUR thing is. 

So that brings me to the why…
Purely for attention.  
Sure we all want our music to be heard by as many people as possible, but don’t do it by riding on the success of others.  Your listeners are not dumb, and it will put them off.  Sure tagging J. Cole in your post and writing “J. Cole would be proud” will get you extra clicks, but at what expense?  Integrity? Patience? 

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Anyway I’m not doing all this to hate on Nardean.  I love what she’s created and I greatly look forward to new music in the future. 

Cheap marketing gimmicks are a pet peeve obv, but more of this, please!

<3

This is just my opinion... Agree? Disagree? Comment below to have your say. 
 

Friday the 13th by Jen Love

Seems that Friday the 13th is Aussie rappers new favourite day to release music...
Got 4 new hits here, let me know what you think of them!  Drop comments below!


First up some fresh new funky boom bap from new Sydney- Blue Mountains group
Bomb Threat----- looks like someone's got a big head, just not sure who! :-0

Next up is a brand new single from Suburban Dark who have a new album in the works.... 
Sub Dark and Jeswon scaring the shit out of little children on the reg since the early 1900's......

So first we were scaring children, now we've got one for the kids here... My best friend showed this to her 1 month old and it's defs her fav.  Eso feelin' a little bit manic here. Hip pop?

Next up the conscious emcee/ poet/ laksa eater Omar Musa... 
I mean I love cats but has this gone too far????

Drop some love, hate, comments below! 
<3 Jen