Using computers and a boyish sense of mischief, Milo creates space age bachelor pad rap songs for kids who think Spock > Kirk. Or for the kids who even catch that reference. He’s been called the champion of Nerd Hop, consistent creator of auditory Art Rap, we’re not concerned with the genre, we just admire the work he’s putting out there. Art Nouveau recently caught up with the 20-year-old emcee for a riveting conversation that covered everything from Nas’ Illmatic, his admiration for Schopenhauer and his upcoming project Milo Takes Baths.
It’s that critical moment that every music journalist ventures into. It happens when we get an artist worth digging. We slide our hand underneath the desk to whip out that hideous facial mask of a straight-faced, grade school teacher with red ink in hand ready to carve our music reviews into someone’s membrane. Taking the time to ride the Voyeur voyage was a pleasant treat as it suited perfectly with the rain Gods deciding to pour down some cleansing wash on good music and his Texas land, of course. The music produced by Childish Major with the vocals to match under Rome Fortune’s belt creates an upcoming groove that falls closely to acts like DJ Shadow and Danny Breaks rave crave. The electric boogie definitely comes to light with the duo along with a hint of Atlanta’s rap recipe, but the two are truly doing something astray from other artists emerging in the mix.
Atlanta based rapper Rome Fortune, real name Jerome, has been rapping since he was in high school. “I thought I’d take the JE off as Jerome reminds me too much of the fake pimp on Martin,” he explains. Seven years later the 23-year-old originally from New York is just days away from unveiling his collaborative project with producer Childish Major entitled VOYEUR set for release next week.
When the video for Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” spread like a wildfire across the Internuts earlier this year I was initially skeptical. As a rule of thumb anything that Pitchfork heralds that early on I side-eye out of respect for the way things should be. Fast forward to a top 25 pre-ordered album on Amazon, a cover on Billboard, Complex and Interview Magazine and an abysmal SNL performance that would make Ashlee Simpson do the ho-down back to Hollywood–and Lana is looking more like Mitt Romney, than Ron Paul. Gone was our indie darling image, in it’s place was some kind of abominable indie-pop conspiracy, a lip injected, spoiled, manufactured, super-rich airhead being sold to a gullible world as indie-pop royalty when in reality she’s more like the Kim Kardashian of Pop Music, a musical example of the things that money can buy.
It’s 2012. This December, the world is ending depending on who you believe and with only minutes to the top, Atlanta based band Arrow in the Air is reaching for the sky despite the Mayan’s prediction. If you’ve frequented Art Nouveau Magazine, you may recognize the lead singer Sye Spence, former solo artist who’s worked extensively with us on numerous projects. With her new band, a new sound, attitude and direction, Arrow in the Air is ready to touch the sky.
SOPA or not, If you’re looking these three you can find them on the Internet. In anticipation of his upcoming musical project Planet of the Ape$, artist, DJ & editor of Art Nouveau, GREATeclectic drops another track this time featuring emcees Corinne Stevie & Jack Preston. Planet of the Ape$ drops January 31, until then tide yourself over with this one.
“The highs, the lows, from the trenches and throws through puffs and blows… Alex Ludovico’s Fame Kills: In His Own Words
Introspective, socially conscience and outspoken – singer/songwriter Jaimz Deen’s first offering of message driven dark pop music is the mini album Crisis Complex.
The Black Keys constituents Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s previous offering–Brothers–was their first commercial success, despite the fact that it had some noticeable weaknesses. Namely, it featured a large number of ballads and underwhelming up-tempo tracks, which were a huge contrast to the contents of the album’s most endeared, hard-hitting predecessors, “Thickfreakness” and “Rubber Factory.” Now, the Black Keys are back to fill a gaping void in the Alternative Rock scene. They have approached the project with much needed innovation and a revamped sound, in order to create something more than a sequel to their prior commercial success. This venture is marked by a fearless attempt to capture listeners by muscling full speed through perilous terrain, and it reaches its mark without once losing momentum–or a sense of humor.
It may be a Secret to some, but happiness is a state of mind. Those that look on the brighter side of things know this innately. Head high, eyes covered by vintage Ray-Bans, Atlanta based-emcee Young Lyxx is Happy to Be Here, and the triumphant sounds on his latest album is a testament to that fact.
By now Nemo Achida should be your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. Since late ’09 the Kentucky based emcee and producer has dropped consistent project after another. His latest opus, Nemotional continues where he left off with the Goodbye Brooklyn EP–somewhere between Kentucky and a brownstone. “Abstract, I’m a little bit past that, I ain’t different, I’m next level homie grasp that,” he raps on “Wasting Time.” From this track through the last, Nemo has your undivided attention.
There’s that “aha” moment after some time of listening to tracks, watching videos, going to shows, reading interviews, following an artist on Twitter, Facebook and whatever social network that suits your fancy where you start to “get” them. I caught glimpses of this feeling while watching the Los Angeles based emcee Def Sound breeze through his charismatic verse on the standout track “Quicksand” from J*DaVeY’s recent mixtape “Evil Christian Cop: The Great Mistapes.” Rapping lines like “paintbrush lust…yeah we paint pictures,” paired with allusions to Salvador Dali and Picasso turn the dance floor at The Masquerade in Atlanta to Art History 101. And I can’t be mad a bit.
