Vince Van Go has announced the second volume in The Cyanide Chronicles Series, Bareback Lo-Fi. Made with bare minimum gear the album is a testament to the nothing to something work ethic Vince has become known for.
The beats are dusty, jazzy, soulful, at times uplifting and at times dark. The rhymes are gritty, blunted, uncensored and heartfelt. Produced by Vince Van Go with the exception of a beat from Ghett-Smart. MC features from Prospa, Hezatate & Full Spectrum. The Cyanide Chronicles Vol. 2 is currently available as a digital release with a Gatefold CD issue coming after our well earned Xmas break. The Cyanide Chronicles Vol. 2 – Bareback Lo-Fi is available now via the bandcamp link below.
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. Joined by local and international artists; Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music.
aahh: This Is How We Never is the title to this absolute masterpiece of a production album. Explain to us the concept behind the title of the LP and what the you wanted to accomplish with this album? Chasm: The title is taken from a Currensy line I heard on one of his latest tapes, ‘Real music lasts forever, this is how we never die’. I just really like the phrase and I have always loved that idea with music, that it’s a legacy, something you can leave behind when your gone and people can hear it twenty, fifty years later and still feel it.With this album, I was just making music that I was feeling, I was just interested in working with MC’s that I loved and respected and making good soul music, that’s it.
aahh: When did you begin developing the concept to this album and how long did it take you to complete from start to finish? Chasm: I sat down with my manager and kinda said ok let’s do this now, maybe eight months ago, something like that. Before that I just had a verse done here, a verse done there and had a bunch of beats I knew I wanted to use. But I was busy with other projects so it was just a matter of organising a timeline and making the whole thing happen, but once it got underway it came together quite quickly really. For this album I used the MPC 5000, Logic, Maschine, records, a bunch of soft synths and a Moog Source. That was the artillery.
aahh: The emcee’s featured on This Is How We Never Die reads out like a who’s who of hip hop. We’d like to ask you about all the artists involved, but can you just give us a little background on a few of your favourites and how the relationships came about. Chasm: I had a great session with Guilty Simpson and Phat Kat when they were in town, such humble good dudes and we had a dope studio session. Both were inspiring to be in the lab with. Also to collaborate with Lazy Grey, Delta and Brad Strut was for me a huge thing. All legends of the scene and crazy talents so to have them bless my joints was killer. Gappy Ranks was another highlight, he came down to my studio when he was on tour out here, he just vibed on that beat in the lab and wrote and recorded it on the spot, another inspiring session watching him work like that.
aahh: The first single from the album is titled The Truth and features The Tongue, Hau and Dazastah. Tell us a bit about the recording process with this one we hear it was knocked out pretty quickly by the MC’s? Chasm: Yeah Daz had a day booked at 301 studios here in Sydney. He was out here on tour, and had a day in the studio finishing off collabs I think. So he had invited a few people down to work on stuff and asked me to pass through. So I took my MPC down with the original of ‘The Truth’ just chopped really simply on the sampler. When I played the tune those guys were all vibing on it and the energy in the studio was ill that day, just a good creative vibe, so they all ended up writing that afternoon and recording later that night. It was dope. Hau put down the chorus a couple of months later.
aahh: Your no stranger to the music scene in Australia, you’ve released albums with Astronomy Class through Elefant Traks and also solo work through Obese Records including numerous other side projects. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep producing music? Chasm: I just love music and I love being creative so it’s just something I always will do, even if I get frustrated and sick of the industry, give myself a few days off and I’m excited again to get in the studio and make something. I guess mainly its just hearing music old or new that is inspiring that gets me pumped to make more music, and just life, things in my life motivate me to express myself through the music.
aahh: What was one of the hardest challenges you faced on producing an album like this, especially with its international artists? Chasm: It was just time-consuming organising everyone, making sure I got all the parts back when I needed them and making sure everyone recorded when they said they would.The hardest thing though was the different microphones and booths that were in the mix! For one track you could have two or three different recordings so there was no consistency with the mic and room sound for all the vocals which made it tricky when it came to mixing. Trying to make it all sound cohesive was a tough one.
aahh: You launched This Is How We Never Die at the GoodGod Small Club in Sydney earlier in the month with a host of local names plus a special guest in DJ Neil Armstrong. Tell us about that. Chasm: It was a great night, all my people’s showed up so it was a nice vibe man, I appreciated the love that was shown from the crowd and all the rappers that jumped up with me, it was a mad night, I had a ball. We busted out a bunch of Astronomy Class tunes which is always fun, having Ozi Batla and The Tongue and Sir Robbo on stage and Thundamentals fellas got up and did some older joints that we did together which was cool.
aahh: Four dates have been announced in the This Is How We Never Die tour, are there any more dates planned and do you have any details you’d like to share on that? Chasm: Through July I’ll be touring the country in support of the album. The show will be a sound system style show with Hau on the mic to hype the crowd for me, should be a lot of fun. Will be having guests jump up at certain shows too!
aahh: What’s next for Chasm? We know you have many side projects, will we see say a Dr Don Don album soon? Chasm: Yes Dr Don Don album is pretty much done so gonna drop that after a couple more singles. Astronomy Class are hopefully gonna do an EP this year too and I have some ideas for the next Chasm release so hopefully will begin that too.
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. True to the quality displayed throughout debut album Beyond the Beat Tape (2008), and Move (with Vida Sunshyne, 2010) Chasm proves himself once more as a consummate composer.
Joined by local and international artists; This Is How We Never Die features USA underground vocal heavyweights AG (Showbiz & AG), Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw), Vast Aire (Def Jux), and Fashawn (One), New Zealand’s Dave Dallas, and Blak Twang (UK). Not to mention an assortment of Australia’s top lyricists including Solo, Lazy Grey, Mdusu, Delta, Dialectrix and Brad Strut.
Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music. The collection of beats chosen for the album vary from old to new, moving through down tempo, blunted soul, up-tempo funk, and reggae. The This Is How We Never Die Tour will consist of dates throughout July and August. Chasm will be joined by various contributors from the album in their respective states, and Hau will be onboard for the whole tour!
Tour Dates: Fri 13th July – Mojo’s – Perth Fri 27th July - The Laundry, Melbourne Sat 28th July - Republic Bar, Hobart Fri 3rd August – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane More TBA
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. True to the quality displayed throughout debut album Beyond the Beat Tape (2008), and Move (with Vida Sunshyne, 2010) Chasm proves himself once more as a consummate composer.
Joined by local and international artists; This Is How We Never Die features USA underground vocal heavyweights AG (Showbiz & AG), Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw), Vast Aire (Def Jux), and Fashawn (One), New Zealand’s Dave Dallas, and Blak Twang (UK). Not to mention an assortment of Australia’s top lyricists including Solo, Lazy Grey, Mdusu, Delta, Dialectrix and Brad Strut.
Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music. The collection of beats chosen for the album vary from old to new, moving through down tempo, blunted soul, up-tempo funk, and reggae.
The new clip for the track Smokey lifted from This Is How We Never Die and is produced & directed by Bryce Hooper & Tristan S Edouard.
Forever is the 2nd release from their forthcoming album, Evolution Machine, which features production from Sydney’s king of beats, The Manipulating Agent from Invada Records, Katalyst.
The track pays homage to the incredible 20 year career that Def Wish Cast has endured. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but through hard work and sheer determination, Def Wish Cast has proven, time and time again, that they are here to stay. They will be here forever, because it is their passion for Hip Hop culture that drives them…
The video is a preview of the upcoming Def Wish Cast documentary, and gives a little sample of some of their incredible 20+ year history. Many old school legends are featured, but plenty of important people are missing. We haven’t forgotten about you guys (you know who you are). The full history, and those people we missed, will be featured on the documentary due out later this year.
Created by Versus. All Archival footage: Def Wish Cast
This Is How We Never Die is the refreshingly on-point third instalment from prestigious Sydney producer Chasm. True to the quality displayed throughout debut album Beyond the Beat Tape (2008), and Move (with Vida Sunshyne, 2010) Chasm proves himself once more as a consummate composer.
Joined by local and international artists; This Is How We Never Die features USA underground vocal heavyweights AG (Showbiz & AG), Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw), Vast Aire (Def Jux), and Fashawn (One), New Zealand’s Dave Dallas, and Blak Twang (UK). Not to mention an assortment of Australia’s top lyricists including Solo, Lazy Grey, Mdusu, Delta, Dialectrix and Brad Strut.
Chasm approaches beats like a learned artist with a brush, building on classic principles to create evolutionary new music. The collection of beats chosen for the album vary from old to new, moving through down tempo, blunted soul, up-tempo funk, and reggae. Lead single The Truth with its eclectic sample combinations, fuses Latin piano loops with brass accents and futuristic synth solos. Bringing a new shine to the art of braggadocio, the track features emcees The Tongue, Hau, and Dazastah.
Vast Aire and Dialect team up on the sample-heavy Intergalactic. The two brilliant rappers attack the beat as it slams alongside an eerie drone, while delicate piano flourishes glint throughout. I Am Legend features the masterful AG and Delta riffing over classic boom bap teamed with driving keys. Lyrically the track is a soulful reminisce to hip hop’s greats and the legacies left and lived by. This Is How We Never Die is certain to be a historical cornerstone reflective of the unifying strength hip hop inspires. A testament to the power an accomplished producer possesses, bringing the most diverse of artists and fans together.
Track List 1. New Day 2. Rusty Griz Feat. Lazy Grey 3. I Am Legend Feat. AG & Delta 4. The Truth Feat. The Tongue, Hau & Dazastah 5. Soldier and a Thinker Feat. Hau & Blak Twang 6. Highs and Lows Feat. Fashawn, Solo & David Dallas 7. Ruthless Feat. Guilty Simpson & Brad Strut 8. Intergalactic Feat. Vast Aire & Dialect 9. Smokey 10. Dreamin Feat. Gappy Ranks & RuCL 11. I See You Feat. Marvin Priest 12. All Lovely Feat. Phat Kat & Mr. Clean 13. King Pin Shottas Feat. Guilty Simpson, Mdusu & Hau 14. We’ve Arrived Feat. Jeswon, Tuka, Skryptcha, Scott Burns, Rinse & Dialectrix
Chasm – This Is How We Never Die is available through Obese Records on April 27.
Chasm’s highly anticpated LP release This Is How We Never Die is due April 27th through Obese Records and features big names such as AG (DITC), Delta, Lazy Grey, Hau, Brad Strut, Guilty Simpson, Fashawn, Solo, Blak Twang, David Dallas and many more.
Chasm is one of the leading hip hop producers in Australia, signed to Obese Records for his solo work and to Elefant Traks for his work with his crew Astronomy Class featuring Ozi Batla and Sir Robbo. Having released 2 crew albums, Exit Strategy (2006) and Pursuit Of Happiness (2009) and 2 solo joints in the last five years Beyond The Beat Tape (2008) & Move, Chasm also has a stack of production credits and remixes to his name.
The Truth is the new single from superlative producer Chasm, the first instalment from his upcoming LP, featuring three of Australia’s most proficient emcees; The Tongue, Hau, and Dazastah, the track is innovative and brazen.
From the get-go the track detonates out of a vocal crescendo into its punchy, progressive party feel. Chasm with his exceptional ear for eclectic sample combinations fuses latin piano loops with brass accents and futuristic synth solos. Bringing a new shine to the art of braggadocio, the three emcees effortlessly glide through verses, each repping his distinctive style with assurance. The Tongue, Hau, and Dazastah all wrote and recorded their verses for The Truth in one day.
Emerging from Sydney’s hip hop scene, Dutch is currently working on his full length debut album. With a collection of 7 years of involvement in the Sydney Hip Hop world and a growing musical partnership with respected Sydney based producer Espa, Dutch is fast becoming a highly regarded artist with unquestionable potential.
In 2008, Dutch released a self titled mixtape and promoted this through performances at various Bondi venues such as The Eastern and The Beach Road Hotel, in 2009 Dutch worked solely on his upcoming album whilst performing around Sydney. In 2010, Dutch supported Phrase on his acclaimed Clockwork tour. Dutch creates potent yet laid back songs that reveal a tenacious aspect to his views on life. His lyrics are so honest they reveal the thoughts people have but never say. They are relatable and poignant yet are not lacking in a sense of humour.
Currently in the early stages of producing his first full length solo album, his seamless ability to perform on any platform and create rhymes to impress are part of the raw talent Dutch possesses. Here we have a free download from Dutch, a rework of Sia’s – Don’t Mean A Thing (Prod. DC Beats).
Stones Throw debuts the most exciting hip hop project since Dilla and Madlib joined forces for Jaylib – a 40+ track album from production outfit Quakers, featuring Golden Era crate dug beats and visceral verses from the likes of Dead Prez, Jonwayne, Aloe Blacc and so many more.
Quakers consists of local beatmaster Katalyst, Fuzzface (a.k.a. Portishead‘s Geoff Barrow), and 7-Stu-7, a triage of venerable producers in their own right whose combined efforts prove boom-bap is far from dead. Fuzzface is better known as Portishead’s Geoff Barrow, a long-time Stones Throw supporter in touch with Peanut Butter Wolf since championing the Jaylib album back in 2004. 7-Stu-7 is Portishead’s engineer and in-house producer at Invada Records in the UK. Katalyst is one of the most respected producers in Australia and a partner in Invada Records.
Disillusioned with much of the hip-hop around them, the like-minded producers set out to create the type of rap record they’d want to listen to. That meant gathering one of the most varied arrays of talent ever seen on a hip-hop record. Rather than just sending beats to the hottest names of the moment, the producers sought out genuine collaborators, regardless of whether they were legendary or simply stumbled upon around the world wide web. Invitations were sent out to golden era legends such as Prince Po and The Pharcyde’s Booty Brown, indie rap titans such as Dead Prez and Phat Kat, and of course some of StonesThrow’s finest: Aloe Blacc, Guilty Simpson, MED and newest signings Jonwayne and Dave Dub all make memorable contributions. There are also some lesser known talents present: band-favorite Coin Locker Kid, Lyric Jones, Estee Nack & more hold it down with their more celebrated peers.
Yet for all the vocal talent, it’s often Quakers’ stellar production that takes center stage, tying together the albums 40+ tracks into a cohesive whole. Heavy beats come thick and fast, from the horn-heavy stomp of Fitta Happier to the devastating synthesizer abuse of Belly of the Beast and beyond. Quakers music first appeared in Banksy’s 2011 film Exit Through The Gift Shop and, in case you’re wondering, the name comes from ‘earthquake‘. They’re here to shake the foundations.
This months aahh album art award has to go to the Quakers CD. Featuring a beautiful 2 CD layout and killer design, the cover could have been a nightmare with the 40+ track list, instead we have all the artists layed out on the back with an easy to read tracklist on the inside fold out. If you want to check out more download the Hip-Hop Quake Mix by Katalyst, a 40-minute set featuring some of the work that has inspired the project. You can get that from iTunes here or the Stones Throw RSS feed here. More information on that can be found here.
The first Obese Distribution release to drop in 2012 comes from Wagga Wagga’s own Rahjconkas and Brisbane native Mr Hill with their brand spanker The Feedback out Friday 27th of January. Production wise, the album boasts tasteful electronic components blended with rootsy, traditional highlights.
The duo have placed emphasis on matching lyrical content with sonic expression to epic effect. Contrast among tracks is strong, evident in Find My Way which features Spit Syndicate’s Joyride with its edgy and progressive feel, flipping it up to the horn-heavy, up-beat flavour of Revolution featuring Koolism’s Hau and Thundamentals Jeswon. With spots from Trails, The Tongue, Seven, Phatchance and 4th (Vegas Aces), this album is bound to be a banger.
Each an established artist in their own right, Mr. Hill and Rahjconkas have much experience both on the stage and in the booth. Mr Hill started out in the group Publik Relation, and has been playing shows in around Brisbane for numerous live acts since 2004, his confidence and skill on stage developing to that of an industry stalwart. Rahjconkas has opened for artists such as Urthboy, Jane Tyrell, Mantra, Phrase, M-Phazes and Muph. Recently, the multi-talented Emcee, Producer and Drummer has been working closely with Phatchance, Coptic Soldier and Johnny Utah (Featured triple j Artists), and has since expanded his beat sales to artists within America, Canada & New Zealand.
Track List 1.Who Da Man feat. Trails 2.Play No More 3.Warning Signs 4.City Glow feat. Seven and The Tongue 5. Turn Away feat. Phatchance 6.Sometimes 7.Out With the Old feat. 4th 8.Find My Way feat. Joyride 9.See Through 10.Revolution feat. Hau and Jeswon 11.Poor Sight 12.Rewind feat. Sharyn Payens *13.Bonus track (only available with physical album purchase)
