Category: Band/Artist Profile

An in-depth look at bands and solo artists

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Band/Artist Profile

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: BIG K.R.I.T.

IMAGE COURTESY OF BET

Big K.R.I.T. should be so prominent that an artist spotlight on him would be unnecessary. He should be an artist with the same reach as artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. Poor management by his former label stunted the growth of the Big K.R.I.T. brand, and left him in a weird gray area in regards to his relevancy. K.R.I.T. has a large fanbase and is far above the underground artist status, but he lacked the overall pull that some of his peers have. With the release of his double album, 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, Big K.R.I.T. has put hip-hop fans on notice and shows everyone he deserves to be considered a top tier hip-hop artist.

Big K.R.I.T gained momentum through the release of various mixtapes, and it became very clear that he was a special talent. However, his debut album left a lot to be desired and his other album releases were good but not great. K.R.I.T.’s inability to connect on his albums could be linked to his label at the time, Def Jam Recordings. K.R.I.T. had everything you wanted in a hip-hop artist from versatility to style, but it seemed it all never came together on an album. Freeing himself from Def Jam seemed to be the answer as this latest release showcases all the the skills in Big K.R.I.T.’s catalogue.

K.R.I.T. embraces his southern roots from the accent in his voice as he raps to the production he puts together for his songs. He uses his ability to produce, rap, and sing to create a variety of songs. From southern bangers to reflections on him and his career to church-inspired tracks, K.R.I.T. provides the variety necessary to make sure things never get dull. He always makes for an interesting listen and can give you a lot of substance, whether that be commentary on others or himself. 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time is a double album that highlights all of the things that make K.R.I.T. great, but that greatness can be seen in a lot of his mixtapes and in flashes on some of his albums. It might have taken a might long time, but it is safe to say Big K.R.I.T. has arrived, not just as the “King of the South” but possibly as the “King of Hip-Hop”.

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Band/Artist Profile

Artist Spotlight: Julien Baker

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Being queer, Christian, and southern in a time where North Carolina’s controversial and discriminatory legislation has the musical community in a bind over the state, Julien Baker serves as a role model to fellow musicians and the queer community. Having grown up in Memphis, Tennessee with Christianity Baker has accepted her identity and continues to call the south her home. In an interview with Pitchfork she expressed her beliefs that the south has redeeming qualities and that those who are accepting and diverse have the responsibility to fight to fix the reputation of an oppressive hateful south.

Baker’s debut “Sprained Ankle” which came out last year has her nationally recognized. Through the album indy-folk singer songwriter digs into the deepest stretches of emotion with raw heart clenching songs of despair, faith, heart break, and hope. The title track “sprained ankle” takes listeners through her struggles of depression as she confesses “Wish I could write songs about anything other than death.” As her gorgeous vocals and picked guitars collides into soft strings and harmonizing vocals. Baker confronts her Christian faith in the track “Rejoyce” one of the most powerful tracks on the album. Beautiful acoustic guitar picks up as Julian raises her vocals proclaiming, “I think there’s a god and he hears either way when I rejoice and complain,” you can feel her connection to her faith and can’t help but feel uplifted at the same time in despair. The album closes with “go home” where haunting piano, distant strings, and Julian’s powerful clean vocals tell a tale of moving beyond heartbreak as she belches “ I’m tired of washing my hands God, I wanna go home.” The album will suck you in and take you on a ride of emotion, definitely one for sitting down, listening through and taking in with every inch of your soul. The album was recorded at Space bomb studio in Richmond, VA the same place Natalie Prass’s self-titled album and can be listened to here. 

–DJ Whatsherface

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Hopscotch Artist Spotlight: Andrew Bird

(source: https://folkontheroad.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/andrew-bird2.jpg)

Folks, this year during Hopscotch you’re in for a real treat. Andrew (gosh-dang) Bird is graciously making his presence in the Memorial Auditorium on Saturday at 11pm. 

Mr. Bird is ridiculously talented, having been formally trained in Violin starting at the age of FOUR but not limited to the violin as he is an expert vocalist, whistler, and guitarist.  He unsurprisingly has a long discography, with his first album dropping in ‘96 and his most recent album “Are You Serious” came out last April 2016. His music is best described as being intricate, deeply emotional with piercing vocals and dreamy whistling. Make sure to catch him when he makes an appearance this Saturday. In the meantime, check out his most recent Tiny Desk Concert linked below! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGAzPtwUJJU

-DJ sPaRr0vV

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Artist Spotlight: All Dogs

Artist Photo from Hopscotch Music Festival's Lineup page

Hopscotch Music Festival’s seventh year is only a week and a half away, and everyone’s busy scouring the schedule charting out potential itineraries.  On the roster is one of Maryn Jones’ many various musical projects, All Dogs out of Columbus, OH.  My first encounter with Jones’ work was my senior year of high school when a friend suggested I check out Saintseneca, the folk punk five-piece in which Jones sang and played dulcimer and strumstick. I took an interest in Jones and her role as the only woman in a group of men.  I checked out her other musical project at the time, a lo-fi folk project under her own name, most of which was just her and an acoustic guitar, the type of music that has very high potential to inspire young non-men to make music in their bedrooms (i.e. me).  Following her online presence gives one an abbreviated peek into the life of a genuine human being, which was my first true run-in with the realization that the people who make the music that I loved were people just like me. 

After a year or so of admiring her work as a folk artist, her versatility managed to shock me again with All Dogs.  This time, Jones had set the same stream of beautifully relatable lyrics and soft winding vocals to a crunchy full band consisting of Amanda Bartley on bass, Jesse Withers on drums, and second guitarist Nick Harris.  Jones and Bartley began playing as All Dogs in 2012 and the band’s first release was a split tape with fellow Columbus band Slouch in September the following year.  The band took off immediately, recognized for Jones’ unbridled honesty, but held off on releasing a full length, releasing a 7"a few months later.  The band continued gaining national recognition, opening for Waxahatchee (the frequently WKNC-spun and similarly emotive project of Katie Crutchfield) on a tour of the east coast early the following year.  The attention the band was getting had caught the eye of Salinas Records in Detroit, who also play host to a few other WKNC indie favorites including Radiator Hospital and Swearin’. 

During the interim of All Dogs releases, Maryn began to channel energy into yet another solo project Yowler. Equally as expressive but with added reverb and synth tones, Yowler was another incredible addition to Jones’ repertoire, but she didn’t waste any time after the release of The Offer in February 2015. All Dogs finally released a much anticipated debut full-length in August later that year (celebrating its first birthday yesterday, August 28th) with Salinas Records.  The album, titled Kicking Every Day, was previewed by NPR Music, awarded Album of the Week by Stereogum, and reviewed by countless big-wig indie blogs.  Its ten tracks are just as captivatingly devastating as any of Jones’ work, with power chords and pop undertones that are as cheery as anything else you might hear on the radio.  The juxtaposition creates an album that is impossible to stop spinning.  If you’ve caught my DJ shift over the past year, I’ve probably played All Dogs tracks at least five or six times.  Bottom line(s): Maryn Jones is incredible, and you can catch me at Lincoln Theater at 9:30pm on September 10th, night three of Hopscotch Music Festival, for All Dogs’ set.

 -dJ/dx

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Hopscotch Artist Profile: Junglepussy

Since its inception, hip hop has had an internal battle with misogyny that’s made it difficult for female rappers to freely express themselves without being dismissed as too ‘girly.’ There’s been a nasty tendency in the industry to throw women who want to rap, in a box of objectification or overemphasized aggression, and what came out was usually so inorganic that it couldn’t be taken seriously by anyone. However, in recent years this tide has been changing, and we’re finally beginning to see rappers who have tossed that box in the dumpster, next to the dead body of corporate music, and are making raw, dope, hip hop.

Enter Junglepussy, a rapper from Brooklyn, NY who spits bars with overwhelming power that demand respect. Junglepussy’s rhymes are delivered with the kind of confidence that transcends gender lines. She’s not afraid to be vulnerable in songs like “Somebody,” and she’s even less afraid to spit venom on enemies. Her energy is raw (pre-gentrification) Brooklyn.

Take for instance her line from the song “Nah,” where she raps: “Spicy ass Jamaican bitch, you can get your chicken jerked/suckin’ on the wrong dick that can get your sister murked/ You don’t know what I got all up in my fuckin’ purse/Grippin on my water bottle, all these niggas thirst.”

This kind of attitude is what separates Jungle from the crowd. Listening to her lyrics are like talking to that unfiltered friend who isn’t afraid of their sexuality or their angry side. She keeps it realer than most rappers, and her flow is what puts the whole package together. Jungle’s flow is akin to Cam’ron’s, with an effortless and cocky delivery accompanied by her New York drawl. It oozes unimpeachable coolness, unashamed Blackness, and powerful femininity.

Though she hasn’t been in the game that long (she showed up in 2013), her work has garnered the respect of Erykah Badu, which was a cosign that sent her career up to the pro-leagues in 2014. Since then, she released two albums, Satisfaction Guaranteed (June 2014) and Pregnant With Success (November 2015), under the Vice Music imprint. In addition to her music success, she has also spoken at Yale University and Columbia University about her healthy options lifestyle and music.

Junglepussy will be performing at CAM on Thursday, September 8th at 11:30pm. If you’re a fan of NY hip hop and want to start your Hopscotch off right, make your way down there!

-DJ Iron Mic

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Local Rap Spotlight: FKB$

North Carolina’s underground hip-hop scene is like any other underground scene: full of talent, but with clusters of artists who share similar styles. Think of it as a high school cafeteria. The backpackers hang out at their table, the trap rappers have their corner, and the edgy rappers float from table to table making friends and drawing inspiration from everyone. Then there’s the kid who just doesn’t give a damn. That kid who’s cool with being different and doesn’t want to fit into anyone’s style, but it works for them – so they’re not a loner – they’re just ‘them.’ Enter Joco’s FKB$, short for Frank Kastle bin Savage.

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FKB$ is the type of rapper that can go bar for bar with the backpackers, spit some greasy lines with the trappers, and utilize trippy beats with the edgy crowd. He’s got a style all his own, which is gritty and rough, but pulled off effortlessly. Think, Wiki meets Schoolboy Q at a local punk show.

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This versatility gives FKB$ the freedom to work with producers and rappers who utilize a wide array of styles, which is displayed adroitly on his 2015 album $aint Franci$. Frank Kastle lurks through the shadows of producer, The Gatekeeper’s, dark electro beats like a lyrical assassin on the track “San Fran,” then turns around and shows lyrical footwork alongside Raleigh’s Hazz, on rough boom bap production from An Urban Assault on “Hell’s Kitchen.”

$aint Franci$ by FKB$

FKB$ switches styles with ease, which is what makes him a notable member of the Triangle’s hip hop scene. Not only does his sound travel well on wax, but it can be integrated well into almost any rap lineup or multi-genre live show. The dude’s literally got something for everyone.

– DJ Iron Mic

Tune in to Local Rap Lunch on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. to catch some FKB$ along with more of North Carolina’s dopest MC’s.

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Hopscotch Profile: Leila Abdul-Rauf

Hailing from San Francisco, composer and general badass Leila Abdul-Rauf has been making and performing music, namely metal, for nearly her entire life. Her previous endeavors in the metal scene include the bands Saros and The Bastard Noise, and she remains active in Hammers of Misfortune, Vastum, and Ionophore.  While she is most widely known for her vocals, she is a true multi-instrumentalist, honing her abilities on the guitar, trumpet, piano, and synth, just to name a few.

But her latest solo album, Insomnia, is unlike her past work. She foregoes her signature doom  metal sound and instead opts for something more cerebral. There are no vocals, save for some haunting, ethereal wailing. Instead, the listener can relax and focus on the weaving of brass, piano for an unsettling, otherworldly sound.  It vaguely resembles Ionophore’s latest album Sinister Pools, or something Godspeed You! Black Emperor might think up after a handful of benzos. Drawing parallels between Insomnia and anything else proves difficult because Abdul-Rauf has created something poignant, introspective, and uniquely brilliant – an atmosphere all her own. It’s something personal and gorgeous without being pretentious. Definitely worth a listen.

 During Hopscotch, catch Leila Abdul-Rauf with Nathan A. Verrill at 11 PM on September 10th in Nash Hall.

 Listen to Insomnia HERE.

-DJ Case Sensitive 

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Band/Artist Profile

Hopscotch Artist Profile: Erykah Badu

Grammy Award winner Erykah Badu will headline Red Hat Amphitheater as a part of this year’s Hopscotch Music Festival. Badu is an R&B/soul artist, and all of her albums distinctly represent pop culture and human relationships from the time periods in which they were created. Her sound has morphed over time, but Badu has maintained her mellow storytelling style throughout her career. Her first album, Baduizm, has been her most popular. Baduizm is a relaxing listen, but it’s just as expressive as her subsequent releases. The album reflects on independence and love, with excellent vocals and instrumentation. Demonstrating her versatility, Badu has collaborated with André 3000, The Roots, Janelle Monáe, Lil Wayne, and Tyler, the Creator. Badu’s two New Amerykah albums possess the most variety in tempo and style, with some fully R&B songs and others more focused on electronic musicality and vocal experimentation. After rewriting Drake’s “Hotline Bling” in a track titled “Cel U Lar Device,” Badu recorded and released a full-length mixtape in late 2015. The album, But You Caint Use My Phone, fluidly blends Badu’s own vocal stylings and humor into a concise history of cell phone-themed songs.

Alongside her twenty years of musical releases, Badu is also an activist for people of color and women. She runs the charity Beautiful Love Incorporated Non Profit Development, which promotes the arts in inner-city areas. Most recently, Badu has committed to donating proceeds from her performances to test rape kits which were discovered in storage of the Detroit Police Department.

But You Caint Use My Phone is available on Spotify and iTunes. Erykah Badu performs at 8 pm on Friday, September 9 at Red Hat. The full Hopscotch schedule is available here.

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WKNC Artist Profile: Deniro Farrar

Born and raised in Charlotte, Deniro Farrar has become a major hip-hop heavy hitter within the past few years. With the success of Fayetteville’s J. Cole and Raleigh’s own King Mez getting a feature on Dr. Dre’s Compton, North Carolina is, undeniably, rapidly gaining momentum in the music scene. Blogs like Pitchfork and Vice are claiming that Charlotte is the next city to watch specifically for artists within the rap genre.

Deniro is debatably the posterboy for Charlotte’s developing rap scene and proclaimed the “Leader of Cult Rap,” derived from the way people religiously follow the music of the underground scene to keep up, as it is not mass-produced and regularly broadcast. Deniro doesn’t fail to deliver relatable down to earth lyrics accompanied by (you guessed it) a sick beat. Working with Ryan Hemsworth, Flosstradamus, skywlkr, Lunice and Black Sky Black Death to name a few, Deniro has crafted a unique sound all while gaining traction as an artist and putting North Carolina on the map.

– Emma Badorrek, WKNC Assistant Promotions Director

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DBB Artist Profile: Professor Toon

Growing up in low-income housing Baltimore, Maryland and a transplant to the Triangle area, Professor Toon has become a staple in the Durham music scene. Sharing the stage with De La Soul during the fifth annual Hopscotch Music Festival among other hip-hop heavy hitters such as Juicy J, Meek Mill, Project Pat and Run the Jewels. Toon uses his life experiences such as his abusive childhood and his relationships to fuel his lyrics and live performances. Being the “professor of things,” Professor Toon has worked relentlessly to make an impact on his fans in dirty DURM and beyond. Catch him at Double Barrel 13 on February 20th performing songs off of his new album Take Notes.

– Emma Badorrek, WKNC Assistant Promotions Director