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Audible Treats' Best of 2010 Reminder |
11.09.2010 |
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Highlights of Audible Treat's 2010 Client Roster |
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With the closing of 2010 comes end-of-the-year lists. We at Audible Treats would love for you to consider some of our most successful campaigns for your top tens, twenties, and hundreds. Below, we present to you our short list in alphabetical order:
The Contenders:
Black Sheep - From The Black Pool Of Genius (BumRush) June 29th, 2010
"Birds of a Feather" http://media.audibletreats.com/Black_Sheep-Birds_Of_A_Feather.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/black_sheep/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/from-the-black-pool-of-genius/id379686003
19 years after A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing, and now representing the Black Sheep brand for dolo, Dres released the highly acclaimed From The Black Pool Of Genius earlier this year. Featuring the fan favorite Native Tongues reunion track "Birds Of A Feather" - the track featured A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip, Dave of De La Soul, and Mike Gee of the Jungle Brothers - From The Black Pool Of Genius has reaffirmed Black Sheep's rightful place in hip-hop.
- Featured by ABC News, Billboard, XXL, Village Voice, VIBE, URB, HipHopDX, Myspace Music
- Myspace Early Album Premiere
- Headlined Audible Treats' 2010 SXSW and CMJ showcases.
Praise:
- ABC News: "From The Black Pool Of Genius sits firmly beside Q-Tip's The Renaissance and Mos Def's The Ecstatic as must-have, recent hip-hop records. Dres has brought Black Sheep back to life and proven himself to be among the most gifted M.C.s working today."
- HipHopDX: "Even when he's the lone Sheep, Dres continues to shine."
- URB: "This album bangs hard and offers multiple flavors and stylings to please all hip-hop lovers... Thou shalt not sleep on this record."
DaVinci - The Day The Turf Stood Still (SWTBRDS) March 9th, 2010
What You Finna Do
http://media.audibletreats.com/DaVinci-What_You_Finna_Do.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/davinci/
Album Download: http://www.swtbrds.com/davinci/
The Fillmore District of San Francisco has bred more rappers per capita than any other in the city, and none is making more noise, locally or nationally, than DaVinci. DaVinci, named as part of KMEL's Bay Area Freshmen 10, has music that resonates with the authenticity of life experiences, and The Day The Turf Stood Still, the rapper's show-stealing debut tackles issues including gentrification, urban renewal, materialism, and more, embracing the potential contradictions of his message in a manner that earned the Bay Area representer rave reviews across the board.
Praise:
- Pitchfork: "The Day the Turf Stood Still feels like an attempt to do something unique within the Bay's insular world, all while retaining the new Bay's characteristic cannibalizing of different moments in rap history. While his aesthetic isn't ambitious, his wider goals as an artist, his views on the world outside the music, seem like the kind of thing that fans of rap from all corners might find appealing."
- OzoneMag.com: "The epitome of what it means to be a "street" rapper, DaVinci offers stark and realistic commentary on his surroundings and the people in it. Tracks like 'What You Gonna Do' and the money-themed 'Ben' show that he has he has verbal illustration skills on par with the artist he named himself after...DaVinci is definitely on his way to carving a new niche for Bay Area rap."
- HipHopDX.com: "The Day The Turf Stood Still closes on a good note as Davinci becomes more playful and shows some vocal dexterity. This is most observable on 'Long Chain,' which contains an unexpected Odetta sample and features the emcee speeding up and slowing down his flow to good effect."
Deluka - You Are The Night (VEL) October 12th, 2010
"Cascade" http://media.audibletreats.com/Deluka-Cascade.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/deluka/
Album Download: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/you-are-the-night/id393353991
The electro-rock quartet has been wowing crowds from their native Birmingham to their new-found home of Brooklyn over the course of this past year with the release of their self-titled EP and full-length album You Are The Night. The success of the video for their infectious synth driven track "Cascade" built the foundation for their accomplishments this year, some of which include getting their music in films, video games, and TV shows, spending nine weeks in the Top 100 for alternative radio, 85k iTunes downloads of their video, and more.
- Won mtvU's Freshmen video contest for "Cascade," directed by famed fasion photographer Antoine Verglas.
- Feature in YRB's Radar section
Praise:
- Venus Zine: "Ellie Innocenti is the next balls-out sex symbol front woman, right up
there with the likes of The Duke Spirit's Liela Moos, Yeah Yeah Yeah's
Karen O, and Metric's Emily Haines."
- Alt Sounds: "Ellie Innocenti's commanding delivery on this album will leave no doubt in your mind that Deluka are one of the most exciting bands of the year."
Donwill - Don Cusack in High Fidelity (Interdependent Media) March 23rd, 2010
"Love Junkie" Feat Ca$he and The Park (Wallpaper Remix) http://media.audibletreats.com/Donwill-Love_Junkie_Wallpaper_Rmx.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/donwill/
Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Don-Cusack-High-Fidelity-Explicit/dp/B003C2YWPW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1269354945&sr=8-2
Already well known as one-part of Tanya Morgan, Donwill released the musically and thematically ambitious Don Cusack In High Fidelity this spring. A concept album based upon the cult-classic film High Fidelity, Donwill places himself in the roll of main character Rob Gordon (played by John Cusack), exploring issues of love, loss, and commitment, earning the Cincy native coverage with New York Magazine, XXL Magazine, XLR8R Magazine, and more.
- Featured by New York Magazine, Time Out New York, XXL, AOL, The Onion, Dr. Jay's, and more
- Album release party in conjunction with Wine + Beats
- Highly acclaimed remix for "Love Junkie" featuring The Park
Praise:
- The Onion's AVClub.com: "It's a grown-up meditation on love and loss from a gifted rapper who found his voice as a solo artist by slipping inside the skin of a fictional character."
- YRB Magazine: "Donwill strikes a fine balance between kitsch and sincerity in his quest to get the girl."
- URB.com: "...Don Cusack in High Fidelity is an hour's worth of intelligent, soulful hip-hop that plays like a call-back to the golden age."
Erk Tha Jerk- Nerd's Eye View (Red Planet Music Group) November 9th, 2010
"I Know" http://media.audibletreats.com/Erk_Tha_Jerk-I_Know.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/erk_tha_jerk/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/erk-tha-jerk/id253375724
Part of a supremely talented class of rising Bay Area artists, Erk Tha Jerk burst onto the local scene with "Right Here," one of the most-played songs on KMEL in 2009; the song subsequently broke into Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 Hip-Hop/R&B charts, was added to rotation on MTV Jams, and has amassed hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. Now releasing his debut Nerd's Eye View as part of a joint venture with SMC Recordings and his own label Red Planet Music Group, Erk, who is featured in XXL Magazine's Show & Prove, shows great range; the Richmond, California native has spent time in higher education, holding down 9 to 5's, and holding down corners, and the multitude and variety of those experiences are reflected throughout the album. Erk also sets himself apart from the rest of the pack by handling not only the production for half of the album but also for producing his own music videos.
- XXL Show & Prove.
- "Right Here" picked up by Billboard Hot 100, KMEL, and MTV Jams. Over 100,000 YouTube views.
- Covered by XXL, SF Weekly, East Bay Express, and Myspace Music.
Praise:
- Oakland Local: "Nerd's Eye View will likely be remembered as one of the definitive Bay Area albums of the post-hyphy era...Not only is it the best debut album since Mistah F.A.B.'s Son of a Pimp., but it might just change perceptions of Bay Area rappers: namely, that they can't make hit songs."
- East Bay Express: "Erk Tha Jerk is a West Coast Kid Cudi without the liquid cocaine problem."
Kokayi - Robots and Dinosaurs (QN5 Music) October 19th, 2010
"RoxTar" http://media.audibletreats.com/KOKAYI-RoxTar.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/kokayi/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/robots-dinosaurs/id396136677
A rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer - in 2009, Kokayi was nominated for a Grammy for his co-writing and production work on Wayna's Moonlight Rendevous, while also producing Tabi Bonney's "Jet Setter" and a variety of tracks for MTV, BET, and Nickelodeon - Kokayi also holds the distinction of having performed and lectured in over 35 countries, partnering with the US State Department as a cultural envoy in their Rhythm Roads initiative. With his new album, Robots & Dinosaurs - self-produced save for "Autumn Rules," produced by Oddisee - Kokayi bends and blends genres together, crafting what OkayPlayer.com refers to as the "crown jewel" of Kokayi's career to date.
- Has performed in over 35 countries as cultural envoy for the US State Department's Rhythm Roads project.
- Grammy nominated rapper, singer, producer, songwriter.
- Covered by XXL, SF Weekly, East Bay Express, and Myspace Music.
Praise:
- OkayPlayer: "Robots is Kokayi's Illmatic - a masterpiece that will surely be regarded as the artist's crown jewel, no matter what he records afterward. "
- PotholesInMyBlog: "Kokayi has created a sound that's entirely his own - a blend of rap, rock, electronica, R&B and whatever else he decides to throw into the mix and doing so with expert ease. If this album doesn't make a best of 2010 list, it would be a complete travesty. This release deserves not only deserves measurable acclaim, but also a place in any music lover's collection."
The Left - Gas Mask (Mello Music Group) October 26th, 2010
"Frozen" feat. Kool G Rap http://media.audibletreats.com/The_Left-Frozen_Ft_Kool_G_Rap.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/the_left/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gas-mask/id392459687
We could tell you that The Left - a trio comprised of producer of Apollo Brown, rapper Journalist 103, and DJ Soko - is from Detroit, or you could give Gas Mask a listen; gruff vocals, thick yet soulful production - the album reeks of typically wonderful Detroit hip-hop. The group's debut release, Gas Mask boasts features from Kool G Rap, Guilty Simpson, Invincible, and more on what is an easy contender as one of the finest hip-hop albums to come out of the city of Detroit this year.
- Debuted at #1 on eMusic rap charts.
- #4 Best Seller on UGHH for October.
- Top 35 debut on iTunes hip-hop charts.
Praise:
- HipHopDX: "Ironically, by recapturing an essence of the past, The Left cement their place in playlists and disc changers of the future."
- PotholesInMyBlog: "Gas Mask is 17 tracks of pure hip-hop. No filler. No fluff...While the "C" word is often thrown around, Gas Mask certainly deserves the label - and looks good wearing it...Classic."
Little Brother - LeftBack (Hall of Justus) April 20th, 2010
"Curtain Call" http://media.audibletreats.com/Little_Brother-Curtain_Call.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/little_brother/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/leftback/id364049174
Little Brother, a group that helped define indie hip-hop throughout the aughts, released their fourth and final album together this spring. The album, Leftback, was lauded by music fans and music critics, alike, as Phonte and Big Pooh traded life tales and industry witticisms over typically soulful production courtesy of Khyrsis, Denaun Porter, and more.
- The final Little Brother album.
- Covered by XXL, Spin, VIBE, Ozone, eMusic, YRB, HipHopDX, Yahoo Music, Myspace Music.
- Cover of the Independent Weekly.
Praise:
- The Huffington Post: The entire recording is a family affair, retracing their last almost-decade beyond the Durham scene. Big Pooh's memoirs and Phonte's poignant industry criticism have been their fuel since inception. This open-ended biography continues on an album that I will not call their finest--they've always been in top form--but instead an excellent continuation of what they started."
- Spin.com (3.5/5): "MCs Big Pooh and Phonte depart with an epilogue of new tracks and outtakes from 2007's Getback (their first album without cofounder-producer 9th Wonder), and it's like a hastily written open letter, with loose, spiky rhymes and rangy beats. Even amid the odds and sods, though, Phonte's honesty is bracing."
- AVClub.com: "Leftback isn't a manifesto or magnum opus, just 11 new tracks that dissect romantic relationships, the process of growing up, and the music industry with sensitivity and insight. Little Brother isn't making a statement, just good music. If Leftback really is Little Brother's last album, its members leave the recording game the way they entered it: with heads held high."
Moe Green - Rocky Maivia (Interdependent Media) July 15th, 2010
"Ride" http://media.audibletreats.com/Moe_Green-Ride.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/moe_green
Album download: http://moegreen.bandcamp.com/album/rocky-maivia-non-title-match
The California city of Vallejo has been making noise this year, much of it thanks to rising lyricist Moe Green and his album Rocky Maivia: Non-Title Match. While the album title borrows its name from The Rock - Rocky Maivia served as the superstar wrestler/actor's moniker when he first debuted in the ring - Green, named as part of KMEL's Bay Area Freshmen 10 earlier this year, largely eschews sports talk, instead using the title as a metaphor for where he is in his own career - the newcomer with great potential. Potential, we might add, that has the accolades pouring in for this 22-year old rhymer, including a spot in XXL Magazine's coveted Show & Prove.
- XXL Show & Prove.
- Named part of 106 KMEL's Bay Area Freshmen 10 class.
- Performed at SXSW/CMJ and alongside Jay Electronica, Murs, and more.
Praise:
- PopMatters: "With a prize like Rocky Maivia: Non-Title Match under his belt, be prepared to see Green go the distance."
- URB: "The opening acts at the Key Club were some of the best I've seen at one of the shows put together at the venue. TRUTHLiVE and Moe Green from the Bay Area were both gifted lyricists."
- Red Bull's ChinaShopMag: "Moe Green is the type of MC who creates a string of scenes with each bar that can stand alone, but somehow make sense when tied together...Moe Green makes down-to-earth hip-hop that doesn't neglect thinking beyond reality."
The Niceguys - The Show (265 Pro/The Pi Group) September 28, 2010
"Mr. Perfect" http://media.audibletreats.com/The_Niceguys-Mr._Perfect.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/the_niceguys/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-show/id395148098
The Niceguys - a four man Houston-based group comprised of MC Yves Saint, producers Cristolph and Free, and DJ Candlestick - released their debut album, The Show, this fall, taking listeners by storm with a sound that stretches far beyond the stereotypical music sensibilities of the city they call home. Melding Yves' witty rhymes and intricate, and frequently changing, cadences with production influenced by soul, rock, and jazz, The Niceguys have crafted one of the finest debut albums this year.
- Founders of the female-only t-shirt line, The Nice Look.
- Currently guest blogging for SLAM Magazine's SLAMonline.com.
- Performed alongside Talib Kweli, Big KRIT, Currensy, Big Sean, Mickey Factz, and more.
Praise:
- 002houston: "If ever there were an example of the barriers of hip-hop breaking down, it might be The Niceguys."
- URB: "The Niceguys make it evident from the title-track opener of their full-length offering, The Show, that this is not going to be an exercise in frivolous nursery rhymes. There is something very genuine about The Niceguys, whose core aim is to entertain and have fun with energetic hip-hop."
- DJBooth: "Here to smash that stereotype and remind us that "nice" can also be synonymous with 'fresh and fly' are The Niceguys, a Houston-based crew with a progressive style and an eclectically dope hip-hop sound."
Nottz - You Need This Music (Raw Koncept Media Group) October 19th, 2010
"Dontcha Wanna Be (My Neighbor)" feat. Asher Roth & Colin Munroe http://media.audibletreats.com/Nottz-Dontcha_Wanna_Be_My_Neighbor_Ft_Asher_Roth_and_Colin_Munroe.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/nottz/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/you-need-this-music/id394242809
Nottz was a busy man in 2010. Not only did Grammy Award winner find time to produce Rah Digga's Classic, he also released his debut album, You Need This Music, proving himself a force to be reckoned with behind the ASR and the microphone, alike. With guest spots from Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker, Bilal, Asher Roth, and Royce Da 5'9, the Virginia native demonstrates exactly why you need this music.
- Grammy Award winning producer. Has worked with artists including Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, J Dilla, Busta Rhymes, Scarface, and more.
- Album features Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker, Bilal, Royce Da 5'9, Asher Roth, and more.
Praise:
- HipHopDX: "Throughout the last 15 years, Nottz has provided album-cuts on classic long-players. While the hits and namebrand recognition are still coming, it's not hyperbole to say that the onetime DMP leader is one of your favorite rapper's favorite producers."
- Exclaim: "'Shine So Brite' knocks harder than diabetic trick-or-treaters."
- DJBooth: "Listen and believe. Nottz is here, and he's taking control of his own musical destiny."
Rah Digga - Classic (Raw Koncept Media Group) September 14th, 2010
"This Ain't No Lil Kid Rap"
http://media.audibletreats.com/Rah_Digga-This_Aint_No_Lil_Kid_Rap.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/rah_digga/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/classic-bonus-track-version/id388502823
Her first album in 10 years, Rah Digga remains firmly at the top of her game. A fireball of slick rhymes and untouchable cadence, Dirty Harriet doesn't miss a beat atop Nottz' bass-heavy production, attacking each of the album's 10 tracks . And while the album didn't feature any guest appearances, Digga still managed to team up with fellow Brick City native Redman for the fan favorite remix of "This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap."
- Classic, first album since 2000.
- Featured musical guest on BET's The Mo'Nique Show.
Praise:
- HipHopDX: "After 10 years of waiting, Rah Digga proves she is a veteran who can stand alone - in her class as well as on the microphone. Classic manages to mesh the best elements of the year 2000s Hip Hop with the highlights of the musical trends of today."
- Spin: "Rah Digga doesn't show much patience for introspection. But what Classic lacks in subtlety, it makes up in rowdy exultation."
- iHipHop: "Standing at ten tracks tall, there's zero filler on Classic which is exemplary for a modern day rap release. Rah Digga and Nottz' collaborative effort hardly falls short from its advertised title and is a close to a classic as you will probably hear this year."
Roach Gigz - Roachy Balboa (Town Thizzness) May 25th, 2010
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/roach_gigz/
Album download: http://roachgigz.com/
Few rappers can match the mix of charisma, off-the-cuff flow, and gymnast-like lyrical dexterity of San Francisco rapper Roach Gigz, and one listen to his Roachy Balboa, released for free at the top of this year is clear proof. Included in KMEL's Bay Area Freshmen 10 class, Roach has amassed well over 600,000 views on YouTube, and has been covered by outlets such as Pitchfork, The FADER, and more.
- Named part of 106 KMEL's Bay Area Freshmen 10 class.
- Videos have amassed over 600,000 views on YouTube.
Praise:
- The Fader: "Here's to the new age of rap. And Roach Gigz. Who is awesome."
- Pitchfork: "Roachy Balboa is one of the most energetically fun rap records released this year."
Von Pea - Peas Gotta Have It (Interdependent Media) August 18th, 2010
"The Yorker" http://media.audibletreats.com/Von_Pea-The_Yorker.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/vonpea/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/peas-gotta-have-it/id398076845
Like fellow Tanya Morgan group mate, Donwill, rapper/producer Von Pea took full advantage of 2010, releasing his solo debut, Pea's Gotta Have It. Inspired to craft the album after stumbling upon an old high school notebook, complete with scribbled lyrics riddling the pages' margins, the concept album places a young Von Pea back in high school, dreaming of stardom while dealing with issues of young love, adolescent sneaker fetishes, and the never-ending quest of dodging bullies and detention.
- Pea's Gotta Have It is his debut solo album, took three years to make.
- Song "The Yorker" included in CMJ's Player CD, distributed to thousands of CMJ go'ers during the festival.
- Performed at Audible Treats' 2010 CMJ and SXSW showcases.
Praise:
yU - Before Taxes (Mello Music Group) October 26th, 2010
"Native" http://media.audibletreats.com/yU-Native.mp3
Assets: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/yu/
Buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/before-taxes/id363912874
Many have made albums dealing with block concerns and rap criticisms. Few, if any, have done so as well as yU. One-third of the group Diamond District, yU released Before Taxes earlier this year, and the largely self-produced album, originally meant to serve as a warm up for yU's forthcoming LP, The Earn, has come to be regarded as one of this year's strongest releases, being included on a number mid-year Best Of lists.
- Included on Mid-Year Best Albums of 2010 lists by Rap.About.com, PassionWeiss.com, and more.
- Before Taxes is largely self-produced.
Praise:
- HipHopDX.com: "Several have attempted to rebel against a culture consumed with monetary status. yU manages to not only accomplish both, but also manages to do it with class...The album doesn't suffer from failed commercial reaches or gimmick lyricism. Before taxes is an ode to Hip Hop before everything complicated it."
- Rap.About.com: "Before Taxes seeks to hit the reset button on hip-hop, as yU transports the listener to a place where music isn't diluted by economic motivation. It's a powerful statement by the Diamond District member. One that he truly backs up with inspired rhymes and mellow compositions."
- PsasionOfTheWeiss: "Handling most of the production himself, the 78er touches on street concerns, mortality, and the devolution of rap, ripping psychedelic loops that sound like Edan production - they even share a sample or two. The result is Beauty and the Beat made for the block."
Thank you so much for your continued support throughout the year!
The Audible Treats fam: Michelle McDevitt, Gavin Rhodes, Dan Friedman, Tom Graham, Sam Hollands, Jake Rich, Mark Martin, Deshawn Jackson, Tamara Brown, and Mochi the wonder pooch!
Please post buy links if you can!
Please contact Michelle or Dan if interested in talking with any of the artists listed here.
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