I rarely remember to listen to them anymore…Ponytail was the soundtrack to my life. Every punky/artistically inclined kid in Baltimore in the late aughts knew, Ponytail’s playing, it is going to be a religious experience. It was for all of us. Dan too, of course—Dan Deacon shows before he was enormously famous were participatory, everyone in a big circle. Those were early days of Future Islands too, with their rough hewn bursts of pathos and heart. It was church, Wham City stuff in that era, Whartscape was a hajj. 2008 Whartscape was my entree into this city as a whole, and, I was 17, grew up rural didn’t have much experience with live music — I didn’t know what it was going to be, but what it was was pure ecstasy, pure joy and community and sweat and love. In a big parking lot. Ponytail, for us, was the true revelation. Five foot tall little femme person yelping and bouncing around with this triumphant, insanely energetic, bright, candied music, with Dustin Wong’s extraordinary unsurpassed guitar. There just was something utterly distinctly Baltimore to the scene. One day in the not too distant future, I think, I will go and live elsewhere, but it’s too easy to forget that Baltimore still has such a verdant and enthusiastic scene of weirdos making what they love with expressive abandon.
And that as much in hip hop as in rock today. Baltimore’s not known as a big hip hop city, we are not “on the map.” Well, we have our trap legends and our classic ‘gangsta’ stuff (embarrassing phrase to use but idk what else to call the subgenre.) But there’s a fertile and ever-blossoming cast of amazing artists in the hip-hop and r + b scene and it is something of a new and very cool development that a lot of the hard line between the indie rock/punk world (predominantly white ofc) and the world of contemporary Black music in Baltimore (a largely Black city, ofc) is chipping away. Besides the obvious JPEGMAFIA, I’ll name a few favorite inventive and unique and great folks in that scene in no order: Infinity Knives, 3SIDEGOOF, Jaywan, Brian Ennals, Kotic Couture, 3LON, Fonlon, Vlaad, Alienood, Zen Xaria, DZI…some of whom I’m glad to call minor homies. All of whom you should check out if you like good music. As in the wham city scene and the post-wham city scene of incredible indie and experimental rock/pop, Baltimore hip-hop is exploratory, unafraid to be weird as hell. It’s a brutal city, it can be painful to live in, and the artists here (not just in music ofc) are committed to creativity in its sharpest form, both deeply personal and expressive + socially and community grounded. Situationist International in the 60s had that saying, “Sous les pavés, la plage!” If the half-decimated, ghettoized city with its wrenching imposed poverty and attendant criminal economy is les paves (the cobblestones), underneath (sous), in the arts scene, is “the beach” (la plage). That analogy makes sense in my head but it’s okay if it doesn’t in yours, it is almost certainly my fault, haha.
Love this city. I don’t go out the frequency I used to — I’m changing that piecemeal — but Baltimore is always with me regardless where I’m at.
(For a beautiful, impassioned and harrowing analysis of Baltimore, check out David Harvey, the Marxist political theorist who spent his career here at Hopkins, in “Spaces of Hope.”)
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Rewire, day 2
This day didn’t start as planned. In the afternoon, I saw a migraine attack coming and so I drank some water and laid down. This meant I was going to drop acts in favour of recovering, meaning I was missing Malibu, which was rather unfortunate, because I looked forward to see her live. Regardless, that’s the price of the sickness. So, unwilling to give up on the day I tried to sleep and after a few hours ate something before setting out. My head was still hurting, but I didn’t plan to stay long and had my eyes on some calm acts anyway.
I started with Morita Vargas, who wasn’t bad, but also felt she was and would still be developing her craft further. Her final last track was her best, the weaving of her vocals with the ethereal music worked well. It was a little Julee Cruise-esque.
Then, I had the choice to stay and see Godspeed You! Black Emperor, but I have already been fortunate to see a 3-hour set once and there’s so much more hear. So I went to Nwando Ebizie. She was anything but calm, but she was also a lot of fun. Having recently visited the Black Fantastic exhibition, I imagine she would fit right in. A vibrant singer with humor, sharing the popped corn with the audience to receive as a blessing and ending with a group dance in the middle of the crowd of whoever wanted to join.
Next were Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals. They fit right in with Run the Jewels when it comes to politics, but seemed to focus more on beats. Infinity Knives got to do some live messing around with electronics and Ennals in the meantime was just a menace on the mic, undermining religion, politics and whatever he didn’t like. Singing ‘All we want is some reparations’ to the tune of RHCP’s Californication (Death of a Constable), ‘Realize the American flag same colour as cop lights’ (Sambo’s Last Words) and ‘God is good, pussy is better’, finishing with A Melancholy Boogie and its disco-revival beat. Standing in the back was the right decision. The message reached me, the loudness not so much.
Following them, I went to Lucinda Chua in one of the churches. This location is beautiful and her music fit right in. She performed while Godspeed were still playing, so the place wasn't full, but that also meant that everyone who wanted to be there was there and it created a bond. The only sound the audience made was applause when songs ended.
She sang, played the cello, while she was supported by an unnamed synthesizer player. For the last song she was also joined by Hatis Noit on the stage, making me regret a little to not have seen her, but alas choices and choices.
Then out again and off to Alto Arc. That was absolutely insane. This is a project consisting of a singer George Clarke (Deafhaven), a make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench and 2 producers. One is Trayer Tryon (Hundred Water), the other Danny L Harle, who has been making waves for a while now (collaborating with yeule and this On a Mountain remix lives rent-free in my mind).
Anyway, the show had a lot of theatrics with a lot of hard beats. Sound wise it reminded me of those darkwave-esque acts like Witch of the Vale, where the woman takes the high-pitched role and the man does the dusky growling. (I guess old CoF also works?) The electronic stuff reminded me a bit of Violet Cold and its crazy patterns. At some point Darle got the stage to himself and it seemed the room became a sonic witness account of a chain collision of crashed cars. As what we got to see, some sort of play about sacrifice, occultism and rapture? I’m not sure, sorry.
After that I took a breather and walked to Deena Abdelwahed’s venue. Now I mentioned scheduling conflicts before, here’s another: choosing Deena meant no Slikback and no Coucou Chloe (who were on at the same time at the same venue, so switching would be easier). However, I’ve been a big fan of Deena for years and getting the opportunity to see her live outweighed the others.
She was going to premier her new latest work and it didn’t disappoint. Her set was amazing and with help from her partner-in-crime Hamid, who occasionally picked up something like a sitar, they got the crowd moving. So yeah, by the sounds of it, there’ll be a great album coming to you… next year.
After that, I was done, it felt like I asked more than I could from my head. Yet the day after, here I am writing. Honestly, I’m amazed I saw as much as I did, but my head seemed to deal with it. Sometimes the pain just subsided (read: was drowned out by the music, it had no place to go). In the meantime I saw and spoke familiar and unfamiliar people, which sort of kept me busy. And being outside a lot helped too, the evening wasn’t cold, but it kept my head in check.
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***THE RAP PUNDIT’S HIGHLIGHTS [Part 3]: More of the Best of 2022***
Not enough space on one page to post everything I wanted to share this time around, but that just means I got a head start on Part 4! 😎
So let’s get right to it...I hope you find something you haven’t heard yet, and become a fan. Part 1 and 2 below if you missed them, FYI...
https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/687884232044986368/the-rap-pundits-first-half-highlights-part
https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/688815947113496576/q1-done-but-then-some-more-part-2-of-the
****RANKED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, JUST HOW I WAS COMPILING THEM AT THE TIME**** …
“Chances” - Grafh
https://soundcloud.com/grafh-1/chances
“DEAR JOHN” - Stik Figa & Conductor Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDd6-M2QStw
“One More Chance” - Wiki & Subjxct 5 feat. Navy Blue
https://www.stereogum.com/2203313/wiki-subjxct-5-one-more-chance-feat-navy-blue/music/
“If Not True” - Ka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym9aVlvVZd4
“Counted Out” - Ka feat. Chuck Strangers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYk3_zsbUbc
“Stigmata” - Roc Marciano & The Alchemist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPWjgVddGaw
“Out Here” - HWY 308 & Finn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38AgRjdCdNQ
“Tomorrow 2” - GloRilla feat. Cardi B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwa7NzNBQig
“Need It All” - Marco Plus feat. Deante Hitchcock
https://soundcloud.com/itsmarcoplus/need-it-all-feat-deante
“Tripple Threat” - Wop Dell feat. Toohda Band$ & Stunnaman02
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flp-LPZRoLY
“Shabooya” - Hitkidd feat. Aleza, Gloss Up, Slimeroni, & K Carbon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV-pJ8BBxj8
“Motherless Child” - Asian Doll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jghbBQb-Ya8
“Jiggy In Jersey” - Bandmanrill feat. Sha Ek & DJ Swill B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOUSPvy6drs
“Palm Trees” - Kipp Stone feat. J.U.S.
https://closedsessions.bandcamp.com/track/palm-trees-featuring-j-u-s
“Bluffin’” - Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals
https://phantomlimblabel.bandcamp.com/track/bluffin
“Rain Delays’” - Zilla Rocca feat. Curly Castro & Rich Jones
https://threedollarpistol.com/track/rain-delays-feat-curly-castro-rich-jones
“Detroit Hu$$le” - Bandgang Lonnie Bands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsM-pjAaSb4
“Blackest in the Room” - Freddie Gibbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc1zUP5Znuk
“Space Rabbit” - Freddie Gibbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBc6H82ro1U
“Pandemic Flow” - Black Soprano Family feat. Conway The Machine & Cory Gunz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BABqbB69HE
“297 Parkside” - Black Soprano Family feat. ElCamino & Stove God Cooks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAIPCOojNyQ
“Blow 4 Blow” - Rome Streetz feat. Stove God Cooks & Benny The Butcher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effbcOytzXk
“Soulja Boy” - Rome Streetz feat. Conway The Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17GaWT6YCm0
“Reversible” - Rome Streetz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR9jyKXnbLM
“An Incomplete List” - Teddy Faley
https://wearethekarmakids.bandcamp.com/track/an-incomplete-list
“TAXIN” - Darnell Williams
https://soundcloud.com/darnellwilliams/taxin
“Los Tacos No. 1” - femdot. feat. Chris Patrick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6tfCuNELxI
“41 Cents (Freestyle)” - Chris Patrick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiJVkpi-nhA
“The Source” - Van Buren Records feat. Conway The Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OfVVeNRe6U
“Blue & Cream Wallyz” - RIPTA Productions feat. Jesse The Tree & IL Subliminal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K49dyVwUMcw
“Knife Rips” - Bag Appeal feat. Jesse The Tree & IL Subliminal
https://filthybroke.bandcamp.com/track/knife-rips-rich-jones-jesse-the-tree-mjc
“Midnite Gospel” - Bag Appeal feat. IL Subliminal & MJC
https://filthybroke.bandcamp.com/track/midnite-gospel-il-subliminal-mjc
“Real N***as” - Salt In The Water feat. Knowitall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvTqjkspLX8
“Demonz Still Lurk” - Jerico
https://open.spotify.com/album/33j1f35YKUGiUloRrg7Jje
“Viral Activities” - Big Sad 1900, Baby Stone Gorillas & Saviii 3rd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SefdQL6AB2E
“Anxiety” - Megan Thee Stallion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-44oNTMZws
“Munch (Feelin’ U)” - Ice Spice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF-NC3eRsqc
“Real Rap” - G Herbo feat. Benny The Butcher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWdrBtSnhZI
“Born Ready” - MarijuanaXO feat. Slim Dawg Millionaire & Funny $Money
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5AlO85ay1s
“Trick Or Treat” - Joe Pablo & Big Junie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hP5e0FjHPU
“Ritz Barlton - Westside Gunn feat. Estee Nack
https://soundcloud.com/westsidegunn/ritz-barlton
“Big Ass Bracelet” - Westside Gunn feat. Stove God Cook$
https://soundcloud.com/westsidegunn/big-ass-bracelet
“Danhausen” - Westside Gunn
https://soundcloud.com/westsidegunn/danhausen
“I-RAK” - al.divino & Estee Nack
https://esteenack.bandcamp.com/track/i-rak-prod-dj-mastamind
“Designer Drugs” - Boldy James & Nicholas Craven
https://nicholascraven.bandcamp.com/track/designer-drugs
“Six Toes” - Boldy James & Nicholas Craven
https://nicholascraven.bandcamp.com/track/six-toes
“Belize” - Danger Mouse & Black Thought feat. MF DOOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZFZh62tw3o
“Strangers” - Danger Mouse & Black Thought feat. A$AP Rocky and Run The Jewels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPdHD1neCV8
“Outside Of Dunkin” - Papo2oo4, DJ Lucas & Subjxct 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD04bCtJkZM
“Spirit Body House” - Sleep Sinatra & Ohbliv feat. Archibald SLIM x Aakeem Eshu
https://sleepsinatra1.bandcamp.com/track/spirit-body-house-party-cipher-feat-archibald-slim-x-aakeem-eshu
“Range Day” - Sleep Sinatra & Ohbliv feat. Obijuan
https://sleepsinatra1.bandcamp.com/track/range-day-feat-obijuan
“STARSKI” - OBIJUAN & YUNGMORPHEUS feat. Rahiem Supreme
https://obijuan-obeahman.bandcamp.com/track/starski-feat-rahiem-supreme
“Black Belt Jones” - Lukah
https://lukah.bandcamp.com/track/black-belt-jones
“48″ - Maxo feat. Pink Siifu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji3zug7xJSI
“thots??” - Semiratruth & JWords
https://semiratruth.bandcamp.com/track/thots
“The Inconvenient Truth” - MAVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m0hEJ7TziE
“God Song” - ManDaMyth feat. Defcee
https://damn-that-noise.bandcamp.com/track/god-song-feat-defcee
“Out Da Rut” - ManDaMyth feat. IL Subliminal
https://damn-that-noise.bandcamp.com/track/out-da-rut-feat-il-subliminal-prod-by-mjc
“starchild” - amani & robalu
https://amani.bandcamp.com/track/starchild
“skippin rocks” - amani & robalu
https://amani.bandcamp.com/track/skippin-rocks
“Food Grade” - Mach-Hommy & Tha God Fahim feat. Your Old Droog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQxyWlb1Us4
“Shakes Pears” - Mach-Hommy & Tha God Fahim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uLCNDxFeL8&list=OLAK5uy_kiZINFGj3hwtJLLlDqv3nUOq-hii6YqPY&index=2
“Real Negro Life” - Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man feat. Piper GKFAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKNCwrZ7y84&list=PLrMq6KDSraxSrRcZIxVcWheQdjdcMQeTE
“TOKYO BLUNTS” - Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man feat. Armand Hammer & ConQuest Tony Phillips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Sj6zcTDM0
“Paraquat” - billy woods & Messiah Musik
https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/track/paraquat
“Classical Music” - billy woods & Messiah Musik feat. AKAI SOLO & Fielded
https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/track/classical-music-ft-akai-solo-fielded
“All Jokes Aside” - billy woods & Messiah Musik
https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/track/all-jokes-aside
“Amen” - Nappy Nina & JWords
https://nappynina.bandcamp.com/track/amen
“Tape Deck” - Guillotine Crowns feat. Tracy Jones
https://uncommonrecords.bandcamp.com/track/tape-deck-w-tracy-jones
“79th and stony island” - Open Mike Eagle
https://openmikeeagle.bandcamp.com/track/79th-and-stony-island
“I retired then I changed my mind” - Open Mike Eagle
https://openmikeeagle.bandcamp.com/track/i-retired-then-i-changed-my-mind
“For DOOM” - Open Mike Eagle
https://openmikeeagle.bandcamp.com/track/for-doom
“HAGAR THE HORRIBLE” - Jay NiCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNXN7Vn85YM
“The Simpsons” - Your Old Droog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXCv246wh0Y
“Doc Ellis” - Sonnyjim & The Purist feat. DJ Premier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w5X68qG7ME
“The Root of All” - DJ Premier feat. Slick Rick & Lil Wayne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c3Fl2k_Q64
“REMY RAP” - DJ Premier feat. Remy Ma & Rapsody
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAEPTzCaie8
“Rabies” - Abe Linx & Tully C. feat. Bub Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjN9C2LxcoY
“Inside Job” - Bub Rock
https://bubbarock.bandcamp.com/track/inside-job-prod-by-cas1beats
“JODECI/STELLA” - Mikem Nahmir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkBDKr7l-_8
“The Weight of Water Part 2” - Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Veb_bd1zh4
“ABC” - Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u43Zu4vDAxQ&list=OLAK5uy_kWjCAcnogZ0TNFLpAX4EOMjffoA47ixJY&index=11
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My top 50 albums of 2023:
G's Us- WHAT THEM DOGS DONT KNOW THEY KNOW
Andrew Mbaruk- Foam Collar
Bufus Wood and Derill Pounds- derekhalfdead
Darko the Super featuring Homeboy Sandman- Now!
Video Dave + Controller 7-
ArticulatedTexTiles
Factor Chandelier- Moving Like a Planet
Gregory Pepper & His Problems- No Thanks
AJ Suede and Televangel- Parthian Shots
Rove- Poke The Bear
Dillon & Diamond D- Uncut Gems
Foule Monk- CRISIS
NOOB SAIBOT- 1
MC Roughneck Jihad & DJ Awkward- RAWK 2
Elzhi and Oh No- Heavy Vibrato
The Cloaks- A Cloak ReWork Orange (Remixes)
Buck 65, Doseone, and Jel- North American Adonis
KILLVONGARD- Life Is a Masterpiece
Tomcantsleep- The Sun is Yellow
epic/robcrooks- Lawson/Time is Not a Circle, It's a Fire Burning
Mycelium Culture- Microdose
calQtek- HANGOUT GALAXY
Aesop Rock- Integrated Tech Solutions
AJ Suede and Steel Tipped Dove- Reoccurring Characters
phiik & Lungs- Another Planet 4
Fatboi Sharif and Steel Tipped Dove- Decay
Mestizo- IWWIW--IIWII
Kenny Segal and Pink Navel- How To Capture Playful
Thoel Simerville- Birds Of A Feather
Roper Williams- Infinite Victory Loop
Noah23- Tank Girl
Brian Ennals and Infinity Knives- Rhino XXL
Onry Ozzborn- BlvckBeachBoi
Blockhead- The Aux
Park-Like Setting- This, That and the Third
Groundislava- Worldware
Armand Hammer- We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
Milc & Televangel- The Fish That Saved Portland
Capaciti & Noblonski- Learning to Walk in the Dark
Open Mike Eagle' Another Triumph of Ghetto Engineering
Ten-Headed Skeleton- A Thirst for Blood
George Clanton- Ooh Rap I Ya
UNSUNG- Hand Painted Model Trains
Jason Griff and Zilla Rocca- Stacking Chips
OLD SELF- DJ Mo Niklz presents "sorry"
Lt Headtrip, Dos4gw- Tap on the Glass
Child Actor and Serengeti- AJAI II
Young Fathers- Heavy Heavy
Marrow- Hail Telemetry
Jeff Markey and Skech185z He Left Nothing for the Swim Back
Kitz Willman- Grim Errands
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