#wobc blog

[wobc-fm]

SleepWalker 2019 Freshman List

words by Amari Newman, Maxx McGee, & Brennan Ryan

We are SleepWalker Radio, broadcasting on Tuesday nights at midnight on WOBC. In our show, we listen to a lot of rap and watch a lot of rap music videos. Right now XXL is the only relevant hip hop outlet that puts out a “Freshman List,” which is a list of the best artists relatively new to the rap game who have gained a lot of attention in the most recent year. Unfortunately, every list that XXL has put out seems to be more and more out of touch with what actual fans of rap in our age range actually listen to. They also only highlight rappers in their list, even though so much more goes into the overall content put out by these artists including the beats they rap over and the music videos they put out.

So we’re going to put out our own list of rappers, producers and videographers in the rap game that’s more in touch with what people are listening to and want to experience.  This post will cover rappers, but stay posted for more posts on the WOBC blog from SleepWalker Radio!

Splurge

@ssgsplurge1

Splurge, from Arlington, Texas, is quickly blowing up. One the youngest (he’s 17) and rawest people in the rap game,  Splurge gets his beats almost exclusively from Beat by Jeff and Beat by Six7. His songs normally consist of him just going bar after bar over some hard ass drums and 808 patterns. Splurge doesn’t do hooks or choruses. He gets in the booth and spits strictly trap and street s**t,  resulting in some of hardest content put out in 2k18. Listening to his music really just make you feel invincible. Like if you commit any crime while listening to Splurge you’re almost never gonna get caught because it just gives you the energy to get away with anything.

This past year, Splurge began to blow up in the underground and mainstream community, as evidenced by rappers like Lil Uzi Vert to Chance The Rapper doing the #woah dance to his songs. He only has one feature on his released projects -- from Q da Fool --  but Splurge’s intense flow can be heard on tracks with YungManny and S3nsi Molly. He’s like if Lud Foe was from Texas and started rapping with a Hoodrich flow over slower, but harder beats. Splurge is steadily getting more and more recognition in the rap community and is gonna be on some big moves this summer.

Songs by Splurge to listen to: “Free Granny,” “No Deal,” “Tear it apart,” “UK Talk”

MIKE

@t6mikee

MIKE, from Brooklyn, New York, is operating on a whole different wave than the vast majority of people in the rap game, and the world. Choosing from a extremely diverse array of production ranging from old soul samples, piano riffs, and strange samples in odd time signatures, MIKE can rap over anything and everything. All of his music just sounds so different, in the best way possible. When you listen to him, you can hear the feelings and passion he puts into every verse, and feel exactly how he's feeling when he’s in the booth.

MIKE’s been dropping music since 2015, and has a pretty extensive discography with each project having its own unique vibe, but still finding a way to fit perfectly within his overall body of work. Founder of the [sLUms] collective, MIKE has collaborated with a large group of artist in New York, and the general rap community with people on similar wavelengths as his, including acts like King Carter, Wiki, Mehdane, Pink Siifu, Sporting Life, Navy Blue and 6press. At the moment, MIKE is one of the most recognizable people in his scene, and has become, in a sense, the face of a movement in rap’s underground that is steering the community towards more soulful and experience driven music.

Songs by MIKE to listen to: “Rottweiler,” “God’s with me,” “Nothin to Me,” “God save the Queen”

BbyMutha 

@bbymutha

Bbymutha, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, is just raw as hell. She be saying the most wildest, realest and rawest s**t in a way that makes you be like damnnn whenever you hear one of her verses. She’s really one of the best in the game at talking her s**t. You can feel her confidence and knowledge in every word she says. Her ear for good music has lead to her rapping over any and every type of instrumental, but she's still got unlimited songs of her f*****g up some hi-hats and 808s.

She’s been putting out music from as far back as 2012, but started getting a lot of attention over the past year. BbyMutha has worked with artists like Rico Nasty, LSDXOXO and La Chat. She’s currently on tour with Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, and Black Noise, which hopefully means future collabs. BbyMutha has one of the rawest energies in the whole game, and it seems like the rap community is quickly realizing this, if they didn’t already.

Songs by BbyMutha to listen to: “Heaven's Little Bastard,” “Dragon,” “D.I.Y.,” “Playtime”

YungManny

@ItsYungManny

YungManny from Hilmeade, Maryland, is another one of the rawest and youngest (he’s 15!) people in the game. He uses the rapid “Maryland flow” delivering a plethora of stand-alone bars over dark piano samples with hard ass drums behind it. YungManny honestly might have the best punchlines coming out of the “DMV flow” scene. The “DMV (D.C, Maryland, Virginia area) flow” is a style of rapping pioneered and popularized by rappers, almost all from Maryland, who design their verses to be filled with stand alone bars that follow one another rapidly, often cutting the tail end of each one off. When’s it's done right it can really get to crankin.

Anyways, YungManny makes references to all types of off the wall s**t ranging from Roots, viral memes, WWE, and like every Disney movie/show you can think of from the 2000s. It's hard to listen to any of his songs and not die laughing at something he says in it. It’s like every song is just him joanin on someone over a hard ass beat, and it just happens to rhyme. He can sing too.

Over the last year YungManny has released 6 tapes and a plethora of singles and features. Most of the projects Manny releases have very few features, but he is a frequent collaborator of Xanman (Free Xan) who has also become a punchline heavy weight in the DMV area. He’s also worked with upcoming rappers MoneyMarr and Splurge. It seems like the more music YungManny releases the more popular he becomes, so if you haven't heard of him already you probably will soon.

Songs by YungManny to listen to: “W.O.F.”, “Bonfire pt. 2,” “All my guys are ballers,” “I’m Yungmanny”

ANKHLEJOHN

@ANKHLEJOHN

ANKHLEJOHN, from Southeast, Washington D.C., has established his own very distinct sound. Normally talking his shit over production filled with dark samples that sounds like an evil Madlib produced them, ANKHLEJOHN has developed a grimey flow that sounds like he’s on the verge of slapping the s**t out of someone. When you listen to his music you feel like you’re with him on the block hitting a jack as he describes his surroundings to you and the wild ass adventures he casually goes on daily.

ANKH has released at least 11 projects in the last 2 years and most of them have one or no features, only really collaborating with other D.C. artists including Raheim Supreme and The Khan. He’s already garnered respect in the DMV area and it’s spread up the East Coast to New York too, so expect to start hearing about ANKHLEJOHN soon.

Songs by ANKHLEJOHN to listen to: “God S**t,” “Round 2,” “First Class,” “UUV.”   

Lil Xelly

@lilxelly

Lil Xelly, from Rockville, Maryland, has recently flooded the rap game with an avalanche of content. He’s like 2017 Chxpo from Maryland. This past year Xelly has put out over 30 projects and 260 songs, working with some of the hottest producers in the underground including Maaly Raw, DP Beats, Sparkheem, Noir Brent, Danny Wolf,  nedarb, Chinatown, StoopidXool, Grimm Doza and Levitatingman. He’s got that “Maryland flow” with quick deliveries of a bunch of stand alone bars that follow one another rapidly. He spits every verse like he’s the last fool in a cypher whose been eagerly waiting his turn. His intense delivery over his extremely wide and diverse selection of beats is just a great combination, like he really be spitting over literally anything and it cranks.

This last year, Xelly has worked with budding underground artists like Warhol.ss, Chxpo and The Khan, along with underground legends like P2TheGoldMask and Sickboyrari (Black Kray). Xelly’s got so much released content out there that people can't help but come across it. His following is steadily increasing and I can see him really blowing up soon.

Songs by Lil Xelly to listen to: “Vengence,” “Tony,” “Morgue,” “Stamina,” “V6”

Tisakorean  

@cudyman

Tisakorean, from Houston, Texas, is probably the weirdest and most interesting person in the rap game right now. He makes some of the most ignorant dumb s**t out here that just gets to crankin for no reason. Honestly, if you listen to his music and don't immediately love it then it's just not for you because it's really that dumb ignorant ass s**t that might just go too hard for you, and that's very understandable. His diverse, unconventional and unusual delivery is kinda weird, but goes for some reason. Also his use of layered ad lib tracks of him screaming “ayeee” and “workkkk” with his whole heart and soul accompanies his wild ass bars perfectly. He reminds me of like a toned down Dankgod.

This past year, Tisa has established a solid following, at first due to a dance he started called the “Dip” that was pretty big in Texas, and his weird but lit instagram. He took down most of his posts, but there was a period where Tisa’s instagram was full of videos of him dancing in a random area with no music and freestyling, while dressed in strictly Aeropostale. After a few of his videos went viral, Tisa started to get noticed for his musical style with Lil Uzi Vert remixing his “Dip” song. Since then, he’s dropped songs with 10.K Caash and Kenny Beats, and has previewed content he’s worked on with A$AP Ferg, A$AP Rocky and Chance The Rapper on his instagram. Tisa makes all his beats, not only showcasing his versatility, but also assuring that you really get his full vision when you hear his music. You definitely need to check this guy out because he’s got a good team behind him and he's probably gonna blow soon.

Songs by Tisakorean to listen to: “But Not Wheat,” “Brush my teeth,” “Pat yo weave,” “Justice League,” “Bagel Chips”

#wobc blog #wobc #college radio #sleepwalker radio #Splurge #MIKE #bbymutha #YungManny #ANKHLEJOHN #Lil Xelly #Tisakorean

[wobc]

Welcome to the sideblog for Warriors of BlossomClan (WoBC)! I’m so excited to share this comic with you all that’s been years in the making with ideas, concepts, and planning/scriptwriting. I hope you’ll enjoy this story as much as I do <3 pages will come out as they’re finished; for now, enjoy the cover with one of our mains, Adderfrost. A bit of info: concept art and other art that are not comic pages will be posted on my main blog, adventurekat.tumblr.com under the tag #WoBC. This blog is exclusively for comic pages!

If you have questions regarding the series feel free to send an ask on this blog, and I’ll tag them under #askWoBC !

#WoBC Cover

[annashipper]

WFW Anon

‘Ah, someone struck a nerve today I see. Posting all that BS isn’t making you perceived as intelligent I’m afraid. Do you know why? Because you ARE a(…)idiot who wastes her time on hating someone you don’t even know.' 

Anna, it would seem this Nanny has never heard the expression, 'the pot calling the kettle black.'  It never fails to amaze me when these (I presume) fans of BC come raging into your inbox to do to you precisely what they say we do to The Wife of Benedict Cumberbatch (now with extra misogyny!).  What’s the point exactly?  Do they actually think you/we will take one look at their vitriol and decide, yes, they were right all along, WOBC is, in fact, everything they imagine her to be?  Yes indeed Nanny, this time, anonymous hate is definitely going to make me reevaluate the opinion I’ve formed since her initial introduction (and subsequent re-re-re-re-ad nauseam-introductions).  Pfft.  Please.

Perhaps our oh so eloquent Nanny believes that if they spew enough invective, we’ll all just go away.  Can’t imagine why they’d think so.  It hasn’t worked yet.  In fact, all it does is rile us up and get us active when we’re going through one of the quietest periods of the whole Sham.  Way to go Nanny, mission (not) accomplished. 

Or maybe Nanny thinks BC does in fact read your blog and this will in some way endear her to him?  Yes, that’s got to be it - he’ll see her charming message and think, 'Ah, now there is truly the woman of my dreams.  I must divorce immediately and find my Cinderella.'  Seems reasonable.

You know, every time I think they’ve reached the heights of hypocrisy, they outdo themselves.  I have a new term for this: snanctimony.  

WFW Anon

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I would be entertained by their hypocrisy if it didn’t make me so sad that grown women in 2019 have so little self-awareness WFW Anon.

In the immortal words of John Watson:

#wfw anon #submission

[wobc-fm]

Hip Hop History: Top Ten Soulquarian Tracks

Words by Lily D’Amato

Neo-Soul’s popularity rose to its peak in the mid 1990s, coinciding with the genesis of the Soulquarians. The Soulquarians were a hip hop/soul collective centered around neosoul “it boy” D’Angelo, songwriter and producer James Poyser, The Root’s ?uestlove, and Slum Village’s producer J Dilla.  Initially interacting at informal jam sessions and parties at the Black Lily nightclub in Philadelphia, D’Angelo and ?uestlove decided to relocate to Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village to begin work on D’Angelo’s second studio album, Voodoo.  Erykah Badu, the rest of The Roots, Common, and a plethora of other neo-soul artists would soon follow the duo, each working on projects of their own.  The collaboration led to the creation of some of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 90s, including Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun and The Roots’ Things Fall Apart.  Although the Soulquarian Era had mostly dissipated by the early 2000s, its impacts have reverberated to contemporary hip-hop and R&B, influencing artists like Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, and The Internet.

Send it On - D’Angelo

Send it On’s tight harmonies, deeply personal lyrics about faith in love, and unforgettable groove make it one of D’Angelo’s best tracks. Co-written by D’Angelo’s ex-girlfriend Angie Stone and his brother Luther Archer, the song peaked at number 33 on Billboard’s Top 100.  One Billboard Magazine reviewer highlighted the development of D’Angelo’s distinct vocal style “which bears an undeniable resemblance to Prince, Al Green, and Otis Redding.” Roy Hargrove’s flugelhorn bolsters the velvet-like smoothness of the song and offers new texture to the song’s heavy bass section.  Complex and absorbing, listening to Send it On is like being inundated with harmony from every direction.  

Erykah Badu - Bag Lady

Bag Lady, Badu’s first single since her 1997 album Baduizm, uses a seemingly ordinary story to explore themes of “self-love, self-discovery, unrequited love, gender conflict and communication, emotional and psychological bruising, failure, redemption, and personal fulfillment for black women.”  The sparse percussion section and sleek guitar sample from Dr. Dre’s ”Xxplosive” interact with Badu’s creamy vocals to emphasize the subject matter, alternating between moments of empowerment and moments of tragic, intimate honesty. The video that accompanies the song alludes to Ntozake Shange’s 1975 drama For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, criticizing the racialized inadequacies of public education in America.

The Roots - Double Trouble

The creation of Things Fall Apart, The Root’s 1999 studio album, began when ?uestlove played Premier, Dilla, and D’Angelo “Double Trouble” and was underwhelmed by their reactions.  Tenacious in his quest for their respect, he went ahead and made “Double Trouble” one of the best tracks The Roots have ever created. He re-recorded the drum loop and fiddled with the EQ to give it an air of separation, providing rapper’s Black Thought and Mos Def with what Pitchfork’s Michael Moore describes as a “hard charging instrumental to match [their] verbal dexterity.”

Common - Song for Assata

Produced by James Poyser, Song for Assata narrates the life of Black Panther Assata Shakur. Assata Shakur, who was convicted of the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper in the early 70s, escaped prison in 1979, living in Cuba under political asylum since 1984. The song features CeeLo Green, who was, at the time, a member of the Atlanta hip hop group Goodie Mob.  His beautiful, melodic chorus comes in stark contrast to Common’s violent bars, which describe Assata’s story in an effort to “make this movement towards freedom/For all those who have been oppressed/and all those in the struggle.”  The social activism that characterizes Song for Assata makes it one of the most significant Soulquarian tracks, showcasing the group’s political and cultural ideology and their desire to bring about systemic change.

The Roots - Step into the Realm

Things Fall Apart is widely accepted to be The Root’s most fully realized record to date. The oscillating drum loop on Step into the Realm, the fourth track off the album, makes the bars “even more urgent... [and introduces an atmosphere] of chaos” says Pitchfork writer Marcus Moore.  The juxtaposition between the clarity of the drums and the distorted vocals creates drama that makes the song exciting, mildly terrifying, and addictive. This track leads The Root’s into a new psychedelic sound, rerouting them momentarily away from jazz towards the current of 90s hip-hop.

Slum Village - What it’s All About

Slum Village’s Fantastic Vol. 2 was finished under A&M Records in 1998, just before the label went bankrupt, leaving the group in a lerch for over a year.  Finally, the album was released with Good Vibe Recordings and Barak Records in early 2000 and was well received by critics and listeners alike.  Sampling Alicia Meyer’s Don’t Stop What You’re Doin’, What’s It All About, produced solely by J Dilla, features Busta Rhymes at his finest.  Self assured and playful, his bars rest perfectly between the serene siren like vocal sample and distorted adlibs, allowing for Dilla’s beat, arguably the real star of the show, to shine through.

D’Angelo - Chicken Grease

Originally slated for Common’s Like Water For Chocolate, Chicken Grease embodies the relaxation and ease which its lyrics promote.  Supposedly named after a term coined by Prince in reference to strumming chords in a specific 16th note pattern, the song serves as Voodoo’s integrative centerpiece. Pino Palladino’s bass and harmony epitomize the quintessential “in the pocket” rhythm section that has become the defining characteristic of Neo-Soul, delicately cradling D’Angelo’s subtle overdubbed vocals.  Funky and spiritualized, Chicken Grease’s analog rhythm and seemingly simple yet wildly brilliant theme exemplifies the best aspects of the Soulquarian era.

Erykah Badu - Green Eyes

Green Eyes, an agonizing ten minute three part meditation on Badu’s breakup with OutKast’s Andre 3000 in 2000, broadcasts her vulnerability, shedding the overconfident facade she broadcasted on Baduizm.  In the first section of the song, Badu almost protects her usual smug attitude, but ultimately reveals her disillusionment in the second movement, while supported by feathery symbols and a quiet but driving percussion section.  The third part, which uses horns to accentuate a more propulsive rhythm, sees Badu slightly more empowered but relatably confused. Green Eyes’ transparency humanizes Badu’s self-righteous persona, combining her musical virtuosity with an captivating sense of self.

Common - The 6th Sense

The 6th Sense, released in 2000, opens with the lyrics “the revolution will not be televised”, referencing the Gil-Scott Heron song of the same name and advancing Like Water For Chocolate’s clear political and social agenda.  The first single off the album, the song is often heralded as one of Common’s classics; Pitchfork writer Taylor Clark agrees, noting that “Common gets iller than Syphilis over an addictive track provided by Gang Starr’s DJ Premier.” The song also features Common’s fellow Soulquarian Bilal on the chorus, using his lofty vocals to underscore the weight of his messages concerning afrocentricity and the harsh reality of life on the street.

Mos Def - Know That

Black on Both Sides, released in October of 1999 by rapper Mos Def, deals with the socio economic issues facing African Americans, offering a positive yet sobering take on urban reality and notably departing from the increasingly violent undertones of contemporary gangsta rap.  Featuring Talib Kweli and sampling their joint album Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star, Know That articulates a tangible confidence through Mos Def’s decisive rhymes and lyrical complexity.  In one line, he raps “The streets is watchin me, I watch back, that's the policy”, indicating a sense of mutual respect and reverence placed on the shoulders’ of black rappers and musicians, specifically those with as much cultural prowess as the Soulquarians, by their home communities. The ostinato on the keys, ever present record scratching, and call and response between Def and Kweli towards the end, makes Know That groovable, insightful, and infectious.

Although the Soulquarian Era had mostly dissipated by the early 2000s, its impacts have reverberated to contemporary hip-hop and R&B, informing more critical analysis of hip-hop by professional and casual listeners alike. The inclusion of intricate lyrics, analog rhythms, and a prominent social justice tenor in the music of Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, and The Internet cement neo-soul’s legacy, legitimizing its influence in the popularization of rap and hip-hop.

#wobc #wobc blog #soulquarians

[wobc-fm]

The Mystery of Hillbilly Jimbob, Beloved WOBC Star

words by Sanam Tiffany

In doing archival work for WOBC, our team unearthed a number of relics and mysteries, of many different kinds of media. During our time sifting through the paper documents hidden away throughout WOBC, we have found a number of interesting and provocative complaints addressed to the station. Of these complaints, a number concerned a man known as Hillbilly Jim Bob.

While I attempted to contact the authors of these letters, I was unsuccessful. Thus, I have done independent research in order to uncover the importance of Hillbilly Jim Bob. In my research, I came across only one such man with the name Hillbilly Jim with a passionate radio following: pro WWF wrestler James Morrison, known in the ring (and on the airwaves) as Hillbilly Jim.

Both WOBC’s Hillbilly Jimbob and WWF’s Hillbilly Jim host radio shows that are characterized as country/southern rock, and both shows have garnered a strong, impassioned following. Hillbilly Jim’s WWF theme is even a fiddle-centric country ballad! And now, Hillbilly Jim hosts Hillbilly Jim’s Moonshine Matinee on Sirius Satellite Radio. Could they be the same prestigious man?

Following the cancellation of Hillbilly Jimbob’s Radio Show, supens Terry S. and Marla P. wrote in to WOBC to lament him being taken off the air. Calling for a boycott of WOBC, Terry writes that “as long as I don’t hear Jim on the air, I will exclude your station from my listening channels as many others will also.”

Though we will never know for certain whether wrestler Hillbilly Jim is one in the same as beloved WOBC host Hillbilly Jimbob, I argue that the crossovers and similarities are too crucial too ignore. Until then, I have reached out to WWF’s Hillbilly Jim in the hopes of getting to the bottom of this mystery.

This post is part of a series by the TECH350 class’s project to digitize and archive WOBC findings. Check out other posts here! 

#tech350 #wobc #wobc blog #college radio

[wobc-fm]

SleepWalker 2019 Freshman List

words by Amari Newman, Maxx McGee, & Brennan Ryan

We are SleepWalker Radio, broadcasting on Tuesday nights at midnight on WOBC. In our show, we listen to a lot of rap and watch a lot of rap music videos. Right now XXL is the only relevant hip hop outlet that puts out a “Freshman List,” which is a list of the best artists relatively new to the rap game who have gained a lot of attention in the most recent year. Unfortunately, every list that XXL has put out seems to be more and more out of touch with what actual fans of rap in our age range actually listen to. They also only highlight rappers in their list, even though so much more goes into the overall content put out by these artists including the beats they rap over and the music videos they put out.

So we’re going to put out our own list of rappers, producers and videographers in the rap game that’s more in touch with what people are listening to and want to experience.  This post will cover producers, and you can find the post on rappers here, but stay posted for more posts on the WOBC blog from SleepWalker Radio!

Forza

@YunForza

Forza, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, makes the rawest and rarest beats in the underground. A member of the Working On Dying producing team, Forza has made a name for himself for his use of a wide variety of samples from video games, and other things I can’t identify, matched with his signature high tempo drums and unconventional 808 patterns that automatically makes you want to mosh. His music sounds like you’re in an intergalactic space war with a bunch of spaceships flying by at like 100,000 miles per hour shooting lasers at you, and all of it is happening at like a 2x youtube speed. Like the s**t is wild to listen to.

The last few years, Forza has established himself as a pioneer in the underground’s Soundcloud scene, working with SickboyRari (Black Kray), Lil Tracy, Five Finger Posse, Bootychaaain, Bladee and Agoff. Forza has recently evolved his sound, focusing on more melodies that match his high tempo sporadic drum patterns, and has collaborated with more mainstream artists including Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Peep and Yung Bans. Forza, along with the whole Working On Dying collective, has already made a significant impact on the underground rap scene and is on track to make massive waves in the industry very soon.

Songs produced by Forza to listen to:

“Yung Bans - ETA,”  “Sub9k - Wit it,” “Lil Uzi Vert - Of course,” “Agoff - Aint no hitta”

Chinatown

@ChinatownBeats_

Chinatown, from Greensboro, North Carolina, makes some of the most melodic crankage out there. One half of the Capsule Corp production team with MilanMakesBeats, China has developed a great selection in the soundscapes that he creates through his production. His complex and layered synths mesh together to make beautiful melodies that are only enhanced by the powerful 808s and wavy drum and snare patterns that accompany them. Listening to Chinatown is like taking a stroll through the world’s most expensive chandelier shop, or driving down a highway next to the beach at midnight with a full moon out and the top down, but there's no wind, just the feeling of slight mist coming from the ocean that’s dark red. It’s honestly just beautiful to listen to.

Chinatown has worked with a variety artists, ranging from Diego Money, Chxpo, Slime Sito, ThouxanbanFauni and D Savage to more mainstream artists like Playboi Carti, Famous Dex and Rich the Kid. China is in a position to really make big moves this year with his sound getting more distinct and better, and I am already seeing a trend in other producers who are shaping their beats similar to China’s, showing how much influence he already has in the game.

Songs produced by Chinatown to listen to:

“Diego Money - Numbers,” “Playboi Carti feat Lil Uzi Vert - Firearm,” “Thouxanbanfauni - GiGi,” “Chxpo - U ALR SNOW”

Beat By Jeff  

@jeffersonbeats_

Beat by Jeff, from Arlington, Texas, was probably the most influential producer in the game this past year. Originally gaining recognition in the scene for being the sole producer of almost all of Splurge’s songs, Jeff’s simplistic style quickly took over the sound of the whole rap industry in a few months. His beats are not that complex, and normally include some robotic ass and reverbed 808, hi-hats, and a clap or snare, but it cranks. And every person who raps over it sounds great. Although he did not create the #woah dance, almost all the videos that went viral of people doing it were to Beat By Jeff’s production. Once the #woah started blowing up, a large amount of relevant rappers at the time came out with songs with a Beat by Jeff “type beat” that people could #woah to. He really repopularized the non-melodic and basic components of Hip-Hop production that lets the lyricism and cleverness of a rapper shine.

Jeff has done a great job at putting people from his city on, working with a bunch of Texas artists including Splurge, 10K.Caash, S3nsi Molly and G.U.N. He has recently began to branch out, working with artists like Unotheactivist and Matt Ox. Jeff is definitely responsible for the shift in the production in rap songs that took place in 2018, and I’m sure he’ll continue to influence rap’s production this year as well.

Songs produced by Beat by Jeff to listen to:

“Splurge - Intro pt. 2,” “Unotheactivist - As a Young Boy,” “S3nsi Molly feat Lil Brook - 223,”   “Splurge - Tear it Apart”

Marcusbasquiat

@marcusbasquiat

Marcusbasquait, from New York City, has got some of the most ethereal and otherworldly beats out there. Using keys and synths that sound like chime bells moving very smoothly in a nice breeze, Marcus creates complex and beautiful hums that have futuristic snares, hi-hats and drums over it. Listening to his instrumentals puts you in an alternate universe that is probably the color purple.

This past year, Marcusbasquait has become a frequent collaborator with Lucki, being responsible for all of the production on his “Days B4 II” ep, along with producing “2012 summer” off his Freewave III project. He has also produced for Thouxanbanfauni, BOOFBOIICY, UnotheActivist, and Terrence Escobar. He is quickly developing his own sound, and it's becoming easier to identify a Marcusbasquiat beat as his collection grows. He's definitely gonna be putting out some heat as the year goes on.  

Songs produced by Marcusbasquiat to listen to:

Lucki - 2012 Summer, Thouxanbanfauni - Eyes Wide Shut, Lucki - Switchlanes

LordFubu

@FUBARTI

LordFubu, from Jacksonville Florida, production is really just beautiful. His smooth keys and samples, fit perfectly with his clean drum patterns. Listening to his music is like laying on a beach with really warm sand and looking at an ocean that's crystal clear. Fubu has been steadily expanding his repertoire and reputation since 2015, currently acting as the main producer for the Marino Infantry collective operating out of Baltimore. He has produced an astonishing amount of YG Addie (A$AP Ant)’s newest material being his go to producer since 2017. He has also worked with artists like Silkmoney, A$AP Rocky, Tay K, Supa Bwe, Michael Christmas, Da$h and ICYTWAT.

LordFubu is also one of the most active producers on social media, posting cool anime edits to his beats, reviewing the many pairs of shoes that he owns or comes across, and going live on his instagram and chefin up right before his followers eyes. He’s really just a cool dude who makes smooth ass beats.

Songs produced by LordFubu to listen to:

“A$AP Ant feat Hoodrich Pablo Juan - Diamond Dust,” “A$AP Rocky - Nights like this,” “Divine Council - Dirtbags in Distress”

Cheecho

@AyeeCheecho

Cheecho, from D.C. or PG county, is probably the hardest producer out of the DMV area. His 808s hit harder than all other producers’ in the game, and his drum patterns just crank. Listening to his music feels like you’re experiencing an earthquake while in the middle of a shoot out.

Cheecho has produced for many upcoming rappers including Q da Fool, Hood Rich Pablo Juan, Goonew, Lil Dude, Big Flock, Slime Sito, Xanman (Free Xan), MoneyMarr and Baby Ahk (RIP). He has played a huge role in developing the sound coming out of the DMV area that is quickly taking over the general rap game. His production has become a staple of that sound, with almost every popping artist from the area having a song with Cheecho in the early stages of their career. Essentially, you can literally get any random person from Maryland to spit over a Cheecho beat and it’s gonna crank by default.

Songs by Cheecho to listen to:

“Q da Fool - Trap Shit,” “Lil Dude & Goonew - HunnitBandJugg,” “Slime Sito - Blanco,” “Goonew - Bag”

Noir Brent (BrentRambo)

@BRENTR4MBO

Noir Brent, from Chicago, Illinois, has some of the most lit production out there. Acquiring the most randomest sounds he can find and mixing them together over some crazy 808 and drum patterns, along with his tag that comes from an old viral meme, Brent makes every one of his beats noticeable and distinct. Noir Brent, and his frequent producer collaborator Uglyfriend, have mastered this weird production. His beats sound like a computer being microwaved, with all of its parts going haywire and making the wildest digital sounds that loop perfectly over sporadic drums and 808s.

Brent has been active since 2015 and has produced for almost every relevant “Soundcloud rapper” including Lucki, Lil Pump, Smokepurrp, Famous Dex, Madeintyo, Lil Yachty, Rich The Kid, Yung Bans, Trippie Redd, Chxpo, Warhol.ss and Nolanberollin. Brent has proven himself as one of the most unique producers of our time, and more people in the game are noticing, if they didn’t already. Brent is another producer whose really active on social media, becoming one of the most reliable meme plugs in the rap game, even though he’s toned down his meme related content as of late. He’s got some bars too. But yeah, Noir Brent’s music is beyond wild and always slaps when you listen to it.

Songs produced by Noir Brent to listen to:

“Warhol.SS -  boof!,” “Lil Xelly & Noir Brent- Started, Xrr!,” “Famous Dex feat Madeintyo - With yo B!tch,” “Noir Brent - WhutShutUp”

#wobc #wobc blog #Oberlin College and Community Radio #oberlin #forza #chinatown #beat by jeff #Marcusbasquait #lordfubu #cheecho #noir brent #sleepwalker radio

[wobc-fm]

WOBC at home

Hello everyone: WOBC listeners, WOBC blog readers, staff, DJs, family, and friends! Co-promo director Bridget here. I write to you from day 17?? 18? of my personal quarantine, where I have been hiding out, hiking, reading, and listening to music. While I miss Oberlin and WOBC, I am trying to stay busy, healthy, and hopeful about a quick return to normalcy. 

In reality, this is more than a brief interruption to our usual programming, both at WOBC and in all of our lives. I miss being on air more than anything, but we do have the WOBC blog, and now is the time to use it! I wanted to share some songs with you all that have been making the passage of time feel a bit more normal. Many of these songs come at the recommendations of my friends and community at Oberlin--songs a friend put on while driving or making dinner, songs I heard on WOBC, hell, even songs I heard at Splitchers. In this vein, I’ve made it collaborative. Please throw on a song or two that you’d put on your show! Find it here! 

The blog is a resource for all of us, and I’m sure I can’t be the only one who misses being on air. If you’d like to share a playlist with all your usual commentary, write a little something about how you’re coping with this crisis, or anything else you can think of, please reach out to Lily, the blog director, at [email protected]! 

Love, 

Bridget

#covidoberlin #wobc #college radio #oberlin

[annashipper]

I don't usually look at nanny blogs, but out of curiosity I looked at that moron's blog you mentioned. If she redirected even a fraction of the energy she uses promoting an obvious PR sham, we'd have a cure for cancer by now. WOBC is grinning like a loon, as always, but he looks as though he just threw up in his mouth in those latest gifs of them sitting side-by-side. I'd say let her/them have their fantasies, but I didn't like seeing such nastiness emanating from her petty poison pen. - MFA

I’m sorry I lowered your IQ for however long you spent scrolling through @doctortwhohiddles’ blog MFA.

I just enjoy playing with my food too much for mine and my readers’ good...

[wobc-fm]

Welcome back, WOBC

Hi, everyone, and welcome back to a wonderful semester of programming here at WOBC. We are super excited about all our shows and other projects in the works in this new year, and are super excited that YOU are going to be a part of it! Last year, we really grew the WOBC blog with WOBC history lessons, up-and-coming lists, and in-depth music exposés, and this year can be even greater. 

If you’re interested in writing music journalism, news about Oberlin or college and community radio, or otherwise are looking to espouse any other semi-related opinions, please consider writing for the blog! Contact me at [email protected] with your name, connection to WOBC, and pitch-we’d love to have you. You can do any kind of post that you want!

Lots of WOBC love,

Bridget Conway, Blog Director

#wobc #wobc oberlin #oberlin #oberlin college #college radio #ohio #cleveland

[annashipper]

I suspected something was up when I read WoBC was going to Met Gala. First thing i thought was that there's either a renegotiated contract with more exposure to, with and for fame..OR, this is beginning of the swan song for showmance. Time, as it inevitably does, shall tell. I also, have no doubt, that Enty reads these blogs, especially given the info broadcast in his podcast; too similar in content to what we skeptics have been sensing, observing,charting and discussing all these many moons.

You’re absolutely right Nonny, this could go either way.

We might be looking at the start of trouble in paradise rumours that will lead to a split by the end of the summer, or it might all be about drumming up conversation surrounding The Wife Of Benedict Cumberbatch, because Ben finally decided to put SunnyMarch’s money where his mouth is, and her sister in law’s book is about to be made into a movie.  I assume if that movie ever gets made by SM, it will be led by The Wife Of Benedict Cumberbatch.

I honestly don’t know which option has the prospect of being more entertaining  :D

[wobc-fm]

In this week's show cohosts Leah Vonderheide and Michelle Chu discuss Avengers: Endgame (now playing at the Apollo) and its precursor Infinity War. Aired on WOBC on 5-1-2019.

Check out the introduction here and previous episodes here.

#at the apollo #wobc #wobc blog #wobc oberlin #oberlin #college radio

[wobc-fm]

Winter Shadows and Reflections: Joey Shapiro ‘18 Reviews “less of a reflection, more of a shadow” by Hannah Sandoz ‘22

Hannah Sandoz ‘22, known to Oberlin’s music scene as the guitarist and vocalist of Walldogs, has released an album of her own entitled “less of a reflection, more of a shadow.” Sandoz recorded the album in her dorm room while spending winter term on campus. Joey Shapiro ‘18, former host of WOBC show “Lost in Space” wrote a few words about the album:

“less of a reflection, more of a shadow” feels appropriately insular and hushed for an EP recorded in a dorm room in the dead of Oberlin winter. That’s the extent of the winter term parallels, though; nothing about what Hannah Sandoz has done on these six dreamy, intimate songs feels closed off or cold. Even as their lyrics conjure up vivid snapshots of chilly days and hearts breaking, Sandoz’s vocals are defiantly warm, coated in a gauzy layer of reverb that wraps around you like a blanket. These songs may revolve around pain and echoes of trauma, but they’re told with an uncommon sense of intimacy and empathy that welcomes you in like an old friend.

Check it out here!

#hannah sandoz #joey shapiro #WOBC #wobc blog #album review

[wobc-fm]

In this week's show cohosts Leah Vonderheide and Michelle Chu discuss The Grinch(now playing at the Apollo)in contrast to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Aired on WOBC on 11-13-2018.

Check out the introduction here and previous episodes here.

#at the apollo #wobc #wobc blog #oberlin #WOBC Oberlin #college radio

[wobc-fm]

At the Apollo with Michelle and Leah

On this week's show, Michelle and Leah discuss First Man (now playing at the Apollo) in comparison to 1995's Apollo 13.

Check out the introduction here and previous episodes here. 

#At the Apollo #wobc #wobc blog

[wobc-fm]

At the Apollo with Michelle and Leah

On this week's show, Michelle and Leah are joined by guest Jules Greene to discuss Venom (now playing at the Apollo) and Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok.

Check out the introduction and previous episodes here.

#At the Apollo #wobc #wobc blog

[wobc-fm]

Five Album Serenade: Athena Matsil

The WOBC blog is launching a new series called Five Album Serenade: we will now be posting interviews with Oberlin students and members of the community about the albums that have played major roles in their lives. This series is currently curated by WOBC Dj Benjamin Stevens. 

The first interview of the series is with Oberlin student Athena Matsil

Album that is inspiring to you:

True, Solange

I have always loved pop music. For a long time at Oberlin I’ve been trying to make my rock band Thee Hundos work, and we keep running into a lot of weird roadblocks. We have a lot of weird obstacles coming our way and I’ve kind of given up on that project. I’m trying to see how in my final time here I can write more pop music, which is something I’ve always wanted to do more of anyway. After listening to that album a lot over winter term I’ve been making stuff in Garageband that is poppier and dancier.

I also have been really inspired by Frank Ocean recently because he put out that “Moon River” cover and that’s so different from everything he’s ever done. Blonde is one of my favorite albums; I have a Blonde tattoo! The way he works with form is really inspiring because he’s a pop star and a songwriter who is defying all conventions of pop music writing. It’s so cool and so mainstream but also so critically acclaimed.

Have you seen him?

Yes! I saw him this summer! I cried so much. I had an incredible view of him right in front of the tent where they were mixing sound. That was pretty cool.

Who else did you see that day?

I saw Solange! I was doing my own thing but then I ran to see Solange and Frank Ocean. The whole dancing marching band…

I thought “How is he going to follow this?”

Yeah it wasn’t very elaborate. It was so personal I felt like I was in a studio for some sort of in-studio performance.

Favorite album from a decade:

The Doors, The Doors

In high school I was obsessed with classic rock because that’s what my dad listened to and my favorite band for years and years was the Doors. During high school when I was figuring out what my music taste was. I didn’t know any hip hop and I didn’t know any pop music until I got into college. The Doors’ first album is really inspiring to me because all the music I had listened to from the ‘60s like the Beatles and the British invasion bands were so quaint and put together, and the Doors were so loud and pissed. I remember being so into That 70’s Show when I was in high school and Hyde always wore a Doors shirt and I was “Hyde’s into the Doors and he’s cool and I’m into the Doors and I’m cool!”

What’s a favorite song off that record?

The first song is “Break on Through” and it’s such an intense and fun start to an album. I learned a lot about the Doors because I was obsessed with them and I remember reading the first song they had written they didn’t put it on the record and it was cool to see what songs they put on the record as their break onto the scene. The first song they ever wrote was “Moonlight Drive,” which has a lot of slide guitar on it and it’s not as anti-establishment as a lot of their work. They just have such a weird sound, there’s no bassist in the band and the .

I like how they sound like a Skating rink with a guy in the middle talking about lizards.

Their sound is really distinct sound too. Even if you haven’t heard a song of theirs before, you immediately know it is them because of their arrangement. Jim Morrison’s voice is so powerful, it makes me mad! I studied classical voice in High School and I think about how if he had been classically trained he could have been a great singer. Instead, he was great in a very different context. It made me feel like if he could be great without the training I had, I could be great too!”

What’s a record that’s outside of your comfort zone of stuff you typically like to listen to that you love?

Build Nothing Out of Something-Modest Mouse

There’s this album by Modest Mouse that’s a collection of singles. It’s called Build Nothing Out of Something. It’s got a lot of cool songs on it, I’ve heard its a collection of singles. The lyrics are really angsty in a way that is different than I’m used to. Karen O’s album Crush Songs is probably my favorite album ever. There’s this person called Space Show, this anti-folk person. Their lyrics are really angsty and sweet and most of the arrangements are just acoustic guitar and glockenspiel. The Karen O album is all acoustic guitar. The Modest Mouse album is so heavy and expresses the same things that those artists want to express but in such a different way. I don’t know any other music in that genre. I couldn’t name any bands that sound like Modest Mouse to me.

I get what you’re saying where albums just come out of the blue to you with no reference points that you can recognize.

My roommate a couple of years ago played me “Baby Blue Sedan,” and that was the song that put me on to the rest of the record. My roommate’s taste was so different and it was funny how that of all things was the place where we met.

A favorite record from high school?

Rubber Soul-The Beatles

When I was in high school I really loved The Beatles and I loved the album Rubber Soul. I just love every song on that record. A lot of my friends from high school were also really into the Beatles; we would listen listen to it together on the train all the time, we would listen to it in the park, and we all had it on vinyl. We went to the record store and bought a bunch of copies of Rubber Soul. It doesn’t sound like anything that came before it.

Definitely it’s a record that has a lot possibility. They seem very free to do what they want.

Banger after banger after banger! It’s so hard to pick a favorite Beatles era. I remember listening to Abbey Road in the car with my whole family we each had a song that was ours and we would each take the lead in singing it. We all had our different parts singing “Oh Darling.”

Album that reminds you of home:

Jim Croce

I really love Jim Croce. I’ve only listened to his greatest hits. He’s really special to my parents and they will always sing along to Jim Croce. They listened to Jim Croce after their first date. When they listen to Jim Croce they sing it to each other. When I listen to Jim Croce I feel like I am at home in a loving environment. His voice is so beautiful, his guitar playing is amazing, his songs are so pretty. And his music reminds me of my parent’s love and how that extends to my brothers and I.

[editors note: this interview has been edited for clarity] 

#interviews #as told to #the beatles #solange #jim croce #the doors #modest mouse #karen o