Let’s make a list of the things that Atlanta group The Constellations have going for them:
#1 – They’ve got an awesome logo:
#2 – They combine rap and rock in a way that’s not gimmicky or unauthentic, which is really, really hard to do.
#3 – Their new album, “Southern Gothic,” not only has one of the better album names of 2010 so far, but also features studs like Cee-Lo Green and Asher Roth.
#4 – They know who the great Tom Waits is, and even dedicated an entire song to the guy.
#5 – Capturing real local color on a record isn’t easy, but these guys have deliberately assembled eleven songs that do exactly that for the city of Atlanta. It’s ambitious and fun, and we like that sort of thing.
And there’s more. A lot more, actually, starting with the swagger of lead singer Elijah Jones, who’s got a completely unique and exciting vocal style. Do in large part to Jones’s nasally, too-cool-for-school vocal cadences, these guys have the potential to be the sort of band that is instantly recognizable the moment they come on the radio with a new song. You’ll say, “Isn’t this The Constellations?” And your friend will be all, “Yup.” And you’ll have known because Jones is so distinctive.
We first fell in love with the guys upon hearing “Felicia,” a seedy, tambouriney party anthem about a buxom beauty in a club, because it was so fun and energetic. The rest of “Southern Gothic” is equally entertaining, each track trying on different vibes and styles and genres. “Setback” is hip-hoppy, “Perfect Day” is indie-ish, “Love Is A Murder” is somewhere in between pop and soul, and “Step Right Up” is a jam-tastic musical narrative.
How many words did I make up in that last paragraph? I count four, but The Constellations probably deserve more.
For audio diversity, for fun, for a fair musical portrayal of night life in Atlanta, you’ve got to pick up “Southern Gothic.” We’ve got a list of five things they currently have going for them, but that list is going to grow, and quickly. Don’t wait for these guys to hit it big before you jump on their bandwagon. The Constellations are stars already. (Get it?)
Check out “Love Is A Murder,” featuring Cee-Lo:
And pick up “Southern Gothic” as soon as you can!
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Aw naw, hell naw boy ya’ll done up and done it. It’s like pure poetry. Could have came right from Edgar Allen Poe or Ernest Hemingway. But alas, this gem came from the Nappy Roots. I first heard “Aw Naw” in college during my most formidable years. There was nothing like getting the party started with a little Nappy Roots (and possibly some “No Diggity” or “California Love”, but that’s neither here nor there.)
This hip-hop group from Kentucky is probably best known for their 2002 single “Po’ Folks”. Eight years later and the boys are still kicking with their latest release (and see if you can catch the play on words here) The Pursuit of Nappyness. The entire album includes super funky fresh beats throughout as well as an Outkast-ish style of rapping. The album is a little more club-ish than we here at FreshScouts are used to, but everyone’s got to hit the town for booty scrumpin’ sometimes right?
Check out the video for the single “Ride”:
Buy the album:
When you’re named after a revolutionary like Che Guevara, it’d be severe letdown if you ended up not being destined for great things. For Chicago rapper Che Smith, known more universally as Rhymefest, great things have already happened. With his new album, aptly named “El Che,” the greatness continues.
Hyped heavily earlier in his career by Kanye West, Rhymefest co-wrote “Jesus Walks” once upon a time, which tells you what kind of talent and scope this man has for hip-hop. On the new album, Fest covers a myriad of social and personal topics that are extremely refreshing and intellectually stimulating. This is a smart brother, boys and girls. He understand the history of our country and his race and his art better than almost any musician I’ve ever come across.
The music is deep, but he just seems like the kind of guy you just want to buy a beer and chew the fat with. If you’re a person who values lyrics in rap, Rhymefest is a guy you need to be listening to.
Musically, the catchiest tracks on the album are “Give It To Me” and “Talk My Shit,” but songs like “Prosperity” and “Agony” give perhaps the best view of our hero’s intelligence and depth.
Honestly, Rhyemfest’s people passed the album on to us a month ago, back when they thought the release date was going to be in May. I’ve sitting on this for three weeks, and that’s a painful thing when the record is so damn good. Hip-hop heads—go pick up “El Che.”
Besides, the guy’s from the Chi. If you care about your future Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, you’ll further support the city by supporting one of its most respectable artists. Take part in the greatness.
Here’s a glimpse at “How High,” a track that features another FS favorite, Little Brother:
So we here at FreshScouts have been following Jack Johnson for almost 10 years now. We first heard some of his debut releases even before they were debut releases. During the Napster craze, we came across a recording of “Flake” almost a year before its commercial radio success. How did we know it was going to be so popular? Because we’re awesome. That’s why.
His latest release (6th album release to be exact) is back to the same old Jack Johnson we first fell in love with. He’s followed a long and winding road since the release of Brushfire Fairytales in 2001. Since then he’s recorded two signature style albums, one children’s album and one album that definitely showed the darker, emotional side of his music. It’s hard not to love a Jack Johnson album and this one’s vintage flavor (at least vintage to 2001) is just in time for summer. He tends to bring a little Hawaii to wherever you are listening to him which is always a good weapon to have to fight the rainy day blues.
If you want to get in on the action, check out one of his summer tour dates and grab your tickets early. His shows generally tend to sell out and they promise to be the perfect thing to make your summer an awesome one. I still remember my entire summer with Brushfire Fairytales. I probably listened to it 1,000 times. Or at least 20 times. That’s still a lot.
Check out the video for the single “You and Your Heart”:
Buy the album:
It’s not that I’m a die-hard reggae fan. I’m not. But there’s little question about hip-hop’s roots in Jamaican toasting, and Damian Marley (Bob’s kid) is among the best there is in today’s world of music. Add that to always strong work of Nas—one of rap’s most credible lyricists—and you’re bound to end up with something musically substantial and meaty.
The newest collaboration from Marley and Nas, entitled “Distant Relatives,” is a perfect marriage of reggae and rap. It’s not like a bunch of rap songs with some Sean Paul verse attached to the end, and it’s also not some overly-loose pop reggae track with a name brand hip-hop voice on the intro and outro. It’s a legitimate blend of the two—something both artists took special care to do. They wanted to create something authentic, something believable, and most importantly, something musical.
That’s said knowing full well that much of today’s music is produced for the sole purpose of making record labels money. But the proceeds to this record, centered around themes of a shared African heritage and the love to be shared among mankind, is going to African charities, most likely to build a school. These guys don’t see a dime from this album, which means they put it together simply to create good music and support a good cause. Even if the album sucked, that alone would make it respectable.
But it doesn’t suck. Not at all. The first single, “As We Enter,” is absolutely mixtape-worthy and prepped for serious hip-hop radio play. “Tribal War,” featuring K’naan (another FS favorite) is both haunting and emotional. Joss Stone and Li’l Wayne share the track “My Generation,” which preaches positive activism in the young people of the world.
Look, Nas alone is reason enough to buy an album, but when you’ve got the blood of Bob Marley, a good cause, and music for the love of the music as well, you’re going to get your money’s worth and then some. Even if you hate the record (and we’re guaranteeing that you won’t), the worst-case scenario is that you indirectly helped build a school in Africa. And you’d have to be a cold hearted S-O-B to say no to that.
Check out this trailer for the album, out in stores now!
