Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Here at CSV, we are dedicated to offering readers a wide array of indie music.

Personally, I am not a big rap fan, but once in a while, my brother directs me to some good hip-hop. And so, my brother and I have conceived the idea to have a “Big Brother Beat” (BBB) segment where we explore some up and coming rap groups that are sure to make your ears tingle.

Big Brother beat, of course, refers to track 13 on De La Soul’s 1996 release, Stakes is High:
Check the lyrics here.

On that note…

Hey everybody, this is AD with a BBB update. Right now, there’s something brewing in Cincinnati and it isn’t just the Reds leading the wildcard race. 2 Cinci MCs, Ilyas and Donwill, along with Brooklyn native Von Pea have teamed up to create rap group Tanya Morgan. Much like De La Soul of the early 90′s, TM uses eclectic beats and socially-conscious lyrics to bring back and old school flavor to hip hop. Their sophomore album, Moonlighting, presents TM on the map as legitimate hip-hop force. Their earlier work of the mixtape variety can be found for FREE here. Definitely pick this up, along with their EP, Sunset. I know personally that many think that rap is on a downward swing–and I’d agree–but all hip hop heads will love these funky beats and lyrical proficiency.

The track “Paper thin” features frequent collaborator Jermiside and samples of a classic MC Lyte track. Enjoy.
Peace,
AD

Listen to Paper Thin.

You will have to forgive my lack of accents here, as there should be one over the “e” in Jose and the “a” in Gonzalez. This Argentinian Swede-he lives in Sweden but his parents are from Argentina-has been around for a few years but he has remained relatively unknown on this side of the pond. Jose Gonzalez has met with relative success in the UK, and Zero 7 (another one of my favorite bands) has him singing nearly half the songs on their own album.

Gonzalez’s voice is quite voluminous, but yet it has a raspiness to it that reminds me of a Bob Dylan with better vocal chords. And lyrically, he’s strong as well. The hit single from his album, Veneer, is titled Crosses which ironically explores the ideas of hope and life (contrary to the connotations of the song title). Take a look at the first verse:

Don’t you know that I’ll be around to guide you
through your weakest moments
to leave them behind you
Returning nightmares, only shadows
We’ll cast some light and you’ll be alright
We’ll cast some light and you’ll be alright, for now.

Zero 7 actually has quite an interesting remix of Crosses, which I’ll include for your listening pleasure. I really encourage you to go and buy Jose’s new album, and definitely (most definitely) pick up a copy of Zero 7′s The Garden.

Listen to Crosses (original).

Listen to Crosses (Zero 7 mix).