Teen Spirit by BigBabyGucci

BIGBABYGUCCI is a free spirit. He says whatever is on his mind and tackles any task he feels is worthy of his time. There are no limitations to his creative talent and he continues to push himself as an artist. His brand new album Teen Spirit highlights these awesome qualities. The album’s title reigns true in its tone. The style of music is carefree and elevating. It conveys fun and relaxation, something everyone is searching for while stuck in this uncertainty. Through this project BIGBABYGUCCI promotes being the best of what you believe you can be, while being the perfect album to play in the car.

The project begins with “Typical” produced by Fish and AG. The lonely piano chords slowly increase the excitement, the moment you’ve been waiting for. BIGBABYGUCCI’s vocals rain onto the track. His signature blend of melodic and trap vocals sync with electric guitar over the chorus. As an artist, there’s always something up his sleeve. Followed by “Typical” is “Jason Vorhees”, inspired by the cult classic horror series “Friday the 13th”. “Put that mask on baby I’m Jason... your body I’m chasin’.” BIGBABYGUCCI’s sound progresses further and further in the field of R&B. We might have an official R&B album in the near future, A Girl Is A Gun, possibly.

 “Vogue” lifts the slower tempo that the project began with. “Vogue” is produced by Harold Harper and is the only song out of the thirteen track project without producer Fish’s credit along with it. This may be the great beginnings of a dynamic rapper-producer duo. “Switch Locations” is one of the less flashy songs on the album. BIGBABYGUCCI is more vulnerable and indulges us with insights to his life. He talks about a relationship that would’ve worked if only the side was loyal. This very well could be the love that shifted his heart. We’ll never know because he’s moved on to the perks of a higher life.

“Japanese Garments” is BIGBABYGUCCI in his bag. His bars flow effortlessly, almost too quickly to keep track of in your first listen. The beat is simple, letting his verses fly freely. Without production by Fish and Lukrative, we wouldn’t have such a clean masterpiece. He hastily moves on to “Your Way”. This song carries the energy of late summer nights doing things you shouldn’t. It has the essence of mistakes and good memories, as most of the album does. Next is “Ask Me” co-produced between Fish and Whoiznate. This is BIGBABYGUCCI’s opportunity to speak to all of his doubters, to flaunt his success for those who said he’d never make it. Now, he’s in the position to move mountains and get the girl.

The album continues with “Gosha”, the world’s first hint as to what this project would consist of. It embodies his classic swagger and in-your-face lyrics. “Gotta kill me. I ain’t going back.” He’s been waiting for this opportunity and is taking full advantage. If there’s money to be made, he’s there. “Prada” feels like a symbol for his success. He talks about not wanting drama, not paying attention to anyone else’s game  and flying off to an island instead. “Another Planet” is an uptempo hit that carries that same, fun-loving energy that has become the staple of the project. The beat, produced by Fish and Lukrative utilizes high hats and Spanish guitar, making it difficult not to lock into. BIGBABYGUCCI stitched together the theme of the album with precision.

“Vision” lets off the nostalgia of a theme song for a super villain. This may be appropriate due to the song’s racy subject matter as the young rapper recalls late nights with the ladies. “Suspect” takes a lighter approach. Although BIGBABYGUCCI may be a man of many women, he’s still looking for that one. But he’s always on the run, always under scrutiny or speculation. BIGBABYGUCCI closes the project with “Hell & Back”. He’s resilient, a fighter. Climbing up the ladder in this game is nothing compared to what it took to get to the start. As an artist, BIGBABYGUCCI is a rebel. There’s no box to place him inside because he’s constantly shifting directions. He’s not afraid of dabbling in genres that Hip Hop doesn’t tend to touch. He’s an artist of this generation, there’s nothing that could break his spirit.

Click here to listen to Teen Spirit anywhere.

A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH URA SENSEI

Ura Sensei draws his inspiration from within. His music is an extension of himself, thus each layer holds a piece of his story. His songs holds elements of old school style. Lyrically, he likes tends to speak what’s on his mind, delivering a message or a good time. Ura doesn’t shy away from talking about romance. His single “To My Girlfriend”, is currently his most popular song on Spotify, nearing 20,000 plays. He’s on a path to higher peaks, but will never forget these moments.

What’s your first memory of truly enjoying or creating music?

URA: At age 15, I never saw my father before until that time, he brought me my first mic & a computer to start making music on, never saw him again after that.

Is there a meaning or story behind your stage name?

URA: The anime Yu Yu Hakusho plays a big part in my stage name, I had a couple of stage names (ART, Trippy Art, Art Sensei) but none that were really original to where people can find me and me alone…so a friend of mine took the the main character’s name “Yusuke Urameshi” and mixed it around and I just added “Sensei”…funny how some who still like my music still refer to me as Art Sensei. 

Your music is based in emotion, was it difficult to be vulnerable through your music as a rapper?

URA: Not at all.

How do you select your beats, are any of your works self produced?

URA: YouTube, sometimes Traktrain and I go by type beats but they usually just become small beats people don’t really mess with and those are the best ones. None of my songs are self produced but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t make it happen. 

 What has been one of your most difficult tasks while building your career? (Finding a studio, looking for shows, beats, etc.)

URA: Looking for someone to do an article on me & looking to get booked for shows even if they’re small shows with 15 people. Where I live it’s hard getting picked when you don’t follow the trends & having an original sound. To most it’s weird..

How have you progressed as an artist since your beginning?

URA: I have so much that I laugh at my older tracks and wondered why did I think this was so good at the time. 

What can we expect from you this year? Will there be a major shift in your sound or approach to how you market yourself?

URA: Honestly….I can’t really say much but new songs, hopefully you might see me in other blogs…as far as marketing, just maybe if I do it correctly. It’s all about chasing the music bag and staying low-key, my brothers taught me that.

Click here to follow Ura Sensei’s musical journey on Spotify.

AntiHero by Convolk

Convolk has united each aspect of his artistry that makes him an outlier and emerged with AntiHero, a mature take on what life holds for him now. The album consists of seven tracks that fall just over eighteen minutes long, as a whole. “Swear to God” acts as an introduction to Convolk’s mind, a journey that AntiHero takes you on. Convolk’s longevity as an artist has been questioned in the past. If there were still any doubters for his talent and commitment to this game, “Swear to God” eliminates that. Convolk has never placed himself in one category, and he isn’t stopping now.

AntiHero has no genre. It’s introductory track is different from the next, “Black Sheep”. Convolk’s music has rock influences that are obvious and sometimes mislead the very people that he’s trying to entertain. “Black Sheep” sits perfectly between Rock and HipHop, due to its classic lead guitar chords and infused 808s. He never stays close to one sound. “Beaten Down Geranium Molle” steps even further away from “Swear to God” with a more cosmic and playful approach. The beat consists of hyperactive, high-pitch pings and  one-of-a-kind notes. A few seconds later comes the heavy bass and infectious drum patterns. For fans that were looking for an array of styles from Convolk, this may be your new favorite album.

Convolk isn’t a flashy artist. His music is meant to be something one can relate to rather than something one would want to live through. He experiences the same tolls as his audience. “Backstab Slash” acts as a halfway mark for the project, and Convolk shifts to a more romantic tone. “When it’s all said and done would you settle for me?” Life gets harder as things pick up and it seems the young Russian-American artist is no stranger to the consequences of fame. The next track, “Medicine” has become a fan-certified favorite, reaching 300,000 plays in just three days on SoundCloud. His relationships are still broken and like many, he’s still searching for his forever love. Convolk admits to being trapped in love in “Arson Kurapika”. Not death nor hellfire can keep him away from the one he loves.

The album closes with “Crumbling/Suicide Note”, a mid tempo acoustic track that reminds listeners why they enjoy Convolk so much. “Crumbling”and the album’s intro “Swear to God” are on opposite sides of the musical spectrum. As an artist, Convolk is fearless. His only limitation is his own commitment. His style sits in very niche pockets of music and thrives. AntiHero is a fun album to listen to, even with its darker tones. Convolk is a sign for what’s to come in music’s future. He is excellent at speaking to his fans on their level and bringing them a bit of what they want and more of what they need.

Click here to listen to AntiHero on SoundCloud.