The Californian producer put together an album of beats from the last few months of 2018. I found Ruffian Kick last year while waiting for a plane from Nice back to the UK. I was glad to find a new release in 2019 and his most recent is a belter. LEAVES. is, as he describes it himself: some beats from the fall & winter seasons….
Modernism might have a white visage but Madlib’s brand of afro-modernism shouldn’t be overlooked. Film director James Cameron once said, “People call me a perfectionist, but I’m not. I’m a rightist. I do something until it’s right, and then I move on to the next thing.” Fans of Madlib – and Dilla – will be familiar with this ideal. Perfection fuels many creatives in how they…
Cali producer Ahwlee’s latest tape, [G]ist, is just what you need to chill. Ahwlee’s been on and off my radar for years and a tumble down the Bandcamp rabbit hole lead me to [G]ist. It’s a sub-15 minute journey through sweet calming tunes, perfect for a summer’s day or a quiet night while you’re relaxing. As major artists begin to embrace shorter releases, it’s important…
Musician and storyboard artist Louie Zong gets “cozy” with his 80th Bandcamp release. We Bare Bears is my favourite show of the last couple of years. So when I discovered one of the show’s storyboard artists on Twitter, it was an immediate follow. Louie Zong also creates incredible art of his own on his Tumblr but we’re here for the music today. 80 releases is a majestic…
Cali artist Caleon Fox declares his love and admiration for his durag on The Durag Song. A big shout out to Corey aka @theo_huxtable1. Caleon Fox is an artist from Oakland making music with all the chill and, seemingly, no chill at all. The Durag Song is exactly what the title suggests and the video is as stoopid as you’d expect for an ode to…
A double throwback mix from 2008, courtesy of Controller 7 and some fine Bay Area rap. Controller 7 is one of our mainstay forum regulars who has a knack for funky hip hop productions. Hip Hop mixes were never our thing on the Strut because where do you draw the line? We are not Worldstarhiphop. BUT, this mix was enough for us to make that…
Cali’s Blue aka Isle Child keeps it mellow like a West Coast breeze with A Boy And His Dog. As summer creeps away and those sun drenched afternoons fall beyond the horizon, there’s still plenty of seasonal music to enjoy. Blue (aka Isle Child) has released his newest EP A Boy And His Dog with the aim of helping us appreciate the last month of…
Straight from the West Coast, A. Bellez releases visuals for Say That featuring Sonny C. When you think of Pasadena, the Rose Bowl or Caltech may spring to mind but perhaps A. Bellez should take a place in that list. The Hidden Hand Inc. artist recently dropped a video for his track Say That featuring fellow Californian Sonny C. The track is gnarly and sonically…
We hold our hands up when we’re tardy to the party and this is one instance. Here’s The Auracle’s late verdict on ESTA’s smash jawn, Luna. 9 months ago, I was in hibernation. I was in thrall to a deep, powerful slumber and it was sudden; enough to mistake me for a narcoleptic. It was at that precise moment that I managed to sleep on…
Funkee Phlavaz, a Californian rap show from 1993 starring Adam Weissman (Stüssy) and The Alchemist, is our Saturday Matinée feature presentation. The days of Yo! MTV Raps are over but you can still reminisce about the good old days of rap TV. Back in 1993, Stüssy’s creative director, Adam Weissman, produced “Funkee Phlavaz”, a local programme showcasing the best local talent in Beverly Hills. The…
