Hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan, Library Voices is a Canadian indie pop band that features a variety of instruments, including horns, strings, and even an accordion. Their unique blend of instruments and voices brings an eclectic feel to their music.
Okay, I was going to write about the indie-rock group, “Company of Thieves’, but I’m gonna save that for when I’m not currently listening to a bunch of dudes with sick beats and hella rhymes.
So instead:
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (known also as OFWGKTA or Odd Future or OF) is a hip-hop/rap group consisting of a whole whack of dudes.
Tyler, The Creator – Rapper, Director, Producer, Actor
Frank Ocean – Singer-Songwriter, occasional rapper, producer
Earl Sweatshirt – Rapper
Hodgy Beats – Rapper
Domo Genesis – Rapper
Left Brain – Producer, occasional rapper
Mike G – Rapper, chopped & screwed mixer
Syd Tha Kyd – DJ, Mixer, Singer, Producer
Matt Martians – Mixer, Producer, singer
Hal Williams – Producer, rapper
Taco Bennett – Occasional Rapper, Actor, DJ
Jasper Dolphin – Occasional Rapper, Actor
Yeah. So there’s a bunch of these dudes. If you recognize anyone, it’s gonna be Frank Ocean. He’s more of and R&B artist as opposed to rapper, but we love him just the same. In fact, this guy gets mad props for this reason: he was one of the first African-American musical artists to announce that he had fallen in love with someone of the same sex. Holy smokes! That’s pretty awesome, considering the rap/hip-hop community is well known for it’s homophobia.
Tyler, The Creator is generally known as the leader and co-founder of Odd Future, who has appeared on pretty much every release OF has made. As a collective, the group manages to link incredible mental imagery with extremely impressive vocabulary and wordplay. Lots of people see OF as just a bunch of guys who rap about hating everything, fucking bitches, getting money, but that’s not really the case. There is a lot of dark and twisted rapping happening, but you kind of just have to look past that. Unless you like that sort of thing, then no problem. I’m pretty positive most of the guys in the group didn’t have very supportive fathers growing up, if any at all, and they do all tell their stories through the music they make.
One of my favourite things about the group, is that they are all really fucking young. Like, my age. 20-25. These dudes are managing to accomplish their dreams and they’ve literally only been doing this for a couple of years. To quote Tyler’s verse from the song, “Oldie” (from The OF Tape Vol. 2):
Um, I was 15 when I first drew that donut
5 years later, for our label yea we own it
I started an empire, I ain’t even old enough
To drink a fucking beer, I’m tipsy off this soda pop
This is for the niggers in the suburbs
And the white kids with nigger friends who say the n-word
And the ones that got called weird, fag, bitch, nerd
Cause you was into jazz, kitty cats, and Steven Spielberg
They say we ain’t actin’ right
Always try to turn our fuckin’ color into black and white
But they’ll never change ’em, never understand ’em
Radical’s my anthem, turn my fucking amps up
So instead of critiquing and bitchin’, bein’ mad as fuck
Just admit, not only are we talented, we’re rad as fuck, bitches
This might not convince you to listen to them, but it get’s the point across. I’m also almost positive that Tyler doesn’t drink or smoke weed or do drugs or anything. It’s pretty rad to see people in the rap scene who don’t need that shit to write good music.
TO FURTHER DELVE UPON THE GLORY THAT IS ODD FUTURE
Tyler, The Creator
Albums: Bastard, Goblin
Songs to check out: Yonkers, Tron Cat, Burger
Mellowhype – Hodgy Beats and Left Brain
Albums: YelloWhite, BlackenedWhite, Numbers
Songs to check out: F666 the Police, Loaded, Astro
Earl Sweatshirt
Albums: Earl
Songs to check out: Chum, Couch, epaR
Frank Ocean
Albums: Nostalgia, Ultra, Channel Orange
Songs to check out: tbh, I haven’t listened to a whole lot of his solo work, but ‘Channel Orange’ got fucking ridiculously good reviews. and i’m listening to it right now sooo you should too
Domo Genesis – has a strain of marijuana named after him! Domo OG
Albums: No Idols (produced by The Alchemist)
Songs to check out: Power Ballad, Gamebreaker
The Internet – Syd tha Kyd and Matt Martians
Albums: Purple Naked Ladies
Songs to check out: Okay, to be frank, The Internet is not really rap so much as hip-hop/soul/electronica. You’re on your own now.
OFWGKTA – These guys all collaborate with each other so frequently and so often that once you start getting into them, you have to hear it all. I am unbelievably stoked for Tyler’s upcoming album ‘Wolf’ and Earl’s ‘Doris’ to be released later this year. I don’t really have words anymore. I have a playlist on winamp consisting of well over 100 songs from OF alone, and I have been playing it on shuffle pretty much non-stop for the past week and a half. To blog a little, I’ve been pretty depressed lately due to money problems and winter being cold as fuck, but as soon as I throw on these guys, I have no reason to be sad. It’s ridiculously easy to get lost in their lyrics.
For added fun, some of the OF gang have created “Loiter Squad”, which is basically a sketch comedy television series being produced by the folks who made Jackass, i.e Dickhouse productions. These guys just just somehow manage to do it all.
The Zolas are a Canadian indie rock duo from Vancouver, signed to Light Organ Records. They are supported by other musicians, both live and on record. They have released two albums since forming in 2009, after disbanding from their previous group, Lotus Child.
For those interested in the case, there’ s a time line on the events located here.
It covers everything that has happened so far, as well as his background history. I highly recommend checking it out.
Mother Mother is an indie rock band hailing from Quadra Island, British Columbia. Originally debutting under the name of “Mother” they decided it wasn’t hipster enough and threw another Mother in their name. It’s hard to describe their sound, as every track is something new and original.
You can find it here.
For those unaware, Christopher Dorner is an Ex-LAPD police officer currently at large. He has military and tactical training, and is currently hunting cops as well as their families as punishment to the LAPD for their corruption.
So far he’s managed to kill 3 people, and injured 2 police officers.
The LAPD have managed to kill 2 civilians, and injure 2 others (both driving vehicles that weren’t even the same brand as the suspects) in response of the manhunt.
I can’t think of a better way to describe Rococode than their Biography section of their website: “Rococode is an evolving band of Vancouver musicians with a collective desire to make adventurous, badass and meaningful pop music. Their debut album Guns, Sex & Glory is a little bit dark. A little bit playful. A little bit scary. A little bit thoughtful.” (http://rococode.com/biography/) I can’t get enough of this band, and can’t wait to hear more from them.
An old promo, but still probably one of the pieces of technology I’m most hyped for if they deliver all their original ideas.
This series will be for all of those who are looking for new shows to watch, starting with a show that’s impossible to hate unless you lack a sense of humor.
Community is a comedy based on the lives of a study group in Greendale Community College. They all meet after Jeff Winger, a recently suspended lawyer, attempts to con Britta Perry, a feminist/political activist, into sleeping with him by posing as a spanish tutor. Instead of getting alone time with her, she invites a few other fellow classmates in attempt to call him out on his deception. After Jeff gets caught on his bullshit, they decide they actually need the study group if any of them want to pass.
The group consists of:
The leader of the group, Jeff Winger, a selfish, egotistical womanizer with a silver tongue which he’ll use to get anything he desires.
Britta Perry is Jeff’s female counterpart, equally selfish and fake, who masks her insecurity and intelligence by attempting to play it cool.
Abed Nadir is the savant of the group. Incredibly smart, analytical and socially awkward. He provides the pop culture references and meta humor.
Shirley Bennett, the motherly christian, who guilts people into doing what she believes is right.
Annie Edison, otherwise known as Annie Adderall. The innocent school girl with a dark past of adderall addiction.
Troy Barnes, the jock of the group. Despite being a quarterback in highschool until he lost his scholarship due to hurting his shoulder after doing a kegflip, he’s best friends with Abed and often shows his “uncool” side.
Pierce Hawthorne, the racist old fart who constantly tries to be more popular and hip while usually offending everyone around him.
Ben Chang, also known as Professor Chang, an insane chinese spanish teacher, who constantly distorts everything people tell him into an insane delusion.
Dean Craig Pelton, a flamboyant, eccentric man desperate in ensuring his community college is equal in reputation as a university.
The show consistently uses pop culture references in its lines and basis of episodes. From having a tribute episode of Pulp Fiction, to a zombie outbreak, this show caters to all.
I give it a 5/5, and highly recommend checking it out if you’re one of the few who hasn’t.
It’s currently in its fourth season.
Yolowolf 