New Video - "Gotham City Chase Scene"

The teaming of Solillaquists of Sound and X:144, both Orlando Hip Hop scene brightspots have once again provided an amazing video. Gotham City Chase Scene is the follow up to Marvel. Once again, the storyline brings you into the video, with the Solilla group seeming being chased by the Dark Suit group present in the first video. The description reads that it is a prequel but definitely broadens the original storyline of Marvel. This is not your prototypical on a boat, in a club, walking in the streets hiphop video. The storyline is currently open for interpretation but the video editing/production is flawless in my opinion. There is action, quality acting, and the song is one of the stronger songs on the album “ No More Heroes” (released on Epitaph Records and available on Itunes and Amazon). Swamburger and Alexandrah are an excellent example of how complety contrasting styles can still create a harmonious sound, while DiVinci continues to create these “movie scores.” This is the second video that ends in a cliff hanger but I was assured by both X and DiVinci at this year’s Lounge Battles that all would explained by the end of video series…

Stay Tuned…

Support Good Music, and Stay Searching for G.E.M.s my friends..



S.Skillz



Flashback Fridays - LL Cool J - Who Shot ya

First and foremost, huge shoutout to my fellow GEM district contributor Laquita Luv!

Not only is she picking up all my slack with regards to posting, but is putting my written word skills to shame. Thanks Lady..

But on Fridays I always tend to think of the music I used to listen to at "top level" on my "walkman". The flashbacks are always songs that contributed to my decreased hearing ability. lol

Enjoy, because honestly these huge star studded tracks are few and fewer these days. No hooks, no chorus, just an attempt to be the best MC on the song.

Keith Murrary ( a monster at this time), Prodigy ( he was at the peak of his writtens here), Fat Joe (before he leaned back, and did songs with Ashanti, he was the DITC rep that had the illest mic presence), Foxy Brown ( I cant lie, other than a few songs I was never a fan but she murdered her bars), and LL... say what you will. If he isnt "the", he is obviously a G.O.A.T. ( greatest of all time). You show me someone else who has been able to evolve and consistantly make good music. (btw Mr. Smith is his best album to me : which has this song)

Flashback Friday.. jeah mang jeah

My Goodness, My Goddess

by LaQuita Luv

It's no secret that I have delusions of grandeur. In another life I am a thriving pop star with a signature style, stellar costumes, and honey-drenched voice. While that ship has sailed for me, it remains alive and well in Florence Welch, a.k.a., Florence + The Machine.

The 26 year-old ginger-haired British goddess hits strong and hard, only to retreat an instant later to lure you back in for another smack. I am completely spun out when I listen to her debut album, Lungs, as images of the celestial heavens are burst open by a speeding bullet.

Like many people, my first real taste of Florence + The Machine was at the 2010 MTV VMAs. She was epic...ethereal...powerful...talented...limitless...and only in her mid-20s. Thinking that her entire album would follow the path of "Dog Days Are Over"---a whirlwind of tempos, theater, and a bluesy drag of voice---I was confounded by "Kiss With a Fist," a sassy, violent, and catchy track that has long garnered comparisons to Kate Nash.

When she stops in Chicago on her next tour, Florence and I are hitting up the Lyric Opera and then lounging at a hookah bar. Wanna join?

Head to the official Gem District Drop Site for a limited time to download a sampler for your listening pleasure.

I've personally requested that she cover "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush, but I doubt she's heard my plea.

Electropop Princess

by LaQuita Luv

Swedish-born Robyn hit the scene in the mid-90’s with high school hits “Show Me Love” and “Do You Know What it Takes (To Love Me)” and I have to admit that I not only owned the album, but played the hell out of it. A chick who is my age, talented, adorable, and full of attitude—when can we be besties?

Robyn and I lost touch over the years due to her music not being available in the States in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but we were reintroduced through “Cobrastyle” and “With Every Heartbeat” in 2007. These tracks reveal the disparity between being hard-hitting and sassy, while also keeping a raw, emotional side intact. Something that all modern women struggle with.

She gained more electro cred by joining Röyksopp on the track, “The Girl and the Robot” off their 2009 Junior album. Two of my other favorite electropop princesses, Karin Dreijer Andersson and Lykke Li were also featured on the album.

Yeah, she’s over 30 and still shooting videos in a club—but it works. Robyn tours and creates mercilessly. Her latest album, Body Talk, is broken into Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 and isn’t stuffed with filler. Every track is thoughtful and well produced.

She is a pint-sized, platinum powerhouse whose consistent ability to stay true to pop music and still evolve musically will keep her working for years to come. I'll be sure to invite you over the next time she and I are in my living room, chatting over a bottle of Malbec and some Swedish meatballs.

Head to the official Gem District Drop Site for a limited time to download a sampler for your listening pleasure.

I’ve personally requested that she cover “Invincible” by Pat Benatar, but I doubt she’s heard my plea.

I Heart Funky White Boys

By Laquita Luv

The latest offering, “Brothers,” from the duo The Black Keys finds the boys on a steady path of evolution without sacrificing the sultry grit they established with their 2002 debut “The Big Come Up.” Progressing into friendly hooks while retaining a sound that intimates a dirty secret beneath—like tattoos under a Brooks Brothers suit—keeps them from being considered a sellout to pop culture.

Every track from the new album transports me to one of three realms: a smoky lounge with tattered oriental rugs and couches that have seen better days; a dark basement jam session; or a private room at a club with strong arms and a tight rump working a pole.

The Black Keys gained some notoriety through “I’ll Be Your Man,” off their debut album “The Big Come Up,” being chosen as the theme song to HBO’s “Hung”—a track that fits so perfectly with the show, one would think it was written after viewing the pilot. Their tracks have been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and video games and continue to be noticed by musical communities from Rock to Hip Hop.

Discography: The Big Come Up (2002), Thickfreakness (2003), The Moan EP (2004), Rubber Factory (2004), Chulahoma (2006), Magic Potion (2006), Attack & Release (2008), Brothers (2010).

Head to the official Gem District Drop Site for a limited time to download a sampler for your listening pleasure.

This is sexy music for grownups, people.

I’ve personally requested that they cover “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)” by The Hollies, but I doubt they’ve heard my plea.

Grey Does Matter..

Grey Does Matter...

Tempermental… Beats

Illustrate….Rhymes

Wow.. G.ood E.ntertaining M.usic

Tempermental (the DJ/Producer) provides the mood, Illustrate(MC/Spoken Word Artist) well…illustrates the picture (pun intended). Together you have music that anyone can truly enjoy. Illustrate is a truly gifted writer. He takes your mind through well crafted lyrics filled with emotion/wordplay and simply put.. talent. Tempermental is a beatsmith of the highest caliber. He manages to provide the perfect compliment to Illustrate’s rhymes scheme on every track.

Grey Matter's BandCamp site

Has (2) EP’s for your listening pleasure, and their album is set to release 8/10/2010. My purpose here is to help people that feel trapped by the radio in finding new music. My “thing” is finding G.E.M.’s in the hip hop world. Without a doubt, Grey Matter is just that.

Standout Tracks:

The Problem – Illustrate spitting some truth on a ridiculous Tempermental beat.

Same Old Story- This is why you make music...

Breathe – Breathe is just like Eternia’s track “To The Future.” Illustrate puts his heart and soul in the song. The emotions are only magnified by that Tempermental beat… ri-dic-u-lous…

Grey Matter.. .Matters werd

Jeah mang jeah

Skillz

Eternia and Moss - At Last

Okay... Simply put 4 out of 5 ugly faces.. The only reason I didnt give a 5, is because the mixdowns make you miss some of Eternia's words. Now I am not an anti-"femcee" person, I am just usually not moved by the typical female emcee. Lauryn Hill, Lady of Rage, Rah Digga, and Invincible are simply put.. dope. If you have never heard Eternia before, add her to this list.

These ladies are not just dope Female MCs, they are just dope MCs. Funny enough Rage and Digga are on Live @ the BBQ track. Giving their take on the Main Source Classic. Eternia shines throughout the album. Her words are strong, has excellent cadence and takes you on a trip with her rhymes while Moss creates a true soundscape for the listener.

I will confess that at first take I skimmed through it because I didnt find it sonically appealing but when I gave it a second listen I didnt skip a track. Moss is hit or miss with me on his production, but he definetely excels on this. I am more and more appreciative of the Producer/MC albums. They are fluid soundscapes where you see the MC and Producer evolve with eachother.


Standout tracks

32 Bars- Eternia murders the beat.

At last ft Reef and Termanology- That beat ,some of my favorite MCs, and Eternia.... whoa...



It's funny ft. Joell Ortiz - Joell is the truth, and Eternia still shines

To the Future - Hands down my favorite song, only because it is the realest shit I have heard in a long time. I am surprised anyone would put that much of themselves into a song. And...I applaud that.



Eternia and Moss - At Last.. A true G.E.M..

jeah mang jeah - Skillz