The FADER

Interview: Ab-Soul

Andrew Noz — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:12:41 +0000

As our recent Black Hippy cover story showed, the Los Angeles rap quartet is a complex compound of several moving parts. None, perhaps, more complex than Ab-Soul. Perpetually hidden behind a pair of shades (he … read more »

Meet the 21-Year-Old CEO Who’s Been Hosting Your Rap MP3s

Naomi Zeichner — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:30:41 +0000

Hulkshare is a file hosting site built specifically to help people share rap music. By permitting anonymous, un-traceable file uploads, the site became a major player in the no-questions-asked online storage game, and a haven … read more »

Jonathan Boulet, “Trounce” MP3

Sam Hockley-Smith — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:30:02 +0000

Is there a specific genre name for music that is so ecstatic and inclusive that it feels like the entire world is involved in making it? No? Can someone make up a not annoying one, … read more »

On The Street: Soho

Kadeem Johnson — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:10:18 +0000

We spotted this girl lurching on the sidewalk for a cigarette break, and though we’ve seen lots of folks in New York rocking green hair lately, none with a color this textured, highlighted and lush, … read more »

Video: LEP Bogus Boys, “We Want Our Money”

David Drake — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:00:09 +0000

This is just like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York except that Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin is played by LEP’s money, and Joe Pesci (Count) and Daniel Stern (Moonie) are going to actually catch … read more »

Kid A, “BB Bleu” MP3

Duncan Cooper — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:30:09 +0000

Virginia-born singer and producer Kid A first released “BB Bleu” last summer as part of her imaginary film soundtrack, PPPONEY OST, a fragile and transporting album with song titles like “♀” and lyrics primarily sung, … read more »

Stream: Nite Jewel’s One Second of Love

Amber Bravo — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:30:52 +0000

There’s no lo-fi tip-toeing around on Nite Jewel’s One Second of Love. Ramona Gonzalez has fully committed to her sound and whole-heartedly embraced the role of singer since her 2007 album Good Evening. In that … read more »

Video: Fam-Lay, “Clap Clap”

Naomi Zeichner — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:00:19 +0000

Fam-Lay puts his audience behind guns big and small, firing on the malls, arcades and woods of his native Norfolk, VA. Years after signing him to their Star Trak imprint, The Neptunes still make beats … read more »

Download Boldy James’ Consignment: Favor for a Favor, The Redi-Rock Mixtape

David Drake — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Last year, Boldy James released a 28-track opus entitled Trappers Alley: Pro’s and Cons, The Quik-crete Mixtape. It’s a dark record, but Boldy, who was 28 at the time of its release, has a writer’s … read more »

Video: Buddy Bag, “Swimming”

Alex Frank — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:00:59 +0000

Buddy Bag are a three-piece from Brooklyn that put out an album last year and are only now getting around to releasing videos for it, probably because their music is the kind of bruised, abused … read more »

Jason Nocito and Charles Negre Collaborate with Hixsept

Whitman Bedwell — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:00:40 +0000

French label Hixsept just released a line of limited edition T-shirts featuring images of two of our very favorite photographers: Jason Nocito, a long time FADER contributor, and Charles Negre. Both used the opportunity of … read more »

DJ Sliink, “Put Cha Back In It” MP3

Alex Frank — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:30:28 +0000

DJ Sliink is from Newark and part of the whole New Jersey Brick Bandits crew, who, because of songs like this, have always made us feel like the Garden State is singularly at the heart … read more »

Watch the Official Trailer for Odd Future’s Loiter Squad

Claire Lobenfeld — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:13:16 +0000

Last week, the internet was littered with brief clips from Odd Future’s upcoming Adult Swim sketch show, Loiter Squad. Here is the official trailer which includes L-Boy on a couch full of puppies and Taco … read more »

Video: Joey Bada$$ f. Capital Steez, “Survival Tactics”

Sam Hockley-Smith — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:00:50 +0000

The young Nas comparisons are going to come quick and fast for 17-year-old Joey Bada$$, and that’s alright. The kid is 17! So young. He’s got some time to wear his influences on his sleeve. … read more »

Brooklyn Bound: Smith Westerns Live at Converse Rubber Tracks

Felipe Delerme — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:30:43 +0000

There’s a great American tradition of New York being a welcoming port and FADER teamed up with Converse’s new Rubber Tracks studio in Brooklyn to further it. Once a month, we’ll be welcoming touring artists … read more »

Video: Bon Iver, “Towers”

Claire Lobenfeld — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:48:57 +0000

As promised, Bon Iver’s “Towers” is set to be released as a single on March 6th. The accompanying clip is just the kind of rural, idyllic scene you’d expect from Justin Vernon. While there is … read more »

Video: Waka Flocka f. Drake, “Round of Applause”

Naomi Zeichner — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:32:08 +0000

Waka Flocka is equally fascinated by lost love and thigh-high glitter boots swinging through the air in the video for “Round of Applause,” ostensibly the first single from his sophomore release Triple F Life, due … read more »

Stream Julia Holter’s Album Ekstatis

Matthew Schnipper — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:15:02 +0000

2012 is already such a strong year for music and Julia Holter’s new album Ekstasis is sure to be one of the year’s most innovative. Braiding together pop, folk and contemporary classical music, the album … read more »

Video: Girls, “My Ma”

Duncan Cooper — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:50:36 +0000

Girls have premiered their video for “My Ma” on Conan O’Brien’s website, Team Coco, of all places, in anticipation of their upcoming late night appearance on March 22nd. Directed by Focus Creeps and shot by … read more »

GEN F: Action Bronson

Daniel Arnold — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:20:35 +0000

Two crazy years ago, Action Bronson, the Albanian rapper out of Queens, NY, was working the kitchen at his father’s restaurant, chasing a longtime passion for food and raising babies on a chef’s wage. He … read more »

Download Hodgy Beats’ Untitled EP

Claire Lobenfeld — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:14:53 +0000

On Friday, Odd Future’s Hodgy Beats released a free, untitled EP. Instead of the usual in-house production from other Wolf Gang members, Hodgy lays verses over tracks from experimentalist Flying Lotus, hip hop legend The … read more »

Azealia Banks Announces Details of Debut Album

Claire Lobenfeld — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:05:33 +0000

Budding fashion icon and hip hop darling Azealia Banks let loose details on her debut Universal Records release in a recent interview with Nylon. The album, to be titled Broke With Expensive Taste, is slated … read more »

Andre 3000 Talks Grown-Man Dreams

Amber Bravo — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:25:33 +0000

Andre 3000 talked to GQ about working on solo and collaborative projects as opposed to embarking on any new OutKast material. He intimated that, while he wants to tap back into the spirit of early … read more »

Ty Money, “Ready To Ride” MP3

David Drake — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:00:14 +0000

Harvey rapper Ty Money is incarcerated until the summer, but that hasn’t stopped one of his producers from keeping his name in the public eye. “Ready To Ride,” recorded before his sentence began this winter, … read more »

Naomi Punk, “Voodoo Trust” MP3

Sam Hockley-Smith — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:00:51 +0000

Feels like forever ago that everyone was making songs about hanging out on the beach, instead of probably like…yesterday, but it happened, and in some number of years I can’t scientifically predict, it’ll happen again. … read more »

At Home With: Veronica Vasicka

Duncan Cooper — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:45:43 +0000

Veronica Vasicka founded the labels Minimal Wave and Cititrax as a way to re-issue—and often release for the first time—the cold and dark brand of homemade, analog synth-based electronic New Wave from the late ’70s … read more »

Stream: Mark McGuire and Charles Berlitz, “MR”

Sam Hockley-Smith — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:10:03 +0000

It’s a given that when you see Mark McGuire’s name pop up on a song, there’s going to be some gorgeous, intricate guitar running through the track. All of his work is infused with this … read more »

Lloyd Banks, “Jackpot” MP3

David Drake — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:30:56 +0000

Jahlil Beats has produced more than a couple of bangers in the past few years, and “Jackpot” is another one for the canon. The track is propelled by his favored snare-driven drum programming, but dominated … read more »

First Look: Dusen Dusen’s New Knits

Alex Frank — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:00:10 +0000

After years of making us go oooooooooh and awwwwwwww with middle-school style backpacks and cutesy signature prints, Brooklyn’s Dusen Dusen have a new trick up their sleeve. Designer Ellen Van Dusen made, for the very … read more »

Dunes, “Jukebox” MP3

Alex Frank — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:30:43 +0000

Mika Miko was such a weird, great, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink collection of influences that its former members have been able to create two bands in its wake that are completely different from each other. The Clavin Sisters’ … read more »

Sufjan Stevens, “Futile Devices (Shigeto Remix)” MP3

Duncan Cooper — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:00:59 +0000

Well this is fairly unexpected. Shigeto, whose mini-LP, Lineage, was released last month on Ghostly, has remixed Sufjan Stevens’ 2010 song “Futile Devices.” Which is an interesting decision for any number of reasons—Sufjan Stevens, 2010, … read more »

Letters to The FADER

THE FADER — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:30:42 +0000

This week, we started sharing features from our brand new Spring Style issue, FADER #78, online. Below, we’ve collected some reactions to our previous issue, FADER #77. Have something to say? Write us at letters@thefader.com. … read more »

Video: Marijuana Deathsquads, “Crazy Master”

Matthew Schnipper — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:53 +0000

The Gayngs crew gets weirder. Marijuana Deathsquads, another project of Gayngs’ founder Ryan Olson, takes collaborative spirit and dips it in formaldehyde (obviously he smokes it after that). In addition to Olson, Deathsquads features Isaac … read more »

The-Dream f. Casha, “Kill the Lights” MP3

Naomi Zeichner — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:45:57 +0000

On the heels of his pool-floaty and barbecue “ROC” video, The-Dream collaborates with Radio Killa Records signee (and Will Smith’s niece) Casha on this new, plodding after-midnight ballad, “Kill the Lights.” “I haven’t heard something … read more »

Video: T.I. f. Young Jeezy, “Fuck Da City Up”

Claire Lobenfeld — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:30:03 +0000

T.I. and Young Jeezy are rocking Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers gear in this drizzly video for “Fuck Da City Up.” The track comes from T.I.’s New Year’s Day-released mixtape of the … read more »

Nicki Minaj f. Lil Wayne, “Roman Reloaded” MP3

Claire Lobenfeld — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:06:54 +0000

Nicki Minaj’s singles from her upcoming album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded have been a smattering of examples of her eccentric personality—high-pitched shit talk on “Stupid Hoe” and glittery pop on “Starships.” There’s no singing on … read more »

Video: Mank Jilla, “Phone Stay Jumpin”

David Drake — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:05:45 +0000

Times have sure changed since “Nextel Chirp.” Earlier this month, hard-to-google Florida rapper Money released a remix of his track “Plays on my Phone”. At the same time, on the other side of the country, … read more »

Behind The Scenes: Danny Brown’s FADER #78 Cover Shoot

Maia Stern — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:50:46 +0000

For Danny Brown’s FADER #78 cover photo, photographer Ross Mantle kept it close to home, near his apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It was a chilly day out on his roof, but luckily, Style Editor at … read more »

Gremino, “Time To Heat It Up” MP3

Drew Millard — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:45:45 +0000

Finland’s Gremino makes the kind of post-regional electronic music that we might play once we’ve colonized the moon to the point where abandoned warehouse raves are a thing there. The song takes a start-stop jungle … read more »

Stream DMX’s Entire Sold Out NYC Show

THE FADER — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:33:23 +0000

Tonight, elusive powerhouse DMX is performing at New York’s SOB’s. The show is sold out, but East Village Radio is streaming the entire set on their site and free app, along with commentary from Elliott … read more »

James Ferraro Has a New Project Called Bodyguard

Sam Hockley-Smith — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:15:15 +0000

It’s not like James Ferraro doesn’t have his detractors, but part of the deal with him is that he’s got a definitive goal in mind, and he’s attempting to reach it in a very public … read more »

Line Item: J. Sabatino’s Leather Bomber

THE FADER — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:00:34 +0000

Sure, we could (and do) talk endlessly about the clothes we love, but for our new column Line Item, we’ll be asking some of our favorite designers to tell us what they think about the … read more »

Download Flosstradamus’ Total Recall EP

Duncan Cooper — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:30:29 +0000

Today Flosstradamus released their free Total Recall EP, a hyperactive blend of self-professed “post-apocalyptic” trance and rap production styles in the vein of Araabmuzik’s Electronic Dream and James Ferraro’s Bebetune$. Which is basically a cagey … read more »

Boldy James f. Fatboi Fre$h, “Oil Sheen (Grease Monkeys)” MP3

David Drake — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:25:06 +0000

On February 27th, Detroit’s Boldy James will release Consignment: Favor for A Favor (The Redi-Rock Mixtape). “Oil Sheen (Grease Monkeys)” is the second leak from the project, following last week’s “Consignment.” It features Chicagoan Fatboi … read more »

Thomas Tait’s Shiny Leather Hats

Alex Frank — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:15:19 +0000

In a few short seasons, Thomas Tait has been anointed a style star by no less than Vogue and The New York Times, but leaving behind any high-end aspirations for a moment, the London-based designer … read more »

Video: The-Dream, “ROC”

Claire Lobenfeld — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:49:45 +0000

In an interview with MTV’s RapFix, FADER #68 cover star, The-Dream declared, “There’s not enough R&B winning right now.” He’s doing his best to remedy that with a house party video for his January-released track, … read more »

Video: Willis Earl Beal, “Evening’s Kiss”

Naomi Zeichner — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:30:43 +0000

To apply to RISD, one of the best art schools in the country, you’ve got to submit a drawing of a bicycle, done in graphite pencil. This is a longstanding tradition, and I assume it … read more »

2:54 “You’re Early” MP3

Amber Bravo — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:00:50 +0000

Britain’s Thurlow sisters, bka 2:54 go deep with dueling guitars, dark drums, and full-bodied vocals on “You’re Early” their new single, which will be out April 9th on Fiction. This is straight up and down … read more »

Pond, “Mystery” MP3

Sam Hockley-Smith — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:30:14 +0000

If you’re going to make a balls-out rock n roll album, you’ve got to have some contrast so it’s not just a whirlwind of leopard-print jump kicks and skinny dude mic twirling. “Mystery,” the latest … read more »

DMX f. Machine Gun Kelly, “I Don’t Dance” MP3

Claire Lobenfeld — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:28:26 +0000

DMX has a propensity for making club cuts, whether they’re jovial hands-in-the-air tracks like the Swizz Beatz-produced “Party Up” or unadulterated bug-outs like the vitriol-filled, “Get At Me Dog.” On “I Don’t Dance,” X, along … read more »

Supreme Cuts, “Silkk” MP3

Duncan Cooper — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:00:54 +0000

The two top reasons I liked Chicago’s Supreme Cuts so much when I saw them last fall were because they took turns cueing samples by whacking a MIDI drum pad with a single drum stick … read more »

Footnotes: Danny Brown

THE FADER — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:30:23 +0000

Footnotes is the section in our magazine where we take a deeper look at the music surrounding our feature artists. Read Duncan Cooper’s FADER #78 cover feature on Danny Brown here, and check out our … read more »

Odd Future Leaks More Footage from Loiter Squad

Drew Millard — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:00:34 +0000

Tyler, the Creator dons a cop uniform, tackles Jasper, accidentally scratches his hand and then swears a lot while Taco laughs. Loiter Squad will premiere on Adult Swim on March 25th, and The Odd Future … read more »

Gorillaz f. Andre 3000 and James Murphy, “DoYaThing” MP3

Naomi Zeichner — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:00:57 +0000

Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn got Andre 3000 and James Murphy into a London studio last September to record fast-funk freakout, “DoYaThing” for Converse’s Three Artists, One Song series. 3000 delivers a euphoric, minute-long freestyle, rhyming … read more »

Stream: DOOM Live at Boiler Room

Matthew Schnipper — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:45:51 +0000

Last night masked man DOOM (formerly MF Doom) DJ’d a set live at the Boiler Room and we’ve got the exclusive stream. DOOM was there putting out the word on the JJ DOOM record he’s … read more »

On The Street: Fake Fur on 6th Avenue

Kadeem Johnson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:15:09 +0000

We’ve been seeing loads of colorful, shaggy fake fur on the streets of New York, but it’s not an easy look and some ladies (and gents) pull it off better than others. This girl beats … read more »

Video: ForteBowie, “Impala”

David Drake — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:45:07 +0000

“Impala,” from ForteBowie’s slept on 2011 album Something About #Bowie, can be downloaded at his website for free. The entire LP was an inspired blend of hip-hop and R&B that seemed to appreciate certain nuances … read more »

Stream: BJ the Chicago Kid f. Kendrick Lamar, “The World Is A Ghetto”

Drew Millard — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:15:46 +0000

When they get together, Kendrick Lamar and BJ the Chicago Kid are two complementary forces, taking the template of hip-hop and using it to create something more akin to bluesy, agitprop emo that just happens … read more »

Video: Blondes, “Amber”

Amber Bravo — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:45:22 +0000

This video has my name on it. Literally and figuratively. I can zone out pretty well and good just gazing at a prism in a sunny window (or a shady one, actually). But Blondes have … read more »

Videos: Lil B, “Real Hip Hop 2012″ and “Gods Father”

Drew Millard — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:15:48 +0000

On the spectrum of Lil B releases, the soon-to-be-released Gods Father is looking like it’s going to be sort of like Im Gay (Im Happy) or the Okayplayer-baiting Illusions of Grandeur, where Lil B silences … read more »