Medium

Central Texas’s Crew54 just dropped their latest EP, “The 54 Reality Show Tape” this past Friday in Austin. The project is available for download through the Crew54 Bandcamp page, go check it out and support! I had a lot of fun previewing and contributing to the project through the sleeve design. Photographs of Crew54 by Alejandro Crisologo.

Via Chalieboy.net

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Chalie Boy – I’m Here

Chalie Boy drops a full free album leading up to his major label release. The street album is hosted by Dj Mr. Rogers and the download includes a slowed and chopped version.

Chaliboy.net says:

This is an original album by Chalie Boy. This was set to be Makin’ My Way 2, but instead, this has become a free download while Chalie Boy is working on brand new material for his major release with Battery/Jive Records, tentatively scheduled for an early 2010 release.

Tracklisting
Disc 1: Hosted by DJ Mr. Rogers

01. Entertainer (Intro)
02. I’m Here (Produced by D-Nyce)
03. Let It Drop (Produced by Red Prodigy)
04. Gamer (Produced by Groundwork Productions)
05. Call Me (Featuring Chamillionaire) (Produced by DJ Rapid Ric)
06. Red Rover (Produced by D-Nyce)
07. Loaded (Produced by Groundwork Productions)
08. Deja Blue (Produced by D-Nyce)
09. Look Like Money (Smell Like Dollaz)
10. Change (Produced by EP Productions)
11. Thickness (Produced by D-Nyce)
12. Bumpa Grill (Produced by Cutta)
13. Freedom
14. Nothin’ Like A Slab (Produced by D-Nyce)
15. Wheels On Da Bus
16. Twinkle Twinkle (You’re A Star) (Produced by D-Nyce)
17. Something Real (Produced by George Young)
18. Family Affair

Disc 2: Slowed-N-Chopped by DJ Luis

01. Chalie Boy Intro
02. Entertainer (Intro)
03. I’m Here
04. Let It Drop
05. Call Me (Featuring Chamillionaire)
06. Freedom
07. Change
08. Family Affair
09. Gamer
10. Loaded
11. Wheels On Da Bus
12. Something Real
13. Twinkle Twinkle (You’re A Star)
14. Deja Blue
15. Nothin’ Like A Slab
16. Red Rover
17. Looks Like Money (Smell Like Dollaz)
18. Thickness
19. Chalie Boy Outro

Mojoe featuring Bavu Blakes, produced by Symbolyc One (S1). Video by Dookie Vision Productions.

Soulful, Texas, Hip Hop music. Mojoe featuring Bavu Blakes, produced by Symbolyc One (S1) The full video debuts on December 21. You can read more about the history of the track on Bavu’s Blog and check out some screen caps from the video. Make sure you check out Mojoe’s latest album, Dirty Genes, on iTunes, available now.

Listen and Download

The League of Extraordinary Gz – “Loftin n Austin” (Chop Steak Remix)

We got our own sound,” proclaims COD member, S Dot, on LOEGz‘ newest single, “Loftin’ N Austin.”  That sound gets the top dropped and the trunk popped on Chop Steak‘s deep, funky official remix of the track.  The original track is a southern-style banger and an anthem for the capital city.  Best known for his work with the Soul 2020 crew, Chop Steak flips it into a smooth, slick head nodder that will make listeners want to take that drive down Congress Avenue extra slow.

Medium is proud to present this exclusive download from Chop Steak and The League of Extraordinary Gz. This remix marks the first official release from Medium. We will be releasing official and promotional material from select artists that we work with and are proud to have a track from The League of Extraordinary Gz as our inaugural release. The official version of the track is now getting radio spins in central and south Texas and this remix will be included on the League’s upcoming mixtape, leading up to the official League of Extraordinary Gz album due out early 2010.

Links
The League of Extraordinary Gz
Chop Steak
Download track from Gigacrate

 Trae, Bun B and Lil’ Keke, three Texas underground hip hop legends, on the same track. This is apparently just a teaser for the full video, not sure when the full video will be released. You can download the full track over at Chopsteakmusic.com

Earlier this year, Austin based artists, Poise and 20/20, contacted me about an upcoming promotional mixtape entitled “Bullets”. I had worked with both artist in the past, but when they contacted me about this project I was pretty busy with other things and wasn’t sure about working with a “Bullets” theme. I try not to do too many stereotypical “rap music” projects, because most of them tend to ask for pretty standard and formulaic artwork, so when I first heard the name for this project I was thinking that it would be more of the same. However, after a few conversations with them and after hearing the songs, I realized that that the “Bullets” theme they were going for was a bit different and I was going to have a little bit of freedom interpreting the subject.

Front Cover Artwork For 20/20 and Poise – Bullets

It might have been easier to go with a stereotypical idea of ultraviolent imagery, but instead I took an approach of necessary violence, whether good or bad. The front cover ends up being pretty standard, but the photography, by Dallas’s D.Brown, really helped it out a lot and to introduce a “bullets” theme I incorporated some steel/metal textures into the “logo” along with some smoke, dirt and broken glass towards the lower right hand side.

Back Cover Artwork For 20/20 and Poise – Bullets

The back of the packaging and the disc keep the “necessary violence” theme, with imagery from the American Revolution, the Cuban Revolution, the Vietnam War and World War II. Early drafts included an image of a child soldier from the Mexican Revolution, but the idea was shot down because, despite not being a typical rap mixtape, the content was not a political statement and an image of a child soldier may have been misinterpreted and the music’s actual message lost.

CD Artwork For 20/20 and Poise – Bullets

The disc itself had to be two colors only, so to stay with a metallic/metal “bullets” theme, I chose PMS 871 M (metallic gold) and pantone black. For the disc I brought back some of the war/revolution imagery and the name of the mixtape along with some of the smoke/dirt from the cover. For the first printing of the mixtape I think they had to go with a simple text on disc variation of the artwork, so hopefully there’s a second printing so I can see how the black and gold  printed.

I have’t seen a printed copy yet, so hopefully it came out well. Everone can pick up a free copy on April 17th and the Eclectic Styles of Summer Fashion Show. 20/20 and Poise will be releasing the mixtape there and I’ll be posting up some tracks from the mixtape and web exclusives leading up to the release.

The 20/20 and Poise MySpace page, designed by Sons of Nero is now up as well, make sure you check it out and add them as your friends to stay connected and hear about new songs, downloads and shows.

Tracklisting
1. Intro
2. Reppin Time
3. Interlude – Bullets
4. Never Know
5. Cold As Ice
6. Next
7. Guess Who’s Back
8. Words Are Weapons
9. V.I.P.
10. Interlude – 20/20
11. Ready
12. We Gonna Make It
13. Say Yes
14. Real Hip Hopper
15. Stay Fly
16. Interlude – Poise
17. Dreams
18. Dear Summer
19. Interlude – ATX
20. ATX
21. Outro

Links
2020 and Poise on MySpace
Dj Diamond Tip

As of January 31st of 2009, BigBadMedium.com is a year old! I’ve had a lot of fun discovering and promoting independent artists and getting to know more folks in DC in Austin, seeing how that’s where I’m located.  I’m always trying to expand my network of writers, designers, artists, bloggers, promoters and internet peeps, so I’m looking for new people to add to my blogroll/links. If you’re interested in being a part of our links/blogroll, leave your information in the comments section of this post, make sure you actually put something in the text section of the comment.

Feel free to add any other information, your twitter, myspace, home address, SSN…no, but really, jokes aside, add any pertinent links and if you’re not already following me, The Honest Ape, on twitter, you can find me tweeting almost every day @thehonestape and you can also find our resident reviewer @chopsteak

20/20 and Poise – “Fly (Bullets Version)”

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The sun is out the birds are chirpin’ and the warm weather stuntin’ season begins! Rebecca Powe and Arika Haynes have put brought together a group of emerging designers and shops to showcase their latest work, including Carol Chavana, 3rd ID Clothing, Urban Posh and EmaQlate.

Kid Slyce will be rockin the party, b-boy Blitz and Urban Transit Dance Cru will be kickin it and 20/20 and Poise will be performing with Dj Diamond Tip and giving out free copies of  their new mixtape, ”Bullets”.

It all goes down, Friday April 17 at Aces Lounge (222 E 6th St, Austin, TX) I’m sure more information is to come, but mark the date on your calendar now!

Links
RSVP on Facebook

Eclectic Styles of Sumer Performers and Designers

Rob Viktum – Snack Pack Track 11

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Dallas based proucer Rob Viktum recently put out a beattape, so don’t sleep on it. He’s definitely got some heat, download the beattape and get in touch with him if you’re looking for some production.

Download
Rob Viktum Snack Pack Vol. 1