The New Hotness Vol. 5

I update my New Hotness YouTube playlist every time I find a new favorite song. It's better than television.

1. Gorillaz - "Saturnz Barz (Spirit House)" 2017  Gorillaz is doing it waaaay better than anyone else; try harder. Damon Albarn was one of the first artists I felt compelled to post about on this site back in 2009. 




2. Sa-Roc - "I Am Her" 2017  I couldn't be more excited to witness this woman spread her messages across the US and Canada on the Own Light Tour. Peep her bio on the Rhymesayers site for an intro to Sa-Roc.




3. Jorja Smith - "Beautiful Little Fools" 2017  If you appreciate beauty in any of it's forms, this video is for you. I was hooked on Jorja Smith when I saw her video for "Where Did I Go?" last July.




4. Princess Nokia - "Hands Up" 2017  It's hard not to love Princess Nokia. I'm sad to miss her show at The Crocodile on May 11 but I'll be en route to Oakland with the Brother Ali/Sa-Roc tour so life is pretty damn good.




5. Little Dragon - "Sweet" 2017  I love it when artists get weird with their videos.





6. DJ Harrison - "Rule The World" 2017  STONES THROW  "I live in Richmond, VA, studied the masters and the techniques they had before us, and trying to put the puzzle of my life in this recorded diary they call music. I record the instruments, reside with the instruments, mix them, and believe in them. I like tape. ReeltoReel tape. Cassette Tape." -bio from his Bandcamp page.




7. Steve Lacy - "Ryd / Dark Red" 2017  This 18 year old has a long career ahead of him; he's been a part of The Internet since 2015 and has been kicking ass ever since. Here's what The Fader had to say about him last year.




8. BADBADNOTGOOD feat. Snoop Dogg + Kaytranada - "Lavender (Nightfall Remix)" 2017  Shoutout to this crew for pissing off cheeto.




9. Oddisee - "NNGE" feat. Toine 2017  Oddisee is crushing the scene in the best way right now.




10. Reverie - "Critique Like Me" 2017  Click to learn about Reverie from this OC Weekly article. I know we'll be seeing a lot more of Reverie in the next few years.

Ten Music Videos With Shadows Or Silhouettes

1. Neka + Kahlo - "Mayweather" 2015  Two of Portland's most interesting people (up there with Grape God of course). I booked them at  The Crocodile Back Bar on Sunday, July 26 for a show with Astro King Phoenix, Wes Guy, and Fountaine. It was amazing.

So many great events last night in Seattle. We had Neka & Kahlo, Astro King Phoenix, Fountaine, & Wes Guy in the Back Bar; it was dope!

A photo posted by Liz (@206liz) on Jul 27, 2015 at 10:53am PDT

2. Dam Funk - "We Continue" 2015  STONES THROW I would love to go on a spacecruise with these dudes. Dam Funk coming through with another great message.





3. Oddisee - "Belong To The World" 2015  My team at ReignCity is bringing Oddisee and The Good Compny Band to The Crocodile on November 7. He is a cool ass dude.




4. Akua Naru - "The World Is Listening" (prod. by JR + Ph7) 2010  This reminds me of the Canary Sing video for "Freak Show" in the best way. These are some down ass chicks.




5. J'Von + Ackryte - "Tasia" 2013  J'Von is one of my favorite producers and also one of my favorite artists to work with. For a good time, follow his Soundcloud.




He's also an amazing visual artist. I fully hijacked this photo from his Facebook page.

6. Nu Era - "Cops" 2014  Andrew Savoie of Nu Era and myself host a monthly Local Hip Hop Showcase at The Crocodile Back Bar called Home Slice. Come through, the pizza is bomb and the people are even better.




7. Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams - "Get Lucky" 2013  These are some relevant mother-f***ers. This song made the world happy, what could be better than that?




8. Jaden Smith - "Scarface" 2015 Not that he needs it, but, I wholeheartedly cosign Jaden Smith. He's an intelligent 17 year old actor, musician, and fashion designer #props. I hope to see him at The Crocodile someday soon.




9. SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig - "New Dorp, New York" 2014  Haven't seen SBTRKT live yet, that day will be awesome. His self titled album released on Young Turks is a classic.




10. The Good Sin feat. Alisha Roney - "Eye 2 Eye" 2012 (Produced by Justo) (SEATTLE MUSIC)  Breaking stuff in reverse and road trips are totally awesome, they obviously know what's up.





*BONUS* It felt weird to leave out the legendary DJ Shadow, so I'll just leave this here.

DJ Shadow - "Live! In Tune And On Time" 2004 

Ten Great Songs From The Depths Of My Soundcloud Account

Props to Soundcloud and all they have done for the music community so far. I couldn't just let these songs lie dormant, I had to share them. For a good time follow 206liz on Soundcloud (me). The Soundcloud app is one of my all time favorite inventions.

1. Bipolar Sunshine feat Goldlink - "Future Part 1" 2014  The beat drop at 51 seconds is what dreams are made of. I think I found this by following Oakland's Hot Record Société.




2. King Ara - "Who The Fuck You Talkin' To?" 2013  It amazes me that this song never blew up, which is pretty much how I feel about every song on this list. This is the only song on his Soundcloud account so far.




3. Reva DeVito - "Friday Night" 2014 (Produced by Kaytranada)  If I was into Fridays and all that it represents to 9-5ers, I would play this song on Fridays. Instead, I get to listen to it whenever.




4. Porter Ray - "Blackcherry" 2014 (SEATTLE MUSIC) New Sub Pop signee and Ish protege Porter Ray is poised for greatness. I actually listened to the entire Fundamentals album repeatedly, it's that good.




5. De La Soul - "Dilla Plugged In" 2014  (Produced by J Dilla)  I would have loved to see a tour for this album.





6. BJ The Chicago Kid + Add-2 - "15 Minutes Of Fame" 2014  (Produced by 9th Wonder)  Instant classic status.




7. Daughter - "Youth (BUDO Remix)" 2014  Budo is one of those producers who can make a great song even better.




8. MED, Blu, Mayer Hawthorne, + Madlib - "The Buzz" 2013  I'm still working on becoming the Peanut Butter Wolf of Seattle so that I can help make songs like this happen. I may fangirl out a little when it comes to my love for Stones Throw.




9. Maryam Saleh - "Nouh Al Hamam" 2013  (Produced by Oddisee)  Multi-genre music fusion is the best, especially when it's for a great cause. For more info about this project, check out the album on Bandcamp.




10. EarDr.Umz - "Live @ Stop Biting 7.8.14" 2014 (SEATTLE MUSIC) I could listen to this on repeat for hours, actually I already have.

Ten More Music Videos Featuring Reflections

1. SZA - "Babylon" 2014  *I wouldn't recommend putting a white sweater in the dirt like that, great song though.




2. Oddisee - "Back Of My Mind" 2014  *Oddisee seems like a cool dude, I'd go on a spacecruise with those guys.




3. Grieves - "Serpents" 2014  *Grieves is lookin' all slicked in this video.




4.  Pebbles - "Giving You The Benefit" 1990   *This song also features motorcycles, wind, skeezy fashion photographer, water, shadows, solo dancing, blue lighting, strobe light action, spying/espionage by a guy in a coonskin cap; they may have done all this to hide the fact that it is only a mediocre song.




5. Lykke Li - "No Rest For The Wicked" 2014  *This is from her new album, I Never Learn.




6. Big Mike, Biggie Smalls, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Buckshot, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, Digable Planets, Heltah Skeltah, Ill Al Skratch, Jamal, Menace Clan, and Redman - "Points" 1995  *This is from the Panther Soundtrack from 1995. The reflection is Dwayne Wayne @ 3:36.




7. Cyndi Lauper - "True Colors" 1986  *Call her up on the shell phone.




8. Redman - "Dunfiato" 2014  *Redman has so much personality, he doesn't need a flashy video.




9. Ugly Frank - "Leftova" 2014 (TACOMA MUSIC)  *But, did they ever eat the Froot Loops?




10. Shabazz Palaces - "Dawn In Luxor" KENZO Spring/Summer 2014 (SEATTLE MUSIC) *Reflections of the sun in the water and from the sequins. From their upcoming album Lese Majesty.

Ten More Music Video with Rooftops

1. Oddisee - "Paralyzed" 2013  *This is Oddisee's interpretation of Bon Iver's "Re: Stacks."




2. Clear Soul Forces - "Get No Better" 2012  *Detroit younguns killin' it.




3. Non Phixion ft. DJ Premier - "Rock Stars" 2002  *El-P is in this video at 1:30; fun fact.




4. Janelle Monáe feat. Miguel - "Primetime" 2013  *Janelle Monáe is a superhero.




5. Jeremiah Jae - "Seventy 8" 2013  *This dude is awesome, still think he's from the future.




6. Wizdumb feat. Def Dee - "The Listen" 2013  *Def Dee is currently in New York making music with Mello Music Group. Wizdumb can be found every third Saturday at Vermillion for Padpushers.




7. A$AP Mob ft. Method Man - "Trillmatic" 2014  *Method Man is no stranger to rooftops, he appears twice on the first Ten Music Videos With Rooftop Scenes in "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By" and "Love At First Sight," both with Mary J. Blige.





8. Pharrell Williams - "Marilyn Monroe" 2014  *Pharrell is awesome in any hat.




9. Fatima - "La Neta" 2014  *Fatima is a Swedish artist currently based in London on Eglo Records.




10. Dillon Cooper - "State Of Elevation" 2013  *There are Yo! MTV Raps trading cards in this video.




*CONCLUSION: Rooftop music videos are some Hip Hop shit.

*The original Ten Music Videos with Rooftop Scenes can be found HERE.

Ten Music Videos with Special Effects Part III

1. Oddisee - "After Thoughts" 2013  *Oddisee is a supremely talented musician who deserves the sustainable music career he is working towards.



2. Dudley Perkins - "State Of Emergency" (Produced by Madlib) 2013  *Dudley Perkins is also Declaime, I love Declaime.




3. Model 500 - "The Flow" 1995  *I originally fell in love with Juan Atkins Remix version of the I found on the Everything But The Girl Edition of the Back To Mine Series (2001).




4. Q-Tip feat. Norah Jones - "Life Is Better" 2008  *Norah Jones pairs well with Hip Hop.




5. Cut Chemist feat. Chali 2na and Hymnal - "Turn It Around" 2013  *I hope this mean there will be a Cut Chemist tour.




6. L'Orange - "The Epilogue" 2011  *L'Orange is the new hotness, even though he's been around for awhile.




7. 14KT feat. Tiffany Page - "The Inside" 2013  *14KT has a Super Snap, you'll see.



8. Kool and Kass - "Arrested Development" 2013  *They are just so likeable.




9. The Flight - "Dark Corners" 2013  *I would love to hear the instrumental version.




10. DJ Krush feat. CL Smooth - "Only The Strong Survive" 1995  *This song is still way awesome.

Nine Music Videos featuring Escalators or Moving Walkways

1. Feist - "My Moon My Man" 2007  *I'm down with Feist.

2. Lil' Kim feat. Puff Daddy - "No Time" 1996  *From the nasty and fabulous Hardcore album.

3. Next - "Too Close" 1997  *Nineties classic.

4. The Bug - "Catch A Fire" 2010  *I don't really love this song, but, it definitely has an escalator. This is a Ninja Tune release.

5. Big K.R.I.T. - "R.E.M." 2013  *This song is one long James Blake sample.

6. Frank Ocean - "Lost" 2013  *The adventures of Frank Ocean, documented by way of music video.

7. Oddisee feat. Toine of DTMD- "Different Now" 2011  *I like how they are singing to each other in the restaurant and that their table has its own mini Rowe jukebox.

8. Everlast - "What Its Like" 1998  *I realize that this is not traditionally cool, I have always liked this song anyway.

9. Gorillaz feat. Andre 3000 and James Murphy - "Do Ya Thing" 2012  *This is a weird and long Converse commercial.