The New Hotness Vol. 8

1. SZA - "Go Gina" 2017  Queen SZA is killing the game right now. I love that she "conquered self doubt and took Ctrl" because I'm definitely tryna do that shit too. I recently found out that SZA and I share the same last name so I must be genetically predisposed to take Ctrl.(?)




2. DoNormaal - "Third Daughter" 2017  SEATTLE MUSIC  I can't say enough good things about this Earth Goddess. Her artistic journey is already the stuff of legends and she's just getting going. Here's hoping we get to see some visuals from this album very soon.




3. Ravyn Lenae feat. Appleby - "Free Room" 2016  I found Ravyn Lenae via the Spotify algorithms a few weeks ago, shout out to technology. I tried googling Appleby for 5 minutes but came up empty so I can't link you to their work; learn from this musician friends.




4. Mali Music - "Gonna Be Alright" 2017  No relation to the Mali Music side project by Damon Albarn that I mentioned in the 10th post on this website back in 2009. My respect for Mr. Albarn and his art runs deep but this guy is dope too. If you're freaking out about life again, listen to this on repeat and everything will be alright.




5. Kendrick Lamar - "ELEMENT" 2017  For a few weeks after hearing this song for the first time, I couldn't stop Weird Al-ing the lyrics and making all kinds of weird shit look sexy. Its normal I think. Full disclosure, I do it for the gram sometimes but I've never been to Compton.




6. Sudan Archives - "Come Meh Way" 2017  STONES THROW  Stringed instruments in Hip Hop are a do. Sudan Archives is wearing it better than most.




7. VanJess feat. Masego - "Touch The Floor" 2017  It's almost too poppy sweet for me but the ladies got skillz and are more than worthy of your attention.




8. Leikeli47 - "Miss Me" 2017  Lesson Learned: Never pre-judge a music video/artist by their mask and gold teeth. The details in this video really get me; she's got her own swag sauce and everything.




9. Everything Is Recorded feat. Sampha - "Close But Not Quite" 2017  Due to the mind-blowingly awesome art in this video, I added it to the New Hotness YouTube Playlist AND the Special Effects Playlist (Better than Netflix, seriously). It felt like this XL Recordings artist just popped out of nowhere but they were hiding on the internet this whole time.



10. Jehst - "44th Floor" 2017  UK HIP HOP  One of my biggest regrets is not trying my hardest to get into the Bristol New Year's show this past year to see Jehst etc. when I was just an hour away. Regrets are bullshit so I'm gonna have to take care of that issue ASAP.




11. Jesse Boykins III - "B4 The Night Is Thru" 2012  I just discovered this five year old song but it has remained so damn fresh that it still qualifies for The New Hotness cuz I make the rules here.



12. Onry Ozzborn - "Black Phillip" 2017  SEATTLE MUSIC  Onry gave us a present on July 17...




13. Action Bronson - "Let Me Breathe" 2017  Pretty sure we're all tryna live like Action Bronson right now. I'm literally typing this now so that one day soon I'll get paid to travel around the world with dope producers and videographers eating the best food in the universe. Dude in the still looks like a super dehydrated Dog The Bounty Hunter.



14. Jon Bap - "Queen Chimera Pt.1) 2017  Word on the street is that this is Jon Bap's tribute to New Jack Swing (Shoutout to the Don Teddy Riley); I fux with that.



If you wanna re-Bap, here's his What Now album from 2016.




15. Myke Bogan feat. Blossom - "Take The Nite Off" 2017  EYRST/PORTLAND It warms my caffeinated heart to see male rappers collaborate with female artists; some of the best songs in the history of the (my) universe are duets. Example: Method Man & Mary J Blige - "You're All I Need To Get By" (Bad Boy Remix) (of course, duh)



16. Little Dragon - "Strobe Light" 2017  It's been awhile since Little Dragon made me feel the way it did that first hit I took years ago of "Feather" but I'll keep chasing the Swedish dragons for life to feed my music addiction.



17. Toro Y Moi - "Boo Boo (Album Stream)" 2017  An album stream video like this masterpiece would launch a Soundcloud artist into another dimension. Try harder, it works. For real though, I've been fucking with Toro Y Moi since I heard he was into collecting random pieces of wood.

13 Music Videos They "Put A Bird On It"

Mad props are due to Bird from Rhymesayers but this is about the kind of birds with feathers like this one I saw in Lisbon at the São Jorge Castle (they put some birds on it). Shoutout to the geniuses of Portlandia for the inspiration.

I took this photo in Lisbon, Portugal in December 2016

1. Prince - "When Doves Cry" 1984  To those running Prince's YouTube channel; thank you and I love you all for blessing us with Prince videos in our latest time of need. Please can we keep them and can we have some more?




2. 18+ - "Crow" 2014  This is the birdiest of them all by way of the crow sample.




3. Awkwafina - "Queef" 2013  Queen La-queefa is the queefiest of them all... you'll see what I mean. I just discovered Awkwafina yesterday and life's been way more hilarious.




4. Myke Bogan - "Mango Tree" 2017 EYRST/PORTLAND Myke Bogan, of PAC DIV with Like, has been working his ass off lately and it sounding pretty damn good.




5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie" 2011  I have nothing but love for RHCP and would be stoked to see them doing their thing on a rooftop or anywhere really.




6. Michael Jackson - "Leave Me Alone" 1987  This may possibly be one of the best music videos ever...which is good because it's one of the weakest pre-HIStory songs Michael left us with.




7. DJ Shadow feat. Run The Jewels - "Nobody Speak" 2016  This crew did so much more than just put a bird on this masterpiece of a music video. A Killer Mike quote from the YouTube credits:  "It's such a dope video. It's what I really wish Trump and Hillary would just do and get it over with...And even in that fight I think Hillary would win - and that's not an endorsement."




8. Santigold - "Banshee" 2016  This also appears on a YouTube playlist of Music Videos with Puppets alongside Quasimoto, DRAM, Tool, Madvillain, and a bunch of other artsy weirdos I love.




9. Hail Mary Mallon (Aesop Rock + Rob Sonic) - "Breakdance Beach" 2011  I'm definitely trying to hit up Breakdance Beach...which could be anywhere with the right crew.




10. Abstract Rude feat. Slug + Brother Ali - "The Solution" 2015  This reminds me of the Grieves and MC Type video for "My Girlfriend Beats Me" (it's a must watch) but this one has a Kitchen Aid Mixer cameo sooo.




11. Mount Kimbie feat. James Blake - "We Go Home Together" 2017  This song is from the upcoming Mount Kimbie album, Love What Survives, due out this September. Thanks for being you James Blake (le sigh). FYI, this is not a dance party cut but Give Slow Jams A Chance.




12. Berner + B Real with Snoop Dogg + Vital - "Faded" 2015  These enterprising stoners managed to make a lifelong career and millions of dollars off of their love of weed. There is a bird in this video, it happens quick. Smoke some weed and look for it while cringing at the weak chorus.




13. Wizdumb - "L.A.fternoon" 2011  SEATTLE HIP HOP  It warms my heart to watch music videos by artists currently residing in Seattle. I'm of the opinion that creating/finishing music videos will help propel musicians out of the realm of "local artists" and into the music industry.

Ten More Music Videos With Special Effect Twins

Here's a YouTube playlist of ALL the Special Effect Twins I've found so far. #YouTubeNchill


1. Knxwledge - "Flyinglizrds" 2015  STONES THROW  Knxwledge has been killing it for years but came into the spotlight when he collaborated with the music industry's current shining star, Anderson .Paak.




2. Charlotte Dos Santos - "Watching You" 2016  STONES THROW  I can't say enough good things about Stones Throw, they are my spirit animal...or something. Sofie's SOS Tape is available via the Stones Throw website.



The artwork for the release really does it for me.

3. Nick DenBoer - "The Chickening" 2016  This is not technically a music video but it's awesome. and I post it every chance I get.




4. Sevdaliza - "The Valley" 2015  This is likely my least favorite from Sevdaliza but I'm so on board with her that I had to share anyway.




5. Maze Koroma - "Complicated" 2016  EYRST  Green screen for the win. It's tough to keep up with all the greatness of EYRST, I highly recommend you follow Maze and the rest of them on all their social media sites in case I miss something.



6. Calvin Valentine - "Your Drugs" 2016  This wasn't intended to be a collection of EYRST videos but good shit does happen sometimes.




7. Martell Webster - "I'm Ripe" 2016  Martell Webster (of the NBA) is one of the founders and artists of Portland's EYRST crew. Their small label does an incredible job of cultivating talent, I love them.




8. Rare Treat (Myke Bogan + The Last Artful, Dodgr) - "Pop!" 2016  Another "Rare Treat" from Portland's EYRST crew.




9. Slum Village feat. BJ The Chicago Kid + Illa J - "Expressive" 2015  Slum Village is always evolving, it must be difficult to fill the hole that J Dilla left in their lives but I admire their courage to keep going.

10. Gabriel Garzón-Montano - "Crawl" 2017  I love that Peanut Butter Wolf's diverse musical tastes have turned in to a blessing for the universe. He is able to see the light in others and help them to reach their highest potential through Stones Throw; a noble life mission, if I've ever heard one. Gabriel Garzón-Montano has been making music for years but was drawn into the spotlight when Drake sampled one of his songs back in July 2016. Dig into his archives, it's worth your time. 

The first compilation of Special Effect Twins videos.