Stincteam, Kalan.FrFr., and the “Sixtape” Crew Make Los Angeles Great Again
The hip-hop album rollout is in dire need of a renaissance. Seems like our new music Friday’s get more bland and predictable by the minute: new album announced a week before release, deluxe edition of last weeks album, and repeat. While this was the same archetype used for most of the music that came out last night across the rest of America, it was not the case with the young L.A. scene. A star studded South Central lineup, Kalan.FrFr., Drakeo the Ruler, Remble, Bino Rideaux, & Blxst all released incredible new projects last night.
The highly anticipated “Sixtape 2” by Bino & Blxst has had fans attention since the idea was sparked following the release of their first collaboration project. While the original tape served as an introduction, for many, to either one or both of the Los Angeles crooners, this new album feels like an episode after a great pilot is picked up by the network and positively received by fans & critics alike. Like a well scripted show, “Sixtape 2” gives us familiar characters playing the roles they play the best. That same consistency is what gave similar regional rap-singer Kalan.FrFr. a masterpiece with the extended version of his “TwoFr 2” project. Unlike most contemporary deluxe edition albums, this one actually makes advances in the artist’s sound instead of rehashing records that were left off the main release for good reason. A highlight moment on this one was the “I Like” remix with Lil Durk, with Durk’s current vitality being a reasonable trajectory for Kalan’s career very soon. Kalan.FrFr. deserves all the love he’s recently incurred from the industry.
Sounds like a good weekend already right?
Indeed. But L.A.’s melodic voice wasn’t the only one being heard. Out of the divine workings of hip-hop comes a gift from the gods of rap, a surprise Drakeo The Ruler album. While “Ain’t That The Truth” was previously announced as a tribute to the late Ketchy the Great and had a release date, there was no official word on when it would arrive after the delays. Drakeo’s independent, conquistador style of making music can make it difficult to know exactly when music is coming. However, Drakeo The Ruler is always on time. Perfectly timed, in fact, with the all-but-self titled debut project from new West Coast gem and Stincteam affiliate Remble. At 13 tracks, “IT’S REMBLE” mixes some of the 20-year old artist’s fan favorites with new records and collabs from California’s hottest such as Mozzy, BlueBucksClan, and The Ruler himself. If Remble keeps spitting like he is, he’s going to be a name that we can’t get rid of just like his co-signs.
A handful of other artist from other regions released albums but there was something special in the air on the west last night. Even from our headquarters in Las Vegas, the energy from my Southern California neighbors made me proud to be from the West Coast. Half of the artist mentioned will be here for Day N Vegas Music Festival in November of this year, and we’ll be looking forward to covering them then.
