indiescovery

Indiescovery – Indie Hip-Hop For Your Ears #2

I like that weird shit. Crazy beats, genre-mixing, and lyrics that make me question my entire life’s purpose. Every week on Indiescovery I’ll be bringing tracks and artists you may or may not already know. Feel free to hit me up with suggestions, or to tell me my taste in music is crap…as long as that also includes a suggestion.

 

1. “Why Even Try” ft. Sara Quin by Theophilius London – Lovers Holiday (2011)

I probably had the first thought you had when this song started: What’s up with the 80’s business? Well I have no good answer for you but if you like any Theophilius London song, this one shouldn’t surprise you. The track hails from his debut EP Lovers Holiday and features one half of everyone’s favorite lesbian twin indie-rock group (Tegan & Sara), Sara Quin. Don’t let the M83 beat fool you though, if you listen you’ll figure out this song calls out self-importance and reminds you that everyone gets put in their place sometimes.

“If you think you’re special, you’re probably not. So why even try.”

 

2. “Pictures On My Wall” by People Under The Stairs – 12 Step Program (2014)

People Under The Stairs are staples in the indie hip-hop world as far as I’m concerned. They’re known for personal lyrics and even more for being extremely creative with sampling from Motown to rock, to swing. A great example is “Pictures On My Wall” off their ninth studio album. If you know what song they sample for this track PLEASE tell me, I couldn’t find it and it’ll drive me crazy all the way to the grave if I never know.

“Lady you are something, I wanna have a ball, until then I’ll keep your picture on my wall.”

 

3. “Birth Of A Fish” by Eyedea & Abilities – First Born (2001)

This is one of the first hip-hop songs I ever heard that briefly got me inspired to write slam poetry back in the day. I couldn’t get enough of the incredible lyricism of this song, and how it was filled with metaphors and had a story arc that led to a conclusion I connected to all too well: getting out of your own head. I used to have this track on loop for hours, and I was happy to find I still remembered most of the lyrics.

“He said “You live inside a head that reminds me of my glass box. And everyone’s the same, all brains are contained by your reality frame.”

 

4. “Warsaw” by Dessa – Parts of Speech (2013)

One of the perks of writing this series’ is doing thorough research and listening to anything that looks interesting to find something new. I found Dessa, but she is absolutely not. Dessa is a member of Doomtree, and CEO of the collective’s self-titled record company. But she has skills to back up that position because “Warsaw” is raw and smooth at the same time. Dessa shows why she is the important figure in Minneapolis’s hip-hop scene that she is and really stands on her own with this track.

“And I’m still living by my maiden name. The name I came with. The name I made.”

To send those suggestions to me for next week’s Indiescovery, hit me up on Facebook or Twitter!