The homie Skinny Genes started his weekly YOLO Lists with the intention to open your minds and ears to every genre of music — the idea being that life’s too short to hate on a type of music until you realize that you actually enjoy it. So when artists from different ends of the spectrum come together in harmonious musical innovation, it makes the process much easier for us. Recently, the trend has been combining hip-hop and different paces of electro; producers see it as a logical gap to forge together the two most popular genres. There’s parts of both that agree thematically with a grungy DIY feel. Both are not apprehensive about hard hitting drums. With a few exceptions (HoVeezy/ChiddyBang), it’s been low-key MCs trying to make a name and using the concept as a niche. But a few songs have been released over the past week with legitimate names in the game (not Sam Adams) that’s led to giving it further thought. Of the three, it’s most apparent to me that Joker‘s style meshes best with rhymes; I’ve yet to determine whether it’s a healthy relationship though. If you guys have any solid collabs that have pleased your ears drop em off in the comments prz. Is this a matrimony that needs a divorce or just some serious counseling? Don’t be shy with yer opinions.

XV – Boss Level (Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites Remix)
Kendrick Lamar – Cloud 10 (prod. by Nosaj Thing)
Joker ft. Jessie Ware & Freddie Gibbs – The Vision (Let Me Breathe)

The CoachellAltDelight series will put focus on the low key Coachella
artists that we at C+A+D feel like you should know about.
Less than a week til we’re all together!

Prepare to have senses delighted when LA’s Nosaj Thing graces the stage this Friday at Coachella. Nosaj blends instrumental hip-hop with electronic synth elements to create a sound that anyone will enjoy. He’s widely known for his song “Aquarium,” which Kid Cudi sampled for “Man on the Moon.” With his “visual shows,” he’s mastered the art of uniting the power of audio and visual in a way that leaves you feeling immersed in a world of what you’re hearing. I haven’t been able to see any of the shows, but based on videos and Coachella’s history with visual masterpieces, I’m feeling pretty good about the chances of my mind being blown. Check below for a taste of what to expect and an improvised DJ set that he did. Make sure to catch his set on Day 1!

+Jangbar

BONUS

Didn’t get the chance to recap UCI’s Urban Arts Fest 2011 the other night; CA’s finest Dom Kennedy and Fashawn came out to perform to a crowd of maybe 250. It ended up being the ideal show — straight to the point, good openers, intimate, and free. Host Nduka Unaka and DJ Beatfiend kept the crowd interested in the short time in between sets and both Yancy Deron and Cobe Obeah got more than a few heads noddin’. Fashawn impressed, playing a couple tracks from “Boy Meets World” and a lot from his latest tape, “Higher Learning 2.” Dom delivered another one of his powerful performances that he’s quickly become known for. He played a little bit of everything and had backup from the crowd for most of the set. Shout out to Hip Hop Congress for putting it together. Got a couple videos of Dom… excuse the shitty capturing.