Even though being a music blogger has led to all the best things in my life so far, the thought of spending enough time on a computer to be the best at it turns me way off. I do love looking back at my Blogger site to see that I was able to recognize the greats before the rest of the world but I decided that I would like to spend more time making art. I had started to feel obligated to post music of people I knew just because they made it and not because it was good; this helps no one. It seems a much better plan to post only the music from around the globe I love the most when I feel inspired to do it. I had all these big plans to make photoshopped promo images using screenshots from each video on the list but I had to scale back my vision because I needed to figure out how to make a living again.
I've had this drafted as The New Hotness Vol. 13 (the first 12 are on MyDefinitionOfCool.blogspot.com) since I started this site but never posted it because I procrastinated it to death and the music is no longer fresh. The best thing about music is that no matter when it was made, it is new to you the first time you hear it. Since I'm already drafting a post of newer music, it was time to let this post free. Since this post feels more like a purge than a post, I'll let it out into the world imageless.
1. Gifted Gab, Blimes Brixton - "Come Correct" 2018 The infinite potential of this duo amazes me.
2. Blimes - "Hot Damn" feat. Method Man 2018 Gifted Gab is up next for working with Method Man, if he has any sense at all.
3. Sa-Roc - "Forever" 2018 I was blessed to spend 12 weeks in a van with Sa-Roc and her producer Sol Messiah on Brother Ali's Own Light Tour and I'll never be the same in the best way.
4. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris - "Gold Purple Orange" 2018 Mello Music Group for the win again.
5. Rapsody - "Chrome (Like Ooh)" 2018 This song had my eyes watering when I first heard "Laila's Wisdom" on my cross country road trip.
6. James Blake - "If The Car Beside You Moves Ahead" 2018 James Blake at the Neptune Theater in Seattle remains to be one of the best shows I've ever seen.
7. Black Milk - "Laugh Now Cry Later" 2018 Black Milk has been that dude for awhile now.
9. Janelle Monáe - "Django Jane" 2018 Janelle Monáe is one of the most inspiring beings in the universe. If you have not watched her 48 minute Emotion Picture, Dirty Computer, you are missing out on some amazing art.
10. Janelle Monáe - "Make Me Feel" 2018 Pretty sure you get to be this awesome by way of shedding all the fucks you give about what others think about you and just doing you. #goals
11. Jesse Boykins III - "Earth Girls" 2018 I've had his song "B4 The Night Is Thru" on my overplayed playlists for awhile now. This song is pretty good but I could tell immediately I won't be overplaying it.
12. Diamond White - "Cleopatron (Drunk On Me)" 2018 This beat does nothing for me but she's awesome and I'll keep watching out for what she does next.
13. Kung Foo Grip - "Sposed Ta B" 2018 SEATTLE MUSIC They're trying harder than most and I love that. Can't wait to see what they do next...
14. Evidence - "Powder Cocaine" feat. Slug (prod. by Alchemist) I love this Goldwatch video so much. The shots of the balls bouncing down the hills make my insides get all wriggly. Sending all my love to Evidence and his son Enzo; if you're reading this Ev, it won't be easy but I know you'll be an amazing father... and yes I will go out with you when you're ready to date again. My first job as a Runner was to drive Slug and Atmosphere's DJ, Plain Ol' Bill, to a record store so I'm lucky enough to already know half of this duo. Once again, Alchemist's production has me all beat nasty face.
15. Kali Uchis - "After The Storm" ft. Tyler, The Creator, Bootsy Collins 2018 Not paying too much attention to her music but this is the only Kali Uchis song I've liked so far. Tyler's amazing weirdness brings out the best in people.
16. Raveena - "Sweet Time" 2017 It's impossible not to love her and I'm not even really into pink.
17. Stimulator Jones - "Soon Never Comes" 2018 Stimulator Jones is one of my favorites from the Stones Throw crew but I wouldn't know him if we walked right past me. "Need Your Body" was the song that got me hooked.
18. PLANET ASIA "You Are King" (prod. by izznyce) Bow tie swag.
19. Leikeli47 - "Attitude" 2018 At first I wondered why she was wearing a mask and then I remembered I tell stories through a masked clay figurine so...
20. VanJess - "Through Enough" feat. Goldlink 2018 To me all the VanJess songs are just okay and this song is no different. I still listen to everything they do in case I find something I love. Their latest, "Control Me" is just aight too but me liking it has no relation to it becoming a commercial hit; they'll get there.
21. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, James Blake - "King's Dead" 2018 I don't love this song even a little bit but I'm glad they made it. Love seeing James Blake work with Hip Hop artists. Did you know James Blake used to live with Chance The Rapper?
22. TA7J - "My City" 2018 SEATTLE MUSIC I'm way late on discovering TA7J but I'm in.
24. Blu and Exile - "Constellations" feat. Lyric Jones 2018 So much of Blu & Exile's music amazes me.
25. Leikeli47 - "Don't Do It" 2018 Watching this video is almost as good as watching the final scenes in a dance movie.
26. Dr. Octagon - "Flying Waterbed" 2018 I have a bunch of terrible photos and videos from when I was blessed to see Dr. Octagon at Soundset that I may never post but still felt compelled to tell you about. When I met Automator that weekend, I couldn't stop naming projects of his I loved and I'm confident he wrote me off as a weirdo but I totally am so it's coo.
27. Ruby Ibarra feat. Rocky Rivera, Klassy, & Faith Santilla - "Us" 2018 (Produced by Nphared) These women are real life superheroes.
28. Lady Leshurr - "Black Panther" 2018 As a former ski resort employee who used to stupidly pride herself on her goggle tan, I'm really loving that she's wearing goggles on the subway.
29. Radio Concuss Local Grown - "Ancient Mariner, Falon Sierra, FLAIS, & Dex Amora" 2018 SEATTLE MUSIC My favorite part of this is at 2:55 when Falon Sierra performs her song "Sprained Ankles." Shoutout to Castro and the rest of the Concuss team for being awesome.
30. STRES: "Act II (The Sea)" 2018 SEATTLE MUSIC I used to work with Stres at Whole Foods and we both made it out alive.