Couchsessions recently got a chance to work with Reverbnation on a cool little project. They opened up their books to us where we got to flip through the all the seriously talented acts they have posted over there. After our editors worked tirelessly to get through all the dope acts and debated out the decision (in addition to a few fist fights) we think we’ve got our favorites! These acts are by no means the best Reverbnation has to offer, but the ones that tickled our fancy the most (or whose proponent that day had a meaner right swing that day).
We’ve been awash in throwback acts that feel all they need to do is throw on a fedora or a lounge dress with a few 60’s influenced guitar licks and they are ready to go. Eventually it all kind of sounds like karaoke; someone who’s unoriginal will always sound generic even if you dress it up in Motown do-wops. St. Louis native Brian Owens has a lot of those signifiers that make me cringe after suffering through the latest throwback act; the classic print shirt, tight 60’s cut pants, the newsy hat. But the second you hear that first note, you see why. He lives/breathes soul, and not only is he playing it, he’s also pushing it forward.
While hip-hop purists are always bemoaning the death of the modern MC, pointing blame at the South and disparaging the once mecca of hip-hop New York for forgetting its roots, many dope rapper have been quietly doing their things. What makes the 2014 MC unique is that unlike the past it feels they can do anything. Golden era hip-hop artists had to follow a certain ethos or fear getting clowned. In the modern era where everyone has access to pretty much the entirety of mankind’ s recorded music in their pocket, it serves to have a different kind of MC who can ride the wave while still being himself. Washington Heights own Benny Black is New York as fuck but flips it. He dances around a wide variety of different tracks like a boxer; hitting you with solid punchlines and styles with an air of unpredictability which makes him an exciting listen.
The Boom Cat comes from a recent run of very dope R&B/Soul/Hip-Hop artists breaking out from New Zealand which traditionally isn’t known for its hot R&B. I think the reason why that being so far removed from the artists and music that influences them gives them a chance to hone into what makes those styles great and let them play within those parameters without having to worry about looking cool to the next scenester. The Boom Cat makes music whose closest relative would be neo-soul, but like a distant cousin has a familiarity along with a very unique spin on what you are used to. Dope.