Mixtape "So Cold" is Official!

I'm pleased to announce that the mixtape is finally official!

It will be called "So Cold" and be released in January 2009. I decided to push it back as I wanted to include a few more songs on there that I just couldn't turn away from.

While I'm not quite ready to release the artwork or the names of any releases quite yet, I can tell you that new songs from the mixtape should be coming very soon, at least a couple in December!

Keep checking back often for the lastest news, reviews, and developments -- this blog is going to be very active in the coming weeks.

It's gonna be a cold winter...

Song Review: Yaboi Plain - "Get You Off"

Review: Yaboi Plain's "Get You Off"

Featured on: Soundclick.com
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7043941

Let me just say that this is definitely a straight-up indie underground track. That said, I'm hooked. Plain and simple.

Sure, the beat's not the most impressive and the quality could use some work. But look past that and you'll find a nice song with the some clever words and an addictive tone. It's raw, gritty, and that's not a bad thing.

Between some steamy imagery and clever lines that melodically ride the beat, you get some of basic woo's like:

"ay baby, tell me what it is today
but if it ain't me and you then don't say a thing
see i been dreamin 'bout ya body for so many nights
and tonight its feelin right so let us get it right
let's take off all these clothes, get our bodies exposed
let me kiss you from your head to your toes
wanna hear you say 'go!', wanna hear you say my name
i been thinkin' 'bout you baby but it ain't the same"

Which is definitely solid and thought out. But then you some out-the-box cleverness that you've got to appreciate:

"the days turn to weeks, weeks turn to months
away, goes by, it's all so much
i feel all the seconds, touch, can we get a moment?"

Overall, the entire song comes off very natually and well-thought out. It doesn't sound like a freestyle, or a comeback song, or a hype song, it sound like a good track. You took a general concept that's been done and added something fresh to it, and you made it sound really good with what you had to work with. Hook was great, verses as I pointed out had a good mix of your more typical content (that was above average) and creative concepts sprinkled in.

Sure, it's a rough cut. But I feel like this particular song had that it factor that kept me listening without getting tired of it. The performance was believable, not overdone, overly-sappy, and the imagery was fantastic. Certainly catchy and the mix was fairly well done (minus the overall quality). Flow was on point throughout and it just felt like a good song.

That's when you know you're doing something right. I'd love to hear this song with better mixing/mastering, could do very well. Job well done. Go ahead, give it a play.

--
Hear more from Yaboi Plain at:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=890523

Poll: Will fourth-quarter hip-hop "raise the bar?"

Interesting thought. With forthcoming releases this quarter from the likes of Kanye West, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Eminem, Jay-Z, and who knows, maybe Dr. Dre, do you think these releases will raise the bar in hip-hop regarding acceptable standards in music as far as song quality, lyricism, etc.?

Lately, hip-hop has, arguably, been in a slump -- not just in sales, but in overall quality. "Hip hop is dead" has been the buzzword lately (well, at least before "swagger"), and I personally feel like "artists" are getting by with less and less impressive music. It seems like no one wants to write lyrics anymore, which is fine until it actually sounds like that's the case!

Regardless, this quarter should bring out the releases of popular artists known more for their song content and their song quality. I, for one, have high expectations and look forward to some great music. I'm sure I'm in a fairly isolated group on this one, but I don't care, I've been feeling what I've heard from Kanye's "808's and Heartbreak" so far (minus the auto-tune overdose).

Anyway, what do you think? Will these forthcoming release be the "change we need" in hip-hop, or will these highly-touted artists give us just enough to get by?

Feel free to comment and/or hit the poll on the right.

N. Talekt
http://www.soundclick.com/ntalekt

New Release: "I'm Back!"

Just released some new material from me called "I'm Back!" -- I recorded this while prepping for the new mixtape, tentatively titled "So Cold." I'll do a few blogs about mixtape as the release date for that approaches. For now, do enjoy the new track -- it's the first one I've dropped in a good minute! Hope to release a few more in the near future. Lemme know what you think...

I'm Back:

OR
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7064767

Thanks,

N. Talekt

Inaugural Blog

Hey! Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog!

I created this blog for a few reasons. First, I want to try to stay somewhat relevant, and what better way to do that than with a blog! Second, it's a bit of a pain to do keep things updated via my Soundclick when there are so many other avenues of media out there; with blogs providing RSS, I can keep my updates in one place and have it travel many places. Third, I want to be able to better interact with the people who enjoy my work. Next, I want to post things that are relevant to music in general here and my opinions on them as well as song critiques, must-hear music, must-see videos, and more. Finally, this is a good opportunity for me to discuss things about my music that I literally can't do in 52 bars. :)

We'll see how successful this is. Check back regularly as I hope to keep this active for as long as I can. Become a "follower" if you'd like to show your support, or just leave some feedback in the comments. Enjoy!

N. Talekt
http://www.soundclick.com