AfterLyfe Music’s Konflik connects with The Artifacts’ El Da Sensei and Boston legend Edo. G for a fire remix over a NasteeLuvzYou production. “Shine” is the perfect title for the song as these three lyrically shine like a diamond on every line. Add a new Nastee beat with re-flipped lyrics and hip hop excellence is accomplished.
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
The Artifacts are a duo from Newark, New Jersey consisting of El Da Sensei & Tame One. Their 1994 full-length debut Between a Rock & a Hard Place that just celebrated it’s 28 year anniversary last Tuesday is widely considered to be a hip hop classic & their sophomore effort That’s That in the spring of ‘97 happened to be a great follow-up also, but wouldn’t be until 2013 where they officially got back together by landing features on other artists’ projects. But with DJ Kaos prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve have decided to enlist New York producer Buckwild of D.I.T.C. behind the boards for their 3rd full-length album & their 1st in a quarter of a century.
“Ask N****s” is a stellar way to start it all with it’s piano-infused boom bap instrumental with some pianos & angelic vocals so El & Tame challenge to question anyone how they bring it from the Bronx to New Jersey whereas “The Way I Feel” has a more rawer approach to it as Sensei & Tame flex their lyrical prowesses. “Better Music” works in a soul sample acknowledging that everyone knows they be movin’ leading into the strained “Facts” talking about how they ones you gon’ call & the horn sections.
Moving on to “Come Alive”, we have the Artifacts & Big Joker boasting that they’re too fresh just before Ras Kass joining the trio for “Real Rap” which if. You couldn’t tell by the title is a grimy ode to traditionalism. A-F-R-O however comes into the picture for the crazed “Contagious” informing y’all that the format is sickening. The song “Raw Garden State” comes through with a rugged ode to their home state while the penultimate track “Take a Trip” weaves some strings in to reminisce. “3 4 the Crew” is an upbeat closer acknowledging that this was overdue.
I really had no worries going into No Expiration Date considering how great their last 2 albums are in their own rights & sure enough, we got a near-perfect comeback from the revered Jersey duo here & it’ll confidently go down as one of the best. Not just because I personally feel that El & Tame haven’t lost a step in terms of their lyricism & chemistry at all, but Buckwild reveals himself to be the perfect person for them to get behind the boards since he produced a couple of my favorite songs of theirs & brings it as raw as them.
Score: 9/10
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Sad news for official Hip-Hop heads. DJ Kaos, born Shawn Perry, of New Jersey rap group the Artifacts has passed away.
El Da Sensei confirmed the news as he mourned his friend’s passing on Facebook on Monday (August 5).
“With a very heavy heart I’m so sorry to say me and Tame have lost our DJ/Brother/friend Shawn Djkaos Perry today! I’m truly sad right now and I never thought I’d be posting anything like this about my brother Kaos,” wrote the Newark native. “Never. I don’t want to talk on here too much but I’ll be posting news about his wake and funeral as soon as I know. I’ll also be posting a gofundme page for him in the next few days. He is now in the upper room with my brother Peter P Original together again making an exclusive Art Of Diggin CD for me until I get there. We Love You Virshawn. Artifacts 4 Ever!”
Consisting of El and Tame One, Kaos took a more prominent role in the Artifacts with the release of the group’s sophomore album That’s Them in 1997, taking over for the late, great DJ Roc Raida. After a break and long hiatus, the group formally reunited in 2013.
Our condolences to DJ Kaos’ friend and family.
Source: HipHopWired.com
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America’s Reality Entertainment presents Brando AR, a Hip Hop upstart out of St. Louis Missouri. The Midwest native drew musical inspirations from the Golden Era of Hip Hop to Alternative Rock, and everything else in between that he resonated with. Music was also Brando’s first love but it wasn’t until 2013 that he took initiative to advance his own career in music. And he solidified this by taking his talents to New York City. Making a home in Queens, NY, Brando built his career from the ground up with his AR Ent. team.
Fast forward a few years later, Brando is now actively working with Grammy nominated, multi-platinum producer, Tarboy Williams. Currently, the two are in the midst of finishing Brando’s new album, set for a Summer release. After taking a brief hiatus, Brando and his AR Entertainment team have officially released the Matthew Scott directed visual for “ArtiFacts.”
Follow Brando AR on Twitter: @Brando_AR
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com