The latest posse cut to capture the B3 imagination is Atlanta MC’s Que’s “Young Nigga” remix featuring Migos, Juicy J, and Bobby Ray. Spoiler alert: Juiceman raps about banana clips in this one too.
Que 
(Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.0
The latest posse cut to capture the B3 imagination is Atlanta MC’s Que’s “Young Nigga” remix featuring Migos, Juicy J, and Bobby Ray. Spoiler alert: Juiceman raps about banana clips in this one too.
Que (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.0
B3SCI in July = All FTSE all the time. No other artist, in any genre has captured as much of our attention or listening hours as much as the UK-based producer. Check out FTSE’s latest mix for London psych-pop outfit Cloud Control and their track “Dojo Rising”.
FTSE 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
Since SXSW (incl. an appearance at our B3 party), NYC based SKATERS have been touring non-stop behind their recent “I Wanna Dance” single. They’ve supported Potugal. the Man and even headlined a 30 dates in one month tour of the UK. We recently caught up on the phone with SKATERS frontman and lead singer Michael Ian Cummings to talk about the band’s forthcoming debut album, this summer’s Lollapalooza slot, their limited edition art-zine Yonks, as well as their forthcoming US tour opening for Palma Violets and more (tour dates listed below).
The band is celebrating an NYC homecoming this Friday (7/19) with a special headlining gig at The Bowery Ballroom. Get info and tickets for the show HERE.
SKATERS 
(Facebook)
TOUR DATES
09/15 Phoenix, AZ Pub Rock
09/17 Austin, TX Red 7
09/18 Dallas, TX Dan’s Silverleaf
09/19 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
09/21 Miami, FL Gramps
09/22 Orlando, FL The Social
09/23 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
09/24 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree
09/25 Nashville, TN The Basement
09/27 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brendas
09/28 Albany, NY Pearlapalooza
09/30 Boston, MA The Sinclair
10/02 Washington DC DC9
10/03 Columbus, OH The Basement
10/04 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
10/05 Madison, WI High Noon
10/06 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
10/08 Denver, CO Larimer LoungeBreak
10/14 Seattle, WA Neumos
10/15 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
10/16 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
10/18 Berkeley, CA UC Berkeley
Photos and Words by Russ Ramos
While walking up a busy Hollywood Blvd on my way to The Fonda Theater this past Monday night, I passed a sea of people (about 90% ladies) waiting in line anxiously outside of the club. Upon entering the venue I grabbed myself an overly priced beer and headed straight to the photo pit. As the opening DJ pumped out trap jams, locally based new R&B sensation JMSN prepared for his set on stage. JMSN (pronounced Jameson) wasn’t just an opener, he was one the most captivating lead acts I’ve seen in a while. There was no counting-down minutes until The Neighbourhood took stage, from beginning to end, JMSN had an energy that resonated throughout the theater. Here’s some photos from his set below.
JMSN 
(Facebook)
More EDM hits filled the house speakers as The Neighbourhood’s team prepped for the band’s set. At first, the band took stage minus frontman Jesse Rutherford. As all of the girls in the audience were flipping out, Rutherford finally made his presence. There was a moment of hysteria and you would’ve almost thought Justin Bieber himself had taken stage. Every track The NBHD played was like a sing a long. The crowd held their hands up high, shouted the lyrics and just gave off great vibes. These pictures help say it all. Once again, The Neighbourhood comes back to The Fonda in LA next month on August 15th. Don’t sleep on this.
The Neighbourhood (Tumblr) (Facebook)
“Astronaut” will be the title track on South London producer/performer Joel Compass’ upcoming due in September EP. Premiering last night on Mistajam’s 1X show last night, the brand new “Astronaut” does the R&B/garage revival thing very very well; complete with bits of melody and instrumental that are light years past many of the genre’s biggest current purveyors.
Joel Compass (soundcloud)
Rating 8.0
Nick Brewer and B3 seem to be on a bit of a vibe here. The jazzy tones of “So Good” and the UK rapper’s subtle easy-on-the-beat rhymes are not only refreshingly unique (especially for the Brit rap scene) but also manage an immense catchiness and a stick with you quality that maybe separates him from many of his jazz-hop sort of peers. We’ve had “So Good” on repeat all day and we’re pretty sure you’ll be doing the same after you press play.
Nick Brewer (Official)
Rating 8.0
Marco Polo remixes the Rub (New York DJs Ayers and Eleven) track “Feel You” featuring B3 favorite Misun from earlier this year. M.P.’s remix sports a decidedly a mid to late 90’s feel, particularly in how the diction on Lil’ Fame’s verse and the way the retooled beat break together sound absolutely beamed in from 1997 or 1998. Get a sample below.
Marco Polo (Wiki)
Rating: 8.3
Berlin-based Kyson announces debut LP The Water’s Way to be released on L.A. label Friends of Friends. The first preview from Water’s Way is the melodically spectacular R&B-tinged melancholy of “Missing Things”.
Kyson 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.45
The great Mazzy Star announced today that they will release their first LP in 17 years (since 1996’s Among My Swan) and it will be called Seasons of Your Day. Sample below the dreamy desert highway hush of excellent new Mazzy track (!!!!) “California”.
Mazzy Star (Official)
Rating 8.5
The tag [Prod. By FTSE] is quickly becoming a certain signifier of a must listen track. The UK producer’s hypnotic infinitely soulful nighttime hours style is a huge favorite around B3. Here, FTSE links up with oft-collaborator Kenzie May and rising London-based MC Thunderbird Gerard for the instantly-draws-you-in twilight blog rap of “Firewurx”.
Thunderbird Gerard (Official)
Rating: 8.3
“Recollection” is first single from Keep Shelly in Athens’ debut (!) LP At Home. Brought to us via the cool team at Cascine, the track (along with the rest of the LP) will see a September 17th release. “Maturing in sound” is often music blogger/journo talk for this sounds more like what I want this band to sound like and in that department, at least for us, “Recollection” does represent a maturation in sound for the Athenian duo. The track is more melodic, the arrangement of it is more concise (easier to get into on the first or second listen than a large amount of KSIA’s previous material). That said, “Recollection” is no less inventive or interesting than “classic” Keep Shelly in Athens, the amount of ideas and just flat out work that went into a composition as dense and varied as “Recollection” have to be immense. Blah blah blah, to conclude, we love it.
Keep Shelly in Athens 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
We’re usually pretty reticent to post “remixes” and “edits” of soul/r&b classics; like Marvin’s “I Want You” is one of best grooves ever period. So ostensibly we’re making a little leap here in giving Totescity, the Vegas DJ duo behind this new Theophilus London-featuring remix of “I Want You”, the Team B3/Estate of James Brown soul classic remix stamp of validation; but the remix truly is that fantastic. Hats off boys.
Totescity 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
