Buff1 & DJ Graffiti ask…“What Does Hipster Mean?”

Kenny Fresh — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:09:40 +0000

Credit due to MOSologist & MichiganHipHop.com for providing the track.

One of the most consistent MC’s in the game right now, Ann Arbor’s own Buff1 is back at it again. This time it’s with an exclusive new track for DJ Graffiti’s brand new mixtape, Hipsters Need Soul Too. Keeping up with the concept of the mix, Buff’s “What Does Hipster Mean?” hilariously addresses just what the title implies, over a dope, breezy beat by French producer Astronote.

If you’re not up on Buff1 (that’s probably what that empty feeling you’ve had inside your soul has been), he’s been putting out release after release (each as dope as the next) as a part of the hip-hop collective, the Athletic Mic League, since 2002, and in the last year has dropped the impressive back-to-back solo albums, Pure and There’s Only One.

At the same time, Graffiti is another Ann Arbor native whose been putting it down for years now. His slew of mixtapes and work both behind the scenes and at the forefront have earned him the title of Michigan Mixtape King. He also holds down duties as the official tour DJ for Detroit’s own Phat Kat.

Below is a free download of “What Does Hipster Mean?” – and after the jump I’ve provided two personal highlights from Buff1’s now out-of-print mixtape, The One And Only (featuring production from Samiyam and a guest spot from Guilty Simpson), plus one of his most recent guest appearances, from his A-Side family members, Now On’s new album.

DOWNLOAD: Buff1 & DJ Graffiti “What Does Hipster Mean?” (prod. Astronote)

SUPPORT: View the full tracklisting & get your copy of DJ Graffiti’s new Hipsters Need Soul Too mixtape here

BONUS TRACKS: 3 more from Buff1 after the jump

Now On “The A” (feat. Buff1) (prod. 14KT)
from Tomorrow Already (A-Side Worldwide, 2008)

Buff1 “Open” (prod. Samiyam)
from The One And Only Mixtape (Lab Technicians Productions, 2005)

Buff1 “Bang” (feat. Guilty Simpson) (prod. the Lab Techs)
from The One And Only Mixtape (Lab Technicians Productions, 2005)

14KT previews The Golden Hour

Kenny Fresh — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:00:56 +0000

For those who have been sleeping, 14KT is a producer/MC/DJ from the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based collectives Athletic Mic League & the Lab Techs. And, quiet as kept – he’s also one of the most consistent producers in the game right now. Recent productions include about half of his AML fam, Buff1’s, new album, There’s Only 1, and 2 of my personal favorites from Invincible’s ShapeShifters (“Sledgehammer!” & “No Easy Answers”) – as well as placements with One Be Lo, Phat Kat, Now On, Wildchild, and others.

Anyway… these are the first 4 of 6 leaked tracks (1 a week until the release date) from KT himself, off of his debut solo album (the soundtrack to his life, as he puts it), The Golden Hour, dropping October 14th.

And they even come with liner notes!

DOWNLOAD: 14KT “Can We?? (Chill Again)” (feat. Aloe Blacc) NON-ALBUM EXCLUSIVE

“This version of this song featuring Stones Throw artist Aloe Blacc, is actually NOT going to be on my soundtrack. However, without telling Aloe Blacc the real inspiration behind the track, one day he sent me this version, which happened to go with the concept and I liked it so much I HAD to share it EXCLUSIVELY with you.

My inspiration for this joint was going through a relationship that became so trying & serious that it was hard 2 just have fun & chill again with that person, U know? I freaked the sample as symbolism for how I felt. Tried 2 make the song sound “new” again in a sense. Kinda like how I wish I could do the same with the relationship. Enjoy.”

DOWNLOAD: 14KT “The Night”

“First of all, I LOVE trying to flip records like this for fun. Hope you enjoy it.

I’m a night person so I needed some theme music! Ha!
I took every aspect of “the night” & chopped it into this joint.
I think I chopped 4 or 5 different sayings of “the” from the singer. How intricate is that? Yep, too much time on my hands.
Theme music for all my true night owls. No Sleep. Freaks come out at night. Slow Jamz. Just crusin’. Chill Time. Me Time. All wrapped in one beat.”

SUPPORT: Cop 14KT’s The Golden Hour on A-Side Worldwide when it drops on October 14th.

DOWNLOAD: 14KT “Illustrious”

“This is BY FAR my favorite joint off the project and yes that is me TRYING to sing on it. HAHA!
Years ago, I asked my bestfriend Keri to name one word that described me. She replied “Illustrious.” I was like WHOA!
When I made this, I was listening to alot of late 70s/early 80s Rock music. I wanted to make a Gospel song, but I didn’t want to do it in the traditional sense sonically. So I wanted to make my version a 80’s Rock Gospel Song!
Even though Keri described me as Illustrious, I could never ever come close to letting my little light shine without the Grace, Love, and Power of GOD! So I dedicated this joint to GOD and how I feel with Him in my life!!
If you feel the same way, hopefully you will feel the song. I know I’ll get criticized for my singing, but I don’t care.
I was expressing myself!! That’s what music is about right?

Lyrics:

Verse 1:
“Illustrious/ I feel/ When you’re in my life
So Heavenly/I feel/When you’re in my life

Verse 2:
“You are the only way, please show me (the way)
I want to shine, shine, shine, Divine (divine continues to echo)

“God, I need you in my life (repeats at the end)

2 more Golden Hour tracks after the jump….

DOWNLOAD: 14KT “Less Than Enough” (feat. Ab)

“Much love to my brothas Zo! on additional keys/bass, my mans Ab on the Vocals, and my mans Sam Beaubien who came through and laid trumpet for the track. I appreciate it ya’ll”

(Taken from an IM conversation)

A.L. says : can i ask what inspired this one?
14KT says: divorce.. hate crimes.. disrespect.. people getting killed.. relationships..
A.L says: it’s wrapped so eloquently though, with much respect
14KT says: yeah..I wanted the track to sound more contemplative than sad..but its really based on negative things…
A.L says: yeah it feels that way…. sad isn’t really my emotion… it’s just emotion-full in a way.. the way that there’s a tinge of sadness in “I fall in love too easily” – that’s what the trumpet reminds me of..
14KT says: “This hate that I see…is less than enough to detect any love/This music I hear…is less than enough to detect any love/These relationships I see..are less than enough to detect any love/This respect that I get…is less than enough to detect any love..”
A.L says: man… i feel u.. that’s deeper than….
14KT says: its actually simple..just me thinking on things…and seeing how they could be so much better if people had more love.. but instead they have “Less than Enough..”
A.L says: yessir. wow… thank you so much for sharing this with me……… “

DOWNLOAD: 14KT “The Inside” (feat. Tiffany Paige)

“When I started putting the soundtrack together, there was a scene in my “life movie” where I was reflecting on important memories, people, and situations that made me who I am. I envisioned a tiny purple spaceship,slowly flying inside of my brain (kind of like the movie “Innerspace” haha)… where you see snapshots of different moments….giving you a tour of everything that was going through my mind. I wanted the music to sound spacey and introspective to capture the vibe of the scene. Much love to my girl Tiffany Paige for the beautiful vocals to illustrate the scene more..hope you can see it..”

DOWNLOAD: 14KT “Ypsilanti”

“I wanted to make theme music that gives you the feeling of where I am from. Ypsilanti..Ypsitucky..Ypsilanta.. is a small city in Michigan. There are areas of it that are somewhat hard and you can hear it in the drums, but the overall vibe of Ypsi is very simple, laid back, kinda country, and chill. This is theme music for anyone who is from Ypsilanti, ever lived in Ypsilanti, loves Ypsilanti, or just knows about Ypsilanti…its for you.. “

Fresh Selects » Athletic Mic League