After the release of Kids These Day’s debut album Traphouse Rock…everything seemed to just stop. I think the album never really took off as everyone imagined, the band had soooo much hype to live up to. In the end I felt like one of the few people that genuinely liked it. Well, people finally woke up after word spread that the Chicago band would be breaking up. All these guys are so young, it will be fun to see which projects they touch next.

I don’t think anyone was worried about the fiery spitter Vic Mensa. In perhaps his strongest solo effort to date, Vic drops visuals for “Orange Soda” – an ode to everyone’s favorite summer drink. Just in time! Off the kid’s upcoming INNANETAPE project, “Orange Soda” brings out a falsetto croon from Vic that results in Mensa’s best solo effort yet. This combined with his verse on Chance The Rapper’s “Cocoa Butter Kisses” really has me dialed into the rhymesayer of a band no-longer.

Watch The Duck, these guys really are some ATLiens. The trio (plus the duck) have found an interesting way to mash-up every other genre to ever exist into EDM. There are clear EDM drops that every bass head can appreciate but Watch The Duck has sandwhiched those drops between plenty of soulful vocals, ticking keys and blaring horns. The tunes have the feel of your favorite summer festival hosted by a Reggae/Dancehall host from the 70′s….and he’s throwing one hell of a party. Dive in, that’s all I can really say.

I don’t know what planet these guys are from but they certainly found an interesting blend of sounds. Check out their ful project Anatidaephobia EP on Soundcloud or on iTunes.

My CrowdNoize compandre Leah tipped me off to this tune the other day and I’ve given it several spins since. I guess I’ve kinda been on a kick of the global voices of women (see New Zealand’s Lorde’s The Love Club – EP, UK’s London Grammar’s “Wasting My Young Years”, Australia’s Hiatus Kaiyote’s – Tawk Tomahawk) as of late!

Please take some time to explore the depth’s of Kenzie May’s “Hide & Seek.” This 19-year old sure has a knack to create a mighty big hook.

Chances are you may have already heard about this project. It’s absolutely taken the internetz by storm. Chance totally owns Chicago and because of the genuine brilliance of the project, this fine tab of acid has seeped into the blood stream of cities nationwide. Just yesterday, it was announced that Chance would be supporting Mac Miller on a 38-city nationwide tour with select dates that include Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson and The Internet.

Anyway – the project is an absolute treat from start to finish. It’s been extra special to be jamming out to this mixtape breathing the very Chicago air that has inspired it. Chance is Chicago’s next Twista, Common and Kanye. We already know their impact on the world, now it’s Chance’s chance.

Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap (Mixtape)

Personal favorites include “Cocoa Butter Kisses” featuring Vic Mensa (of Kids These Days) and Twista, “Juice” and “Smoke Again” featuring Ab-Soul.

01. Good Ass Intro (Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid, Lili K., Kiara Lanier, Peter Cottontale, Will for the O’mys, & JP Floydd for Kids These Days) [Prod. By Peter Cottontale, Cam For J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League & Stefan Ponce] (3:59)
02. Pusha Man (Feat. Nate Fox & Lili K.) [Prod. By Ceej] (7:24)
03. Cocoa Butter Kisses (Feat. Vic Mensa & Twista) [Prod. By Cam For J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League] (5:07)
04. Juice [Prod. By Nate Fox] (3:35)
05. Lost (Feat. Noname Gypsy) [Prod. By Nate Fox] (3:05)
06. Everybody’s Something (Feat. Saba & BJ The Chicago Kid) [Prod. By DJ Ozone] (4:37)
07. Interlude (That’s Love) [Prod. By Ludwig Gorransen] (2:30)
08. Favorite Song (Feat. Childish Gambino) [Prod. By Nate Fox] (3:05)
09. NaNa (Feat. Action Bronson) [Prod. By Brandun Deshay] (3:21)
10. Smoke Again (Feat. Ab-Soul) [Prod. By Blended Babies] (4:33)
11. Acid Rain [Prod. By Jake One] (3:36)
12. Chain Smoker [Prod. By Nate Fox] (3:31)
13. Everything’s Good (Good Ass Outro) [Prod. By Cam For J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League] (5:34)

Tickle Torture is my favorite artist on the planet right now. Tickle Torture is a sexual being from another planet who resides in Minneapolis. My  Tickle Torture journey dates back to this time last year, the band I mange – whysowhite was playing a gig in town and we randomly stopped at a local watering hole in the hopes of catching some live music. That night we experienced Tickle Torture. I was absolutely blow away by his performance and it was one of those performances I can even really put into words. Is there anything better than going to a show with zero expectations and walk away with one of your most memorable sets of the year. I remember Google-ing Tickle Torture that night and not finding much but knowing he would soon resurface. This was the most danceable stuff I had heard out of Minneapolis since The Purple One.

Months passed and Tickle Torture popped into my head when I started to do some preliminary planning for a showcase I was putting together at SXSW. I did a blind Google searching hoping for some recorded material. Sure enough – two full EPs were just waiting for me to enjoy. I listened to both and enjoyed them both very much.

Be sure to check out both Spiritual Machete (Aug. 2012) and his most recent project Together Again (Dec. 2012.)

With that said check out a stand out tune from Spiritual Machete titled “Forgotten.” It includes…and I quote “lots of fog, a 78 Cadillac convertible, antelope heads, and some slight nudity….”

That’s all you need to know. Torture has never felt this good.

Greg Grease’s Cornbread, Pearl & G (stream here) was one of my favorite releases of last year. Many share these feelings, as Grease was just labeled City Pages “Best Hip-Hop Artist” for 2013. We’ll here are some mighty good visuals for the tune “C.R.E.A.M Dreams.” Hot damn, that’s a dope ass flow!

I don’t know much about Minneapolis group Crunchy Kids but their debut project is being recorded and mixed at Waterbury Studios (hey Big Cats!) in Minneapolis. But hopefully the visuals for their tune “Nash Money” are a taste of what’s to come on their debut album Mint, which you can pre-oder now at CruncyKids.Bandcamp. The project is due out May 14th.

I’m already a huge Chalice fan…so with side project featuring both members Lizzo and Sophia Eris already sounds good. Their debut statement “Magic Ride” is definitely trip somewhere! Crunchy drums, synthy stabs, mean rhymes and mesmerizing soulful vocals? Yup, it’s all here. The duo are rumored be dropping a mixtape under this moniker real soon.

Lizzo’s got her debut album with Doomtree beatsmith Lazerbeak on the way too! BOOM!

Shouts to Prophis & JR on the production.

Night Moves comes by way of my hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It’s gotta be one of the best music scenes on planet earth. We’ll here comes another talented trio. Night Moves released their album Colored Emotions in October of last year. I discovered this one on BandCamp’s new weekly podcast a few weeks ago. Well the titular track off the album stuck with me most. It sounds like inhaling sunshine. Enjoy!

Be sure to grab the whole album via their BandCamp page.

A breathtaking cinematic trip from UK trio London Grammar. I’ve had their lastest release “Wasting My Young Years” on repeat. Such a mature sound for youngsters. Vocalist Hannah Reid showcases her absolutely stunning voice from start to finish. If they keep creating captivating sounds like this they’ll be performing for the masses on a global scale soon enough. Everyone can relate to this beautiful tune. For fans of  The XX, Florence & The Machine, Adele, Sigur Ros etc.

London Grammar have two more tunes over at their Soundcloud page that are also worth checking out: “Metal & Dust” and “Hey Now.”