DEMENCHA

Underground Revolution Showcase w/ Mad Marlon & More @ Riot Room [05.19.12]

Chris Mills — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:58:56 +0000

Fresh off a tour opening for Bone Thugs over the course of about 15 city dates around the US, KCK’s Mad Marlon has finally made his phrase “Yak Yak!”, his “Mad Bag” merchandise packages, and uhhh…oh yeah, his exhilarating, club-shaking, roof-raising live shows a real point with fans all over. Though we’ve been up on Marlon for several years, it sounds as though he’s very quietly making a case for what could be the beginning of a small, “cult-like” following, much the way Tech N9ne did it. The thing a lot of artists fail to remember when hitting the road out of town is that the live show element has got to be on point. You’ve got to make sure these people who’ve never seen you before will remember you, moving forward. I remember the first time I came across a Mad Marlon song.

It was on a DJ Fresh mixtape from probably 2007 or so. I heard his track “K-Town” and thought this guy had to be like, 8 feet tall, 400 pounds or something. Marlon’s hyper-aggressive raps unfold appropriately in a brawny, beastly live show. A Mad Marlon show in front of a Westport crowd is rather rare, but Saturday night at Riot Room you can catch him with XTA-C (aka “Mr. So Heavy”) and Nelson El and see what thousands across the country have witnessed already. Big, big, big time props and respect to Mad Marlon aka “The Wyandotte Ambassador” for keeping this rap thing chugging along. Hard work pays off, indeed.

Get Mad Marlon’s music HERE

PREVIEW: Les Izmore, Soft Reeds, Diverse & More @ Record Bar (18+) [05.19.12]

Chris Mills — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:11:31 +0000

This Saturday at Record Bar in Westport, MC Les Izmore and D/Will, The Record Machine’s Soft Reeds, Diverse Jazz Trio and Greg Enemy should pack the house with their all-local lineup. Each of these acts have their own built-in fanbases ranging from indie rock to hip hop and jazz. The featured performance, Izmore, D/Will and Diverse, should be the real catch here for any local music lover. I saw them at Middle of the Map Fest last month at the Riot Room wherein something purely magical happened on stage. Diverse Trio’s piercing trumpet sounds, upright bass and shimmering drum play grouped with D/Will’s beats and Izmore’s raw, unrelenting flow made for probably the best moment that I saw at the whole fest. We’re not sure if these guys have been rehearsing for this show, but if they have in fact been practicing, you might just walk away from Record Bar on Saturday night with a real lesson in live music performance.

RSVP HERE

VIDEO: Miles Bonny x B. Lewis – “Bottom To Top”

Chris Mills — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:38:54 +0000

We featured this project some weeks ago, HERE. But you can preview and cop the full Egg Black EP on iTunes NOW.

PREVIEW: Dat Jam Vol. 2 @ The Bottleneck in LK [05.18.12]

Chris Mills — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:50:45 +0000

The second edition of the Dat Gang events will probably be one of the more accurate representations of KC/LK hip hop that The Bottleneck, or any venue in Lawrence, has seen in quite a while. All the Datura Records affiliates listed on this flyer are more than capable of wrecking a live show. But if we had to pick three names on this flyer that we would encourage you to check out specifically, they would be:

1. The Skeptics – This sizable group of young MCs from Top-City aka Topeka, KS known as The Skeptics are a breath of fresh air, and keep us on the edge of our blogging seat in anticipation for not only what they’ll drop next but who the next talented artists will be to peek their heads out of The Top. Download their fantastic “1990Now” Mixtape with Johnny Quest, RIGHT HERE.

2. ID (of Archetype) – You already know how great Archetype’s final album was, released just a couple of months ago. As the rapping, one-half of Lawrence’s adored hip hop group, Archetype, it’s quite rare to catch ID doing a live show anywhere anymore. This will be a treat for any of the hip hop faithful residing West of State Line.

3. Bear Club – The multi-dimensional tribe called Bear Club have their hands in a lot of things right now with Tom Richman and Morri$’ trap beats causing beat makers across the country and overseas to drop what they’re doing and take note. But for this slot, we’re not sure whether to expect a performance from Ebony Tusks, Strider or some off-kilter remixes from the Bear Club selectors. Maybe all of the aforementioned? If that’s the case, the Bottleneck will be gushing swag on Friday night.

NEW: The Popper Shouts Out Demencha on “I Got All Slaps”

Chris Mills — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:05:59 +0000

It’s not everyday that one of the KC rap scene’s true veterans (pun intended) shouts your magazine/blog out in a chorus from one of the songs on his latest album. Enter former Veteran Click member, and current KC Landmarks head-honcho, The Popper (aka Walt-Lee, Popperfield, Dun Deala, etc.). Remaining one of the nicest rappers in our city over the past decade (or two?), Popperfield shows no signs of slowing down and has amassed a very strong following. He pretty much packed out Czar on Grand this past Wednesday, no small feat for anyone donning a KC fitted crown. Now that I think about it, I’m reminded of a previous line that Popper spit once upon a time that went, “If I say yo name in my raps that means I fucks with you.” Locals can grab The Popper’s Time To Talk About Somethin’ album, produced entirely by DJ Dub with Fireman holding down some hooks, at 7th Heaven (7621 Troost). Non-locals can get it on iTunes very soon. We at Demencha are proud to have a mention on “I Got All Slaps”.

“You’re only dope as your last releases/ Demencha Mag say I paint pictures into masterpieces” – The Popper, 2012

D/L: Ludacris – “Georgia” [BUSTED by heRobust]

Chris Mills — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:25:52 +0000

Atlanta’s heRobust has been dishing out some really, really amazing beats lately. But expect that dishing to turn into nothing short of an all-out assault on the global beat game very soon with surely enough material to keep us all enthralled for the rest of the year and beyond. His latest “BUST” reps his state to the fullest, taking on Ludacris’ Ray Charles-referenced, “Georgia”, and twisting it into a glitch-hop inferno. Look out for his upcoming duo project with Kansas City’s own beat maker extraordinaire, Leonard DStroy, under the guise “Supachip”.

Hit previous entries we’ve completed regarding heRobust HERE.
Hit his official website HERE.

PREVIEW: Big K.R.I.T. @ The Granada in LK [07.16.12]

Chris Mills — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:47:34 +0000

Mississippi’s favorite (perhaps after David Banner), Big K.R.I.T., pretty much destroyed Crossroads KC at the Section 8 Concert last summer. His new album, “4 Eva N A Day”, is chalk-full of the country-tinged floaters and Southern-fried bangers that we’ve become accustomed to. As one of the new faces of Southern rap, K.R.I.T.’s down-to-earth, earnest music backed by a lot of his own production tend to make us think of him as a Pete Rock type, only nestled beneath the old Mason Dixon and more relevant in 2012. Rocking with K.R.I.T. while he lights up the Granada in Lawrence as part of his “Live From The Underground Tour” on July 16th is highly recommended for any hip hop head.

PREVIEW: KC Psychfest in Downtown KCK [May 18th, 19th & 20th]

Sam — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:55:22 +0000

The first ever KC Psychfest is fast approaching, and just what have you done recently to prepare for such a festive and wonderful occasion? Hopefully you’ve been reading up on the local gems that’ll be taking to the stage(s) at FOKL in scenic downtown Kansas City, Kansas next weekend. Maybe you’ve already got your tickets and have all your plans concretely arranged. At the very least you’ve got to be excited. Click HERE for an exclusive interview I conducted with one of the festival’s organizers, Dedric Moore of Monta At Odds, back in March. There will be a veritable cornucopia of ethereal and groove bending moments in the intimate space at FOKL, multimedia goodies galore, and a lineup that showcases the best that KC’s got to offer in the psychedelic realm…

For curious minds and meticulous planners, here’s the set schedule. Sure, I could write a little blurb for every act, but you probably wouldn’t read all of that, so why not let the music speak for itself. Follow the links for bandcamps and myspaces, I’ve included videos and soundcloud players for as many acts as possible. Consider this a Costco taste test. Just enough of the acts to whet your appetite and make you want to buy a whole box of pre-marinated chicken breast.

Friday, May 18th
Ego Stage:
7pm – Thee Devotion

8pm – Discoverer

9pm – Restless Breed

10pm – Box The Compass

11pm – Monta At Odds

12am – Metatone

1am – Mr. Marco’s V7

Id Stage:

7:30 – Twofaced

8:30 – Jorge Arana Trio

9:30 – Yam

10:30 Sounding The Deep

11:30 South Bitch Diet

12:30 CVLTS

Saturday, May 19th
Ego stage:

8pm – Import/Export (Sterling Holman & John Bersuch)

9pm – Goodwillies

10pm – The Conquerors

11pm – Gemini Revolution

12am – Be/Non

1am – Kevin Harris

Id Stage:

7:30pm – CS Luxem

8:30 – Carnal Torpor

9:30pm – Plante

10:30pm – Karma Vision

11:30pm - Expo 70

12:30 Vor Onus

http://snd.sc/J8m3iZ

Sunday, May 20th

8:15pm – Yuo (Jeremiah James of Be/Non)

9pm – Scammers

9:30pm – Surroundher

10pm – Umberto

11pm – Dylan Ettinger

So what do you think? Enough local talent for you? Make sure to bring your space shoes, as the atmospheric flow may make it hard to stay on the ground.

Snag your tickets from FOKL. Single Day Pass goes for $11.00, a Sunday Pass for $8.00, and a full weekend pass for the screaming deal of $21.00.

Sunday Soundcloud Scoop #13

Chris Mills — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:59:26 +0000

SSS is now a teenager. Click HERE for previous SSS entries.

Saturday Showcase #6

Sam — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Another Saturday, another slew of wonderful findings from the preceding week.

Passion Pit – “Take a Walk”

Passion Pit’s first single in a long freaking time. If you’ve been mission falsetto pop with a knock for finding hidden grooves and glowing hooks you’ll be glad to hear ”Take a Walk” and even happier to hear that Passion Pit’s even going to tour again. The sun seems brighter already.

Animal Collective – “Honeycomb” & “Gotham”

Hipsters of the world unite, there is new Animal Collective to be absorbed. Someone find an obscure basement to enjoy it in. I would tell you more about it, but that would be uncool. It’s Animal Collective, so you should know what to expect- and if you don’t know what to expect, you probably won’t like it anyway.

Childish Gambino ft. Flynt Flossy & Young Humma – “Fuck Your Blog”
http://www.sharebeast.com/qaztkqfho8ph
Your weekly fix of Childish, accompanied by Flossy and Humma. Is it funny or is it stupid? You decide. Also, fuck your blog.

Mixtape: The Hood Internet – The Mixtape Vol. Six

The Hood Internet is one of the best masher-upers around. Don’t believe me? Listen to Vol. Six and then lets talk.

Ab-Soul ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Illuminate”

Soul-o and K-Dot together on another track. And it’s always so damn good. I really hope these two keep teaming up. If tracks like illuminate are the normal result the two need to make a regular thing of this team-up.

Swizz Beats ft. A$AP Rocky – “Street Knock”

Plenty of hard shit in this track. The stuttering grappling beats of Swizz are perfect for A$AP and the track comes of hot as shit. It must be the week of dope ass duos or something.

Azealia Banks – “Jumanji”

So far, Azealia banks has been everything that I wished Nicki Minaj was gonna be. For Nicki, it’s been a bit downhill since she spat fire on “Monster”, but Azealia seems destined for the stars. She’s got a ridiculous voice and spits like she doesn’t give a fuck. This track almost has a Sleigh Bells feel to it. Sleigh Bells Azealia Banks collabo anyone? Somebody get on that.