The post Noveliss (Clear Soul Forces) Announces New Album, Talks Detroit & More appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

This is the grit we all desire. The sound we miss. Or do we have to “miss” it if it’s available? Detroit is home base for some of hip-hop’s most notable names over the years and rather competitive for emcees like Nolan the Ninja. The oversaturated “now” sound coming out of Detroit and its surrounding areas, however, leaves a wide open lane for the true schoolers – away from the hype of the mainstream.

If you’re just now finding out about emcee/producer Nolan, good. It’s a breath a fresh air for the passionate hip-hop junkie. The amount of enthusiasm and passion is undeniably evident. Having released two records this year (Fuck the Hype and Lo-Fi Loops) and an appearance on DJ Soko‘s Domino Effect LP, it’s safe to say he had a great year on wax. Fuck the Hype, released under Left of Center, should be spun now if you have not done so yet. We’ve attached the full stream for you below, so splurge and purchase.

That’s enough out of us. Enjoy the new visual treatment and keep scrolling to check out our conversation with Nolan. Peace and love:

RESPECT. Magazine: Can you tell the world a little bit about Nolan the Ninja – for those who may just be discovering you today?

Nolan The Ninja: I’m a 23-year old emcee & producer from Detroit, Michigan.

RM: Over the years Detroit has been home of some of hip hop’s most notable artists. Who are some of your hometown favorites if you had to name a few?

NTN: Well, Elzhi is my favorite. I’d definitely love to collaborate with him in the future. Some of my other favorites include Clear Soul Forces, Red Pill, & Royce Da 5’9 just to name a few.

RM: If you could collaborate with one artist (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

NTN: It’s a tie between Nas & D’Angelo.

RM: Congratulations on the release of your latest Fuck the Hype album. It’s quite the body of work. Can you discuss the albums title a bit for us?

NTN: Essentially, it’s about understanding self. The title simply says, “Be yourself.” Fuck what else is going on because it doesn’t matter. Make the vibes that’s in your heart, you know? The organic shit is gonna last the longest, anyway. People are too stuck on fabricated trash. It’s to the point where people think that they have to be subjected to that certain standard of music to be accepted. It’s disgusting & I want to see change. Therefore, I’m acting as the change that I’d like to see.

RM: What should the world be expecting from Nolan the Ninja moving into 2016?

NTN: I’ll be going on a European tour with DJ Soko & Noveliss of Clear Soul Forces in a couple of months. I’m mad excited about that. My first official tour & my first official trip to Europe? Crazy. I also have an album releasing in the Spring on Fat Beats/Left Of Center. I’ll be doing some executive work on other LOC releases, as well. Other than that, who knows? This past year has been full of surprises so I’m excited to see what 2016 brings.

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Clear Soul Forces drop “Kaboom,” the newest single from their upcoming album, “Fab five.” “Kaboom,” which is produced by NAMELESS, finds the Detroit collective (L.A.Z., Noveliss, E-Fav, and Ilajide) in a cypher-like setting, pooling together aggressively sharp rhymes accompanied by emphatically heavy drums. In an attempt to shift the focus back to the Motor City, CSF is taking the organic route to the craft, placing lyricism and context above all. With “Fab 5ive” slated for a 4.28 release, (Fat Beats Records) “Kaboom” conceptually crafts the album’s direction and gives us a minor glimpse at just how impactful the project will be.

Download “Kaboom” On iTunes – HERE

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In many ways, “Continue” is representative of their recent album, Gold PP7‘s, as a whole. Rapping over the sounds of some of their favorite games, they stake their territory in their favorite genre. It’s easy to dismiss that territory as nerdy or “rappity rap,” but if you listen closely, you notice that it’s really just them being focused. And whether you like that focus or not, it allows them to do some interesting things with song structure, like going beyond the stale mix of 16 bars + chorus + 16 bars + chorus + bridge. Plus, the fact that they are doing these experiments with structure as a group is even more engaging. There are solo artists who can’t even conduct such experiments.

The post New Video: Clear Soul Forces – “Continue” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

It’s well-known that the members of Clear Soul Forces play a lot of video games. Their new album Gold PP7’s , which references Goldeneye, only proves this even further: it begins with the character select noise from Street Fighter 2!

But beyond their shared enthusiasm for video games, they have a shared enthusiasm for exemplary lyrics. It will take a few spins (and a purchase?) to really appreciate the depths of this album, but for now, sit back and stream it. In-group producer Ilajide has really stepped up his production skills so on your first run through just appreciate the soundscape. And keep in mind  E-fav‘s line from “Beats, Rhymes and Life.” “This sounds like hip-hop to me.”

The post Album Stream: Clear Soul Forces – Gold PP7’s appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo by Nina Lincoff/RESPECT.

Clear Soul Forces is back with another fresh visual for their upcoming album, Gold PP7s. Produced by in-house producer and emcee Ilajide, “Ain’t Playin” features the Detroit crew’s signature high-impact rhymes and crafty wordplay. What really stands out, however, is how seamlessly they execute transitions between verses. If you pay attention, you’ll notice that except for the final verse, the chorus starts with the person who previously rapped, who is joined by the person waiting in the queue for the next verse. It’s a minor detail, but it really helps move the song along without losing momentum and makes the verses cohere. DJ Khaled should take note. Watch below and peep the tracklist for Gold pp7s over at Okayplayer.

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Photo by Nina Lincoff

Clear Soul Forces has been on the grind since we interviewed them last year. In addition to touring, working on their next album and reaching over a million views for “Get No Better,” they’ve even collaborated with Idris Elba. Gearing up for Gold PP7’s, their sophomore album, “Detroit’s Next Crew” released the video “Beats, Rhymes and Life,” the album’s first single. Filmed on a dark Detroit night, the four artists light up the evening with colorful rhyme patterns and luminescent visuals. Watch below.

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