Photo by Mr. Pacheco for Cuchara Films

The Massachusetts-based duo of DJ Manipulator and Louie Gonz return with the striking visuals for “Forward,” an emotionally gripping and soulful cut off their notable joint project, The Loops.

Backed by Manipulator’s meditative instrumental, Gonz puts his knack for braggadocio aside and focuses on everything that’s been trying to pull him down over the years. From the naysayers to liquor to the devil himself, there’s been plenty of negativity swarming the rapper’s brain. And it’s all brought to life in this beautifully shot video which they both had a hand in directing.

The visuals place the emotional weight of “Forward” to brilliant use by utilizing fetching grayscale effects in addition to slick editing techniques. Nearly every element of Gonz’s rhymes is featured here, whether it’s the bottle he can’t seem to put down, or the family that means so much to him. Speaking of, this video is dedicated to the memory of the emcee’s late father, Luis A. Gonzalez Sr., who’s honored in the closing credits.

Check out the visuals for “Forward” and be sure the keep The Loops in steady rotation. Head over to the digital retailer of your choice to stream or download the 12 track project which is available via Music Is My Message / Speak Up Ent. And for those in the New England area, the duo will be performing at the Worcester Palladium this Friday at part of The 508 Tour with Joyner Lucas. Click here to cop your tix!

Stream/Download (Smart URL): http://smarturl.it/TheLoops

Twitter:
• DJ Manipulator: https://twitter.com/dustymanip
• Louie Gonz: https://twitter.com/LouieGonzSS

DJ Manipulator Online:
• Website: http://www.musicismymessage.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dustymanip
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dustymanip
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustymanip
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj-manipulator

Louie Gonz Online:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouieGonzSS
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louiegonz
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/louiegonz

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The post #PeepTheVisual: DJ Manipulator & Louie Gonz – “Forward” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo by Mr. Pacheco for Cuchara Films 

The Loops is raw and dusty Hip-Hop served straight-up with no frills or pretense from two Massachusetts natives—rapper/producer, Louie Gonz and producer/turntablist, DJ Manipulator—who have both been putting in work for years. It’s the type of record that would sound right at home alongside your favorite releases from the Alchemist, Oh No, or Roc Marciano, artists who know a thing or two about creating Hip-Hop in its grittiest form.

The album’s strengths are evident right out the gate on opener, “All Hail,” a menacing slapper driven by Manipulator’s crazy sample flips and Gonz’s no-bullsh*t bars. It sets the perfect tone for listening to The Loops straight through. But also because you’ll hear quotables worth scribbling down in your notepad, like “I feel like Nas in ‘96 with the half-moon” or “You messin’ with a heavyweight/ Betta get it straight/ Five seconds ‘til I detonate/ The whole entire buildin’, streets about to levitate.”

Of course, none of this comes as a surprise to fans of Manipulator and Gonz, who previously released Private Stock in 2014 and were once part of the crew Kinda Dusty. Although the group’s members went their separate ways, the two obviously kept in touch and continued working on music together.

“With this release, Louie and I want to reintroduce ourselves as a duo,” Manipulator explains. “It’s been awhile since our last effort and we’ve both grown musically. We’re at a point in our careers where we’re focused more then ever.”

That focus remains steady throughout the record, whether Gonz is attacking the mic solo or trading verses with like-minded emcees. Those guests include Blu on “This Sound” and William Hurtz on the closing track “Lean,” both instant standouts that stick with you once the album ends. And given its brief running time, don’t be surprised if you hit that repeat button—or, pardon the pun, keep it on a constant loop.

The Loops is now available via Bandcamp and all major digital outlets and streaming platforms, via Music Is My Message/Speak Up Ent.

Stream/Download (Smart URL): http://smarturl.it/TheLoops

DJ Manipulator Online:
• Website: http://www.musicismymessage.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dustymanip
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dustymanip
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustymanip
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj-manipulator

Louie Gonz:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouieGonzSS
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louiegonz
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/louiegonz

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DJ Manipulator Drops Off New Mix – ‘Jazz Is Everything’
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The post DJ Manipulator & Louie Gonz Have New Music On Deck – ‘The Loops’ (Album Stream/Video) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With his expertly crafted and all-vinyl new mix, Massachusetts-based deejay/producer DJ Manipulator shows love to the genre that birthed Hip-Hop as we know it. Jazz Is Everything is thirty music-packed minutes of Jazz cuts that later served as the inspiration (and backbone) of a bevy of classic rap joints.

From start to finish, Manip uses Jazz Is Everything to drive home the point that Jazz is indeed damn-near everything. That’s because all of the material on here have been sampled in one way or another (and often multiple times) to create the instrumentals of so many beloved songs. And those songs run the gamut from De La Soul’s “Stakes Is High,” to Method Man & Redman’s “Maaad Crew,” to Gang Starr’s “ALONGWAYTOGO.”

The end result is a wonderfully mixed tip of the hat to both the original artists (including Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Wonder) and the hip-hop legends who sampled them (including J Dilla, Pete Rock, and Clark Kent). It also helps to educate younger listeners just getting into Hip-Hop—and hopefully Jazz, too—and those older heads just looking for something smooth to listen to this weekend.

DJ Manipulator dropped his latest original music, the Conway-featured burner “2 Drums” this past fall. Expect more from the deejay/producer in the coming months, but until then, kick back with this funky free download, which is available for stream right here, courtesy of RESPECT.

Fan Gate (Free Download): http://hypeddit.com/track/sc/zxufuj

Tracklist: 
01. Intro/Ahmad Jamal – Swahililand (0:00)
02. Eddie Henderson – Inside You (1:19)
03. Idris Muhammad- Piece of Mind (2:30)
04. David Frost and Billy Taylor – Bright Star in the East (4:13)
05. Ramsey Lewis – Tambura/Scratch Interlude (6:00)
06. Jack Wilkins – Red Clay (6:53)
07. Stevie Wonder – How Can You Believe (8:39)
08. Laboratorium – Szalony Baca (9:42)
09. The Catalyst – The Demon Pt. 2 (12:10)
10. Kool and the Gang – North, East, South, West (13:20)
11. Quincy Jones – Snow Creatures (15:08)
12. David Matthews – Arrakis (16:38)
13. David Matthews – Sandworms (17:42)
14. Dreams – Dream Suite (18:55)
15. Unknown (19:48)
16. Kool and the Gang – Soul Vibrations (21:05)
17. Detroit 1984 – Swamp Fox (22:27)
18. Herbie Hancock – Stars In Your Eyes (23:34)
19. Bobbi Humphrey – Satin Doll (25:54)
20. Larry Clark – Sweet Dreamer (27:48)

DJ Manipulator Online:
• Website: http://www.musicismymessage.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dustymanip
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dustymanip
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustymanip
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj-manipulator

The post DJ Manipulator Drops Off New Mix – ‘Jazz Is Everything’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

SONY DSC

Massachusetts native DJ Manipulator made some noise this year after supplying D.I.T.C. with two bangers on their latest LP, D.I.T.C. Studios, and he’s continuing his winning streak this year with a grimy new single, “2 Drums,” featuring rugged New York spitter, Conway The Machine.

As the track’s title implies, there’s more to “2 Drums” than a single presentation of sounds. That’s because Manipulator switches up the beat halfway through, providing listeners with a double-dose of slappers that’s likely to snap some necks. And if they don’t, he can rely on Conway to take on the role of a bruiser and cause some grave damage to anyone frontin’: “I’m the ni**a who you gotta watch how you speak to/ Break ni**as’ jaws, through a straw he gotta eat soup.”

“2 Drums” is but a mere sampling of what Manipulator has in store for Hip-Hop heads in the next few months. That’s because the track serves as the first single off his forthcoming debut album, Stranger Than Paradise, which is set to drop in early ’17. Until then, you can keep “2 Drums” on repeat, but be careful: it may cause you to bare a permanent screw face.

“2 Drums” is now available through iTunes and all major digital retailers and streaming platforms, via Backcourt Records, and can be streamed right here in its entirety, courtesy of RESPECT.

Buy/Stream Links:
• iTunes: bit.ly/iTunes2Drums
• Bandcamp: bit.ly/Bandcamp2Drums
• Google Play: bit.ly/GooglePlay2Drums
• Spotify: bit.ly/Spotify2Drums

DJ Manipulator Online:
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dustymanip
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustymanip
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj-manipulator

Twitter:
• DJ Manipulator: https://twitter.com/dustymanip
• Conway The Machine: https://twitter.com/WHOISCONWAY

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The post RESPECT. The Collab: DJ Manipulator (feat. Conway) – “2 Drums” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.