Sam Rubik‘s second part to his two-part “Many Smiles”/”HURT U” video release series is here, one week later, as promised. The Texas born and bred artist teams up with his label mate Dijon SAMO for this track, keeping the artistry in the family. Nouveau Riche Records (an imprint of URNR.TV) is getting ready to release the deluxe edition of Sam Rubik‘s Survival Tactics through the label on iTunes and Spotify by Christmas 2013. So be on the lookout for that. Rubik and his label are currently working to “…unite artists from Texas to create a scene familiar to the Swisha House era”.

In fact, keeping his creation “at home” has been a staple of Rubik‘s work thus far. His first tape, Life Without Commercials, was almost entirely produced by his Texas padna Beautiful Lou (who has garnered a huge amount of success working with Lil B, Kitty Pryde, and A$AP Rocky). And in the same vein, Rubik keeps this work close to his heart, and close to his fans.

Dijon‘s instrumental doesn’t necessarily scream “Many Smiles”, and to be honest, it’s hard to say that it could induce “any smiles,” even. But that’s meant in the best possible way. Inspiring minute movements only at the corners of the mouth, this instrumental coerces choral vocals to weep organic strings into and out of muted states of existence. With Dijon‘s steady cymbals washing over the entirety of his instrumental, listeners are treated to an experience defined by a trampling solemnity. Reflective in its tonality and energizing in its tempered pace, Dijon‘s instrumental lays thoughtful groundwork for Rubik‘s hopeful musings.

Rubik takes his time on this track, allowing an extended intro to build before imposing himself on the track. His drawl relaxing around the initial moments of the track, he takes a soft grip around the noose wrapped by the instrumental. This makes his moments of toothy heaves more vengeful, and his moments of melodic swooning all the more stirring. Constantly contradicting himself throughout the track, he uses this torn motion as a method of exploration. His imagery revolves around the split between the motivated and the interrupted, the gratified and the struggling, the thoughtful and the muted. His ability to carve out a clear character from a place of contradictions and opposing forces is impressive, and maybe even shrouded until after a few listens. So go through it a few times. You’ll enjoy it: this is one of the most literate pieces of music that you’ll have heard in a very long time.

And in case you missed last week’s premier of “HURT U”, featuring Western Tink, check it out right here.

The post Video Premiere: Sam Rubik – “MANY SMILES” (prod. by Dijon Samo) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Sam Rubik calls up Western Tink for “HURT U”, produced by Lytesho!, off of his tape Survival Tactics, released by CUTTINGPRACTICE.COM back in late May. In this video, the two Texas representatives spend their time engulfed by a piercing darkness, interrupted only by blistering expulsions of light from unfathomable distances. Rubik‘s seven-track EP follows his work through a host of dedicated attempts at various sub-genres and textures in rap. “HURT U” is an example of his experiment into the psychoactive fluctuations that can rattle and broadside an audience, instilling a sense of unease into his work.

Lytesho!‘s instrumental ties quivering ropes around this piece, loosely and slowly twisting together a funereal procession. Organs whimper a raspy solvent throughout the piece, slowly wearing away at the edges of the instrumental. Pushing this decay further, Lyte! includes a rolling synth to round the brim of the instrumental to a critical curve. But he does give listeners moments of release. A distant crack, a silenced cymbal and a kick drum provide instances of unwavering relief. These are the only sounds whose presence is restricted; all others shift around, masticating one another, and bristling against the others. Together, these elements play into a disorienting trounce around an ever-deepening pit of static discomfort.

Props to Sam Rubik and Western Tink for deciding to go all in on such an intimidating sound. Very few artists have the dexterity to stare this instrumental down, commanding it into place. Resting atop drum fluctuations, Rubik cracks bars on riding dirty with the 90s swag, disregarding scripted scenarios, and trusting yourself. With a hint of empowering words for his listeners, he focuses on his personal journey to rap’s center stage. And what the fuck is a chorus? Tink has no concerns, heading in face first, speaking on stepping outside of the norm, feeling comfortable at all times, gettin’ it to finessin’ it, and being buried a legend. Following Rubik‘s lead, Tink presents himself as a man unhinged and unafraid. Together, with Sam Rubik at the helm, these lyricists reach new depths of sound experimentation, empowering themselves to grow as artists, and their fans to grow as individuals.

GET HURT :

This video is the first part of a two-part video series, with the second video dropping next week. So sit back and wait for what’s next from Sam Rubik and you’ll finally tie this carefully loosened knot together.

The post Video Premiere : Sam Rubik ft. Western Tink – “HURT U” (prod. Lytesho!) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.