Photo by @DerekBalarezo_

Every year, like clock work, Hip-Hop publication XXL puts out a “next to blow” cover of sorts called, “The Freshman List” where they look to predict the who’s who of the next crop of talent. While the list started off as a staple, anointing future stars like Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Mac Miller and more; recently it’s made more news for who’s been left off, rather than who’s on the cover. This year a host of rappers were snubbed, namely J.I.D., Smino and Shaqisdope, in my opinion. But one artist I’m almost certain we’ll be having this conversation for either next year, or the year after–is Chelsea, Manhattan native YL. After dropping one of the year’s best and most underrated projects in, Open 24, the 20-year-old is back with the visual for the cut, “Heat Wave.”

Keeping it short and sweet with a length of just under two minutes, YL demonstrates his understanding of the microwave like attention spans of our current generation, the “Cinnamon” rapper keeps it smooth and mellow, playing the piano keys in what appears to be his room while casually reciting back the intricate bars coming from the track. With a keen eye for distinct angles and potent camera shots, the camp handled the video in house and though it was short, created an appeasing visual to match the equally easy-to-enjoy song.

Check out the video for, “Heat Wave” below and be sure to keep an eye out for more visuals from, Open 24

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The post #PeepTheVisual: YL – “Heatwave” [VIDEO] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo by @DerekBalarezo_

I said Manhattan keep on making it, Brooklyn keep on taking it.

– Boogie Down Productions, “The Bridge is Over“

When it comes to Hip-Hop, traditionally, New York City has had this on lock. While many states and cities can boast all types of stars hailing from their respective areas, no place has them all piled up like NYC. Now, that may be due to it’s size, as they are spread across five boroughs: Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan, but facts are still facts, B. All have their designated torch bearers. Queens boasts Mobb Deep & Nas, the Bronx claims KRS-One, Staten has Wu-Tang and Brooklyn has… well everybody. Manhattan, on the other hand, is home to probably the flyest rappers to come out of NYC. Cultural icons like Cam’Ron & Mase call Harlem their home, while the late Big L is considered to be one of the finest lyracists of all time, despite having only one album released at the time of his death. Even now, A$AP Rocky, Ferg and their crew have revitilized the whole Uptown scene, while Bodega Bamz has his TanBoys crew at the center of a Hispanic Hip-Hop revolution in the Spanish Harlem area. But that’s Uptown. What about those who live downtown? Who is their hometown hero? If Chelsea native YL has anything to say about it, he’ll be that guy, & judging by his debut project, Open 24, that time may come sooner than later.

I first came across Y while browsing Instagram and killing time. Being a longtime Pro Era fan – okay I was a “Stan” at one point, f*ck it – I follow a few different, Beast Coast related pages, one of which often posted new, similar music from the NY area. Passing by their post on my feed, I quickly stopped and watched the accompanied clip. What drew my attention was the melancholy vibe of the not only the track, but the video. YL’s icey and almost lazy demeanor meshed chillingly with the snowy visuals that came along with it. I was hooked. This video was, “Side Effect” a lowkey, yet lyrically dense song that served as the first single for his upcoming project. When the project, Open 24 came out just a few days later, I immediately tapped in.  At first listen, the tape sounds like it was found in a Nas, illmatic lunchbox-time-capsule from the mid-90’s. YL’s silky smooth cadence and old-soul lyrics are accompanied by Roper William’s dusty, yet polished production that would make even the late J. Dilla wince his face. Throughout the 13-track tape, Y bares all and spares nothing. Pieces like, “Dwele Song” highlight his intricate wordplay and ability to keep on topic. During the track, Y tells a familiar story of a young man realizing his successes but missing how it’s affecting those around him, especially his woman. It’s the kind of track that hits you emotionally when you really listen to the lyrics, but on the surface seems like the perfect chill song. Among all of YL’s many qualities, I believe the ability to feed the backpackers while also sounding melodical enough to grab mainstream listeners will be what propels Y to reaching a bigger audience.

Photo by @DerekBalarezo_

But then again, this is Hip-Hop, and melodic or not, you have to spit, and that’s what YL is best at. Despite “Dwele Song” being a personal favorite, the tracks that highlight who YL is as an artist have to be, “2 Doors Down”, an ode to being the worst – or best, depending on your perspective – neighbor in the world, and “Cinnamon”, a scathing tell all that showcases YL in his most comfortable zone; effortlessly ripping off lines one after another to the tune of a looped sample that sounds like it was from the goonies. It’s raw, it’s fresh and it’s something that’s missing in Hip-Hop right now.

When speaking on the 20-year-old, it’s also what his manager, Waqas Ghani, aka “GIANI“, says attracted him to the young emcee:

“The talent and ambition. He has his own style and vision, and despite what’s “hot” now, he stays true to the art he wants to showcase, you know? I played his tracks for a few artists I know in the industry, and they all fucked with the sound and cosigned him. So, I know it’s the right thing to do.”

Speaking more on YL, GIANI continued:

“This dude is a workaholic — always doing something music related. If he’s not creating his own beats, he’s either recording or making mixes for others. Usually it’s as simple as letting the beat play out, and writing to it for about 20 minutes. Smoke one up, lay down the verse then listen to it over and over. Sit on it for a day or so, then add the finishing touches. Then repeat the process all over again for the next track.”

With that being said, if you still aren’t convinced that the Chelsea native is a force to be reckoned with, check out our interview with him below where we talk about his begginings as an artist, connecting with Pro Era and more.

Photo by @DerekBalarezo_

RESPECT. Magazine: Where are you from, exactly?

YL: Born & raised in Chelsea NYC. Shouts to 8th Ave.

RESPECT.: What made you fall in love with music?

YL: I really can’t say it was one artist or a specific moment, it’s just one of those things that’s always been around. I guess I could blame my love for music on the car rides I had with my father and grandparents growing up. Just listening to the radio.

RESPECT.: What made you fall in love with Hip-Hop?

YL: Hip hop specifically was something I got into really early in my life. I grew up in the era of music video countdowns (MTV, VH1, BET) and the beginning of Limewire. I have an older brother and we would watch those shows religiously and were just fascinated by the all the different characters and sounds. My brother definitely put me on to a lot of classic material while I was still super young, which looking back is sort of crazy. I was like 11-12 listening to illmatic and Ready To Die. We would even make our own compilation mixtapes on blank CDs with songs we were fuckin with at the moment.

RESPECT.: Your style is very nostalgic, and has a “Golden Era” feel to it. Who are some of your biggest inpirations? 

YL: Definitely cats like Nas, Ghost, AZ, MF Doom, Raekwon. I could really go on and on, but I’m a lyrics guy, and I just like listening to really good raps. I like listening to shit that makes me wanna write. Of course i draw inspiration from other sources too like great film, photos, life experiences blah blah. I started making music in my senior year of high school. One of closest homies, Rob, had read some “poetry” I wrote in my iPhone notes and he called me the same night and made me recite it over the phone to him and my man Mid. Obviously it was wack but after the phone call he just told me to keep writing and he would send me like Flying Lotus and Black Milk beat tapes. I would record everything I wrote at Mid’s crib in Astoria. Those are my earliest memories recording music. Crazy.

RESPECT.: What’s one time you wanted to quit, but kept going? What kept pushing you?

YL: I don’t know. I get that feeling every so often. You know you see someone else success and wonder what they’re doing that you’re not. I think it’s better to answer those questions and use that information than to hate for no reason. I just remind myself that I’m trying to do something that’s different from whats popular right now. Everyones come up is unique.

RESPECT.: What type of career are you looking to have? Are you looking to be a superstar and make as much money as possible, or is artistic immortality more or less something you’re looking to obtain?

YL: Above all, I just want a long career. I’m absolutely in it for the love first but I need my paper too. As long as I feel like I’m contributing to the culture and not sacrificing my artistic integrity, I’m happy.

Photo by GIANI

He kind of just woke me up with a call one morning like “Yo I’m bringing Dirty over to your crib wake up.”

– YL

RESPECT.: If not rap, what would you be doing?

YL: Damn. I can’t even call it because I still live a very regular life in my eyes. Probably finish my last 2 years of college and figure out the rest there. I never really think about it to be honest.

RESPECT.: What’s your take on the current state of Hip-Hop?

YL: I think there’s a lot of good talent in the game right now. Some getting more shine than others but if you look for it you’ll find it. If I have to critique I would just want to see less biting. Being inspired is cool but I don’t understand how you can deadass mimic the same shit someone else does, put it out and feel comfortable with it. Thats corny.

RESPECT.: Talk about growing up in NYC. How is it different, inspiration wise, from somebody who grew up down south or out west?

YL: I can’t give a fair comparison to south or west because I didn’t grow up there but from my experience as a New Yorker, I feel like you just see a lot very fast and very early. And I’m not even talking necessarily bad things, I just mean diversity. Everyones neighborhood is different. You could have like 2 friends and 1 lives in Harlem and the other lives in Soho, you already get to see 2 sides of life. The fact that it’s so easy to get around in NY I feel plays a role in why its so easy to have so many unique experiences and people.

Photo by @DerekBalarezo_

RESPECT.: How did you connect with Roper Williams?

YL: I’ve known them boys for a while. One of them went to high school with me and thats how we connected initially. Around the time I had just started hearing their beats, and I just started to record, so some of my very first tracks were on Roper Williams beats. After I graduated high school I kept in touch and they would still send me beats and I would go to Jersey and check them. About 3 years ago we just decided we need to do a project together and thats how Open 24 came about.

RESPECT.: At what point did you realize, “Hey, maybe I can make a living off of this?”

YL: That’s tough. Ever since I started making music I always felt like it was for me and that I really could do it, but I’d say after I clicked up with GIANI I started to see some new results with my music and the people I was meeting.

RESPECT.: Speaking of GIANI, Talk about connecting with him. How did that happen?

YL: I’ve actually known GIANI since I was in grade school but he’s a little older than me so we never really chilled like that growing up. As I got older we got cooler with one another and he used to sell me weed low key. He would offer me advice on what do with my music and how to move forward but maybe about 2 years ago I made him my manager officially. We been moving ever since.

Photo by @DerekBalarezo_

Being inspired is cool but I don’t understand how you can deadass mimic the same shit someone else does, put it out and feel comfortable with it. Thats corny.

– YL

RESPECT.: Were you a Pro Era fan before working with Dirty Sanchez? How did that collaboration come about?

YL: Yea I was already aware of them and was bumping their stuff before I actually met Dirty. That really came about through GIANI. He kind of just woke me up with a call one morning like “Yo I’m bringing Dirty over to your crib wake up.” We actually made “Tres.Passing” that same day. From there we just stayed cool.

RESPECT.: What’s your take on the current state of affairs in America?

YL: I can’t even front like I’m super on top of all the politics that go on like that. I think were living through some very interesting times that hopefully end in a positive outcome.

Check out, Open 24, here and stop sleeping on The Kid.

The post Manhattan’s Own: YL Talks ‘Open 24’, Humble Beginnings, New Music + More. appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

We’re only two months in, and 2017 has already been one wild ride. After falling in love with Migos and their impressive album Culture, America unfairly cooled off on the trio due to some not so PC comments. We saw The Weeknd start dating Selena Gomez and Ether Justin Bieber. More recently, we were all witnesses to Remy Ma putting Nicki Minaj on life support, and well Donald Trump is exactly who we thought he was — which is a scary thought. Still, the music has been amazing so far. The aforementioned Migos project made me consider ditching the fries with my 2 piece chicken wing dish. Future is on his way to becoming the first ARTIST. EVER. to have two different number one albums on the Billboard 200 in consecutive weeks. Mix those in with solid projects from artists like Taylor Bennett, SiR, Big Sean and Syd and you’ve got a solid year. But in reality, does all of that really matter when Jay-Z and Beyonce dropped a catchy, yet FIRE new single where Jigga comes for Drake? I’ll let you answer that question. But in the mean time check out these 5 hot songs that I’m sure you’ve been snoozing on.

KiariTheStone – “Smile”

Las Vegas native KiariTheStone has been making waves lately. After releasing a string of solid singles, and headlining a show on the Vegas Strip, the Sin City product trades in the gun talk for a little bit of self evaluation on the smooth track, “Smile“. Produced by Ish Him$elf along with live trumpet assistance from Fendi $ean, Kiari takes on the topic of addiction. “I’m such a stoner, I can’t quit smoking/ but I don’t wanna/ but I couldn’t even if I wanted,” raps Stone over the smooth horns from $ean. They say the first step to kicking an addiction is admittance. In other words, coming clean about your problem is the key to unlocking the journey to rehabilitation. That’s all good and what not, but what if quitting isn’t in the plans? What if what one person perceives to be a weakness is something that you view as a strength? You’re either shockingly self aware, or incredibly naive in that situation; only time will tell. Check out the track below.

Tommy Paris – “Boys Who”

When you think of the Bay Area, and Nor Cal in general, what are some of the first cities to come to mind? Oakland? San Francisco? Hell, you might even throw Modesto in there just to pay homage to an underrated Ice Cube movie — don’t argue with me. One place that might not rush to mind is Salinas, California. Salinas native Tommy Paris looks to change that and he might be on his way to doing that with the banging single, “Boys Who“. Produced by buzzing beat maker Foe 5, “Boys Who” sounds like an ode to Travis Scott made in the year 2034. Paris laces the futuristic Foe 5 instrumental with an infectious flow dripped in creative wordplay. “I ain’t bilingual/ but I speak euros, that yen and that peso,” raps the Nor Cal native in a blistering opening verse. Check out, “Boys Who” below and be sure to keep an eye on Tommy Paris.

Jimi Tents – “Should’ve Called Pt. 2 (Feat. saidbysed)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again until every single one of you open your stubborn ears: Jimi Tents has next. After a relatively quiet 2016 release wise — I say “release” because the man opened for Justin Bieber and ripped a mini-tour with Amir Obe and Eli Sostre — the Brooklyn boy releases “Should’ve Called Pt. 2”, a follow up to the fan favorite from his 2015 debut project, 5 O’Clock Shadow. Utilizing a contagious hook from Sleepercamp counterpart saidbysed, Tents fills the beat like a perfectly fit glove. The most impressive part about Tents’ flow is his ability to seamlessly switch from rapping completely on beat to melody driven vocals on the drop of a dime, all while staying in pocket with each bar, leaving no drum kick untouched. Check out the track below and get familiar with Tents and his 2015 debut.

YL. – “Dwele Song (Feat. Mello)”

When it comes to love songs, Dwele is one of the greatest. I mean, the man made a song where he completely fools you into thinking he’s cheating on his girl while the whole time it’s just her freak-in-the-sheets alter ego — no seriously, look. So to title your track, “Dwele Song” takes a certain confidence in knowing that your sh*t is just that nice. Luckily for us, rhymespitter YL. not only has the confidence, but the ability to back it up. The homegrown New Yorker takes on the topic of break up to make up in this tale of infidelity and remorse over the smooth Roper Williams beat. You can almost visualize the distressing remorse on Y’s face as he raps, “They say it never really hurts like your first one/ I did some did some dirt but, for what it’s worth/ I still have the picture of you pulling up your skirt/ and mental image with you naked on my shirt.” The track comes off of the wildly impressive new project from YL., which showcases a rapper ready to take New York over. Check out the track below, and the tape here. Don’t sleep on the Big Apple product, join the bandwagon now.

J.I.D. – “Never”

The music industry is a strange place. It’s a tough business that prides itself on it’s unpredictability and it’s chameleon like ability to always reinvent itself. Stars are made overnight and a lot of times come completely out of nowhere. But sometimes, just sometimes, you can see the writing on the wall. With Dreamville’s newest signee, J.I.D., the wall is completely vandalized. Though his ferocious single, “Never” is under 300K plays though being released a year ago, the Atlanta native is poised to make a huge splash on the rap game. “Never” starts off as a smooth, banging track that sees J.I.D. looking back on his shortcoming growing up; using a choppy on point cadence. At around the two-minute mark, the tranquil instrumental transitions to a searing, breakneck pace that allows J.I.D. to get all the way loose. “Okay, what you call a girl who don’t suck d*ck? You don’t,” raps the Southern native as he kicks off the second half of the track. If you listen closely, you can already hearing J. Cole lacing the first half with a self reflecting 32 about being biracial… No? Okay. Check out, “Never” below and see why J.I.D. was Dreamville’s first Atlanta signee.

There you have it! Let us know how we did, did we get it right? Are we still sleeping on your favorite local artist? Let us know in the comment section below!

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The post With All Due RESPECT.: 5 Songs You’ve Been Sleeping On (2/27) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“Real Hip-Hop is dead! These dudes don’t spit bars anymore!” is the corniest, yet most often used phrase among the more “enlightened” fans of the culture. Hell, up until about a year ago, I was the leader of the, “Migos killed Hip-Hop!!” faction, but we live and we learn — now no drunk night is complete without a full blown, “Kelly Price” cover from the squad. Luckily, self proclaimed rap purists like myself are starting to come around and appreciate the fun, and at times very positive, new music that the younger crowd is beginning to cook up. WITH THAT BEING SAID… Who doesn’t love bars? Especially when they’re perfectly layered over a dusty set of drums and obscure samples. If that’s your style — and it should be — then New York City native YL and his new project, Open 24 is exactly what’s missing from your library.

Produced entirely by in-house producer Roper Williams, Open 24 showcases YL’s ability to spit over nostalgic boom bap beats, while also keeping it refreshing with original cadences and rhyme schemes. At 13 tracks long, the tape boasts features from frequent collaborators, Starker and Mid, while also seeing YL connect with songstress Mello and Pro Era hotspitter Dirty Sanchez. Standout tracks from the tape include, “2 Doors Down” — an ode to danky neighbors nationwide — “Side Effects” and “Sound Reasons” which features Starker doing his best Lloyd Banks impression while YL paints a vivid picture of his future with the line, “I’m old school like Adidas with the thick laces/ and almost famous like Penny Lane, it’s all happening” which, if I’m correct, will be a chilling prophecy in a few months when Y busts through the industry doors Timbs first. The song that showcases his potential the most, though, is the Mello assisted, “Dwele Song”. Rhyming over Williams’ spot on Dwele-like production, YL lets it all out on the table, diving into relationship issues stemming from infidelity. Not fully grasping the weight of his transgressions, Y takes the stance of “I can’t believe you’d just leave me, you’d know I’d never just bounce on you.” followed by Mello coming in with show stopping 30 secs in which she explains EXACTLY why she’s had enough, making for a brutally honest, yet relatable track.

Check out the project below — or download it here for free — and be sure to keep an eye on the NYC native.

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The post RESPECT. The Tape: YL – ‘Open 24’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.