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Louis Siciliano is Back With New EP

Louis Siciliano isn’t holding back with the song “Ancient Cosmic Truth,” the staple song of his new EP of the same title, but if you think his moxie is going to be isolated to this one track, you’re in for quite the surprise when listening to this incredible new record. So many of the crossover jazz/experimental works I’ve reviewed in 2023 have fallen back on retro themes as a means of bridging aesthetical gaps and appealing to a more chamber-minded generation, but that isn’t the case in Ancient Cosmic Truth.

Siciliano isn’t looking to take the route of his rivals in this work; he’s cutting away the throwback influences and getting to the core elements that make his approach such a profound point of interest no matter what kind of song he’s playing. There are many virtuosic instrumental components here, but there isn’t a sense of arrogance that would normally accompany a player with the kind of talent this man has – it’s just a performer beside his band doing the work of the divines, and potentially raising the profile of a frontman in Siciliano who needs to be getting a lot more attention than he ever has before.

“Translucent Dodecahedron” is probably my favorite track here as a man who loves the sax, and as adverse as I tend to be about wily rhythm tracks as eclectic as it is, this one that I couldn’t help but fall in love with the first time I listened to it over the past weekend.

 

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Siciliano isn’t just attacking the melody with his compositional strength; he’s putting soul into it with the chemistry he has with Brecker, Muselli, and Roman. “The Secret of Mansa” showcases a lot of the same punch that we hear in the other songs, but with a slightly avant-garde bottom-end, as if to give us a hint of what the artsy vibe can produce when it’s channeled towards a climax. My man has got so much presence in this record, and I’m very curious to hear how it plays out in person for myself.

There aren’t many who can rock the big rhythm he does in “The Secret of Mansa,” and I’m seriously jealous of those who got to see this firsthand in the studio.

Whether it be the ramshackle grooving of “Bambara’s Symmetries” or the elegance of the title track, you can be certain that Louis Siciliano has got something moving to present to you this autumn through his new EP Ancient Cosmic Truth.

He’s got a lot of buzz surrounding his career at the moment largely thanks to positive critical reception from the international jazz underground, but I don’t see where he couldn’t break out of the indie circuit for the mainstream so long as he continues to break off incredible content like Ancient Cosmic Truth. It’s a timeless kind of record and one that makes sure to leave a mark on anyone who listens to it, but especially those who consider themselves as much of an enthusiast of excellent, left-field jazz music.

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Sebastian Cole

 

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Artist Spotlight

“Yonkers” – Song by Tyler, the Creator

Tyler, the Creator

15 years ago, Tyler, the Creator released “Yonkers.” The song would go on to shape a generation of hip-hop fans and make him one of the most talked-about artists in modern music. Tyler’s work on “Yonkers,” which came out of the Los Angeles group Odd Future, was a brave mix of raw lyrics, dark humor, and simple production that made him stand out from other artists right away.

“Yonkers,” which is just over three minutes long, seems simple but has a big effect. The song’s production is based on a spooky bassline, simple piano chords, and simple drums. This puts Tyler’s voice and story front and center. His flow is slow and threatening, and it sends out a stream of verses that balance shock value with deep thoughts on themes like being alone, rebelling, and thinking about oneself. This song has a modern twist on the gritty, confrontational style of hip-hop that was popular in the early 2010s.

The music video for “Yonkers” became a cultural phenomenon all by itself. In the black-and-white video, Tyler looks straight into the camera while doing something that surprised both fans and critics. Tyler became known as an artist who isn’t afraid to push boundaries when the song’s raw lyrics and stark images quickly went viral. The video’s viral success brought Odd Future national attention and helped Tyler get more work, including his albums Goblin (2011) and Wolf (2013), which were both well-received by critics.

People who didn’t like “Yonkers” thought it was a new take on hip-hop. People in the genre often liked flashy production and collaborations, but Tyler’s solo song showed that minimalism can be just as interesting, if not more so, when it has strong lyrics. Young people who wanted realness and change connected with the song’s unapologetic tone, and its influence can still be heard in music today. Many contemporary artists assert that Tyler’s early compositions, particularly “Yonkers,” significantly influenced their lyrical writing and visual storytelling techniques.

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“Yonkers” was a big moment in Tyler, the Creator’s career. It was a bold statement from a single artist who wanted to change the rules of hip-hop, and it captured the spirit of early Odd Future, a group that thrived on chaos, creativity, and free expression. More than ten years later, the song is still a touchstone for fans and a turning point in the growth of alternative rap. Its creepy beat, controversial lyrics, and viral music video are still seen as examples of a time when hip-hop was pushing its limits and welcoming a new generation of voices that were willing to question the way things were.

“Yonkers” is a cultural artifact, a snapshot of the time that shaped Tyler, the Creator’s unique artistic style, and a reminder of how powerful bold, unapologetic music can be.

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Artist Spotlight

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie’s New Project “Before Artistry” Drops Friday, Teasing Fans with a New Snippet

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie

A Boogie wit da Hoodie, a rising rapper from New York, is set to release his highly anticipated project Before Artistry this Friday. Fans are going crazy over what will be another big step in his musical career. A Boogie is known for mixing melodic flows with deep lyrics. He has a reputation for making music that appeals to both mainstream audiences and hardcore hip-hop fans.

Along with the announcement, there is a short, exciting clip from the project that gives listeners a taste of what’s to come. We don’t know much about the tracklist yet, but the short preview shows off A Boogie’s signature style: smooth singing over catchy, hard-hitting beats. The snippet shows how well he can balance being emotionally open with telling stories in a confident, streetwise way, which is something he’s done in the past.

As soon as the snippet came out, fans took to social media to share their excitement and guess what kinds of collaborations might happen. A Boogie has worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop before, so fans are already making guesses about which artists might be on Before Artistry. It’s clear from the snippet that the rapper is still working on his sound. He mixes modern hip-hop styles with the melodic sensibilities that have defined his career since Artist 2.0 came out in 2020.

 

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Before Artistry is a turning point for A Boogie, who has steadily risen from his early days in Highbridge, the Bronx, to become one of New York’s most important voices in modern hip-hop. His past work, like Hoodie SZN and The Bigger Artist, has made him known for making records that do well on streaming services and in cultural conversation. Fans and critics alike are excited to see how he pushes his art even further with the release of Before Artistry.

Music industry experts say that A Boogie’s strategy of teasing short clips before a full project comes out has worked very well to build excitement. The clip that was shared this week shows that he knows how to keep fans interested by giving them just enough to get them excited without giving away the whole experience. This method has helped him keep a strong online presence, with streaming numbers often going up right after teaser releases.

Before Artistry’s release date is also in line with a trend in hip-hop where artists use short previews to get people excited in a time when streaming is very competitive. A Boogie makes sure that fans are ready and conversations are already happening on social media by releasing a short clip before the project.

As Friday gets closer, excitement for Before Artistry grows. A Boogie is ready to release another project that will solidify his status as a major voice in modern hip-hop, thanks to his track record and the promising snippet. Fans will be paying close attention to see how the rapper balances new ideas with the catchy melodies that have made him famous. They want to see the full range of his latest work.

Before Artistry comes out this Friday.

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