From the days when Aerosmith and Run DMC taught us how to walk to today’s hybrid groups such as Black-Eyed Peas and N.E.R.D, the combination of rock and hip-hop has always been a highly infectious match-up. With is self-titled debut, rapper Shwayze brings his own interpretation of this formula to the turntables, rolling alternative rock and hip-hop together like a tight blunt and leaving you chilled out on his old-school sound. Smooth tunes are the backdrop for Shwayze’s tales of the beaches and streets of his hometown of Malibu, California where the days are spent hanging out, partying, and smoking… weed.
Shwayze is not one, but a group of three. The group consists of lead emcee Shwayze and Cisco Adler, who is the son of Lou Adler and front man of the band Whitestarr. DJ Skeet Skeet rounds out the trio. The group formed after Adler watched Shwayze commandeer the stage at a venue where Whitestarr was playing. Shwayze delivered a nifty line about being “the only black kid in Malibu” as Whitestarr’s drummer backed him up on percussion. The crowd went wild. Shwayze and Adler started talking and began recording soon after. Shwayze brings smooth hip-hop rhymes while Adler provides his chilled out brand of alternative rock.
And their hometown serves as the locale and inspiration for their album. With his simple and sophisticated flow, Shwayze delivers the last cat-call of summer 2008, painting vivid word pictures of all the sights and sounds of the beach, streets, and parties of California. Adler lends his voice on each of the album’s 13 songs, and his choruses and melodies are simple and catchy. The accompanying tunes, which incorporate light drum samples and acoustic and electric guitar riffs, are easy listening. This is due to the fact that the songs are geared towards the stoner crowd, but it is still the best aspect of the album.
Article comments
1 - Erik
Isn't "Buzzin'" just hella good? Especially the Will.I.Am. remix. Hip hop hits all cultures! Nerve and DJ Arkitekt, a Minneapolis based Hip-Hop duo, have been hitting the nightclubs of the Twin Cities hard in the past couple months and have been seen gracing stages all over with their hybrid of styles coming together in an exciting way. They are set to drop a new album entitled "Dolla Bill Affair" this upcoming June. A mix of their differing influences, it's sure to be something that you haven't come across yet!
Check them out.
E-Funk Productions