Richardine Bartee
This week’s #5NewVideos list consists of Connie Diiamond, Tishmal, Dead Hippie, and more.
Connie Diiamond – Trippy Bitch featuring Bali Baby (Personal)
Connie Diiamond, a Bronx-native recording artist and the only woman that could bring underground and mainstream female artists together, released an official video for “Trippy Bitch” recently.
Mentioning rendezvouses with the man in her life to the designer clothes she drapes her small frame in, the rapper shows out and shares that she only gets her drug of choice from the plug. Next, Atlantan rapper Bali Baby kicks off her verse with several reasons why no one should get her twisted, and if she misses you, it is a miracle. Talk about heartless.
Based on what I’ve observed, the young musician is selfless, and it is admirable. Watch the wavy video for the anthemic track now and allow the young ladies to share the many reasons why everyone needs a trippy bitch in their lives.
Tishmal – Underneath (Submission)
According to the lyrics of “Underneath,” love makes Tishmal, the Provo, Utah-based singer pessimistic, afraid, and that can bring their downfall. Potentially, that very love could make her hate her partner. I think we’ve all been there—When you’ve felt that what you thought to be sacred, suddenly becomes a joke. It hurts. Eventually, most of us get over it, but some people don’t. Luckily, Tishmal seems to be one the few who are resistant.
Before getting to the meat of their problems on the song, the San Diego-native recording artist points out that everything has been above the surface.
If you’re wondering, Tishmal means “hummingbird” in Luiseño. The Luiseño, named by the Spanish, is a group of people, native to this land (America), that was first in contact with the Spanish in the sixteenth century. Another name for these group of people is the “Payómkawichum.” It translates to “People of the West.” Watch the dark video now for the video with an endearing yet candid message.
Dead Hippie – What’s the Word? (Submission)
I have an appreciation for young men of colour who come together to do anything. It’s a personal thing. Aside from that, the dirty lo-fi production complements the bilingual tongue and the deep tone, spatting words that imply drug use and the harsh realities behind it.
Ryan Hassan – Bomb Squad featuring Kofi Stone (Submission)
There’s no way a former drummer could release a track without the instrument being the main ingredient to the pulse of a beat. It would be dull, not authentic. At least, that’s what I think. As someone who has always wanted to be a drummer, there is a personal fascination here. Without a doubt, the British rapper’s verses are simple, yet the “Bomb Squad” backing instrumentation is undeniable. Ryan Hassan and Kofi Stone met during a Tinie Tempah tour in Greece during 2013.
Tota – Downhill featuring Racquel Tubbs (Submission)
I knew there’s often the argument about whether songs with positive messages or conscious music will ever become “popular” again. If what I say to you means anything, there just has to be a method to the madness. Also, you have to know that there are many artists out there making this type of music. It just takes time to find them, or now in my case, to find me.
To be honest, to be honest about what you go through on a daily basis, or to speak for your neighbourhood, it is not easy as a human being. The burden or the gift of writing isn’t the average person’s duty. Whether we want to take responsibility for it or not, as journalists and tastemakers and musicians, we influence our readerships and followers a great deal. Whenever I write about someone, I am mindful and want to proceed with clarity. Why? It has to do with someone else’s livelihood.
Here’s something important you should understand as a member of the community or otherwise: What Tota has shared isn’t different from anything Future or Young Thug mumbles. They are all telling the story of being young Black men in North America. Pulling guns out another Black person is not far-fetched to hear in any rap song or for me to share through my social media profiles about my life because it is real. Self-hate supersedes race. Also, how many American children feel like they’ve raised themselves? One too many. People say that the streets raised them. For many, it is the harsh truth. Unfortunately, it is where the pain in the music originates.
Some artists just choose to present it over Southern (t)rap soundscapes, and others over jazzy, melodic soul samples. We have to stop separating the musicians and the hurt due to genre style and start finding solutions to fix our problems as a society. We can do it, and refocus our energy together.
CJ Francis IV – Gas Bags (Submission) (Bonus)
I like to dance. In my opinion, it is difficult to destroy a song with the intention to make people dance. It’s why I enjoy listening to music with a 120-160 BPM count. Aside from the fun factor, Atlanta-based rapper CJ Francis IV’s “Gas Bags” poses valid questions. Try your best to answer them honestly.
In conclusion, ladies, CJ Francis IV is clear about what he wants and doesn’t want in his life. Don’t ignore the revealing sentences, or you’ll get your feelings hurt.
Coopertheband – Rebels (Submission)(Bonus)
When I heard the anthemic track by the Nashville band for the first time, I became hooked. Then, I watched the music video. From the woven words, it seemed to be about the kinds of people who challenge the norms. In my mind, that could mean anything. However, I chose to tag it onto the humanitarian heroes who strive to make vast differences in the world for the better. The courageous song led by the female vocalist comes from the band’s eight-track project titled, “Kingdoms.”
Best friends: What are we without them? The older you become, the number of people in your life begin to decrease. We don’t have to get into why that happens, so we can just call it human nature. But when the people best for your life remain, it is a feeling unmatched. Watch as the friends in Coopertheband’s video for “Rebels” enjoy each other.
I’d recommend listening to the full project. It’s well done.
