Fly in Formation - AzraelRapsGood Interview
I wasn't planning to restart my Fly In Formation interviews until later this year, but when Handsolo Records offered to arrange a chat with AzraelRapsGood, I couldn't resist. He's an indie rap legend around here, been doing the thing for a minute. After listening to his new album "Content," produced by The Dirty Sample, I knew I had to get back to business. I've already lined up a few more interviews with other artists who have albums coming up, and I'm really looking forward to doing these again. I always have a great time doing interviews, and honestly, I wish I could keep up with doing them all the time.
Don't sleep on this project, "Content." Azrael’s raps are not just good, but generally dope as hell, and I was stoked to get an early listen (on #ATSIC). His concepts, bars, and laid-back smooth deliveries are all on point and on display. In the interview, I got a chance to pick Azzy's brain about some of the songs and quotes that stood out to me. He had quotables for days, the type of bars that won't age beacuse the sentiment just rings true. Of course, the boom bap beats from The Dirty Sample are top-tier, as always. Sample heavy, drum heavy. We talked last year for FiF when he was releasing an Ol’ Gorilla Bones project. He just doesn’t miss. The Calgary production plug has been on a run lately. I get the impression they’re both good peoples too, not just wildly talented ones. Show support by buying the album on Bandcamp, where they’ll see the biggest piece of the pie.
It’ll also be on streaming, check it out one way or the other.
Interviewing artists is a wild ride. I don't really know what I'm doing, but I love talking to talented emcees and cultural icons, and won't pass up the opportunity to do so. If nothing else, I hope these interviews help leave a record of some of the talent that deserves to be remembered and cherished, and helps expand the discographies, libraries, and knowledge of those who follow the culture.
The #ATSIC mission is ongoing as well - "getting as much new music in as many new ears as possible." Every week on my show After the Smoke is Clear (#ATSIC), I play AzraelRapsGood, The Dirty Sample, and other talented, though maybe less known, indie rap artists from coast to coast. If you're into that type of thing, you can check out the archives for free. Apparently, Mixcloud pays artists for streams just like Spotify does, the difference being, on Mixcloud you get hour-long mixes that flow seamlessly from one song to the next, without any ads or random genre jumps because its real mixes by DJs. Grab the app free. I'm not trying to flex my fledgling DJ skills on #ATSIC, I just like sharing new music and think people should hear more local artists. On each mix, I make an effort to include album cuts and mix in undiscovered emcees with bigger names that people may already be checking for. I never play the same thing twice either, just new releases, as soon as I can, and most mixes are about 90 percent so called canadians. Tap in and discover some new music.
Upcoming on Fly in Formation at Twitch.tv :
- OP Yeti - April 25 at 3pm MST - New album “Laser Casr Accident” drops April 30
- Gritfall - May 2 at 3pm MST - New album “Skate Home” drops April 28
- Spitty - May 9 at 3pm MST - New EP “PEEL Vol 3” drops April 27
