Good Music Roundup

New music hits the Pittsburgh music scene consistently. Keep up with some of the good music that's out in the 'Burgh now.

My Favorite Color - "GO!" 

Lyricist My Favorite Color shows his skill on his debut album, "GO!" At times, his raps are confident, strong, and freaky. "Young with no kids, but she talking like we got some," he raps in "Dollars." Yet, "GO!" is vulnerable in places too. In "Slanted" he says, "All these voices in my head should bother someone else." Then in the album's final song, he opens up saying, "Bitch left in eighth grade took my heart wit' her. Dad cheated on my mom, but she still wit' him." My Favorite Color's authenticity comes with his transparency, which listeners find they can relate to. Artists Benji and Pet Zebra support the project along with Cody Maimone, Dom Pomposelli, and Jeremy Rosinger of one800 music productions.

Choo Jackson - Drive Thru

ForeverKool's Choo Jackson is back with some bop. The rapper, who calls his style "grunge rap" on his SoundCloud page, drops off his latest single "Drive Thru" with the push of DJ Topgun's exclusive release and production by Clibbo.

LiveFromTheCity - Do You Love Me?

Musician LiveFromTheCity goes hopeless romantic in his new single, "Do You Love Me?" The song carries a cinematic and engaging musicality while Live ponders his relationship with his queen. "I just wanna give lil' mama all respect or nada," he says in the song.

Ahsé ft. Judah & Bossy - Starter | Ahsé - WHEN THEY TALK

Last we heard from rapper Ahsé he was moving to Los Angeles to chase his major label music dreams. So far, his time on the West coast has been valuable as it's "helped my music a lot with new experiences and new people. Honestly, a lot of opportunities out there, it all matters on who you know yah know," he said. We asked him about the great In-N-Out vs. Whataburger debate, and he said he prefers In-N-Out, but "I rather cook my own burgers." Check in with Ahsé by listening to his two newest songs, "Starter" and "WHEN THEY TALK," both of which dropped on the rapper's 20th birthday.

James Perry - SHE I

James Perry, a member of the Lokal Foreners rap crew, delivers his "SHE I" album. The project documents the "feelings of the encounters with other women," he said. Lokal Forener mate Hippy Swizzy adds production on the album. Perry also gets credit for self-producing his project. Listen to "DND" or "Blue Flame."

Kris Hollis - Invite Me Over

Taylor Gang's Kris Hollis returns with his smooth talk R&B in the form of a new extended play. With its sultry lyrics, "Invite Me Over" tempts the female listener and hits grooves to improve pillow talk. To start, hear the track "Lately."

$toney - $toney's World 1.5

One of the best music technicians in the 'Burgh is $toney. Give him credit for engineering trap-star Jimmy Wopo's songs and also give him credit for working with known hip-hop acts like Maxo Kream, Sonny Digital, and more so says his Twitter page. "$toney's World 1.5" is the follow-up to the 2017 "$toney World" the album. 1.5 jumps with fun, glitzy tones. The favorite track is "2On."

Pet Zebra - 5 Clips

Self-defense is everything no matter the arena and a Glock is Pet Zebra's tool of choice to keep himself safe. Listen to his chill single and understand his perspective on his second amendment right.

Ta Ta For Now, Ahsé

Local Pittsburgh Rapper Michael Ahsé Moltz Moves to Los Angeles

Matt LeBlanc, Roach, Ahsé, Rio, James Perry | Photograph by Alex Young

Like most kids, Ahsé (Awe•Say) walks around in a T-Shirt, jeans, and Jordan brand sneakers. Though as he sits for interview, the 19-year-old dons a white, fur trench coat and platinum grills on his teeth.

His Hollywood, and classic rapper aesthetic prelude the rapper's forthcoming move to Los Angeles where he will pursue a job with Universal Studios.

Before he departs, Ahsé shares memories in the studio he's recorded past songs and with his friends who've experienced life with him. Matt LeBlanc, a producer who tasted viral success with the track "Damn Daniel," sits in front of the desktop Mac. Shakkur Thomas, a.k.a. Roach, one of Ahsé's best friends, sits on the floor with his knees to his chest. "I can feel 2Pac's emotions," he says. James Perry matched Roach on the opposite side of the room. Both Roach and Perry join Ahsé in the Lokal Foreners rap crew along with Hippy Swizzy and Que Dafoe.

Matt plays a song he made with Ahsé called "Fanny Pack." "Recording this shit was fun as hell. This is my favorite verse you did here," Matt says.

Suddenly, "bring that cypher," Matt says. "James you tryna get in that freestyle," Ahsé asks. James agrees to rap.

"How shallow is you? Step out of your body for a little," James says. "Open those eyes and let you walk with me," Ahsé adds.

The room is pleasant, kids having fun listening to music. "What I saw was the energy [from Ahsé]," Matt says.

If Ahsé isn't rapping, he's on his skateboard. "I definitely skated before I rapped," he says. He remembers walking from his home in Penn Hills to the Duff Skate Park and then walking to the Timebomb streetwear shop in East Liberty where he met the owner, Brick. "We got paid to skate and slap stickers around. Brick sets up the opportunities."

Additionally, Ahsé rode for the Daily Bread lifestyle label. They gave Ahsé and his We're Not Free skate crew free clothes.

Growing up, "the only way I could express my emotions was through art," Ahsé says. He started making music when he was 15-years-old. Ahsé's family put him onto good music. His mom gave him vinyl records by Prince, Anita Baker, Tina Turner, and Al Green. His brother, Nick Moltz, played him Kid Cudi's "Man on the Moon" for the first time.

A post shared by InTheRough (@intheroughstyle) on Oct 26, 2017 at 1:05pm PDT

"My older siblings are my guidance to somethings," Ahsé says as six of nine Moltz children. He values his friends too. He carries on the life of his friend Todd Dye, who was killed by police brutality in Colorado Springs, Colo. in 2015. The phrase "If you don't have a target, you'll always miss" is something Todd told Ahsé and it's a tattoo on his arm now. "If not for We're Not Free and Todd, everything would be different," he says.

While Todd's life drives Ahsé, the rapper has yet to release a mixtape. He has solid collaborations with Lokal Forener mate Hippy Swizzy and another local rapper named Bossy. Currently, Ahsé wants to "build up" for the release of his debut project, "Age of Aquarius." The tape's title plays on Ahsé's spirituality, sense of self, and zodiac sign. He calls himself a buddhist. "The higher power has been in yourself the whole time," he says.

“If you don’t have a target, you’ll always miss.”

— Todd Dye

As Ahsé gets ready to board his plane to L.A. and start life in a new place, he says he'll be back in the 'Burgh soon, and to his friends, "stay golden," as Todd would say.