VibeRotation 24

ITR Tee photograph by @draie_96

+ Have a good music catalog that has a balance between classic and contemporary styles, as well as local and national artists

+ 24 of the 55 songs on this VibeRotation playlist were selected by Los Angeles staff, and the other 31 were selected by Pittsburgh staff - hear different styles of music in different regions of America/the world

+ Find Lil Traffic as a notable artist from the West coast

+ Pittsburgh artists like blackboi. light up the radar - 9 "Pixburghers" contribute to this crazy set (did y'all see Jimmy Wopo represent The 'Burgh on HYPEBEAST?) 

+ The UK been here

+ Most lit part comes between tracks 7-30 (yes, that many bangers)

+ Quality energies come from They., ALEICIA and Balance510

Get to Know the FairRose and Sussioty Collectives

Orian Villa x Prezident at The Observatory, Santa Ana, Calif.

In the sub-cultures of hip-hop, plagued by monotony, standing out amidst the sea of young, energetic rappers is no easy feat. Los Aneles rap collectives FairRose and Sussioty have managed to set themselves apart from the pack with a perspective and level of versatility, few-- if any of-- their peers possess.

Cohesively, the L.A. crews integrate, some of the artists have dual memberships to each collective and other bands. The FairRose members are as follows: Apollo, Cereal Witness, Gigi Envy, Nile Villa, Frankie Jax No Mad, and Xae. Whereas DJ Amack, Orian Villa x Prezident, as well as Nile Villa x PyramidKid represent Sussioty, pronounced like "suss" in suspects or suspicious and "ioty" like in society.

Essentially, collaboration is a core value for both FairRose and Sussioty. While Nile Villa creates music within both camps, he and Xae were previously in a punk group together called The Hungry Eyes. Cereal Witness and Gigi Envy are a separate duo called The Stonewvlls. Apollo and Frankie started making music three years ago, and they set the foundation for FairRose together last year. Nile founded Sussioty.

Both music entities are staunch symbols for the enterprising and candid spirit that fills L.A.'s air. "The name FairRose comes from the cross streets Fairfax Avenue and Melrose Avenue," Apollo says, which have to be among the coolest streets in the country due to the sub-cultural consumerism available in the district. "We represent a culture that is viewed as suspicious by the general norm," Orian says of Sussioty.

The groups float from show to show throughout Los Angeles, and they have established themselves as the go-to opening acts for some of your favorite rappers. "Opening up for the Suicide Boys at the Novo DTLA - That shit was banging," Sussioty writes to ITR in an email. FairRose recalls their experience opening up for GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan at The Novo as one of their most memorable shows. They fit the bill with other artists like Warren G and they can heat the stage for the underground elites like Xavier Wulf, who FR and Sussioty opened up for at The Observatory in Santa Ana, Calif. and another time at The Novo.

Moreover, give credit to FairRose and Sussioty for their many opening acts because they show that the groups' music can entertain eclectic audiences.

Further, their authentic and positive approach provides more performance opportunities. It would be hard not to feel welcome at a FairRose and Sussioty function when they "encourage free-thinking, independence, and creativity," Orian says.

Currently, the two hip-hop groups have the skill to establish themselves as premier entertainers with dynamic and expanding music catalogs. FairRose explains their style saying "Imagine if Common, Madlib, Fugees, Wu-Tang, Black Moon, MF Doom, and Atmosphere made a baby," and no one explains it better than that. Sussioty delivers a contrast citing Rob Banks, Xavier Wulf and Three 6 Mafia as comparable artists.

Coming soon, FairRose and Sussioty will both release group projects in the form of E.P.s and L.P.s, and they will continue to perform and collaborate together throughout the L.A. area and beyond, like Austin, Texas where Sussioty will have a performance at SXSW on March 16.

Role Model's First Song - "Cocaine Babe"

Artwork by Jacob Finch

Nowadays a role model can be anyone and anything. A role model used to be parents or community figures like a pastor, but consumerism and popular culture make idols out of a lot of things, perhaps athletes or types of artists and maybe even drugs.

The point here is role models influence how we act and who we want to be, and individual preference selects the person or thing to absorb.

Find importance on this topic of influence in regards to "Role Model," a musician from Maine. He speaks beautifully about respecting the valuable opportunities life provides in his new song "Cocaine Babe."

Role Model challenges listeners to appreciate purities rather than vices.

"There's more to life than getting high... Never seen someone so dedicated to numbing their pain. Well wake up and smell the roses, baby, instead of that cocaine," he sings.

These words with Role Model's song are pertinent because people should understand what affects them affects others. If we all focus on having genuine interactions and if we admire genuine people, society's influences might come from more positive places.

"Cocaine Babe" sits noteworthy due to the considerate thoughts and as Role Model's first song since changing his name from Dillis. The new track certainly carries a different energy than Dillis' previous hip-hop work. Role Model grows, and he explores the indie rock genre in "Cocaine Babe," which Tom Sheils produces

Whether fans and newcomers to Role Model take his name with a grain of salt is up to them, but valuable messages in song will always find respect.

Choo Jackson - Choo, Where U Goin? (Album)

Choo Jackson photographed by Kingy Kings

Towards the top of 2016 InTheRough detailed some time spent with musician Choo Jackson. A written piece studied the rapper's past "Anime" mixtape, the first of three total projects he pushed this year. Text familiarized audiences of Choo and this publication with the spirit of his musicianship as well as music-making in Pittsburgh.

At the time in February, Choo was ahead of a productive year, trying to maintain a steadily growing fanbase and establish his sound. He indicated his fans would begin to hear clear differences in his songs. Choo wanted to experiment with "alternative," rock.

As the year progressed, the Foreverkool Records owner and Southern gentleman continued to make neo-hip-hop bangers like "Back From Texas" and "Myself." He pleased youthful listeners on his "Pray 4 The Best" extended play with producer Sledgren of Taylor Gang which they released in June. But, Choo's introspective vocals about his life qualities could also match a production influenced by rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s who he listened to as a kid.

The sonic transition was heard upon the release of his newest "Choo, Where U Goin?" album this December. Basically, the artist introduces a hopeful narrative that various people can relate to for its humanity and nostalgia. "Go to the light my nigga," he says in "Camo" over a plucking guitar. The evolution of Choo's music comes from childhood memories he told us over Snapchat.

“Man I had a friend in Florida I used to skate with his name was Anthony. When I went to his crib he would only play his shit like Green Day, blink-182, and System Of A Down. Then I found N.E.R.D. on my own. So that’s how me and Brad kinda cliqued up musically because he’s into the same shit. It was only later that I started to like John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, or even like Marvin Gay or Al Green. I want to be remembered like them too.”

— Choo Jackson

On his third project this year, Choo finds frequent collaborators Bradley [Brad] Atom, Big Jerm of I.D. Labs, and Bounceman Christo helps cement the retro production for "C.W.U.G.?" Alternative sentiments are genuinely felt in the record's opening hook and "Feel This Way."

Though "Choo, Where U Goin?" explores another style of music, many parts of the work are dramatic and rhythmic thanks to Choo's cadence, like in "Make It Last" when he mutters "my neck, my wrist, my car, my kicks," talking fresh.

Overall, Choo Jackson's growth is made audible through each track he releases. He possesses the creativity to satisfy contemporary ears, and he gains respect for branching out to allow other genres to influence his music.

SNE - Essence (extended play)

Via SNE's Instagram

Sound Never Ends. This is the truth because a sound is everywhere, and all people have to do is listen. However, in this instance, Sound Never Ends is a hip-hop artist from Hackney, a borough in London, England. "East end boy you can hear it in my tone," he says.

Abbreviated as SNE, the artist calls his sound "trillful," which is a blend of trap music stemming from gritty London neighborhoods and R&B soul music. In his new 14-track extended play called "Essence," SNE demonstrates the spirit of his environment, today's contemporary hip-hop, and his work. "My partner in the trap, me I'm trying to tell him it's a trap... he's just trying to get it where it's at I'm on the same thing."

"Every verse cocaine I told you already," he raps. The grind of running drugs and a trap house influences his sounds as much as the legal grind of trying to make it in the music industry. In the song "Titanic/Turbulence," SNE says, "I do this for my people I'm Corleone," a reference to Italian gangster and The Godfather Michael Corleone who lived and worked for his family. The UK rapper pulls from recognizable cultural icons to state his "Essence" project is just as iconic.

Great parts of "Essence" are hard and utilize alerting chimes, cool bass hits, synths, and cutting lyrics about hood life. Although, the smooth R&B styles are heavily present. The song "House of Love" has a groovy guitar and "442" features a classic '90s R&B tone. SNE's vocal ability shines in "Coolie Skit" and "Outro."

Listen to "Rödrigo" to hear SNE's smart mix of hard rap and passionate soul.

Overall, "Essence" by SNE shows the untapped talent coming from London's hip-hop scene. The project is intriguing because SNE shares his relatable experiences and lifestyle across the pond and puts them to a current and progressive sound.