music

Valued: A Speaker for the Music Enthusiast by Maxwell Young

val·ue (ˈvalyo͞o), noun. the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth or, usefulness of something. 

Source: Google 

Welcome to a new component of InTheRough.  Whether it be the shoes we wear, the coffee (or tea) we drink, or the books we read, consumers place a value on the products we buy and the activities we engage in every single day.  Rooted in aesthetic and functionality, Valued is merely the illustration of the essentials we at InTheRough and fellow creatives alike rely upon in our Goods-filled endeavors.


The desire to listen and discover music also stimulates a curiosity to understand the way in which it is heard.  The medium in which music is perceived is just as important as the actual activity itself.  Great speakers, whether they be in your home, car, headphones, or on-the-go, execute an audial presence that encompasses the full range of human hearing.  The "better sounding" speakers are those that not only consider execution but the synthesis of material and design; science and art. 

For young or traveling audiophiles, portability is key.  A functional speaker that carries high quality, high fidelity sound in a work space, apartment, dorm room, or even outdoors is the goal.  The Bose Soundlink Mini Bluetooth Speaker is intriguing in its design while packing the clarity and volume to entertain the necessary vibes of large group settings or relaxing Sunday afternoons.  While great sounding speakers can come at an expensive price, audiophiles can find well executed models at a wide price range.  If you are in the market for speakers, the Soundlink Mini can be purchased here and don't forget to check out the accompanying visuals. 

Wale featuring Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign - The Summer League by Alex Young

DC's poster boy Wale is preparing to drop his fourth studio album, The Album About Nothing, a week from tomorrow. Today brings us a preview of the work to come as his single "The Summer League" featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Kanye West has surfaced. Listen to the groups encouraging pleasantries below and pick up Wale's The Album About Nothing on March 31 on iTunes.

VibeRotation 15 by Alex Young

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InTheRough's VibeRotation playlists continue with number 15. The newest member to the collection carries a contemporary theme as it features music released mostly within the last three months. It pays homage to one of 2015's early projects, Joey Bada$$'s B4.DA.$$  with a track that deserves more air time, same story for Drake's "Madonna". West Coast styles flow throughout playlist highlighted by a new track from Jhené Aiko that released yesterday. Atlanta group Two-9 and Timbaland signee, Tink appear as I have certainly joined their fan clubs, especially after listening to B4FRVR and browsing the young lady's ample catalog. Some house influences are sprinkled in as well. Give VibeRotation 15 a spin below and be sure to follow ITR on SoundCloud!

Earl Sweatshirt - Grief by Alex Hersh

Joey did it, Kendrick did it, Lupe did it, now it’s Earl’s time. Due March 23rd, Earl Sweatshirt’s project “I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside” was announced yesterday after some controversy regarding his label and the announcement of his album on iTunes. Accompanying the minor twitter rant was a music video for a single from the album, “Grief”. The song is filled with anxious but pointed bars directed at other wack rappers and the industry, as well as the pitfalls of even the lesser-celebrity lifestyle. While this thematic content isn’t new territory for the Odd Future affiliate,  “Grief” and it’s lo-fi production sets our expectations for the content of this album to be focused around Earl’s experience so far in the rap world, and the choices he’s made in light of it. With some of the most creative and colorful lyricism in popular rap and Hip Hop today, Earl has set the bar high for himself, and we really look forward to whichever creative direction the young artist decides to go. However, as Hip Hop seems to be the focal point of the music environment in 2015, Earl’s success is directly dependent on how he sounds relative to his peers, such as Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Both of whom broke Spotify records for total streams in a day with their most recent projects, “To Pimp A Butterfly” and “If You’re Reading This It's Too Late” respectively. Whereas just last year fans were clamoring for the next track to bump, it’ almost difficult for listeners to keep up with the newest releases, and even more difficult for artists to make an impact and stay relevant. Check out the track below.

Tinashe- Amethyst Mixtape by Maxwell Young

Having released Christmas singles as well as her debut album, Aquarius, California native Tinashe continues to be in the giving mood with a welcomed release of her new mixtape Amethyst.  The seven-track project, which was all recorded in her bedroom over her 2014 Christmas vacation, features another California based artists in Iamsu, as well as production from Ryan Hemsworth, DJ Dahi, and more.  The album can be streamed and downloaded below, enjoy!