Fast-forward to today and KiLO has hit a milestone with the release of his first EP titled Intro. Given the set I heard that fateful night, I can honestly say that I expected something completely different from this release. The thuggin’ 808s and trap blends are out, but blissful, dreamy sine waves are back on the menu. I don’t mean that in a bad way, either. KiLO’s adaptability shines on this EP from the moment the first track, ‘Ourobourous’, begins. A whole two-plus minutes of downtempo, cinematic synths build up as if they were the beginning of a symphony movement, culminating in a fleeting moment of silence that gives way to the rest of the EP. Call it the intro to Intro, if you will. ‘Breathe’ and ‘Aether’ follow in a very natural-sounding progression. Nothing is rushed here and every instrument is meticulously mixed and mastered. Another Detroit-based musician, LowKey, snags a feature on ‘Soda’ and hits listeners with some killer lyrical work. The crux of the album, for me, is the final track, ‘Music.’ I’ve always been a sucker for breakbeats, drum and bass, and things that generally go fast, so it was a nice surprise to hear the end of the album pick up the pace a bit. Despite the tempo change, the transition feels seamless. Well done, mate.

This EP certainly isn’t the last we’ll hear of KiLO. Be sure to check him out if you happen to be around the Great Lakes and see his name pop up. For those readers further away, you can still listen to Intro below. Remember to go support those names you might’ve never seen on flyers before, folks, because sometimes you might just find yourself floored like I did.

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The post KiLO Drops a Bomb with Debut ‘Intro’ EP appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

I can tell you, I FUXWITHIT. I plan to road trip down from Toronto and “bass bathe” to the incredible lineup.

Some acts that stand out this year are Flying Lotus, Ritchie Hawtin, Chris Lake, ANNA, Claude Vonstroke, GriZ, Maceo Plex, Gorgon City, Dom Dolla, and Joe Kay. 2 Chainz is headlining, which speaks to the hip hop culture of Detroit; I wonder what ‘most expensivest’ shenanigans he’ll get up to. There’s also a buffet of local underground Detroit DJs that are worth a deep dive.

Curious about the music that will be bumping the soundsystems of this year’s cream of the crop? Check out our Movement 2022 FUXWITHIT playlist to catch the vibe.

The post Bump These Beats: Our Movement 2022 Playlist appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

If you didn’t know this already, perhaps it’s time to turn off SoundCloud and get to one of those after-hours clubs you hear about…The kind of place that’s so dark you can’t see your drink, and so loud you are physically lifted by bass frequencies. The kind of place that plays music which numbs and expands your mind simultaneously.

Or perhaps it’s time for a pilgrimage to the very birthplace of the genre: Detroit. Every year thousands of people descend upon the resilient Motor City for Movement Festival (previously DEMF, or Detroit Electronic Music Festival) – a vanguard and celebration of “the untz-untz.”

Five stages are spread out (or tucked away) over downtown’s Hart Plaza. With the city looming high all around and Canada perched calmly on the other side of the river, there couldn’t be a more central environment for booming 4×4 bass beats.

It was kind of surreal, actually, to see this type of music put on such public display. What really blew my mind was how freakin’ loud the music was – at every stage, but especially the main stage, you were fully immersed in the music by default. The speaker systems here definitely punch above their weight.

Far from being relegated to the underground, there is a city-wise sense of pride about the event. From Lyft drivers to coffee shop workers, event staff and even police officers, it feels like the entire population is ushering you into the festival grounds.

Sure, there are techno purists out there. People who say that if you don’t make music on a synthesizer, or listen to the stuff at night, or wear a black t-shirt, that you’re not doing it right. Take no heed of these haters – they are missing out on a hell of an experience. Also, these people were conspicuously absent from Movement; perhaps staying home to fiddle with their knobs and emerge in the night like pale vampires.

We purposely did very little research on the lineup before attending, knowing that if we followed our ears the right things would happen. Here we list the five artists that we discovered or loved already at Movement Detroit 2019.

**A WORD OF WARNING** If you’re not listening to this on big sub speakers, you’re going to have to use your imagination to add many layers of bass behind every kick. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, imagine that a small horse is hitting you in the chest with each thump. That’s techno.

And if this list doesn’t look very “techno” on paper, well… they sure went that way at Movement. Check our IG post for a taste of the real thing.

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1. FISHER

Fisher’s become a big name in electronic music recently, and not without reason. This Aussie’s signature combination of splashy synths and bumping basslines makes for a catchy-yet-accessible dance experience.

2. VIRGIL ABLOH

Off-White. Louis Vuitton. Engineering. Architecture. Producing and DJing. Virgil Abloh is involved in some high-falutin’ activities and he’s a hell of a smart guy. How often does a YouTube search pull up a Boiler Room set alongside a speech at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design?

People give him shit as a DJ because his hip-hop sets are kind of janky, and I agree – though his house & techno selections were lush and well-curated.

3. ORBITAL (LIVE)

This English duo has been around since 1989, making computer music and rebuilding it live for audiences around the world. This was the least “techno” of the bunch (maybe more like “electronica”) but it was still enthralling and very worthwhile. They have an esoteric sound that really bumps on a soundsystem.

4. WAJATTA

While I’m usually not a fan of live vocals over electronic beats, this collab between Reggie Watts and John Tejada was totally different. Reggie’s bombastic voice fits perfectly over bouncy tech-house grooves and makes for a really dope party vibe.

5. AMELIE LENS

Pure, dark techno. That’s what this Belgium-based producer and DJ makes, and that’s what the people like – she was the most-requested artist for this year’s Movement based on attendee polls from last year. Another experience that’s sadly diluted by most speaker systems, but put on a proper one it’ll test your backbone.

The post 5 Artists We Loved Or Discovered At Movement Detroit 2019 appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

“All you sons of bitches is sons of Vishis”

For rappers coming out of Detroit, the bar has been set by artists like Eminem, Royce da 5’9” and so on. Now, Kid Vishis (brother of 1/4 of the Slaughterhouse machine, Royce da 5’9″) is aiming to reach it and raise it higher. With a new album ready to drop, Kid Vishis is one of the most exciting and fast rising rappers hailing from Detroit. Timing Is Everything, slated for its July 22nd release is a result of several years of crafting and mastering his skills and abilities. We had an opportunity to get an early listen of the debut album and spoke with Kid Vishis about his growth as an artist, the relationship between him and Royce, competition in the rap game, and of course, the album. Check out the brief album review and the interview below.

It’s not a simple task to craft an album. It’s even harder to craft an album that doesn’t compromise your lyrical content and ability (see: selling out for spins). On the highly anticipated Timing Is Everything, Kid Vishis reminds us that rap is about powerful lyrics, wordplay, flow and competition. The rap game is no stranger to the talent coming out of Detroit and as a result, expectations are high. After listening to the album, its clear to see that Kid Vishis is ready to meet and exceed those expectations.

For a debut album, this is a solid body of work.  Each track is a 3-5 minute lyrical assault. With a carefully selected group of producers (including D12’s Mr. Porter), the beats provide the perfect backdrop for the dark, hard hitting and gritty lyrics. The first single “Heaven”, produced by Nemesis, is just a sample of what you can expect on the rest of the album.

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We had an opportunity to speak with Kid Vishis earlier this month about his debut album. Here’s what he had to say.

FUXWITHIT.com: First of all, congratulations on your debut album. You must be very excited about this. But let’s dive right into it. Timing is everything is a pretty common saying. Explain the title. What does “Timing Is Everything” mean in relation to this project? How did you determine that this would be the “perfect or ideal timing” to release your debut?

Kid Vishis: It was really a reflection of me and my growth and my overall comfort as an artist. I feel like I’m at the point where I can put quality music out consistently in an era where more lyrical style MCs are needed. I feel like its time to come with that throwback style of focusing on clever lyrics and bars because people are sick of this boring ABC style rap that’s popular now.

LISTEN: “Look At All My $**t”

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FUXWITHIT.com: How did the “Sick Em” and “Vishis is Me” mixtapes help you get to this point?

Kid Vishis: Those mixtapes were just really me in training to ultimately get to this point where the music comes easy to me through countless hours and days of hard work. It was a transition from being a verse for verse killer to being a song for song master. Though I am no master yet, I’m on that path now and definitely won’t stop until I reach that level.

FUXWITHIT.com: What’s your creative process like? Did you send out a call for beat submissions or did you actively look for producers that you wanted to work with?

Kid Vishis: I reached out to the guys who already had my back and who I knew believed in me already. Once these guys started sending me beats, I caught a zone and before I knew it the album was done. I do give Monster Energy drink credit for helping me with long studio nights because I walk in the studio, crank the beat all the way, crack open a Monster Energy, and the magic just kind of happens.

FUXWITHIT.com: Of the 11 tracks, only one features another rapper, that rapper being Royce. Why was it important for you to limit the features on this album?

Kid Vishis: Well for a debut album for myself I didn’t want people to focus so much on who else was on the album but hear me out instead. I plan to build a cult following for myself and my brand first, then do more features on future projects but I just didn’t want to depend on features make a dope project. This album is about me.

FUXWITHIT.com: What does it mean for you to have a brother who is pretty established and successful in the rap game?

Kid Vishis: Its very motivational to have a person who you got to see with your own eyes worked from nothing and kept on the grind to legendary status. I remember Royce got his girl pregnant and my dad was like “You need to get a job to support your kid” and Royce told him that he was going to NY to try to get a record deal. About a month or so later, he called home and said he was about to sign a million dollar record deal and he wanted to fly my father out for the signing. That type of thing inspires me every day.

FUXWITHIT.com: Message to the MC’s is a very direct message – “All you sons of bitches is sons of Vishis”. This seems like a general call to action intended for all rappers in the game and coming up. Was there anybody in particular this was written for or was it your take on the “Control” verse?

Kid Vishis: Just like you said, it was very direct “All you sons of bitches is sons of Vishis” not some, not a few, All You Sons Of Bitches. If I ever target a certain artist I will say their names because I’m not a subliminal diss kind of guy and I mean what I say when I say it. Kendrick’s “Control” verse was OK, but I’m cut from the Royce and Eminem cloth where a diss might end a nigga’s career. Kendrick’s verse got that praise because of the timing. The industry is so watered down and emasculated that it wasn’t expected from an artist with his success, but if Kendrick spits those bars towards some real killers he would have his hands full, even though Kendrick is a killer himself. I mean the people he aimed those bars at are light lyrically and that’s why they didn’t respond.

FUXWITHIT.com: Speaking of competition, I’ve read that you have been involved in and have had some exposure to the battle rap scene. Did you battle when you were coming up? Is it something you would ever entertain going back to?

Kid Vishis: Yessir! I had a few battles coming up but people quickly got wind that I wasn’t here to play and gave me my respect. I would get back into doing a battle or two for the right price and if everything makes sense but overall I want my music to be what I’m known for. I’m a big fan of battle rap though, I keep up with all the top guys and up and comers.

FUXWITHIT.com: What are your thoughts about the current rap scene in Detroit? Are there any artists that you’ve heard that you think are the next to watch out for or that are coming up with you? Do you seem them as your peers or competition?

Kid Vishis: The Detroit scene is always diverse and competitive. We have all different styles but everyone is good at what they do.  Ty Farris, Seven The General, MarvWon, Jon Connor even though he’s from Flint he still reps, Icewear Vezzo, Boldy James, Sino, and Fenkell Payroll just to name a few are guys who are doing their thang in Detroit and I listen to their music. All these guys are peers to me, its only competition when we are working together but trying to come up with the best verse but that’s about it.

FUXWITHIT.com: A debut album is a big milestone to achieve, but what’s next for Kid Vishis? Will you be touring? What are you most excited about next?

Kid Vishis: I’m super excited about this album, I plan on touring sometime in August overseas and I’m excited about that and the fact that I get to drop another album this year is a euphoric feeling because I feel like I have a great momentum going.

FUXWITHIT.com: Lastly, can you sum up the album for us? What should listeners expect? And what do you hope to accomplish with the project?

Kid Vishis: You turn on the album with the intentions of hearing clever lyrical bars with diverse songs from fast to slow, concepts to raw spazz records to personal. I want fans to be willing to ride with me on my journey to master this art and support the Kid Vishis movement due to the fact that they feel like I represent hip hop in such a way that they feel comfortable buying my album or coming to a show in the future. I want people to say “Yup, he definitely belongs in hiphop“.

Kid Vishis Timing is Everything drops July 22nd on Seven 13 Entertainment and will be available worldwide on digital & physical CD formats.  Fans can also order autographed copies from the label at www.seven13ent.com. Be sure to follow Kid Vishis on Twitter.

The album is dope folks, we FUXWITHIT!

BONUS: “Talk Behind My Back” Video

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GbEJ2gh_Y0&w=640&h=360]

The post Exclusive Interview: Kid Vishis talks “Timing Is Everything” appeared first on FUXWITHIT.