The post Logic Announces Sophomore Album ‘The Incredible True Story’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

After grinding for years, dropping mixtapes and not getting the attention he deserved, Miami artist QuESt has finally found his stride in 2014. With the help of Visionary Music Group (VMG) and a refined outlook, things have really come together. Earlier this year he joined VMG labelmate Logic on his North American While You Wait tour, increasing his fan base one performance at a time. With the release of Searching Sylvan, QuESt proved he’s more than a mixtape rapper and one of brightest stars in the game. There are few albums that have the pull of Searching Sylvan. It’s an extremely well crafted narrative that is deeply personal, impeccably produced and inspirational. From family issues, to street drama and his struggle to make it as an artist. Each track gives a piece of QuESt’s life and leaves the listener feeling like they’ve been a fan for years or even a friend who’s watched him through the journey.  We had the honour of connecting with QuESt to discuss the project, his relationship with Visionary Music Group, Kendrick Lamar comparisons and much more. Check out the full interview below and get familiar with one of best rappers of 2014.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165180278″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: How did you connect with Visionary Music Group and how much has the relationship impacted your career?
QuESt: It was just really organic. I knew about Logic’s music back in 2009/2010, vaguely from a friend and I heard his name a couple times. I actually had a meeting in Atlantic in 2011 where I met Chris from Visionary and it was really crazy, he knew a friend of mine and that’s kind of how we connected. Shortly after, Logic connected with me via Twitter and he reached out and had a couple phone calls and it was really cool. He respected my music and I respected his. That grew into me doing five dates on the first VMG tour. Then a year later Chris reached out to ask me to be a part of the company and I’ve been riding with them ever since. Visionary more than anything has given me the platform to be heard on a level that I wanted to be heard on.

“VMG, yes nigga VMG, only competition that we see is TDE” – 24 Freestyle

FWI: On ‘24 Freestyle’ you said the only competition for VMG is TDE. Looking back how do you feel about that quote?
QuESt: I said the quote because I knew that it was going to be a moment. When we were recording the freestyle it was Bobby’s birthday and he was like, “I want to get all of us on here and I want to put this out,” and I was like “Alright, cool.” I felt like it was an opportunity for me to make a statement. When I said the line it was more just out of my admiration and respect for TDE. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad, SZA, I think everybody over there is amazing. TDE is one of the only labels that we really look up to in the sense that we want to be better than these guys. That’s really what it was, it was a statement that was like, “let’s make some noise, let’s get a couple people talking, let’s keep the conversation going.” But there’s nothing but love and respect for those guys. I hope to have the amount of success that they have acquired so far.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131596557″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: When the track dropped it seemed like a bit of bold statement but as you’ve come through the year with the release of Searching Sylvan and Logic’s album it doesn’t seems so bold.
QuESt: Sometimes the best way to gain attention is to say something bold. It wasn’t like, “yeah, we’re better than TDE.” I don’t have that hanging over my head whatsoever. It’s no different than Jay saying “only dudes moving units Em, Pimp Juice, and us.” Just stating what you feel. I think it’s dope cause people still hit me up about that line. I think it’s cool.

FWI: Earlier this year you accompanied Logic on the While You Wait tour. What was your most memorable experience?
QuESt: The one story that was absolutely amazing for me was coming back home. I was performing at Ft. Lauderdale and there was this fan who was waiting outside for me at the bus. I went inside to meet her and she started balling and crying. She was like, “You know, you saved my life on so many occasions. I don’t know if you know that. Tomorrow I’m going on a cruise to Hawaii to chase my dreams. I’m going to be doing my dream job and if it wasn’t for you and your music I don’t know if I would have survived and got to this point.” It was the best going away present and was the most amazing moment that I think I’ve had, probably in my career as well. As an artist, I live to help people and to have people live vicariously through my struggles, successes and my wins, cause I like to think of myself as the everyday guy. That was my moment, I was like, “wow this is amazing.” 

FWI: That’s an awesome story. It’s crazy to see that you’re really impacting people on that level.
QuESt: Yeah it brings me back to when I was listening to Lupe and Jay-Z and the people that I consider my heroes. If it wasn’t for their music I wouldn’t have gotten through. Now I’m having that same effect with someone else. It’s amazing man, it’s a really amazing feeling.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165085602″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: Did you and Logic bounce ideas off each other when working on your albums?
QuESt: Not really. Logic wasn’t a critical part of this project. He had a couple records that he produced. There were two ideas that he did lend. The first idea was ‘May 10th, 2012’ being at the end of the album and looping back to the beginning. I was playing the record cause me and 6ix were making the record at his crib actually, and we had a session where we made that and ‘Hunger’. He came in and he was like “Yo man you should put that at the end of your album and just let it loop continuously” and I didn’t think about it. At first I wasn’t really into it. But the more I thought about it and the more I thought about what I was saying in the record, it just made so much sense.

FWI: Was it initially meant to go at the very beginning to open the album?
QuESt: The funny thing is that it wasn’t meant to go on the album at all. ‘May 10th, 2012’ was going to be like a warm-up single, just to put it out and to give people a glimpse to what I’ve been going through. When Logic gave me the idea it made a lot of sense, especially with the whole message of the album ending up back where you started. The end being the beginning, you know what I mean?  Kind of like the resurfacing of the story. After ‘John Bellion’s One Way to San Diego (Outro)’ it was like okay, I do my spoken word speech and I’m like, “Success is inevitable, it was written for you to grow…no matter how far you’ve travelled…never forget where you’ve came from, always remember where you started” and at the end, it’s like this is where you started. This is where ‘May 10th, 2012’ began. This is where it all happened. This is where the whole story begins. The initial spark for that idea was Logic. He also gave me a couple of nuances throughout the skits for ‘No Love In The City’. In terms of like, “you should raise the barking dogs here” or something like that. Other than that no we didn’t bounce a lot ideas off of each other. We were very much to ourselves.

“Sometimes records will go over your head and when you get to the end you’re like okay I need to really listen”

FWI: Having ‘May 10th, 2012’ close things out and the way that it loops made me listen to the entire project over again immediately.
QuESt: Yeah, thank you, it means a lot. I think Logic was genius in that aspect because it ended up giving listeners something that they needed to pay attention to. Sometimes records will go over your head and when you get to the end you’re like okay I need to really listen. With Childish Gambino’s Camp, at the end, he has this whole spoken word story about him and this girl that he went to camp with, and I was like, “what is this? What’s going on?” And I really went back and I dove into the project content wise. Logic definitely gave me an alley-oop with that one. As far as the rest of the project goes he was working on his album while I was working on mine. So we were kind of really zoned in on what we were doing.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165214027″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: How much has your career changed since the release of Searching Sylvan?
QuESt: I think it’s given more of an audience for people to dive into me as an artist. I think that’s the biggest change. I’ve really been able to have an audience that I can cater to and that’s what I really wanted with Searching. The goals and aspirations that I have for my next project I didn’t have for Searching Sylvan. Searching Sylvan was about, let’s get this out the right way, let’s give people a story and something to hold onto and something they can gain from it and make them lifelong fans and lifelong supporters. And we’ve ultimately done that. It’s given me a great fan base to work with now.

Ultimately the fans and the supporters are the ones that are going to keep you moving. They’re the ones that are going to buy your albums. They’re the ones that are going to be here when all the listeners fade away. There’s a difference between fans and listeners. Fans will go out and support you. They’re part of you, they care about you and they care about your success. Listeners just care about your next record. I’m a listener of Taylor Swift. I like Taylor Swift’s records but I haven’t gone out and bought her records or anything. But I am an avid fan of Jay-Z. I’ll buy his records, I’m going to his shows, I’m going to do this because I really really care about Jay-Z.

“Everything that comes with an album…whether it be lyrics, production or originality…None of that mattered as much as telling my story”

FWI: There has been a lot of comparisons to Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. How do you feel about this?
QuESt: It’s understandable. I’m not really mad at it. I knew from the concept of the album, how it was constructed from the skits and everything. I knew I was going to get Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. Good Kid, m.A.A.d City did have an integral part in really wanting to tell my story. I think Kendrick is an amazing artist, I’m not going to deny that and there is influence on the album. I feel like it’s pretty obvious. But for me nothing mattered more than telling my story. Everything that comes with an album, that people judge, whether it be lyrics, production or originality or any of this. None of that mattered as much as telling my story. I do feel like there is Good Kid, m.A.A.d City similarities and the fact that people are comparing it to Good Kid, m.A.A.d City in any type of right is amazing. That being one of the most important albums in the last two years. The fact that it is getting any type of comparisons is flattering beyond belief. I knew it was going to happen and I’m not mad at it whatsoever.

FWI: I did get some similarities to Kendrick but it also reminded me of Prince Paul’s A Prince Among Thieves. Are you a fan of the album and did it influence your project?
QuESt: What’s funny is Prince Paul’s album didn’t have an influence on my project. What did end up having an influence on my project was a lot of Masta Ace’s earlier work, just with skits and how a lot of his earlier albums went. It wasn’t like integral, like 30-40%, it was kind of like on the same level of Kendrick Lamar’s, like 5-10%. From a skit factor it was like I want to implement skits and really carry the story on. Also Spike Lee and Do The Right Thing and his older films. They really influenced the soundscapes in my album cause it’s very jazzy and very classic jazzish. I really wanted to accompany the old films that I was watching like Do The Right Thing and all these old Spike Lee joints that have this classic storybook feel. Also Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, Childish Gambino’s Camp, a lot of Jay’s Reasonable Doubt as well and Coldplay’s X&Y. I was listening to Coldplay non-stop throughout the duration of this album. Those are the real influences.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165180331″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: The project is very conceptual. What was the process like in putting together Searching Sylvan? Did you have a map of what you wanted each song to be about or did you just begin recording tracks and piece it together?
QuESt: What’s funny is that I didn’t really think it was going to be a concept album. At first, the album was going to be called Vigilante and I had a completely different concept and a completely different sound for it. But what I was trying to do wasn’t matching up with the concept that I had. I wanted to tell my story and the concept for Vigilante was a lot darker and a lot more cinematic and a lot more electro filled. What I wanted to do and was feeling was in a different area. I was making records here and there and I created ‘Dying Words’ and ‘Erase Me’ that really sparked off the creative energy and it was like, “okay, this is something dope.” Then I thought of the new title which is Searching Sylvan and then as I went along and progressed and I was making more records. ‘The Ride’ is what actually made it a concept album. I was creating it but it was one of those records that I was kind of like “yeah, I’m probably not going to put it on the album” but then I thought about “what if I implement the voicemails that I have from my girlfriend” and really make it something and really give it character. Those voicemails and her at the end…it kind of ties the record together. And that’s when it was like, this is intimate, this is a lot more personal and lot more revealing and it gives an important dynamic character.

FWI: Is that actually your girlfriend on the record?
QuESt: It’s actually Melat. But I had her mimic actual voicemails that I had. My girl didn’t want me to use the voicemails that I had. Those are real situations on a lot of occasions. I would be thinking about so many different things and then I would just bullshit around and I would drive around the city and show up to her crib and we would try to have a good time, but I would fuck up everything because I would be thinking too much. That record just gave me something that I was like, “okay, I know what I want to do with this album.” That’s when I started bleeding each record into different ones and really creating the story and telling things from one standpoint to another standpoint.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165180322″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: You were recently at Atlantic Records. Can you give us any details as to what came out of the visit?
QuESt: I was in New York for press week for Searching Sylvan. It was pretty cool man, I met with a few people that I already knew out there. It was nothing too serious, just casual conversations. That’s really how these situations are nowadays, kind of entertaining things and seeing where they come from. If the right situation comes about, I guess it will turn into whatever it turns into, but as of right now I’m very aware of where I’m at. I would definitely like a lot more leverage under my name before I consider anything.

FWI: You’re planning to drop one more free project before releasing your debut album. Can you provide us with any details on the upcoming project?
QuESt: I already have the title and the direction where I want it to go at. I think the overall sound I’m not completely sure of what it’s going to be because I’ve learned to never let your sound dictate where your album goes, as much as you should let your voice and what you’re trying to say dictate where your album goes. This next album is going to be kind of an elevation. It’s going to be about having one foot in and one foot out. Searching Sylvan was very much about my life and my struggles and the things that I was going through; struggling on a very human level. Since then things have kind of progressed and situations have come about that have me in a position where I’m one foot into a whole ‘nother life and whole ‘nother world and one foot out to a lot of the same things that I’m still trying to do and a lot of the things that I’ve still been doing. It’s going to be very much a calm duality. It’s just going to be two records, two sides to this perspective that I have. It’s going to be a lot more refined and a lot more definitive as well. I feel like Searching Sylvan was my story. I don’t want my debut album to be a coming of age “like we did it, we’re here now.” I feel like a lot of people kind of fall into that trap and also I don’t want it to be, “this is my first album, so this is my story”. I feel like it’s a bit cliché, as well. I just wanted to get my story out already. So this next project is going to be a lot more definitive. It’s like what separated Drake when he put out Comeback Season and then when he put out So Far Gone. Comeback Season was just him grinding and really really trying to put something together and him telling you what’s going on and So Far Gone was him arriving. He arrived in his sound, he arrived in his maturity, he arrived in who he was and that’s kind of where I’m going to be taking things with this next project.

FWI: Can you give us the title of the upcoming project?
QuESt: I can’t say the title. I’ve been figuring out if I want to announce it soon or announce it later. A part of me wants to announce it soon, but as of right now I can’t release anything.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165085612″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: Do you have an approximate release date?
QuESt: In a perfect world it would be late Summer/early Fall. Which would be an exact year after Searching Sylvan. I just have to encompass a lot more energy around this next project. I don’t want to just drop another project cause I’m dropping another project. I want there to be more energy, I want there to be more momentum, I want there to be newer fans. I want there to be more of a different light and a different situation around me before I go into dropping this next project cause that’s what I had with Searching Sylvan. It was a completely different light, completely different platform, completely different fan base so that I can cater a project to them, too. I just want that same energy with that next project. In a perfect world it would be late Summer/early Fall, in a perfect world.

FWI: On Twitter you mentioned that you are planning to drop something special for you fans when you hit 30k. You’re almost there. Can you give us any details about that?
QuESt: I think I’m about a thousand away, which is really surreal in hindsight when I think about it. I’m thinking about possibly a record. Also, I’m thinking about the sale of the physical copies of Searching Sylvan. I might make it into an event. I’m all about whatever I put out or whatever I try to make the most of it. It’s something to celebrate. I know social media doesn’t really mean much, but when I started this year I had like less than 10 thousand followers and now I’m at like 30k. It’s something to kind of reflect on and say, “wow we did this” you know?

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/165085632″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FWI: Do you have any plans for an upcoming tour?
QuESt: Right now we’re setting up a bunch of spot shows. We’re also setting up a placement in SXSW. As far as touring goes, I’m looking into possibilities of opening for another larger artist. I know Logic is going to go on his Worldwide Tour and I’m not sure who he is going to be going on it with. But I’m going to be in a different situation and won’t be able to really go with him. We’re looking for opening spots to really begin touring on a higher level. Because one of the main things I want to do with this project is tap into a whole ‘nother fan base. A whole ‘nother audience and introduce a whole ‘nother group of people to what I’m doing. So in the meantime we’re just going to be setting up shows. We have a couple shows lined up in Miami. A couple shows lined up on the West Coast, a couple shows lined up in the Midwest as well. A couple that we’re trying to consolidate and figure out on the East Coast. We’re going to try to hit the game strong. It’s fourth quarter right now so things are kind of dying down. But first quarter next year we’re going full fledge.

FWI: Any last words for your fans?
QuESt: I just wanted to say thank you guys for supporting Searching Sylvan so much. Thank you for supporting me so much and thank you for being unreasonably patient with me throughout all of my journeys and everything that I have been through. I genuinely appreciate every single one of you guys.

Follow QuESt
twitter.com/YesIamQuESt
facebook.com/YesIamQuESt
soundcloud.com/yesiamquest

Follow FUXWITHIT
facebook.com/Fuxwithitblog
twitter.com/fuxwithitblog
soundcloud.com/fuxwithit-1

The post A Conversation with QuESt appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

“My first album had no famous guest appearances, the outcome: I’m crowned the best lyricist.” Nas’ reflection on Illmatic perfectly describes Logic’s debut Under Pressure. After building an immense fan base with country wide tours, consistently impressive mixtapes and the help of Visionary Music Group, the buzz for the album was massive. With the most iconic hip-hop label (Def Jam) backing him, the Maryland native opted to make a twelve track project that contains no rap features. Striving to make his own Illmatic, Logic wanted to create an album that was truly his. The album was executive produced by the legendary No I.D. and features production from 6ix, Logic, Dj Khalil, and more. Logic takes listeners on an intense journey that veers from uplifting and feel good vibes to dark and disturbing and everything in between. With too many standout tracks to highlight within a standard review, I felt it was necessary to dissect each track individually. So get ready to take a ride through the 2014 album of the year.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/173098350″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Intro  (Produced by 6ix)
The minimalistic and uplifting piano based backdrop allows Logic to spit with a conversational style that gives listeners the feel that he addressing them directly. The keys and delivery are reminiscent to Drake’s ‘Over My Dead Body’ but the differing song structure ensures the sound is still original. It’s the perfect warm-up to wet listeners appetites without getting too heavy too soon. The song contains a ton of quotables including his reflection on sales projections, “But I’m not defined by the sales of my first week, cause in my mind the only way i fail if my verse weak”. The track also introduces the album’s narrator Thalia who provides interesting facts throughout the album. The concept may seem familiar as it was borrowed from A Tribe Called Quest’s classic album Midnight Marauders.

Soul Food (Produced by Alkebulan, DJ Khalil, 6ix)
It doesn’t take long for the album to intensify with ‘Soul Food’ covering a wide range of topics from splurging on jewels, befriending hip-hop legends and most notably; the inner workings of his household growing up. It’s the first track that explores the darker aspects of his life, from crack being cooked in his family kitchen,  to his sister facing domestic abuse and much more. The pictures painted are so vivid you can almost feel his pain through the music,  “Welfare, food stamps, and stealing from the store, come home and see an eviction notice taped to my door, can’t take no more, momma on drugs, daddy M.I.A, what can I say? I just wanted to be a kid and play“. The second half of the track sees the beat and subject matter change. Logic addresses his career including early doubters, naysayers who claim he’s changed, and fans who constantly want more.

“Making a single before your album, is like putting together a trailer for a movie you have yet to shoot”

I’m Gone (Produced by 6ix)
This is one that the Bobby Soxers (female fans) will be bumping on repeat. It’s definitely not Logic’s most impressive feat lyrically or conceptually but it’s a smooth listen and the vocals from Jessica Andrea add a sexy back-and-forth that would otherwise be missing. Though it’s more geared towards the ladies, even hip-hop heads can’t help but bop to it. The closing also features the most insightful quote from the album’s narrator, “Making a single before your album, is like putting together a trailer for a movie you have yet to shoot.”

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/173098071″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Gang Related (Produced By 6ix)
Debatably the best cut on the album, ‘Gang Related’ takes listeners into the streets of Maryland. 6ix absolutely murders the beat and Logic comes through even harder. The track opens with eerie stretched vocal samples that sound like losts souls trapped in the beat. Further setting the scene the producer layers the percussion with iconic KRS-One samples conjuring imagery of stray bullets flying through the streets. The first verse sees Logic exploring memories of violence, drug trafficking and waking up to the sound of gunshots. His rapidfire flow adds a further element of intensity causing listeners to absorb his anxiety. In place of a hook is a real life news clip describing “a massive manhunt underway” in Logic’s neighborhood. The second verse sees the artist rhyming from the perspective of his older gang-affiliated brother. The bars provide deeply personal information, striking wordplay and a trip into the mind of a man in the streets, “Selling crack to my own pops, pushing this weight on my own block, if I sell a brick I can buy a house, if they find the key they might lock me up, but I take the chance cause I need that shit and don’t give a fuck”. The track closes with lightening quick delivery that further makes a case for best flow in the game.

Buried Alive (Produced by Dun Deal & Logic)
The most recent single off the album ‘Buried Alive’ is the most catchy and radio friendly. The song centres around Logic coming to terms with his recent stardom. The hook puts the rappers concerns at centre stage, “I feel like the grass is green, and everything I do is unseen…Look around everyone changes, it feels like I’ve be buried alive” and features one of my favourite simple but witty punchlines on the album “people only in your life as seasons, word to aunt Viv”. The track shows Logic’s ability to make a song that is radio friendly without compromising his integrity. A feat that is one of the greatest challenges for young artists.

Bounce (Produced by S1, M-Phazes)
Now this is an anthem primed for the upcoming tour. The track features a number of hard hitting drops and easy to sing along bars (“out the blue like a crip, but I never bang though!”) and a variety of flows. I can picture him on stage turning up to this, busting jumps and spin moves as the beat drops. One of the highlights of the track is about 40 seconds in as the verse gains intensity and a drum build convinces listeners that something heavy is about to hit. A “psyche” ad-lib let’s you know that it’s not coming just yet. It’s little touches like this that show Logic’s sense of humour and illustrate his attention to detail.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/173098103″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Growing Pains III (Produced by Tae Beast, Skhye Hutch, 6ix)
In his autobiography Decoded, Jay-Z discusses how Run’s (Run DMC) flow enabled him to “bang out a rhythmic idea” and that it is as “exciting as watching a middleweight throw a perfect combination”. The rhythm and form in which he delivered each bar punctuated what he was saying and truly functioned as it’s own instrument. When I heard the first verse on ‘Growing Pains III’ it immediately reminded of Jay’s description. The way Logic enunciates each word and delivers the verse serves as the percussion until the drums comes in. The second verse features one of the deepest and most tragic trips into the rapper’s mind as a child. “Turn on the TV let it wash my brain, pretend that family’s my family to avoid the pain, hello children, how was school?, It was good, how bout you?, I love you (I love you son), I love mama too, are you ready for dinner? I’m able to set the table, till I snap out the fable when that TV turn off and I realize I’m back in hell.” It’s such a vivid memory that you almost feel as though you’re there with him. Some fans were initially disappointed that he changed the structure from the earlier Growing Pains tracks (no Kanye sample) but after a few spins it’s hard to disagree with Logic’s decision. This is easily one of the most impressive songs on the near perfect album.

Never Enough (Produced by DJ Dahi)
A long laid back intro gives this track an early feel of an interlude, that is until almost a minute in when the beat and bars start flowing. Paying homage to Kid Cudi and Outkast, Logic borrows classic lines to sprinkle within the verse that give the track instant familiarity. This is a party track for hip-hop heads. There’s no heavy bass or banging 808s but a nostalgic feel good vibe and bars about getting faded make it perfect to sip something and vibe to.

Metropolis (Produced by Rob Knox & Logic)
‘Metropolis’ sees Logic reflecting on his travels with wordplay that hops from trains, planes and automobiles. “Okay, doing what I gotta do, flying at this altitude, I look out of the window like goddamn, that’s what I really do” & “Stop giving a fuck cause music gotta be the only motive, mind racing on and off the track, I’m going locomotive”. Taking him from his first sold out show in Chicago to smoking blunts in Amsterdam. It also has some bars dedicated to Nikki which is sure to have you wondering Who is Nikki already!? Don’t worry we’re about to get there.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/173098375″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Nikki (Produced by Logic & 6ix)
One of the most highly anticipated tracks on the album. A few months prior to the release, Logic teased fans with the hashtag #WhoIsNikki. The Twitterverse was running wild with their suspicions but with the album’s release, the question was finally answered. ‘Nikki’ is nothing short of amazing. The track is positioned as a love song personifying his greatest addiction. Logic drops subtle (“I love it when you’re fresh, I love it when I take your top off and we share the same breath”) and not so subtle hints (“You the only girl I need I gotta have you back, even though you turn my lungs black”) throughout. And doesn’t blatantly spell it out until the end of the second verse. The impressive double entendres and wordplay are reminiscent of legends who have gone in similar directions. Most notably Jay-Z’s ‘I Know’ and Common’s classic ‘I Used to Love Her’.

Under Pressure (Produced by Logic)
When you see a song that is nine minutes long on an album’s tracklist it builds a certain level of expectation. The title track is a two part effort, the first served as a single, with strong production and a viscous flow. The hook foreshadows the second half with Logic tapping the perspective of his sister and father trying to get in touch. In an album that is deeply personal this song stands out as the most telling. The subject matter is quite heavy and ranges from various forms of abuse experienced by his sister to disagreements with his dad “But do you think you could stop rapping about my drug use?”. It’s rare for an artist to give this much of his family life on a song and it even features samples from his father to add to the authenticity. The final verse has him finally getting back to his family. The fact that he addresses them all with one verse instead of separately really supports his lyrics outlining his overly busy life. It’s a heavy listen but it is definitely one of the strongest efforts on the album. Subtle samples from first half of the song are layered throughout creating enhanced pulses of anxiety.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/173098679″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Till The End (Produced by S1 & M-Phazes)
The album closes in a similar vein to its beginning. Under Pressure takes listeners on an emotional ride so ending on an upbeat note is a great decision, especially considering how heavy the previous track is. From the production to the lyrics the feeling is that of triumph and Logic does find some time to stunt in a humorous way “won’t speak on my bank account, so many commas I’d have to pause, and I really can’t afford to waste the bars”. It also has him showing his loyalty to VMG, the label who helped to grow his career. “Tell Def Jam if they don’t cut the check, I’ll send Chris to go cut their neck, I love the building, no disrespect, but yall better ride when I’m in effect, that’s radio, that’s TV, but Visionary got the internet, if y’all fuck around or try to throw the ball to another artist, imma intercept.”

Under Pressure is the most impressive debut since Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City and is the best album of the year (so far). We previously named Logic The Best Rapper Without and Album Out and though that title is no longer applicable, his rookie effort has cemented his status as the best up-and-comer in the game. It’s only the beginning of what we predict to be a long and impressive career for the talented young artist. You can stream the entire project below and be sure to grab a copy on iTunes. The deluxe version features ‘Driving Ms. Daisy’ ft. Childish Gambino, ‘Now’, and ‘Alright’ ft. Big Sean. All 3 songs helped to  build buzz for the album but would feel slightly out of place within the main body of work. By adding them as bonus tracks they serve as additional support that doesn’t impact the overall feel of the album.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/55911396″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Review: Logic – Under Pressure – Under the Microscope appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

“I’m not defined by the sales in my first week, the only way I fail is if my verse week.”

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/55911396″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Logic – Under Pressure – Full Album Stream appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

“Maybe I’m a little psycho for hopping on the beat/ But the logical part of me telling me you feeling it B/ See I’m a lyrical entity blowing minds like Kennedy/ With controversial lines so everybody remember me/ I’m repping Maryland/ If you bite I’ll snap on you like a Terrapin/ Flyer than an airplane/ I’m just fucking around”

Keep in mind this track is off his first mixtape from 2010. Which begs the question “how the f*ck did it take him this long to blow if he was this nice back then”!? Not that it matters cause Logic is finally on and he’s about to kill the game. Enjoy the track and let us know your thoughts below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX8OzAtX6N8&w=480&h=360]

The post #tbt – Tracks You May Have Missed – Logic – Wordplay appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/171273542″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Logic – Buried Alive appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/170908576″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Quest – Back & More appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/167903150″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Logic – Under Pressure appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

“This isn’t me telling you to download my mixtape…this is me asking you to listen to my story.”  The closing words of the trailer serve as the perfect introduction to the project. On Searching Sylvan Quest takes the listener on a journey through his life. It is sure to draw quick comparisons to Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid Madd City but it personally brought back memories of Masta Ace’s concept albums (Disposable Arts, A Long Hot Summer) and even the classic hip-hopera A Prince Among Theives. If you’ve listened to any of those albums you know those are pretty big claims but a few listens will make it hard to debate.

I must admit my expectations for the mixtape weren’t terribly high. I’d heard his verse on ’24 Freestyle’ and saw him open for Logic on the ‘While You Wait’ Tour and thought “this guy is pretty decent I’ll keep my eye on him”. When pressing play I expected to like a few songs pull them onto my phone and call it a day. As I began listening I fought the early urge to skip through the tape listening to songs here and there. Instead I began listening from front to back and was quickly drawn in. There are few albums that have the pull of Searching Sylvan. It’s an extremely well crafted narrative that is deeply personal, impeccably produced and inspirational. From family issues, to street drama and his struggle to make it as an artist. Each track gives you a peice of Quest’s life and leaves the listener feeling like they’ve been a fan for years or even a friend who’s watched him through the journey.

Though it is technically a mixtape, it is beyond album quality and I predict it to go down as one of the best projects of the year. I was going to run through my favourite tracks but this truly needs to be listened to from the very beginning to its close (you won’t be disappointed). You can stream the tape below and grab the free download at SearchingSylvan.com. Quest is about to have a huge year and we guarantee you’ll be hearing his name pop up everywhere really soon, so get familiar.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/48597518″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Quest – Searching Sylvan appeared first on FUXWITHIT.