Who knew that when we first heard the song “Reaching Out” over a year ago that it would be the beginning of a solo album by Saving Thomas frontman, Dave Bak? Well, that’s the path that he’s taken, dropping Voices today with the help of a number of guest artists including Decipher, Jason Min, Manifest, Lyricks, Andrew Ha, Sam Ock & Sarah So. There are a dozen songs on here by the singer/rapper, and is available via Bandcamp. For a little additional context behind the lead single “Reaching Out” and the album as a whole, check out the video clip after the break.

1.Reaching out feat. Decipher and Jason Min
2.Winter Storm feat. Sarah So
3.Paralyzed
4.Compromise feat. Manifest and Lyricks
5.Voices (Interlude)
6.Voices
7.This Time I’ll Stay
8.Gratitude
9.David’s Cry feat. Sarah So
10.Is Anyone Out There? feat. Andrew Ha
11.Go feat. Sam Ock
12.The Facebook Song

SuperNoVa/Beautiful Cycle representative, Manifest makes a return with “Like That”, a new joint off an upcoming yet-to-be-titled EP. He takes a few minutes to air out his grievances on the state of Hip-Hop and the industry, all set to a minimalistic, self-produced beat. If you “Like That”, then be sure to pick it up via his Bandcamp widget, below.

“Like That”

I’m just an analog rapper with a digital surface
making beats, next step is i just pick one and murk it
is it perfect? i don’t know but y’all describe it as ‘murdered’
had to get that out the way before we went any further
they say that 2012 is it, that leaves a year right?
meaning i don’t got much left?…yeah i’ma veer right
sorry i don’t buy it, never take what they implying
i don’t care about the Mayans, i just trust in God’s timing
knock em out the box mani, knock em out
drop your confidence like confetti,
still there’s a lot many steady waiting begging for knowledge i’ll be your library
full of wu verses of course Biggie and Makaveli
i’m a problem and you’ve hit rock bottom
you are prolly why hiphop’s rotting
so i kinda find this ironic
when you’re claiming like “this my honor”
but then you go ‘head and piss right on it

But you don’t hear me do ya?

Last year Nicki Minaj went IN on ‘Monster’
This year Nicki Minaj look like a monster
might as well make an odd future with Tyler
it does seem breezy but are u sure rihanna
let me do the honors here and say I DON’T LIKE THAT
real emcees never see the pay I DON’T LIKE THAT
this song’ll prolly never see the light of day I DON’T LIKE THAT
and the world got they eyes on Jeremy Lin, yo I LIKE THAT
i heard some OG’s forming up a standard
which is cool but kinda desperate if u ask me that’s my answer
i like em by they own but i guess it’s good timing
build a ladder by the charts if ur thinking u could climb it
Nas is still nasty, I’m over lil wayne though
feeling rich forever but the camp’s got the same flow
it was a cold world, till i heard Cole World
sparked my inner kanye to show it to the whole world

But you don’t hear me do ya?

You counting sheep, I’m counting blessings in my sleep even
my fountain’s deep, I found your vessel but it keeps leaking
feel the beast breathing man it’s peak season
let the world walk around in my shoes although my feet freezin
was borderline bored of rhyming but there’s more to my
album orders, i’ll be sure we both can pour the wine
i rather break bread than make bread or break even
it ain’t leaving. cheddar cheese there’s always more to grind
the game’s a quarter blind if it’s never seen me though
there the grass is green yeah i see the low
nah i wouldn’t say i’m all grown but i’m homegrown
holdon when did it turn to swag instead of mojo, i don’t like that
there go all the legends i want mike back
rest in peace whitney can’t believe it what a nightmare
so many crooked paths, to go straight is to sidetrack
i might snap, we need the real back than just a nice track

but you don’t hear me do ya?

2011 was a banner year in the world of Asian-American music. We saw more releases than ever, more artists achieving more mainstream success, and more fans across more ethnic backgrounds recognizing the great music by our artists. But along with more of the good comes more of the bad – with there also being an influx in mediocre music, an increase in hate and bigotry (check Youtube comments) and even more pressure to try and stand out. That’s why I wanted to look back on the past year and choose what I consider to be my top 10 favorite music videos from 2011. Now this doesn’t mean that these are the MVs with the top production values (although this is often the case), but rather it’s a reflection of what I found to be the most well executed, balanced, and entertaining visuals. On the very last page we also have a list of 10 honorable mentions that I thought deserved to be recognized as well.

So without futher ado let’s jump straight into number 10…

10. IAMMEDIC – “Spaceship” (article)

Electronica-Pop group IAMMEDIC took the concept of their song “Spaceship” to the max by injecting a silly Star Trek inspired motif and alien abduction. The video is fun, looks great, and represents the high energy of the audio perfectly. Deep? Not so much, but fun and well executed? Very much so.

Directors/Cinematographers/ Dan Fisher and Ed Park
Produced by Joe Park and IAMMEDIC
Edited by Steve Arcenio
Visual Effects – Ed Park and Derrick Lee
3D Model by Daniel Harris
“Spaceship” Written and Produced by IAMMEDIC
Mixed by Enik Lin

Next Page >>

With Drake being undoubtedly one of the hottest acts in the business right now, it’s no wonder why his music has been covered and remixed by artists thousands of times over. For this installment of our Showdown series we’ve decided to highlight a few recent remixes of Drake’s song “The Motto” featuring Lil Wayne. This one is a three way battle with On Fire & Rocky in one corner, Hopie repping the fairer sex on her own in another, and a huge mega roster of artists in the last corner – comprised of Lyricks, De, The Yellow Boyz, Excel Cruz, Koreone, Manifest & Smokes. So by all means, go ahead and take a listen to the three renditions and vote for your favorite below!

On Fire Ent x Rocky Sandoval

Hopie Spitshard

Lyricks, Decipher, Al P, JL, Excel Cruz, Koreone, PassDa, Joel, Manifest, Smokes

So who do you think did the track the must justice? The one two punch of On Fire & Rocky? Hopie rocking the mic via webcam? Or the gigantic 10-man lineup from this years’ Asian Hip-Hop Summit tour? Cast your vote now! Why? … Bragging rights? We really don’t have an answer except to say it’s fun!

L to R: Lyricks, Dumbfoundead, Esna Yoon, Manifest, Zo, Lyraflip, JL

I’m honestly not sure when or where this picture was taken, or even how we found it. But my best guess is that this is on set of the music video for “Lava” by JL, L. Scatterbrain, Lyraflip, Lyricks, Manifest, Dumbfoundead and DJ Zo – meaning the photo has to be at least a year and a half to two years old. How’s that for a Snapshot in time? Esna makes an appearance though L.S. is curiously missing… perhaps he’s taking the picture?

Odd to think how much has happened since this photo was taken. Mani & JL have been to Korea and back again (welcome home fellas!), Lyricks has remained a staple in the DMV/East Coast Hip-Hop scene, Dumb & Zo have been conquering the world… and I dunno where Flip & Scatter are right now. They’ve been kind of quiet, fell off our radar a bit. Can’t wait to see what will become of everyone in another two years!

Say Cheese!

LYRICS:

DECIPHER:
I was given a gift
could picture the pain of my people, paint it perfect, depict it as if
it was me trying to get at a citizenship, some wouldn’t get on the ship
but I understand them, call you chink, can’t understand it
but you recognize hate in their eyes, but they can’t see yours, your eyes are slanted
our parents were fiending for their share of the green
was it arrogant greed, the American dream, or the care to succeed as America’s cleaners
apparently we the slaves now, picking their cotton and pressing it flat
pick it up promptly, ready in half an hour to an hour, now the question is asked
credit or cash? we probably better at math or so I’ve been told
tried to divide our division in half, in addition to that, they know we got soul
low and behold, we folding their clothes, language barriers bury us
we drive terribly, curious how we got cast in Fast and the Furious
the problem being Bobby Lee is proudly being an Uncle Tomagachi
Hollywood got him good, wouldn’t watch me serving hot tea, work a wok, he the perfect Chinese
role model, eyeglasses made out of Coke bottles
TaeKwanDo spokes model, sister’s an import model
I am not gonna follow.

MANIFEST:
What’s wrong with an Asian rapping? everything.
people rather see me study medicine,
‘stead of picking up a mic, spitting in the booth
try to pick a fight cause you looking similar to Bruce
but I had soul as a lasso, through the backdoor
had to blast off from the plateau
went from sitting in the back row to killing rap shows
leaving assholes baffled, I put us on the map yo
never mind your remarks Imma go hard
till I’m getting more customers than Walmart
and we’re not just doctors, watch us
rock this mic till hiphop just prospers
get rid of the middleman now wit the internet, better give hundred percent
and credit the veterans never contend wit them, listen they telling them “Mani went in”
I’m breaking the trend, maybe I’m born to be different
what an epiphany, gonna make history now
who the ones that did this to me now, throw a diss get a fist to the mouth Imma show yall
please make no noise, I don’t mind if you hate my voice, respect me
and it’s not just music, props to the man overseas who made Old Boy
this the new generation of Asians, killing all the stereotypes having a hell of a time
always thought if you living by the rules and you never making moves, then it’s better to die
the majority will generalize instead of giving recognition solely cause of the shape of our eyes?
sweeter than grapes on a vine, all you suckas need to see greatness, put the hate to the side
let me rise.

DJ cuts by DJ Zo

Produced by Anno Domini

Video by Descendant Films
www.descendantfilms.com

Writer/Director: Erik Lu
Executive Producers: Andy Yoo/ Soonho Choi
Producers: Willa Yeh/ Franklin Shen

With the calendar officially reading October 31st we find ourselves upon the release date for JL‘s latest mixtape project, Destination:Murdertown. There are 10 tracks both old and new on this one featuring a roster of strictly immediate and extended family guest artists courtesy of drops by Lyricks, Mani and De. The tape is available as a free DL via the Bandcamp widget below but feel free to kick in a few bucks if you want to show some financial support.