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Nic Hernandez

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Poor Vida's Third Annual Elements of Hip-Hop Drops Knowledge

By Nic Hernandez
Jul 5, 2012

In the native tongue of hip-hop heads, the notion of the Four Elements is as familiar as the boom-bap of an 808 drum machine. Allow us this quick primer for those who may be less familiar. Hip-hop culture is composed of four distinct disciplines, or elements, that together make up...
A.Dd+ Can't Sit Still

By Nic Hernandez
Mar 15, 2012

On paper, it's easy to trace the ascent of Arrias Walls and Dionte Rembert. Since the 2010 release of When Pigs Fly, the debut album from A.Dd+, the duo, who go by Paris Pershun and Slim Gravy, respectively, have opened for Erykah Badu, Big K.R.I.T. and Wu-Tang Clan. They were...
Our 34 picks for 35 Denton

By Catherine Downes, Kelly Dearmore, Audra Schroeder, Deb Doing Dallas, Daniel Rodrigue, Nic Hernandez and Brian Rash
Mar 8, 2012

Read more: 35 Denton Cleans Up Its Block and Rebrands Itself THURSDAY Bleached The Labb, 11:30 p.m. San Fernando Valley sisters Jessica and Jennifer Clavin formed California beach-punk band Bleached after their previous group, Mika Miko, dissolved in 2009. Bleached combine sun-soaked, carefree rock with a tinge of late-'70s punk...
Sore Losers Collectively Reinvent Themselves

By Nic Hernandez
Feb 2, 2012

The unofficial turning point for local hip-hop came with the late 2009 release of Sore Losers' Free Loaders, a free mixtape that gave Dallas artists like The Mohicans, A.Dd+, Tunk and -topic room to explore new territory. At the time, the freeloaders were emcee Vince Brown and producer Brandon Blue,...
Erykah Badu & The Cannabinoids

Friday, January 20, at the Granada Theater

By Nic Hernandez
Jan 19, 2012

Master your art and rise to the level of royalty. That's what Erykah Badu did when she assumed the moniker "Queen of Neo-Soul." While many would be satisfied with reaching the peak of a genre, Badu is ambitious enough to conquer new territory. These days her efforts are grounded in...
It's all "Fa Shiggadow" to Hip-Hop Duo The Mohicans

By Nic Hernandez
Dec 22, 2011

While hip-hop meccas like New York and California have produced their own unique sound and pedigree, Dallas has long lived in the shadow of its older brother Houston. A few years back, North Texas made a strong push to pave its own lane on the strength of artists like Dirty...
K.MC

Laptops and Voicemails Self-released

By Nic Hernandez
Oct 13, 2011

For the past couple years, K.MC has been bubbling at the edges of the North Texas hip-hop underground, forming alliances with other standouts like Tunk and Blue (formerly of Sore Losers) as a member of the Brain Gang collective. There's been a steady stream of music and guest appearances from...
A Cool Open Mic Night? It Exists.

By Nic Hernandez
Sep 29, 2011

Outside of 2826 Arnetic in Deep Ellum, a small crowd has gathered near the door, casually conversing. Not far off, maybe 20 feet down the sidewalk, a young man paces — not frantically, but with a sense of purpose. A towel hangs over his shoulders as he stares at a...
Physical CD Sales Still Thrive at Dallas' Big T Bazaar.

By Nic Hernandez
Apr 21, 2011

Back in February, when Dallas rapper Big Chief announced that he'd signed a recording contract with Cash Money Records, home to rap superstars Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj among others, it came as something of a surprise. Not because Chief was some sort of no-name, though. Anyone who's paid...
A.Dd+

When Pigs Fly (Self-released)

By Nic Hernandez
Mar 24, 2011

It was supposed to be one of the most hotly anticipated releases in the history of Dallas hip-hop. That was 2010. Turns out the delay in the release of When Pigs Fly from local rap duo A.Dd+ was the most well-calculated move the young group could have executed. Although it...
Datahowler

Slowdrifter (Self-released)

By Nic Hernandez
Feb 17, 2011

Checking in under 40 minutes, Datahowler's full-length debut, Slowdrifter, stands as a rich exploration of a sound that's distinctively hip-hop at its core, yet simultaneously runs away from many of the formalized conventions of the genre. With a decidedly sci-fi tone dominating the release, Datahowler crafts a soundscape that stands...
Rusko, Dub Assembly

Friday, April 30, at Trees

By Nic Hernandez
Apr 29, 2010

Trees, once hailed as one of the meccas of Dallas live performance, has yet to return to its former position of glory in its latest incarnation. But Friday night's Rusko show, brought to you by local promoter Feezy Duz It, definitely lends credibility to the venue, bringing the club its...
Damaged Good$

$pread Love Not Germ$ (Self-released)

By Nic Hernandez
Mar 11, 2010

Last week, Damaged Good$ dropped its $pread Love Not Germ$ mixtape as a free download available at damageisgood.com, ending months of dangling the carrot in front of its fans. See, the mixtape was the culmination of a project that saw the duo hosting a charity show and releasing a single...
P.O.S., Astronautalis, Dessa

Saturday, February 27, at Hailey's Club, Denton

By Nic Hernandez
Feb 25, 2010

For the majority of the rap world, the pool of influences is composed of a very shallow range of artists. So many will list among their favorites Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Rakim and Tupac. But artists Astronautalis and P.O.S. quite clearly stray from those conventions, drawing from a seemingly widening supply...
Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr.,Lou Barlow & the Missing Men

Thursday, October 22, at the Granada Theater

By Nic Hernandez
Oct 22, 2009

It's not often that one gets the opportunity to witness the rock royalty. But that's exactly what's in store for the audience for Thursday's double-headlining bill featuring Dinosaur Jr. and Built to Spill, whose combined careers span three generations of indie rock. Add to that mix a third performance, this...
Meet Chucky Sly, Your Favorite Local Rapper's Favorite Local Rapper

By Nic Hernandez
Oct 2, 2009

It's appropriate that Chucky Sly's long-awaited debut album is titled The Unseen Mechanism—the local MC has excelled under the radar for much more than a decade and a half. He moved here in 1991 from Germany, but since, he's consistently operated with the singular task of creating exceptional music. "When I...
Dallas Observer Music Awards

By Lance Lester, Pete Freedman, Jesse Hughey, Darryl Smyers, Alan Ayo, Catherine Downes, Nic Hernandez, Daniel Rodrigue, Merritt Martin, Melissa Crowe, Eric Grubbs and Noah W. Bailey
Jul 23, 2009

Last year, at our 20th annual Dallas Observer Music Awards, there was a distinct theme of tradition behind all the festivities. And rightfully so: 20 years is indeed a long time. Countless great acts have passed through and risen up in Dallas during that time period. But there's just something...