Surf Gang head honcho Evilgiane is a star in his own right, but he’s still at his most inspired in a posse. The second record in his #Heavensgate series recruits both familiar faces (Xaviersobased, RealYungPhil, Slimesito, Harto Falión) and fresh recruits (Jckzebra, Lazer Dim 700, Rico Nasty) to do their worst over 23 pulsating, aqueous beats, which flow so naturally it’s easy to mistake them for your own heartbeat. Giane’s signature is easily clockable these days for anyone casually familiar with hip-hop’s post-Carti underground, but #Heavensgate2 indicates he still has plenty of new ground to cover, and opportunities to stretch his sound.
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Tucker Zimmerman: Dream Me a Dream [Big Potato]
When news broke earlier this year that singer-songwriter Tucker Zimmerman had died in a house fire with his wife, Marie-Claire Lambert, an immediate outpouring from the public further cemented the importance of his catalog in the American folk canon. But on Dream Me a Dream, Zimmerman’s final record, absolutely no haughty airs infiltrate his singular perspective. Brought to life with support from Big Potato’s own Nick Holton, Dream Me a Dream is Zimmerman at his most centered: exploring shades of love and connection through rich depictions of the natural world. The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two. Those who worked closest with Zimmerman on the record couldn’t have known it would be his last statement at the time. And yet, as a closing note to a luminous career, Dream Me a Dream succeeds in spades.
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Big Freedia x Sophie: Released At Last [We Are: The Guard]
