"I Am Not a DJ, This is Not a Replay"

When I think of Keys N Krates, I think of hype, high pitches samples and bangin' trap music. That's not to say their new album isn't that, but Cura strikes me as much more melodic and break-beat heavy than I'm used to. It's as if they're trying to channel their inner DJ Premier with more Hip Hop sounding beats that are sprinkled with live instrumentation.

Music To My Ears epitomizes the whole live instrumentation generalization I made above. The high-pitched strings and soothing vocals of Tory Lanez produce an overwhelmingly jubilant, feel-good vibe on the track. It's much more mellow than some of my favorites from Keys N Krates like Treat Me Right, but I can appreciate how their style has evolved over the year. Their trap sound has always done a solid job of mixing both Hip Hop and EDM flavors, so the fact that their new album slants a little more heavily toward Hip Hop is all good with me. Check it on iTunes or Spotify if you're as intrigued by their ability to exist on the wide spectrum from EDM to Hip Hop...#Cura



Keys N Krates feat Tory Lanez - Music To My Ears

Keys N Krates Deliver the Goods on New One, Right Here

If every week could end with a new Keys N Krates track to bang out over the weekend, we'd all be better off. Lucky for us, that came to fruition this week as they released a new single with KRANE titled Right Here. What you can expect is a bouncy, ball of energy packed with Keys usual high pitched vocal samples. It goes hard and doesn't dare look back, toeing the line between organized and chaotic, which is exactly what I expect out of one of my favorite Trap trios. Follow me on over to Spotify to earmark this one for many listens later...#RightHere

Keys N Krates x KRANE - Right Here

"There's Nothing But Space Between Us"

You know that feeling when an artist that you feel like you know really well goes into uncharted waters? I'm talking about that uneasiness and momentary discomfort as you decide whether this new sound expands your respect for them or erodes away at the base of your fandom for them. Well that just happened for me as I tried to wrap my head around Keys N Krates' new one featuring the vocals of Laura Aqui.

The entire first minute of Nothing But Space I thought they were about to launch into a full-on pop ballad, which would have been a really big departure from the boomy trap they usually put out. Then the drop came and gave way to the steady thump that I was expecting all along. Now after the third listen, I'm really liking the stark contrast between the chill vocal build up and the melodic, post-drop beat. All in all, the track is net positive for me because it evolved what I thought the duo from the T dot was capable of putting out. That beat ride out the last minute and a half is cooooold too. Don't sleep on that or their new Midnight Mass EP that will be landing on iTunes in about a week on January 15th...#NothingButSpace

Keys N Krates feat Laura Aqui - Nothing But Space

Keys N Krates Just Let Loose a Bangin' New Single

Man, if you're wondering why Keys N Krates have consistently been one of my top five trap groups, look no further than their new single. U Already Know represents everything I love about their music. It's bouncy, it's fun, there are high pitched samples in the mix and they never leave you wanting more on drops.

I didn't expect a full one minute build leading up to the first drop, but it did the trick in upping my level of intrigue. It's their third single off the upcoming Midnite Mass EP that is scheduled to drop on January 15th. Out of the three singles, this is by far my favorite because the horns and bass remind me a lot of Hip Hop beats I've enjoyed in the past. You can bet if you receive a mix of mine in the next three months, this one will absolutely be on it...#UAlreadyKnow

Keys N Krates - U Already Know

"Oh This is Crazy, Ever Since I Caught Your Eye"

My affinity for chopped up Hip Hop is what lead me down the path of becoming a big fan of Keys N Krates. The Canadian trio have a distinct style that usually includes steep, bass heavy drops and high pitched vocal samples. Save Me is definitely in the neighborhood of that description with Katy B chipping in the vocals this time around. They do such a good job of varying the sound by adding and subtracting elements from the beat post-drop. If you're a Spotify user, you're in luck because you can stream it exclusively here. For those of you eager to cop it, you'll need to wait patiently until it drops on June 23rd via Dim Mak Recordsc...#SaveMe

Keys N Krates feat Katy B - Save Me

Videos of the Week May 15th

Generally there's a significant dose of novelty or shenanigans in my weekly top five videos, but this week was more straight forward with music leading the way. Lead by videos for new singles from HudMo and Keys N Krates, there's definitely an EDM slant to the music. If you're into ancient Egypt and trap music, you'll dig the video for Hypnotik. Prior to this week I had a musical blind spot in the form of Huey Mack, but that changed this week when he churned out a video for Funeral with Twista and Afrojack. Twista on an EDM track?? Yes please!

On a non-EDM tip, Straight No Chaser showed again why they're not your average acapella group. After having seen them perform live, I don't need any more convincing, they set the bar when it comes to polished vocal collaboration. Rounding out the top five is Jimmy Fallon and Jack Black's crack at Extreme's More Than Words. It's a little nuts how close to the original they came, but that's what makes it so awesome...#WhisperChallenge
Hudson Mohawke feat Irfane - Very First Breath (Video)

Keys N Krates - Hypnotik (Video)

Jimmy Fallon & Jack Black Recreate More Than Words (Video)

Straight No Chaser - Make You Feel My Love (Video)

Huey Mack feat Afrojack & Twista - Play This at My Funeral (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Keys N Krates Are Doing It and Doing It Well

High pitched, bouncy and repetitive. Those are the words I would associate with Keys N Krates general sound. It doesn't matter if they are remixing or on their own, they have an amped up style that is hard to mistake with anyone else's. I don't care how successful your style may or may not be, the fact that people can pick your music out in a crowded genre of EDM is a win.

For reference, the original version of Charli XCX and Rita Ora's track is below if you haven't heard it on Top 40 yet...
It will be hard to top the success of the original version of the track, but anytime a remix can successfully reimagine a core element of the original track (like tempo or bass for example), I'd consider it a success. Chalk another one up for Keys N Krates who found a way to twist the original into a position that I'm board with...#DoingIt

Charli XCX feat Rita Ora - Doing It (Keys N Krates Remix)

My Theory on How Hip Hop Has Contributed to Trap

Just when you thought Keys'N Krates had trap all figured out, they went and threw us all a Hip Hop curveball. Led by speaker rattling bass and a very simple sample, the instrumental BEATS! On first listen, you’d think this beat was meant for Ludacris or (fill in Atlanta rapper).

After listening to this, I’ve got a theory why trap is now such a growing genre. Hear me out on this one…my thought is that all of us Hip Hop heads that grew up listening to the 808 thunder that Dr Dre brought on every beat needed a new object of our musical affection. With many of the big time Hip Hop producers like Dre, Timbo, Scott Storch, Danja, The Runners no longer continuing to push the creative envelope in Hip Hop, a huge opportunity opened up for other similarly hype genres like EDM to fill the void. I can’t speak for everyone, but a lot of the beats the aforementioned producers cooked up were the reason why I listened. In other words, the instrumentals allowed me to palate the verses that were usually passable at best by even some of the biggest named stars (looking at you 50 cent).

Now along comes this new genre with just as much bass and energy, but we don’t have to digest sub-par verses anymore. Now that I think about it, it’s like having your favorite sandwich without have to ask for no onions. It just comes the way you like it without any added nonsense that could take away from its luster. Call me an outlier if you will, but if you’ve been visiting this neighborhood of the Internet over the past few years, hopefully the explanation above helps you understand the rationale of why I shifted what I post toward more EDM/trap music the past year or two.

Genesis and evolution of trap aside, I love me some Keys'N Krates. I still have yet to be disappointed by any of their releases and they are steadily rising on my list of must see acts…#KeysNKrates

Keys'N Krates - Yes We Faded

Mad Decent Keeps it 100

When you break out the cover art with monster trucks, you better bring the heat. That's exactly what Grandtheft & Keys N Krates did with Keep It 100. It's full of all sorts of trap goodness with screwed up vocals and bouncy bass to boot. Shout out to Mad Decent for not only pulling together the collabo, but also offering up the track free to download. Great music doesn't usually fall off trees, but when it comes to staying on the forefront of trap music, Mad Decent knows what's up...#KeepIt100

Grandtheft & Keys N Krates - Keep It 100

Videos of the Week January 31st

Thanks to some stellar YouTube shares I was sent this week by friends or more specifically GWDJ crew members holding the W in this photo, I'm pretty excited about the spread this week. If you want the heads up some breakout artists for 2014, you need to watch the brief clips of BBC's Longlist (assist to Mikey Mike). All I can say is, Sam Smith and BANKS should be on everyone radar, list, post-it, you name it, they should be on it.

If you're looking for novel, look no further than the terrific rendition of Avicii's Wake Me Up by the Red Hot Chili Pipers. In my eyes bagpipes > synthesizers. You might not have heard that Cudi is starring in the new Need For Speed movie. With a new album on the way in February, he's got a lot of things going for him now. Oh yea, Keys N Krates are still awesome and the cavalcade of Super Bowl ads are already starting to emerge. Doesn't get much cuter than what Budweiser did...#XLVIII
The BBC Song of 2014 Longlist

Budweiser Super Bowl XLVIII Commercial "Puppy Love"

Need For Speed Movie Trailer

Red Hot Chili Pipers Cover Avicii's Wake Me Up

Keys N Krates - I Just Can't Deny (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Keys N Krates Will Treat You Right

I've written this before, but I'll continue to preach it until it truly becomes reality. Now that Hip Hop has asserted itself over the last decade as a mainstay in pop culture and electronic music is pop culture's new darling, it's only a matter of time before the genres make sweet love and create a beautiful baby. The closest to that baby has been Hudson Mohawke, but the Canadian trio Keys N Krates seem to have the right idea too. They're toying with the winning formula of drums, synths and turntables to create their own mixture of Hip House awesomeness.

Their newest one is a great indication of why I'm so high on them. Treat Me Right is like a slightly more Hip Hop, but equally addicting version of the Bingo Players' Cry (Just a Little). Where the Bingo Players turn left to house, Keys N Krates turns right to Hip Hop...feel me? Below is their storybooks come to life video for Treat Me Right...

I know what you're thinking, that's straight trap music due to it's repetitive nature. Call it what you want, I call it awesome and the only thing I'm going to apologize for is being about three months late on posting this track. Assist to Diplo's Endless Summer playlist for schooling me on Keys N Krates...#TreatMeRight

Keys N Krates - Treat Me Right