B-Side Guys

We have two goals here with our blog and our podcast; we want to help you find a bunch of new artists that you love, and we also want to support those artists. We came up with a new idea for a post where we take a genre, and give you a few artists within that genre. That way, it helps everyone. If you come here because you love one artist, you’ve got five more that you’re probably going to love now. That helps you load up your playlist with tracks that will impress your friends, and it also helps the artists hit untapped markets and possibly network with likeminded artists they didn’t know existed. Without further ado, I present “The Flock.”

Emil – Alive

Emil hits just in time for summer with his beach ready single, Alive. The whole premise behind the song is to enjoy the moment you are currently in, and that’s something that we here at B-Side Guys can get behind. Emil has a heady flow with a smooth beat behind him, and I know it’s something that we will definitely be playing at lake days and beach vacations all summer.

Favorite line:
I can’t have regrets
Look at all the things I manifest.
I can’t help but feel like I’ve been blessed.
Come alive and let me do the rest.

Jamar Carr – R.N.S.

Song number two is definitely more of a banger than Emil’s song above, but this gives you that perfect balance. Emil gives you the daytime flow, and Jamar Carr gives you the key to get pumped up when you go out with your friends after a day of drinking on the beach. Hopefully nothing happens, but if it does, this song is the song that’ll get you hyped up. This song shows the versatility of Jamar. If the name sounds familiar to you, it’s because we’ve already shared one of his tracks on the blog before (spoiler alert: there’s more coming soon). The previous one was a real brain burner about the plight and systemic oppression of African Americans in the United States, whereas this one is more about being real. Jamar Carr has already made mine and Caleb’s playlists, and continues to impress us with every song we hear.

Favorite line:
Love my brothers in uniform
Always going to make it through the storm
But y’all never want to hear that though
because y’all are some real niggas.
Dudes is ass,
Flow is trash
Exactly how I feel, nigga.

 

PENPALS – Hi Tech

He’s been chugging kerosene since 9:30 in the morning. And their video reflects this. Their flow fits so perfectly into almost any hip hop era, with elements that give nods to the 80s and 90s, but don’t feel dated. Their lyrics are simultaneously heady and interesting, and witty and funny. And they also seem to take themselves seriously while still poking fun in all their videos. All of this combines to one of my favorite new hip hop projects I’ve discovered this year. There’s something so anthemic about them belting “High-tech but we’re still fucking low lives” over and over on this track that makes it impossible not to want to sing along and feel like they are describing your existence.

Fontzerelli – La Di Da Di

This song was my biggest surprise of the week. I saw the thumbnail for the music video, and expected something a lot more poppy. I was pleasantly surprised when that beat kicked right at the beginning. Absolutely no build, this song jumps straight into the deep end, and Fontzerelli swims fast as hell. This U.K. rapper has an articulate flow with a growl that makes DMX perk up in his jail cell. This song isn’t a one-off win either. I fell down his content rabbit hole last night, and loved every single thing I came across. If you’re looking for a more articulate, wordier, UK DMX with exponentially more flow, you’ve found the dude. This video is a great introduction to him because it’s so aesthetically pleasing: beautiful colors, beautiful people, and a beautiful flow.

Agency – Cruel Joke

This is one of those videos you throw on repeat at the background of a party and just wait on someone to get sucked into it. It’s a really simple concept, with the ice cream cone slowly melting away while a countdown of some sort counts up. I’m guessing it is seconds? I guess it really depends on how hot the room is.

The next thing you’ll notice is one of my favorite new R&B tracks that explores a complicated relationship. And then a quick reverse of the melting ice cream cone. Some sort of comment on retracing an old relationship? Righting some wrongs? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Whooda Thunk – Alien Boy

Aw man. This is one of my favorite new tracks at the moment. It mixes some really interesting 90s elements that remind me of Beck but mixed with some cool psychedelic samples that are reversed throughout. Also the lyrics are so hilariously playful and witty. They somehow strike a balance between stand up act, and heartfelt plea.

“Based in Kalmar, Sweden, Whooda Thunk is looking to combine his influences in a sound that celebrates his love for music. By finding inspiration in everything from metal-band Korn, electronic artist Aphex Twin, to movies like Donnie Darko, Whooda Thunk manages to make something unpredictable.”

I have to agree with their self described mission statement, and can hear all of those elements. There’s no doubt that Whooda Thunk is making some of the most unique music I’ve ever heard, and I can’t wait to hear more.

 

-Seth and Caleb