100 Grand(Grizzy Hendrix)'s Schizophrenia

The life of a college student is hectic. The amount of craziness involved with every day life is time consuming and stressful. One way I deal with this is new music. 2 days ago I received a link** to a new artist named 100 Grand from New York. 100 Grand has a free album available on his band camp album named Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is the perfect title for an album describing the life of college students and young people of this time. In this album 100 Grand or Grizzy Hendrix talks about the chaos of being a young person in the 21st century. In both humor and darkness, this album describes the thoughts of many people just like me. At certain points of this album I feel like he is speaking my thoughts about college, life, and the world. Much is often made about the fun and parties of young people but rarely is an album honest about the uncertainty about this time. At times the album is dark but an underlining humor is found in his lyrics. College and life for that matter is not all about fun. So I respect the honesty of artists who speak to people like me. The production of the album is pretty crisp. The album is both modern and a throwback to mid nineties new york production. I often receive links to music from artists. 100 Grand is probably the best of which I received. Some of my favorite tracks from Schizophrenia are: "Wake Up", "Cut Class", "Blunts in the Air", and "Blow That Sh**". If you havent heard of 100 Grand before...I'm sure you will be hearing about him in the future. Go to his bandcamp to download this album and his other releases.




**Note: send information about new artist to spliftedresearch@gmail.com or hit us up on twitter @spliftdresearch.

Art of the Week: Basquiat's Most Kings

Jean-Michel Basquiat has become a common punchline in hip-hop lately. Rozay and Kanye have referenced him several times but the biggest Basquiat fan is Jay-Z. Jay-Z(also a collector of his work) has shouted out the deceased artist several times in his songs. The most famous of which is "Most Kingz" which is inspired by the piece above. MOST YOUNG KINGS GET THIER HEADS CUT OFF! is a very powerful statement. Everyone is aiming for the top or the person at the top. The one in power has to keep his eyes open for his successor. He must do so because the successor is willing to kill to get in his spot. Basquiat's art is some of my favorite. It is both street and almost royal. A crown is found in many of his works which goes along with his rugged sense of elegance. Like Basquiat's own life this painting is a reminder that its not easy to be king. Jean-Michel Basquiat's tale mirrors this perfectly. He started out as a New York Graffiti Artist. He slowly rose in New York art circles in the early to mid-Eighties. He became part of Andy Warhol's inner circle and after Warhol's death in 87' he fell deep into addiction and depression. In 1988, Basquiat died of a heroin overdose. He was 27.

SN He looks just like Kid Cudi doesnt he lol

Album Review: J. Cole's Cole World: The Sideline Story

Hunger. Hunger seems to be something missing from the landscape of modern hip-hop. Money is the motive. People want to be rappers because they have money, girls, cars, jewelery and all the other thing we see on videos. But rarely in this day and time is there a rapper who wants to be a rapper, just to be a rapper. That is hunger. And J.Cole is hungry. J.Cole has slowly risen in the game from what many would call a "backpack rapper" to "the next great rapper of our time". J.Cole is different from a lot of emcees. He's a college grad, he produces almost all of his own stuff, and he is a bit older than most rookies(26). But the main difference between J. Cole and everyone else is his stories. Cole World: The Sideline Story is full of those stories. He has stories about relationships, dreams, setbacks, and the life of a young black man trying to make it. With intelligence and humor, Cole has created one of the best debut albums in hip-hop history. For people who have listened to J. Cole for a while, this will come as no surprise. The winning formula he has used on his mixtapes is again used on his debut. J.Cole seems poised to take the throne. He is a true emcee in a time when no one takes pride in that. On "Rise and Shine" Cole has a sample of Jay-Z talking about the type of person he wanted to sign. I think he found that in a kid from Carolina. To me this album is the best debut since Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor. I give it a 4.5/5. Anyway, buy J.Cole's album in a couple of hrs its well worth the buy.

Artist Spotlight: Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar has alot on his shoulders. In recent months he has been given the mantle of the West by Dr. Dre, Snoop, Kurupt, and Game. Over the summer, Lamar released the free album Section.80 which has been critically acclaimed. Also Kendrick Lamar has been featured on the Game's RED Album and on remix to Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks. Kendrick Lamar's flow is deadly. His rapid fire style is so captivating you are left stunned. This is displayed perfectly on "Look Out for Detox". There is a story that last year on the anniversary of Tupac's death, Kendrick Lamar had a vision of Tupac. In the dream, Tupac told him to keep his legacy alive. Kendrick Lamar has tried to do so especially with his movement of Hiiipower which is sort of akin to Tupac's Thug Life. Kendrick Lamar has the potential of being one of the next great emcees in the game. Look out for him and check out Section.80 and all his mixtapes