AGO | The Music Ninja

[Hip-Hop] Waldo – Closer Feat. Sango & SAVON

Posted by Dominic Powell - October 4, 2016

Waldo
Closer (prod. Savon & Sango)

As music enthusiasts first and foremost, one question in particular always makes the cut when we at The Music Ninja interview artists: “Which musicians are you into lately?”

In creating his widely-praised dark comedy Atlanta, Donald Glover eagerly gives us the answers by injecting tunes of his choosing throughout the first season. Case in point, the soundtrack to Atlanta is so well-regarded that multiple articles have been written praising its eclectic nature and quality, and a highly circulated Spotify playlist updates each week with new songs from the show. For one artist in particular, making the cut on Atlanta may bring about an infusion of mainstream recognition to propel his career even further.

Grand Rapids repping rapper Waldo, one of the most talented and underrated lyricists in the genre, has been releasing notable projects for years. Since making waves as early as 2013 with “Kobe’s Room” – to a pair of major declarations of his arrival with EP releases Tuebor and Until Then – we have kept close tabs on his journey. Partnered with fellow Michigan natives and longtime friends SAVON and Sango, Waldo released his latest hit this past week, titled “Closer”.

With a hauntingly bass-heavy rhythm throughout, the lyrics and instrumentals form a symbiotic bond, painting the gritty picture depicted in his up-tempo cadence. Beyond the prodigal beat-making talents of Sango and Savon, and beyond the vocal characterization of Waldo, the biggest draw to his sound lies in its pure authenticity.

Fans in California will have a few chances to see him live this month: he’ll be in San Diego at the Soda Bar with Jimmy Javier on October 25^th and in Oakland at The New Parish with Sango on October 27^th. Listeners can join the AGO movement by following along with the Soundcloud pages of both the collective and Waldo for all releases.

[Hip-Hop] Joose – Black Sand (Rvdical Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - August 16, 2014

Joose
Black Sand (Rvdical Remix)

Soundcloud

Hip-hop is currently going through a fascinating transformation as rappers continue taking risks ranging from the strange vocal inflections of Young Thug, and more recently Makonnen, to the future bass raps of Goldlink. The Soulection collective has had a special role in carving out what label-captain Joe Kay calls the “sound of tomorrow” lending their unique brand of dance music as instrumentals for a broad range of talented emcees. The strength of this movement is multiplied by the artists’ and labels’ openness to collaborate, which in the digital age has become easier than ever and allows for an unprecedented diversity in styles.

The latest remix from Flow-Fi‘s Rvdical the Kid is exemplary of this incredible progression reworking the already dope track, “Black Sand,” from frequent West Michigan AGO collaborators Joose and Sango into an addicting masterpiece. While the original has a minimal and incredibly relaxed vibe to it, Rvdical’s take adds an ethereal element rearranging the vocal sample and adding unique percussion giving Joose’s lyrics a whole new context. Zone out to this awesomely floaty track above.

[Hip-Hop] AGO – Tuebor (Mixtape)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - March 6, 2014

After dropping the highly underrated NSDE/OUTSDE EP late last year (one that we failed to cover unfortunately), Waldo returns with the rest of his AGO crew hoping to rekindle the same magic he found with his previous release. Consisting of additional members Joose, Amos Rose, The SEVENth and Sango, AGO is a collective from Grand Rapids, Michigan hoping to establish themselves in a hip-hop scene where the concept of the crew has become more prominent than ever.

Tuebor is a step in the right direction for the group, as the talented emcees all get a chance to flaunt their skills and bring some knowledge to what the Michigan lifestyle is really about. Featuring a wealth of talented producers like Mr. Carmack, AbJo, Mozaic, and of course The SEVENth and Sango, where Tuebor really prospers is in the diversity of its sounds. From the introspective “What Dreams Are Made Of” to the soulful “Royal Oats” and the grimy trap stylings of “The Garden,” each song has a style of its own, helping to provide the individual members with their own identities, while still resulting in a cohesive overall product. Nothing gets old on Tuebor, and if you find you don’t like a particular track, chances are you’ll enjoy the next one. Rather than take our word for it though, you can find out for yourself, by streaming the full project here. As we always do, we’ve sprinkled in a few of our top selections from the mixtape below, and you can grab a copy for yourself if you’re so inclined.