FADER MoMA PS1 Warm Up Mix  Darq E Freaker

In this episode, Dr. Thema describes the signs of overwhelm and provides practical strategies for shifting both in the moment and in the long-term to reduce our feelings of overwhelm.

Episode 117: Feeling Overwhelmed

Congolese guitar is one of the pearls of African music. Intricate, joyful and seriously challenging, it’s long been a passion of producer/guitarist Banning Eyre. Through an innovative new online learning website—the World Music Method—he met guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, a brilliant guitarist and teacher, who delves here into Congo guitar history. 

Produced by Banning Eyre.

Closeup: Learning Congolese Guitar

Single off the upcoming EP Viernes 12 Parte II. 🔪🔪🔪🔪🎥🍿

Jason vs. Michael (feat. Meph Luciano) prod. by Jay Fehrman

"Yaa Amponsah" is a song from Africa's earliest guitar tradition, palmwine music.  Dating to the late 19th or early 20th century this style developed in port cities across the continent's western coast as Africans traveled to trade goods and music. Yaa Amponsah is also what Ghanaian musicians call a "rhythm"—a blueprint of harmonies, rhythms, and melodies that has informed thousands of songs from its first recording in 1928 through to contemporary music.  In this Afropop Closeup, guitarist Nathaniel Braddock takes you inside his journey to dig into the rhythm's roots and influences through conversations with Koo Nimo, Akablay, Kofi Elektrik, and John Collins. 

Afropop Closeup Season Six

Closeup: Echoes of Yaa Amponsah

In the 70s and 80s Ivory Coast’s capital Abidjan was a major musical hub in West Africa. After a series of political crises, Abidjan is back. The Zouglou sound of the 1990s and the coupé decalé rage that followed are being reinvented in the era of Afrobeats and African hip-hop. The group Magic System is now invited to play major events in France—including President Macron’s election victory party! The group’s front man Asalfo has launched an annual music festival in Abidjan, FEMUA. On this program, we attend the festival and hear the sounds and stories of Abidjan’s cultural and commercial renaissance. Produced by Elodie Maillot and Alejandro Van Zandt-Escobar.

Originally aired in 2019
APWW #802

Abidjan: A New Musical El Dorado

03-CHA~1

“Ascent” is not framed as a victory lap—it is a field report from the climb itself. Born in the high country where weather turns without warning and progress is measured one step at a time, this track embodies the Rocky Mountain Rap Band ethos: self-reliance, resilience, and unflinching honesty. dB-Decibel-dB and O.T.H do not romanticize struggle; they document it with battle-tested precision.

From the opening bars, the record establishes its terrain. This is elevation rap—music shaped by long winters, empty highways, and the psychological weight of grinding in isolation. The cadence mirrors ascent: calculated pacing, pressure building, lungs burning, but never stopping. The verses advance with purpose, reflecting the reality that success does not arrive all at once—it is earned inch by inch, often without witnesses.

Lyrically, “Ascent” operates as a manifesto for those who remain committed when recognition is delayed. The writing leans into battle rap fundamentals—direct statements, controlled aggression, and disciplined wordplay—without relying on spectacle. Every line reinforces the central thesis: endurance is the real flex. Doubt, fatigue, financial strain, and being overlooked are treated not as obstacles, but as mandatory terrain. The pen stays sharp because the environment demands it.

The collaboration with O.T.H deepens the track’s outlaw identity. Their presence brings a hardened perspective rooted in grit, accountability, and lived consequence. There is no separation between art and reality here—what’s spoken is backed by repetition, consistency, and the refusal to fold under pressure. The feature doesn’t dilute the message; it reinforces it, grounding the track in collective resolve rather than individual bravado.

Production is intentionally restrained, allowing the vocals to dominate the space. The beat carries weight without clutter, evoking forward motion rather than distraction. There’s an underlying tension throughout—never fully releasing—mirroring the psychological grind of staying the course when the summit is still out of view. This restraint is deliberate; excess would undermine the message.

“Ascent” ultimately speaks to the long game. It is about maintaining discipline when shortcuts are tempting, staying sharp when progress feels invisible, and believing in the work before the world acknowledges it. The destination—recognition, respect, achievement—is acknowledged, but never obsessed over. The focus remains on the climb itself.

This track stands as a statement for independent artists, hustlers, and grinders who understand that real elevation comes at a cost. “Ascent” is Rocky Mountain outlaw rap at full integrity—cold, honest, and earned. 

Ascent ::: dB-Decibel-dB ::: O.T.H

Brava

Warm Up (feat. Slim Thug)

KV releases a very inspirational "break free" song "Around Me" (Produced By: BAM)
The cover art, done by Chris Bernard (Fibonacci_11236 on Instagram)draws the perfect image, to show what goes on around KV.
Enjoy & stay tuned! 
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju1cgEZze5Y

Around Me

Euro in Naija 3

The FADER is the definitive voice of emerging music and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Through in-depth reporting and a distinct street sensibility, The FADER aggressively covers the most dynamic breadth of music and style emanating from the fringes of the mainstream to the heart of the underground. The FADER is the authority on what's next.