AUX Files .006
Still from NBA Youngboy’s “38 Baby”
As the summer comes to its final moments, the AUX Files journey has just begun. The splash platform for artists in the city has branched the wings of Free Press Houston and landed us in the zones of various artists who present different flavors of music to the forefront. The last edition of AUX Files featured the likes of Lu Luciago, who was chosen for his stadium status single “Boomin,” to the chilled out vibes of Amea, a songstress who performs with much mellow to her game and provides a euphoric trip with her sound. This week’s batch will show forth the passion of a musical revolutionary, the mixes of a Bayou City product, artists from the boot of Louisiana who are making their names for themselves in Texas and more. Gather your cars, adjust your seat, clean your ears, and plug in your handy dandy AUX cord to enjoy the sonics delivered on this week’s edition of AUX Files.
“American Me” — Doeman
We start with the list with self-proclaimed “King of The Barrio,” Doeman. I have yet to see an artist on the independent level in this city who has gathered the eyes, ears, and attention span of many in the same way. While recognized as a gritty wordsmith, he’s also known for his strong sense of Hispanic pride. This is correctly displayed in his visual, “American Me,” flipping the image of the American Dream and turning it into his own with a trail of his Hispanic believers behind him. Doeman and director Jorgey Casanova stroll through the famed neighborhoods of Marguerite Ray and Glenbrook Park, documenting a different side of the city most don’t see but can resonate with due to the rich Mexican culture that’s embedded in Texas. Although the song is an anthem unto itself, its message goes deeper than what touches the surface. It’s the moment of defining what runs in your bloodline and Doeman makes it loud and clear that he gets the message.
“38 Baby” — NBA Youngboy
The emergence of Kodak Black, 21 Savage, Lil Snupe, and more shows that the South is finding a resurgence of young rappers who live and portray their lifestyles in the grittiest yet artistic way possible. Another rapper who will be on that list of making their big splash will be NBA Youngboy, a raw 16-year-old artist who hails from Baton Rouge and Houston. The Boot-born lyricist exemplifies the roots of the Savage Era that introduced Lil Boosie and Webbie, but it’s modernized to the effect that his youthfulness oozees out of his sound. When listening to his music, it’s filled with passion, but also with a “take no prisoners” attitude. These ingredients are displayed in his visual, “38 Baby,” where he rides around the city of Houston toting clean .38s, jewelry shopping for the finest grills and diamonds at King Johnnys, and exhaling smoke from some Third Coast greenery. Although he may be young, he’s definitely earning his stripes, and it’s only a matter of time until the rest of the nation will be hip to the sounds of the “Never Broke Again” crew.
“Outerspace” — Lita Styles
Moving away from the areas that involve all things trap, the Milky Wayv group has been generating some mellow vibes in Space City’s large music scene. The First Lady of the collective, Lita Styles, has been dropping off seeds here and there, engaging listeners into her eccentric sound, including with one of her stand out tracks, “Outerspace.” Collaborating with longtime partner Bobby Earth, Styles present an astronomical trip into listeners souls and opens up the waves for anyone to follow with her seamlessly smooth voice. It’s almost like a whisper that persuades you to do the next action, but it’s the opposite, allowing any listener to move with the motion of the song rather than forcing it. It’s not anything I wouldn’t expect from Styles because her sonics will bring you in, all you have to do is just keep an open mind and explore the space she creates with her lyrics.
“Pull Up” — JVZZ
Exploring the new sounds of the city, you’d be surprised what you’ll find in terms of finding some diamonds in the rough. One of those jewels this week would be JVZZ’s “Pull Up.” The New Orleans-bred artist, currently staying in Houston, uses the best of a 2:30 duration to present a rage filled anthem. Although the single may be short, it’s straight to the point and proves that JVZZ can make hits along with providing uncut lyrical content on his recent project, Told You So. Weaving through rhymes about paying his respects to the late Bankroll Fresh, needing a new coupe, and chanting to the Stay Alive crew, JVZZ lets it be known that he is a factor in the city, one that spectators need to keep an eye on and the best start in familiarizing yourself would be this single.
“Down 288” — Kay Illah
Along with showing off new artists in the area, a huge shout out should go to the DJs as well for introducing some residents to the variety of artists that are booming at the moment. After attending a few events at Imperial Houston, I was introduced to the sounds of Kay Illah. A calm, cool, and quiet DJ who’s all about handling her business on the wheels of steel. On the contrary, the impact of her records provides a massive vibe that can gather a crowd for a time filled with turnt music that may be foreign to you at the moment, but before you leave you’ll want to know who’s the one pulling the strings when it comes to the night’s playlist. Her latest mix, paying an oath to Highway 288, features the Ugly God, Travis Scott, samples of Three 6 Mafia and UGK and more. The cohesion of the mix provides a combination of chilled out melodies along with an edgy dash of trill harmonies that will make your next drive across town one you’ll never forget.
