Tag: Kaseo

Doc’s Thumbs Up: Faded by T.ali Official Music Video (Halloween Release)

Yes! Yes! Yes! I’m still sharing Halloween treats well into November. That’s what you’ll get, and should expect from me anyway when I share in the spirit annually participating in the holiday each year. For Halloween 2020, I chose dressing as a Covid Germ. But the Halloween treat featured as Doc’s Thumbs Up this week is hip-hop artist T.ali’s official music video for Faded. 

[Read: Baltimore Artist Contracts Coronavirus on Halloween and Infects 2 Seniors at Owings Mill Red Run Stream Valley Trail (Halloween Recap)]

T.ali, formally known as Kaseo, released visuals for his single Faded from his April album Since We’re Being Honest this Halloween. Finally! Listeners anticipated the video dropping as early as mid-September when casting calls for extras were first mentioned. A month and a half later, we can now feast our eyes on what’s been cooking. I just couldn’t wait to write about it because I already knew T.ali would push some greatness.

I was tuned into the hype posted every couple of days promoted on T.ali’s Instagram and other social media feeds. Mini clips of the mini horror film that advertised to us, the audience, as the official music video was finally pieced together into a full masterpiece. 

The video is relatable and reminiscent of growing up watching short, but somewhat lengthy-for-a-music-video, films. Music videos like Thriller and Bad created by the King of Pop Michael Jackson always come to mind as the greatest short musicals ever made. So when fresher artists take on the challenges to carefully create references that skew inspiration within their work to reach heights many other talents have previously succeeded in completing, pure greatness is bound to shine through. That’s what’s seen in T.ali’s performance; an artist who’s challenging himself to own and exploring those heights a plethora of talented people blueprinted. And he’s doing it while collaborating with many other dope artists, bringing them along for the ride too.

The video was produced by filmmaker Juba Productions, styled by Al Rogers, and makeup by Yeah Shae the MUA and Kay L.A.. The team of artists putting this project together is phenomenal. It’s right to assume that Faded would be a hit amongst the listeners because of the magnitude of dopeness. It’s not many times a group like this can come together and not produce great art. Some other Baltimore artists, just to name a few, featured in the video were Forty the Plug, Doowy Lloh, Da’Rious, Brandon Woody, Teddy Alexander, Miss Kam, J Lovey, and various others amazing dancers, actors, and singers. These guys really put on a show.

There’s a second release for the album Since We’re Being Honest this week Friday, November 6 for the deluxe edition. Listeners can get an even deeper listen to other tracks from T.ali and hear a few features from some of the artists spotted in the video.

Watch the full video to Faded:

Would you say this video is creepy? Would you bump this in your car? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Beet Trip Is The New Wave

I felt like I traveled back in time for a few hours to the 1980s yesterday, except there was a slight millennial twist in my Back To The Future moment. I attended for the first time Beet Trip, a beat and rap cypher event held at The Living Well, just few block north of Baltimore’s Station North Arts and Entertainment District. Last night’s event was Beet Trips 15th episode.

20140516-163150.jpg

I wish I could have had the opportunity to grow up in the 80s to hear MCs battle it out in cyphers to human beat boxers. But the closest I could get to that was last night when I experience young Baltimore MCs form a circle while taking turns passing the mic to exchange freestyles to new age beats created by 3 star Bmore producers. I regret to have not grab such talented producers names or information. But I’m sure to be spotted at this event again. I definitely won’t make the same mistake. If you recognize anyone in any of these photographs, let them know that they’re now Doc’s Castle Media’s anonymous stars!

20140516-163415.jpg

20140516-163426.jpg

The atmosphere was, like I said, “old school with a new age twist” and the crowd was extremely exceptional for it to be held in an art gala like The Living Well. I assume Beet Trip was the absolute place to be if you’re big on attending Baltimore Hip-Hop events because I spotted plenty of familiar faces in the Baltimore Hip-Hop Scene. To name a few people:

Butch Dawson
Kaseo
Leon Dominick
FluX
Jimmy Apoet
Flaco
OG Dutch Master
Kemet Dank (aka Dank God)
Lor Bluntz
Neish of 23rd Sense
and so many more…

20140516-163333.jpg

20140516-163448.jpg

20140516-163521.jpg

20140516-163356.jpg

Beet Trip is held every first and third Thursday of the month and it’s only $3 to attend. The next episode will be June 5, 2014. Will you be there?

2443 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218

March 10th Monumental Mondays with The Alumni Marketing Group

I’m want to start by saying I’m proud of the turn out this past Monday at The Depot for the hip-hop open mic event, Monumental Mondays, hosted by the Alumni Marketing Group. The event started at 6pm and lasted until the venue closed. I arrived at the peak of the show and was at awe because of the turnout.

20140312-173209.jpg

If you guys don’t already know, I wrote a piece about the lack of support in Baltimore for artists. (Read here to catch up.) The turnout of this event proves the beginning of change for artists. It’s definitely something to be proud of though there are some concerns I want to discuss later in this post. At previous hip-hop shows I’ve attended in Baltimore, crowds were extremely dry. This was my first time being at Monumental Mondays and it was fun. I enjoyed that atmosphere mostly because it felt more like a party. People were dancing and singing along to performers’ music. I’d say it was a great experience for many artists and supporters. If you’re a diehard hip-hop fan who’s seeking new music to add to your collection, this is the event for you.

20140312-174136.jpg

One of Doc’s Castle Media’s featured artist Kaseo, who’s latest mixtape is MoBetta Hip-hop, along with Park Heights natives, SMG, and numerous other rap artist performed at Monday’s show. I didn’t have too much of an opportunity to network with new artists, though I wish I had. So I’m announcing I’ll be at future Monumental Mondays as a heads up. Look out for me.

Here’s my little snippet of the show:

Though many performers had a fair opportunity to perform on at Monday’s event, others expressed frustration. Artists, whom claimed to be on the events’ list to perform but didn’t, talked of disappointment towards waiting for their time. Those who’ve performed later in the evening complained about the lack of support from peers, for once an artist performed their song; they’d leave the venue, leaving the building scarce of support of their music. To tend those concerns, Cortez, the promoter of Monumental Mondays, already proposed they’ll be addressed for future events. He wants everyone to feel they’re being heard, as they should for this is an open mic show. I look forward to the coming changes. I believe it’ll bring an even better turnout.

If you missed out on Monday’s show, you’ll have another opportunity to attend next week on Monday, March 24. Held at The Depot on 1728 N. Charles Street, come out to see another round of artists perform their best selections from their musical stash. Whether you’re an artist or an onlooker, you’ll have a good time here. If you’re an artist looking for some exposure in the Baltimore music scene, the Alumni Marketing Group accepts new artists for performances at their events. Just submit to their email, amnpage@gmail.com, for the next available opportunity.

Mixtape Review: Kaseo’s MoBettaHipHop

Today, I’m posting a Music Highlight. I haven’t done so in a while. But I want to remind people my blog is not solely a music blog. Doc’s Castle Media is a commentary blog, which means I write based off of my opinions for different events and scenarios that happen throughout everyday life. I enjoy writing about Baltimore because it’s the city in which I dwell. But Doc’s Castle Media is meant to promote productivity within my city through me writing about how I feel about what’s going on around me. I talk about music but I’m not limited to it. My blog shows for it, hence why I don’t post everyday a new song or mixtape that’s being dropped by a local musician. There are other artist, like poets, graphic designers, dancers and etc.; I’d like to write about. I’d love to give recognition to talent while also writing about my thoughts and ideas with what’s going on in the world. I hope that I’ve cleared it up for some of you.

Onward to The Music Highlight…

Kaseo is today’s star! If you didn’t already know about this guy, he recently dropped a mixtape early February that I would say has a unique sound from what I commonly hear in the streets of Baltimore. I loved it. But let’s leave the best for last here. First I’ll get you familiar with who he is.

Kaseo MoBettaHipHop (2)

Kaseo is a Baltimore native who has embedded within him multiple talents that helps him enhance his music career to further heights. Not only is he a musical lyricist, but he’s also a producer making hip-hop beats. But of course, it didn’t all start out as rainbows and butterflies. Kaseo started his music career when he was 12 years old playing the Casio keyboard that was a gift from his father. He started with making beats and freestyling to his creations. Once he learned he had a passion for rapping, he formed a group with his friends in high school name Music Man. Later the group’s name changed to Skyebourne Music Group.

Kaseo’s motivation to make music is to receive a feeling of liberation. In the past, he battled issues with anger and music became his outlet. He believes music is peaceful and serene. So he often writes for his release and “high.” He also creates because people are fond of what he offers. I guess, I would say I’m one of those people, now, because I can vouch that his latest creation is awesome.

MoBettaHipHop, a mixtape that has a sort of A Tribe Called Quest feel, is an awesome tape that anyone who enjoys a jazzy, but yet still rhythmic type of sound, would love to have in their iTunes collection. I downloaded it the first day it dropped and burned it to a CD so that I could have something new to drive to. One of my favorite tracks on MoBettaHipHop is Black Widow, a song of resentment for a woman who unforgivably broke a man’s heart. Kaseo gives a cruel stab back at a woman who, if anyone would hear how she treated him, deserves to reap what she sows. I thought the CD was beautifully crafted, and I definitely recommend it to my readers to take a thorough listen.

To check out Kaseo’s MoBettaHipHop mixtape, be sure to download it from Bandcamp.com, or you could just CLICK THIS LINK. Also, follow him on Twitter at @Kaseus_Clay and Instagram at @Kaseo92 for announcements of shows, albums, and mixtapes from Kaseo in the future.

Read my last Mixtape Review: Young, Wild & Reckless The Movement on Doc’s Castle Media.