#freshfinds

1993, Bartons Dillema, 18x24 inches, oil on stretched canvas, by Kenney Mencher

I painted Barton’s Dilemma in 1993, right as I was finishing my MA in art history. This is part of my Fresh Finds project, where I’m releasing older work from my archive.

The reference came from the Coen Brothers' film Barton Fink. I used to sit in front of the TV with a film camera and snap photos of scenes I wanted to paint—usually grainy, low-light, sometimes in black and white. That raw quality shaped how I approached this piece.

I started with a black gesso ground and went straight in, trying to channel the Bay Area Figurative painters like Richard Diebenkorn and Elmer Bischoff. My goal was to use thick paint and keep the brushwork loose and expressive.

VERANO - Stephen Xavier

By: Irate Specialist

Many hip hop artists these days are all following the same formula for success. Leaning on trap beats with booming 808s as the foundation for their next hit song. However, it becomes clearer every day that Jersey artists are distinguishing themselves as the exception. Stephen Xavier's new album Verano a prime example of the unique creative expression grown from the garden state. 

"Stephen Xavier is an artist in every sense of the word," said Xavier. "However, I can get any type of artistic expression out; that's what I try to do." 

This desire to continue expanding his artistic expression even propelled him on the journey of learning how to mix and master his own tracks. Leading him to be able to mix many of the songs on his new album. 

Xavier, inspired by the genius sounds of neo-soul artists like Frank Ocean, Erykah Badu, and Lauren Hill, blends harmonic R&B vibes and bars harder than online classes in 2020 to give us Verano. It's Xavier's third project this year; however, it's the one he's been working on the longest, which is clear to see as the project takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while also taking into account our dualistic nature. There are always at least two sides to every story, and Xavier takes the time to explore them multiple times throughout this project. 

The song "Glance" also played a significant role in the overall sound of the project. Originally released last year, "Glance" came about after Xavier was getting complaints about not being able to make summer vibes. 

"Before that [Glance] I was told summer vibes were not my strong suit," said Xavier. "When I made 'Glance,' I realized this is a summer vibe right here. Listening to hooks and how easy the song came out I was like, 'let me go with this feel.' Without even thinking about it, I started making more that was built around that song." 

"Glance" is a beautiful story about the anxiety from not knowing when that moment will change your life forever will go but still being on the lookout. The honesty of the song plus the instrumental work together to create an authentic vibe. From this lens, it's easy to see why this project is vibealicious from top to bottom. 

One other interesting thing about this project is that Xavier explores life's dualities through a few tracks on the project. One of my favorite examples on the project are the songs "That Love Shit" and "That Luv Shit (featuring Jóvon Garlin)." Both beats include the same sample used differently, like how love can be expressed in different ways. 

"I was like, 'these both sample the same track I can connect them somehow,'" said Xavier. "So the fast-paced one when you first initially enter love. So I'm happy talking about the mistakes of the past, but I'm like this [time is] different. Then we go to that Luv shit, and it's the reality. Once the veil lifts and you see the actual thing and realize this is toxic." 

Xavier masterfully executes these topics using the beat as a blueprint to build the right vibe from.

 On "That Love Shit," produced by Chef Slam, Xavier flexes his talent as a rapper and a singer bringing beautiful melodies and bars to dance on together on this track. Xavier rides the instrumental smoother than a skilled surfer on a wave. Throughout the track, the harmonies help make it clear that he's caught a vibe that you won't mind catching, unlike Corona. 

On "That LUV Shit," produced by Dusa, Xavier slows it down to tell you the truth about the love he thought could be real on the earlier track. This deep reflection can be boiled down to Xavier's last bar on the track, 

"Yea, you're riding me/ But would you ride for me. The amount of bars throughout this song and this project clarifies that you don't have to sacrifice bars to catch a vibe. 

There are other examples of these polarities on the album as well, but we'd be here all day discussing them because they are that beautiful and meaningful. 

However, if you want to know more, you can hear the full breakdown of them on the Music & Mindfulness Podcast. Find the link in @irate_specialist's bio on IG. 

Truthfully the way this album comes together to tell these and other fantastic stories showcase an exceptional level of skill. 

This is a project that you'll want to play repeatedly, even though summer is over. So please listen to Verano now streaming on all platforms. Also, bump the track "Connect" that joint is fire. 

Listen to Verano by Stephen Xavier below:

JUICE POTTER & ’Project Potter’ Forthcoming Release

By: Irate Specialist

Rappers these days are always commenting on their drip, and when their music drops, it leaves a lot to be desired. Therefore there is always something satisfying about artists with drip, dropping heat, and making waves. The key to this equation may be having the juice, and local artist Juice Potter has made it clear with previous drops his cup is runneth over. “He is a hard-working guy who’s trying to have fun and bring his people up,” said Potter. This, along with an awareness of the current music scene, gave Potter the inspiration and motivation for his first official mixtape Project Potter coming mid-October.

A wizard in his own right, Potter, makes a conscious effort to bring joy and pain to all his records. Inspired by New Orleans bounce music and the everyday struggles of growing up in the street life, his tracks are like sunshine and rain. “It’s a bit of bounce music mixed with a little pain and mix in some street and melodic and put all that in a blender,” said Potter. “You gonna hear this pain, but you gonna get lit to this pain.” Listening to the tracks like A.R.M and Project Pott, which Potter has streaming on all platforms, really showcase this young word wizard's use of applied alchemy.

After the success of his first hit, Down Bad Potter dropped an ep entitled Potterville featuring the track “A.R.M.” This track became an anthem for those who had a ride or die shorty at their side and has an interesting backstory. You can listen to the story on the Music and Mindfulness Podcast in Irate Specialist’s bio.

Fast forward to this year. Potter released the single Project Pott as a teaser to his upcoming project. “Project Pott” was inspired by Project Pat and Three 6 Mafia’s Poppin My Collar, and Potter made sure to carry their energy into it as well. “I named it Project Pott because of the way I came on the track,” said Potter. “Project Pott became the song everybody was giving me credit for. So Project Pott began to mean to me [proof] that I built this from the ground up.”  This track is super impressive. Besides this, it is mostly a freestyle. It’s also full of energy and is sure to make you feel ready to turn up regardless of the quarantine blues.

The themes of embracing pain and transmuting it into fun inspired Potter to feel like the time is right for his debut mixtape. ”I built this from the ground up, and I’m still building [so] Project Potter just felt right,” said Potter. “Most of my inspiration came from everyday living. Just real-life inspiration.” These moments Potter mentions are based on the ten tracks that Potter will include on the project, not including an interest peaking bonus track. To illustrate exactly how he captured these moments in the music, Potter introduced me to the song “Sauce,” which will be on the mixtape.

“Sauce” comes from an experience Potter had shopping with his cousin over quarantine. “We were looking at some clothes online, and I’m adding to my cart, thinking that’s cheap, that’s cheap until you look at the cart,” said Potter. “He [Potter’s cousin] was like you ballin? I’m like I don’t care what it cost. This what I want this what Imma get.” The message of ”I don’t care what it cost” stuck with Potter until he heard the instrumental and knew that it was time to make it into some magic. Potter’s knack for catchy hooks and bar heavy flows take this song to the next level and remind you what it’s like to see a wizard do his work. Though it was only one song, if the rest of the project is going to sound similar, there’s no doubt that it has potential to be the soundtrack to your Saturday night.

Asking Potter what to expect from this upcoming project also shed some light on how Potter intended to have fun making music so listeners can have fun tuning in. “For the niggas ya should expect to nod y’all head, do y’all little dances,” said Potter, “For the females expect to shake your ass.” Looking at Potter’s previous work and listening to the track from the tape, it’s easy to see that “Project Potter” is most certainly going to be a feel-good project in a time where there’s so much that can keep us down.

If you need your proof, I encourage you to check out the hits Potter already has out on streaming platforms and the Music and Mindfulness podcast by Irate Specialist to hear a sneak peek of the track Sauce. Also, make sure to watch out for Juice Potter’s new mixtape Project Potter coming mid-October.

Listen to Juice Potter below: