Five Weezy Slow Jams Better Than “How To Love”

There was a period of time — from, let’s say, Tha Carter II  to the first few mixtapes after Tha Carter III — when Lil Wayne was maybe actually for serious The Best Rapper Alive. The second Carter LP is the capstone of the early 2000s tinny, minimal, and dumb…

Ten Photos From Nancy Whang’s DJ Set at the Electric Pickle

Every weekend, we here at Crossfade get together for some serious Saturday night pre-drinking, squeeze our inebriated asses into something shiny, select an appropriately awesome nightlife event, and hit the freaking club. And if you read our preview for Nancy Whang’s gig at the Electric Pickle, the you’ll know we…

So Sound Recordings Drops Free Label Sampler Mix

Last month, we here at Crossfade highlighted Miami’s five best electronic music labels, including a small local imprint, So Sound Recordings, boasting some heavy duty sonic ammunition. The brainchild of DJ-producer Fabian Giannattasio (AKA Jazzy Eyewear) and one of Miami’s foremost purveyors of quality house music since 2002, So Sound’s…

12th Planet Talks Pop Production, DJ Craze, and Hardcore

When 12th Planet (AKA John Dadzie) talks, the world of bass music listens. That’s because, as we explain in last week’s mini-feature on the DJ, producer, and label co-founder, the man has been hardcore since (electronic) hardcore was a new genre. Though it’s as a dubstep producer that he’s gained…

Nancy Whang at the Electric Pickle, July 9

Nancy WhangWith KrispElectric PickleSaturday, July 9, 2011Better Than: Well, that’s a tough one. The problem with overly hyping a DJ set from an indie music icon is that you’ll almost always be left disappointed. We’d like to preface this review by stating the following: There probably isn’t a bigger fan…

Torche Drummer Rick Smith Talks Going Pro and Pissing Off Teenagers

When word first started to spread about Torche, shortly before their first show at The Fest 3 in Gainesville, many were excited to hear the latest from Steve Brooks, guitarist and vocalist for legendary sludge band Floor. Miami’s high school-aged punk scene was particularly excited over Brooks drafting bassist Jonathan…

Jim Drain Gets People To Lay On Psychedelic Carpets And Vibe Out

Jim Drain and Forcefield’s “Warmup” soundtrack the end/SPRING BREAK Friday, July 8, 2011 Better Than: Laying in an alley on broken glass and bumming out. Last night, nomadic multipurpose space, the end/SPRING BREAK, rechristened the old Spinello Gallery as a vibe den where patrons lie on the floor, on top…

Beyonce, Chris Bosh, and Three Other Secret Celebrity Juggalos

​​The Insane Clown Posse is the most successful DIY b(r)and in the history of independent music. They move merch like bona fide hustlers, tour like Black Flag in the ’80s and serve as the centerpiece of a million-dollar Dark Carnival of spin-off artists and related projects, not to mention the…

F*#% the World With Anti-Rock Stars Angels in America at Sweat Records Tomorrow

These days, being a rock star isn’t about mystery, aloofness, and fuck-the-world attitude. Thanks to the inescapable ever-presence of the internet and the slow death of the music industry, the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle has become a sterile, never-ending cycle of virtual fan friendship, high-speed schmoozing, and $9.99 album sales…

Maná Brings Drama Y Luz to the American Airlines Arena, July 7

Read part one and part two of Crossfade’s interview with Maná Drummer Alex González. It isn’t out of the ordinary for Latin pop legends Maná to pack arenas and stadiums to the point of exploding. In fact, it’s basically routine. At the end of June, Fher Olvera and his Mexican…