June 1, 2012
OTHER HIP-HOP relaunch!

It’s been a solid year, both online and otherwise, for OH-H, and I’m extremely happy with what I’ve accomplished. That said, I’ve noticed I’ve hit a bit of a wall recently. I’ve been covering shows less frequently and it’s taken longer and longer for me to get videos and interviews turned around and posted on the site. In part, that’s due to a simple lack of resources (namely: time), but I also know myself well enough to know that, when motivated, I tend to get things done. And, as it stands, I’m not motivated to continue this site in the current direction. There’s plenty of music blogs out there that have more time, writers, photogs, access and geographic advantage that can do a better job of what I’ve been doing, here and elsewhere, for the last three years.

The good news, if you’re a fan of the site, is that I’m not content to disappear completely. Rather, starting today, you’ll notice that things are pretty different around here.

As a detail-obsessed, prone-to-reminiscing music journalist, I’ve spent far too much time scouring message boards, tour announcements and out-of-date myspace blogs looking for details on past show dates, limited-time-only album presales and other obscure facts that tend to get lost as the internet marches on. In response, I’ve decided to refocus OH-H as a sort of indie rap archive of these details. On this new site, you’ll find plenty of past tour dates, comprehensive links to past interviews, official music videos and so much more. My hope is that it will be of equal use to music journalists looking for information and music fans trying to settle an argument about whether some show happened in 2005 and 2006. (I’ve experienced frustrations as both.)

With all of that said, thanks so much for reading.

Welcome to the only indie rap archive on the web.

— Tim

May 21, 2012

astronautalis:

NEW MUSIC FROM RADICAL FACE & RICKOLUS: a few years ago, i went back home to jacksonville beach, visiting my folks, and late one night, as i often do when home visiting folks, i found myself over at my friend’s house playing catch up.  this time, i was in Ben Cooper’s shed, where he records all of his albums with his band Electric President or under his solo moniker of Radical Face.  He told me about a project he had been working on with our friend RickoLus, some sort of scifi opera called, “Clone”.  I was floored by what i heard…and now you can hear a sneak preview.  enjoy the beautiful creepiness of it all.

May 18, 2012
The one and only sit-down interview with Four Fists (P.O.S. + Astronautalis)

I did this interview in March of 2010 for a website that ceased to exist in June of 2010. This is the first time this interview has been online since then. And, as far as I know, this is the only interview of Four Fists on the web.

Even better? I’ve added in a bunch of deleted material from the interview. Which means you get to hear Andy and Stef talk about porn stars! 

I’m still extremely proud of this piece.

May 1, 2012
Astronautalis Documentary! Teaser Trailer!

April 7, 2012

Astronautalis raps about Eyedea

6:38pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZGimTyJGRZWJ
  
Filed under: astronautalis eyedea 
April 7, 2012

k-os, Shad and Astronautalis freestyle - Highline Ballroom, NYC, Oct 28th, 2010.

6:37pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZGimTyJGRH9Q
  
Filed under: astronautalis k-os shad 
January 8, 2012
Tour Dates updated for January and February.

After a bit of a flu/new job/holidays hiatus, I’m back and the first order of business is updating otherhip-hop.com’s tour calendar. And just in time.

Over the next two months, Atmosphere is all over Minnesota, Grieves and Budo are all over the mid-west (with Gym Class Heroes! And T-Pain!), Rickolus has some east coast dates, Doomtree is all over the whole damn country (and some of Canada too) and Astronautalis and Bleubird have a whole pile of dates across Europe.

2012 is starting off right. Happy New Year!

Love,

OH-H

November 11, 2011
My Interview With Astronautalis

From O’Briens Pub, Allston, MA, 11/6/2011.

November 8, 2011
You’re Really Not Doing Your Job

I’ve been freelancing long enough to have done a write up or two about bands after only reading their Facebook bio and Wikipedia entry. Accordingly, I can understand when I see someone describing all three of Astronautalis’s previous albums as dealing with historical fiction (“He has described himself as historical fiction hip-hop.”Wikipedia) when really that label only applies to his third album, Pomegranate. I even understand the whole “his hip-hop fire was molded as a veteran accomplished Scribble Jam battler” thing (“After gaining some renown in local circles in Jacksonville and competing at Scribble Jam”Wikipedia) when actually he’s widely admitted to being destroyed in the early rounds at his first Scribble Jam and deciding on the way home to quit the whole battle rap thing.

It’s more frustrating when reviewers get facts wrong that are clearly stated on Wikipedia or Facebook. If you actually review an album without even bothering to at least do the easy fact checking, you’re really not doing your job.

The letter ‘B’ is not close to ‘R’ on the keyboard:

Astronautalis aka Andy Rothwell has shared his talents worldwide.—Shut Your Fucking Face and Listen

 …and it wasn’t a typo:

Growly, and at times desperate, longingly, Sir Rothwell raps and sings his fucking ass off.Shut Your Fucking Face and Listen

Get it right:

Astronautalis (born Charles Andrew Bothwell)Wikipedia

Close, but not really:

The smart rapper’s new and fourth album, This is Our Science, is a concept/storytelling album, which is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short stories.—MTV

Get it right:

The Four Fists (2011 release expected; a collaboration album with P.O.S based on a collection of short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald)—Wikipedia

MTV! Again!

Bothwell’s actual story, as near as anyone can tell, starts in Texas, makes stops in Seattle, Florida, and Minneapolis, and circles the globe.—MTV VIGGY

Get it right:

Currently settled (for now) in Minneapolis, by way of Seattle, by way of Dallas by way of Jacksonville Beach, FL—Facebook

It depends what you mean by “debut”:

Despite having earned his stripes as a freestyle/artful battle rapper with several Scribble Jam appearances under his belt, his 2006 debut Mighty Ocean and Nine Dark Theaters showed an artist that defied easy categorization, as the disc’s nuanced, moody productions colored the different lyrical approaches, which veered from subdued singer-songwriter material to hard edged bangers.okayplayer.

Get it right:

Astronautalis self-released his debut album, You and Yer Good Ideas, in 2003.—Wikipedia

Just for fun:

Astronautalis’ voice—which sounds like a husky grumble when singing, a gruffer Eminem when rapping—cuts through the opening notes with a sense of urgency; “I’ll show you what it’s like to be alive” he states at the end of his verse, offering an indication of the album’s introspective themes.—okayplayer.

Got it right:

Any time I read a comparison of Astronautalis to Marshall Mathers, it makes me want to sneak up behind the blogger at a coffee shop and rap their knuckles with a biscotti.  It is true that Andy Bothwell got his start as a battle rapper a decade and a half ago, but as Astronautalis, he has cultivated a fan base with energetic live shows and freestyle rapping and developing a sound that defies genres.—Nanobot Rock Reviews

October 11, 2011
Show Calendar updated!

Including Astronautalis, Brother Ali, Murs, Atmosphere, Grieves, Blue Scholars, Macklemore, Doomtree and more. 

October 9, 2011
"The goal is not to be The Roots. What the world needs ten thousand less of is white kids trying to be The Roots."

— Astronautalis (Dallas Observer)

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Filed under: astronautalis 
September 26, 2011
Astronautalis ft. Tegan Quinn "Contrails" Official Video

Astronautalis ft. Tegan Quinn | Contrails

The first music video from This Is Our Science, premiered today by Paste Magazine.