Which 8 current gems will make it on this Hip Cassette round-up? Plug that rusty tape player in, press play and make sure you keep notes…
by Christos Doukakis
SIDE A
The Joy Formidable
‘Into the Blue’
alternative rock
Lady Dan
‘Better Off Alone’
indie folk/indie pop
Brendy
‘Cold Life’
indie r&b/bedroom pop
Kid Travis
‘Menace’
cloud rap/indie r&b
SIDE B
81355
‘Thumbs Up’
hip-hop
ARIA
‘Pretty Lil Thing’
rap/commercial
Self-Help
‘Whippits’
indie rock
ASTN
‘WHAT’S IT GONNA TAKE’
indie r&b/neo soul
I remember Prince gave me a cassette of Purple Rain. It was like 20 minutes long and he asked me to write something on it. I tried for a month and then he came to L.A. I went to see him and said, “I can’t do it. It’s too perfect. It’s like ‘Stairway to Heaven.'” He said OK and then I go, “I can keep the cassette, right?” He said, “Of course and thank you for trying.”
Stevie Nicks