Khalil Nova - Puma (Soundcloud, 2011)

The youngin’s last sneak peek of I’m The Black Layne Staley maybe his most exciting yet. I spoke to Khalil about a week ago, not long after the release of Young Jeezy’s TM103, and he told me of the influence that Jeezy’s had on him over the years. This is the closest Khalil’s come to making a homage of The Snowman’s signature style, but it’s still disctinctly Nova. Khalil’s voice is more diabolical than it has been in the past, letting that grungry rasp echo throughout the already distorted production in a sinister manner. Even though this song really doesn’t stray too far from being about bitches and shoes, Khalil’s tone of voice makes it sound like he’s preparing an army of intergalactic soldiers for universal takeover. He’s in a shiny Gundam, of course.

Khalil’s Black Layne Staley will be dropping on January 31st, hosted by yours truly and the staff at No Jumper. 

Khalil Nova - Vaporizers (Internet, 2011)

Khalil Nova’s next mixtape, I’m The Black Layne Staley, is set for a release on 1.31, and he’s rigorously at work on the mixtape (as well as giving beats to Danny Brown). Over the past week, a couple leaks from the tape have emerged on Khalil’s Soundcloud, and they sound every bit as abstractly soothing as his 808s of Death tape.

Vaporizers finds Khalil getting lost further in distortion, his shrill, yet tempered voice mashing ever so gently against the loopy instrumental. It’s hard not to get lost in Vaporizers, which is every bit as inducing as the vapors Khalil was on when recording this. Salute the young Shogun!