At 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Guide to Kulchur, Cleveland Tapes Beat Monthly presents a listening party for rapper Matthewmaticus, who’ll share and perform songs from his terrific debut, the mixtape The Job Will Not Save You. Produced in part by Cashous Clay, the album is, according to the bio, “the soundtrack to a night out, driving through an urban landscape bathed in streetlight, a beautiful woman in the passenger seat, perfectly blissful.” “It’s a record about trying to change your circumstances,” says the rapper, who cites David Bowie, Andre 3000, GZA and Jay-Z as influences. “I have done music a lot in my teens and twenties. The itch was always there. I’m coming out of some life situations. I want to make a record to move forward.”
The album is certainly trippy as the song “Floating Through Space” features a heavy-duty bassline and a hook that references David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” “I love David Bowie, who doesn't?” he says when asked about what inspired the Bowie sample. “The beat is so melodic. I was just screwing around thinking of ideas. It just worked. When you’re writing hip-hop, the hook almost comes to you in a dream.” At the release party at Guide to Kulchur, you can hear the album all the way through and Matthewmaticus will perform a few songs as well. The event will also feature a performance by DJ Alive. Francois Fissi-Bissi OkraKongo (G.O.R.K.) serves as the host. Go to matthewmaticus.com for more information. Admission is a $5 donation.
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