Two hip-hop supergroups debuted their new videos in the last few days. Check out new vids from The Proforms and Black Fabio.

The Proforms released a video for their debut single, "Get Ready":

DJ Action Jackson and emcee Oreo Jones released "Black Fabio":

Shake off the Mondays with a fresh video from Indy MC Oreo Jones and multi-instrumentalist DMA. The video was directed by Young Carolyn, Grey Granite and keyboardist Lisa Berlin and features the track "The John Wayne," from Jones' upcoming full-length album.

• Katherine Coplen
• Pick of the Moment: 'The Tinkerer'

I'm in the midst of working on a long profile of local labels, and I've got a problem: There are absolutely too many wonderful labels making great music in Indy to write about! This is not a terrible problem, I admit.

I stepped away from my label project for a bit to take a brief jaunt to locally loved record store, LUNA Records. Inside, I spotted this week's Pick of the Moment, which is none other than local hip-hop legend Rusty Redenbacher's newest, The Tinkerer. Congrats, Rusty! And really, congratulations to all of us for living in such a cool place. Viva Indy!

• Wiki Commons
• Happy Birthday, Take That! Tuesdays

We just checked in with Nick Saligoe, a.k.a. DJ MetroGnome, for our stories on Bringing Down The Band and The Proforms, but we neglected to mention he's got a birthday of sorts coming up. Consider this your official Happy Birthday, MetroGnome, and congratulations on six years of Take That! Tuesdays at Coaches. It's the longest running hip-hop dance night in Indy, specializing in underground hip-hop, reggae and soul.

DJ MetroGnome will be joined by J. Moore, Topspeed and Limelight tonight. The event begins at 10:30 p.m. and is free.

Our own Wayne Bertsch called hip-hop artist Grey Granite "Indy's very own hip-hop multimedia mogul." Well, our mogul is releasing a new track every Monday this winter, including this week's "You Are Lame."

The track, from Granite's latest mixtape Wake the Fck Up, features fellow Heavy Gun label mates J. Brookinz and Bob G. Barker. Granite calls out fellow emcees for their unoriginality (and imitations of Jay-Z and other industry stars), telling them to get "out of the game," while lauding his own freestyling talents.

Listen above, and check in for more from Grey Granite over at Heavy Gun.

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• Submitted Photo
• Echomaker's "Concrete Seeds" EP

If you're in to Indy hip hop, you've probably seen Echomaker before, or at least some piece of it. Think of it like a super-group of established artists and musicians from local record labels Audio Recon and Pattern Hungry. Echomaker takes an artistic approach to spoken word and rap by injecting it with soulful jazz, lively beats, and superb instrumentation.

Watching the group perform on the vast stage of Fountain Square's White Rabbit, I recollected fragmented memories and experiences with each of Echomaker's members over the past few years. There was that one time at The Indy Hostel that rapper Corey Salas moved me with his spoken words. There was that one beat battle at Northside News where I watched Neil Cain sing, play the keys, and drop beats... and that other time I saw him at Big Car selling beautiful Pattern Hungry merchandise. There was this art show I once went to in the basement of a random gallery on Prospect Street in Fountain Square that vibraphone player Dan Marquis showed up to. I think he was there to take in the visuals, but when the house band asked him to sit in on drums, he quickly accepted the offer.

What I'm getting at is that these people are extremely creative and full of artistic energy. While each member of the group has been involved with countless projects and shows around the city, it feels like they've finally struck the perfect chord. All the right elements have been combined to create a sound that's groovy and accessible, yet imaginative and cutting edge.

The show consisted mostly of tracks from Echomaker's new EP, Concrete Seeds. Marquis' jubilant vibraphone was most noticeable on "Step Back," giving the song the effect of a dream-like state of mind. Trombone and bass guitarist Dietrick Klooster was animated in every move he made- acting out the lyrics of songs and dancing with remarkable fluidity. I was taken aback by Cain's passionate guitar playing. I had only seen him on keys in the past and found pleasure in his emotional facial expressions as he performed.

"Unassuming Paths" was my favorite song of the show, presented in an extended version that included a rowdy breakdown half way through via Eric Brown on drums. Cain delivered an awe-inspiring guitar solo and Salas addressed the audience directly, "We're gonna break through all of those barriers!" Incredibly groovy with just a pinch of funk, the track was by far the most engaging in their repertoire.

Though attendance was light inside The White Rabbit Cabaret as Echomaker concluded their set, there was a noticeable demand for one more song. After a brief conference by the band on stage, Salas announced an encore of two mashed-together songs the band is still in the process of finishing.

Echomaker is currently supporting their new EP, Concrete Seeds, with local gigs and hopes to tour regionally in the spring. Downloads and CD's are available on their Bandcamp page.

Echomaker performs live at the White Rabbit Cabaret.

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• Submitted Photo
• 2Chainz

Unlike political candidates, who operate around election cycles, Atlanta-based rapper 2Chainz has been on his Kickstand Campaign trail nonstop for well over a decade. With eight mixtapes to his name and a steadily growing fanbase, the good times are rolling for this rapper, who is also known as Tity Boi. His special engagement at Cloud 9 is this Thursday.

2Chainz’ latest offering, T.R.U. REALigion, has been downloaded over one million times since its November 1 release. Its ascendant ode to currency circulation, “Spend It,” has made 2Chainz a popular crosstown topic of conversation this holiday season.

On the intro to T.R.U. REALigion, 2Chainz thanks “griming” for his current moment in the spotlight, a word he made up that denotes a mix of grinding and timing. The man has demonstrated a knack for both. He arrived at his last birthday party in a helicopter, has a security detail that accompanies him in a taxidermy-covered pickup truck and must use a space ship to reach the condo he claims to own on Jupiter in the music video to his single “Goodnight.” The song features a beat from the Honorable C Note and amounts to 2Chainz’s dismissal of those who are “sleeping on him,” a category that continues to shrink every second.

Tity Boi has been 2Chainz’s nickname since childhood, since he was the firstborn breastfed infant in a community where baby formula was a common substitute. Tity Boi, né Tauheed Epps, attended Alabama State University in the late '90s, where he played college basketball and studied business before he turning his attention to the rap game.

For years, Tity Boi and his partner Dolla Boy built names for themselves as P.L.A.Y.A.Z. Circle (Preparing Legal Assets for Years from A-Z), with no help from record labels or radio play and a determination to speak to the streets. Then, a popular single with Lil’ Wayne, “Duffle Bag Boy," brought the duo international recognition. An affiliation with Ludacris and his DTP crew further cemented Tity Boi’s presence as a relevant figure.

Now, under his more accessible nom de plume, 2Chainz has reached the pinnacle of mixtape stardom, as T.R.U. REALigion bears DJ Drama’s “Gangsta Grillz” seal of approval. 2Chainz, who calls himself a Kama Sutra reader and a Conjure drinker, uses his business acumen and demonstrative lifestyle as the basis for his motivational tales of portfolio growth, relationship development, and reflections on the struggles of life.

2Chainz says, “The only way to build a movement is through movement,” and his 150+ tour dates in the past year are testament to his work ethic. He remains too busy accumulating luxuries to allow himself the luxury of days off and you can expect him to be looking fresh as a good dream when he steps into the club on Thursday night.

In addition to his Cloud 9 performance, 2Chainz will appear at an all ages meet and greet at R & S Menswear at the Lafayette Square Mall around 5 p.m.

• The Knux

Thursday, Dec.1
Birdy's Bar & Grill

Just before 11 on Thursday night, The Knux rolled into Birdy's (literally- I walked in right behind them) and immediately took command of the stage.

The Knux is comprised of brothers Kentrell "Krispy" Lindsey and Alvin "Joey" Lindsey (who both sing, rap, produce, and play instruments) but they were also joined on stage by a live bassist, drummer, and DJ. Krispy seemed to be the ringleader; he did most of the talking, expressive dancing. He generally kept the show on track.

But that's not to dismiss Joey's contributions. Outfitted in a stylish trapper hat, Joey laid down a few jaw-dropping guitar solos throughout the night...after he took care of some early technical difficulties.

"This monitor is busted as fuck," Joey announced shortly after the show began.

The Knux are currently touring in support of their most recent album release, Eraser. It's the pair's follow up to their 2008 debut Remind Me In 3 Days. There's a noticeable difference in sound and style between the two records; Remind Me In 3 Days is built on catchy hip hop and topped with tasty electro tidbits, while Eraser moves the duo closer to the mainstream with highly-produced pop and rock music that showcases The Knux's instrumental talents.

A small crowd was in the house, but it quickly became apparent that all in attendance were devoted fans. They swarmed the front of the stage to sing and dance along with much enthusiasm. To show their appreciation, Krispy handed out t-shirts just a few songs in.

"This is our first time in Indy," he humbly declared to the audience. "We didn't really know what our fan base would be like... but we're definitely gonna be back in February."

Song selections bounced back and forth between the two albums. Breakout hit "Cappuccino" from their debut came just two songs in, followed by Eraser's "Run". They immediately switched back to Remind Me In 3 Days for "The Train", which ended in a slowed down, reworked run of the chorus. Krispy turned his back to the audience to shift attention to Joey's guitar work, then turned back around and assumed the role of orchestrator. He performed a sequence of sharp, staccato dance moves with his arms that were especially animated and entertaining. The Knux later finished the hour-long show with beloved favorites from Remind Me In 3 Days "Roxxanne" and "Bang! Bang!"

In addition to the high-energy performance, interaction with fans was elevated as well. Krispy spoke directly to individuals in between songs, made eye contact and pointed his fingers while performing, and repeatedly reassured us they would be back to Indy again early next year. As a final unifying token of appreciation for the fun time they'd had, The Knux asked everyone to make the peace sign with their fingers and raise their hands to air.

"Altogether, now," Krispy commanded. "One... two... three... PEACE!"

"Razorblade" by The Knux