D-WHY • YLHB Release Date Announcement

When is the 'Young, Loved, Hated & Broke' EP coming out?

I'm excited to announce that I'll be releasing it on Monday, November 4, 2013.

How many songs will it be?

The EP will consist of 7 or 8 songs. I consider it an EP because it is just a taste of what is to come, and when I put out a full-length album (sometime next year) it will be on a whole other level.

Where will it be available?

We are planning to make it available for purchase on iTunes, but it will definitely also be available for free download here at TheCleanestCorner.com. It's important to me that the music reaches as many people as possible, so I want those that don't have the money (or don't want to spend it) to have the opportunity to obtain and share the music. However, I've received an overwhelming amount of feedback from my fans that they can't wait until I have music on iTunes, because they WANT to support. And that, my friends, means the world to me. If it goes on iTunes as planned, it will be the cheapest that iTunes allows it to be for the amount of tracks.

Do you have any goals for the EP?

What do you think, can we crack the Top 10 on the iTunes Rap/Hip-Hop Chart? Overall, I just want the people to listen to it, enjoy it and share it with their friends.

What will the sound of the EP be like?

The sound of the EP will be similar in concept to the sound of my last project, 'Dont Flatter Yourself': very ecclectic and diverse, but still wholly me. Although I have a clear vision of where I want to take the sound of future projects (and I have countless tracks already recorded and/or written for them), I want people to discover and appreciate my diversity and versatility. I wanted to supply something for everyone on the EP, but at the same time make it so the songs all make sense together. 'Young, Loved, Hated & Broke' should be looked at as a continuation of 'D.F.Y.,' rather than being compared to it.

Can we expect more songs and videos from the EP leading up to its release?

Right now, we're putting the finishing touches on the "One Day" video, so hopefully you'll have that next week for #DWHYwednesday. After that, expect at least two more songs and one more video from the EP before November 4.

Los Angeles, CA • The Trails Cafe

Date: 07-28-13
Location: 2333 Fern Dell Dr.
Photography by: Luis Valdizon
Words by: Luis Valdizon & M. L. Morriss
Website: thetrailslosfeliz.com

We had just finished D-WHY's first tour and finally had a little spare time on our side to explore a few places in Los Angeles I've been scouting for us. On that list was The Trails Cafe, a quaint cafe and bistro in L.A.'s scenic Griffith Park. I discovered The Trails on The Selby, one of ours (and I hope everyone's) favorite websites. The blog's founder, Todd Selby, gave an exclusive look inside the cozy hillside kitchen and accompanied the images with an interview with the establishment's pastry chef, Jenny Park (read it here).

The Trails is just the right amount of charming. It awards you the very rare gratification that comes with finding out about and visiting an inviting, albeit distant neighborhood gem. It was quite bright and warm on the day of our visit--we drove to it with our windows down and and our oldies Pandora station turned loud. It was our first weekend back in L.A., so, needless to say, we slept in that day. When we arrived to the cafe around 3 p.m. for a late lunch, the sun sat resplendent and high in the heavens. With its setting politely inside the scenic Griffith Park, The Trails blends in seamlessly within its environment and adds to the list of perks the park has to offer. As we learned via The Selby, all of the baked goods are homemade daily--that's one of the traits we look for and appreciate when hunting out eateries to cover on TCC. I had my heart set on trying their clever take on Eggs in a Basket, but they were sold out by the time we got there. My disappointment, however, was short-lived as I noticed the presence of Stumptown Coffee on their menu and all of the other appetizing items they have to offer. I tried their popular avocado sandwich first. The medley of cheese, sprouts, avocado and vegan "bacon" bits was a treat. Next was their apple pie. It was the type of pie loving grandmother's tip their hats too and that you'd ask for as your last meal. After eating, I became intrigued by the Ouija board table I spotted and grabbed the photo of it you see above--it was the first time I had seen anything like it.

All in all, The Trails is something special. The staff was friendly and kind about answering our questions about the menu and the food was fresh, fulfilling and high-quality. The next time you're in the L.A. area, plan a lunch trip to Griffith Park and tell them TCC sent you. After eating, walk off your full stomach with a hike up the namesake trails to check out the popular Griffith Observatory, where you'll catch a breathtaking view of the City of Angels and find some of the finest space and science-related displays around.

Spokane, WA • Dick's Hamburgers

Date: 07-06-13
Location: 10 E 3rd Ave.
Photography by: Luis Valdizon
Words by: M. L. Morris & Luis Valdizon

During the Spokane, Washington stop of the "Young, Loved, Hated & Broke Tour," Dick's Hamburgers was our post-show saving grace. Established in the 1960s, Dick's is a drive-in burger shack known for its authentic, old-school look and its economical, inexpensive menu that offers a wide variety of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and strips, pizza, fries, onion rings, hot fried pies, shakes and malts (ask about seasonal flavors), and other cold treats. The most popular item is the "Whammy," which is comprised of two meat patties and two layers of cheese–-you could say it serves as this Spokane burger institution's take on In-N-Out's "Double-Double." The seating at Dick's is limited to a few outdoor picnic benches, but most patrons tend to enjoy their meals inside the comfort of their vehicles or standing outside with friends. On a warm summer night, the area around the hood of our car was suitable for our crew of rumbling stomachs. Although Whammies didn't quite satisfy our cravings for Double-Doubles, the taste for price ($1.69 each) couldn't be beat. We were looking for any eatery open at 1 a.m., and we just so happened to stumble upon a local landmark. If you're ever venturing through this quaint Pacific Northwest city and in need of a cheap, but tasty lunch or dinner, now you know where to go. And if you're in need of coffee, stop by Couer Coffeehouse, highlighted here in another recent TCC post.

D-WHY • One Day

Date: 08-04-13
Cover Artwork & Photograph by: Luis Valdizon
Words by: David Morris

I am so excited to finally start sharing music from the eight-or-so tracks on the 'Young, Loved, Hated & Broke' EP with you guys. Since the release of 'Don't Flatter Yourself' a year ago, I've probably written/recorded enough material for three albums, but I'm big on putting things out the right way, at the right time. With summer nearing its end, school starting back up for some of you and a big fall tour approaching for me (with Hoodie Allen, Mod Sun and OCD: Moosh & Twist--tickets here), I felt as though it's the right time for me to give you the first real taste of YLHB. Thus, I bring you "One Day," produced by Dave Cappa and featuring a sample from one of my favorite songs of the past year by Asaf Avidan & The Mojos. Disclaimer: Before you press play, put headphones on and turn the volume up LOUD.



If you made it out to any of my summer tour dates, you probably heard me preview this song towards the end of each show. And if you watched the first episode of my behind-the-scenes mini-doc series, 'New Frontiers,' you heard this instrumental running through the performance footage. Today, I give it to you in full. As mentioned above, the original song that we sampled is by Israeli singer-songwriter Asaf Avidan. It became popular overseas last year when German producer Wankelmut turned the folk song into a house hit, but it hasn't really reached the masses in the U.S. Upon discovering that remix, I became a huge fan of the song and its melody, lyrics and message. I had it on repeat for days. I attempted to rap over the house version, but the tempo was off. After sending it to Dave Cappa, we both quickly understood what we needed to do. The result is a track that blends hip-hop, trap, EDM and folk music together. We like to call it "Folk-Trap." People who have been following my career know that I pride myself on writing and releasing music that doesn't adhere to genre labels. I love folk music, I love rap music. To me, this is a great marriage of both. I hope you guys enjoy. Please share it with your friends, and be ready for the 'Young, Loved, Hated & Broke' EP coming soon!