2010 has certainly been a breakout year for Chiddy Bang, who have made a name for themselves with EPs and mixtapes. The alternative hip hip duo from Philadelphia have come a long way from the underground scenes as blog darlings to playing at this year’s Glastonbury and Lollapalooza music festivals. In 2011, the duo will take their work to the next level, releasing their debut album, The Swelly Life.

Lucky for you, if you’re into their synth-pop beats and snappy lyrics you don’t have to wait that long to get a taste for their upcoming album.  The latest EP from Chiddy Bang, titled Chiddy Bang: The Preview highlights eight songs that includes the sampling of MGMT’s “Kids” and Passion Pit’s “Better Things” and “Opposite of Adults”. And with heavyweights Q-Tip and Pharrell Williams on board (Williams produced the track, “The Good Life”), Chiddy bang is making some noise with some savvy songs and clever lyrics. All in all, the EP is full of great lyrics and tunes that can only allude to a great album to come. Check out the preview of the album on their Myspace page.

For a bonus, click through for a video of Chiddy Bang and Xaphoon Jones’  rendition of Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 classic, “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, shot in the Billboard studio as part of their “Monday Mashup” series.

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Last Tuesday night, we made our way to Highline Ballroom for Chiddy Bang’s Opposite of Adults’ Release Party. Featuring Chiddy Bang, Donnis, XV, 2AM Club and Samuel, the night had many surprises in store for eager fans.  We arrived just in time to catch 2AM Club’s great crowd interaction. As they sang “Worry about you,” the audience chimed along. Next up, XV stepped up to the plate, commanding the stage with an awareness as he delivered sharp verses to some heavy beats. Playing several tracks from his mixtape, Everybody is Nobody, the audience took heed to every word. From Smallville, Kansas, XV showed that he has game, and that he can certainly play with the rest.

Donnis blew the roof off the house when he jumped onto the stage. The Atlanta-based rapper exploded with metaphors and presented a fresh accent of country cool and grammar. One of XXl Magazine’s 2010 freshmen class, Donnis exercised crowd control like an experienced pro. Having seen him several times, he has certainly grown up from his freshmen days, but still knows how to play. When he brought up Jim Jones for a number, the audience erupted in fervor and excitement, and it didn’t stop there. Following up, the live and instrumental infusion of Chiddy Bang added a fresh touch of indie hip-hop to the music depository of the night. With a hodgepodge of styles, Chiddy Bang has a knack for creating great combination of melodies intertwined with lyrical play. Their live variations and tracks from ther new album, The Opposite Of Adults, was a treat for the audience – especially when they unveiled a new song produced by Pharrell Williams.

Overall, the entire show had a great vibe, and for their first sold-out show in New York City, we’d say Chiddy Bang hit this one out of the park. The audience came for fun, and by the expressions around the room, they certainly got it. Check out photos from the night by Oliver Correa.

Last night, Chiddy Bang, Outasight, 2 AM Club and Cocoa Sarai performed for a sold-out crowd at the Studio at Webster Hall.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM

Having heard of less than 10% of the CMJ line-up, Day 1 was an evening of new discoveries and a lesson in efficiency. The HiFi Cartel convened at the brand-new Limewire space in SoHo for the CMJ Media Meet & Greet before going our seperate ways to cover as many artists as possible. Check out some highlights after the jump.

DAY 1 PHOTOS COMING SOON…

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