Marz Da Hippy x Chadster - Sleeping (feat. chadster) [Music Video Review]

“Marz Da Hippy and Chadster team to give us ‘Sleeping.’

The smooth easy beat and rhythm does indeed instill a calm, sleepy vibe though this track is one you will want to stay awake and alert for.

The track is a vibe an reminder to relax and roll with the punches while being grateful for the things that are going right. We all have a tendency to focus on the bad and that allows the doom to take on an outsized role in our lives. This track is a talented reminded to enjoy the good and weather the bad. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Soolie - Grapes [Music Review]

“Soolie reps the Bay area these days after growing up in Ohio. ‘Grapes’ tells his story with great lyricism and a steady unrelenting flow that harkens to another era of Hip-Hop. That said the track is legit and right at home in today’s musical landscape. This is a hard hitting track that lands all the right lyrical punches.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Gio - One More Night [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“What I love about this track is its bold confidence. Gio takes chances with a performance that straddles the line between an Emo Alt Rock vibe and a Rap flow. The lyrical build is well rendered and the emotion comes through in genuine fashion.

That said this is a track that requires a bit of patience as the speedy delivery makes it tricky in parts to discern the lyrics and stay with the build in that regard. This is definitely one of those track that grows on you and means more with each subsequent listen. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Crhymes - Trouble Maker (ft. Eminem) [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Crhymes enlists the talent of Slim Shady to deliver ‘Trouble Maker.’ Crhymes, is a Latino Rapper hailing from San Diego, California. The a former member of the rap duo the COR and respected freestyler is a frequent collaborator of some of the biggest names in Rap.

This track with Eminem hots hard and takes no prisoners in its fight with the wack MCs of the world. Keep an eye out for his latest project titled, ‘Thuggery: A Near Death Experience,’ which features Snoop Dogg, Bizzy Bone & Layzie Bone to name a few talents. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

PTK LOTHBROOK - SELL THE LAND [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“PTK Lothbrook comes directly at the listener on this track and the in your face beat and delivery catches fire as a result. ‘Sell The Land,’ was written out of the anguish and emotions of a divorce and the lyrical power hits. The flow has some Pop style, though that does not diminish the intricacy and timing of the Rap delivery so the artist did a great job of managing this tricky performance.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Already Legends x Freddy River - Smooth Water River (feat. Sam Tate, SavageSpitFlamez, Squad, L.O.E. BOOG & billy winters) [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track’s intro didn’t do much for me, but once that flow hit around the :25 mark I was in and sailing right along.

The smooth delivery of the various flows held me, and the writing had some nice lyrical punches that landed with precision and talent. Already Legends teams with Freddy River and a bunch of other talents to create a nice tranquil Trap track that is as inviting and silky as a cruise down ‘Smooth Water River.’ ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tha Crown - Blessing (feat. Playerrways) [Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“This track is a celebration of life’s victories, big and small, with Tha Crown’s gritty verses complementing Playyerways smooth flows, creating a refreshing dynamic. Everyday alive is a blessing! ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Lil Primo - STARBURST [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Lil Primo feels anything but lil on this big bold track. ‘Starburst’ has that old school, in-your-face vibe, and Primo infuses that hard flow with fresh linds and a crisp delivery that lands the lyrical punches with skill and precision.

This LA are rapper brings the perfect verve to his flow and the writing hits with grit and emotion.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Nicki Knightz - Step With Me (ft. JoeJas) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

“The video is simple but works well witht he lyrics and vibe. This track was a mixed bag for me overall. I dig the writing and the passion put into the delivery of these flows, thought he staccato beat and start and stop feel on that side left the build feeling chaotic in a disorganized kind of way for me.

Both Nicki Knightz and JoeJas convey the emotion well in their flow and I admire their talent but this arrangement felt like a bit of mess for me.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Florigineel x Thai Thai x Young Buck - Clowns [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Blunt and in your face! Florigineel, Thai Tahi, and Young Buck unleash a hard edged Rap track with teeth. ‘Clowns’ has some old school, Gangsta Rap sensibilities and some new world grit.

Each flow hits and the lyrical punches jab uppercut, and deliver one knockout blow after another. This is the brand of unflinching Rap you remember and the Rap we all need to hear more of because let’s face it the world is a softer place these days and that’s not always a good thing.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Joshua Golden - I Can't Wait To Meet You [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Most of us long to find that elusive soulmate, and while waiting, we come up with our ideas and ideals of what that person will be like. Joshua Golden taps into those expectations with his tack, ‘I Can’t Wait To Meet You.’

The song straddles that line between Pop and Rap to create a Commercial track that should appeal to a wide audience. The emotion and performance and added snippets of conversation on each end really come together to feel true and genuine.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

JRoberts - What's The Deal (Featuring Ayoo Bigz) [Music Review]

Rating: 2 out of 5

“This one missed me in a lot of ways. The timing is solid, and I do hear passion in the delivery. That said overall the beat and backing felt melodramatic and the flow had a stilted tone prior to that shift at 1:20. The second flow felt far more authentic for my ears as that delivery hit for me leaving the track with a Jekyll and Hyde contradiction of the two delivery styles.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lil Savage - They Don't Even Know [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Lil Savage wrote this song a week after losing the love of his life to suicide. The emotion and heavy impact of that tragic events can be felt in the heavy brooding build and emotion of the track.

I do wish the vocal side had a touch more vibrancy within the mix but then again, the heavy sadness does come through so perhaps the track is meant to feel subdued. A track with grit, vulnerability, and genuine emotion.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

MINASTA SCRUGE - INTEGRITY [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Minasta Scruge brings an old-school type flow with his track ‘Integrity.’ Clever wordplay marks the lyrical flow and the rhymes play off each other with a simple brilliance that keeps you leaning in eager for the next line. Snoop Dogg joins in to deliver his only brand of cool smooth relaxation. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ice Meez - What It Do [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ice Meez is bringing the West Coast vibes on his latest track, ‘What It Do.” Sharp lyrical punches land with precision and power, and the beat hooks the listener to pull them along.

Ice Meez knows how to create a vibe and he does so here with a skilled expertise. The track does a good job of fitting in the space between old school and contemporary and no matter the era this one simply hits.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Nazzy the Mic - Cheatin [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Nazzy the Mic is a talented young artis I have been keeping my eyes and ears on for awhile. Here in this track, Nazzy delivers a smooth unconventional love song. The flow is fire and while at times I craved less production to better allow the emotions to come through, the song is too good to let a small thing stop the world from digging in.

’Cheatin’ is a new twist on side pieces, and it comes from a voice the Rap world could use more of. Nazzy the Mic always delivers solid emotion especially for an artist so young.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Sleepy Lexx - Going Fast [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Repping the Bahamas, Sleepy Lexx delivers ‘Going Fast’ with a raspy flow that hits and meshes well with the beat behind it. Lexx’s flow is confidant and precise and the lyrical play holds the build together keeping the listener leaning in for the next line.

I was left wanting more which is both bad and good but at only two minutes the track could have used another verse to keep the punches landing.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ice Meez - Tomorrow [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ice meez unleashes a track that is personal in nature but also speak to all of us. ‘Tomorrow’ is not promised and it is vital we embrace the present rather than spend all our focus chasing the future. The video for this track is well done and effectively adds to the emotions of the track.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Culture Jam - Can't Get Enough [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Culture Jam delivers a beat and hook that goes all day long. Vocally the track has verve and confidence to sell the hard lyrical punches. That backing is infectious and stays with you long after the track ends. There are not enough strong female voices in the Rap world right now but this track definitely hits as hard as anything currently out there.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

P.U.R.P. - Jody (Rosita & P.U.R.P. Ft. Akeem Ali) [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“P.U.R.P. joins forces with Rosita and Akeem Ali to give us a heart wrenching tale of a jilted sidepiece. ‘Jody’ turns the trop on its head given this time we are talking side dude rather than side chick. The track has some wry humor and irony as well as genuine grit and emotion lurking there in the irony.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger