“Mattyice1990 takes his time with this one. He delivers a raw yet emotional track as he takes us through his fight with his demons and his dreams. The soft piano keys aligns with his flow which keeps you listening to his story and understanding his pain. Life keeps throwing things at him which is painful to deal with yet he still has hopes of being successful and getting his Maserati.”
“NonSense caps off a prolific year with his single ‘The Audacity.’ NonSense had this to say about his creation ... “The track is about standing tall atop your mountain despite those who feel they can stand in your way. Being the very best version of YOU and you alone at the behest of naysayers.”
Delivered in an old school Boom Bap style, the lyrical flow hits and the writing comes with a punch. The Carson, California native channels many of his musical heros in this diverse build and sound. ”
“Throwback Old school emcee driven hip-hop is a rare animal these days. Here PB Mogul fits the bill along with a hard hitting JayceeDai, who brings the attitude in every word.
Ante Up is an up-tempo, high energy song full of fun and bars exchanged between the two Utica, NY Natives. With a catchy hook and undeniable chemistry, Ante Up is a bonafide banger!
This one hits.”
“Songs about people, (actual or fictional) can be tricky, but his one works in that it also feels like true tangible history as much as a fictionalized account. The American Dream isn’t the same for everyone and isn’t easy for anyone, and the lyrics here give us a taste of that dynamic.
This track from Rally 4 Reality is a tribute and ode to Robert Jebediah Freeman the Grandad from Adult Swim’s ‘The Boondocks.’”
“Some tracks are simply a groove and vibe. ‘Ran It All Up’ from KYO! is such a song. Riding a smooth flow and steady beat KYO! delivers an emotional ode to growing up and taking care of your business no matter the missteps along the way. It is the song of life so to speak, with the ups and downs and the perseverance to keep laying it out there while you chase your goals and dreams.”
“A dose of truth and honesty is always a good idea, and here Jay Dutch delivers exactly that as he lays out the difficult road to success in the music industry, and in a broader sense the world.
Haters gonna hate and doubters gonna doubt, and when given the chance, the hustlers are gonna take what they can from you.
’About That Time’ is about believing in yourself and holding that hard line until you rise above all those looking to drag you down. ”
“The strength, journey, and courage of a man can be found in Pawz One’s “Good Man”. The song is poetic with a few emotional moments. It tells the journey of no matter a man’s struggle there are still good moments. ”
“This is truly a song that will take off during football season. It hypes the listener up and motivates any player to go out into the field and win. The beat is energetic and maintains a consistent tempo. M Soto takes control over his journey and encourages others to win.”
“The talent is strong in this track. It infuses Jazz and Hip-Hop with a poetic tempo. I was moved by the beat more than anything because the overall verses created different vibes. The infusement of talent reminds me of Anthony Hamilton but it also shows a good range”
“Some people may think it’s a guilty pleasure but addiction is a terrible battle that many fight. FlexpackFACE delivers a conscious Hip-Hop track over a POP like melody. He discusses his relationship with addiction before and after sobriety. The flow is direct, clear, and consistency. It allows any listener to follow his battle and be clear of the journey.”
“This track finds its own path. It is percussive and moody with an uptempo beat that you can groove to. It also gives off a girl empowerment anthem. Raaqel expresses true feelings and alignment in this Lofi Hip-Hop track TYK. You will have to listen to the song to understand what TYK means.”
“A dark foreboding vibe makes this track perfect for spooky season. Lex Ether delivers some sharp writing, and the lines hit with a punch not every performer can deliver.
Though I did crave a bit more variation to help hold my attention, and the sinister laugh in the backing might have been overdone a time or two. Overall this track spoke to me and I have a feeling it is one of those songs that I will grow to love more with multiple listens as the lyrical power settles in my psyche.”
“This chorus is infectious and the beat is made to get sturdy to. Money has so much swagger and charm in his delivery you can’t help but caught in the wave of the record. He makes you believe every word and just handed us the anthem for that in-coming winter break up. This is one of those ones. ”
“Que sounds like a young man with something to say but he hasn’t quite found his voice yet. Yaself is filled with passion and some sharp lines but its not quite a smooth ride... quite yet. Having something to say is the hardest part of being an artist and Que has that in spades this record is just missing a little finesse and fine tuning. Give it time and we’re gonna be talking about Que. ”
“This song gives me Vince Staples vibes. Slum Boy delivers a bass heavy, uptempo jam where he simple lets everyone know what he’s all about in his own words. His own lyrical introduction to the world. Letting you know that he’s God fearing while also letting you know that he’s still human and makes mistakes. This song would make a dope intro to an album.”
“This is head nod music at its finest. This has that hypnotic yet effortless cool of a certain iconic New Jersey rap group with its slick yet heady bars and psychedelic looping beat. The sung moment of “I ain’t gon let you fall” is hits you in feelings you didn’t even know you had. *Chefs Kiss*”
“This beat could play for 8 hours straight and my head would still nod just as hard. The hypnotic chopped & screwed hook is infectious and each rapper brings their A game on the verses. The record is far from polished which I think is part of the charm. It feels raw but smooth, untamed but never out of control. It sits in that rare space of turn up, chill house party & long drive... thats hard to do!”
“Bill and Billy take you down their own memory’s lanes. Showcasing the art of storytelling by visually and verbally walking the listener through their own life experiences. A tales of childhood to teenage life experiences and lessons learned while masterfully delivering bars over a nostalgic sample beat. This song is just a groovy jam.”
“For the one’s that have trouble sleeping or just want to relax this song is for you. Monterey has a relaxing sound to it that will have you feeling like you are sitting near the ocean. This is a chill yet study beat that switches toward the end while still staying keeping the same mood, ”
“This is pure poetry over an interesting beat. Strong Black Hair acknowledges all hair types that women have. He describes each woman in her element whether as a mother, an auntie, a sister or a teacher. He captivates our attention by describing the texture and the smell of pure coco butter. I also like the inserted audio that allows us to capture the power of black hair. ”