“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. ”
“Beauxx, Big Sad 1900, and Cypress Moreno drop their third collaboration together, ‘I Need That.’ The track preempts their forthcoming collaborative EP.
Inspired by the West Coast sound this single offers a laidback R&B style groove and of course accentuates the trios various vocal talents.”
“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. ”
“I was close to declining this track. Mainly because of the mumble rap build up and the lyrics not being clear. However, the more I listened to Roxy Alice the more the vocal tone reminded me of Young Thug. Sometimes it’s not about understanding a song but how good it sounds and the vibes it gives off. “Strike Me Blind” is a song that I can see being played a few times.”
“Love is fraught with so many pitfalls and unfortunately cash can be a big one. Falling for a girl outside your means with $ in her eyes can be a frustrating endeavor and Summonte showcases that with this track. ‘OOHS &AAHS’ has an unconventional hook that is more sounds than anything else, but it works and the energy carries the track forward. I found myself moving and singing along to this relatable song.”
“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.”
“I like the word play and tone here, though I did crave more passion driving the flow and pushing it forward. At times, the flow settled into a monotone delivery style that would have better taken off for me had it expressed some nuance and emotion to truly make the track come alive. ‘doing too much’ is one of those tracks that is really close to shining, but just needed a few delivery tweaks to truly catch fire and hit that next level for me.”
“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 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!”
“Trapped out, bass heavy banger. Bxdhi delivers melodic, rock and roll style vocals that bring the energy and the swag. Bxdhi really pops his stuff on this one. In a world short on Young Thug influenced bangers, Bxdhi could be one of those artist to sleep into the void and really deliver.”
“Quote me when I saw Leakzz just might be the future of UK Hip-Hop. He’s oozing swagger and confidence as he raps that pure coke white bravado. The chorus is catchy and the beat makes you feel like you’re on a yacht in Mykonos sipping Champagne. Standing out besides the songs features Leakzz sounds like a man amongst boys. So much of music is intangible and whatever that ‘thing’ is Leakzz has it. ”
“Hip-Hop is a universal and Kourosh is speaking it fluently on Wolf. The Persian rapper by way of The Netherlands sounds sharp, clever and dripping with star power as he skates across the skipping production. The switch to acoustic guitar and sweet singing on the outro shows Kourosh is a 360 artist and could be about to put his city on the international stage. ”
“IYKYK... Black forces = A WHOOPIN’.
Reese and Ski Mask trade clever menacing bars over a beat that would be at home a Freddie Kruger mixtape. Black Forces captures the mythology of the Black Air and has both rappers sounding as sharp as ever. When you see the black forces coming... RUN!”
“I’m loving the revival of fun in Hip-Hop. This record just makes you feel good, and makes your shoulders bounce uncontrollably. The bars are dripped in swagger and flair with a host of tongue in cheek one liners. It’s chorus is so infectious you’ll be texting everyone you know to “Ask Around” about Tyte. ”