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Jasn – “L to the Head”

November 5, 2016

Jasn’s “L to the Head” is a tight two minute declaration of skill. The rapper (with a assist from some dope Moberg production) is confident and in-your-face regarding his status. “I am I, and you are you.” Even without context that burns. He knows the power of succinctness (“I speak less but I’ve been forming better statements.”) and when to throw some words around. There’s an ultra dope “presence/blessing/delicatessen” rhyme scheme in minute two that any fan of lyricism needs to check out. Give it a listen below.

Quadie Diesel – “Mr. Feeny” (D.R.A.M. Remixx)

November 5, 2016

Quadie Diesel has a hit on his hands with “Mr. Feeny.” Everyone’s favorite Boy Meets World character (Sorry, Topanga) is at the center of the track, as Quadie’s clientele of fiends makes him feel like the John Adams High School teacher and Cory Matthews mentor. It’s a silly anthem, but one so memorable that a replay is necessary immediately after the first listen. This slapping song kills the chorus too, with the trap-flavored hook “I got fiends I think I’m Mr. Feeny.” Already having one of the best 2016s of anyone in the game, the lovable D.R.A.M. hops on this track and more than delivers with his charismatic flow and puppy-dog charm. The beat’s got a bizarre melody not unlike Lil Yachty’s “Minnesota.” Give it a listen below while you queue up Boy Meets World.

Manzo – “Venice”

November 5, 2016

Milwaukee’s Manzo has his eyes set west on his second release “Venice.” The track details his emotions during transitional periods and jobs while pursuing his music career. It’s not all glamorous, but there’s a give and take, Manzo describes with “spent my last paycheck on groceries, Dulce, and a muhfuckin’ gold chain.” “Venice” has an excited drum pattern with some strong, sustained horns. It’s a great landscape for Manzo to lay out his path, and he takes off with it. Give it a listen below.

Cliz – “Class Is In Session”

November 5, 2016

Cliz’s “Class is in Session” is a controversial, fiery take on the true value of a college education. For a creative like Cliz, it’s necessary to beg the question “how do you tell me that I need a master’s or bachelor’s when I’ve already mastered what I want to become on this Earth?” He stands up to the narrative that successful people need to go to four years of college, and challenges the logic of making a lifetime financial commitment when you’re a naive 18-year-old. Cliz doesn’t  condemn it all, but he’s adding quality insight to the conversation. Give it a listen below.

E-Pro – “Jam Bands Ruined Your Life”

November 5, 2016

Upstate NY’s E-Pro has whittled together a hilarious song and accompanying video for his Joke Rogan single “Jam Bands Ruined Your Life.” The rapper spins the tale of an impressionable freshman who did acid with his new friends at college and ended up being the biggest Grateful Deal fan you’ve ever met. He’s relentless, and informed with his roasts namedropping notable psychedelic pioneers like the line “Even Terrance McKenna thinks you’re retarded.” It’s a fun, hilarious story about someone we all know, with the badass ending “Moral of the story: You don’t gotta be this kid, you could listen to boom bap rap like E-Pro did.” Check it out below and more from E-Pro on the Joke Rogan project.

Najii Person – Personal

October 11, 2016

Najii Person has a great name that he calls upon for his aptly-named single “Personal.” The St. Louis rapper talks to a girl that he’s looking to reach another level with. That level that you only have with a select few, and Najii hints that she is the his only, “I usually don’t talk about personal shit, you was the only one I was trying to get personal with.” There’s a really great production breakdown on the back half of the track, where Najii gets to crooning to his confidant with some wild backing sounds and vocals. It’s a complete flip from “Personal’s” rapping on the front, which acknowledges in the transition where Najii says, “and then I’d say some snake shit to her like..” Person’s creativity is on full display on the track, listen below and find more here. 

Jay Fletch – “Money Can Change Everything”

October 11, 2016

Calgary’s finest is on display on “Money Can Change Everything” from the city’s Jay Fletch. Canada’s rap scene has been on fire, and Jay flexes his abilities on the carefully dreary, heavy beat for “Money.” He’s composed but reflective on a knockout hook where he raps “I swear to God money can change everything, tryna live my life, be a better man. Talk about the sun and the rain I’m the weather man.” Jay’s finances are definitely on display, but the track is more about personal relations and self-improvement. Jay’s got a killer, accessible sound emblematic of his country. Check out more from him here and listen to “Money Can Change Everything” below.

DeAndre – “Paper Trail”

October 11, 2016

Dorcester, Massachusetts’ rapper DeAndre is a natural storyteller, and his single “Paper Trail” sucks you in from the very beginning. He starts with “I woke up real early on a Sunday afternoon, checked my phone, looks like I’ll be getting some head so soon,” and it’s clever and hilarious in the same line. He immediately gets onto great lyricism and commentary on the following line “I sip a couple brew, sit and watch the news and I only see the blues, like the only knuckle head from high school that was cool, caught another case.” He continues on to talk tongue-in-cheekly about race relations, his love life, and more with personality bursting through the words. Ripe with lyrical content, “Paper Trail” gets even more strong with a thunderous chorus, where DeAndre plays with some pounding horns. Listen to “Paper Trail” below and more from DeAndre here.

Sol Virani (SOL) – “NO Hard Feelings”

October 11, 2016

“You were so familiar now I’m standing nowhere near you,” says Sol Virani on his single “NO Hard Feelings.” The track is a pledge to the stagnant people from Sol’s past. Sol has no interest in whether they were coattail riders or caught up in themselves, he just raps with a refined sound way beyond them. In conjunction with a banging beat, Sol raps with a ferocity that only comes from a real place. On the hook, Sol almost teases the ghosts with a catchy hook. Listen to “NO Hard Feelings” below and more from the New Orleans rapper here.

bigOmuziq – “pursuit 2.0”

October 11, 2016

In a catchy hip hop/house fusion, Michigan’s bigO’s “pursuit 2.0” talks of the passion, power and ultimately pursuit of love. He’s a rapper by trade but bigO’s voice makes for an awesome melodic piece of fun on the chorus. The verses cover bigO’s particularly tumultuous relationship with a former love. Production is a head bobber and a shoulder shaker, with a driving bottom half. Listen to “pursuit 2.0” below and check out more from bigO here.

Duvol – “Stress” Feat. Cardiff Brothers

October 11, 2016

18-year-old Rhode Island-esian rapper/producer Duvol’s “Stress” is a masterclass in vibing off of killer production. With polish and ease, he whips through the epic and ultimately playful beat for the single. Highlights include the internal rhyming on the line “Stylin’ and wildin’ we’re coming out of Rhode Island, when you see me I’m smilin’ cause this paper been pilin.'” The beat flips into a slower feel for the outro, but the flow remains on point. Listen to Duvol’s latest project My Face Belongs on Radio, and check out “Stress” below.

Blacastan, Mr. Green & DJ FMD – “Power”

October 4, 2016

The trio of emcee Blacastan, producer extraordinaire Mr. Green, and scratching guru DJ FMD unite to craft the neck-snapping “Power.” Blacastan’s grizzled flow and veteran lyricism lead the way with punchlines for days particularly on the line “I’m the numero uno pulling rhymes out my culo.” Mr. Green has been providing poignantly snappy instrumentals for some of rap’s best for years now, and “Power” is another one for the resume. He constantly adds and drops sections of the archetypical hip hop loop, for a simply awesome instrumental. Denmark’s DJ FMD and his timely cuts on the hook and outro of  “Power” make the song an international affair. “Power” is the first single from  the Global Connection Vol. 2 compilation, out now. Watch the vid below.

Dreemy Sinatra – “Money Up” Ft Nell

October 4, 2016

Armed with a beat that prime Lil Wayne would love to take on, Maryland’s Deshon Hodges aka Dreemy Sinatra has a sound ripe with commercial appeal and the lyricism of a true wordsmith. “Money Up” begins with an epic build into a rich beat that mashes Mannie Fresh with Hit-Boy. Sinatra’s flow is on display with creative rhyme schemes (“Whispered when we had change but they holler since we got a dollar”), and the charismatic Nell comes through with a great feature, rich with energy and floetry. “Money Up” comes off of Hodges’ The G.O.A.T. EP, give it a listen below.

Sh3llz – “Live on Stage”

October 3, 2016

Detroit’s Sh3llz speaks from a real perspective. “Live on Stage” is a composed relaying of his experience and wisdom from living in the Endless Struggle of his home city.  Over a classic, soulful beat, Sh3llz lets us enter his matrix; “All the flashy n*ggas die with holes in their brain, or they’re locked in the cell still bearing the chain.” He flips his flow around as he talks about his vices, aspirations, environment and more. “Live on Stage” is the first track off of Endless Struggle, listen to it below. Endless Struggle by Sh3llz

Mic Torrance – “Wander”

September 16, 2016

The slow intro of Mic Torrance’s “Wander” build into a fun and surprising payoff on the rapper’s new single. Mic’s sound is one of the more unique you’ll hear in from a rapper. “Wander’s” instrumental sounds like music that someone in the 90s would think that a computer hacker would listen to while he’s knee deep in some HTML. It’s an oddity, but in Mic’s hands it’s an accessible, impressive single. Lyrically, Mic touches on his come-up and drive in general, with some great effects on his vocals that help stretch the genre of his song. It’s well-composed and has a great sound to it. Put on your Neo sunglasses and press play below.