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Geebz – “Future Wifey”

November 30, 2016

A gem of Geebz purposeful recent project Don’t Hold the Juice is the single “Future Wifey.” The North Carolina rapper draws inspiration and likeliness from NC’s J. Cole, Lauryn Hill, and the recent gospel-themes releases from Kanye, Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins. Geebz coos out to a love he knows he’ll meet one day; “This song is for you even though we haven’t met.” “Future Wifey” is a groovy jam ready for the masses, with some kicking drums and a smooth hook. Check out Don’t Hold the Juice here and listen to “Future Wifey” below.

Sammus – “Song About Sex”

November 30, 2016

Ithaca’s Sammus hits a nerve with her single “Songs About Sex.” The fiery track speaks to sexual experiences (both good and bad) from a women’s perspective. The femcee talks about great sex with shitty people, poignantly expressed in the line “I can’t judge girl, I’ve been there I’ve done that, I’ve cum dumb hard so I run back.” She also details the all-too-real threat of assault, rounding the bases of a track ripe with emotion. The song’s beat flips an elevator music sample and brings it into the 2010s. I could explain this track front and back but Sammus’ words do it more justice on the chorus; “This is a song about sex in which I do not condemn women for the realities in which they are living. We should not be forgetting, we should be forward living, you should be for what we can’t afford to keep on forgetting.”[...]

XL – “Bloom”

November 8, 2016

XL’s work on his latest rap single “Bloom” is a unique mix of poetic lyricism and quintessential rap. He balances the recreational weed lines (“As soon as I went green made sure to cut pollution, now the only smog I see is coming from a Swisher Sweet”) with more substantial stuff (“I ain’t trying see ya doomed I’m just trying to keep ya bloomed from the womb to the tomb.”) “Bloom’s” boom bap production provide a dope landscape for XL to do as he pleases over the beat. XL’s got a well-rounded flow and has the ability to jump on whatever subject he pleases. Give it a listen below.

Sentry Sinvil – “Keep Goin”

November 8, 2016

Sharp with braggadocio, NY’s Sentry Sinvil’s got a sharp tongue and perseverance flowing through his veins. He croons here and there, but Sentry’s rapid rapping is “Keep Goin’s” big draw. With myriad rhyme schemes, he drops punch after punch. Highlights include “Your favorite rapper wearing Sentry Sinvil pajamas,” which closes out a particularly tough verse. “Keep Goin’s” disjointed beat immediately calls to one of Sinvil’s key influencers in DOOM. It’s easy to vibe to, and impressive to actually tune in for. Check it out below, and listen to his latest release Rare Gems here. 

The Siege – “Duplicate”

November 8, 2016

Drumline percussion, lion roars, and junkyard flows make The Siege’s “Duplicate” a perfect hype-up track. The Siege is a SoCal hip hop duo consisting of Taz Conley on the mic and Riley Taylor making things happen behind the scenes. Riley’s production has the aforementioned excitedness, but is also built around a dope country-western guitar plucks. On the mic, Taz is dynamic in what he can touch on. The front half of the track is heavy on punchlines, but the tone changes with a beat flip to close out the song, and Taz gets introspective regarding his relationships (“they say that forgiveness is freedom”). It’s a dope track in all aspects, check it out below.

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.