Latest Posts

Nymrod – “Hell Yeah”

July 15, 2016

With his menacing flow and Max B ties, Nymrod takes us back to the sounds of the early 2000s New York rap scene on “Hell Yeah.” Nymrod is a talented rapper born and bred by the grit of New York. Elements of Jay Z, Dipset and G-Unit come through on this track, gleaming with authenticity. A fresh throwback in every sense, “Hell Yeah’s” production even sounds like some Neptunes production from that era. Lyrically Nymrod keeps it contemporary with references to Birdman’s recent escapades, while also keeping that older-school NYC edge. Give it a listen below.

NØVE – “Bang Bang”

July 13, 2016

LA’s NØVE is an alt-R&B artist capable of camouflaging darkness with light, as evidenced by the disguisedly catchy “Bang Bang.” Though sonically rich and fun, the track takes a peek into drug trade world. The lovely, infinite chorus “I love it when you bang bang, bang bang, let’s get it off” has a lot more depth with that context. “Bang Bang,” along with the rest of the EP, is guided by the crisp production of BRAVES’ Johnny What. NØVE will release his new EP Dark Paradise this summer. “Bang Bang” is the 3rd single from the EP, check it out below.

Kyle Rapps – “Michigan”

July 6, 2016

“Michigan,” the latest track from Harlem and Mexico City’s Kyle Rapps, is a multi-genre groovefest. Featuring an evolving electronic-dance beat with some hip hop-ability, “Michigan” will get your feet tapping. Rapps’ verses describe a fun love-chasing story, but Rapps’ vocals really shine on the infectious chorus, bridges and breakdowns that make “Michigan” expand beyond the parameters of a standard rap song. Production from Belief is excellent and pushes the agenda of Rapps’ flow switches. Press play below.

Kyle Bent – “Something Different”

July 6, 2016

Twinkles and pounding bass lay the groundwork for Massachusetts’ rapper Kyle Bent’s latest single “Something Different.” The prodigy’s claims of originality are backed with substance laid forth in lines like “I gotta block out distractions when I’m not rapping so I’m probably meditating.” Bent also touches on claims of ADHD rampant in the youth today, and how pigeon-holing creative kids can hold them back. For a track that in plain terms bangs, there’s a very interesting discussion in the verses that is revisited in the “It must be something different” chorus. “You should come over and get hip to this wave,” and listen below. Bent recently dropped the Dreams of a God mixtape, of which “Something Different” served as the lead single.

I.O.D. – “Round Here”

July 1, 2016

Brownsville is a tough part of New York, but that doesn’t stop B’ville native I.O.D. from being inspiring when he talks about the truths of his home. On “Round Here” I.O.D. describes in vivid details the scenes his crew has seen, giving insight into their methodologies and exactly why the “fire forming in their bellies” to succeed. In addition to providing commentary, I.O.D. proves his he can rap his ass off. Riding the midnight-saxophone beat with incredible flow and cadence, I.O.D. is everywhere from melodic to bulleted on this track. Press play below.

nIgel, NePh & Xany – “Morphine”

July 1, 2016

Chicago is currently a hotbed for up-and-coming rappers. The drill scene and the Save Money movement are well-covered in the blogosphere, but talent lurks elsewhere too. In a collaboration with producer Xany, we find two such emcees in nIgel and NePh. With natural chemistry, the two rappers utilize clever wordplay to float between talking on “morphine” and “more fiends.” Their raps are drugs, and their listeners are fiends for more. On the production side of things, Zany comes through with a lovely, hazy landscape to flow over. It’s higher energy than the Xanax and morphine tags would suggest, but the general smokiness of it all results in a great substance track from all angles.

200 Kids Outside Drop Off Neetchy’s The Old Me

June 30, 2016

200 Kids Outside is one of the most interesting rap acts in Buffalo. The duo usually features Neetchy on the mic with Minel covering production, though on this tape much of the production is handled by Neetchy. Neetch is a melodic rapper, at times straight singing, with lyrics that ride from tongue-in-cheek to romantic, stopping in many places in between. The group last hit us in the winter with Y’all Need a Drink, and kicked off the summer with Neetchy’s mixtape The Old Me. The Old Me is in primarily Neetchy’s work, though Minel does production and mixing on a handful of tracks. It kicks off with “Did You Wrong,” a pretty awesome Minel production. The wonky accordion beat is perfectly offset by the smoothness of Neetchy’s vocals. His subject matter on a lot of tracks is heavily influenced by love, as is the case here. The iconic “It’s Neetchy” ad-lib is nice to[...]

Cafe Disko Covers “One Dance” & “Can’t Stop the Feeling”

June 24, 2016

Pop music is fun to play with. Concrete melodies and digestable lyrics make for a good canvas to draw on, and that’s exactly what Cafe Disko has done with a pair of the biggest pop tracks of the year. Drake’s “One Dance” is the most successful of the wave of tropical house-influenced music we’ve gotten from a lot of pop’s biggest players. In Cafe Disko’s hands, “One Dance” becomes an electronic disco track, with a big horn hook to accompany the original chorus. Though it starts off in a similar blueprint to Drake’s track, Disko’s “One Dance” takes off to include builds and drops, more tropical drums, and Jameson in our vocalist’s hand rather than Hennessy. Disko gives the song a club groove, rather than the unique plodding of Drake’s OG version. It is a cover, but Cafe Disko’s “One Dance” has an awesomely different sound that can be enjoyed in its[...]

Bill $aber’s Creative Trap Sound Shines on Newest Project

June 22, 2016

Erie County rapper Bill $aber kicks off his latest project with a chorus of “If I fuck your bitch, my n***a do not get to stressing.” Its bold, nonchalant nature relays the confidence of the man behind the mic. On I.P.I.C $aber is a junkyard dog, dropping intense, aggressive floetry in a calculated manner. Opening track “Kum and Go” sets the standard, but the blueprint for $aber’s sound seems to happen on “You Talk it I Live it.” Atdenn’s sparse production leaves clean space for head nods and for $aber to preach his gospel of weird raunchiness, evidenced on lines like”If I don’t fuck she gonna pout.” Atdenn and Boyfriend make appearances on several cuts on here too and work right in with the aesthetic. The $aber crew are a raunchy, odd outfit perfectly comfortable saying exactly what they want. Playful keys are building blocks for a ton of these beats (“Homicide $aber[...]

IDE – “Flight Patterns”

June 10, 2016

Brooklyn’s IDE lays down some ferocious lyricism on his new track “Flight Patterns.” Produced by Lucky Loopiani, “Flight Patterns” has a wonderful, classic hip hop beat centered around some plucked Asian strings. It sounds heavily influenced by the work of Wu Tang leader RZA. Behind the mic IDE is boastful, contemplative and gritty, relaying his New York spirit in lines like “I’m just lost in the maze, but I’ll find my way.” His flow weaves between crass and rapid as he lays down a fiery performance. For hip hop heads looking for more IDE, his newest project “Breathe Easy” drops this month. Give “Flight Patterns” a listen below.

midnight Premieres Single Feat. The Internet

June 2, 2016

Rochester singer midnight returns his electric-soul sound to us by way of his new single “Native America.” In his controlled falsetto, midnight gently navigates through the bounding synths and kicks of the beat. “Native America” is driven upon the sin and dishonesty that resulted in the foundation of our country. The title and track reference both the atrocities committed against the indigenous people of the Americas, and how how the normalcy of violence and stubbornness is engrained in our being. “We’re in Native America,” midnight sings “where the lies are infamous, but the truth, it lives in us.” It is charged and sharp while remaining beautiful and delicate. The track features production from the Internet, well-known for rising up with the hip hop collective Odd Future and receiving acclaim for their 2015 album Ego Death .“Native America” comes ahead of the midnight’s July 1st release of his EP 0:00. midnight describes the project[...]

Novi Nov – “Thinkin’ Bout Ya”

June 1, 2016

Pop-rap, or rap produced with commercial intent is a relatively polarizing genre. Everybody has heard a joke about Pitbull or Flo Rida sucking (even though “My House” bangs). In that same vein though, it’s hard to ignore the catchiness and charisma that an artist like Fetty Wap carries with him on all those singles. Pittsburgh rapper Novi Nov comes from the world of one of the most commercially successful rappers of the last few years in Wiz Khalifa. Though he hasn’t reached that status, he’s churning out some simple, enjoyable rap tracks with memorable, sing-songy choruses to plant into listeners’ heads. His latest single “Thinkin’ Bout Ya” describes a lady who won’t escape Novi’s thoughts. The chorus is a ton of fun and Novi doesn’t hold back on verses, switching between rapid and melodic flows. Light-hearted, commercial music is often the most fun, and that’s what Novi goes for and[...]

Kato Dox – “Gone”

May 27, 2016

Austin, Texas’ Kato Dox’ ambitious mindset is the thesis for his new single “Gone.”Dox analyzes his come-up’s causation and effects over some hard-hitting production.  He likens his sacrifices and desperation to his conviction in lines like “When God is asleep then the Devil listen, might sell my soul before i turn up missing.”  Kato is relentless behind the mic. His chanting chorus serves as a break from the rapid flows he serves up with each verse. The song takes the fun, care-free elements we often see in rap and couples them with some speculative and reflective commentary. These themes are mirrored in the production, which fuses the trap sound popular in today’s music with some jazzy trumpets. It’s like a conversation at a party that ends up getting deeper than you planned, but it’s great and you roll with it. Give it a listen below.

C.L. Smooth (feat. Skyzoo & DJ Devastate) – “Perfect Timing (Max I Million Remix)”

April 26, 2016

Sweden’s Max I Million has cooked up a re-imagination of the Coalmine Records’ classic cut, “Perfect Timing,” featuring both C.L. Smooth and Skyzoo. DJ Devastate adds to the remix by scratching up the original chorus, in an ode to the craft. The beat is a good fusion of newer electronic production and classic hip-hop, and also features some Dr. Dre-type keys interspersed. Check it out below.  

Saga ft. Blu – “Up”

April 2, 2016

Brooklyn’s Saga has been a king of loosies of late. His latest standalone “Up” is a perfect rap track to transition from the depths of winter into warmer vibes. The warm, easy production is handled by France’s 20syl and is perfectly complimentary to the smooth flows of the rappers. Saga’s well-rounded attack features some really dope rhyme schemes and lyricism, and the song has a great structure. It’s a collaboration with noted emcee Blu, who along with a guest verse brings vocals to the chorus and throughout the song. Working with Blu and headed on a tour with Asher Roth soon, Saga is well on his come-up. Get your spring on and give it a listen. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/254754559″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]