Latest Posts

Baang – “Back Around”

March 31, 2025

Rising artist Baang (Believe, Aspire, Achieve, Now Go) is the face of the Arkansas rap scene, and a curator of refreshing, effortless hip hop tracks. His latest single “Back Around” captures the emotions of returning to your hometown, bringing your new experiences back to rekindling relationships. It’s also a love song. Baang nonchalantly discusses the differences in his upbringing with his interest, comparing their families; “I heard your daddy’s a doctor writing prescription, you know my brother is a doctor, he sell pills.” Baang also explores their partnership, how intertwined their emotions have become and quelling doubts over if he’s actually “back around.” Even with a mellow, composed delivery, the track’s hook sticks in your ears and its beat pairs well with a late night car ride. Toss it on when you’re thinking of someone. Check out more from Baang on Spotify and discover more artists like him on our[...]

Devantier Rain – “PHANTOM OF THE DRAMA”

March 27, 2025

German-Cameroonian artist Devantier Rain infuses his roots into an eclectic new single with his latest release “PHANTOM OF THE DRAMA.” Anchored by a Cameroonian choir and immaculately produced electronic elements, “PHANTOM” is a track that bends between hip hop and R+B. The choir sample murmurs and echoes behind Devantier’s thoughts about life and love in a potential relationship. Is his perceived Lois Lane genuine, or a phantom that he’s conjured? “PHANTOM” poses the questions; Devantier might have the answers – we’ll leave it up to you to decide. Cameroon choir chants take this to another dimension sonically, regardless of the legitimacy of Devantier’s phantom love. Check out more from Devantier on YouTube and Spotify and make sure to check out our emerging hip hop playlist on Spotify.

Freddy Printz – “Father Figures Freestyle”

March 25, 2025

Ottawa emcee Freddy Printz crosses off all the checkboxes of a tight freestyle on his newest track “Father Figures Freestyle.” Let’s get into it: First off, Freddy wastes no time. 1:48 minutes of no filler, no chorus needed, just bars. Secondly the bars are tight too. Freddy floats through one liners while effortlessly teasing his skills with the pen – “I was just one of them ones. Couldn’t be bothered – Freddy just followed the funds.” And like all good freestyles, the beat is one we wanna hear again. “Father Figures Freestyle” prominently features a sax effort that might fit in just as well on a deep house track. If you’ve got a playlist for freestyles and rap tracks with short runtimes, toss this in the mix. Check out Freddy on our Underground Hip Hop playlist and listen to more from him on Spotify and Soundcloud.

ProleteR & Napoleon Da Legend – “First Love”

March 23, 2025

French beatmaker ProleteR joins forces with buzzy DC emcee Napoleon Da Legend to write a love letter to hip hop on their newest track “First Love.” Napoleon snatches the mic and transports us here – both with his golden era-influenced rapping delivery and his vivid lyrics. “First Love” sounds like a journal entry to an adolescent crush but evolves into capturing the emotions and opportunities Da Legend associates with hip hop, which “turned this introvert into a virtuoso.” ProleteR cooks up a classic 90s boom bap beat with some soul samples chopped in, teasing his specialty electro-swing production style. Napoleon also has French roots – rapping in English on “First Love” but known for his bilingual lyrics on other tracks. “First Love” appears on ProleteR’s newest project Temperamental Cats – an LP that puts his full production chops on display, and one that released just last week. Listen to more[...]

Drew Drake – “Holy”

March 22, 2025

Multi-hyphenate artist Drew Drake uses a chipmunk soul sample to hit a higher power with some hard question on his latest track “Holy.” The actor, poet and hip hop artist’s new effort questions the intersection of his faith and life’s hardships. An Alvin-pitched chorus beckons for something “Holy” throughout the production, as Drew references calls, letters and prayers to God that have gone unanswered. The “lost solider” ponders where their relationship currently is, what it ever was, and calls himself a “seed that didn’t grow.” Drew also takes on hook duties with a vulnerable singing delivery, layered carefully with more voices trying to unwrap their relationship with holiness. Check out more from Drew on YouTube and check out more exciting new artists on our Spotify playlist. 

$later 281 – “RUNNIN UP”

March 17, 2025

Worldwide trapper $later 281 shows off tight street rhymes and an eye for aesthetic on his latest track “RUNNIN UP.” The single’s eerie piano sets the stage for $later’s gangster talk, reminding the listeners that he’s a part-time rapper who’s got “bosses in my corners, I put boxes on the porches.” It’s not all flexing though – $later shows off the other side of the trapping too, reflexively transitioning from complimenting his partner’s cooking to admitting to serving up his auntie. Trapping’s in his blood, but some of $later’s lines suggest there’s more of a story to explore there. “RUNNIN UP’s” video turns a junkyard into something a bit more artsy and sinister – check it out below. Listen to more from $later 281 on Spotify – and check out some more authentic new rappers on our Emerging Hip Hop playlist.

IMNOTARAPPER. – “Cash Flow”

March 14, 2025

The Bronx’s IMNOTARAPPER. has masterfully built her image, but on her latest single “Cash Flow” she takes us behind the scenes into the work she’s put in. Behind IMNOTARAPPER.’s gruff and confident delivery, there’s vulnerability. This track peels back the curtains, revealing a subtext to her rhymes. When she references her vices: “I might hit the plug when I get depressed When she talks about her grills: “That’s just a facade, I’m going through hell and back,” When her grind gets lost: “I work hard, I just make shit look fun.” “Cash Flow” is a title you might see on a thousand rappers’ projects, but in the hands of IMNOTARAPPER it’s an honest look into one rapper’s pursuit of greatness in the craft while balancing real world thoughts and feelings.  The beat has a bit of a Dr. Dre feel to it too, and it bangs. Listen to more from[...]

Stimulus – “swiTCH”

March 12, 2025

Brooklyn-born, Berlin-based Stimulus blends house and hip hop on his buzzy new single “swiTCH.” The DJ/rapper’s been making waves throughout the city, first discovered by Mark Ronson and then featured on Sway in the Morning. Combining “Brookyln raps and Berlin beats,” “swiTCH” juxtaposes Stim’s laid back, spoken word delivery with an enchanting house beat and some fuzzy indie synths. You can throw this on your house mix as well as study beats – Stim’s got range. Lyrically, he challenges the technocrats; questioning the influence of algorithms and social media on our opinions and encouraging living in the physical world. “swiTCH” even features a delightful horn section down the home stretch – elevating an already-catchy track into something more dynamic. Listen to more from Stimulus on Spotify and check out more exciting new artists on our Underground Hip Hop playlist.

Sorce Manifesto – “strange waters”

March 10, 2025

Take a dive into the obscura underworld of Sorce Manifesto on his latest track “strange waters.” The up and coming rapper stays heavy on the lyricism, interplaying with the beat and “jumping off the meter” as he works between the song title, his origins, and more with line after line of headiness. Beat-wise, we’ve got an Adult Swim/DOOM/Madlib-influenced piece; heavy on a sampled guitar line with cartoonish voices popping in and out seemingly at their own devices. “strange waters” get a feature from TaeeFye, who juxtaposes the track’s buttery beat with gruffer vocals. Together, the rappers cover the bases of a tight underground hip hop track: Crate digger production, heady wordplay, and authentic grittiness. Go for a dip. Check out Sorce Manifesto on Spotify and more exciting hip hop artists on our Underground playlist.

Adetola – “OHKAYE”

March 7, 2025

Rising Nigerian-American rapper Adetola drips coolness on her Phonk-infused new single “OHKAYE.” Adetola taps into the Indie Sleaze resurgence with “Bop It” samples, a big phonky bottom half and immediately quotable lyrics. On “OHKAYE” the LA-based artist is bored of her potential hookups, demonstrating her uninspired demeanor on the the “Okayyyyyyyy” hook. Her star’s been on the rise since 2022’s 227 EP, and “OHKAYE” follows some other buzzy singles “WWZ” and “FLASHING.” Her vibe will fit in well alongside Charli XCX tracks and the older Azalea Banks hits. Come for the hook, stay for the Bop It sample. Check out the latest from Adetola on Spotify and listen to more exciting new artists on our Emerging Hip Hop playlist.

Jorge. – “Dumpling”

March 7, 2025

U.K. rapper Jorge. blends a soulful rapping delivery with delicate R+B instrumentals and affections for his latest track “Dumpling.” Spinning the narrative of a young kid trying to feel out a more experienced woman, “Dumpling” shows off Jorge’s innate storytelling abilities. Jorge’s vocals are sometimes strained, at other times powerfully backed by more punctuated voices. It’s a great fusion of traditional hip hop storytelling and an R+B/rap fusion – ripe for additions to your more chill, lovey playlists alongside acts like Anderson.Paak, Miguel and Jhené Aiko. Check out more from Jorge. on Spotify and tune into him and other exciting new artists on our Emerging Hip Hop playlist. 

ZENtheRapper – “Copernicus”

March 4, 2025

Mystical and ever-conscious ZENtheRapper keeps it true to his name on his latest single “Copernicus.” The track draws its name from the early astronomer that identified the sun as the center of the solar system, rather than the Earth. You may have known this – I needed a refresher. Anyhow – ZEN incorporates Copernicus’ learnings into his bars, discussing his place in the big picture. “Copernicus” features classic boom bap drums and a tasty piano lick – a solid foundation for ZEN to melt your brain on. ZEN’s flow might be in the shadow of his transcendental subject matter, but the frenetic pace and energy with which he delivers his Googleable lyrics should also be highlighted. Give the track a listen below, and check out ZEN on our Underground Hip Hop playlist.

TAL THE1 ft. Brother Ali, Freeway, Stalley & Dee-1 – “Criminal”

February 28, 2025

NYC rapper TAL THE1 recruits some of the finest rhymers of the century for his latest single, “Criminal.” “Criminal” breathes life into its title. Each artist spins stories of society’s ability to put labels on different races and demographics, and speaks to their own experiences. TAL’s vocals are heavenly, Ali’s poetic, Dee’s authentic, Freeway’s prophetic, and Stalley’s impassioned. It’s a great day to be a hip hop head hearing these dudes with their distinct styles and sounds come together with a vision in mind for the track. We’re at the part of the blog where I’d usually recommend similar artists, but you probably know them. Take a listen and check out their recent work to get caught up. Take a deep dive into TAL’s Spotify profile and while you’re there toss some Ali, Freeway, Stalley and Dee-1 into the queue.

Cadence Weapon + Dan Only – “Ungirthed” (Purity Ring Cover)

February 28, 2025

Electro-rap stalwart Cadence Weapon kicks off 2025 with another electrifying single, covering Purity Ring‘s “Ungirthed.” An internet fave since the mid 2000s, Cadence burst onto the scene with Breaking Kayfabe and has been making notable music since then – even turning out 2 LPs in 2024. “Ungirthed” showcases Cadence’s lyrical prowess and his ear for electronica, creating a single that feels equally at home with his early work of the late 2000s and in 2025. And probably in 2035. Joining Cadence on the track is noted Torontonian producer Dan Only. Only rebuilds “Ungirthed” with glitchiness and catchy blips, and will challenge your equilibrium with the panning in its bottom half. Fit this song into your rap and electronic playlists. Check out “Ungirthed” on Spotify and catch more from Cadence and Dan on their profiles.

Cerdarious – “Flooded”

February 24, 2025

Compton’s Cerdarious is a gifted rapper with a knack for storytelling. His latest effort, “Flooded” juxtaposes delicate acoustic guitars with the magnetic, pronounced vocal deliveries of the rapper. The track is a pledge of support to his loved ones, wishing them riches and success in every facet of their life – flooding them with it. Calling upon memories of his grandmother’s cooking, early days of writing raps, and returning home after success, Cerdarious breathes authenticity into each of his lines. Fans of Phonte and Blu will find comfort in Cerdarious’ penmanship – as will anyone who prioritizes old school lyricism. Listen to more from the SoCal emcee on Spotify, and check him and others out on our Underground Hip Hop playlist.