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Ran Reed – “Pathetic M.C.s” ft. Bumpy Knuckles

February 11, 2017

Tri-state rapper Ran Reed teams up with Long Island wrecking ball Bumpy Knuckles to create the blunt, bruising call-out “Pathetic M.C.s.” Ran Reed’s nasty delivery gets its flavor immediately with the opening line “Rappers ain’t rapping no more they straight mumbling, give them a year their career starts crumbling.” Bumpy Knuckles comes in on the second verse, succinctly describing his presence on the track with the line “Even when I’m quiet, my voice starts riots.” Reed also takes on production duties for this track, flipping  the soulful opening into a knocking, standout beat. These two deliver intimidating and intense verses that leave their fellow emcees shaking. Listen to “Pathetic M.C.s” below, and peep the project it comes from, Still Commanding Respect. 

Cynic the Apache – “Ham on Rye”

February 11, 2017

Cynic the Apache’s silky rhymes prove to be killer on Get the Gringo 2 opener “Ham on Rye.” The Millennium Jazz Music artist has a knack for transitioning seamlessly between lines. One leads right into another, as Cynic recounts the person he’s been and the path he’s on currently. With his personal drive, his parents’ help and assistance from friends he’s able to push out a cut with head-bobber flows and fitting production. Jazzy drums and guesting horns carry a perfect instrumental for Cynic to lay down his verses. “He’s the kind of kid who can beat you in Connect 4 in just three moves.” Press play on “Ham on Rye” below.

Jacob ZL – “Worst Days”

December 19, 2016

“They say the good die young and you know I’m still alive,” raps Flatbush’s Jacob ZL on his single “Worst Days.” Over a smooth beat courtesy of tomcbumps and purpan, Jacob recounts the time he spent with an old love. Discussing both the highs and the lows, “Worst Days'” dichotomy lifts the song from a depressing place into a vivid story. Passion drove ZL’s relationship and it wasn’t a sustainable deal, he claims with the line “How are we supposed to work when the first thought was that this wouldn’t work?” ZL’s crafted a track to vibe to but flexes his storytelling chops at the same time. Give it a listen below.

Lord OLO – “Dirty30”

December 19, 2016

Seattle’s Lord OLO commands a dark, cultish aesthetic. It’s represented masterfully and creepily in the video for his track “Dirty30.” Much of the video for the rap cut takes place on a Gameboy Color that appears to be projecting a new dimension. OLO makes a filtered appearance in the visuals, showing off his prowess with some clever bars like “No disrespect, your kitty just ain’t worth the litter.” Lord OLO has some DOOM vibes going in his lyricism too, particularly in the way that he talks about his OLO character. It’s like he’s telling a story firsthand about this figure, and it gets you itching to hear the next chapter. Listen to his album with producer Wann Sklobi here, and check out the video for “Dirty30” below.

-ToBy- – “flowers”

December 19, 2016

Miami rapper -ToBy- brings forth an experimental, yet accessible sound for his single “flowers.” The track speaks to ToBy’s feeling of taking part in an up and coming music scene. Demonstrated in the track’s artwork, ToBy comes from a scene that combines conventional rap influences and sounds with different forms of media like anime. “flowers” also teases some lo-fi, emotional sounds that we’ve seen from some Internet rap darlings, particularly out of Florida. ToBy’s at the forefront of a dope rap scene in southern Florida and “flowers” encapsulates both his and that regions sound. Give it a listen below.

Trilllhippy – “SENSATION”

December 16, 2016

Coming from Tallahassee by the way of Germany, Trilllhippy channels his stoner ways into the hazy hip hop track “Sensation.” Trilllhippy is just that, a cool young peacelover, and on “Sensation,” his vibes are rubbing off on a new romantic interest. The chorus is a window into their relationship, “She watch how I inhale it, I light it, she sense my stoner fragrance, she love it.” Youthful, excitable, and experimental, “Sensation” sums up the feeling of new love, new experiences, and living outside of responsibility. It’s a dope track. Listen to “Sensation” below and check out more from Trilllhippy here. 

nIgel – “Gray Music” ft. Neph

December 16, 2016

Chicago’s nIgel and his frequent collaborator Neph keep their rhymes black and white on “Gray Music.” The two Chicago rappers drop a couple of verses that evoke melancholy, washed feelings. Producer Weirddough sets this mood with a killer beat featuring haunting moans, some orchestral strings and jazzy drums. The rappers have sharp words but also flash their stoner ways in their lyricism. Much like the color in the title, several attitudes went into making “Gray Music.” Both solemn and incandescent, the track comes ahead of nIgel’s EP The Future Looks Gray with producer Xany, and they’ve produced some dope work in the past. Give it a listen below.

Kosha Dillz – “No You Can’t”

December 16, 2016

The premise of Israel-American rapper Kosha Dillz’ “No You Can’t” is to remind everyone that he’s reached a status where he doesn’t have to pass out favors. Whether that’s borrowing toilet paper or playing a show for free, that’s not something Kosha will subject himself too. Ripe with self-awareness, “No You Can’t” has the dope distinction of being a really funny track but also goes hard as hell. Dillz raps “Being stupid as hell’s the smartest thing I ever did,” but he’s more than capable of navigating the track’s zany, bloopy beat. After two hard verses, he breaks the song equivalent of the fourth wall, saying “Last verse better than the first two.” It’s little elements like this that make Kosha Dillz a fun, personable artist to listen to.  His personality comes with every bar. Give “No You Can’t” a listen below and check out more from Kosha here. 

$cotti Bishop – “And 1 Freestyle”

December 16, 2016

It’s going to take several listens to grab every bar that Sacramento rapper $cotti Bishop drops on his track “And 1 Freestyle,” but each one is worth it. With no flow off limits, he drops hard lines like “Make a 3 look like a free throw, make a dime look like a C-Note.” Each line comes with the assured brashness of Bishop’s delivery. The instrumental is a great beat for a cypher and Bishop uses it to his advantage, fitting everything you’d want into a freestyle rap song into two minutes. Listen to more from $cotti here and press play on the video for “And 1 Freestyle” below.

Mellow the Muse – “I’m in Church”

December 16, 2016

Mellow the Muse is a female rapper from Dallas, Texas with an unconventional, underground flow. It’s conversational but certainly not lazy, and her technique allows her to have a never-stop approach. She fires out sharp verses for two and a half minutes, only breaking to remind everyone that she’s in a place of divinity, nonchalantly quipping “I’m in Church.” The beat has some Tetris vibes to it, accompanied by some pounding bass and a taste of some haunting church chorus. Check out more from Mellow the Muse here and listen to “I’m in Church” below.

Oghenero – “Def”

December 13, 2016

Calgary MC Oghenero’s lone wolf makeup comes through in his powerful rhymes. On his first single “Def,” his cutting voice lays down verses of sobering aggression to his competition. He’s rapping with the attitude of someone confident enough to only need himself, and remind his listeners of that in his verses with lines like “You call it burning I just call it rerouting.” “Def” has the spirit of a freestyle and its Bobby Shmurda-esque instrumental provide the perfect landscape. Give it a listen below, and check out the rest of Oghenero’s tracks here.

Dezert Eez – “Rolex Dreamin ft. Talib Kweli”

December 13, 2016

Michigan staple Dezert Eez link up with hip hop legend Talib Kweli on their single “Rolex Dreamin’.” An awesome posse cut, “Rolex Dreamin'” features four furious verses from Kweli and the Dezert Eez trio of 5-Star, Nivek and O’Nill. Talib kicks things off, likening himself to a bird of prey as he vocalizes his viciousness. From there, Eez takes their turns dancing around a great chorus shouting out good drinks, weed, and a great home in the Great Lakes. These dudes are pure spitters, with verses heavy on wordplay and internal rhyme schemes. Even a smoke session has imagery to it in the hands of Eez, highlighted with the line from the closing verse, “smoking algae in the squad in my unc’s garage, collared greens now it’s Nike’s out the box, breaking bread with the guys at the liquor spot.” It’s a dope posse cut from a dope posse, give it[...]

Nick Weaver – “What You Doin’ These Days?”

December 2, 2016

Seattle’s very own Nick Weaver reminds you to look at yourself on his single “What You Doin’ These Days?” The track is a mirror that anyone can explore, and reaffirm who they are and where they’re at in their life goals. Weaver reflects on his own sacrifices, financial and personal ones he made in order to chase success in the industry. He raps about an empty bank account and his whip status, saying “250,000 on my Civic and I might go and get it new rims.” Wholesome horns lay the framework for Weaver’s lyricism, accompanied by rattling snares and soft woodwind. Weaver goes acapella for a powerful outro, referencing quasi-racism, Colin Kaepernick, the president-elect and more. Give it a listen below.

George Hollow – “New Boy George”

December 2, 2016

Pittsburgh’s George Hollow works off of his roots in the psychedelic and country to pump out uniquely twanged hip hop. Single “New Boy George” comes from Hollow’s Dreams of an Insomniac project, and is a showcase of dope flows, clever words and smooth sounds. The beat combines a little bit of chipmunk sampling with some dazzling piano and delicate guitar plucks. It’s lush but has the boom bap that lets Hollow handle it with the tenacity of a traditional emcee. The track is autobiographical, as Hollow discusses his past and present, his hopes and dreams, and his ideas and vices. Give Dreams of an Insomniac a listen and check out “New Boy George” below.

Manu Crook$ feat. Miracle – “Blowin’ Up”

December 2, 2016

Manu Crook$ and Miracle double-team a silky guitar instrumental, and the result is the subdued hype that is “Blowin’ Up.” Manu’s ruggedness trades with the smooth voice of Miracle, and it’s as natural of a collaboration as there can be. Manu and DOPAMINE collabed on the instrumental, which shines just as bright as the vocal contributions. It’s sparse when needed, but full enough to make the track bang. Sunset and sunrise are encapsulated in the track’s vibes, with a sense of mysticism. Crook$ and Miracle know what their night will feel like, even if they couldn’t tell you what it’ll look like. Press play below.