Latest Posts

Bobby JaGGerJacK – “I Regret It”

February 16, 2026

Cleveland hip hop artist Bobby JaGGerJacK deals with loss through reflection on his latest track, “I Regret It.” Break-ups and personal tragedy inspired JaGGerJacK to get it all out through his pen. Sometimes there are regrets, but sometimes there aren’t. Either way, it’s important to take a step back and look at the rewind. A delicate guitar crawls its way underneath Bobby’s raps on this track, serving as an emotional anchor for Bobby’s lyrics. Add this one to your conscious hip hop tracks – Bobby’s delivery sounds like it’d pair well with some of the best emcees of the alternative 90s hip hop scene. If you’re feeling “I Regret It,” check out our Hip Hop 2026 playlist on Spotify, featuring JaGGerJacK and other exciting rising artists.

Sweets- “WEIRD MONEY”

February 16, 2026

Manchester-based alternative pop artist Sweets gets his ASHTRAY COWBOY project rollout kicked off with an off-the-wall cut appropriately named “WEIRD MONEY.” Blending pop and electronic elements with a punky bravado and rapping delivery, “Weird Money” shows off a wide range of taste for Sweets, and sets up excitement for the album’s release. Lyrically, Sweets breaks down the weird guy/good girl relationship dynamic. “Weird boys get weird money, weird boys get good girls, good girls try to turn into your whole world.” What wins out? Option A: the desire to live life as you please, push your boundaries as an artist and be able to live out of your pocket? Or Options B: the comfort that comes with the gravitational pull of a relationship – where your actions naturally find their way back to how they’d impact your partner? Sweets digs into this and more while being a tastemaker with production choices.[...]

Godface – “Ms. Lady”

February 11, 2026

“The Bay Area’s favorite emcee” Godface taps into his Tupac influences for his latest single, “Ms. Lady.” Godface leans into vocal refrain and boombap beats, but his appreciation and ardor for the women in his life ties him directly back to his West Coast lineage. “Ms. Lady” gets into the finer details of a female faced with the options of settling down with someone serious about the streets or serious about sensuality. The veteran rapper hopes that a festilent lifestyle turns her towards him, but the story’s longer than a song. “Ms. Lady’s” a great addition to the lineage of the “will she be mine” trope in hip hop, and we recommend adding it to your lyrics-focused playlists. If you’re feeling Godface, give him a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, take a look at our Best of 2026 playlist – just know we’re updating this jawn every single mother[...]

Cruise DJ & JabberTox – “Midnight, Pt. 2”

February 7, 2026

A warm nostalgia radiates from the instrumental from Cruise DJ and JabberTox’s latest single, “Midnight. Pt. 2.” “And it’s deep.” My guess is it’s the upright bass line that raises your hairs, but whatever it is, it’ll have you slotting this track in next to People Under the Stairs, the Pharcyde, Nujabes, and all the other seminal voices in the chill, jazzy hip hop scene. Each emcee weaves into the fabric of the production with the “deep” motif. Whether it’s their experiences as rappers or their time on this earth, Cruise DJ and HabberFox express an openness to the unknown future and past. “Midnight, Pt. 2” appears on The Hard Way,  a fresh new collaborative EP for 2026 from Cruise, JabberTox and other contributors. Give it a listen on Spotify and while you’re there, check out our 2026 Hip Hop playlist.

Showrocka, Corey Gunz and Mickey Factz – “Balance”

February 1, 2026

Showrocka and Mickey Factz are two rappers with great care for the craft. Factz opened up Pendulum Ink, a school for emcees to work on their craft, and Showrocka was their first valedictorian. “Balance” is a collaborative effort from the dudes and carves out some space for a hip hop veteran, and a leader in the art of rap, Corey Gunz. A harp arpeggio stays ready to burst throughout the capacious production, as each of the emcees also take their turn at blowing the lid off this track. Rocka and Factz trade verses, and you could tell they went into the booth trying to drop the best bar. Gunz’ technical ability has never been denied, but here on “Balance” he makes sure his pen game gets its proper time in the spotlight. This is a track for the true hip hop heads – pick out your best lines and scrunch[...]

Vienna I – “These Habits”

January 28, 2026

UK rapper, singer and songwriter Vienna I doesn’t know a sound she can’t handle. Her latest track, “These Habits” floats from more conventional rap into the signature U.K. drill, with elements of some house with its groove. Vienna’s charisma pulses through the vocals of the track, with the grit of her personality perfectly contrasting the gleam of this sharply-produced track. Lyrically, “These Habits” Vienna puts herself on a pedestal, and she’s short for time with anyone who isn’t interested in her success. Give it a listen and toss it into your drill/workout/late night playlists. If you’re feeling Vienna, check her out on Spotify. While you’re there, give our 2026 Underground Rappers playlist a spin and find your next favorite artist.

Matt Hylom – “Roller Skates”

January 18, 2026

Charlotte hip hop artist Matt Hylom embraces smooth grooves on his latest track, “Roller Skates.” Hylom has a refined, silky delivery that serves his lyricism perfectly on this track. Roller skating serves as a lyrical motif for him, referencing not only the skates themselves, but the carefree, loose act. He calls for the audience (and himself) to bring elements of it to their lifestyle. The track’s groove is as smooth as a clean lap around the town’s rink. Neo-soul radiates from the production, with a carefree opulence generated by the rich piano lines heard throughout the track. Listen to more smoothness from Matt on Spotify, and while you’re there check out our 2026 Rap playlist.

Vocab Slick – “Get Home”

January 16, 2026

Northern California rapper Vocab Slick knows the risks that come from a hustler’s mindset. His latest track, “Get Home” discusses the back against the wall mentality that allowed him to “find stability in instability” as he did whatever needed to be done to find shelter at the end of each day. “Get Home’s” beat feels gothic, with a sense of impending doom in its darkness — but not enough to make Slick uncomfortable in its shadows. Graveyards vocal samples are paired with legendary rap snippets to build a memorable hook. Slick’s verses are a streetside report of his cyphers, cases, and devious dealings, adding more authentic air to that track. If you’re feeling “Get Home,” check out more from Vocab Slick on Spotify. You’ll also catch him on our New and Emerging Rap playlist, updated every week.

Lex Leosis – “innerthoughts”

January 9, 2026

Sometimes the banality of everyday life kicks off your sense of existential threats. What macro factors lead me to my everyday day-to-day? Toronto artist Lex Leosis explores this state of mind in her latest track, “innerthoughts.” Leosis’s emotional delivery is matched with somber piano and drained trumpet, as she ties lines like “I don’t like what I used to,” and “can’t decide if my life is mine” to late stage capitalism, business-influenced dopamine rushes, and a terrifying new normal that we’re just forced to power through. “ICE kidnaps people in broad day, and we still have to clock in on Monday?”Leosis reminds you that other peoplr are seeing and dealing with this shit too. Wgether it can be a call to action or just a collective journal entry is yet to be determined. “innerthoughts” kicks off Leosis’s 2025 EP love adjacent.  Give it a listen below:

Jezuz Martinez – “December to Remember”

January 9, 2026

Florida rap duo Jezuz Martinez (Jezuz Borgia and Mike Martinez) form a perfect union with their partnership. Jezuz’s lyrics flow into deep dark crevasses of conspiracy and abstractness, whereas Martinez’s rock steady flows ground the duo’s output. “December to Remember” is an emblematic representation of their output. Its dusty production would would find a home among the East Coast crate diggers of the 90s, and both emcees show off flows that would make midwestern Rhymesayers proud. Martinez took the lead on production here, and his strummy sample find feels just a little bit downhome, a nice nod to their Florida roots. Each rapper’s flow is super distinct, with Borgia’s capacious ideas parred down by Martinez’s pragmatic flows. Take a listen below and see which side of the yin and yang you vibe with more.

O.G. Soul + Honey-B-Sweet – “Can’t Tell Me None!”

January 8, 2026

Hip hop producer O.G. Soul has a talent for building beats that blend seamlessly in with his collaborators. His latest chameleon effort, “Can’t Tell Me None!” is a percussion and piano-forward beat to pair with featured lyricist Honey-B-Sweet. Soul’s banging keys and crispy symbols match the coldness of Sweet’s streetwise lyrics. She offers a bit of venom to counter her saccharine moniker, discussing her narcotics involvement with an appropriate snarl. “Can’t Tell Me None!’s” production is rounded out with an eerie female vocal sample, adding a bit more texture to a surgical instrumental. Give it a listen on Spotify and check out both Soul and Sweet’s output while you’re there.

DV8 – “Ice Cream Float”

December 26, 2025

Jacksonville-based rapper DV8 brings a veteran mindset to his hip hop output. His latest track, “Ice Cream Float” are the wise words of an artist who sees a woman who he adores and admires with her “brains, beauty, and character.” In his reflections, DV8 also acknowledges his faults and how they can drive her away. His sage musings find the balance between his love for her and the steps he takes to keep her close. “Ice Cream Float” is anchored by soulful love song sample, elevating the temperature of the track. “RIP Randy Savage, Fuck Hulk Hogan” is a great little line for us wrestling heads over at BuffaBLOG HQ, too. Give the track a listen below, check out DV8 on Spotify, and give this track a spin on our Best of Hip Hop 2025 playlist.

Modyst + Saï T – “Gaslight”

December 26, 2025

Oakland emcee Modyst links up with crunchy hip hop producer Saï T to discuss a cycle of abuse with their latest track “Gaslight.” Saï T’s beat is a light and airy loop that gets grounded with crispy drums and Modyst’s stark vocal delivery. He tells a tale of a gaslighting partner who’s fiery contradictions eventually spread to him. When you look closely at the smoke, you see both sides are fanning the flames now. “You made a choice to be so wicked…it’s a gaslighting competition.” “Gaslight” kicks off Modyst’s 2025 EP Isolation. If you’re into storytelling in your hip hop, give this project a listen. Check out more from Modyst and T on Spotify. You’ll also find this track on our Best of 2025 rap playlist – save it before we refresh it for the new year.

Velly Marsh – “Too Late”

December 17, 2025

Sacramento Rapper Velly Marsh doesn’t sound like a lot of his West Coast contemporaries. His latest track, “Too Late” boasts a timeless soul sample for Velly to weave his intricate, introspective rhymes over. This is a track about crossing lines in a relationship – where both parties can be at fault when these lines get blurred. Velly’s performance is particularly strong, as he barely misses a beat across over 2 minutes of straight rhyming. Add this one to your playlists that are lyrically dense, with polished and clean production. Check out more from Velly on Spotify, where you’ll find him on our Rising Rappers 2025 playlist. We’ll be resetting at the end of the year, so save that playlist while you have the chance.

$lugs – “vince staples but he’s rapping over a beat i made after doing shrooms i think i did too much lol”

December 17, 2025

Transport yourself back to the prime days of Soundcloud with San Jose beatmaker $lugs. What a thrill this era was — hopping on your homepage, clicking a few times and all the sudden you’re in a world of mystical cloud beats, sample-standalones, and songs like this one. I long for the days of a rap I’ve heard before over brand new, distinct, and perhaps maybe better than the original production.Thankfully we have $lugs and $lugs has shrooms. &lugs’ reimagining of this Vince Staples track factors in a wave of sounds, synths and samples, providing for a schizo sonic experience, probably influenced by the shrooms. See if it matches your vibe – at the very least it’ll take you back to 2am on an old laptop. If you’re into the persona that is $lugs, might I suggest a deeper dive into their Soundcloud profile. You’re gonna get more of that on[...]