Latest Posts

COLO – “9to5”

April 10, 2026

Rising rapper COLO has a slick pen for singles and his latest, “9to5” is a perfect addition to your playlist as the temperature clears up. This track is an ode to earning the paycheck. “9to5” has a summery, light hook that takes you right back to the blog era of rap. The production is silky smooth, and COLO’s delivery is the perfect match. Lyrically, COLO finds his sanctity in his time away from the grind. What’s life without living? This is a feel good track that’ll fit in with with best of summer rap. If you’re feeling COLO’s latest, check him out on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best of 2026 Hip Hop playlist a listen – you’ll find some great artists to get your summer sets rocking.

Showrocka, Fuego Base and Chi Sees – “We Don’t Care”

April 6, 2026

New Haven emcee Showrocka returns to the buffaBLOG pages with his latest collaborative effort, this time with a couple more of New England’s finest. “We Don’t Care” is anchored by Showrocka, who handles hook duties in addition to having one of the three verses. Chi Sees and Fuego Base are the other recruits to this track – Chi’s charismatic delivery counters the droning vocal sample to provide a perfect balance, and Fuego’s fiery, gritty delivery snaps your ears to attention. “We Don’t Care’s” chorus turns the song’s namesake into a motto – anyone can catch this trio’s indifference to struggle stories. Not a lot of sympathy going around for rappers who saw the worst of it and came out the other side. This song drips with authenticity, the sample is unique and memorable, and you’re not going to hear a bad verse. If you’re interested in more from this trio, check[...]

Thought Provokah – “The Inferno of Antifermo”

April 3, 2026

The latest single from Hudson Valley veteran Thought Provokah combines two of my all time favorites — a vintage ESPN Classic-style sports story and quintessential hip hop sounds. Provokah channels the hurdles of boxer Marvin Hagler – whose controversial 1979 draw to champion Vito Antuofermo introduced the boxer to a new level of resolve required to reach it to the top. Hagler bounced back from adversity to become a middleweight champion for over 7 years. For Thought Provokah, this type of story resonates. In his rise to prominence, he’s “used the flames to make a name,” finding motivation not only in the challenge of what’s across from you, but also in the forces outside of that ring. Fairness is storybook. Find a way to become your own judge to have your accomplishments indisputable. Hip hop heads will find this a good fit for their motivational, gym-oriented playlists. Give Provokah a[...]

Yung Luscious ft. Jayaire Woods – “Caruso”

March 20, 2026

We’re headed back to 2009 with this latest track from up-and-coming rapper Yung Luscious. “Caruso,” the hustling, off-guard-inspired track features a flow that feels like it was stolen off of peak Rick Ross’s hard drive. The beat is built around a delicious little chipmunk soul sample, expertly looped for maximum head-bobbing efficiency. Luscious’s baritone delivery shouldn’t be mistaken for nonchalance. The rapper packs one-liners, references, and double entendres into each bar, just as Alex Caruso packs intangibles into his two-way game. If you’re feeling more from Luscious, give him a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Spotify playlist a deep dive to hear more sultry soul beats and deep cut sports references.

Icon South – “Dinner Date”

March 18, 2026

There’s magic in every layer of Dallas-based Icon South‘s newest melodic new hip hop track, “Dinner Date.” Sunset strums, soulful flute, and South’s sultry harmonies are just a taste of what you’ll find deep in the mix of the song. They build a heavenly wall of sound that pulls you into the production of the track. Icon’s lead part, half-sung half-rapped, settles into the rapper’s questions of loyalty from his environment, before ultimately showing some extra love for sincerity in his life. Give that first minute a listen to catch a really satisfying percussion drop that finds a new groove in the song. If you’re looking for more servings of “Dinner Date,” check out Icon South on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist, updated every week.

Adetola – “NEW SWAG ORDER”

March 17, 2026

Tallahassee-based rapper and singer Adetola continues her run of anthemic releases with her latest single, “NEW SWAG ORDER.” Distorted, glitchy bass floods your bones while a tiny little melody meets between your ears, making “SWAG” a full-body listening experience. Fittingly, Adetola’s vocals are swagger-filled and chalant-lacking, revelling in her position as the coolest possible person to be handling this beat. Her lyrics call back to the late 2000s hip hop scene — referencing no ceilings, coups, and swag of course — while her delivery and production are distinctly of the moment. Adetola first graced our pages with 2025’s “OHKAYE,” another high-energy track geared for a sleazy, sweaty after-hours party. Check out more from her on Spotify if you’re looking to explore this sound some more, and get into our 2026 Underground Rap Playlist while you’re at it.

Lynx Cane – “mistletoe”

March 12, 2026

Do you remember your first love? Raw, innocent, and as real as anything you’d every experienced. South East London producer and rapper Lynx Cane recaptures that emotion, and blends in a little bit of slowcore for his latest track, “mistletoe” “Our love was mystical. but you miss those lips on the mistletoe.” Lync channels a sullen, spacey beat into his lyrics. Over a tight 1:45 track, Lynx recaptures the emotion of first love. No matter how that ended in reality, there was a devastation to its closure. Playing producer too, Lynx develops an emotive undercurrent to accompany his lyrics. Wandering guitar notes pair with a driving beat, as Lynx attempts to recapture the a moment in time. It’s a statement track for the tight run, asking the listener to explore more of this journal on subsequent tracks. The visuals for this track are a great intro to the artist too[...]

JIRI – “ClockWork”

March 5, 2026

Raleigh-based emcee JIRI emphasizes substance and skill with each of his releases. In his latest track, “ClockWork, ” JIRI makes it clear he’s a different cat. It has all the markings of a single – earworm beat with a tasty looping melody, rapidly evolving sing-songy flows and a chorus that can get stuck in your head on initial listens. JIRI sets himself apart with the skillful storytelling he’s able to weave into a song this accessible. “ClockWork’s” narrative tells the story of a lady who falls for JIRI’s inevitable charm — or does she have different, more sinister intentions? A couple expertly placed lines take this from a typical braggadocious track into one that subverts your expectations. Give it a spin. Check out more from JIRI on Spotify – while you’re there, take our Best of 2026 playlist for a spin. You’ll see JIRI and other talented rising rappers on[...]

Kalii – “UNIVERSAL”

February 26, 2026

Hip hop artist Kalii is growing a following off the strength of a sprouting spree of singles, most recently with his newest track “UNIVERSAL.” His experimental wall of smokey sound brings a maximalist energy that’s impressive for an artist at the onset of their output. Kalii’s vocals are layered with the signature modern trap autotune, but they’re paired with a hypnotic siren of a beat that make you want to turn this volume up to 11 and get lost in its sounds. If you’re into the housier remixes of modern rap tacks, this is one for you. Keep an eye out for more releases from Kalii on their Spotify account. While you’re there, check out our Best of 2026 Hip Hop list, featuring Kalii and other fresh new sounds in the scene.

Chewbeats ft. Dylan Gray – “End of Times”

February 24, 2026

UK beatmaker Chewbeats cooked up an wasteland of desolate drones on his latest track “End of Times,” joined by the baron of barren in his countryman emcee Dylan Gray. Chewbeats‘ atmosphere is distinctly grey, cold, post-human. Dylan’s lyrical motifs lean into the steely drones, “thinking ’bout the end” as he contemplates antisocial behavior. The track comes in tightly under 2 minutes, and does damage in its time. The liminality Chew crafts with the layers of drones and beeps will suck you in, and the you can’t tell if the exit is nearby or if that’s the same corner you already took. Be sure to check back in with Chewbeats on March 17th, for the release of  Classe 90 out on 17.03.2026 via Rhinestone Cowboy. YouTube might not let you in – make sure to watch these visuals on YouTube and look for the song on streaming soon.

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[...]