Latest Posts

Cherry-llex – “5th of Liquor”

October 11, 2026

Long Beach, CA, production unit Cherry-llex cooked up some magic with their latest effort, “5th of Liquor.” The silky-smooth cut features the appropriately divine vocals of L.A. studio singer Derran Day, and it goes down like that third shot of Tully’s. Cherry-llex’s production here is murky and drowning, appropriately framing Day’s disappointment at romantic pursuit turned sideways. What else is there to do but drink away the pain? The hook’s catchy, the lyrics relatable, the beat knocking – a delicious cocktail. If you’re feeling “5th of Liquor,” make sure you check out Cherry-llez and Derran Day on Spotify. While you’re there, head over to our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist, featuring even more exciting, undercovered artists. We update it all the time.

Ronin 888 – “Half Astronaut, Half Martian”

October 5, 2026

The mysterious Ronin 888 grabbed buffaBLOG’s attention this week with his appropriately spacey hip hop single, “Half Astronaut, Half Martian.” With the autotuned blasters turned all the way up, Ronin navigates through alien blips and space dust clouds, in a truly ethereal experience. He expertly finds space between the layers of airy soundscape and weighty percussion. Rolled up into one flight, we have a journey through the solar systems that I would recommend stargazing to. If you’re feeling Ronin 888, make sure you give him a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our Best Hip Hop of 2026 playlist, featuring more fresh music from undiscovered, unknown, and undercovered artists.

Vinnie Hoover – “C’est La Vie (Say Lad Eets?)”

September 29, 2026

Australia’s original schemer is back at it again with a Griselda-Down Under style snarl on this month’s single, “C’est La Vie (Say Lad Eets?)” The track title’s a bit of a misnomer – there are no real YOLO vibes here unless you spin that into a threat. Aussie rapper Vinnie Hoover’s sound is packed with menace, matching the cold, matter-of-fact boom-bap beat.  Vinnie’s verses are often dual-tracked, adding to the unsettling environment. It makes for an excellent hip hop track you can tuck into any old-school hip hop playlist. “C’est La Vie” marks the second time Hoover has graced the pages of buffaBLOG – another collab with Hommy DeVito from July was an early summer favorite of ours. If you’re interested in hearing more from Vinnie, check out his regular releases on Spotify and give our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist a spin while you’re at it. We[...]

Do$ Du Muni – “Mon Jardin”

September 28, 2026

The natural spirit of Austin rapper Do$ Du Muni comes through with each line on his latest single, “Mon Jardin.” Do$ grabbed the title for this track from the famous French garden and home magazine, and his vivid, earthy lyricism drives home the extra-green track. Springtime horns pace the instrumental, as Do$’s allegorical verses tie the beauty, pain and growth we see in nature to what we experience in humanhood. Roots, seeds, poison ivy – line by line Do$ makes these metaphors on a track that’s best listened to outside. “Mon Jardin” appears on The Appeal 3, the latest album from Do$, released this past summer. Check it out on Spotify and while you’re there, give our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist a listen. There’s a lot to enjoy below the surface! Do$ would agree with that.

SouthWes – “Lancelot”

September 24, 2026

Rising rapper SouthWes expertly navigates the fuzzy glitch of his new single “Lancelot,” spinning up a track best listened to at high volume. Wes has a lot of vocals in his arsenal. He can deliver lines with tenacity while also crooning with a pop autotune. All styles serve to complement the dynamic production, with that eclectic hum peppered with chipmunk vocals. The rhyme schemes are nothing to scoff at, either. He balances releasing quality hip hop tracks with staying true to his faith, and you can check out his back catalog if you’re looking to add some Christian vibes to your playlist. If you’re feeling “Lancelot” make sure you check out more from SouthWest on Spotify. While you’re there, take out Best Hip Hop of 2026 for a spin – there’s a little bit for everyone if you’re into supporting underground hip hop artists.

Ka$h Route and Boldy James – “Gassed Up (Sinners Remix)”

September 24, 2026

A pair of veteran rappers turn a retro sample on its head on this new track “Gassed Up.” Ka$h Route’s been in the game for over 20 years, working all aspects from writing to engineering to recording. On the Sinner remix of “Gassed Up,” his gritty delivery is an extra compliment to a pen that gets sharper the harder you listen.  Sharing the mic, we have the ever-prolific Boldy James. The frequent Griselda collaborator kicks off the track with his slick baritone delivery, expertly grounding the smooth, lofty feel of the throwback production. If you’re feeling the Sinners remix, definitely give both of these artists a listen on Spotify – you’re going to find a massive back catalog of quality tracks. While you’re there… check out our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist that we update with tracks like this every single week.

skyve – “Stuck This Way”

September 18, 2026

skyve does a lot of things well. The genre-fluid performer combines elements of indie pop rock with a cloudier hip hop feel for an experience that I think can appeal to pretty much everyone. His latest track “Stuck This Way” is a guitar-laden vibe that feels almost as power-pop as it is cloud rap.That guitar is plodding but steadfast, as its catchiness persists underneath skyve’s open-hearted lyricism. There’s a lot of magic in the subtler notes of this too. A radio-ready synth line paces the track and skyve’s backing vocals punctuate the emotional tone of his words. Its hook is its “biggest” moment, as everything comes together to a great resolution. The whole thing is easy on the ears. If you’re feeling skyve, make sure you give him a follow on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist to discover more exciting indie[...]

Grady Ramsey ft. Avo Droc – “green”

September 17, 2026

We’re hopping west on the 90 for this new track from rising Northeast Ohio rapper Grady Ramsey. It’s a silky-smooth, timeless hip-hop track with a twinkly piano and enough bang to get your head bobbing. Featured artist Avo Droc actually opens up the track, offering a melodic approach to his verse that is countered by a gruffer delivery from Grady. Each artist boasts clever, approachable wordplay with plenty of memorable lines. I particularly dig when Grady says he doesn’t like good girls or bad girls, but girls in the middle. The claims aren’t bombastic but they have the right amount of swagger and are held down by a beat that you can play on its own. “Green” serves as the second single from Grady’s freshly released EP, GRANDSLAM. Peep the DIY artwork. If you’re feeling “green,” check out more from Grady on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best Underground[...]

DON’T WATCH TV – 99 DEGREES

September 17, 2026

Is a Buffalo Boy Band finally having a moment? Even during the prolonged periods of poptimism, nostalgia, and the heyday of music blog publication darlings Brockhampton, we can’t recall a boy band-y boy band demanding much coverage around the 716. But maybe the time’s upon us.   99 DEGREES, the debut project from Western New York pop rap group DON’T WATCH TV, is powered by Y2K influence. Sometimes it’s Pharrell (any iteration of Pharrell), and sometimes it’s One Direction, but it’s always a familiar energy. DON’T WATCH TV may not be a familiar name, but the group has been laying the groundwork and crafting their sound between Buffalo and Rochester in recent years.    Nic, Hirco, C3die and Austin Kelley each bring a growing local fanbase to the project, which is fair to call a collective as well as a boy band. C3DIE and Hirko serve as the primary vocalists[...]

Abitight ft. CasaGrown – “To and Fro”

September 11, 2026

Chicago rapper Abitight’s got an ear for the essential elements of timeless hip hop tracks. His latest single, “To and Fro,” gets to crossing them off right out the rip. Within the opening 30 seconds, we get a skit, scratches, a horn drop and some breakbeat drums. The vocals are delivered sing-song and lighthearted, as we hear about missed connections and keeping it moving. All together, we get some storytelling to compliment those quintessential hip hop sounds. Abitight’s an alumnus of Chicago hip hop band Abstract Giants, but now focused on his boom bap output with city conglomerate Greenlights Music. This track is one of several highlights from Abitight’s August project, Samples from the Menu.  If you’re feeling “To and Fro,” you should check out more from Abitight and his collaborators on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 Playlist and find other tracks[...]

rapper yung king colo promotes new "pop out" single

Yung.King.Cole – “Pop Out”

September 9, 2026

Rapper Terrel Tarantino – aka “Yung.King.Cole” knows the power of a strong hook. The NYC emcee boasts Upstate NY roots and leans hard into the highlight of his new track. On his latest single, “Pop Out,” Cole relentlessly blazes forward with his earworm hook across a whirlwind 2 minutes. His lines are a tour de force, as they power through the typical breaks and find a new endpoint within the production. And when you crave it, the hook hits again. His flow is an idiosyncratic style that sorta meshes with what we’ve heard over in Detroit recently. Production here is percussive-heavy and plays a complementary role to Cole’s frenetic style. If you’re interested in hearing more from Cole, make sure you check out his output on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist a spin – you’re sure to find some fresh artists for[...]

PLASTIC-P – “HE’S DEAD, JIM”

September 5, 2026

We’re suckers for references over here at buffaBLOG HQ. “HE’S DEAD, JIM,” the rising single from alternative rapper PLASTIC-P, interpolates the iconic catchphrase from StarTrek’s Dr. McCoy to propose some ideas that you might find interesting. Just asking questions, really.  P is relentless on his mic, continuously hammering line after line at a rapid pace with minimal lung breaks. Conspiracy-laced imagery is a pillar of PLASTIC-P’s output, both in lyricism and album artwork. It makes for an interesting experience no matter what, as a bar reveals itself to be a double entendre about who killed Kennedy, for example. My highly informed take? It was the driver. “JIM’s” production deserves a nod here – heavily focused on an old-school sample with an undercurrent of dynamic bass hits. If you’re feeling it, check out PLASTIC-P on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best Underground Rappers of 2026 playlist a listen to discover[...]

rapper montae harris

Montae Harri$ – “70/30”

August 28, 2026

One thing haters can’t hate is a flipped soul sample. Broward County rapper Montae Harri$ knows this. His latest track, “70/30 (2Serious)” is an open letter to people in his (recent) past who weren’t ready to celebrate his success. The opening 20 seconds sit in the beauty of the sample, and once he has our attention, Harri$ gets to venting. Yeah, once the 70/30 ticket split started to hit, so did the jealousy. Harri$’s smooth, assured delivery complements the vibrant soul vocals that steady the track, as does the venom that accompanies the pleasantries. Eyeballs-wise, “70/30” gets the ‪MACH5VISUALS‬ treatment, which sees Harri$ vaulted through diferent filters and art styles, adding some stickiness to an already-catchy track. You can hear more from Harri$ on Spotify, where he’s also featured on our “Best Underground Rappers” playlist that we update every single week.

Keya1r – “Fish Tales”

August 26, 2026

The “art of storytelling” has been a genre-defining characteristic of hip hop since the golden age, and it’s great to hear a fresh one in 2026. “Fish Tales” from Philadelphia rapper Keya1r spins the tale of a date (or 3) going sideways. Keya1r’s sharp pen is able to drop lines that satisfy both the listener and his Puerto Rican honey. “It’s hard to spell menu without me ‘n u.” I’m blushing. Press play on this track and see the fate of our fearless, red-blooded hero. “Fish Tales” appears on Why Not? – the latest project from Keya1r with themes of taking chances, serendipity, and rolling with the punches when times get tough. Listen to it right over here on Spotify. While you’re there, check out our Best Underground Hip Hop of 2026 playlist, updated every week to feature artists like Keya1r.

Saakeli – “Soft Corners”

August 24, 2026

A smooth bassline in a hip hop instrumental track might be the most satisfying sound in the genre. “Soft Corners,” from technologist and producer Saakeli, prominently pairs an acoustic upright bass sound with tender guitar and artfully chopped vocals for a lush and emotionally ambiguous sound. Choose your adventure with how this makes you feel, as the stringed instruments evolve, weave, and settle in for a nice head nod. If you’re feeling Saakeli, make sure you check out the full back catalog on Spotify. You can check out “Soft Corners” and other exciting taste and beatmakers on our Jammy Study Beats and Instrumentals 2026 playlist that we just started up. Find your next favorite producer.