Latest Posts

Saga ft. Blu – “Up”

April 2, 2016

Brooklyn’s Saga has been a king of loosies of late. His latest standalone “Up” is a perfect rap track to transition from the depths of winter into warmer vibes. The warm, easy production is handled by France’s 20syl and is perfectly complimentary to the smooth flows of the rappers. Saga’s well-rounded attack features some really dope rhyme schemes and lyricism, and the song has a great structure. It’s a collaboration with noted emcee Blu, who along with a guest verse brings vocals to the chorus and throughout the song. Working with Blu and headed on a tour with Asher Roth soon, Saga is well on his come-up. Get your spring on and give it a listen. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/254754559″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Stream YLXR’s Magnificent “Stream”

March 9, 2016

Buffalo producer YLXR has a million different sounds in his pocket. Drawing influence from ambient, electronic, hip hop and countless other genres of music, YLXR’s releases can be counted on to surprise you musically in the best way. Latest release “Stream” is another win for his track record. The front half of the track features fluttering with synths and plucked strings, punctuated with a sparse but thoughtful bottom half. In the manner of an emotional transition, sounds come and go. The sampled words “In a moment, everything can change,” are expertly reflected in the song, and after they drop the track gets a gust of air before exhaling in the outro. The track is a full experience start to finish, with the each sound thoughtfully included. Per usual with YLXR, it’s a must-listen. Stream “Stream” in the stream below.

Chill Ali Drops “Paypa Thin” Video

March 4, 2016

Chill Ali remains a model of consistency within the Buffalo rap scene. Within the Rich Slave umbrella, Ali has been a beacon of consistently chill releases for the last couple of years. Much like in his previous work, “Paypa Thin” has the dichotomy of smooth music but striking lyricism. Extremely personal lines, like Ali’s relationship with his mother and their struggles in finding safe places to stay, can get lost with your natural inclination to bob your head to his music. “Paypa Thin” in particular has a great beat to get lost in, with vocals samples from the same world as Ty $’s latest work with Kanye appearing within the production. Always chill, but multifaceted at the same time, Ali has come through again with a nice track. Peep below.

Dr. Ooo Remixes Usher and Pharrell for “1050”

February 24, 2016

Buffalo rapper and EKL associate Dr. Ooo is one of the city’s most refined wordsmiths. His lyrics and flow shine on in each track he releases, and when he’s having fun on a track the feeling is contagious. This is the case on “1050,” a remix of the 2001 Usher joint “U Don’t Have to Call.” 2001 was primetime for the Neptunes, but Pharrell and Chad Hugo’s work is timeless. The beat for “UDHTC” is just groovy and drum-heavy, setting up Dr. Ooo for a fun freestyle of sorts. Ooo tests out all sorts of flows while talking acidic fruits and high numbers. And he’s also juggling for most of the video. Entertaining, lighthearted, impressive and sexy, just the way Usher would want it. Watch below.

Don Scuzz Hits on Love and Let Die

February 18, 2016

Buffalo rapper and Hooligang member Don Scuzz is a hard hitter. Best recognized by his gruff, intimidating flow and ability to rap the hell out of a chorus, Scuzz comes into the middle of February with another project under his belt. In Valentine’s Day spirit, Love and Let Die is a Scuzzian fusion of street sounds and lyrics with surprisingly great depth to them. Project highlight “50 Facts” stands as one the best tracks we’ve heard from the Don. Built off of a Zaytoven-esque descending piano, Don and guest Meechy El Camino stick to a melodic flow reminiscent of throwback stuff from Dipset and even French Montana’s non-mainstream work. Meechy asserts himself on the first half of the track, dropping a verse with some really great flow switches and all around solid lyricism. Whether he’s on “Genesee faded off Hennessy” or “pulling off in the Jag with the MTV hat to the[...]

200 Kids Outside Drop Thirst-Quenching Album

February 5, 2016

For being a relatively newer act, 200 Kids Outside have got their formula nailed down. It’s not a conventional one either. Across three projects dating back to last spring, the duo of producer Minel and vocalist Neetchy have been making music drawing from influences in alt-hip hop, southern trap and R&B, and have owned it the whole way. Minel’s been a maestro on the boards providing crisp production of varying styles for Neetchy’s signature melodic vocals which float between singing and rapping. YA’LL Need a Drink is a great seven-song taste of what the duo have been working on since last August’s AutoPilot.  Album opener “WiFi” sonically is a quintessential 200 Kids song. Minel takes no time getting into his vault of swirling synths and melancholic keys, and Neetchy’s layered vocals serve as the opening bell that their project is here. “I don’t wanna cry, but the water clears my eyes,” sings Neetchy, taking[...]

Short Moscato Releases Spree of Songs

February 3, 2016

Buffalo hip hop mainstay Short Moscato started off the New Year strong with four new quick-hitters in the month of January. Moscato dropped the 13 song Whatever/Forever project in the last quarter of 2015, an album filled with great tracks from he and his talented friends in the scene. This year’s loosies work off of the Short Moscato blueprint: a hard flow, personal lyrics, and beats of all sorts. The string was lead by “Turquoise,” an ethereal track with a heavy psilocybin influence. In between moments of reflection and revelation, Moscato cuts through with refreshing poignancy, as seen in the line “a Dutch should never ever cost more than $1.50.” Much of the track stays true to the titular theme though, as Moscato questions his need and habit and is guided by a narrator suggesting the use of turquoise as relief. Moscato goes on to appear on the Lucky Seven track “Netlfix &[...]

1996 Drops “Activist” for Weekly Series

December 18, 2015

1996 of Buffalo’s Valor Club released “Activist,” the second installment in a weekly series called “Immaculate Monday.” Last week saw the rapper drop the soulful, electric “Regal Adonis”, and this week the beat mellows out but 1996 stays charismatic. Built around a muted horn instrumental courtesy of producer Sigma, the beat is a great base for 1996 to mix his flow up. 6’s delivery is intentionally erratic, filled with fluctuations that play off the beat. When the bass pounds, his voice goes up and the hype builds and builds. 1996 does a great job on this song sticking with flow themes, like in the first verse when he rolls through “a” and “b” sounds with some nice controlled assonance. Lyrically, 6 talks of drugs and his reasons for them on lines like “Everything I do, just reflections of the ‘endo, where I’m hoping for the end-o cause the darkness is surrounding[...]

Dean Chatham Drops Dean’s List 2

November 13, 2015

Eight months after the release of the original Dean’s List, Buffalo rapper Dean Chatham is back with the follow up record, Dean’s List 2: The Aftermath. The project is the first from the Black Sol member since he signed with Style Music Productions, and demonstrates the progression of Chatham as an artist over the last year. Chatham kicks off his scholastic follow up with the smooth opener “Kage,” in which the rapper projects his pride for the rise he’s seen as an artist recently. The original Dean’s List came when Chatham viewed himself as a student, while this project sees a more confident rapper showing off what he’s learned as he’s found his style. This theme of self -discovery and development continues on tracks like “Lucid Dreams,” where Chatham explores his introspective side. “Black Panda” is another substantive track in which Chatham discusses the positive state he’s currently in and how it relates with a darkened[...]

Rich Slave’s J.Dot Drops New Video

November 6, 2015

Buffalo rapper ASlaveNamedDot (of Rich Slave) is continuing his string of dope singles with his newest video for “Outta State,” his final video of 2015. It’s been a busy year for Dot and the Rich Slave crew,  one in which he dropped no less than six videos as well as the August project Slave Talk.  “Outta State” is a feel good track hip hop track in the broadest terms. Playfully braggadocious and heavy on “ayy” ad-libs, “Outta State” is another charming song from Dot. His bars touch on Flava Flav watches, curvy girls, and second place bitches as the trumpet loops in and out on some chill, jazzy production. The video is shot by another rising Buffalo rapper in Don Scuzz. Give it a watch below and stay tuned for more from Dot in the future.

Hy-Fin Remixes and Mashes for Brandy

November 4, 2015

Buffalo producer Hy-Fin has been remixing and reworking some of hip hop’s best tracks from the last 15 years or so. At the tail end of October, Hy-Fin organized the tracks (for the most part originally posted on Soundcloud) into three different projects on Bandcamp, the largest of which being Brandy. The album’s opening track is composed of some wonderfully delicate piano, on top of which Hy-fin throws on the wonderfully delicate Drake and some of his vocals from early breakout single “Over.” Brandy moves forward with some more Young Money work, including more Drake and a chiller, more musical rework of Lil Wayne’s smash “A Milli.” Hy-Fin slides over to the ATL for a remix of Outkast’s “Rosa Parks.” Andre 3000’s vocals really drive this song, as Hy-fin stripped down the instrumental to let them shine. The instrumental also includes some DJ scratches in homage to the original beat. On “Without My Mind,”[...]

200 Kids Outside Drop New Vid Featuring Saint Opal

October 30, 2015

The last few months have seen a ton of collaborations between different crews and groups in the Buffalo hip hop scene. The theme continues on the latest song from the melodic rap duo 200 Kids Outside, who’ve dropped a new video featuring Saint Opal of the Black Sol  crew. Titled “It’s Lit,” the song is just that. 200 Kids producer Minel cooked up a wild beat, featuring some swirling retro synths and knocking drums for singer/rapper Neetchy to go to work over. He duets with Black Sol songstress Saint Opal pairs his chill electronic voice with her Rihanna-esque sound. Harmonies and expert vocal layering have always been a key component of the music from 200 Kids, and on “It’s Lit” is more of that great use with the addition of Opal’s powerful chops. The composition of the song is great as well, filled with vocal and instrumental breaks showing off the[...]

Torrey Dudley Arrives with “Lost”

October 16, 2015

Torrey Dudley is a 17-year-old Buffalo rapper doing a great job experimenting with his sound. He’s released a variety of different songs including “Hell Bound,” an aggressive street anthem, and the sing-songy, calming “I Wonder.” His latest release “Lost” is a hazy, melancholic track about struggles with substance and worth. The song’s gradual piano line and the subtle echo on Torrey’s voice creates a druggy atmosphere that reinforces the young rapper’s subject matter. Torrey’s wordplay is beyond is years, playing on words and assonance in lines like “better pray to God that you got blessed,” and “feel like I’m moving in circles, making moves with a bunch of squares tryna move in my circle.” The track also closes with a beautiful guitar outro from Landon Barron. Despite the lyrical content of “Lost,” Torrey is sure finding his way as an artist. His melodic voice and ability to create atmospheres are an exciting[...]

midnight Drops XII Labors EP

October 9, 2015

Rochester singer midnight (or mdnt) has been dazzling of late, feeding his listeners spectacular electronic r&b tracks for much of the past year. Singles like “Adonis” and “Baptize” drew expansive acclaim for midnight, building hype up to his release of debut EP XII Labors. Featuring seven tracks of his crooning falsetto and ear for great production, midnight’s debut is a wonderful introduction to the talented artist. The project kicks off with “Baptize,” produced by Buffalo’s YLXR. The track, indicative of its title, sees midnight birth a new attitude and confidence, “standing up to fears that haunt me, can’t no one stop me now.” On “Floating and Falling,” the singer takes on a surprisingly bright beat. Producer craves’ bouncing, lively instrumental syncs up nicely with midnight’s dark vocals as he pleads with a lover to take whatever he has. “Cool Kids (DFWU)” has more of an edge to it than some of midnight’s[...]

ASlaveNamedDot & Don Scuzz Drop “Sixes” Video

October 2, 2015

Buffalo rapper ASlaveNamedDot dropped a video for the single “Sixes” following the August release of his mixtape, #SlaveTalk. “Sixes,” a project highlight featuring Hooligan rapper Don Scuzz, is a great mesh of smokey chill vibes building to up to some hyped rapping. Dot leads the track off with a great verse that show off the Rich $lave crewman’s versatility behind the mic. Alternating his flows throughout, Dot gets into some clever rhyme schemes right away with a play on words involving Allah and his music. Dot goes on to talk on whipping, women, and ambition on a verse that hits everything. Don Scuzz’s baritone voice on a killer hook gives off the presence of something between Nate Dogg and Chief Keef. Scuzz goes on to deliver fire on the closing verse, coupling flow with bars on lines like “If they Facebooking thuggin’, Imma block that bitch, hoe’s on my shoulders, I[...]