Latest Posts

Sublime Pr1me – “Black Jesters’ Revolution”

January 2, 2025

Rochester rhymer Sublime Pr1me flexes internal rhyme schemes, an off-center flow and expertly used interplay with production on his sharp new single “Black Jesters’ Revolution.” Riding an Adult Swim-flavored boom bap beat, Pr1me rapidly moves between his personal philosophies and others’ he sees truth in, such as Michele Fuko. Pr1me is explicit, insightful, playful and more on this track – relentlessly switching up his cadences and somehow staying on the sampled/flipped/reversed beat. Add this track to your Lupe Fiasco-Aesop Rock-Talib Kweli playlists for when you’re looking for a hip hop track with keen lyricism and a beat that keeps you on your toes too. “Black Jesters’ Revolution” kicks off Pr1me’s Back Forward EP, featuring more of the insightful rapping showed off on this track.

$pence – “Lie2ME”

December 30, 2024

Ignorance is bliss in a relationship according to Charlotte emcee/producer $pence – who argues against unnecessary honesties in his latest track “Lie2Me.” In his radio-friendly single, $pence lambasts the unnecessary honesties in a relationship – if I don’t need to know, why tell me? “Make something up.” Whether it’s a rich girl problem, or a sincere thought on their relationship, $pence makes the argument for ignorance. “There’s problems in the world, I’m not solving…Why can’t you just lie to me?” It’s lighthearted, ironic in its honesty, and features a familiar radio-friendly cadence to it. Playful, funky keyboards and boom bap drums are the primary production component, gearing you up to hear a track ready to be played on your Jack Harlow/Chance the Rapper/Aminé playlists. $pence has been busy releasing new tracks in 2024 – take a look at his recent output on Spotify. 

Pompeya – “Yes”

December 29, 2024

Moscow-based act Pompeya might just have the perfect, post-holiday hangover cure. Their new song, “Yes,” is a blast of tropical, poolside energy, impossibly sunny and upbeat with a bassline built to get your body moving and grooving. If you’re feeling the back-to-work grind extra hard this week, give “Yes” a whirl and feel its rejuvenating beat reverberate through your body… Our bet is you won’t be able to help but dance along.   You can check out “Yes” via Soundcloud (below), or on Pompeya’s Spotify. Pompeya · Yes

Shabazz the Disciple & Ed Nodz – “Chant Down Babylon”

December 27, 2024

Wu-Tang affiliate Shabazz the Disciple sneaks in a heavy verse-of-the-year candidate at the buzzer with the aid of underground-flavored Aussie producer Ed Nodz on their latest track, “Chant Down Babylon.” Shabazz is an emcee’s emcee, combining ridiculous rhyme schemes with sobering lyricism throughout his career. “Chant Down Babylon” discusses conspiratorial trickle-downs in society before launching into a verse-long spotlight on AI in the second verse. Whether it’s AI rap albums, the in-progress loss of jobs, or AIs competing to outsmart other AIs – Shabazz previews a near future that’s inevitable rather than science fiction. Ed Nodz’s production is the ideal partner to the reality of Shabazz’s lyrics, using a melancholic horn as the primary pacemaker on the beat. Pull up the lyrics and listen to more from Shabazz and Ed Nodz on Spotify.

Corrine Jasmine – “enough (so, we’re doomed)”

December 24, 2024

NYC-based act Corrine Jasmine hit our inbox with her latest offering, “enough (so, we’re doomed)” and we were taken immediately by its understated and mysterious vibe. Driven mainly by Corrine’s innocent vocals and a driving, consistent bassline, “enough” has lo-fi bedroom-pop feels in the best way. The song is further set off by swirling synth ambiance and spindly guitar work – just enough to keep the song charmingly vague.   Check out “enough (so, we’re doomed)” via the Spotify embed below.  

Chizlonies the Lord – “All That I Got”

December 23, 2024

We got you something! Unwrap the latest holiday-flavored single “All That I Got.” from Nigerian/Chicago rapper Chizlonies the Lord – you were so nice this year. Featuring twinkling piano and jingle bell wordplay, Chizlonies serenades us with a love story perfect for a warm night by the 8-hour-long yuletide log YouTube video. It’s a nice new addition for your non-classics Christmas playlist – with familiar tropes and topics but a fresh sound. Chizlonies’ smooth vocal deliveries alternative from singing and rapping, crafting a particularly catchy hook that’ll sound great after the 25th, too. Give a listen below and check out more from Chizlonies on Spotify.

Makeout Tactics – Skunk House

December 23, 2024

Buffalo indie-pop outfit Makeout Tactics has released their first EP, Skunk House. Waxing philosophical, we are presented with a slice of life view of a group of friends in their 20s. Seemingly mundane, these stories and experiences are elevated through their eyes, creating a compelling story that captures our attention.   The EP opens with “311,” laced with a heartfelt urgency that draws you right in. Anchored by the haunting vocals of Akasya Croiser, lyrics float ethereally over the jangly and enveloping guitar lines. The banality of placing a 311 call becomes a plea; a call to action. Second is the driving “Laundromat Thief” which opens with guitars that could play against a gunslinger showdown in a Western. We are then presented with a scenario in which someone has stolen our narrator’s underwear (amongst other things). “Laundromat Thief” is a driving track that underpins our narrator’s struggles. While the drums[...]

San Carol – “pay no mind”

December 23, 2024

San Carol has been dubbed the “French King of Shoegaze” and for good reason – his latest single, “pay no mind,” is a transcendent slice of the blissed-out genre. Pairing siren-sound guitar noise with bongos (which, to my knowledge, is atypical of most shoegaze compositions), San Carol weaves a wild, almost 90s-influenced web, equally reminiscent of both Beck and My Bloody Valentine. The chorus is the real payoff here, with a ruthlessly catchy melody that never sacrifices that far-off, mysterious shoegaze vocal we all love so much.   Check out “pay no mind” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your shoegaze-y playlist on Spotify.  

Solid Goold – “I Can See You Clearly”

December 22, 2024

Solid Goold, led by none other than titular keyboardist/songwriter/composer Albert Goold, just put out the indie-jazz explosion of “I Can See You Clearly.” With equal tinges of 1980s new wave, jazz fusion, and indie pop showing up in his work, Goold smashes interesting chord shapes and wild key changes into this upbeat and jaunty tune. Expect a breakneck and cerebral lyrical delivery with plenty of chorus-soaked keyboard goodness that will appeal to fans of Huey Lewis, Billy Joel, or even Motion City Soundtrack.   Check out the vintage-themed music video for “I Can See You Clearly” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify playlists.  

P4blo – “Pay Me in Dirt”

December 19, 2024

Canadian artist p4blo combines metallic, industrial pop sounds with a Trapaholics-“Damn son, where’d you find this?” sensibility on his latest track, “Pay Me in Dirt.” This track gives us a lot to chew on – teased in p4blo’s musings at the top of the track that “more layers are required.” We get some of that heavier industrial drum sounds like you’d hear on a clipping. song, into a traditional trap snare section, before things transitions into Kaytranda-styled electronic hip hop feel. P4blo raps, chants, and lets out some hyperpop coos as he continuously taps into his wide range of influences to create an evolving, experimental track you can digest layer by layer. Grab your best paid of headphones and turn the volume up. Check out p4blo on YouTube below and head over to Spotify on Bandcamp to add him to your experimental hip hop/electronic playlists.

TaReef KnockOut – “Mr. Irrelevant”

December 18, 2024

Tallahassee rapper TaReef KnockOut honors the legacies of Brock Purdy, Ryan Succop, and Chad Kelly on his underdog anthem “Mr. Irrelevant.” KnockOut grabs this title, usually reserved for the 256th (also known as “last”) pick in the NFL draft, and describes his struggles in the life prior to his ascension in the rap game. Repo men, missed rent payments, car breakdowns – TaReef took his adversity and spilt it out over a boombap beat in a celebratory track that will fit right in on your motivational hip hop playlists alongside names like Logic, J.Cole and Wale. Production-wise, we get some reversed instrumental loops, angelic vocal samples, and a headbobbing drum pattern – hitting the mark just like Ryan Succop extra point. Listen to more from TaReef on Spotify:

Urge Surfer – “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”

December 18, 2024

Buffalo electro-pop duo Urge Surfer are back with their take on a holiday mainstay, the John Lennon & Yoko Ono classic “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” Featuring singer Chelsea O’Donnell’s distinctive voice in the forefront; bandmate Jordan Smith’s tasteful backups; and a bevy of modular synths and percussion; this particular version of “Happy Xmas” is a delightfully fresh take on a well-worn standard. Born out of the innocent desire to just put out a Christmas cover, the duo pumped this out in just about a week, harnessing the ramshackle and jangly energy of the original and giving it a fun, electronic spin.   You can purchase Urge Surfer’s version of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” via bandcamp (below) for a very reasonable “name your price” rate.   Happy Xmas (War is Over) by Urge Surfer

Softer – “Messed Up”

December 18, 2024

LA based four piece Softer brings us their latest with “Messed Up;” a heartfelt shoegazy dream pop gem. Warm bass and guitar tones lead the way initially but bow down to lyricist Belinda Cai’s haunting vocals that echo through your soul.   Partly based on the second to last episode of Bojack Horseman and Cai channeling the cavalcade of emotions following the suicide of her sister, you might think “how are these related, Chris?” Well, dear reader, Bojack Horseman might be a seemingly crass look at stardom through the lens of a famous horse, but it actually delves into very real life feelings. Speaking to the track in relation to this, the band had this to say:   “The song is about all of the regrets and guilt one has in life in relation to other people and how, in a space free from time, our minds, and bodies, we[...]

Lucky – “Never Know”

December 17, 2024

The debut single from Australian native Chelsea Knight, better known by her stage name Lucky, is the incomparably catchy “Never Know.” Hazy guitars compliment Knights vocals, bringing to mind early Silversun Pickups but standing well enough on their own without being a rehash.   The track itself is a love letter to nostalgia and starting over: “…forgetting something beautiful, in the hopes of experiencing it again for the first time. Turning the clock back to a time when things were simpler, pop culture was trashier, and pants were baggier….” Listeners of Soccer Mommy will find a lot to enjoy here too, especially with the strong focus on hazy guitars and vocals.   You can hear it below from YouTube as well as Apple Music and Spotify. Be sure to keep your ears peeled for more; this is one of our top artists to look forward for the month.  

4T7 – “VENUS (GODDAMN!) SEVFRO MIX”

December 16, 2024

Let orchestral strings caress you to sleep as Long Island hip hop artist 4T7 melts your brain with machine gun flows and encyclopedic bars with the freshest take on his new single. 4T7 and collaborator A-F-R-O combine forces for the (artist name mashup-inspired) SEVFRO remix of the former’s buzzy single “VENUS (GODDAMN).” Fans of flows and heady bars are gonna like this one – tapping from the influence tree of Aesop Rock on the flows and $uicideBoy$ on a hypnotic chanty chorus. 4T7 packs syllables on top of syllables in the first verse, and multi-hyphenate artist A-F-R-O takes the stick for a vibrant new second verse for the single. “VENUS (GODDAMN!)” leads the singles from 4T7’s debut album BEACH PLACE – give it a spin on Spotify.