Alabama Hip Hop Archives

Holy by Drew Drake: A Hip-Hop Sermon Lighting Fires of Liberation

Posted on 1 April 2025

Drew Drake’s latest single, ‘Holy,‘ blurs the sacred lines between gospel and hip-hop, crafting a lyrically waxed sermon that uplifts as effortlessly as it unsettles preconceptions. The rapper’s smooth, soul-drenched cadence carves an introspective space for listeners to reflect and release the weight of self-imposed restrictions. Drake’s words ignite with sincerity, opening the gates for perceptions to shift and barriers to crumble. ‘Holy’ provides sanctuary, regardless of religious affiliation—offering faith through music for anyone willing to embrace it.

The seminal track pulses with the warmth of gospel’s organ keys, yet Drake injects enough rhythmically smooth RnB echoes to keep it grounded in contemporary resonance. Ethereal backing vocals hover gracefully in the background, adding arcane textures reminiscent of old-school spirituals, crafting an atmosphere that haunts and heals in equal measure.

Drake, a Huntsville, Alabama native now based in Knoxville, Tennessee, uses art to initiate essential dialogue for people of colour. His versatile artistic voice, sharpened through acting roles like Lamar Cordell in Law and Order Season 22 and stage appearances from Bonnaroo Music Festival to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, lends depth to his message.

Holy is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Indie hip-hop icon-in-the-making Ramey laid down more introspective gold in his melodic hit, Regrets

Posted on 14 January 2023

‘Regrets’ is the latest indie hip-hop earworm from Birmingham, Alabama-hailing singer-songwriter and producer Ramey, which has all the fixtures of a new wave country hip-hop playlist staple.

The melodically angular indie guitars around the slow and steady self-produced beats are a testament to Ramey’s ability to complement his dynamic rap flow with seamlessly synergistic beats for an evocatively immersive listening experience.

Using pop and contemporary hip-hop elements to light a fire under a distinctive brand of country ambience, the 26-year-old hasn’t failed to carve out a niche and thrive within it. In 2017, he blew up through his covers of Post Malone and Blackbear, amassing over half a million streams on SoundCloud in the process.

After the release of Regrets, Ramey has another clear shot at going viral. The only conceivable complaint is that the short and sweet hit that stands in defiance of sticking by actions despite consequences isn’t longer. Although, that’s all the more reason to check out the rest of his discography to tap into more mindfully witty introspective gold.

Regrets will be available to stream on Spotify & Apple Music via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast