Browsing Tag

Contemporary Hip Hop

Breezy BRG’s SHE – HER – A Valentine’s Day Revolution

Posted on 4 March 2025

Released on Valentine’s Day, SHE – HER is Breezy BRG’s unapologetic strike against the clichés of saccharine love songs. This Floridian rapper’s high-energy, scene-storming delivery turns the typical Valentine’s vibe on its head, infusing raw emotion and unfiltered confidence into every bar. Her flow is relentless, a constant undercurrent that sweeps you into her world, where self-assurance reigns and every verse leaves no room for pause.

There’s an undeniable power in Breezy’s sound, built on a foundation of experience and adversity, propelling her into a league of her own. Her lyrical delivery doesn’t just demand attention—it pulls you under her dominating aura.

The single oozes the kind of confidence forged through struggle, a celebration of self-worth that’s impossible to ignore. Breezy BRG is playing at another level, transcending mere hip-hop to carve out a space where both rhythm and soul collide.

SHE – HER is available to stream on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stay on Your Grind with ScarFace Dior’s trap track, Cash Fever

Posted on 4 February 2025

ScarFace Dior wastes no time making an impression with the opening track of his seminal EP, DIOR SZN. While the artist prefers to keep an enigmatic profile, his seminal single, Cash Fever reveals everything you need to know about his calibre as a lyricist.

As his intricate bars glide over atmospheric trap beats infused with the seductive twang of Latin guitars, it becomes clear that ScarFace Dior is more than a wordsmith; he’s a rapper unafraid to balance raw conviction with intimate vulnerability.

His delivery connects through the grounded sincerity in his cadence that pulls listeners into his narrative, which takes aim at breaking the mould of typical hustler hip-hop. The track pulses with resilience as Dior delivers his cry for individuality and determination to be recognised as the two pillars of authenticity and success. His lyrics underline the importance of staying true to yourself, weaving inspiration into every line without ever crossing into cliché. ScarFace Dior’s sharp wit and ability to inject emotional depth into his bars will undoubtedly put him on the contemporary map of hip-hop icons.

While Cash Fever celebrates ambition and fortitude, it also warns against distraction and complacency, reminding listeners that sticking to your lane isn’t just a mindset but a means of reaching your destination.

With Cash Fever, ScarFace Dior proves that even in a saturated hip-hop scene, there’s always room for innovation when style and substance go hand in hand.

Stream DIOR SZN on Spotify and Apple Music now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shawn Tuck’s ‘Bigger’ is a hip-hop trifecta of soul, style and substance

Posted on 14 November 2024

Shawn Tuck made one of the hottest hip-hop drops of the summer with his hit, Bigger. The high-octane track is a contemporary anthem that pushes style and substance through speakers with unapologetic energy. Tuck’s larger-than-life vocal delivery dominates the polished-to-cinematic-perfection mix, which leaves each beat dripping with gravitas.

A hip-hop heavyweight in the making, Tuck proves how powerful rap can be when you pour soul into every syllable, building a relentless rhythm that grips like a vice and doesn’t let go. Channelling the gritty heart of hustler hip hop with a soulful edge, ‘Bigger’ is a track destined to leave you hyped. Every line and beat shows he’s playing for keeps, seamlessly weaving emotional intensity with infectious energy.

His deft vocal switches from razor-sharp rap bars to smooth, honeyed harmonies bring a duality that evocatively hones the release to prove that there are few artists who can flex chameleonic skill with as much finesse as the US luminary, who prises influence from the likes of Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, and Craig David.

Stream Shawn Tuck’s seminal single, Bigger, on all major platforms, including Apple Music, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A Milli chartered exotic new terrains in hip-hop’s landscape with his latest single, Legacy

Posted on 28 February 2024

A Milli’s latest hip-hop track, Legacy, is a testament to his evolution as an artist. Born from the streets of Hamilton, Ontario, A Milli has sculpted a sound that is as diverse as his influences. A punk ethos rages through his Eminem-reminiscent bars as he blazes through a narrative woven with the threads of his life experiences.

The single stands out for its unique blend of exotic melodies that seamlessly intertwine with the punch of 808s, creating a vibrant, colourful backdrop for A Milli’s rhythmically tight bars. If you want to be taken beyond the conventional boundaries of hip-hop and into uncharted waters where each wave of sound is laden with meaning and intent, hit play.

A Milli’s journey in music, starting from using a video game mic at fourteen to co-headlining tours, is reflected in the maturity of his sound and the precision of his storytelling. His ability to translate life into music, drawing from a reservoir of personal highs and lows, sets him apart in a genre that thrives on authenticity.

As A Milli continues to carve his path in the music industry, Legacy stands as a bold declaration of his artistic identity. It’s a track that doesn’t just demand attention; it commands respect.

Legacy dropped on February 16; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Reality bites, but Sizway’s bars hit harder in his originated rap track, Paint

Posted on 14 January 2024

For his latest single and music video, Paint, which has now racked up almost 350k streams on YouTube, one of the biggest names to break through the rap scene, Sizway, collaborated with producer Josh Osbourne and director Dre Paiid and unleashed a gritty portrayal of life’s raw edges.

Born Zuri Ntlabati, Sizway’s Detroit roots and South African heritage have culminated in a sound that is as diverse as his background. Paint, set against a backdrop of hypnotic melodies and the sharp bite of 808s, is a testament to this.

The track opens with a mesmerising play of keys, setting a tone that is both introspective and assertive. As the trappy rattle of the 808s kicks in, Sizway takes the reins, delivering rap bars that pull you into his world. His lyrics are a vivid vignette of reality, unvarnished and unapologetic. There’s no room for hedonistic gloss here; Sizway’s narrative reflects the sharp teeth of reality that he has navigated.

As he continues to rise in the hip-hop dominion, Sizway stands as a trailblazer of originality, and Paint is a key to understanding a world he navigates with grace, edge, and grit.

Stream the official music video for Paint on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Two To Many epitomised decadent devotion in their modernist take on RnB, Fasho (Fall in Love)

Posted on 26 February 2023

Two To Many turned up the heat with their simmering amalgam of RnB, Hip-Hop and Pop, Fasho (Fall in Love). Capturing the unparalleled sensation of falling so deeply you see stars, Fasho isn’t a track you listen to; it is one you feel.

The single by the duo featuring the silky-smooth vocal timbre of Markus Shields leaves no room to wonder about the sincerity of the devotion projected through the ardently melodious grooves and the lyrics that flirt with salaciousness while rising above the lascivious fray.

The modernist spin on RnB may pay tribute to the roots of the genre, but the contemporary production styling allowed the duo to establish itself as one to watch while it brings in the future of the genre. The LA-based songwriter, dancer, choreographer and producer, Markus Shields is a soulful force to be reckoned with.

Fasho (Fall in Love) is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Vibe in style with 12WELVE ambient lo-fi trap track, Wake Up

Posted on 10 October 2021

With his lucid bilingual rap bars falling into the ambient lo-fi trap beats, Latino rapper and producer 12WELVE’s latest single, Wake Up, is as invigorating as it is indulgently mellow.

The Houston, Texas-based artist takes inspiration from the likes of The Weeknd, 88GLAM and Kanye West and wears his influences on his aural sleeve in the short and sweet hit which keeps the production simple to leave plenty of room for the resounding emotion in this vibing pensive hit.

Wake Up is the second single released from 12WELVE’s upcoming album, Forever My Love, where betrayal, love, anger and glamour will be uniquely explored. If you like to keep your chill wave playlists fresh, we’d recommend saving a spot on your radar.

Wake Up is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Deadrick Rydell lights up the high vibe hip hop genre with his latest single, Show Me Luv.

Posted on 9 October 2021

After making his 2018 debut, US hip hop artist Deadrick Rydell continues to pick up hype with his high vibes, sense of untamed soul and tendency to wear his heart on his sleeve to create honest connections with his fans.

His latest single, Show Me Luv, is the perfect introduction to the Texas-based artist’s instantly affable nature that makes the shimmering tones in the easy grooving single hit that little bit sweeter. With elements of Afrobeat in the evocatively light instrumentals, this tropic, sun-kissed hit hits the spot every time. We are already stoked to hear what follows.

Show Me Luv is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Take off with Jamal Wade’s ‘Spaceship’

Posted on 4 May 2021

Hitch a ride off the planet with luminary hip hop artist Jamal Wade’s single ‘Spaceship’, taken from his latest EP, ‘April Very Own’.

With high-fire bars, ominous lyrical whispers, and ingenious diss lines, Jamal Wade efficaciously sets a sinister convictive tone in the atmospheric single. You would be hard-pressed to find an artist bringing the same amount of energy to the mic.The Tampa Bay native has stayed true to his style since making his indie debut with his EP, ‘God Forgive Me’, in 2019; as a result, he’s averaging 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

His bio is practically the ultimate success story for an up and coming rap artist in 2021. If he’s not already on your radar, we’d suggest making room.

Spaceship is now available to stream with the rest of April Very Own via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LV Fresh catches us hard with ‘No Hook’

Posted on 2 May 2021

LV Fresh (a.k.a. Reginald Ferrari Jr), originally from NYC’s Bronx district and now based in Atlanta, Georgia, drops us a banging, upbeat slice of melodic Hip Hop straight from the streets. Punctuated by NSFW references, and with a video filled with gangs, guns, and green, this isn’t for the faint-hearted; but in amongst the Tec-9s and dope there’s some serious, well-crafted lyrical bounce and flow here. LV Fresh can certainly spit the rhymes out at the same RPM as the AR in the video; that’s ‘Rhymes Per Minute’, yo, and ‘No Hook’ could do some proper ballistic damage, but it’s also got some serious bop and hustle. You’ll want to check this out while it’s still (LV) fresh.

Watch the video for ‘No Hook’ on YouTube. Follow on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes