Browsing Tag

East Coast Hip Hop

London’s ‘Up In The Air’ is the perfect antidote to Covid-Brexit winter blues

Posted on 21 December 2020

‘Up In The Air’ by newcomer London is the perfect antidote to the current wind, rain, Brexit, and Covid-19 doleful torpor gripping the UK, a summery, upbeat, dance-y mix of R&B-inspired hip-hop and mellow, groove-filled soul. There’s a rich, deep and uplifting ascending bassline, a deliciously soulful female backing harmony part, and London’s soft, Smokey Robinson/Marvin Gaye style tuneful vocal, all lilting smoky East Coast DC vibes and summer sunshine.

‘Up in The Air’ is London’s third single, following up ‘Y.D.L.M. (You Don’t Love Me)’ and ‘5 Questions’, and it’s clear that there’s some growth going on here; all that bodes very, very well for London’s future.

Check out ‘Up In The Air’ on Apple Music and Spotify, and follow London on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Jackboyvick give us ‘Options’

Posted on 8 December 2020

A mixture of melodic trap and versatile flow, Jackboyvick’s new track ‘Options’ is a contemporary, summery East-Coast take on sweet, lyrical hip hop.

Engineered by MixedByPrince and with beats by Cobra Beats, laid back, doubled up vocal sits atop thumping bass and chilled hats’n’snare patterns. Yeah, he’s got flow, the lyrics bouncing and dropping over each other, but there’s a beatsy, techno kind of vibe to the track too that keeps it banging and modern underneath the poetic delivery.

You can hear ‘Options’, and follow the artist on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Jai T takes introspective-deep Hip Hop to an ethereal new level with ‘Soldier’

Posted on 17 November 2020

With each new release from US Rap artist Jai T, the airwaves get a new demonstration of their versatility. With the release of their 2020 EP ‘Eclipse’, their dynamism and enigmatic prowess has never been more prominent.

‘Soldier’ is the perfect introduction to their introspective-deep wit-laden lyricism, but the true distinction within their sound is undoubtedly found within the style of the production. It isn’t every day that I get the pleasure of describing Hip Hop as ethereal, but you’d struggle to find a better adjective to allude to transfixing shimmering reverb which wraps around the tight synergistic beats.

You can check out Jai T’s latest track via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

East Coast Hip Hop got hotter with the release of Vior’s track “Stevie Wonder”

Posted on 29 October 2020

Feel the oceanic breeze of East Coast Hip Hop with Vior’s standout sun-kissed track, Stevie Wonder, from their 2020 EP, Presidential.

The Coatesville, PA artist has amassed plenty of hype for their ability to bring more than sound to the airwaves since releasing their debut single in 2018.

Hit play on any of their tracks and get lost in the immersive vibes which manifest through their meticulously dynamic lyrical flow and their larger than life personality which will leave you galvanized.

The conviction in Stevie Wonder practically makes the track a kiss with a fist. It’s viscerally hard-hitting. but soulfully sweet all the same.

With their clear Rap style and their mischievously hedonistic bars sitting seamlessly with the high-octane rhythmically arrestive beats, Vior offers the best of East Coast Hip Hop. We have no doubt that it’s only a matter of time before they achieve what they set out to do and put their name on the map.

You can check out the official video to Stevie Wonder which was shot by WizFx by heading over to YouTube.

Or you can listen to the Presidential EP in full via Spotify.

Vior

Review by Amelia Vandergast

CUBE REF spits venom and calls out the fakers with their high-vibe Hip Hop drop “Characters”

Posted on 25 October 2020

If you missed out on Cuban Rap artist CUBE REF’s fiery summer Hip Hop drop Characters, it is our pleasure to introduce you to the ingeniously cutting drop.

CUBE REF is blessed with one of those rare commanding voice which just leaves you transfixed in the meter of their bars.

Even with the slightly crass lyricism, you can’t help but warm to CUBE REF and their massive enigmatic energy. Part of the success of Characters definitely falls down to the amount of venom it contains for fakers and people who only know how to present themselves to the world from behind a façade. Lyrics such as “Because you’re a character, doesn’t mean you have character” aren’t easily forgotten.

You can check out the official video to Characters by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KidSeb serves up hazy summer vibes in their latest release “Re: Growth EP”

Posted on 30 June 2020

If you’re looking to soak up some hazy smooth summer vibes, there’s a potent serving in up and coming South Auckland-based Hip Hop artist KidSeb’s latest release “Re: Growth EP”.

The EP kicks off with a dreamy Jazz and Blues-infused Ambient feat of Hip Hop which may be instrumentally hypnotic, but KidSeb’s commanding bars make sure that your attention never falters from the sunny tones and the catchy melodic hooks.

From there on out, you’ll be immersed in East Coast-influenced mixes which any fans of Jay Z, Kanye, Drake, Dre, and Kendrick Lamar will definitely appreciate. But that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of distinction in KidSeb’s EP.

Each track is as dynamic and immersive as the last and demands repeat attention. The tracks may be on the ambient side, but each one offers infectious high vibes.

You can check out KidSeb’s EP for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teeko Sinatra – New York Litty Freestyle: A Modernistic Take on East Coast Hip Hop

Posted on 21 May 2020
https://soundcloud.com/teeksinna/new-york-litty-freestyle

Hip Hop artist Teeko Sinatra paid homage to NYC in their latest mix New York Litty Freestyle which was produced during lockdown. We may all be sick of hearing about Covid 19 on the news, but I’ll always be drawn in by artist’s unique perspectives.

New York is one of the hardest-hit places in the world by Covid 19. Yet, the resilience exhibited in Teeko Sinatra’s track affirmed that even in the face of adversity they’re still putting up a fight. From across the pond, all I’ve seen are the most depressing stories possible. New York Litty Freestyle tells a much more accurate story. It’s without agenda or sensationalism. It’s just pure expression.

After a hazy lucid prelude, the track seamlessly shifts into first gear and the East Coast mix starts to drip attitude and ingenuity in equal measure as the atmospherically fiery mix unravels.

You can check out Teeko Sinatra’s latest track New York Litty Freestyle for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mic Strong – In Due Time ft. Dizzy Wright: Inspiringly Convictive Hip Hop

Posted on 3 December 2019

If you haven’t checked out Mic Strong’s stylistically fluid approach to Hip Hop yet, now’s the perfect time after the release of their latest single “In Due Time” featuring Rap artist Dizzy Wright.

The American artist may be strongly influenced by 90s Hip Hop, yet there’s plenty of smooth flowing distinction in the production. With electronic effects which are more commonly heard in EDM, In Due Time is a versatile track full of instrumental hooks, but it is the intellectual inspiring lyrical hooks which have the strongest grip. If anyone’s taking notes on how to create a flawless feat of contemporary Hip Hop, hit play on In Due Time and grab a pen.

You can check out Mic Strong’s latest single In Due Time for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast