Browsing Tag

Electronic Hip Hop

Datsnell inspires optimism with their dark Alt Rock track ‘Imperfections’

Posted on 11 January 2021
https://soundcloud.com/user-368565296/imperctions?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1

When you look at the real impact which 2020 has had on music, you’ll have to look far past the absence of live music and look to how artists, such as Datsnell, have stripped back facades to deliver raw and honest intimate emotion, understanding that connection, unity and strength found through music can never be overvalued.

His latest Alt-Rock single, Imperfections, reminds the listener that our obsession with perfection is imperfect within itself and that a few cracks in the surface don’t have to make you feel worthless.

With his inventive sampling of Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator speech falling around Datsnell’s haunted reverberant spoken word bars and piercingly light keys kicking up stunning interludes, the stunning track gently nudges towards optimism while validating the fear, uncertainty and nihilism which we’ve found throughout 2020. Even if you can’t find optimism straight away, you’re sure to find some solace within this deeply compassionate feat of Alt-Rock which melds elements from Hip Hop, Trap, Rock and Electronica.

You can check out Datsnell’s single Imperfections for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take a trip with LA Indie Electro Pop duo Orange Dream’s hard-hitting new release ‘Twisted’

Posted on 16 December 2020

Orange Dream got Jazzy with their latest Indie drop ‘Twisted’, which is exactly what it says on the tin. The solid feat of psychotropic Electronic Indie also doctors in a nuanced Trip Hop edge to give the multifaceted hit yet another mind-melting texture to solidify the ingenuity.

As Josie Rose Molasky’s vocals find the perfect balance between harmony and attitude, the energetic yet carefully contorted Hip Hop beats make sure you stay hooked in the melody right from the intro while lush synths give you plenty of atmospheric reverb to sink into. If you feel like getting nostalgic about your hedonistic days, Twisted will happily send you a postcard.

Twisted may be an independent release, but it is hard-hitting enough to leave a serious mark on the airwaves. The LA duo is undoubtedly one to watch.

You can check out Twisted for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Keep your friends close and enemies closer: ‘Living in fear of’ by Ammar shows his self-awareness with those around him

Posted on 20 November 2020

The energetic  and sweaty start catches your attention right away. We are quickly drawn in deep by these creatively amazing sounds, and wonder what is in store next. Ferociously fast vocals then blend into the Electronic-Hip Hop track with much bluster and energy, this is a dazzling daze of a single made with intentions to prove yourself right. Ammar shows his frustration with those petty and small minded folk that don’t understand his journey on ‘Living in fear of‘.

With an assortment of genres that mesh quite nicely into a quick-fire track with meaning, this is about about spending too much energy on those people that love to bring you down in life. This is a sad occurrence but one that you can grow from, and learnt to deal with, despite how petty it is.

The supremely edgy sound is so fiery and gets you in the mood to deal with some negative humans, that you are completely sick of. The rap style is layered with the electronic vibes that is drummed so enthusiastically, and this is such a true message, sung and rapped with reckless abandon.

This firecracker fuse is lit so brightly and the sparks are all over the place to make this such an entertaining listen. The passion is so catchy and cool, the song is less than two minutes and you will remember this all day.

Ammar opens the book into his vivid world with so much appeal on ‘Living in fear of’. This is a lesson to us all to brush away of all those that want to ruin your vibe, this is your life and you want to be happy as that is all that matters. Not the thoughts of small minded people, who don’t get what you are trying to achieve.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Alt Hip Hop artist All_Out_27 has dropped their galvanizing new mix “Spirited Bliss”

Posted on 25 July 2020
https://soundcloud.com/user-385337704/spirited-bliss

Spirited Bliss is just one of the recent releases from up and coming American Hip Hop artist All_Out_27. If you’re looking for fresh new galvanizing beats to add to your Summer playlists, look no further. Spirited Bliss comes with a tropic punch and keeps the tempo steady to ensure that easing into the accessibly melodic mix is as easy as possible while making sure that there’s enough momentum to keep you hooked from the prelude to the outro.

By fusing elements of Old School EDM into their alternative instrumental track, Spirited Bliss offered a euphoric punch but never veered all too far away from the hypnotically rhythmic realms of Hip Hop. The progressive mix is as transcendent as it is rhythmically convictive. There really is no wonder why so many people are giving it repeat attention.

You can check out All_Out_27’s single Spirited Bliss for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cat Clark – Ghost: Authentically Atmospheric EDM Hip Hop

Posted on 14 March 2020

Since Cat Clark made her debut in 2017, she’s amassed an ardent following and plenty of hype around her sound. When you delve into her uniquely striking brand of Hip Hop, it’s easy to see why.

Cat Clark has recently released her ninth single “Ghost” which serves as the perfect introduction to her atmospherically moody take on Hip Hop which also borrows elements of Pop and Ambient Electronica. With a steady and effortlessly smooth Rap delivery combined with lyrics which unravel like spoken word poetry over intricately layered downtempo EDM Hip Hop beats, it’s hard not to get excited by Cat Clark’s potential.

In the overwhelming majority of HipHop tracks we hear, we hear replication and assimilation of former sounds. Yet, when it came to Cat Clark’s single Ghost, her evident lack of concern when it comes to genre constraints left us instantly enamoured.

You can check out Cat Clark’s latest single Ghost for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nmwbu – Shots: Experimental Electronic Hip Hop

Posted on 7 March 2020

Up and coming Experimental Electronica artist Nmwbu has recently released their 2020 EP “Nani”. While every track on the EP stands as a testament to their bold adventurous approach to Electronica, the perfect introduction is the standout single “Shots”.

The track kicks off with a minimalistic prelude before seamlessly switching into a glitchy, modern and stylistic soundscape which Nmwbu uses to sporadically lay down their Rap vocals.

There definitely no complaints when it comes to the instrumentals and the atmospheric allure which Shots contained. Yet, it was hard to find any synergy between the vocals and the instrumental melodies. That being said, Shots offers exactly the kind of experimentalism we endeavour to find in new music. So, we’re all too excited to see where Nmwbu takes his transcendentally spacey brand of Electronic Hip Hop next.

You can check out Shots for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sheldon Johnson – Arizona: An Artisan Blend of Trap, Electronica & Alt Rock

Posted on 24 February 2020

Hazy Alt Hip Hop doesn’t get much more arrestive than what you’ll find in the 2019 album “Suburban Wolf” from up and coming Nebraska-based artist Sheldon Johnson.

While each track is a sublime artisan mix of genres including Hip Hop, Synth Pop, and Rock, the perfect introduction to Sheldon Johnson’s mesmerising pioneering sound is the track “Arizona”.

The lush wavy reverb borders on hypnotic while the deep throbbing basslines provide plenty of structure to the quite literally unforgettable track. Expect the sticky-sweet melodies in Arizona to stick to your synapses for days.

If it sounds like we’re overly excitable over Arizona, you’ll soon see that the exuberance is more than justified when you taste the ingenuity in the mix for yourselves.

You can check out Arizona along with the rest of their album by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare for the Emotive Sting of Comp Keyz’ Standout Single “Sauce Man”

Posted on 16 January 2020

You’ll have seen Hip Hop artists blow up for FAR less than what you will find in the standout single “Sauce Man” by up and coming artist Comp Keyz.

While I’ve heard my fair share of emotively driven Trap music, I’ve never felt the weight of a Trap single crawl under my ribs in the same way as Sauce Man did. The soundscape may be light downtempo and ambient, but make no mistake, it’s resoundingly heavy.

Whether it was the pensive yet optimistic melody or the husky, humble, captivatingly poised RnB-soaked Rap bars which hit the hardest, I can’t be sure of. But what is painfully evident that Comp Keyz may be one of the most criminally underrated artists we’ve heard in a while.

You can check out the official music video to Sauce Man for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Electronic Hip Hop Collective ASKARI Make their Debut with “Progress”

Posted on 4 September 2019

It’s easy to forget the power music has the capacity to hold. No, not through mind-bending riffs and ear-piercing harmonies.  I’m talking about the real raw resonance found in the aural mirrors which are held up to the issues which we sleepwalk through every day.

Which is why you can consider the UK Electronic Hip Hop collective Askari’s debut single Progress a wakeup call.

Homelessness, knife crime, the corrupt economy, war, austerity, depression and oppression are just a few of the issues which come under attack as a reflection of our disparity in Progress.

Scroobius Pip has been a little quiet as of late, but thankfully ASKARI has stepped up to the plate with a track Dan Le Sac himself would struggle to replicate the momentum of. Through the inclusion of incredibly efficacious Nu Metal and James Routh’s perceptibly dexterous production skills, Progress is an unforgettable debut.

In the verses, you’ll get the atmospheric doom-laden beats before the track seamlessly evolves into meteoric Alt-Rock breakdowns which follow ingeniously mastered EDM build-ups. And there’s definitely no question about what Askari can bring to the airwaves lyrically. Asher finds poetry in political failure and verses it through flawlessly energetic bars while Liam finds the perfect places to throw down the riffs which scream as loudly as we should all be screaming right now.

ASKARI may be fresh from their inception as a collective, but their years of experience is more than tangible in the perfectly polished mix which saw the deft touches of James “Lerock” Loughrey. The very same James Lerock Loughrey who has worked alongside the likes of Skindred, Manic Street Preachers, and Def Leppard.

You can check out the official music video to ASKARI’s single Progress via YouTube.

Keep up to date with ASKARI’s new releases via Facebook – you probably won’t want to miss their upcoming album release which documents 16 years of underclass social history.

Review by Amelia Vandergast