Browsing Tag

Independent Hip Hop

Prettii Boii Claps Back with his Hip-Hop Hit ‘Hater’

Posted on 23 April 2025

Prettii Boii made another power move with his latest single ‘Hater’, which landed on April 10th alongside a cinematically sharp official music video drenched in style and self-assurance. With bold visuals and even bolder bars, the enigmatic hip-hop artist turned self-belief into sonic currency while building an anthem for anyone who’s been targeted by envy and walked away unscathed.

The lyrical waxer takes full charge of the wavy, mellow, and delay-saturated instrumentals as he proves he’s got nothing to lose in a game where his lane runs parallel to no one. Every line bites back at the dead weight determined to drag him down. Each bar carries the charisma of someone long past validation and fully invested in their own grind.

Prettii Boii didn’t just put the haters in their place—he gave them a radio-ready soundtrack to stew in; the track is what the phrase “it’s a vibe” was coined for. His smooth yet infectiously magnetic cadence turned this track into an earworm with major replay value. It’s easy to hear how a release this self-assured and sonically tight will put a serious boost behind his trajectory as he keeps rising from the ground up to the top of the charts.

‘Hater’ is now available to stream on all major platforms. For the full experience, watch the official music video on YouTube. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Fat Prezzi and Miles Ledanois hit heavy and cut deep in ‘Dead Beat’

Posted on 14 April 2025

Don’t let the title of the single fool you; the beats in ‘Dead Beat’ from Fat Prezzi and Miles Ledanois’ collaborative LP, Cold, are alive and kicking—something you’ll instantly realise if you tear yourself away from the oscillations of tonal alchemy swirling around them, soaking up the bite in the collaborators’ rhythmically hypnotic bars.

Hailing from the Bay Area, Prezzi and Ledanois have established a sound unique to the region yet unconstrained by its musical stereotypes. Their melodic motifs feel inherently timeless, appealing to listeners of any generation. The partnership began in the musical melting pot of New Orleans at Loyola University, where producer Miles Ledanois, only three months into beat-making, showed his initial works to Fat Prezzi. Recognising immediate potential, Prezzi encouraged Ledanois, sparking a creative synergy that’s since produced hundreds of tracks.

‘Dead Beat’ carries no pretence of gritty bravado or exaggerated grandiosity; instead, raw authenticity floods the arrangement. Minor-key piano preludes blend effortlessly with beats that effortlessly force submission as the lyrics reflect the adversity these artists have genuinely endured. Prezzi and Ledanois command authority, mercilessly dismantling the hollow narratives of rappers chasing borrowed lifestyles for superficial image-building.

If anyone could rival Run the Jewels’ undeniable chemistry, it’s Fat Prezzi and Miles Ledanois—they hit heavy, cut deep, and demand full emotional engagement.

‘Dead Beat’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Del Shawn Armstrong’s ‘You’ is a Boom-Bap Love Letter Dripping in Cosmic Sou

Posted on 14 April 2025

Del Shawn Armstrong keeps an enigmatic profile online, but his latest single ‘You’ is all the identity he needs, with bars that boom just as boldly as the beats dragging hip-hop straight back to the boom-bap golden days. With plenty of soul and rhythmically salacious grooves woven throughout, Armstrong sets himself apart from typical lyrical waxers, refusing to play in anyone else’s league.

Armstrong’s lyrical persona exudes sheer presence, confidently carrying his verses through experimental electronic textures. Those instrumental touches deliver hypnotic cosmic kaleidoscopes infused with urban innovation, pushing beyond typical hip-hop conventions without ever losing sight of the genre’s roots.

The emotional narrative of ‘You’ cleverly refreshes the humble love song, draping it in stylistic swagger and rhythmic sincerity. Rather than succumbing to sentimental tropes, Armstrong delivers his affection through vivid wordplay and magnetic flows, crafting an impassioned earworm that demands repeat attention.

With ‘You’, Armstrong proves he’s comfortably outside convention, using lyrical dexterity and cosmic-inspired production to carve out a soulful lane of his own.

‘You’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Fists of Redemption: T9 Da Prince Weighs in with Lyrical Equilibrium in ‘Fighting Chance’

Posted on 12 April 2025

The gloves are off in T9 Da Prince’s vibe-steady, wavy hip-hop meditation on what it means to be a true fighter, to bring your fists to justice, purpose, peace, and family. With so much division and meaningless hostility in the world, listening to this short and sweet sermon on bringing your perspective to a healthier space is so much more than a remedy; it is a necessity. With all the charisma of RZA and all the inspirational magnetism of a secular preacher, the independent rap artist found a way to hit intellectually and perspectively hard with Fighting Chance. If you could imagine Where Is the Love with chests of more lyrical gold, you’ll get a good idea of what T9 Da Prince delivered in his single, which was recently accompanied by a self-shot music video.

From Salisbury, Maryland, T9 Da Prince is retooling hip-hop soul with a gospel backbone and enough lyrical weight to crush the surface-level narratives flooding modern rap. There’s grit in his urban storytelling, but never without a sense of clarity. His musical DNA traces back to Tupac, Biggie, and 50 Cent, but it’s his alignment with the truth-seeking penmanship of Joyner Lucas and J. Cole that shapes his voice into something that speaks beyond sound.

With a tone rooted in transformation and a style that’s more sermon than spectacle, Fighting Chance isn’t a flex—it’s a reckoning.

Fighting Chance is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Apple Music and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jem&i’s ‘Gemini’ is An Alchemical Invocation of Hedonic Alt-Hip-Hop

Posted on 30 March 2025

With the release of his latest single, ‘Gemini’, Jem&i effortlessly dissolves genre boundaries, merging grime, house, garage, and hip-hop into an intricate structure built for pure hedonic euphoria. Through a dark, sultry production style that oscillates hypnotically around the synth lines and the steady pulse of the beats, he crafts a track that compels rhythmic pulses into obedience. Each beat becomes more than percussion—it is a command, sinking deeper into the psyche as the mind melts into the tones.

At a time when indie rap artists frequently deliver half-cooked productions, Jem&i refuses to lower his standards, carefully orchestrating instrumentals that open portals to new sonic dimensions. His arrangements set the mood, amplifying your susceptibility to his bars, which purposefully shift away from predictable rap cadences to fuse seamlessly with melody, paying respect to house music traditions.

Yet ‘Gemini’ offers more than mesmerising instrumentals. Its grime-infused lyrical narrative carries sharp conviction and a streak of lyrical gold, balancing urban grit with atmospheric cultivation. Jem&i navigates the shifting sonic landscape with confidence, embodying an artisan’s precision in his unique approach to rhythmic storytelling.

‘Gemini’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Megazord Effect: MannyPacquiloud & LjayNFG Sync Firepower on ‘Fantastic’

Posted on 26 March 2025
MannyPacquiloud

When MannyPacquiloud and LjayNFG collide on Fantastic, the outcome isn’t just collaborative chemistry—it’s juggernautical. The hyper lo-fi hip-hop speaker slammer rides a rift in the genre’s continuum, shooting 8-bit synthetics and phasers across the mix like it’s an arcade battleground loaded with charisma-charged artillery. The conviction behind every bar proves MannyPacquiloud isn’t just tracking with the future of hip-hop—he’s hauling it on his back with unapologetic force.

It’s a spacy oscillation of pure lyrical volition. The beat bucks expectations with distorted minimalism, letting the distorted textures run riot while the vocals carve clarity out of chaos. The collaborators match the momentum with equal intent, making sure the tag-team format never slips into competition—only combustion.

There’s no gloss, no clean-cut production polish; it’s raw by design. Each element is engineered to elevate the energy, not dilute it. The low-fidelity framework serves the track’s ethos—it’s punchy, primal and built for the underground, where aesthetics bow to authenticity. This is what it sounds like when artists prioritise force over pretence and still land every blow on beat.

MannyPacquiloud’s ability to channel chaos into cadence shows he’s not just rapping for the now—he’s setting the stakes for what comes next. And if Fantastic is anything to go by, the altitude of hip-hop vibes might just be reaching stratospheric new levels through his talent.

Fantastic is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

STEEZALEO THE GREAT Dropped the Hip-Hop Gauntlet in ‘Ride or Go Ghost’

Posted on 24 March 2025

Ride or Go Ghost’ is more than a high-octane hip-hop anthem—it’s a loyalty litmus test drenched in charisma, groove, and unshakeable confidence. STEEZALEO THE GREAT fires from the north side of Kalamazoo with bars that land with the weight of lived experience and a vocal command that sharpens every beat to a fine point. With some rappers, you listen. With others, you feel the energy. With Steezaleo, you lock in and absorb every syllable as it resonates with maximum impact.

Behind the velvet grit of his delivery, playfully luxe beats pop and swing with West Coast flavour, invoking the presence of Dre, Snoop, and Ice Cube without slipping into imitation. There’s no leaning on legacy—Steezaleo carves out his own with a sound shaped by hustle and elevation. Each verse is a statement, refusing to bend to gimmicks or trend-chasing. The metric flexes alone are enough to prove why he’s a self-assured outlier in a scene too often diluted.

‘Ride or Go Ghost’ captures the headrush of confrontation and clarity—who stays solid, and who folds the minute the fire rises? While the instrumentals deliver a euphoric bounce, the lyricism keeps it grounded, offering no illusions about the stakes when trust is on the line. It’s high-energy without sacrificing substance, motivational without preaching, and stylish without losing authenticity.

Ride or Go Ghost is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

TNV’s Cream of the Crop – Boom Bap Nostalgia with Boundless Swagger

Posted on 15 March 2025

TNV fires off bars with the kind of force that turns a track into an event. Cream of the Crop, the standout single from his latest LP, For the Record, revives the lo-fi, jazz-infused soul of 00s hip-hop while pushing the energy into overdrive. The larger-than-life presence in his luxe lyrical delivery makes each line hit harder; anyone who grew up on Jay-Z’s prime will feel right at home in the trailblazing anthem which serves as the ultimate soundtrack to your aspiration for greatness.

Swanky melodies and soaring sax lines give the beat a sleek, refined touch, while TNV’s relentless flow keeps the momentum urban nirvana-high. Every bar builds up a kinetic charge that refuses to settle. There’s no stepping back, no slowing down—just pure adrenaline, driven by hooks designed to stick in the psyche. The massive production carries echoes of Run the Jewels, but TNV digs deep into boom bap and soul-driven jazzy hip-hop nostalgia while carving out a sound that is quickly becoming synonymous with his irreplicable presence on the airwaves.

Growing up in Los Angeles with parents deeply embedded in the music industry, TNV absorbed the culture from an early age. His lyricism holds weight, and he uses it to energise and elevate in equal measure. With a fanbase expanding with every release, For the Record positions him at the forefront of the new wave of hip-hop nostalgia.

Cream of the Crop is available now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Grimreepa Interview: From Freestyle Sessions to the Booth Biggie Once Called Home

Posted on 9 March 2025

Grimreepa isn’t just rapping about the grind—he’s lived it, survived it, and turned it into raw lyricism that refuses to pull punches. From growing up in a home where hip-hop was more than background noise to stepping into the same booth where Biggie once recorded, his story is as unfiltered as his bars. The rapper speaks on everything from his early freestyle days to the harsh realities of the streets, the therapeutic power of music, and the fight of his life—beating cancer with the same relentless mindset that fuels his pen. Now, with a solid team behind him and big plans for 2025, Grimreepa is ready to drop visuals and tracks that demand attention.

Welcome to A&R Factory, Grimreepa! We’d love to get an idea of the artist behind the hits. Let’s jump in with your origin story; what got you hooked on hip-hop in the first place? Was there a track or moment that made you think, “Yeah, this is me”?

In the household I grew up in, my older brother would be taping videos when I was younger, and I just fell in love with hip hop and the culture as a whole

Growing up where you did, how much of that shaped the way you rap and tell your story?

I embodied the fact that where you’re from and your reality of where you grew up can shape your music indefinitely.

Who were you listening to when you were coming up? Any artists that made you pick up the pen and start writing?

I’m still very much a LOX, rakim, G-rap, wu-tang biggie smalls, red man, dmx, all ruff ryders, all dipset, special ed, biz mark, big daddy kane, and LL and so on……..

Speaking of writing—when did that start for you? Was it bars straight away, or did you mess around with different styles before locking in?

I actually started freestyling first, rip to my cousin Blizzy he was the one that got me rhyming, believe it or not, I used to beatbox while Blizzy would rhyme, then outta nowhere I just tried it and stuck with it, and here we are now

Beating cancer is no small thing. What was going through your mind during that time, and how did it change the way you move through life now?

As far as beating cancer, I had to make a decision the day the doctor informed me that I had a cancerous tumor between my heart and lung, the size of a softball

I had to choose to cry about it or fight, I chose to fight. I cried when they first informed me, but after that, it was ballgame I was ready for whatever.

Leaving the streets behind isn’t easy. What was the turning point for you, and what was the most difficult part of that process?

The streets are a myth to the young brothers that’s in the streets it’s all bullshit ain’t no love or loyalty in them people will lie on you use you and beg all in the same minute if you in the trenches get ya money set a goal and get out ain’t nothing at the end of that road but jail or death and betrayal I learnt the hard way, trust me.

Do you ever find it tough putting certain life experiences or emotions into your music, or does it help to get it all out?

That’s all I do, I use the studio as therapy. I vent into that mic and let all feelings go, and bring my experiences to the forefront to be honest, experiences push my pen

Looking at where you started and where you are now, what’s been the biggest shift for you—personally and musically?

From where I started to now is totally unbelievable, but never let anybody put their expectations on you and limit what you can do I’m super proud of myself for not giving up. What’s crazy to me is recording in the same booth and studio BIGGIE SMALLS once recorded in; that’s motivation within itself.

The industry’s full of superficial noise. What’s the realest thing you’ve learned about making it as an artist?

I don’t know if I’ve made it yet, to be honest, I’m not paying attention. I’m constantly writing, recording and staying inspired and sticking to what I know, which is my truth

What’s next for Grimreepa? New music? Collabs? Anything wild we wouldn’t expect?

Alotta visuals, I have a lotta music coming in 2025, I have management behind me as well, something I didn’t have b4,  as well as support in alotta different areas, as being an artist just GET READY for G-R

Stream Grimreepa on Spotify now and connect via Instagram.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Grimreepa Wields His Bars Like Blades in ‘THE EVILS’

Posted on 6 March 2025

Grimreepa raps with the force of someone who has fought too many battles to waste a single breath. ‘THE EVILS’ is a tirade against the deception and injustice that keeps stacking up, delivered with the conviction of an artist who has lived through the worst and come out swinging. His bars cut through the noise, fuelled by a decade of sharpening his craft and a refusal to let anything dilute his message.

Boger Beats’ production is built to hit hard. The stabbing piano keys keep the intensity honed to a razor’s edge, while the oscillating electronic motifs pull the track into the future without losing its 00s hip-hop backbone. The weight of the instrumental leaves room for Grimreepa’s flow to land with impact, sitting somewhere between Jay-Z’s precision and Xzibit’s raw energy, but charging ahead with his own firepower.

With insidious forces reaching new heights, ‘THE EVILS’ arrives as a necessary release for anyone who feels the weight of it all. It’s a rallying point for those who see through the smokescreens. If hip-hop is a battleground, Grimreepa is making sure his voice carries.

 ‘THE EVILS’ is available to stream on Apple Music and Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast