Browsing Tag

Jay Z

Solo Star delivers deity-level hip hop in his single, ‘American God’

Posted on 22 July 2021
Solo Star

Ahead of the release of his highly anticipated 4-track EP, ‘The Ballad of Solo Star’, the up and coming artist has given us a taste of what’s to come by giving us a sneak peek of the lead track, American God.

Under the influence of Nas, Andre 3000, J.Cole, 2Pac and Jay-Z, Solo Star carries the same charismatic vocal magnetism. Instrumentally, he’s ascended to his own level and plateaued above most breaking artists. You can’t help getting hooked into the arrestingly rhythmic grooves in American God.

If you pride yourself on having the hottest names in hip hop on your playlists, you will want to make room for Solo Star.

Check out him out on SoundCloud and his website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

J Roy has released the ultimate power-couple hip hop anthem with ‘Forbes List’, featuring Jai Fears.

Posted on 21 June 2021
J Roy

If you’re looking for the freshest feel-good groves to add to your summer hip hop playlists, look no further than J Roy’s self-titled 2021 album, featuring the lead single, Forbes List, featuring Jai Fears.

There are some fairly obvious nods to Jay-Z’s luxurious sound in the mix, but between Jay Roy and Jai Fears, plenty of authenticity was brought to Forbes List; a single that shows that all that glitters isn’t gold, but it is still beautiful. Forbes List drips with extravagance, but at the centre of the mix is a fiercely romantic sense of soul that makes Forbes List the ultimate power couple anthem.

J Roy’s latest album is now available to stream and download on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Trevino Andre invites hip hop fans to follow his lead with ‘Chasing My Dreams’

Posted on 9 April 2021

Fairfield, CA-hailing hip hop artist Trevino Andre has an arsenal of hard-hitting tracks in his mixtape, ‘You Know That I’. The perfect introduction to his soul-laced sound is his old school jazz-laced track ‘Chasing My Dreams’ that keeps the tones rich and the lyricism raw.

Within that smooth and compelling contrast, you’ll find the magnetism which draws you into the essence of the track that paints a gritty image of the struggles we’re subjected to as part of our optimism-stealing mortal coil, then follows up by letting you know how to find the resilience to overcome them.

You can check out Trevino Andre’s mixtape, You Know That I for yourselves by heading over to ReverbNation.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Maryland’s Most Promising Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist MuhTeyOh Delivers on That Promise with Their Latest Single ‘4th Quarter Flows’

Posted on 11 January 2021

Maryland-based Rap artist MuhTeyOh has been on a steady ascension from the underground since the release of their breakthrough track ‘Summers Over’, with the release of their latest single, ‘4th Quarter Flows’, it’s clear that they’re on a mission to dominate the airwaves with their domineeringly indulgent flows.

4th Quarter Flows eclipses the East Coast Hip Hop sound, which will undoubtedly be of appeal to any fans of Jay Z, Kanye and Kendrick Lamar, but with hints of Drill ringing through the trappy hits of the 808s, there’s a dynamism to their accessible-from-the-first-hit-sound.

4th Quarter Flows is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Canadian trailblazer SVLM offers a high-vibe Hip Hop playlist staple with ‘Six Speed’

Posted on 14 November 2020

SVLM has already taken the Canadian Hip Hop scene by storm, after the release of their latest track, Six Speed, he’s about to tempestuously dominate international airwaves.

The high-vibe grooves paired with their charismatically-energetic personality made an earworm out of Six Speed, which is anything but mechanical despite the romantically meta automotive focus of the track.

Their ability to infuse their endearing personality in the music video made it impossible not to warm to SVLM. Their commercial potential is undeniable. Don’t just watch this space, get behind one of the most eccentrically magnetic artists dropping tracks in 2020.

You can check out the cinematic official music video which dropped on October 30th for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Izze St. William offers salvation with his ghetto electric hymn ‘No Shackles’

Posted on 14 November 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LJlwCnkBHw&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=IzzeSt.William

‘No Shackles’ is a perfect slice of old-school R&B, a cry to love and longing and the need to belong. With an Antares, Auto-Tuned vocal reminiscent of the best style of Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, or the omnipresent T-Pain, and lyrics describing the lust for love – “Put Shackles over me/ Come throw away the key/ If I was in the crime of being lonely” –  ‘No Shackles’ grooves and winds through a hook-heavy with thumping bass and sequenced keyboards.

Izze St. William describes himself as ‘an artist-producer for the people’ creating ‘ghetto electric hymns’ and ‘sacred music within mystic stories of the human soul’. With ‘No Shackles’ he’s certainly created a track which will stick in yours.

See the video for ‘No Shackles’ on YouTube, and follow Izze St. William on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

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

GD4L has paired their blazing beats with catchy lyricism yet again with “Time on Time”

Posted on 24 September 2020

Up and coming rapper GD4L has recently dropped their ground-breaking release Time on Time. After two years tearing up the underground with their blazing beats and catchy lyricism, GD4L attracted plenty of hype around their relentlessly flawless grind.

Yet, Time on Time stands as the perfect testament to how far their sound has come. Any fans of NAS, Biggie, Jay Z and Kanye are sure to appreciate the nuance behind his freshly crafted sound which finds a synergetic balance between mesmeric instrumental grooves and resounding lyrical conviction.

You can’t help but drink in the high-vibe empowerment which this record feeds you. Do yourselves a favour, hit play.

You can check out Time on Time for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

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