Browsing Tag

Old School Hip Hop

Lyrical hip hop gained a new laureate with the drop of Dayo’s single, Eat You Alive

Posted on 6 June 2022

Taken from his latest EP, Sui 3: Man in the Mirror, Dayo’s seminal stormer of a single, Eat You Alive, delivers devilishly sharp wit, luxe West Coast hip hop textures, and vocals that will force you to feel every ounce of vehemence thrown into this upraising single.

Ultimately, Eat You Alive proves that pain is your enemy; you should no sooner get into bed with your archnemesis than swallow the self-defeating lies fed to you by your suffering. Do yourselves a favour and make Eat You Alive a playlist staple, it is the perfect reminder that only you can remove the teeth of torment. He’s gone beyond one to watch. He’s one to get fanatic about.

Check out Eat You Alive now on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

BHM NONO severed tribal ties in his latest hit, DESTINED 2 WIN

Posted on 3 May 2022

Hostility and hip hop have gone hand in hand since the Bronx inception, but here to prove that nothing is in trend forever is the trailblazing conscious rap artist, BHM NONO, with his latest single, DESTINED 2 WIN.

After an extended spoken-word prelude that puts you in the perfect place to feel the weight of the following bars, the instrumentals bring plenty of dramatic minor-key atmosphere into the mix. And that is all before BHM NONO’s fiery convicted bars prove that motivation doesn’t have to be synonymous with others’ destruction.

BHM NONO has exactly what it takes to become one of the most essential artists of his generation. We can’t wait to watch him get there.

The official music video premiered on April 22nd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Imperial M.B. Ran with Luxe Old School Style in His Latest Alt-Hip Hop Track, Ignorant

Posted on 21 April 2022
The Imperial M.B

The Imperial M.B. brought back the luxe style of Tupac and Biggie in his latest single, Ignorant, which serves the straight out of Compton grit along with nuanced alt-rock elements in the instrumentals through the buzz saw guitars and searing oscillating effects.

It is probably safe to say that not many up and coming hip hop artists in 2022 succeed when it comes to arresting production, vocal conviction and emotionally charged lyrics, but notably, The Imperial M.B. is a triple threat. At the very least, he is one to watch.

Ignorant will be available to stream on May 6th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Baltimore’s Brightest Rising Rap Icon, Ron A.P Has Released His Game-Changer of a Single, The Ex-Files

Posted on 13 April 2022

The Baltimore-based hip hop artist Ron A.P. has been steadily gaining traction in his career since making his debut in 2018. Since his exceptionally promising debut, he has been in heavy rotation on US radio stations and has seen his music placed on a major TV network channel.

His latest release, The Ex-Files, stands as a testament to how his songwriting has matured in the short time of the inception of his career. Despite the conflating emotions that bleed into The Ex-Files from Ron A.P. getting 100% candid about his post-breakup psyche, the sentiment is all too resonant and relatable.

Ron A.P. lyrically moves from wanting something new to those gut-punch feelings that hit when you realise that you’re no longer feeding each other your news, no matter how much you miss the headlines, but in the next breath, there’s nothing but hate. With clever touches, such as lyrically retracting previous lines in the verses, few tracks encompass the true instability of conflicted passion.

With the instrumentals a smooth mix of atmospheric new wave and East Coast old school, it is easy to see how Ron A.P. is about to become the flavour of choice amongst old school and new school fans alike.

Here’s what Ron A.P. had to say on his latest The Ex-Files:

“This release is a part of an upcoming EP that tells a story about a bad relationship. Each song goes through the stages of the relationship. The Ex-Files is the song that depicts the mixed feelings people get they are through with a relationship.

I created the track after I decided to break up with my ex-girlfriend because she was too high-strung and dramatic.”

The Ex-Files is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nlsderrixk*! has released his vindicatingly infectious hip hop track, Aint My Fault

Posted on 24 February 2022

The luminary hip hop artist, Nlsderrixk*!, has exonerated himself in his latest single, Aint My Fault, which fuses the new wave with the old school, creating universal appeal to hip hop fans in the process. With justxrolo at the mixing desk, Aint My Fault is as gritty as it is lush with luxe style.

The jazzy noir effects atop the bassy boom-bap beats create a solid platform for Nlsderrixk*!’s playfully dominant rap bars that carry all of the personality of Jay Z and all of the edge of Ghostface Killah.

It isn’t every day that you come across an up and coming hip hop artist that pours this much energy into their tracks; if you are serious about keeping posted on the hottest talent, save a spot on your radar.

Aint My Fault is now available to stream on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Hip Hop icon in the making, Na8 has delivered his cinematically colossal debut LP, Past Present Future

Posted on 22 February 2022

The Nigeria-born, Nashville-based hip hop icon in the making, Na8, is fresh from the release of his debut album, Past Present Future, which recounts experience and introspection from the past, meditates on the present and rewrites the rules for the future.

The LP starts with the colossal hip hop anthem, Pisces, which drip feeds all of the glamour of Jay Z and all of the dark and chaotic flare of Saul Williams before Na8 moves with an old school style of noir soul in the following track, All In, which features some of the best earworm hooks on the LP. Track 3, Exotic Love, feeds the Lauryn Hill vibes, but Na8 made the soundscape his own with his massive production style that is quickly becoming his signature.

Track 5, Cash, stands as a testament to Na8’s experimental instrumental style; from harsh-rock guitar licks to orchestral strings to hard-hitting electronica, you will find all that and more in the hard-hitting hustler hip hop track. In track 11, Bond City, Na8 proves how well his panoramically cinematic production style melds with the definitively-luxe Bond film OSTs. It’s not every day we hear radio-ready hip hop. The fact that Na8 delivered it in his debut LP speaks volumes of his talent. Get him on your radar.

Here’s what Na8 had to say about his debut LP:

“My debut looks back on my life in Africa and Europe before I arrived in the USA. I wanted to express my past, present, and what my future could be in music.

The main message is that your past or present doesn’t define you. If you know what you want in life, you can focus and achieve those goals. Stay true to yourself.”

Past Present Future is now available to stream on Spotify.

Connect with Na8 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teddy J pulls bruising punches in his latest hip hop track, 100’s

Posted on 14 February 2022
Teddy J

The competition in underground hip hop is fiercer than ever, but the up and coming artist, Teddy J, pulled all the right punches in his latest old-school inspired single, 100’s.

The dynamic rap bars flow just as naturally as the ethereal and light melodies that are bolstered by the bass-heavy kicks of 808s, and the lyrical narrative won’t fail to reel you in after a noir lullaby-like prelude. Teddy J proves that if you want motivation, ignore Jordan Peterson and Jocko Willink. Tune into artists, such as Teddy J, who create neoliberal tracks that don’t take the pain out of adversity but use it to get you galvanised. His born an underdog, living as a force to be reckoned with in all avenues is instantly infectious.

100’s is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

There is ‘No Stoppin’ Cashflow Colly in his latest seminal hip hop single

Posted on 7 February 2022

No Stoppin’ was just one of the nostalgically sweet hip hop singles found on Cashflow Colly’s debut album, Mind of a MelanColly. The witty wordplay in the album title is just a taste of what you can expect from Colly’s dynamically zealous rap flows.

The South Jersey-hailing rap artist’s magnetically humble and almost criminal level of charisma makes getting hooked in his tracks non-optional. No Stoppin’ runs you through the adversity that led him to his talent when spilling raw emotions and allowing them to take form as breezy, hooky urban earworms. All things considered, he is the ultimate hip hop package. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

You can check out No Stoppin’ for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

West Philly rap artist Jus NBL hits all the right notes in his album ‘Fine Wine’

Posted on 2 January 2022

West Philly rap artist, Jus NBL, dropped one of the freshest hip hop albums of 2021 with the release of his lyrically driven LP, Fine Wine. In the title track, the minimalist beats create the perfect platform for his high-energy rap bars as they grind through the gritty lyrics and the resilience that allowed him to find the light regardless.

Right from the first verse, Jus NBL proves how grounded he is in his lyricism. There’s none of the usual ego-fuelled grandeur, just an honest and direct lyrical delivery that is more than easy to connect with. The Jay Z reminiscences are strong, but they do little to dampen the intoxicating hit of Jus NBL’s authenticity in Fine Wine. Every rap fan should have room for him on his radar.

Jus NBL’s 2021 album, Fine Wine, is now available to purchase on apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tony Newbury speaks up for the voiceless in his latest single, Westwood

Posted on 24 November 2021

Tony Newbury’s mission as a rap artist is to prove that no one is as alone in their depression and anxiety as they think they are. For anyone who has experienced a loss that has alienated them from the rest of the world, the artist’s latest single, Westwood, which explores the raw emotion left in the wake of his brother, has what it takes to resonate on a deep level.

The old school jazzy grooves and gospel nuances bring cathartic ease to the otherwise fiery and volatile rap track which perfectly depicts the disquiet storm that our minds have to navigate in grief. After listening to Westwood, you’re left with the sense that Newbury truly respects the relationship with his fans and never gives less than 100% when putting a new track on the airwaves.

Westwood was officially released on October 15th. It is available to stream on Spotify and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast.