Browsing Tag

trap

Numb up with Poppa King Oats’s trap hit, Painkiller

Posted on 2 November 2022

Driven by the inspiration of Jay Z and LL Cool J, the Massachusetts-born and raised trap artist Poppa King Oats started rapping at 15. By the time his latest single, Painkiller, arrived, he was primed to unveil a killer of an atmospheric rap track that encompasses the human proclivity to numb the pain.

The minimalistic yet efficaciously melodic beats create a solid platform for his rap bars that carry an old-school sense of conviction. Nothing about Painkiller feels inhibited. Not the lyrics that get to the crux of the issue. Not the energy of the rap style. And certainly not the authenticity demonstrated that will see the up-and-coming artist go far in the trap scene.

Painkiller is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Trap Pap rode on the highest vibes in his latest single, Counter That

Posted on 16 October 2022

Baltimore rapper Trap Pap is riding on the highest vibes in his latest single, Counter That, featuring SPL Haiti. If reality is perception, you will be looking through rose-tinted glasses with the motivational music icon on your playlists.

The butter wouldn’t melt bars that spit equal amounts of conviction and soul seamlessly fuse with the light, luxe and sunny instrumentals that throwback to the golden era of hip hop while simultaneously bringing in a new wave of melodic trap.

Even after witnessing trap life and the death of loved ones, Trap Pap strives to better the world he documents through his music by always giving his fans an alternative to apathy and pessimism. When it comes to motivational hip hop, he’s the GOAT.

Check out the official music video for Counter That, which premiered on September 30th on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Tea Sea takes us down ‘The River’ with the killer cadence in his latest trap track

Posted on 14 October 2022

Virginia Beach trap artist, Tea Sea, has been picking up momentous traction since his 2020 debut. Following the release of his latest single, The River, on October 14th, he’s set to deservedly break the 1 million streaming mark with the conviction-fuelled earworm.

By collaborating with the overseas producers placerbeatz and marni boy, The River is a blazing triumph of an electronic trap track, with Tea Sea’s ingenious rhyme schemes tearing through the discordant dystopian colossal tones.

With his killer cadence, dynamite vocal dynamism, and determination to connect with the disillusioned and disenfranchised with his music, Tea Sea’s music grips you with a rare veracity that makes it easy to see why he’s garnering so much hype. The River may just be his most viscerally fresh track to date.

We couldn’t be more stoked for him in this luminary chapter of his music career. We haven’t been able to forget him since his melodic earworm, Vitals, tore away at our sense of empathy and our love for slamming hip hop candour.

Here’s what Tea Sea had to say about his latest release:

“It is all about respect. It also explores the hunger for success and the determination to not take no for an answer when people stand in the way of your career goals and attempt to derail them.

I have been writing songs for over 12 years, and I have always had that mindset throughout my journey. This instrumental was made by two producers overseas who are at the grindstone endlessly trying to realize their full potential too.”

The River is set to release on October 14th. Catch it on Spotify & SoundCloud.

Follow Tea Sea on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ky Woods’ words cut deep in his new wave rap track, Mentally Wasted

Posted on 9 October 2022

Raw wounds bleed in Ky Woods’ latest confessional indie new wave rap track, Mentally Wasted. Between the juicy vocal hooks and the ensnaringly deep lyrics, it hits hard, but there’s some comfort in the dark narrative the up-and-coming artist weaved through the relatability and the sticky-sweet sensibility of the angular guitar lines against the rattle of the 808s.

The Indiana-born, Dallas-based emotion-driven artist takes complete control over his tracks after he learned how to mix and master before his debut single, No Where, which was released in 2021. Between his determination to make it in the industry and the clear talent in his sound, it is easy to see that he’s not going to be on the underground for long.

Mentally Wasted is available to stream across all platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KingTay shared his infectious high energy in his Trap track, Feels GOOD

Posted on 25 September 2022

A new wave of hip hop just crashed in through KingTay’s high-vibing latest single, Feels GOOD. The Philadelphia-born up-and-coming artist broke through the dark cloud that overbears youth and communities in America to share his high inspiring energy. Feels GOOD is one of his most efficaciously uplifting tracks yet; over the cinematic beats, he runs his consistently dynamic bars through lyricism that takes introspection to the next level.

“It feels good to be finally living” is a powerful hook – a powerful hook that proves KingTay has endured a stagnant transition. It’s an infectious affirmation for anyone going through the same.

As an artist not just inspired by the hip hop greats but by songwriting visionaries such as the Beatles, every track from KingTay is charged with individual artistry. It’s not often hip hop artists break boundaries lyrically and sonically, but clearly, he is a force to be reckoned with.

The official music video for Feels GOOD premiered on September 7th. Check it out on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Superstar Freddy & Low Patcho are on their grind in the gritty hip hop track, Money.Flex.Hoes

Posted on 23 September 2022

Superstar Freddy & Low Patcho are fresh from the release of their collaborative EP, The Curse, featuring the gritty grinding track, Money.Flex.Hoes, which merges Low Patcho’s Floridian trap style and Freddy’s smooth NY rap charisma. Whether old school or new wave fills your playlists, the timeless flow of Money.Flex.Hoes is bound to appeal to your rhythmic senses.

The title gives away the lyrical content, but there’s plenty more to the track with its rocksteady vibes, snaking grooves and natural collaborative chemistry from the artists that are connected through their Haitian roots.

The EP was written in Maine during lockdown when studios were out of bounds but with the professionalism of the collaborators, Money.Flex.Hoes still runs through as a flawlessly infectious mix.

Money.Flex.Hoes is now available to stream on Spotify with Superstar Freddy & Low Patcho’s EP, The Curse.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pluto Mars proved that casual relationships can be a lifeline in his RnB hip hop single, 3 AM

Posted on 23 September 2022

Richmond, CA rap luminary Pluto Mars poured romanticism into booty calls in his latest single, 3 AM, which captured the intimacy of the late-night connections by proving that insomniacs need love too while feeding the soul through his seductive amalgam of hip hop, pop, and RnB.

Every artist in the industry attests to having a unique sound; Pluto Mars is one of the only innovators with stake to that claim. His deep and sonorous rap bars that bleed gruff smooth alchemy against his distinctively melodic instrumental flows prove to be a hypnotic combination in the track that subverts usual toxic tropes around casual relationships that can be a lifeline in these isolated times.

The official video for 3 AM is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Clint Cash speaks for the financially disenfranchised in his latest dark trap single, Ballin

Posted on 22 September 2022

Jackson, Tennessee-hailing hip hop artist Clint Cash has allowed music to take him from rock bottom to a place of passion and creativity. His fourth self-produced album, Cold Heart, captures much of his struggle, especially the standout single, Ballin.

The dark and atmospheric trappy beats in Ballin reflect the extreme lows that he has endured as well as the lyrics which viscerally run through relatable struggles, with a focus on the difficulty of relationships with money when you’re contending with a scarcity of it. It’s a sombre single, but the overarching energy is nothing short of vindicating for anyone that could never relate to hip hop tracks that are braggadocios about lavish excess.

Ballin is now available to stream on YouTube.

Follow Clint Cash on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Texas trap crooner, brody, is back in motion with his latest single, RIDE WITH ME

Posted on 6 September 2022

Trap trailblazer brody is back in motion with his latest 2022 single, RIDE WITH ME. The vibe-driven track proves that soulful crooning hooks more than have a place within the genre, especially when they grind along to dance-worthy colourful melodies that will get serotonin spilling to their flow.

The Independent Fort Worth, Texas hailing artist has been turning up the heat even more in the South since his debut single, Roses, dropped in 2020. In addition to cooking up his own energetic hooks, he is the founder and owner of Good Intentions Entertainment, which is set to change the shape of hip hop in the South for the better.

RIDE WITH ME is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

So Strong: Massachusetts-based rapper Poppa King Oats urges us to join Together

Posted on 1 September 2022

After showing us his hustling Biggie Smalls mentality on his previous release from May 2022 called Throne, Poppa King Oats knows he just needs that one hit song so that he can live like Nas on Together.

Poppa King Oats aka Carlos Carela is a Massachusetts-based indie trap solo artist and is known for his catchy songs that will get the heart pumping.

With a huge smile, a positive mindset, and expertise in droves, Poppa King Oats returns to our consciousness with a terrific single that sets him apart from others in this oft-selfish game. Showing us he is ready for anything as he knows that talent isn’t an issue, as we are reminded of his smooth style that will make many nod their heads all night.

Together from Massachusetts-based indie trap artist Poppa King Oats is a faith-filled soundtrack to those who believe that without God, they don’t feel great at all. Rapped with his signature charm and skilled lyrical projection, this is a fine single from an artist who knows what is most important in life.

Oozing with underground quality and a message for all those who have perhaps forgotten to pray for a while, this is a song that leads the way to that guiding light.

See this new music video on YouTube and find out more on his Facebook page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen