Browsing Tag

US Hip Hop

Rico Suave shines a light on the beauty in vulnerability with ‘Say It Back’

Posted on 6 December 2021

From the moment you hit play on Rico Suave’s latest single, Say It Back, you instantly understand how he came about his moniker with his passion-driven approach to hip hop.

Say It Back is the lead track from the affectionately titled release, Hope You Love Me After. Each of the eight tracks pulls the listeners’ attention to the beauty in romantic vulnerability, proving that even though it’s terrifying, there’s nothing more beautiful than going all in, despite the blows that may follow.

With nuances of RnB and its downtempo grooves, Say It Back paints a picture of romantic anticipation as it reminds you of your own soul’s capacity to feel. In a world as dystopic and loveless as ours Rico Suave on the airwaves is a godsend.

Hope you Love Me After is now available to stream and purchase via the apple store.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Daniel Foster brings the hazy high vibes in his latest single, So High

Posted on 13 November 2021

New Jersey-born, LA/Las Vegas-raised hip hop artist, Daniel Foster, has released the ultimate hazy high-vibe hip hop playlist staple with his single, So High.

The melodic grooves wrap around the snappy 808s to prop up Foster’s vocals which run under just enough effects to synergise with the beats, but not enough to strip any of the emotion or soul from the earworm. While the lyrics bring the fire, the new wave hip hop beats provide the catharsis; it’s a vibe.

So High is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Follow Daniel Foster on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Walker Deuce takes ambient trap to the realms of old school hip hop with ‘Chill’

Posted on 11 November 2021

From freestyle prodigy to vibe master, Walker Deuce’s sound may have evolved, but his bold, raw energy remains as visceral as ever. His standout release, Chill, has all the makings of your next vibe out playlist staple.

The short and sweet track may only run through for 1:34-minutes, but that is all the time it took for the Portland-based artist to lull you into a state of reflective catharsis through the wavy trippy tones and nostalgic old school sensibilities.

Chill carries all the grit of 80s hustler hip hop, but its colourful cadence and indie guitars stay on the more soulful and affable side of expression. Any fans of Snoop Dogg, Mac Miller, Dre won’t want to hang around in introducing Walker Deuce to their playlists.

Along with releasing eight albums, plus plenty more EPs and singles, the rapper and songwriter gives back to the hip hop scene as an indie label owner.

Chill officially released on September 29th; you can check it out for yourselves on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

The dynamic collective of emcees, High Frequency, have released their seminally sweet RnB pop track, Part Ways.

Posted on 6 November 2021

High Frequency’s latest single, ‘Part Ways’, is potentially the sweetest RnB pop breakup track to have ever hit the airwaves. Between the melodic sticky sweet indie instrumentals, the sentimental lyrics which run through the inner turmoil that transpired in spite of the affection and the velvety smooth vocals, you’d need to be dead from the soul down not to feel the weight in this frankly genius hit.

High Frequency is a music collective featuring five true-to-their-own-style emcees who respectively bring their hometown influence to the table, resulting in a mash of Memphis rap, NYC grooves, 90s hip hop flows, modern trap styles and modern gospel roots. We can’t wait to hear more infatuation-worthy tracks from this powerhouse of a collective.

Part Ways is due for official release on November 6th. You can check it out for yourselves on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Indie alt-rock meets hip hop in TREELOCK’s latest single, Hide Your Feelings.

Posted on 23 October 2021

As more rap artists become bolder and increasingly more honest in their lyrics, Maine, US-hailing alt-hip hop artist, TREELOCK, switched the narrative by serving a reminder of the dangers of candour with his latest single, Hide Your Feelings.

Any fans of Blue October will instantly find themselves drawn in by the melancholic indie instrumentals and raw vocals. As the single progresses, discordance starts to amass in the production until the track reaches its evocative peak and TREELOCK breaks into guttural alt-rock screams and lyrically, you couldn’t ask for more urban poetry with cutting lines such as “I feel like I don’t feel”.

Hide Your Feelings is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jay Rick$ proves that there is nothing sweeter than ‘Honesty’ in his latest single.

Posted on 21 October 2021

Jay Rick$ delivers modern island vibes in his hip hop single, Honesty, which lyrically laments the ever-growing trend of interpersonal dishonesty. The sun-kissed midtempo single is taken from his soulful RnB-infused EP, Rick$ism, where the Louisiana-based artist’s musicianship shines brighter than ever before.

One of the hardest lessons that life delivers is never to underestimate how low people will go when it comes to deception. Thankfully, Jay Rick$ has the soul to bring you right back up in this silver lining of a track. If there was any real justification for the phrase ‘it’s a vibe’, it’s this soul-steeped release.

Honesty is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

PRETTY TONY GETBUCK brings the future to OG hip hop with ‘POCKET GOT ZEROS’.

Posted on 20 October 2021

PRETTY TONY GETBUCK’s latest release, POCKET GOT ZEROS, starts with an electrifying jolt of bass-dripping nasty electro before the glitchy techno stylings are tamed under his fiery rap bars that will be instantly adored by fans of Snoop, Xzibit and Tupac.

With the Matrix references in the witty lyrics, this glitchy stormer of an alt-hip hop track isn’t only bang on trend; it deserves to define the future of gritty gangster hip hop. Considering the US artist averages on over 100k monthly Spotify listeners, PRETTY TONY GETBUCK is unstoppable from here on out.

POCKET GOT ZEROS is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

CPTime brings it ‘Home’ in his latest high-vibe poppy hip hop single.

Posted on 19 October 2021

Douglassville-hailing artist CPTime has sent ripples through the Pennsylvania hip hop scene with his dynamic flows, constantly evolving style and commitment to keeping his lyricism clean.

His latest single, Home, pays ode to the people that instantly make us feel right at home in their company – regardless of where we are or how long they’ve been lighting up our lives. The grooving pop elements in this old school-inspired hip hop track ensure that right from the intro, you ironically feel right at home in the smooth, chill, soul-infused soundscape.

Home is a major sonic shift from CPTime’s popular Halloween track, Let Us Out, which saw his lyricism go conceptually dark as he channelled Freddy, Jason and Chucky to offer nefarious high vibes. There’s no anticipating where CPTime will take his sound next with his tendency to bounce between party hip hop, inspirational tracks and holiday tracks; high-quality remains the only constant.

Since 2012, he has released over 50 tracks on official streaming services; the most popular has racked up over 350,000 streams on YouTube alone.

Home is now available to stream on Spotify.

Follow CPTime on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Quizzy GT is riding on the new wave of trap in his standout single, My Dawg.

Posted on 15 October 2021

The new wave of trap found a new crux to ride with Quizzy GT’s fiery 2021 release, My Dawg. With the hyper rap bars and even more enlivening bass-drenched trap beats, delving into My Dawg half-heartedly isn’t an option.

You can practically feel Quizzy GT’s expressive catharsis pouring through the single that proves that hell hath no fury like a trap artist scorned. Behind the sheer volition, you will find plenty of resonance as you are forced to reflect on the toxic people you’ve undoubtedly encountered in your life.

It feels like it’s almost a given that the traumatised will impart trauma on others through lies and deceit. If any track has what it takes to force accountability into people, it is My Dawg.

My Dawg is now available to stream and purchase via apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bandklann Deed delivers gritty high-vibe hip hop in his seminal hit, Pop My Shit.

Posted on 29 September 2021

Judging by his seminal single, breaking US indie hip hop artist Bandklann Deed is on the rise with his grimy drill beats and even grittier lyrics. ‘Pop My Shit’ is a dark trappy hit that epitomises hustler hip hop to its core while still unravelling as fresh.

The enigmatic dominance drips with every clever lyrical blow as the old school instrumental style makes its best attempt to leave you adrenalised by the high-fire hit. Hint, it definitely succeeds. He may have an indie status, but that definitely doesn’t resound in the production quality of Pop My Shit. Hear it, and it will be in your head for days.

You can check out Bandklann Deed’s standout single, Pop My Shit, on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast