Browsing Tag

2020 Hip Hop

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

Walking through the fog of 2020: A diamond in the dust with excellent full album ‘Leaving Neverland’ from Fabric YXE and Dayda Banks

Posted on 21 October 2020

Walking through the fog of 2020: A gem in the dust with full album ‘Leaving Neverland‘ from Fabric YXE and Dayda Banks is a self-searching faith journey that has Hip Hop fans awake.

This is a spiritual awakening. So often, Hip Hop artists forget the power they have. A genre that ripped through from the underground to become the American dream. From there most of the whole world followed suit and music became harder to find. This is something different. Enlightened Hip Hop with lots of soul.

‘Leaving Neverland‘ from Fabric YXE and Dayda Banks has lots of highlights and the album keeps your attention the whole way through without faltering.

‘Scars‘ is the first and probably best track of all. The hunger is apparent and the beat is uplifting and dark too. The flow is haunting and shows intent. Other highlights are without doubt ‘Count Sheep‘, ‘Garden of my Own‘ and ‘Gatekeeper‘ and gritty and with meaning. The stories are movie-like, the picture is painted without mainstream corny riffs, this is that well-constructed music that took months of toil, not a few minutes of mumble nonsense. This is on the best Hip Hop releases of 2020 and the world needs to listen with the volume up.

Click here for the Spotify link.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Fall into the momentum of Law’s blazingly introspective Rap hit “On the Low”

Posted on 16 October 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USB9GmUDggo

Austrian Rap artist Law is known for his high-energy approach to Hip Hop, with their latest single On the Low which dropped on October 9th, they’ve put the pedal to the metaphoric metal once more and cooked up a relentlessly rhythmic aural storm.

With producer Jerry Divmond in charge of the hook-laden beats and Law’s ability to verse poetry through fierce conviction, you really can’t help falling into the momentum of the unmissable release.

On the Low utterly demolishes the misconceptions which float around Hip Hop artists as Law attacks the tendency for artists to depict themselves as someone they’re not just to fulfil a stereotype. More importantly, he invites you to follow his lead and refuse to waste energy on people who try to hold you back.

You can catch the official music video to On the Low for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shakes – Called Up: Atmospherically Convictive Hip Hop

Posted on 10 October 2020

If it has been a while since a Rap artist has made your jaw drop with their rhythmic vocal prowess, be prepared to feel a little gormless while listening to the bars in Called Up. Which is just one of the tracks which you will find on the up and coming Hip Hop artist Shakes’ debut EP “Fifteen Minutes”.

With the same relentless waxing lyrical flair as the likes of Eminem, you can’t help but find respect and adoration for Shakes. Meanwhile, the instrumentals make it all too easy for you to drink in the convictive bars, the beats may be minimalistic, but there’s no denying that they are alluringly efficacious all the same.

You can check out Called Up along with the rest of Shakes’ debut EP Fifteen Minutes for yourselves by heading over to apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take a smooth ride with DYYNVMIC’s fresh new Hip Hop drop “Coupe”

Posted on 6 October 2020

Californian Hip Hop artist DYYNVMIC dropped the official video to their blazing new Hip Hop track “Coupe” on September 26th and gave the airwaves yet another boost of wild electric urban energy by doing so.

DYYNVMIC doesn’t just offer perfectly metered grooving Rap bars, but a magnetically enigmatic personality which draws you deep into their vibing mix to ensure the hooks don’t fail to leave you ensnared. Their cheeky and endearing approach to production in Coupe will undoubtedly leave DYYNVMIC in good stead when it comes to rising up from the underground.

You can check out the official video to Coupe for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tazforte has set the airwaves ablaze with their latest drop “What I Seen At First”

Posted on 28 September 2020

Straight off the bat, Atlanta-based up and coming Hip Hop trailblazer Tazforte’s latest single “What I Seen At First” leaves you utterly transfixed.

Blazing Rock solos are usually found as tracks start to move towards the outro but Tazforte utilises them around steady Trap beats to introduce his fire new drop which never drops its momentum.

The high-energy mix may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but any fans of unapologetically authentic electrifying EDM Hip Hop will find a playlist staple when they hit play. It’s visceral, it’s convictive and it’s a sign that Tazforte is definitely one to watch.

You can check out What I Seen At First for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Galvanising Rhythmic Beats Meet Urban Poetry in Ice Øut’s New Drop “Frostbite”

Posted on 25 September 2020

Ice Øut has unleashed their chilling new drop “Frostbite” onto the airwaves. With his perfectly metered urban poetry over 2YUNG’s fresh galvanising beats, it’s impossible not to get hooked in by this stylistic track from the first verse.

The easy rhythmic grooves find the perfect amount of momentum to amplify the conviction in Ice Øut’s wit-soaked bars. It goes far beyond superficially scratching beneath the surface, it unravels as a snarling satirical attack on the ludicrous state of our society in 2020. If any track is put in a time capsule to capture the culture in 2020, it should be Frostbite.

You can check out Ice Øut’s latest track Frostbite for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

QL waxes lyrical in their latest Hip Hop call to arms “Chasing Stars”

Posted on 19 September 2020

‘Chasing Stars’ is the newest release from Hip Hop artist QL, a new name coming out of the Vancouver music scene, featuring vocals from Marietta Prod and produced by Anno Domini. From their debut album ‘HearAfter’, ‘Chasing Stars’ is both a call to arms and statement of intent, the rolling piano part and Prod’s vocal carrying the melody behind QL’s self-deprecating rap and beats.

Sure, there’s an obvious Eminem comparison to QL’s lyrics and delivery, and overall there’s a subtle Black Eyed Peas vibe to the track, but neither of those observations is intended as a criticism, more an indication of the strength of the track; this is great, lyrical hip hop that really does deserve a listen. And then several more.

Check out QL on Facebook and YouTube.

Review by Alex Holmes

UK rapper Jay-D drops fine track about his journey on ‘Lost My Way’

Posted on 11 September 2020

UK rapper Jay-D drops fine track about his life journey on the reflective single that shows us 2020 in a mirror, ‘Lost My Way‘.

Jack Marriott aka Jay-D fell in love with all things Hip Hop at the age of six, after hearing JAY Z’s Reasonable Doubt album. A fine release indeed and probably one of the top 10 albums of all time.

When Jay was eight he would spend hours on his DJ software, making track after track from the various loops it had to offer. He also started rapping at a young age but always behind closed doors. It was only after the death of his Nan that he decided to record some tracks and, once his confidence grew, he dropped his first single, ‘Monster‘, online. The track has been well received, even high up in the hip hop world with Lupe Fiasco collaborator Bishop G saying he likes Jack’s flow. In under a year his tracks have received over 2500 plays on Soundcloud. In the future he plans to do a Music Technology Level 3 course and then go on to study at university.

This is an emcee with big dreams and he really pushes himself. So often these days, younger rappers expect fame so quickly without really working for it and thus give up quickly, blaming someone else. This artist however has an old school mind and makes music for the right reasons. He loves the music. The way it should be.

‘Lost My Way‘ from UK emcee Jay-D is an underground gem that is so exciting to listen to, flow-wise and the beat is quality. The subject is a bit worrying however this shows 2020. We are all a bit lost and need guidance.

Click here for the Soundcloud link.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

FØNX is looking for his way in on ‘Angle’

Posted on 6 September 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpU9bdQtRZE

Coming from a musical background FØNX started learning guitar at the age of seven and was soon introduced to rap and hip hop, sparking his enthusiasm to start writing lyrics and create backing tracks from samples.

Shortly after graduating from The Brit School FØNX gigged his way around the South East and London circuit, playing at festivals and different venues.

With radio play and his music all over the Caffe Nero and Zara stores, this is an artist to know.

FØNX is so vibrant on his new song full of chemistry. ‘Angle‘ is a quality track.

Click here for the YouTube link.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen