Browsing Tag

Alt Hip Hop

Spitta Zay has dropped his flawlessly facade-less downtempo hip hop track, TRST.

Posted on 26 September 2021

US alt-hip hop trailblazer, Spitta Zay, is proving to be just as much of an aural force to be reckoned with as Saul Williams, especially on the basis of his latest evocatively experimental single TRST.

With the alt-indie guitars wrapping around the solid 808 snares in the atmospheric track that teases you through spatial effects and unpredictable downtempo rhythms, you can’t help but be drawn in by the refreshing sonic palette. Yet, it is the façade-less expression in the lyrics and downtrodden-but-still-soulful vocals that make hitting play on TRST an unforgettable experience.

Tracks like TRST mark a pivotal societal change in the openness in our trauma and idiosyncratic behaviour. If more artists found themselves with the same unfiltered motivation as Spitta Zay, I can’t help feeling that the world would be far more empathetic.

You can check out TRST for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt Hip Hop Luminary XENO Waxes Lyrical in His Evocative Feat of Soul-Infused Trip Hop METHUSELAH

Posted on 25 September 2021

Finding hip hop that hits as hard as much as it inspires doesn’t happen every day, and that is just one of the reasons to delve into the sophomore album from the alt-rap revolutionary XENO.

His latest album, TRANSCENDENCE, fuses elements of soul, trip-hop and alt-electronica to feed the soul a cuisine that it won’t be accustomed to but will quickly learn to crave.

The lead single, METHUSELAH starts with minor piano keys and phantasmal vocals swathed in atmospheric effect; when the beat kicks in, it’s impossible not to get caught up within the trippy multi-layered high vibe hit. Every ounce of attitude in the mix reflects XENO’s intent as an artist; to promote positivity and passion and give power to those in pursuit of their dreams.

Nothing quite compares to an exceptionally talented artist urging their audience to feed their hunger.

XENO’s album, TRANSCENDENCE, is now available to stream and purchase on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Transcend limitation with Henry Franck’s debut single, Focus, featuring Da Skorpion

Posted on 24 September 2021

Haitian American U.S. Army vet, Henry Franck, has dropped his debut single, Focus, featuring Da Sckorpion. The market for trippy inspirational hip hop may be niche, but Franck has what it takes to dominate it with his colourful indie hip hop melodies and introspectively deep lyrics.

The Floridian artist has been producing music around his role as a financial analyst since 200; his debut release tells you how well invested his time was in his production talent.
With the complex instrumental layers that echo with plenty of old school tapedeck delay in the high-quality production, Franck easily stayed clear of assimilation and allowed his authenticity to blossom in the transcendently sweet soundscape.

Focus is exactly the kind of track that you would turn to in search of aural compassion and a sign that you are on the right path, no matter how stagnant things feel in the moment.

Focus is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Veggie Freshingtin has released his epic Afrobeat hip hop single, So Smooth.

Posted on 19 September 2021

‘So Smooth’ is the latest unforgettably authentic single from up and coming hip hop artist Veggie Freshingtin. Fans of Akon, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and Ne-Yo will appreciate the fiery symphonic production and high energy rapid-fire rap bars that pull you deeper into the massive production.

There may not be the greatest synergy between the beats and the vocals, but Veggie Freshingtin’s true to voice vocals still carry plenty of command in the eccentric but infectious all the same single.

So Smooth was officially released on September 12th; it is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Papa Aashi – She Hates Geminis: Cosmically Dark Trap

Posted on 19 September 2021

While some hip hop artists struggle to break the mould, Papa Aashi obliterated it with his latest single, She Hates Geminis. The old school rhythm and blues guitars, hazy reverb, tape deck echo and trippy progressions fuse together to justify the expression ‘it is a vibe’.

After becoming a DJ under the influence of Avicii, Aashi found a love for trap and its darker sub-genres before Mac Miller became the final piece in Aashi’s aural puzzle that lead to releases such as She Hates Geminis.

It’s rare to find an artist whose authenticity is just as noteworthy as their talent; if anyone has what it takes to become the next trap icon, our money is on PaPa Aashi.

She Hates Geminis is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Glitch Hop Meets Cloud Rap in Trukadi’s Latest Single, Pick and Choose

Posted on 10 September 2021

After his 2019 debut, the Californian alt-pop artist, Trukadi, hasn’t failed to make an impression with his antagonistic lyrics and experimental beats. His latest single, Pick and Choose, is a distortedly electrifying 1:43 minute hit of glitchy cloud rap with hints of Midwest Emo.

The explicit track carries the indie melodicism of a Post Malone single, but Trukadi made sure Pick and Choose hits like no other with instantly magnetic vocals and lo-fi guitars that bring plenty of warmth to the distinct production that marries glitch hop and emo. Love him or hate him, there will be no indifference when it comes to Trukadi’s sound, and there are few greater testaments of talent than that.

Pick and Choose is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lyrical hip hop luminary, Griegz, battles demons in his latest single, My Own Enemy, featuring Aria and Nyukyung.

Posted on 31 August 2021

While plenty of artists rushed to drop their lockdown-inspired tracks in 2020, the lyrical hip hop luminary, Griegz, meditated on the causality between isolation and anxiety to create a cutting track that sympathetically validates any lingering feelings of fear and frustration.

If you needed any affirmation that you weren’t alone in the world as you questioned your sanity, you will find it in My Own Enemy featuring Aria & Nyukyung. The concepts explored in My Own Enemy couldn’t be darker, but optimism still shines through this contemporary indie hip hop release that will be a hit with any fans of Tyler, the Creator, Post Malone, Mac Miller and J Cole.

My Own Enemy is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Novakane introduces you to his demons in his drill hip hop track, NITETIME

Posted on 26 August 2021

NITETIME is an insomnia track like no other; Novakane depicted the demons that always seem to creep in to greet us in the early hours while creating an adrenalizing drill track with party hip hop vibes.

Even though some of the glamour is stripped away from the hedonist lifestyle by the cutting witty lyrics, Novakane brought a sobering sense of realism to the release that allows you to see why so many people revel in excess and intoxicated escapism.

NITETIME is easily one of the hardest-hitting hip hop tracks that we’ve heard this year. We can’t wait to hear more.

NITETIME is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jay Staxx goes interstellar with his latest hit, Cosmic

Posted on 13 August 2021

Jay Staxx’ domineeringly dark trap sound has been garnering plenty of hype since he made his debut with his new moniker in 2021. His recently released seminal single, Cosmic, is a trippy ethereal hit that serves as the perfect introduction to his playful and gritty lyrics, his deadpan candour, and his atmospheric beats.

Alongside working on his music, Staxx is also a co-founder at Loyalty over Royalty Records in San Diego. After the passing of his mother, Tameka Russell, in 2019, he returned to the music scene with even more determination to make an impression on the airwaves. Considering that he is now averaging over 67k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, it is safe to say his hunger for greatness is being sated. We couldn’t think of anyone more deserving.

Cosmic is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

BQpid throws away disingenuous pretence in his latest emo trap track, ‘Ceilings’

Posted on 13 August 2021

If there’s one thing that sets Ohio-residing artist BQpid’s sound apart from the rest, it is the depth of his lyrics that throw away any sense of disingenuous pretence. In his latest self-produced single, Ceilings, the atmospherically sallow indie trap melodies carry reminiscence to the likes of Post Malone and Mac Miller but with the dark undertone to Ceilings, he well and truly put himself in a league of his own.

For maximum evocative impact, the 18-year-old artist and producer worked elements of pop and RnB into the vocals in the emo-rap track that brings a brand new level of meaning to the word ‘candid’.

Ceilings is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast