Browsing Tag

Black Lives Matter

Maya La Maya – Keep on Fighting: The Ultimate Call to Arms

Posted on 10 September 2020

I unashamedly admit that the first verse in Pop Singer-Songwriter Maya La Maya’s debut single Keep on Fighting allowed the floodgates to open. From there on out, you’re in for an evocative ride as you hear the pure unfaltering conviction in Maya La Maya’s vocal delivery as she compels the listener to keep on fighting in the war against injustice. She finds clever ways of reminding you how ignorance is complicity and holds no bars when it comes to alluding to the extent of the sufferance.

The Rap verse was extremely efficacious at hammering home the extent of injustice which is currently plaguing the planet. Without any hint of hyperbole Keep on Fighting is the most powerful song I’ve heard this year. It is a heartbreakingly beautiful track which will no doubt stay with me for the rest of my life. Not just the polished, matured and extremely authentic sound which Maya La Maya offered with Keep on Fighting. But the feeling of responsibility it leaves you with. If you can listen to the names of the black lives lost due to systemic racial hatred being listed and not feel compelled to do something, you probably have no soul.

You can listen to Keep on Fighting via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gallileo Damascus – “Long Time Come”: A protest song for 2020.

Posted on 28 August 2020

In the wake of the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor killings comes Gallileo Damascus’ “Long Time Come”. A Black Lives Matter challenge song that opens, in its accompanying YouTube video, with a ‘naming of the dead’ amid scenes of flames, helmeted riot police, and protestors’ placards. A quietly burning protest song, softly spoken but no less powerful for it, the repeated refrain of “It’s been a long long long time/since we stood up and we fight” quietly but firmly voicing the outrage and frustration of the #BLM movement.

Produced by Grime and Afrobeat hotshot Ransom Beatz, ‘Long Time Come’ is a low tempo jazzy hip-hop affair, Gallileo’s autotune-heavy poetic vocals sitting atop a bed of hi-hat and rimshot beats and mellow saxophone, the drums and bassline driving behind a soft-spoken but insistent call for justice for those on the wrong end of oppression and brutality.

You can check out Gallileo Damascus’ track Long Time Come via Spotify.

Review by Alex Holmes

Gus – Colors: Tear-Jerkingly Uplifting UK Hip Hop

Posted on 21 August 2020

It’s not every day we get the pleasure of describing Hip Hop as mesmeric, but we couldn’t help being transfixed by UK-based Hip Hop artist Gus’ latest hazy single Colors.

Colors kicks off with a stunning low-tempo Jazz piano arrangement before the atmospheric beats create the perfect platform for Gus’ bars. It’s within the Rap bars that Gus’ sets himself apart with an insane amount of distinction.

Gus didn’t just scratch at the surface for the lyricism, he dug deep to offer his own experience of oppression. Yet, there was no apathy or anger within his tone, simply a request for understanding and an olive branch of connection to everyone else who feels defeated by injustice and prejudice.

I could say Colors is emotional and compelling, or I can admit that I was a teary mess before the track was even halfway through.

Colors is available to stream and download through all major platforms via this link

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dan B. and Zorenzo teamed up to cook up a powerfully sobering feat of Indie RnB Hip Hop “Please”

Posted on 3 August 2020
https://music.apple.com/us/album/please-feat-zorenzo-single/1516182145

After a string of successful singles, up and coming US Rap artist Dan B. has dropped a firestorm of a hit with his latest release “Please” featuring Zorenzo.

Every time I hear a contemporary track tackling current issues, I feel my perspectives shift. After hearing Please, my perspective took a seismic transposition. The slow and evocatively compelling feat of RnB Hip Hop is sure to hit a nerve if you have a shred of empathy left Their sobering introspection which shows just how deeply systemic racism is ingrained within our society will leave you grounded, but Please is anything but your usual morose RnB single. It’s empowering, it’s comforting, and importantly it’s educational.

I’m not ashamed to say that I couldn’t make it to the end of the mix with dry eyes. The stunning Alt-Rock instrumentals which lay down absorbing riffs behind the solid structure of the drumbeats are the perfect sweetener to this sobering hit.

There’s also plenty to say about the poetic air to Dan B.’s lyrics. I could tell you all about it, but you’ve got ears. You can check out Dan B.’s latest single Please which dropped on June 17th for yourselves via apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

AkaMicLarry returns with powerful Hip Hop video for ”George Floyd”

Posted on 31 July 2020

AkaMicLarry is a Colombian born indie artist, freelance music producer, videographer and graphic design artist who has just dropped his visuals for ”George Floyd”.

AkaMicLarry who moved to London with his family when he was young as a refugee, sends out quite the powerful tribute to the sad loss of George Floyd. This song details exactly what happened and the absolute frustration with the local police force. The visuals here are striking with the the protests out in the streets and what is really going on out there.

”George Floyd” is a huge statement and the rhymes from AkaMicLarry are of like a freestyler who is making a  raw song with tight flows. This is a Hip Hop charged video and song with a massive message of unity against atrocious acts against the Black community. Black Lives Matter and the huge support has left tremors blowing all the way around the world. Hopefully this song AkaMicLarry helps educate those that think with about anything else they have read or watched on TV.

Stream this new track here on YouTube.

Check out this artist on Facebook.

In the wake of George Floyd’s Death, RnB Soul artist Brent Williams asks the devastating question of “What If It Was Me” in their latest single

Posted on 24 July 2020
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/what-if-it-was-me/1522186448?i=1522186449

RnB Soul artist Brent Williams’ latest single “What If It Was Me” asks a sobering question which has been on the minds of black people for generations. Not just after George Floyd’s murder.

While I’ve heard innumerable justified aggressive attacks on systematic racial oppression lately, Brent Williams took a more soulful approach to point out the devastating reality for every black person living in fear.

Hopefully, their release can help the narrowminded realise the utter absurdity in racial prejudice. On the flip side, I can only imagine how many people fighting the same battle as Brent Williams will find invaluable resonance in this single. It may be a downtempo ambient RnB hit, but that doesn’t prevent What If It Was Me from hitting excruciatingly hard.

You can check out What If It Was Me which dropped on July 10th by heading over to Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nomad helps the Black Lives Matter movement with ”Daddy Changed The World”

Posted on 22 July 2020

”Daddy Changed The World” is produced by Kurrency & Hyprspvce and features the rapper Nomad who is in passionate form on this important message.

Black Lives Matter. This has been a massive and important movement in 2020. Emcee Nomad joins the millions of souls around the world and has his say on the matter. With powerful raps and such passion, you can tell that he really cares.

Nomad takes a courageous stand on ”Daddy Changed The World” and for this he must be applauded. He truly gets it and uses his voice to make a difference. He wants to educate and let people know that it isn’t about color. It’s all about making change at the highest level possible. This is a fine Hip Hop track that is truly inspiring.

To hear this track be sure to head through to the Soundcloud music link.

Check out the Facebook page for Nomad and see what he has been up to.

If you prefer Spotify then you know what to do.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

AJ Peoples has dropped their visceral attack on 2020 with their revolution-calling single “Do I…”

Posted on 19 July 2020

Up and coming Hip Hop artist AJ Peoples’ latest single “Do I…” stands as a testament to the fact that the best music is born out of dark times.

The track perfectly captures the anger, confusion and need for revolution that we’ve all felt over the last few months. But AJ Peoples does far more than just relay details from a shared experience. The passion, venom and conviction in Do I… have the power to change your outlook on lockdown and the BLM movement. The energising track gives you a fresh hit of frustration with how the world is currently unravelling before us, it also compels you to throw away any complacency and apathy and use your voice. We might not all have the lyrical prowess as AJ Peoples, but that’s no reason to stay silent.

In short, Do I… is an unforgettable perception-shifting track which I’d need a significant brain injury to forget.

You can check out the official video to AJ Peoples’ single which dropped on June 24th for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JAY DVRDEN’s latest release No Justice is a chilling Shoegaze-infused Trap attack on racial injustice

Posted on 6 July 2020

Alt Hip Hop artist JAY DVRDEN’s tracks always have an overwhelmingly profound effect. Naturally, their latest release “No Justice” featuring Rap artist Lil Rose TFB which chillingly alludes to the injustice revolving around the unforgivable number of black lives lost hit insanely hard.

JAY DVRDEN kept with their usual sludgy Grunge Trap style with No Justice. The angular cutting notes weave through the rattle of the 808s and vocals bleed into the mix just enough to find perfect synergy with the morose melodies.

The Trap artist’s ability to make nuances of Shoegaze carry the same mesmerising hypnotic draw as they do in Slowdive’s tracks makes JAY DVRDEN one of the most pioneering artist’s I’ve heard this year.

Aural fascination aside, No Justice is exactly the kind of track which we need more of right now. It grounds you in empathy and compassion for the victims of police brutality and charges you with the motivation to take a stand.

You can check out the official music video to No Justice which premiered on June 21st via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dre Bennett has dropped their perception-shifting, gratitude-invoking Hip hop track “Dynamic”

Posted on 6 July 2020

After the success of their debut single “Believe”, up and coming Hip Hop artist Dre Bennett stepped into the recording booth with yet another perception-shifting track with “Dynamic”.

Dynamic captures many different atrocities which we’re facing in 2020, but between the sobering illustrations of injustice are reminders not to take anything for granted. Systematic racial oppression and high unemployment rates are very real issues. But fighting them doesn’t mean you need to resign to hopelessness and despair.

It’s all too easy to fall into an existential hole these days. Fresh and resonant Hip Hop tracks like Dynamic are essential to have on the airwaves to remind you that optimism isn’t impossible, and apathy isn’t the only answer.

With lines like “Your perceptions are not my reality,” you’re forced to consider your personal perception of reality. Dre Bennett’s lyrical wisdom is worth its weight in gold.

You can check out Dynamic along with Dre Bennett’s other releases via Spotify and all other major streaming services via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast