Browsing Tag

Dark Hip Hop

SEER SEEKER worked alchemic urban magic into his juggernaut of an alt-hip-hop LP, SPELLS AND SECRETS

Posted on 11 November 2024

With his standout track FRACTALS, the independent rap luminary SEER SEEKER found fresh urban intersections to trailblaze across. A hypnotic pulse weaves through the dark, moody, bass-heavy anthem, delivering an unapologetic sonic experience that hip-hop fans won’t want to shake off.

The track fuses the ornate melancholy of neo-classic piano keys with boom-bap nuances, the kinetic momentum of EDM and dark trap’s weighted edges, amplifying the artist’s ability to channel fearlessness into every beat.

FRACTALS isn’t just another offering from SEER SEEKER’s sophomore LP, SPELLS AND SECRETS; it’s a testament to his refusal to be confined by genre norms. Channelling visceral energy with ferocious resilience, the track infectiously demands to slam through your speakers time after time as the young prodigy proves that being a rockstar is more of an attitude than a genre.

It’s the kind of single that hits with unapologetic power, refusing to merely float in the background. Instead, it digs deep, etching its sonic signature through layers of electrifying sound and raw intent.

Though only a fraction of the ingenuity threaded through SPELLS AND SECRETS, FRACTALS serves as a potent introduction to SEER SEEKER’s intense, unflinching style.

SPELLS AND SECRETS dropped on Halloween, stream it in full on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sapuis wore his heart on his bars in ‘RIP SAM’

Posted on 8 November 2024

In one of his most visceral tracks to date, ’RIP SAM’, the up-and-coming independent hip-hop artist Sapuis wore his heart on his bars and let the dark trap instrumentals set an ensnaring tone.

The atmospherically cinematic track uses a big beat production with wavy aesthetics to amplify the sense of disquietude that Sapuis storms through with his lyrics that prove that few rappers on the scene know how to flex fortitude as intensely as the icon in the making who, with every track, is making his way up from the underground and into the mainstream.

The launch of his 2024 LP, Before I Die, marked a pivotal chapter in Sapuis’ career; with enough perseverance, there’s no reason why he couldn’t become the hottest lyrical waxer of his generation. The way his articulation flexes to the beat is cooking up serious heat.

Stream RIP SAM with the rest of Sapuis’ discography via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

FLIPPIN’ GOTHIC FABP – BATHROOM BALLING FREESTYLE; An Unsettling Soundtrack of Defiance

Posted on 23 October 2024

FLIPPIN’ GOTHIC FABP’s latest freestyle session, BATHROOM BALLING FREESTYLE, doesn’t just take the listener into dark places; it builds an entire atmosphere there. With horror-esque high frequencies juxtaposing the scratchy boom-bap beats that grind low, the track feels like a clash of two opposing energies, constantly battling for dominance. It’s unsettling, raw, and filled with the kind of resilience that only comes from an emcee who’s always kept his lane, untouched by the haters.

Born and bred in Jamaica Queens, New York, the artist, formerly Fabpz the Freelancer, has spent his career mastering his sound with over 2,000 songs to his name. Known for bringing back that “Raw Undiluted” taste of rap, his freestyle bars have always exuded an authenticity that fans can’t get enough of. BATHROOM BALLING FREESTYLE is no exception, showcasing his signature unapologetic flow with a haunting backdrop that leaves you feeling like you’re trapped in a sonic maze – but he’s the only one with the map.

The official music video for BATHROOM BALLING FREESTYLE dropped on October 12; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Resonant Quietus: BLVCK GARDEN expresses the inexpressible in his emo rap hit, ‘MY SILENCE’

Posted on 18 October 2024

BLVCK GARDEN’s single ‘MY SILENCE’ is an intricate exploration of how silence is the loudest scream. BLVCK GARDEN is just one of the guises of Carlos Fabre, an artist with roots deeply entrenched in electronic music and hip-hop. As BLVCK GARDEN, Fabre channels his versatility into an emo rap project that resonates with an irrefutable intensity.

The track initiates with a robust thrum of harsh, reverberant bass—a foreboding echo that sets the stage before the beat escalates beneath sharp-with-candour bars delivering the pinnacle of vulnerability.

Fabre constructed a soundscape where spatial effects and the dynamics of the instrumentation speak volumes. Each verse is delivered with a raw, freestyle energy yet carries the weight of a seasoned poet’s ink, unveiling a spectrum of emotions that connect through stark honesty.

Emerging from his diverse musical background—having honed his skills in production and instrumentation remotely via RRFC—Fabre’s latest endeavour in emo rap hints at a promising new direction. With aspirations to sign with a label and further his reach, ‘MY SILENCE’ is a sign of massive things to come from the emo rap luminary.

MY SILENCE hit the airwaves on October 6th; stream the track on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Regal Club’s rap track, Electro, is a livewire to the senses

Posted on 27 August 2024

Dark ominous electronic beats meet the transcendence of enlightenment in the latest drop from Regal Club. With their new single and music video, the St Louis duo comprising Alvo and J. Cruz wrote a new chapter in their legacy which any hip-hop fan should revere as gospel. 

Electro, which features on the duo’s ambitious sophomore LP synthesises lyrical conviction with kinetic rhythm to break away from conventional hip-hop beats and breaks and to embrace a fusion where contrasts of light and dark play over a bass-heavy production. The instrumentals buzz with energy, sharpening the rap verses that effortlessly sync with the dynamic beats, creating a charged atmosphere which oscillates with intensity.

The duo’s authentic style possesses a visceral grip on the psyche, as Alvo and J. Cruz hold their own against Run the Jewels’ dualism. If you couldn’t get enough of the raw edge in Oddisee’s earlier records, Electro will resonate on a whole new level.

The official music video for Electro is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nsilo – Peterbilt: A Truck-Sized Tale of Unreckonable Grit

Posted on 25 July 2024

Nsilo’s latest single, Peterbilt, revved onto the hip-hop scene with a force as unstoppable as the eponymous truck it salutes. The narrative arc in the artist and producer’s hit may seem unconventional, yet the juggernaut of the road became a powerful parable as it becomes the centre of the track that positions Nsilo as a fearlessly untouchable contender in the annals of old-school hip-hop.

When Nsilo waxes lyrical, it’s impossible not to feel the force of his bars that have been honed by his love for 90s hip-hop greats and classic poetry alike. Yet, Peterbilt exhibits the up-and-coming artist as so much more than just an adept lyricist with a razor-sharp ability to find the perfect cadence to make every bar bounce with maximum impact.

The track’s production is a masterclass in balancing dark, layered textures with lighter elements. Waves of caustic reverb slice through the beat, resulting in an atmosphere which haunts as it uplifts and exhilarates. The meticulous synthesis attests that Nsilo knows exactly when to cast shadows and when to let the light in, mirroring the complexities of his storytelling which reflects on the values of blue-collar work, ensuring every hit is infused with authenticity and grit.

Stream Peterbilt on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slip into the dark hip-hop abyss with my•escy’s latest harbingering hit, Fallen Fruit

Posted on 30 March 2024

my•escy’s latest single, ‘Fallen Fruit‘ is a gateway into the nefarious underbelly of dark alt-hip-hop. The track stands as a formidable force in the genre, showcasing a blend of jarring reverberation, aural annihilation, and lyrical aggression that captivates and cuts deep.

The sonics of ‘Fallen Fruit’ are akin to synthesised war horns resonating over a trap beat, creating an atmosphere that is both oppressive and exhilarating. It’s a soundscape that plunges listeners into a nightmarish landscape, yet there’s an undeniable allure in its darkness. The vocal hooks in the track are a masterstroke, evoking a sense of what might have been if Andre 5000 had ventured into the darker realms of hip-hop alongside Saul Williams.

Despite its artfully intentional disquietness, ‘Fallen Fruit’ is undeniably infectious. The hard-hitting, visceral melodies linger long after the outro, haunting the listener with their intensity. ‘Fallen Fruit’ is a testament to the power of dark alt-hip-hop’s ability to convey complex emotions and create a sonic experience that is both unsettling and utterly compelling.

Stream the single on SoundCloud and Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

my•escy has made his Avant-Garde horrorcore debut with ‘Milk Teeth’

Posted on 15 December 2023

my•escy’s debut avant-garde hip-hop single, Milk Teeth, emerges as a hauntingly innovative masterpiece, setting a new precedent in the genre. Hailing from Venice, California, my•escy infuses his music with a unique blend of post-punk and industrial influences. This track is a bold introduction to his dark, visceral style, showcasing his ability to craft a nightmarish auditory experience.

Milk Teeth begins with a deceptively playful intro, a jaunty address that lures the listener into a false sense of security. This quickly gives way to a darker, trappy aesthetic, a stark contrast that is both jarring and intriguing. The track is imbued with horrorcore energy, its production, lyrics, and bars exuding a zany yet menacing vibe. my•escy’s skill in switching between the wild insanity of Insane Clown Posse and his own snarled, charismatic bars creates a captivating dichotomy that ensnares the listener.

The track’s production is a gritty synthesis of macabre imagery and sonic synthetics, transcending mere sound to offer a full-fledged experience. my•escy’s use of ominous synth-soaked beats creates an atmosphere that is both oppressive and exhilarating. The lyrics weave a narrative that is as compelling as it is unsettling, ensuring that Milk Teeth lingers in the mind long after the last note has faded.

Stream Milk Teeth on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

_sicko narrated ‘A MODERN HORROR STORY’ in his seminally twisted boom bap track

Posted on 16 November 2023

Hip-hop’s darkest hour struck when the UK alchemist of boom bap, _sicko delivered his PLAY ME EP on Halloween. After a chilling horror score of an intro track, which sets the tone for the rest of the EP, the standout single, A MODERN HORROR STORY, kicks right into macabre gear, following an anachronistic haunted music box prelude.

By painting himself as a twisted protagonist to portray the sickness that breeds online when the worst impulses of the human psyche are vindicated by nefarious echo chambers, _sicko (AKA Aaron Terror) provided a spine-chilling exposition on the proclivities of perversion that are worryingly prolific.

With a twisted lyrical style that isn’t out of the ordinary in death metal projected through a rap flow, which makes it all too easy to lock into the sickness within the horror imagery, A MODERN HORROR STORY is plagued with sickness that will make you stop, shiver, and think.

While some would undoubtedly rush to cancel _sicko, we can see the ingenuity within his creativity, which is on par with some of the greatest horror writers out there.

Stream the PLAY ME EP via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The temperature dropped as the UK-hip-hop visionary GADZ reflected on our ‘Cold World’ in his sophomore release

Posted on 6 November 2023

GADZ let the UK hip-hop scene know the score with his sophomore release, Cold World, by laying it all down on the melodic lines in the choruses and holding no prisoners when it came to creating a vignette of our increasingly inhospitable world, which necessitates a backbone of steel the amount of resilience exemplified within the dynamic track.

Going by the bars, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Luton-hailing artist had lived a thousand lives. The depth of his introspective musing is an instant affirmation that he’s worth his weight in lyrical gold. Sonically, expect to be put through the evocative paces as you follow the eclectically sublime urban track through its seamless transitions from fiery bars and beats to soulful harmonies.

The track’s catchy, melodiously progressive refrain is a testament to his superlative talent. But much like his debut single, Fadeaway, which dropped on Valentine’s Day, and was subsequently backed by BBC Introducing’s Theo Johnson, it’s the magnetism in the resonance that will keep drawing you back to the track.

From a young age, GADZ developed a passion for music, a flame that was kindled by his father, a music educator and enthusiast who encouraged his musical exploration across various instruments. GADZ’s musical expedition truly began in his teens, fuelled by nights immersed in drill beats and crafting freestyles, which he would present to classmates. His relentless pursuit of mastering his craft led him to record his first track in a studio two years ago.

His talent has since been showcased at the O2 Academy Islington, earned him a nomination for Best Performance by RBE, and opened the door to BL@CKBOCK’s U18s Cypher 2022, leading to numerous appearances across Bedfordshire and an international fanbase who revere his artistic autonomy and willingness to put his heart on his bars. With a rapidly growing following, GADZ stands out as one of the UK’s most promising talents, poised for continued success as his artistic journey unfolds.

Stream Cold World on SoundCloud or immerse yourself deeper with the official music video, which premiered as a courtesy of GRM Daily on November 3rd via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast