Browsing Tag

DC Hip Hop

Louvie exhibited his unflinching hip-hop narrative of tenacity and providence, Pray for Me

Posted on 11 April 2024

Louvie’s standout release, Pray for Me, is a striking embodiment of hip-hop’s power, deeply rooted in the artist’s personal journey. Hailing from Washington D.C., Louvie, born Ricardo Carter, has been crafting his musical identity since the age of 16, drawing inspiration from a spectrum of genres, with artists such as T.I. acting as his foundational influence.

The single opens with a melancholic melody, its moody waves setting a contemplative tone; the vocals, distorted with saturation, draw listeners into Louvie’s world, until the beat drops and Louvie’s cadence kicks in, ensuring each lyric aches with impact and sincerity.

The track is an unflinching narrative of hardship, resilience, and faith, resonating with anyone who has faced life’s relentless challenges and pushed through adversity with no one to stand with them on the battleground as they fight their way up from a disadvantaged position.

The track is a testament to his skill as a lyricist and his capacity to weave complex emotions into universally compelling music. Pray for Me is not just a testament to Louvie’s talent but a reminder of the power of resilience and the importance of being the architect of your destiny.

Pray for Me hit all streaming platforms on March 23; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Future of Hip Hop is Here: Chekmayte – What U Thought?

Posted on 26 March 2023

Avant-Garde hip-hop originalist, Chekmayte, created a subversive masterpiece with his glitchy hit, What U Thought? Filled with harsh truths, strobing synths, futuristic electronica motifs and a darkly atmospheric feel, nothing on your radar will hit the same way as this convictive hair-raising production, which exhibits the heights of the Washington DC artist’s razor-sharp lyrical prowess.

After overcoming life on the streets through sheer grit and persevering endurance, Chekmayte thrives through his music as an artist backed by Goodfellas Records. While many artists keep their influence to a singular coast, Chekmayte’s experience travelling through New York, The Bay Area, and Philly has expanded his urban palette to a scintillatingly distinctive effect. Fans of Scarface, Devin and Jadakiss will want to save space on their radar.

What U Thought? is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

IAMJALEO sent the notion of genre further into extinction into his jarringly dark triumph of a sophomore single, Soul Food

Posted on 15 October 2022

Subversively to its title, IAMJALEO’s sophomore alt-hip hop single, Soul Food, throws you into an old-school melancholic orchestral score before the gruff distorted verses allow you to peek behind the curtain into a schizophrenic mind and a life that is rife with systematic injustice.

The intensity of Soul Food isn’t easy to swallow, but the sombre result of the dark rap bars meeting the emotionally heightened instrumentals is a testament to the up-and-coming artist’s talent as a songwriter. That is something that artists can go ten albums without creating, but pretty much straight off the bat, the DC-born, Maryland-raised artist proved his capacity for evocatively striking art. He’s definitely one to watch.

Soul Food is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DC’s most conceptual hip hop artist, Chekmayte brings the resistance in his dark rap track, Midnight

Posted on 10 June 2022

In his first release of 2022, Midnight, the artfully conceptional alternative rapper, Checkmayte has unveiled a chillingly dark feat of experimentalism, which can only be described as Lynchian.

The creeping bass and Chekmayte’s commitment to ominously alluding to how unjust the world is for the oppressed that will know little more than the pressure of the boot on their neck make for a disturbingly immersive aural experience.  Resisting repressive regimes should never feel comfortable, which is important to remember in our era where revolutions have their own merch. There’s little room to wonder why the DC born and raised artist has become one of the hottest names in his hip hop scene since making his debut in 2020. We can’t wait to hear what follows Midnight.

Midnight is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Isaiah Sweh stays ambiently humble in his 2022 EP, Far from Perfect

Posted on 16 March 2022

Isaiah Sweh brought a brand-new depth to the hip hop genre with his resilience encompassing EP, Far from Perfect, which explores motivational themes, gets up close to the grit of modernity and covers the very real reality of never being able to keep our demons subjugated forever.

The 4-track downtempo release experiments with trip-hop, RnB, pop and trap textures, but the definitively hip hop release never veers all too far from the roots of the genre. The smooth and ambient vibes in the EP, especially with track 2, TAT (Time After Time), is what vibe out playlists are made for. As a whole, the EP is a much-needed trip away from the frantic pace of our external lives. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and drink in Isaiah Sweh’s smoothly outlaid introspection.

Far From Perfect is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast