Browsing Tag

Electronic Hip Hop

X-Man speaks for the outliers in his pioneeringly impassioned alt-hip hop single, Can’t Relate

Posted on 5 February 2022

If X-Man goes down in hip hop history as anything less than a pioneer, we haven’t done him enough justice. Immersive may be a word that gets bound around in music reviews, but there are few other ways to allude to the allure of the hooks in his recently released seminal single, Can’t Relate.

X-Man makes it easy for you to instantly find the groove in the smooth canter of the almost spoken-word rap bars that are just as magnetic as Snoop Dogg’s. When it comes to the beats, X-Man cooked up a concoction of hip hop and playfully melodic video-game-style electronica. With the harsh snares snapping against the dreamy beats, there is plenty of texture to sink into as X-Man makes being unrelatable relatable.

You can check out Can’t Relate for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JoeJas took high vibe hip hop to new heights with 2 Truck J

Posted on 22 November 2021

Alt hip hop artist, JoeJas, has dropped his most experimental track to date with 2 Truck J. Like many hip hop artists, he finds influence in the jazzy grooves of old school hip hop, but he goes far beyond assimilation with the dark and discordant electronica textures that he throws into his high vibe tracks.

With the Pokemon and Mario references in the bars, there is no denying there is a hint of nerdcore nestled in here, but JoeJas retains his convictive cool right up until the outro. 2 Truck J is one of those tragically rare tracks that uplift through their sheer eccentricity. It is no surprise that JoeJas has amassed over 48k streams on Spotify alone with some of his top tracks.

2 Truck J is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get high with P.F’s electrifying trap track Opium

Posted on 8 August 2021

Up and coming hip hop artist P.F’s latest 3-track release, ULTRA OMEGA RUBY ZERO POINT FIVE, is as avant-garde as hip hop gets. The lead track, Opium, kicks off with bruising lashings of bass reverberating around scuzzy and harsh instrumentals, which merge trap, shoegaze and chiptune.

The use of sonic walls of noise to achieve the same level of disquietedness that is in the tormented lyrics was nothing short of genius on P.F’s side. He has all the potential to go viral with his electrifying releases that are visceral enough to act as a sign of the times. If this is the future of hip hop, we are here for it.

Check out Opium and the rest of P.F’s tracks via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wordplay turns into a lyrical riot in Zay Gatsby’s standout single, ‘Ain’t Finished’.

Posted on 5 April 2021

A year on from his debut release, hip hop artist Zay Gatsby is here to remind us that he ‘Ain’t Finished’, with the standout single from their latest album, ‘New Reign’.

His experimentation with wordplay practically ends up as a literary riot as he playfully, domineeringly lays down metaphors left right and centre in the upraising track that pulls from a myriad of hip hop, electronica and soul styles.

With old school urban grit, trippy trap textures and glitchy beats, Ain’t Finished offers a vibe that you’ll definitely want to introduce to your playlists.

New Reign is now available to stream and purchase via Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prince Jonez has asserted his authenticity through his tribally entrancing instrumental mix ‘Planet Balloonz’.

Posted on 25 March 2021

Singer-songwriter and producer, Prince Jonez has released his debut album, Lovechild of XII Eraz, delve in and you’ll see how intense and atmospheric instrumental hip hop can be when left in the hands of an artist committed to ensuring that synapses fire at the request of their experimental trip hop.

Sunny staccato rhythms gently coalesce with tribal drum rolls and glitchy beats that weave a little trip-hop into the mix as it steadily gains momentum and picks up discordant alt-rock nuances along the way.

What Porcupine Tree is to alt-rock, Prince Jonez is to hip hop. They may be fresh from their inception, but the Chicago-based artist already exhibits an enviable ability to construct all-consuming aural experiences.

You can check out Prince Jonez’s instrumental mix for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK rap artist Mulini imparts inspiration through their latest single ‘Keep Moving’ featuring GSQ2

Posted on 10 March 2021
Mulini

In a time when it feels impossible to maintain any amount of motivation, UK hip hop artist and producer, Mulini’s latest single, ‘Keep Moving’ featuring GSQ2 is worth its weight in aural gold.

The sombre tonality of the track ensures that it efficaciously communicates with those who can benefit from the resilience-imparting introspection while keeping just enough energy in the instrumentals to give Keep Moving a galvanising kick.

The harsh reverberant electronic hum beneath the quiescently delivered rap bars add even more weight and brevity to the release which emotionally hits hard enough that you may just feel bruised by the time you reach the outro.

Keep Moving was officially released on February 19th, check it out on YouTube via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

GeoMike122 gives you the permission to own your idiosyncrasies with their latest single ‘Whimsical’

Posted on 6 March 2021

GeoMike122 aims to inspire as an educator, community leader and as an artist, with their latest single, ‘Whimsical’, you get a glimpse of their social responsibility and a stark introduction to their commandingly distinct alt-electro hip hop sound.

Over the simple polyphonic bass-heavy trap melodies, GeoMike122 projects their almost deadpan rap bars which compel you to delve deeper into the mix to pull out the nuanced wisdom. By the time you reach the outro, you’ll find that your hands are full with invaluable introspection. In its essence, Whimsical is a track which gives you the permission to own your authenticity instead of hiding it. Discernibly, GeoMike122 practices what he preaches.

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

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Datsnell inspires optimism with their dark Alt Rock track ‘Imperfections’

Posted on 11 January 2021
https://soundcloud.com/user-368565296/imperctions?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1

When you look at the real impact which 2020 has had on music, you’ll have to look far past the absence of live music and look to how artists, such as Datsnell, have stripped back facades to deliver raw and honest intimate emotion, understanding that connection, unity and strength found through music can never be overvalued.

His latest Alt-Rock single, Imperfections, reminds the listener that our obsession with perfection is imperfect within itself and that a few cracks in the surface don’t have to make you feel worthless.

With his inventive sampling of Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator speech falling around Datsnell’s haunted reverberant spoken word bars and piercingly light keys kicking up stunning interludes, the stunning track gently nudges towards optimism while validating the fear, uncertainty and nihilism which we’ve found throughout 2020. Even if you can’t find optimism straight away, you’re sure to find some solace within this deeply compassionate feat of Alt-Rock which melds elements from Hip Hop, Trap, Rock and Electronica.

You can check out Datsnell’s single Imperfections for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take a trip with LA Indie Electro Pop duo Orange Dream’s hard-hitting new release ‘Twisted’

Posted on 16 December 2020

Orange Dream got Jazzy with their latest Indie drop ‘Twisted’, which is exactly what it says on the tin. The solid feat of psychotropic Electronic Indie also doctors in a nuanced Trip Hop edge to give the multifaceted hit yet another mind-melting texture to solidify the ingenuity.

As Josie Rose Molasky’s vocals find the perfect balance between harmony and attitude, the energetic yet carefully contorted Hip Hop beats make sure you stay hooked in the melody right from the intro while lush synths give you plenty of atmospheric reverb to sink into. If you feel like getting nostalgic about your hedonistic days, Twisted will happily send you a postcard.

Twisted may be an independent release, but it is hard-hitting enough to leave a serious mark on the airwaves. The LA duo is undoubtedly one to watch.

You can check out Twisted for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Keep your friends close and enemies closer: ‘Living in fear of’ by Ammar shows his self-awareness with those around him

Posted on 20 November 2020

The energetic  and sweaty start catches your attention right away. We are quickly drawn in deep by these creatively amazing sounds, and wonder what is in store next. Ferociously fast vocals then blend into the Electronic-Hip Hop track with much bluster and energy, this is a dazzling daze of a single made with intentions to prove yourself right. Ammar shows his frustration with those petty and small minded folk that don’t understand his journey on ‘Living in fear of‘.

With an assortment of genres that mesh quite nicely into a quick-fire track with meaning, this is about about spending too much energy on those people that love to bring you down in life. This is a sad occurrence but one that you can grow from, and learnt to deal with, despite how petty it is.

The supremely edgy sound is so fiery and gets you in the mood to deal with some negative humans, that you are completely sick of. The rap style is layered with the electronic vibes that is drummed so enthusiastically, and this is such a true message, sung and rapped with reckless abandon.

This firecracker fuse is lit so brightly and the sparks are all over the place to make this such an entertaining listen. The passion is so catchy and cool, the song is less than two minutes and you will remember this all day.

Ammar opens the book into his vivid world with so much appeal on ‘Living in fear of’. This is a lesson to us all to brush away of all those that want to ruin your vibe, this is your life and you want to be happy as that is all that matters. Not the thoughts of small minded people, who don’t get what you are trying to achieve.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen