Browsing Tag

Hip Hop Album

Jelani Kendall laid his soul bare with sunny indie hip-hop playlist staple, YouSaidLoveAlone

Posted on 8 January 2023

Taken from their tranquilly sublime indie hip-hop album, Bush Tea, the single, YouSaidLoveAlone, is an evocative trip through Jelani Kendall’s creatively introspective mind. After a mellow saturated-in-delay intro, the momentum seamlessly picks up in synergy with the emotion conveyed in frustration through the track that narrates the bitter-sweet ending of a relationship. For anyone experiencing the same, it is a visceral shot of vindication as Kendall pulls new meaning out of common adages.

With Afro Beat textures adding temperate accordance around the US Virgin Islands-hailing artist’s bars and beats, the downtempo standout single instrumentally drips with meditative soul while Kendall lays bare his emotions which run as hot as the sun-soaked timbres intricately weaved together.

YouSaidLoveAlone was released with the LP on December 31st; it is now available on Apple Music and YouTube.

Follow Jenali Kendall on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare your summer hip hop playlists for the larger than life flow in WavyK’s single, HEAT SEEKER feat. Case

Posted on 11 June 2022

After spending four years smoothing his wavey rap flow and amplifying the energy in his subtle but galvanising beats, the independent Jacksonville, Florida-based hip hop artist, WavyK, was ready to drop his era-defining album, MENTALITY, featuring the standout single, HEAT SEEKER, feat. Case.

Toeing the delicate line between nerdy and deadpan, HEAT SEEKER is a summer hip hop drop like no other. If you’re looking for some urban escapism, few tracks serve it with quite as much flavour as this playfully upvibe earworm.

WavyK’s album, MENTALITY, will officially release on June 11th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rico Suave shines a light on the beauty in vulnerability with ‘Say It Back’

Posted on 6 December 2021

From the moment you hit play on Rico Suave’s latest single, Say It Back, you instantly understand how he came about his moniker with his passion-driven approach to hip hop.

Say It Back is the lead track from the affectionately titled release, Hope You Love Me After. Each of the eight tracks pulls the listeners’ attention to the beauty in romantic vulnerability, proving that even though it’s terrifying, there’s nothing more beautiful than going all in, despite the blows that may follow.

With nuances of RnB and its downtempo grooves, Say It Back paints a picture of romantic anticipation as it reminds you of your own soul’s capacity to feel. In a world as dystopic and loveless as ours Rico Suave on the airwaves is a godsend.

Hope you Love Me After is now available to stream and purchase via the apple store.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Test your capacity for compassion with Tae Gwapo’s single ‘Mill Ticket’

Posted on 11 January 2021

If you’re looking for a fresh Hip Hop album to see you through the cold, dark and lonely months, there’s no fresher and more consoling feat of Hip Hop than Tae Gwapo’s 2020 album, ‘Winter Baby’.

By using chillingly angular Indie guitars around solid 808s and putting plenty of atmospheric electronic effects in between, Tae Gwapodelivers authenticity and accessibility simultaneously with Track 1, Good Luck. From there on out, you’re in for an emotional rollercoaster through the dynamic release which features high-vibe hits such as the enamouring track ‘Ned Flanders’.

The standout track has to be Mill Ticket which will test your capacity for compassion as Tae Gwapo shares introspection on what it’s like to endure America as a Black American. The delicate piano notes give way to an evocative production which doesn’t sugar the pill when it comes to tearing into systemic racism, but the tone is tender and sweet all the same.

Winter Baby is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast