Browsing Tag

Hip Hop Collab

Open the Doors of Perception with DJ Promo & Avarice’s Hip-Hop Gem, Pandemia

Posted on 12 November 2024

DJ Promo, the Puerto Rican beat architect, and New York’s lyrical sage Avarice have crystallised their sonic synergy into the recently unveiled LP ‘Forgotten Gems’. Born from a prolific past, where beats crafted between 2007 and 2012 lay dormant, DJ Promo unearthed the sonic relics, offering them to Avarice, who expanded what was meant to be a brief EP into a full-bodied album.

The track ‘Pandemia’, a seminal hit from the sonic anthology, is a masterclass in expressive power. It weaves mid-western motifs through the solid rattle of the 808s, laying down a minimalist soundscape that cradles Avarice’s commanding spoken-word delivery.

With each word meticulously cadenced, the verses strike with the impact of spoken truth in the production, which sounds as though it has sprung to life from a vintage tape deck with its intimate hiss. Yet, the urban narrative thrums with a contemporary pulse, ensuring the duo earned their place in the contemporary hip-hop landscape.

As the instrumentals serenade the soul with their understated complexity, Avarice’s narratives coax the doors of perception ajar. Hit play, and let ‘Pandemia’ transport you to where music meets the mind in a quiet revolution of thought.

Head to Spotify to stream Pandemia as part of the collaborative Forgotten Gems LP, which dropped on October 31st. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teck-Zilla, JXXIII, Quinja, Sentence, Yada and Reespect ignited a sonic revolution of empowerment in their collaborative hit, Naija Women

Posted on 2 October 2024
Naija Women by JXXIII, Quinja, Sentence, Yada, Reespect

Teck-Zilla’s latest hit, Naija Women, is an explosive celebration of culture and empowerment that carves out space for female strength in a rap landscape often skewed against it.

Produced by Nigerian-born, UK-based Teck-Zilla, the track brings together five Nigerian rappers—JXXIII, Quinja, Sentence, Yada, and Reespect—each brings their own mesmeric energy to the mic as the beat cuts like a razor through the lush, atmospheric production, making way for the quintet’s undeniable talent to shine through.

The dynamic interplay between the artists results in a juxtaposition of soul and fiery passion, making it impossible to settle on a single emotion; instead, you’re left in awe of how these women hold their own, spitting bars with confidence and unapologetic resilience.

For every woman who has ever fought hard just to be heard, Naija Women is a powerful reminder to never stop trying to reshape oppressive narratives.

Naija Women was officially released on September 9th and is now available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Experience 2024’s most electrifying hip-hop ensemble via ROK10’s seminal collaborative release, CYPHER V2

Posted on 6 March 2024

The release of “CYPHER V2” created a seismic shift in the hip-hop landscape. ROK10, a Lancaster native whose roots in metal and underground raves have seasoned his foray into rap, orchestrated an 8:40-minute juggernaut with a finesse that belies his eclectic background.

The track burst onto the scene with a vitality that could give the Wu-Tang Clan a run for their money. Each artist – OVLRD Shogun, DIENASTY PIFF, Rah the Broker, 2EZ, Reyya, S.A.V., and Velkro LaStrange – brings their unique flair, creating a tapestry of voices that’s as diverse as it is cohesive. Their bars skate over the old-school, gritty beats with an agility that’s both nostalgic and fresh, echoing the golden age of hip-hop while carving out a new niche.

ROK10’s ingenuity shines in the way he layers contrasting instrumental tones and textures beneath swathes of saturated delay. It’s a soundscape that allows each artist’s individuality to blaze, yet harmoniously meld into a singular, powerhouse anthem. The emotional charge of the lyrics is palpable, offering a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the psyche of each contributor. The gender balance in the vocals is another triumph, ensuring the track resonates with a broad spectrum of listeners.

“CYPHER V2” marks ROK10’s unforgettable debut in the rap scene. It’s a testament to his versatility and vision as an artist unafraid to blend and bend musical norms. For fans of rap looking for something that’s both rooted in tradition and boldly innovative, this track is a must-listen.

Stream CYPHER V2 on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Black Silver is dark and disarming in his latest cinematic juggernaut of a rap track, Silver Linings

Posted on 20 November 2023

Black Silver dropped one of the biggest hip-hop collabs of the year by unleashing the gritty old-school rap track, Silver Linings, featuring Rakaa Iriscience, Griffen, Mykill Myers, and DJ Skilz.

With plenty of record scratching and wavily saturated distortion around the solid and steady beats in the dark and chillingly cultivated production, Black Silver (AKA the Navigator) and his band of lyrical alchemists paid a fitting ode to the 90s hip hop while showing they’re more methodical than Method Man, wittier than Nas with wordplay and boast all the cinematic charisma of Conway the Machine.

When Black Silver isn’t dropping his seminal solo rap tracks, the Las Vegas-hailing trailblazer is at the helm of his independent record label, Sterling World Records and contributing to hip-hop groups, including Analog Brothers, Tha Likwit Crew, 2000 Crows, and Black Ice with Ice T.

Silver Linings hit the airwaves on October 20th; it is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Money and Image blazed across the Texas hip-hop scene with their infectious track, No Smoke

Posted on 5 November 2023

Escape into the urban aesthetic of the latest single and music video, No Smoke, by the two Texan rap legends in their own right, Money and Image, and lose yourself within the infectiously feel-good lyricality of the track that definitively proves conviction doesn’t always need to be a by-product of the aggression.

While the instrumentals find the sonic middle ground between jazzy old-school hip-hop grooves and wavy RnB pop trap, the vocals constantly shift in tone and pace to create a fully rounded hit that is all too easy to melodically roll with as you drink in the charismatically prophetic message which advocates pacifism.

The official music video for No Smoke premiered on October 21; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Join Black Prez & Shaun Reynolds on cloud nine with the high-vibe hip-hop staple, Feel Good

Posted on 24 June 2023

With the million streams mark way behind him in the rearview mirror, few contemporary hip-hop artists share the success of the Berlin-born, LA-based, songwriter and actor, Black Prez.

After playing shows with everyone from Big Sean to G-Unit, getting sync deals with Netflix & HBO and his hits featuring on Fast & Furious, Call of Duty and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skaker, he stepped into the studio with Shaun Reynolds to collaborate on the hot summer single, Feel Good.

Showing the sunniest sides of their cheeky devil-may-care dispositions, Feel Good is an infectious serotonin-spilling celebration of positivity. While the lyrics show you how to compartmentalise negative energy, the pop-instilled keys and horns tabs paint blissfully euphoric melodies to implant you on cloud nine alongside Prez and Reynolds. Who said perfection can’t exist in music?

Get Feel Good into rotation by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Emotional Connection Amplifies the Sultry Chemistry in Keldamuzik’s single, Mind Sex, ft Kafani & Mika

Posted on 18 March 2023

Keldamuzik (AKA Kelda Williams) is taking over the entertainment industry with her hip-hop hits, TV hosting and acting career; her talents notably know few bounds, and her iconic hit, Mind Sex, more than proves she’s the queen of all trades.

The single, created in collaboration with the featuring artists Kafani & Mika, salaciously tips the balance towards soul while never turning down the heat to a simmer; her red hot vocal lines scorch through the jazzy RnB hip-hop instrumentals while the lyrics narrate soft sensuality into lascivious empowerment.

Cardi B could notably learn a thing or two from this testament to how sexual friction always tastes sweeter when there’s an emotional connection stirring the passion. If you’re not turned on by the outro, you might want to hold a memorial for your libido.

Check out the official music video for Mind Sex via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Brooklyn beats meet southern trap grit in Superstar Freddy & Low Patcho’s alchemically dynamic collaborative single, Move

Posted on 19 November 2022

Alone, Brooklyn’s Superstar Freddy and Southern Trap artist, Low Patcho, are forces to be reckoned with. With their contrasting sounds sparking urban sonic voodoo while they pay homage to their Haitian roots in their joint LP, The Curse, they are inexplicably hot.

The standout single, The Move, carries all the motivation of an archetypal hustler hip hop anthem and none of the cliches that usually revolve around motivational tropes. The high-octane hit permits the instrumentals to conjure urban devilry about the blazingly dynamic bars that will leave you galvanized before the first verse has stormed through.

Fans of Travis Scott, Pop Smoke, and Pierre Borne won’t want to miss the colossal track that came to life in Anchour Studios in Maine.

“The Curse album is a collaboration of Superstar Freddy’s upbeat hip hop style with Low Patcho’s Southern trap music. The mixtape was inspired by our Haitian heritage. Voodoo and magic are always associated with people from Haiti.

I wrote the song Move after a trip back from my hometown, Brooklyn, NY. The song illustrates my desire for continual success and elevation. It shows you can’t fall off, no matter what. You’ve got to love what you do and flaunt it when necessary but never sell out. I love the cash sound when my phone dings and I know it’s coming in all day. If you ain’t moving toward your idea, then someone else will manifest it so get going today.”

Stream The Curse on Spotify, and follow Superstar Freddy on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook to stay up to date on his future releases that are set to mark a shift in his sonic style from this ground-breaking LP.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Christopher Nagle – Lamborghini Livin featuring Saskilla and JamKvy

Posted on 14 August 2022

If Christopher Nagle is a name that has evaded you until now, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught up in the London-based singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer’s hype.

His standout single, Lamborghini Livin, featuring Saskilla and JamKvy, has already racked up over half a million streams on Spotify alone. With the experimental and almost delicate atmosphere holding up the bars as they mellifluously switch between vocal harmonies and the style of rap that the streets of London are infamous for breeding, the immersive hit keeps on rhythmically giving.

Far from your average capitalistic lust-focused track, Lamborghini Livin is a deeply humanist release that almost allows you to see behind the scenes of the archetypal desire for excess.

Lamborghini Livin is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Orval Hill and Lita Lee became the ultimate dark hip hop power couple in ‘Dark Vibez’.

Posted on 10 August 2022

While everyone else is going high with their vibes, Orval Hill went dark with his rhythmic masterpiece, Dark Vibez, featuring the iconic rapper in her own right, Lita Lee. Together, the duo is as electric as Die Antwoord, but thankfully infinitely less problematic, despite the ‘schizo rap’ style which has come to define Orval Hill’s moody sonic style and playfully twisted lyrics.

With ethereal reverb snaking around the steady rattle of the 808s, there’s a phantasmal avant-garde essence to Dark Vibez, which you may be able to hear if you can tear yourself away with the hypnotic bounce of the rap bars. Honestly, if you can hit still through it, you may as well be in a coma.

The official music video for Dark Vibez premiered on July 30th. Check it out on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast