Browsing Tag

Hip Hop Samples

Allen Green’s ‘P’s Up’ Is A Soulful Synthwave Journey Through Hip-Hop Nostalgia

Posted on 11 June 2024

Curating only the smoothest samples for his aural doorways into the exultation of hip-hop nostalgia, Allen Green’s harmony-driven approach to sample-based production has proven irresistible throughout his career which kicked off in 2023 with the mixtape 808 Soul, Vol. 1.

His latest lush with soul release, P’s Up, is an invitation to lose yourself in the tonal transcendence of his ingenuity. It’s a neon-lit euphoric hybrid of synthwave, soul, and hip-hop that temporally drifts through eras and styles, evoking sentimentality for each epoch while standing as a testament to Green’s ability to modernise retro rhythms while staying true to his LA roots.

With everyone from the Alchemist to DJ Jazzy Jeff to Barry White influencing his sonic signature which scribes through hazy synth hues and solid backbeats, you’d be more than hard-pressed to find an artist and producer more resolute in staying true to orchestrating originated syntheses that first and foremost strikes a chord within him and inevitably resonate with his ever-growing fanbase.

P’s Up was officially released on May 16; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NTHN versed vulnerability for Mental Health Day in his shoegaze-hip-hop mash-up, The Meaning

Posted on 16 October 2023

For Mental Health Day, the UK songwriter, cloud sampler, and producer NTHN debuted his most introspective shoegaze and hip-hop-influenced track to date, The Meaning, on October 10 and subsequently delivered the most compellingly dark single of the year.

It has been a while since a rap track hit so hard it made an impact on my tear ducts, but NTHN’s command over evocative ambient melodies and the intimate vulnerability within the lyrics and delivery proved that there’s power in dragging your demons out of the closet and vanquishing them for all to hear.

Rather than keeping his sound solely in the hip-hop arena, NTHN uses hip-hop composition, sampling, and percussion around his influence from emo, shoegaze and metal genres to keep his sonic signature scribing authentically absorbing and always emotion-driven atmospheric alchemy.

“I started writing it when I was at my lowest and I am now releasing it when I’m much more in control of how I feel, and I am in a much better place. It’s my journey to accepting my own mental health issues and learning to live with them, not just exist, by looking for the meaning in the everyday. I would like to raise awareness of the need to speak out and, by sharing my vulnerability, hopefully, connect with listeners who might be able to use the track as a way of relating to how I feel and not feeling so alone in dealing with things.”

The Meaning is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rivita & Asemahle – Love Again: Soul-Steeped Hip Hop

Posted on 16 September 2018

When it comes to collaborations, the synergy is either there or it isn’t. When the angelically harmonious vocalist Rivita chose to join forces with Asemahle a work of enigmatic enthrallment was created. It is no understatement to say that the two vocalists possess some of the most authentically unique styles we’ve heard this year. Pair that with the tentatively light piano melodies and soft kicks of the 808 beats which the down-tempo backbone of the track rests upon and you’re in for one captivating treat.

On top of that, it was infinitely refreshing to hear a Rap artist with a rhythmically perfect flow not following suit with the rest of the misogynistic rappers, instead he challenged the toxic lifestyle with an infinitely more soulful approach to his bars.

You can check out Rivita + Asemahle’s soul-steeped single for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KUDO – Middle Fingers: Unapologetically Attitude-Driven Hip Hop

Posted on 14 September 2018

Middle Fingers is the debut single from the emerging EDM Pop Hip Hop artist KUDO. As the track unfolds, you’re treated to a mix which is as ingenious as it is explicit, the empowerment which is scribed into the lyrics of Middle Fingers is bordering on overwhelming. Even though the EDM Trap mix may not be prodigal by today’s standards KUDO’s vocal talents and ability to wax lyrical prove why this up and coming artist deserves attention for her resounding style. With a command of meter and rhyme as flawless as KUDO’s it’s hard to see how she couldn’t go far with her talent.

You can check out KUDO’s single Middle Fingers for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now. You probably won’t get the chorus out of your head for a fair few hours but if the ability to create an infectiously fresh chorus doesn’t make a good artist then I’m not sure what does.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

BP – DISTANT LOVERS: Sensually Prodigal Hip Hop

Posted on 13 September 2018

It’s not all too often you’re faced with a Trap track that almost floors you through the sobering narrative of the lyrics. So, it’s my absolute pleasure to introduce BP.

DISTANT LOVERS is the latest single released by up and coming Hip Hop Rap artist BP. Anyone who has ever been in a long distance relationship is sure to feel the bite of the pensive vibe. The lyricism to the single is so heavy, it’s almost bruising, you can tell BP poured his soul into the mix to make the sentiment as resounding as the melodic beat. The kicks of the 808’s thrash against the ethereally light reverb which pours from the synth which leads you through the rhythm in the perfectly produced track.

If you’re looking for some sensuously prodigal Hip Hop to put on your playlists you can check out BP’s latest drop DISTANT LOVERS by heading over to YouTube now. Or to check out BP’s latest mixtape in full, head on over to SoundCloud

Review by Amelia Vandergast