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Hip-Hop

MANTRABLU tripped out trap in his latest juggernaut of a track, NIPTUCK

Posted on 30 July 2023

Brooklyn-based singer, rapper, and producer MANTRABLU has dropped his juggernaut of an experimental trap hit, NIPTUCK; with the razor-sharp wit and equally as cutting trip-hop atmosphere, few urban originators have as much edge as the artist who takes his influence from everything from math rock to neo-soul to jazz-funk.

After a wavy chiptune prelude, MANTRABLU’s rolling-with-the-punches rap bars adrenalize the texturally complex soundscape that stands as a testament to his trailblazing authenticity. Get behind him or get out of the way, because if any contemporary artist has what it takes to make a fresh mark on the Brooklyn hip-hop landscape it is him – especially now he’s breaking away from his production-focused discography and going back to his origins as a songwriter.

Stream NIPTUCK which hit the airwaves in May 2023 on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

“Keys to My Heart” by Mazz is the Keys to My Ears

Posted on 28 July 2023

“Keys to My Heart” by Mazz is a hip-hop/R&B track that embodies the essence of the present moment. From the first note, this song grabs your attention with its infectious beat, and the bass hits so hard it feels like it could blow your windows out. The catchy rhythm is impossible to resist, and it’s clear that Mazz knows how to create a groove that sticks with you.

The vocals on “Keys to My Heart” perfectly complement the guitar-driven beat. Mazz’s delivery is on point, riding the waves of the music with confidence and style. There’s an undeniable synergy between the vocals and the instrumentation, creating a seamless fusion of hip-hop and R&B elements.

This track is a testament to Mazz’s ability to capture the spirit of contemporary music. It has that “now” factor, exuding a fresh and modern sound that resonates with listeners. “Keys to My Heart” is a testament to Mazz’s growth as an artist and their commitment to crafting music that pushes boundaries.

It’s remarkable how a single song can encapsulate the energy of the present moment, and “Keys to My Heart” does just that. It’s a testament to Mazz’s talent as a producer and songwriter, creating a sonic landscape that demands attention. This is a track that will make you move, whether you’re in the club or simply jamming out at home.

Mazz has certainly made an impact with “Keys to My Heart,” showcasing their ability to craft catchy hooks and infectious beats. It’s a promising glimpse into their artistic vision, and I’m excited to see what they have in store for the future. Keep an eye out for Mazz, because they’re undoubtedly an artist on the rise in the hip-hop and R&B scene.

Spotlight Feature: Poet Initiative served up summer in his melodic RnB hip-hop EP Ocean Drive

Posted on 26 July 2023
Poet Initiative

After starting his creative journey as a poet, the London, UK-residing artist Poet Initiative took the initiative to establish himself as one of the most versatile hip-hop artists in the UK. His earwormy melodies are accentuated by the influence of Reggaeton, Japanese hip-hop, Korean hip-hop and the UK garage scene. To get a taste of his freshly honed sonic flavour, delve into his debut 4-track EP, Ocean Drive.

While many artists are quick to describe themselves as versatile, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more dynamic release than this. With grooves strong enough to elevate any mood, Ocean Drive reached the pinnacle of a universal playlist staple. With the good vibes and even better rhythmics, Ocean Drive is a stellar seminal EP that hits sweet spots you didn’t know existed.

Poet Initiative said:

“Ocean Drive reflects my evolving sound. I’ve always found myself caught between wanting to create music you can dance to but also kick back to. The catchy hooks and warm melodies in my EP combine that.

This EP is underpinned by the overarching message to have fun, be yourself, enjoy those long summer nights, party in the sunshine, and make the most of those moments’ life gives you.”

Ocean Drive will be available on all major platforms on July 26th. Pre-save the single on Spotify.

Keep up to date with the latest releases from Poet Initiative on Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

THE VISION blurred sonic boundaries beyond definition in his latest rocksteady with vibes production, WANNA KNOW

Posted on 25 July 2023

Sonic boundaries blurred beyond definition in the latest single, WANNA KNOW, from the London-based fusionist artist, engineer, and producer, THE VISION. Instead of pandering to arbitrary stylistic parameters, the alternative artist let rhythm and soul take the wheel and drive with the top down while painting a contemporary love story with more twists than a Shakespearean tragedy.

With so many lyrical layers to unpeel in WANNA KNOW, the trap pop hit spills a narrative that keeps giving with every listen; lock into the lyricism or lose yourself in the steamy synthetics of the hit, that provides the ultimate soundtrack to hazy summer nights with the Afrobeat rhythms, pop hooks, trap beats and deeply reverberant RnB vocal melodies.

WANNA KNOW hit the airwaves on the 14th of July; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lose yourself in the escapism of MUNBOI’s hyper pop hip-hop hit, Runaway

Posted on 25 July 2023

It has been almost a year since MUNBOI walked us down Memory Ln with his stellar slice of stoic hip-hop, but it only took his fiery flow in the first verse of his latest trap-pop-hip-hop amalgam, Runaway, to jog our memory and remind us of all the reasons he left us in awe.

By blending elements of hyper pop, chiptune, and grime-y hip-hop, the 24-year-old Bracknell, UK-hailing alternative artist, producer, and audio engineer enticed us into his sonic fantasy. For the two-and-a-half-minute duration of Runaway, you’re enveloped by the – quite literally – animated escapism of the hit. The sticky-sweet texture of the melodies contrasted against the blazingly rapid rap bars is enough to leave your senses in a tailspin, but the beats will always bring you back down to earth safely.

Since we last heard MUNBOI, he hasn’t failed to make major waves in the industry. With the help of his hardcore fans, he has sold out his hometown and London shows. Radio 1, BBC Introducing, and BBC Radio Berkshire also played their part in raising the artist up from the underground.

Runaway hit the airwaves on the 12th of July; lose yourself in it via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Tampa’s premier hip-pop nostalgist Class Vee sent an invitation you won’t want to ignore with her latest music video, House Party

Posted on 24 July 2023

After sensing the contemporary inclination towards retro aesthetics and sonics, Tampa, Florida’s hottest hip-pop nostalgist Class Vee doused the airwaves in 80s and 90s hip-pop nostalgia with her latest single, House Party.

While the music video pays an ode to the 1990 film of the same title staring Kid N Play, the single brings a solid slice of 90s boom bap flavour for the ultimate aural escapism from the 21st century. The bass-drenched beats and earwormy grooves beneath Class Vee’s glassy-with-soul vocal lines creates the ultimate feel-good anthem, which reminds the listener that life is for living and parties are for attending.

Following the release of House Party, the singer-songwriter will release her Arianna Grande-inspired single, Wierdos, on the 30th of July and perform at New York Fashion Week in September 2023.

Class Vee said:

“With my latest single, I wanted to create nostalgia; a lot of people miss the 80s and 90s; House Party is high vibe hip-pop invitation back there.”

Add House Party to your Spotify playlists or watch the music video, which has already garnered 13k streams via YouTube.

To keep up to date with all of the strides Class Vee is making in the industry, follow her on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Paid My Bills: Im Ty moves up from the slim choices on the lyrically conscious Good Guy Gold

Posted on 24 July 2023

With a church organ start to get the hands raised up into the sky, Im Ty beats all challenges like the true professional he is and shall blow the roof off on the page-turning Good Guy Gold.

Im Ty is an Oxon Hill, Maryland-based indie alternative artist who loves to motivate others with a heart-healing blend of hip-hop and gospel.

Taking us for an exhilarating ride into the sunset of life, Im Ty is quite simply excellent and roars into life with a rather top-notch performance for the ages. This is exceptional stuff and will be certainly memorable for anyone previously unfamiliar with this notable emcee.

Good Guy Gold from Maryland-based artist Im Ty is one of the more real releases likely to be heard in 2023. This is raw to the core but doesn’t drop anything unnecessary, instead taking us into a much more illuminating place.

There is so much to take us forward instead of back on this monumental track, with a delightfully well-written flow to tip the cap off.

Hear more on her Spotify.

Check out the IG for more info.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Grab a Seat: Elevated Focusion embraced the future of fusionism with his alt-electro hit, Tabla Tea Party

Posted on 22 July 2023
https://on.soundcloud.com/KERbZ3gaPJ9vjupF8

The Queens, NY electronica pioneer Elevated Focusion, AKA Johnny Rhythms, caused a solid eight on the Richter scale by dropping his ground-breaking fusionist LP, featuring the standout single, Tabla Tea Party.

The rocksteady release became the ultimate celebration of the vibrant culture in NY by stitching a tapestry of contrasting facets of counterculture against each other to create a galvanic forcefield of friction your rhythmic pulses won’t want to resist.

With East Coast hip-hop and afrobeat bringing the danceable rhythm and the vocal lines breaking the monocultural mould while lavishing the soundscape with rock n roll attitude and soul, every new progression in Tabla Tea Party is a sonic revelation.

By putting mixing and mastering in the hands of Chris Conway, who worked on every LP that inspired the Elevated Focusion project, the East Coast flavour packs a mouth-watering punch; grab your seat at the Tabla Tea Party while the hype is hot.

Stream Tabla Tea Party with the rest of Elevated Focusion’s eponymous LP on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Your presence is costing me: Kiana Flowers is in no mood to have her valuable time wasted by clowns on Get To The Money

Posted on 20 July 2023

Sensing like love is a curse for her right now as she looks for a business model which will give her everything she ever wanted, Kiana Flowers drops a cash-filled track to sizzle up the sauces to gaining so much more than wack minimum wage on Get To The Money.

Kiana Flowers aka Mary Kiana Strayhorn is a San Diego, California-born indie hip-hop artist who grew up in Indy and has a self-motivated attitude which will calm the minds of those who are looking for something real.

Slicing away the nonsense like an angry butcher, Kiana Flowers lets it be known that she understands her value. Sick of big stories and even larger lame egos, she breaks away from anyone who has dodgy energy and races towards the bag instead.

Get To The Money from the motivated Indy-based indie rapper Kiana Flowers is a spirited soundtrack to encourage those who needed a reality check in finance building. Rapped hard and with purpose, we are shown the way through the vault door and away from Brokesville. Brilliant stuff really. An underground rap song at its purest.

Hear this fine single on YouTube.

See her growth on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Instead of my Lunches: Othenic and Spencer are stuck inside their heads on Problems

Posted on 19 July 2023

Opening up the tap to their issues which threatened to drown them deep in the waters of doom, Othenic and Spencer are as honest as they come on the revealing new single to nod heads with when the times get tough on, Problems.

Othenic is a hugely promising Kentucky/Cincinnati-based indie hip-hop artist/music producer who is joined by his long-time friend and highly-rated collaborator, Spencer.

With many projects to their name and more on the way, Othenic and Spencer lift up the lid here. It’s up to us to smell the cheese or not after all. With fake sharks looming in our waters, it’s so refreshing to hear something with so much meaning and significance.

Problems from Kentucky/Cincinnati-based indie hip-hop artist Othenic and Spencer opens the book on the problems that many youth faces in this rather wild world. They tell it how it is here. Nothing is missing. Truth is oozing here. It’s catchy and to the point, just like we need it. Turn this up.

Get the beat going on Spotify.

Check out their moves via their IG: Othenic and Spencer.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen