Browsing Tag

Independent Hip Hop

From Bronx Streets to Beats: An Interview with Sapuis

Posted on 20 November 2024

Sapuis, the Bronx-born artist known for his introspective lyrics and innovative production style, joins us at A&R Factory to uncover his creative origins and the evolving narrative of his sound. Sapuis discusses how the challenging environment of his upbringing wasn’t just a backdrop but a vital component in sparking his artistic flame. Throughout the interview, we explore the profound personal and cultural influences that shape his music, his straightforward approach to his artistry, and his aspirations to make a lasting impact on the music landscape.

Sapuis, welcome to A&R Factory! Thanks for sitting down with us to discuss your artistic origin story, identity, and where you’re heading with your sound. Was it easy to ignite your creative spark in the Bronx?

Hell Yeah! In the South Bronx, your only option is to get creative. Whether it’s the meal you make out of what’s in the house, the outfit you put together to not get your ass cut, or even coming up on some money you gotta get creative.

Look, all the way back to the music of hip hop, rap and its culture were birthed from the creativity Bronxites had. They used that creativity to escape hell on earth, through song and dance. You gotta get creative or you will end up dead in the Bronx, so waking up is the ignition. Whenever I’m in a creative rut I can just think of the Bronx; the good, the bad, and the ugly which I came from.

You’ve made a name for yourself with your introspective lyrics, genre-bending, and signature production style; which artists have had the most profound influences on your sonic fingerprint?

My sonic fingerprint is influenced by me.

How do you feel after introspectively pouring your heart and soul into your tracks? 

I feel relieved because I got to pour that out. Going back to naming the Album “Before I Die” you can now better understand the title. (which is entendre in itself) I had to get that all out before I die, too many people never get the chance to do something like this. Others are found after death, but not me I made sure this was released on my terms.

Which aspect of writing and production came easiest, and which did you have to work hard to hone?

The writing comes the easiest since my music is about my life, mixing and mastering was difficult at first. Anything you work on gets easier tho. I’m gonna be good no GREAT regardless.

You’re clearly determined to forge your own way through the hip-hop landscape and blaze your own trail; what are the main factors that are pushing you forward and putting momentum into your career? 

Coming from the South Bronx, Fox Street. Pushes me forward. Using that as the foundation of anything I do… gives me the momentum to complete, accomplish, and systemize anything I fucking want.

You’ve recently released your sophomore LP, Before I Die; what’s the story behind the album and how does it align with your broader career goals? 

This album came off the heels of completing the second year of my “song a week” campaign. Midway through that journey I noticed that there wasn’t a body of work to show the work I am putting in. So I needed to put this out. I have some goals in my career to release albums that change music history and this is the start of that.

If you had to elevator pitch Before I Die, how would you sell it? 

Listen to my album Before I Die.

What’s next for Sapuis?

I’m trying to go on tour so if u seeing this book me rn. I’ll take care of the logistics no matter where it is on Earth.

–

Stream Sapuis’ Before I Die LP on Spotify now.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Deep Groove Dominion: ‘Bad Habit’ by Thirteen Paris Vandals

Posted on 20 November 2024

Thirteen Paris Vandals, the creative moniker of Jon Norton, injected old-school boom-bap hip-hop with an intravenous shot of funk and disco in his latest single, ‘Bad Habits’. With groove pockets deeper than the Grand Canyon, no one will be immune to the hype of the hit, which crackles with live wire charisma, cutting through the noise with pretence-less bars that establish the Leeds-based luminary as a masterful orchestrator of urban euphoria.

‘Bad Habits’ pulses with high fire, all gas, no brakes energy that infuses each note with sonic serotonin; despite being roughed up with the grit of hip-hop, the track is iridescent as the disco balls that will call for his sound to be played beneath.

The enigmatic nature of his sound unriddles itself by bringing into perspective the artist’s influences, cited as seventies psychedelia and space rock; these elements, in addition to inspiration found within The Beatles and The Beachboys, weave their way into his diverse sonic palette.

With the magnetic charm of icons like Pharrell Williams and Outkast rolled into one, Bad Habits is a testament to Thirteen Paris Vandals’ potential as one of the most promising hip-hop artists in the UK. Don’t just watch this space—be part of his legacy and hit play.

Bad Habit is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shawn Tuck’s ‘Bigger’ is a hip-hop trifecta of soul, style and substance

Posted on 14 November 2024

Shawn Tuck made one of the hottest hip-hop drops of the summer with his hit, Bigger. The high-octane track is a contemporary anthem that pushes style and substance through speakers with unapologetic energy. Tuck’s larger-than-life vocal delivery dominates the polished-to-cinematic-perfection mix, which leaves each beat dripping with gravitas.

A hip-hop heavyweight in the making, Tuck proves how powerful rap can be when you pour soul into every syllable, building a relentless rhythm that grips like a vice and doesn’t let go. Channelling the gritty heart of hustler hip hop with a soulful edge, ‘Bigger’ is a track destined to leave you hyped. Every line and beat shows he’s playing for keeps, seamlessly weaving emotional intensity with infectious energy.

His deft vocal switches from razor-sharp rap bars to smooth, honeyed harmonies bring a duality that evocatively hones the release to prove that there are few artists who can flex chameleonic skill with as much finesse as the US luminary, who prises influence from the likes of Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, and Craig David.

Stream Shawn Tuck’s seminal single, Bigger, on all major platforms, including Apple Music, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Loose Change 10k became an unreckonable force in the Floridian hip-hop scene with their trippy hit, Haters

Posted on 19 October 2024

The Floridian hip-hop duo Loose Change 10k has once again proven its unreckonable mettle with the latest single and music video, Haters. The wavy and melodically trippy track instantly sets a mind-bending tone; once you’ve sunk into the saturated reflections of old-school hip-hop roots, the bars kick in and push adrenalized momentum into the hit with every syllable flexed.

The juxtaposition between the energy injected by the two MCs, O-Head and Danny Duke, and the catharsis of the experimentally catchy melodies leaves you cascading through a vortex of Loose Change 10k’s ingenuity.

With a sound that’s as fresh as it is fierce, they’ve reserved a space in the hip-hop pantheon with Haters, which vindicates anyone who has collected their fair share of haters simply by succeeding. If any track is going to convince you to take it all in your stride and leave them to stagnate, it’s Haters.

Stream the self-shot and produced video for Haters, which premiered on October 8th, via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mike37 transcended with the soul in his alt-hip-hop debut  LP, HOT AIR BALLOON

Posted on 7 September 2024

On September 6th, Mike37 made titanic waves by dropping his debut album, HOT AIR BALLOON. At the tender age of 17, the independent Milan-residing DJ, producer, vocalist and hip-hop & soul fusionist already has the chops to slice through genres and moods with the cultivated command of a veteran, which is affectingly exhibited in the vibe-driven 12-track LP.

The LP is a bold blend of soul and sharp-edged rap, straddling a dozen tracks that venture from intimate soul outpourings to spitfire spoken word, all dipped in the hallucinogenic haze of dreamy trap. Using hip-hop’s sonic playground for the foundation of the album didn’t get in the way of Mike37 casting the genre net wider into the domain of pop to implant pop hooks into his wavy hits which resound with seraphic semi-lucid euphonic euphoria.

To juxtapose the soul in the former and subsequent singles, the standout track, PUT YOUR CAMERA DOWN, throbs with aggressive synths and heavy 808s, setting the stage for Mike37’s incisive lyrics that slice through the superficial sheen of social media facades. Mike37 may have been a beat maker first, but this track is evidence of his command over metrically kinetic bars and his ability to lay bare a narrative that’s both raw and refined.

The album’s diversity is kicked up a notch with contributions from a variety of artists like Skyler, Uno Hype, Tiffany Evans, and Amy Fitz Doyley, each adding a distinct flavour to the mix without overshadowing Mike37’s own stylistic imprint.

Crafted in Italy’s Fiery Water Recordings Studio and given the final polish at Abbey Road by Alex Gordon, the technical execution of this album is nothing short of stellar. Every beat and note was engineered and destined to resonate.

Stream HOT AIR BALLOON on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Keep up to date with Mike37’s latest releases and news via Instagram and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aco Draco fires off in his stormer of a rap track, Ray Gun

Posted on 3 September 2024

Departing from sonic mundanity, Aco Draco’s latest single, Ray Gun, burst onto the scene with artillery that’s anything but ordinary. Opening with a faux news report, the track cleverly sets the stage for Draco’s irreverent entry, blending tongue-in-cheek humour with a punchy introduction that hooks listeners from the get-go.

Ray Gun”marries cinematic orchestral strings with classic boom-bap beats, creating a soundscape as expansive as it is epic. Draco’s raspy, convicting rap bars slice through the backdrop, proving that his command of the mic is as formidable as his creative vision.

This up-and-coming Colorado native, who carries influences from Lil Wayne to Metallica, showcases a dynamic fusion of sharp lyricism and high-energy beats that will rattle the hip-hop scene to its core.

From his humble beginnings recording in a closet with an Xbox headset to charting his own course in the rap industry, Draco’s journey is one of relentless pursuit and undeniable growth. His unique style, marked by raw authenticity and emotional depth, is capable of turning heads, bending ears and making waves with its charismatic wordplay and bold execution.

Ray Gun was officially released on the 29th of August; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Regal Club’s rap track, Electro, is a livewire to the senses

Posted on 27 August 2024

Dark ominous electronic beats meet the transcendence of enlightenment in the latest drop from Regal Club. With their new single and music video, the St Louis duo comprising Alvo and J. Cruz wrote a new chapter in their legacy which any hip-hop fan should revere as gospel. 

Electro, which features on the duo’s ambitious sophomore LP synthesises lyrical conviction with kinetic rhythm to break away from conventional hip-hop beats and breaks and to embrace a fusion where contrasts of light and dark play over a bass-heavy production. The instrumentals buzz with energy, sharpening the rap verses that effortlessly sync with the dynamic beats, creating a charged atmosphere which oscillates with intensity.

The duo’s authentic style possesses a visceral grip on the psyche, as Alvo and J. Cruz hold their own against Run the Jewels’ dualism. If you couldn’t get enough of the raw edge in Oddisee’s earlier records, Electro will resonate on a whole new level.

The official music video for Electro is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: MIKE37 morphed pain into power in his soul-driven summer hip-hop anthem, PAGE OF THE DIARY

Posted on 9 August 2024

In contemporary hip hop, few releases capture the raw, dualistic essence of the emotional experience as viscerally as MIKE37’s latest single, PAGE OF THE DIARY. The narrative arc is powerfully constructed by an artist who simultaneously stands as a soul conduit and visionary beatmaker.

PAGE OF THE DIARY is an affecting aural reflection of the darkest hours before dawn, rendered into sound by MIKE37’s innovative spirit. The track ensues from a vivid vignette of melancholy before the beats morph—almost imperceptibly at first—into a high-energy, euphoric celebration of resilience.

MIKE37’s ability to straddle the emotional spectrum is on full display, encapsulating the listener in a journey from introspective sorrow to a triumphant, beat-driven high. The nostalgia-infused hip-hop beats lay a solid foundation, while MIKE37’s soul-enriched harmonies and sharp lyrical delivery cut through the mix, making each verse a testament to his creative charisma and his capacity to connect.

After the self-produced single was mastered by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios, the quality of the sound engineering is palpable. Each sonic element is meticulously crafted, allowing MIKE37’s introspective yet bold lyrical thematics to shine against the sun-bleached melodies and dynamically shifting beats.

Fans of Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, and BADBADNOTGOOD will find familiar comfort in MIKE37’s discography, yet there’s an undeniably unique twist to his music that sets it apart.

PAGE OF THE DIARY is as much of a visceral feel-good fix as it is a fundamental lesson in expression. MIKE37’s chameleonic creativity is on full display in the quintessential hip-hop anthem of the summer. Cancel the self-pity party for one and play it on repeat.

MIKE37 Said

“PAGE OF THE DIARY initiates as an introspective narrative of a dark chapter; it transplants the listener into the story to share the relatable emotions before the beat switches through a flux of energy and euphoria.”

PAGE OF THE DIARY will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud, from August 9th.

Stay up to date with the latest releases from MIKE37 as he gears up for the launch of his debut LP on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The high vibes in Mike37’s spacey electronic hip-hop track, C.R.I.B., transcended Earth’s orbit

Posted on 6 July 2024

After being dubbed the Best Italian Emerging DJ in 2018, Mike37 has begun to prove his mettle in the rap scene. With over 200k streams behind his hottest track, Take Me to Your Love Again, the luminary of creative versatility has lit a beacon with the fire in his flows.

The rapper and producer’s latest single, C.R.I.B. featuring Uno Hype, is wavey vibe-heavy, cosmic-dipped production which pairs his flair with metric precision with his ability to slam charisma through your speakers.

The spacey synthetics wrapped around the solid rattle of the 808s exhibited how Mike37 isn’t just in his own league; his boundary-breaking aural identity transcends the conventional limits of the genre.

While every bar becomes an infectious mantra, the transgressing instrumentals attest to how much promise lies in the artist’s career as he gears up for the drop of his debut self-written, produced, and performed LP, HOT AIR BALLOON.

Having already released three tracks via Just Entertainment, being featured in La Stampa and on RAI and Radio Monte Carlo, it’s only a matter of time before he looks down on the industry from the top of the charts.

C.R.I.B. dropped on June 28; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast