Browsing Tag

Indie Hip Hop

Marc Lucid takes us back to the 90s era of downtempo RnB with, ‘Bout This’, featuring Rockie Fresh

Posted on 28 June 2021

Under the influence of 90s hip hop and RnB, up and coming Upstate New York-residing hip hop artist Marc Lucid released his debut album, Jungle Rulez, on June 15th. The lead track, Bout This, featuring the luminary rap artist Rockie Fresh is the perfect introduction to Marc Lucid’s smoothly hazy style of down tempo hip hop.

Any fans of Post Malone, Mac Miller and Tyler, the Creator will appreciate the soul-infusion in the mellow trap mix that candidly explores Marc Lucid’s introspection when it comes to everyday malaise. The soundscape gets a kick of energy when Rockie Fresh’s fiery rap bars hit full flow, but Lucid’s hazy stoner vibes are just as evocative in their own right.

Check out Marc Lucid’s album Jungle Rulez on apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nikki Taylor Vibe gets deep and soulful on ‘Understated’

Posted on 24 June 2021

Nikki Taylor Vibe is a Long Island, New York, native with a background of stylistic crossover between hip hop, RnB, and Indie-pop. Her first single, ‘Wasted’, from her debut EP ‘Siren’ dropped in January last year, and since then she’s been named Power 98.5 Radio’s Breakout Artist of 2020, collaborating with Royce Da 59 and Young Ra on the single ‘Nother Level’.

Now, ‘Understated’ is Vibe’s new single, and understated it certainly is, classy, sultry, smooth, and sexy, pulled back, mellow and chilled all with Vibe’s laid-back vocal delivery overlaying old school 808 beats and deep soulful groove. It’s a killer track, showcasing without being showy, flash without being brash. It really IS understated.

Check out ‘Understated’ on Spotify; check out Nikki Taylor Vibe on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Nobel teaches us a lesson in ‘Perseverance’ with his latest infectiously resilient rap track, featuring ooozy_b

Posted on 5 June 2021

If you like your hip hop to drip with a Mac Miller level of cool, you’ll want to get acquainted with the grooves in Nobel’s indie hip hop single, Perseverance, featuring ooozy_b.

If anyone is well-placed to teach you a lesson in perseverance, it is Nobel. Nobel was born in Kurdistan during the Iran-Iraq war; at the age of three, he and his family fled to Northern Virginia, where Nobel discovered rap artists such as Tupac and the visceral work of alternative artists. His creative expression started with poetry before he started to form the signature rap style that he’s quickly becoming renowned for.

There is so much adoration to be had for an artist so motivated to make the world a better place when they’re more entitled to a dim view of humanity than most. Nobel’s infectious positive energy and powerfully meta lyrics will undoubtedly see him go far in his mission of proving that his Kurdish community can triumph over tragedy.

You can check out the official music video to Persevere by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MoneyWay K shares relatable themes of misanthropic apathy in ‘IDKY’.

Posted on 19 May 2021

Breaking hip hop artist MoneyWay K reached the pinnacle of new wave indie hip hop with his latest release, ‘IDKY’. The trap beats run through intricate melodies while MoneyWay K’s reverb-swathed vocals flow with the grooves as they verse the lyrics that play with the themes of misanthropy and romantic apathy. IDKY may just be the most relatable rap track that has dropped in 2021 so far.

Any fans of Mac Miller, Lil Peep, Juice WRLD and XXXtentacion will want to make room on their playlists for IDKY. The track couldn’t be more candid, honest or raw, but MoneyWay K still maintained a gritty convictive presence in the single that will leave you hooked with every progression.

You can check out the official video that dropped on May 9th by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blank666 exposes the dark side of hedonism with ‘Wasted’ featuring Nikki Vale.

Posted on 10 May 2021

Blank666’s standout single, ‘Wasted’, poignantly exposes the darker side of the hedonist lifestyle that many rap artists are quick to glamourise. But not many lyrics hit as hard as the deeply introspective ones you will find here that wistfully regret choosing escapism over affection.

To give you an idea of just how heartfelt a track Wasted is, if Simple Plan switched from alt-rock to rap, their sound would carry plenty of reminiscences. The lo-fi indie feel to the simple yet poignant offering of alt hip hop amplifies the intimacy but Wasted is so much more than your average emo melancholy-fest thanks to the grooves and four to the floor beats that allows energy to echo through the mix.

You can check out the official video to Wasted by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pray4Diego just can’t ‘Forget You’

Posted on 7 May 2021

Based out of Brooklyn, NYC, Pray4Diego is an independent recording artist and producer; new single ‘Forget You’ is a great mix of higher-tempo, hi-hat-focussed beats, tenderly picked electric guitar, and gentle, laid-back rap groove from Pray4Diego’s chilled, controlled delivery. Lyrically, it’s a plea to an ex-lover, where regret mingles with hope and a plea for another chance to make things right. It’s a well put-together track, nicely balanced between upbeat and longing, entreaty and repentance, all set to a simple backing of bass, hats, and that cute little repeating guitar line. The simplicity of the music and melody makes the track work, focussing the listener on the vocal line and lyrical flow, encouraging us to listen and take in Pray4Diego’s appeal. It’s tidy, it’s tasty, and it’d genuinely got soul.

You can hear ‘Forget You’ on Spotify; find Pray4Diego on Instagram and SoundCloud.

Review by Alex Holmes

The prodigal son of RnB Hip Hop Playmaker JB returns with the indie earworm ‘Drip Skylark’.

Posted on 5 May 2021

Up and coming LA-residing artist Playmaker JB dropped his most infectious single to date with the release of Drip Skylark on February 28th. With indie, trap, RnB and pop pulling together in the arresting melodies, the listener gets little option when it comes to getting pulled in by the hooks.

Any fans of Post Malone and Mac Miller will want to pay attention to the African-American artist who has been racking up the streams since making their solo debut in 2020. Previously, JB has collaborated with EASTWOOD, COMPTON MENACE and many more iconic names in the hip hop scene.

With the versatility of JB’s sound that drips commercial potential paired with his humbly enigmatic vibe, his future career holds plenty of promise.

Stream and download Drip Skylark via apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rosegang drops new single ‘12 Over 6’

Posted on 3 May 2021
Rosegang

Opening up with a delicate fingerstyle classical Spanish guitar part before the beats and bass kick in, ’12 Over 6’ – the debut single from Tauranga, New Zealand-based artist Rosegang – is a delicate take on modern Hip Hop. That pretty, haunting guitar line repeats throughout, a simple motif that carries the track through drops and rises, Rosegang’s lyrical flow smooth and polished over the simple backing. It’s a clever combination, and all the more powerful for it, with hints of old-school Eminem, Coolio, or Nas to the feel.

Rosegang’s rapping fits neatly into the track, carrying lyrical themes of life’s struggles and the pain of loss and challenge, and the desire to rise above and better oneself. It’s narrative, storytelling vibe gives an authentic, autobiographical feel, passionate without being aggressive and resonant with honesty and rawness. It’s a superbly strong opener, made all the more potent through that simple production and the use of clever, compelling instrumentation.

You can hear ’12 Over 6’ on SoundCloud, and check out Rosegang on Spotify and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Hey-Zooz dresses down gold-digger culture with ‘Fancy Cars’

Posted on 18 April 2021

‘Fancy Cars’ is just one of the tracks to feature on Hey-Zooz’s debut album ‘Welcome to Life’ that offers plenty of opportunities to see the world less blindly.

The Atlanta-based hip hop artist always focuses on reflection and growth with his tracks that run through without any hint of sanctimonious superiority. It’s palpable that Hey-Zooz creates music to make the process of navigating the world a little easier for his listeners.

Fancy Cars poignantly dresses down gold-digger culture, for all too long, for hip hop artists ‘showing ‘em what you’ve got’ revolved around showcasing capitalist pursuits. Switching the narrative, Hey-Zooz offers his wisdom on the subject and points out the obvious flaws in attempting to buy affection. The indie vibe to the melodic contemporary rap track makes it all too easy to pay attention.

Fancy Cars is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sionis wants to take us ‘Swimming’

Posted on 10 April 2021

Sionis is a 21-year-old musician from Charlotte, North Carolina, with a back history of pop-punk mixed with hip hop and rap. ‘Swimming’ comes by way of artists like Mobb Deep, Havoc, Screwball, or Tyler The Creator. Lyrically, it’s all about a previous girlfriend, and it’s clear that that relationship didn’t always go as well as it might have, with lines like ‘if we fuck then you can scratch me ‘til I bleed/ then I’ll choke you out to gain more energy’ and ‘back and forth, back and forth/ the passive-aggressiveness, I’m sick of it’, but Sionis has some pretty smooth flow mixed with the classic T-Pain autotune vocal production. There’s a solid backing of beats, bass, and piano that bounces the track along in a chilled way, but there’s an underlying anger and aggression here too that fits the vocal message.

You can hear ‘Swimming’ on Soundcloud, and check out Sionis on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes