Browsing Tag

Jazz Hip Hop

Frank Blunt redefined hip-hop’s intellectual edge with ‘Bored Games 2’

Posted on 8 March 2024

Frank Blunt’s latest single, ‘Bored Games 2′, is a testament to his stripes as a rap luminary. Blunt stayed true to his name by delivering an intellectually resonant and intellectually stimulating hit of wisdom; it’s a journey into the depths of Blunt’s psyche, a reflection of his soul laid bare through masterful lyricism

While the jazz-infused rhythms pay homage to old-school hip-hop, Blunt weaves his sonic signature through the production like gritty urban calligraphy to carve out his own unique identity, mostly noted through the cadence of his introspective gold. Blunt’s flow is a marvel of rhythmic precision and melodic inventiveness, ensuring that listeners hang on to every syllable. His ability to weave complex narratives which go plateaus beyond the ordinary tropes of the genre allows the tract to challenge perceptions while remaining grounded in realism.

Frank Blunt’s influences, ranging from Michael Jackson to UGK, from Jay Z to Outkast, are evident in his music, yet he’s far from a by-product of assimilation. After a decade of cutting his teeth in the industry, his unparalleled talent is as razor-sharp as his lyrical wit. If any up-and-coming rapper has earned their place in the pantheon of hip-hop greats, it is Blunt.

Bored Games 2 was released on February 7th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

King Apollo juxtaposed grit with glamour in his alt-hip-hop hit, Holliwould

Posted on 18 January 2024

King Apollo, hailing from Columbus, Ohio, is not just another name in the rap game; he’s a whirlwind of creativity reshaping the hip-hop domain. His latest single, ‘Holliwould‘, stands as a testament to this bold assertion. This track is a journey through a soundscape where jazz’s sophistication meets the raw energy of rap, creating an experience that’s as enigmatic as it is enthralling.

From the first note, ‘Holliwould’ envelops you in a world where the past and future collide. The instrumental arrangement is a masterclass in melody, weaving a tapestry that’s both spacy and wavy, with a jazzy undertone that feels like a nod to the classics. Yet, it’s undeniably forward-thinking, a fusion that feels both nostalgic and novel.

King Apollo’s bars are the centrepiece of this musical odyssey. His wordplay is not just clever; it’s a sly wink to the listener, as intricate and layered as the title suggests. The lyrics dance through the beats with a devilish charm, offering a glimpse into a mind that’s as sharp as it is creative. It’s this blend of wit and wisdom that sets King Apollo apart, ensuring that every line resonates long after the song ends.

By blending the glamour of film noir with the unvarnished truth of street life, contrasting elements coalesced with effortless grace and established this sense of duality as a mark of King Apollo’s artistry.

Stream Holliwould as part of the 2023 LP, OuterSpace, on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Suedejazz Collective broke jazz-fusion boundaries with ‘Spinal Chord’, ft Louie Le Vack & LEYLAH

Posted on 16 January 2024

Suedejazz Collective assembled once more to create their sophomore single, Spinal Chord and brought Louie Le Vack & LEYLAH into the fold to orchestrate an unflinching foray into the darker side of contemporary jazz-fusion.

The intro sees piano keys sway against the rigorous drum fills and fervid horns before sultry RnB vocal lines, perfectly pitched by LEYLA, become a demure anchor in the track, but it isn’t long before there’s another seamless yet breakneck transition in the exhilarant feat of genre fusion. Hip-hop often borrows timbres from jazz, but Suedejazz Collective reverse-engineered the fusion by bringing in Louis Le Vack’s rap bars that bite down hard on the psyche over the synthesis of electronica fervour to effortlessly complement the ensnaring alchemy which grooves through the release.

There aren’t many jazz-inclined outfits that can transcend the fusionist flair of Melt Yourself Down and Acoustic Ladyland, but the energy and attitude which charges through Spinal Chord is set to seal the London-based multicultural collective’s fate as unrivalled conduits of experimentalism. The uniqueness of their sonic blueprint goes beyond edgy pretension. It opens up viscerally constructive arenas of sound that you’ll want to feel the heat of time after time. Forget the smoky jazz you’ve inhaled before. Spinal Chord is a wildfire in the form of a riptide.

Stream Spinal Chord on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

It’s all bells and no whistles in Roman Gastelum’s ingenuitive hip-hop track, Pavlov’s Dogs

Posted on 14 November 2023

After a bell ring in the intro to pay a conceptual nod to the iconic conditioning experiment, Roman Gastelum moves straight in with an amalgam of funk grooves, jazzy timbres, and hip-hop beats in his standout single, Pavlov’s Dogs taken from his debut LP, EQlibrium.

With the single and LP title, we probably don’t need to tell you that the LA-based bassist, vocalist, lyricist, and composer is an intellectual cut above the rest. In fact, if there were any more genius touches to this release, Roman Gastelum’s door would be blown off its hinges after an army of sapiophiles came knocking. But it is far from just pretentious art over substance.

The sublime sonic atmosphere conjured around the bruisingly clever bars by the artist who received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from the Musicians Institute in LA ensured that even on the 100th listen, you’ll take something new from Pavlov’s Dogs. As the cherry on the urban alchemist cake, the spacey sci-fi surrealism towards the outro is a lesson in experimental scintillation.

Pavlov’s Dogs is now available to stream on Spotify with the rest of the EQlibrium LP which dropped on September 29.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jfons proved pace is the trick in his soul-driven old-school hip-hop single, Can I Get a Minute

Posted on 22 August 2023

If you’re looking for your next 80s hip-hop nostalgia fix, don’t look past the slick with jazzy retro soul latest single, Can I Get a Minute, by the rap trailblazer, Jfons, who knows exactly how to push euphoria through his grooves to create perennial urban earworms.

The progressive structure of the lush with reverb hit ensures that with every beat, you will become deeper entwined with the smooth melodies and arrested by the sultry narrative that humbly captures the pure and innocent moment of attempting to catch someone’s eye. Even the staunchest romantic cynics won’t be able to proclaim that romance is dead after easing themselves into the grooves in Can I Get a Minute.

Can I Get a Minute has already racked up over 40k streams across all streaming platforms, and it doesn’t look as though the momentum driven by the hype around the track is going to falter any time soon. Get Can I Get a Minute in your ears by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Smokerface Chris Clay created the ultimate hip-hop anthem for morning mourning, Don’t Wake Up

Posted on 1 May 2023

Smokerface Chris Clay pulled out all the subversive stops in his latest single, Don’t Wake Up, by fusing consciousness regret with jazzy high vibe hip hop instrumentals to create a sonic contradiction that is wholly relatable to anyone who knows how it feels to greet the cold light of day with morning mourning. Don’t Wake Up is the ultimate testament to his playfully pensive autonomy, which proves that no picture can be painted in only tones of black and white.

When it comes to rapper origin stories, Smokerface Chris Clay’s is hard to beat. When driving through Hurricane Isabelle, he hit a car head-on and was ejected from his back windshield, unbeknownst to his friend, who was driving behind him, who ran over his head. He was declared head on-site but later revived before he was comatose for a month. When he woke, he freestyled to the nurses – despite never having expressed an interest in rap before. In his semi-conscious state, he made his determination to become a rapper known; in 2022, he stayed true to that promise by dropping his first official single, Live It Up.

Don’t Wake Up is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Danny Whacko is scintillatingly speculative in his latest rap track, I got a question… (Humble Thoughts)

Posted on 16 April 2023

Even though the muse evidently found rapper Danny Whacko before he polished off his latest single, I got a question… (Humble Thoughts), plenty of ruminative musing runs through the contemplative single, which speculates on how long it will be before the world wakes up to the injustice and takes collective action.

Philosophers have argued that it is the age of the individual, but the masses are all united with their heads in the sand to what is tearing through the lives victimised to systematic oppression. I got a question… (Humble Thoughts) is a sombre experience, lightened slightly through the gentle jazzy soulful beats, but there is no fully dampening the lyrical blows which pull all the punches on the apathetic. It’s a stunning release that will ensure your eyes are prised wide open.

The official music video for I got a question was released on April 7; view it on YouTube.

Amelia Vandergast

DreadpooL resisted oppressive gravity in his upraising Old-School hip hop hit, Nothing Comes Easy

Posted on 8 April 2023

If everyone was exposed to the harsh and universal truths in DreadpooL’s single, Nothing Comes Easy, before stepping into the jaws of reality and felt how sharp the teeth are first-hand, there would be infinitely less disillusion amongst the disenfranchised youth.

The lyrically rich old-school hit is the perfect introduction to the Springfield, VA-based artist and producer, who formerly released music under the moniker Crescendo. He lay it all down on the enlivening luxe backbeats that are heightened with the jazzy trickling keys and smoky sax lines that bring filmic class to the addictive release that keeps on giving with every listen. It is the ultimate manifesto on how to keep your head high, even when everything is working against you and pulling you down. Piteous apathy won’t stand a chance agains this trailblazing hit.

Nothing Comes Easy is now available to stream on 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

Lemar French created a jazzy celestial tapestry with his suspensefully filmic hip-hop single, Moving Stars

Posted on 9 March 2023

Here to prove that hip hop can be classy and gritty in the same suspensefully cadenced breath is the Steel City, PA native and seasoned MC Lemar Fresh, with his immersively elevated hit single, Moving Stars.

With all the smoke and glamour of a metropolis after dark, Moving Stars moves like a starlet on a red carpet under his magnetically low-timbered bars and jazzy interludes, which find the perfect balance between sultry and sophisticated.

With 15 years as an MC under his belt and production receipts with everyone from WQED to Rhymefest to Mac Miller to Diamond D, the Houston-residing artist strove for hip hop purity and came up with 24 karat hip hop gold.

Stream Moving Stars, which was released on February 27th, by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast