Browsing Tag

Jazz Hip Hop

SHERIDAN – On Myself: Neo-Classic Jazz-Fusion Hip Hop

Posted on 4 July 2021

San Francisco-based independent artist and producer SHERIDAN has launched his highly anticipated EP, ‘ON MYSELF’; the cinematically arresting title single is the perfect introduction to the prolific artist’s soulfully evocative style.

On Myself is easily the most stunning hip hop track I’ve heard this year. The tender piano keys which pick up jazz and neo-classical sensibilities in their progressions give On Myself a stunning ambience, while the indie feel to the production allows SHERIDAN’s deeply resonant vocals to hit even harder.

On Myself explores those transitionary times in our lives when we unequivocally know that we need to grow to move on, but all too often, that growth happens at a painfully slow rate. The mellow pace of the single conceptually captures those still-life days.

On Myself released on June 17th; you can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stefano Jay has released his affectionately grounding RnB hip hop track, ‘By Your Side’.

Posted on 26 June 2021

Connecticut-based hip hop artist Stefano Jay uses his music to transcribe his life stories through introspective lyrics that do far more than look inwards; they project life-affirming wisdom outwards.

By Your Side is the latest single released by the 18-year-old artist; his signature sound resounds in the realm of melodic, compassionate hip hop that carries nuances of jazz, trap, RnB pop and old school hip hop. It’s a stunning vignette of how passionate ties keep us grounded in a world that seems to thrive on uncertainty and chaos. This anchoring track will prove to be the perfect addition to your summer hip hop playlists.

By Your Side is now available to stream and download on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

YOSHISUHN navigates the human condition in his latest single, MACH SPEED.

Posted on 23 June 2021
MACH SPEED (THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED) by YOSHiSUHN

‘MACH SPEED (THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED)’ is the latest single released by the luminary, Philadelphia-residing hip hop artist YOSHISUHN.

Every line delivered in this soulfully rendered release is a mic-drop moment, but instead of leaving you introspectively hanging, the inspiring meta wisdom rolls on leaving you utterly ensnared by the artist’s talent with wordplay and his ability to make a direct connection through hip hop.

The raw emotion is perfectly encased in the accordantly hazy production that you’ll want to delve into time and time again; it’s a track that consistently gets better with every listen. Tracks like MACH SPEED may not be able to change your life with one hit, but it will compassionately take the weight off your shoulders as soon as you immerse yourself.

MACH SPEED is now available to stream via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Louie Tha Profit proves why he’s ‘The Don’ of hustler hip hop with his latest single

Posted on 20 June 2021

Taken from his smooth jazzy trip-hop EP, Born to Win, Louie Tha Don’s lead single, ‘The Don’ is a compelling, candid release that shines a light on the darker side of the music industry.

For decades, we have witnessed the rise and fall of artists whose mental health took a hit courtesy of the music industry, and we still have the audacity to act surprised when we watch another artist in the spotlight burned by it. Louie Tha Profit challenges the normalisation of industry-induced PTSD in the mellow feat of nuanced hip hop. His sound couldn’t be smoother, and his lyrics couldn’t be sharper. If Louie Tha Don isn’t already on your radar, make some room.

The Don is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jaye King – Jazzy gospel-influenced groove with the uplifting ‘Me & You’

Posted on 17 June 2021
Jaye King

Mixing up soul, gospel, a little hip hop, and some mellow jazz-influenced easy listening pop, ‘Me & You’, the new single from Floridian-native Jaye King is a funky, feel-good, soulful ode to living life, partnership, and celebration; fusing Gregory Porter, a touch of John Legend, and maybe a little of Norah Jones and Jamie Cullum’s style all mingled with some upbeat spirituals and dash of R&B feels, and you’re smack in the middle of the ballpark here. There’s clear passion, some raw, honest lyric-writing, and lashings of faith and love in ‘Me & You’, and it shines through – you can hear the smile in King’s voice as he’s singing. This is genuine, upbeat and uplifting, chilled and cool and red, red-hot all at once. If there’s such a thing as soul food for the ears, then ‘Me & You’ is it, in spades.

Check out ‘Me & You’ through Jaye King’s website, or via Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Ty Bru commemorates the Eastside March with his latest single ‘Can’t Sir’

Posted on 16 June 2021
Ty Bru

With his latest single, Can’t Sir, the luminary hip hop artist Ty Bru proves that forceful, convictive compassion is the most efficacious. The release of the single commemorates the first anniversary of the Eastside March in Asheboro, NC. It was just one of the singles released by Ty Bru on June 6th to keep the reason for taking to the streets fresh in minds.

Can’t Sir runs through the glaring issues within our society that infuriate you every time they come to mind due to the unfathomable injustice behind them. Yet, through the passion in Ty Bru’s bars, you’ll find the inspiration to find the same resilience and refusal to accept that systematic oppression has had the power to ruin dreams and lives for generations.

Can’t Sir is a flawless work of Jazzy Eastcoast hip hop, sentimentally and sonically. Around his activism, Ty Bru has found time to share stages with Method Man, Andre 3000, Ludacris Nappy, Snoop Dogg, Linkin Park, Yelawolf and plenty more legendary big names.

Can’t Stir is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Techno meets jazz in JoeJas’ latest experimental hip hop track, ‘VENTURE?’

Posted on 15 May 2021

Any fans of Beardyman, Qemists and Fatboy Slim won’t want to hang around on the latest single to be released by alt hip hop artist and producer JoeJas.

‘VENTURE?’ is a playful aural assault constructed with elements of techno, experimental house, boom bap hip hop and jazz that won’t fail to leave you adrenalized and endeared in equal measure.

JoeJas lost none of his credibility by utilising his quirky personality. Instead, his roguish attitude runs right through the grooving progressive mix, giving you a taste of his authenticity that will leave you insatiable for his soulful style that carries reminiscence to that of artists such as Andre 3000 and Childish Gambino. Along with his solo work, JoeJas also produces under the moniker HairyMuffinMan; which goes some way in explaining how the mix in VENTURE? pulled together so tightly in spite of the seemingly contrasting textures.

You can check out the official music video that premiered on May 8th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tom X Wolfe serves a smorgasbord of culture with ‘SUPADUPAFLY’.

Posted on 8 May 2021
Tom X Wolfe

Aural innovator and producer Tom X Wolfe’s 2021 album, ‘RISKY’, is an intoxicating mash of pulsing impassioned culture. It is also an exhibition of the artist’s multi-genre production and arrangement talent that has previously seen Wolfe working alongside Cash Sinatra, Maky Lavender and BGMFK. With over 3 million streams under his belt and plenty of international critical acclaim, Wolfe is set to take the industry by storm in 2021.

With African and Caribbean roots bedding down in the mix along with western notes of glitchy EDM hip hop, the lead track, ‘SUPADUPAFLY’, is the ultimate summer hip hop playlist staple. There is plenty of kick behind the 808s, but the snapping grooves feed into a sun-baked soundscape which throws plenty of jazz-laden haze your way.

Check out Tom X Wolfe on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Maple Struggle – Tip Toe featuring Hannah Doherty and KillBill Sax

Posted on 8 May 2021

Starting with haunting minor keys, Maple Struggle’s definitively British rap track, ‘Tip Toe’, hits hard from the first note. The evocative potency remains the only constant as the single progresses through jazzy ensembles, indie increments, neo-classic crescendos and bursts of RnB pop.

Every curveball twist in the soundscape, featuring pianist Hannah Doherty and American saxophonist KillBill Sax, leaves you more impassioned by Maple Struggle’s resounding talent and unique brand of urban alchemy. One minute, you are breathing in the smoke in a nicotine-soaked jazz club; the next, you are on the grimy streets of London.

Tip Toe isn’t just a stellar moody yet enlivening single; it quite literally leaves you giddy through the imagination and authenticity.

Tip Toe is now available to stream and download on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

J. Vybe offers hip hop fans some good ‘KARMA’ in their debut single featuring Rebecca Irene

Posted on 16 April 2021

Breaking hip hop artist J. Vybe has kicked off 2021 with a blazing start with the release of their debut single, ‘KARMA’, featuring Rebecca Irene, where sharp rap bars cut through the accordance of the jazzy old school beats.With layers of the collaborative artist’s harmonic neo-soul vocals finding the perfect place in the track around J. Vybe’s bars which reel you in hook, line, and sinker, calling KARMA an immersive track seems like a crass understatement.

While the lyrics allow you to put your perspective into… perspective, the beats will give you a safe, warming and soulful space to do it. It’s a genius track that will be a hit with any fans of Eminem’s forceful bars.

You can get some good KARMA for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast